Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David L. Fuhry dismissed a class-action lawsuit from owners of all-electric homes against electric companies.

Fuhry said that only the Public Utility Commission of Ohio, not him, had the authority to oversee the matter.

The lawsuit stems from FirstEnergy’s rate increases earlier this year.

Previously, the company had offered reduced rates to those with all-electric homes, electric hot water heating systems or electric load management systems. First, the electric company said it would abandon the reduced rates. Then, after homeowners protested, the company decided to gradually phase out its reduced rates during the next eight years.

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DANBURY, CT — A contractor who investigators said hired unskilled labor for his chimney repair business, gave workers minimal training and turned them loose to prey on elderly homeowners made an appearance in state Superior Court here Wednesday.

Marc Anthony, 44, didn’t enter a plea on an array of felony and misdemeanor counts, including larceny and attempted larceny, which were filed against him last month after an investigation by Danbury police and inspectors from the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Anthony is a co-owner of CT Builders LLC, a company based in Long Island. He was represented in court by attorney Kevin Black, of Wilton, a former assistant prosecutor in the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office.

The investigation began in March after two of his employees were allegedly found to be installing chimney liners without obtaining building permits from the city and without having the state licenses required to perform the work.

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Bosch Thermotechnology North America, a leading provider of high quality water heating and comfort heating systems for homes and businesses, announced today that it has launched a new consumer education website at http://bosch-climate.us.

The website features links to product information covering Bosch’s portfolio of residential and commercial solar thermal tankless water heaters, gas tankless water heaters, electric tankless water heaters and electric mini-tank water heaters.

Visitors to the site can explore an interactive Energy Efficient Home, learn about available tax credits and rebates and discover how Bosch’s patented tankless water heating condensing technology works to heat water up to 50 percent more efficiently than a traditional gas storage tank water heater while reducing NOx and CO2 emissions, making for a more sustainable world. Additionally, visitors can take advantage of the site’s Dynamic Sizing Calculator to determine the appropriate model tankless water heater for their needs. An insightful intellectual challenge awaits those ready to put their energy efficiency knowledge to the test by taking the site’s Energy Quiz.

“We wanted to create a site that really drove home the idea of becoming more energy efficient because for most consumers, the home is where it starts. Bosch offers a large variety of products and solutions that can improve the quality of life of consumers while becoming more energy efficient. This new website presents information on energy efficient Bosch products in a professional, entertaining and engaging way, proving that becoming more energy efficient doesn’t have to be hard work, and the return is not only great on your pocketbook, it’s great for the environment too,” says Nuno Fernandes, customer engagement and demand creation director, Bosch Thermotechnology. “Bosch tankless water heaters and Bosch solar thermal systems are among the highest quality and most reliable products in the industry and are backed by the strongest service organization in the industry. Our goal with this project was to design an industry-leading website to appropriately showcase our industry-leading products and services. ”

The site’s Support Center tab features a comprehensive suite of customer service materials ranging from product manuals, warranty information and technical support to a sophisticated new “Where to Buy” contractor look-up to quickly connect to a local installation professional.

Database and calculation portions of this new site where designed and are maintained by the MyPointNow.com network.

WASHINGTON — A major U.S. union is asking the Obama administration to crack down on various Chinese trade practices that it says are robbing American workers of jobs in the burgeoning field of clean energy such as solar and wind power.

The United Steelworkers union on Thursday filed a 5,800-page petition with the administration contending that China’s central and provincial governments are giving Chinese companies unfair advantages over American firms through the use of government subsidies that are prohibited under global trade rules.

Under U.S. law, the administration will have 45 days to decide whether to accept the petition and launch an investigation that could lead to cases being filed against China before the Geneva-based World Trade Organization.

The deadline for the administration to decide the case will occur just a little over a week before this year’s November congressional elections, a fact union officials hope will bring pressure on the administration to rule in its favor.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the creation of the Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Energy Innovation Hub to develop technologies to make buildings more energy efficient. The hub team, led by Pennsylvania State University, will receive up to $122 million over the next five years to develop models that are applicable to both retrofits and new construction. Located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Clean Energy campus, the hub will bring together leading university researchers, two national laboratories, and the private sector. The goal is to formulate building designs that will save energy, cut pollution, create jobs, and position the United States as a worldwide industry leader.

The team will use the more than 200 buildings on the Navy Yard campus and its independent electric microgrid as a “virtual municipality” to test and validate the new technologies. The hub team will pursue a research, development, and demonstration program targeting technologies for single buildings and district-wide systems. The technologies include computer simulation and design tools to enable integrated project teams to collaborate on retrofit, renovation, and new building design projects; advanced combined heat and power systems; building-integrated solar photovoltaic systems for energy generation; advanced HVAC systems with integrated indoor air quality management; and sensor and control networks to monitor building conditions and optimize energy use.

The program will also analyze the role of policy, markets, and behavior in the use of building energy technologies. Because buildings account for nearly 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions, said DOE, developing systems to improve building efficiency will provide significant benefits.

This is the third DOE hub established in fiscal year 2010. For more information, visit www.energy.gov/hubs/index.htm.