Here are my latest picks of the most notable and noteworthy energy efficiency related news, features and happening in the U.S. and around the world.

Whirlpool Corporation Survey Shows Consumers Clamor for Energy Efficiency
A recent survey by Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) revealed that 84 percent of consumers said that energy — not water or time — is most important to them when it comes to home appliance efficiency. In fact, nearly three quarters (72 percent) of respondents actively look for the ENERGY STAR(R) label when making purchasing decisions…
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-23-2009/0004976597&EDATE=

Water Efficiency Often Ignored in Green Buildings
With all the attention on energy efficiency in buildings and where all that energy comes from (renewable sources or coal-fired electric plants), there is one resource that seems to be ignored - water.  And the really scary part is that although we can generate more energy from various sources, the water that is on the planet and in the atmosphere is all we have to work with - and we know it…
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/02/23/water-efficiency-often-ignored-in-green-buildings/

Ontario Re-invents the meaning of Energy Efficiency
Today’s introduction of a Green Energy Act is about to launch Ontario into a leadership position in the race to be the most Energy Efficient economy in Canada.  Perhaps the world,” said Ken Elsey, President of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (CEEA)…�
http://huffstrategy.com/MediaManager/release/Canadian-Energy-Efficiency-Alliance/31-12-69/Ontario-Re-invents-the-meaning-of-Energy-Efficiency/1548.html

Casinos Pursue Green Practices
Gaming companies love green. Today, it’s not so much about the color of money as green building practices. Several of the industry’s biggest operators have become unlikely green advocates in recent years. MGM Mirage, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Harrah’s Entertainment all pursue green building initiatives at their hotel-casinos. Going green makes a lot of sense; it can help save greenbacks with reduced energy costs and it’s good for the environment…
http://www.lvrj.com/business/40055987.html

Border Patrol goes double green: Building to be model for energy efficiency
The first U.S. Border Patrol station to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified is strategically located in an area of quick and easy access to the border, said Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge Salvador Zamora…
http://www.elpasotimes.com/communities/ci_11762316

Congressional Committee Having Hearings To Formulate Energy, Climate Legislation
With energy costs and climate change on everyone’s mind, the U.S. Congress is holding hearings on energy efficiency as it attempts to come up with comprehensive energy and climate legislation. The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce will meet Tuesday to hear testimony from several expert witnesses in an attempt to figure out what to do…
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014183345

ISO issues design guide for energy efficiency in new buildings
ISO has recently issued new guidelines to promote designing energy efficiency into new buildings.  The standard provides energy-related requirements for designing buildings and for achieving specific energy efficiency targets…
http://eartotheground.typepad.com/weblog/2009/02/iso-issues-design-guide-for-energy-efficiency-in-new-buildings.html

An efficiency portfolio standard is as important as a renewable standard — and should come first
If we push renewable portfolio standards without also pushing even more aggressive efficiency portfolio standards (EEPS), we’ll end up chasing a goal that gets more difficult catch and more expensive to achieve with each passing year…
http://climateprogress.org/2008/12/27/an-efficiency-portfolio-standard-is-as-important-as-a-renewable-standard-and-should-come-first/

Energy efficiency is THE core climate solution, Part 1: The biggest low-carbon resource by far
Energy efficiency is the most important climate solution for several reasons…
http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/23/energy-efficiency-is-the-core-climate-solution-part-1-the-biggest-low-carbon-resource-by-far/

Ericsson, Orange Team Deploys Energy Efficient Base Stations in Rural Africa
Orange Guinea Conakry and Ericsson are reportedly deploying more than 100 base stations fully powered by solar energy, connecting remote parts of rural Africa…
http://green.tmcnet.com/topics/green/articles/50933-ericsson-orange-team-deploys-energy-efficient-base-stations.htm