Green Buildings Drive BIM Adoption
The green building sector will drive the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) software, according to a new SmartMarket Report from McGraw-Hill Construction. Source: Environmental Leader
Hot Water, Lights and AC as a Service
You really don’t need to own your light bulbs. You don’t even need to lease them. You just need the light that emanates from them. Source: GreentechMedia
Do Americans Really Want to Change Energy Habits?
Conflicting results in recent consumer studies leave some confused and others quick to write off all survey research as invalid. Source: EnergyDSM.com
Cost for Renewables in U.S. Dropping
Thanks to millions of dollars invested by the United States Department of Energy, the cost of solar energy is projected to drop by 50 percent between now and 2015. Source: SmartMeters
Companies Get the Basics of Green IT, But Lack Maturity
A new survey sponsored by Fujitsu found room for improvement among all elements of green IT practices, but that data centers and computer fleets are relatively well covered, while energy management and carbon impacts are almost nonexistent. Source: GreenBiz.com
Photo by: mararie
Audit Finds Only 8% of U.S. Stimulus Funds for Energy Efficiency Spent
A recent audit by the U.S. Department of Energy’s inspector general indicates that only 8.4% of the energy and conservation block grants Congress budgeted for local and state governments has been spent as of August 1st. Source: Environmental Leader
Cheers! Scottish Team Concocts Whiskey Car Fuel
No, they aren't wasting your favorite vice: The butanol fuel is made from whiskey by-products that would otherwise be discarded. Source: cnet
Apple’s Batteries Over-Hyped
The Apple Battery Charger seems like the perfect product to sell, but what rubs the author the wrong way is that Apple decided to sell batteries for its devices with claims that its product is better than any other. Source: The Apple Blog
Reliant Energy Offers Cap-and-Save Plan
Reliant Energy announced it is introducing Cap-and-Save, the first rate plan in Texas that caps customers’ rates when they sign up and automatically reduces their rates no matter how low prices go. Source: SmartMeters
U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions to Increase 3.4% in 2010
Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are projected to increase by 3.4% in 2010, according to a new report by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Photo by wsimmons
LED Bulb for General Lighting Priced Below $20
Home Depot is selling an LED bulb bright enough to replace a 40-watt incandescent. Is the $20 threshold enough to entice more people to LEDs? Source: cnet.com
California Opens the Market to Demand Response
Wanted: California electricity consumers who can turn off 100 megawatts or more of power use on a moment’s notice. In return, you can get paid as if you’re actually generating that same amount of power, with prices set on the open market. Source: Earth2Tech
Will Rooftop Solar Have Its Day in the Sun?
SunRun's solar leasing program has removed two obstacles to solar -- the upfront cost and hassles. Yet despite more than $155 million in funding, the company only has about 5,000 customers – so far. Source: GreenBiz.com
PC Power Management Solution Delivers Energy Savings, Reduces Emissions
New Boundary Technologies is offering businesses a free 30-day trial of its Web-based PwrSmart Service, a PC power management solution that is said to deliver energy savings and reduce carbon emissions. Source: EnvironmentalLeader.com
World's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator Ready for Use in Ohio
It’s the size of a tractor trailer, it’s on wheels and completely transportable, with the capacity to power a small town. And now the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell – one of the world’s cleanest and greenest sources of energy – will soon be on its way to Eastlake, Ohio for a five year trial run – the first ever deployment of its kind. Source: Electric Energy Online
Photo by Flickr user The Freewheeling Daredevil
Lighting Controls: An Untapped Opportunity
The future of lighting in commercial, industrial and government buildings is digital, networked and intelligent, though the potentially massive opportunity of retrofitting these buildings with lighting control systems has largely been untapped. Source: Earth2Tech
Rebates Available for Businesses Using LED Lighting
Utilities under the Mass Save Program are offering Northeast businesses rebates for the installation of Lighting Science Group’s LED lighting products consisting of the DEFINITY LED bulbs, PROLIFIC Series streetlights and Shoebox fixtures, which meet LM-79 performance testing. Source: Environmental Leader
Proposed Corporate Sustainability Certification Opens for Public Comment
The new ULE 880 certification, created by GreenBiz.com and UL Environment to be the first comprehensive measure of sustainability across an entire enterprise, has been unveiled and is open for stakeholder comments. Source: GreenBiz
Generating Energy from Ocean Waters off Hawaii
Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa say that the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands may be ideal for future ocean-based renewable energy plants that would use seawater from the oceans' depths to drive massive heat engines and produce steady amounts of renewable energy. Source: Science Daily
Advances in Nuclear Fusion
Fusion power is the power generated by nuclear fusion reactions. In this kind of reaction, two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus and in doing so, release a large amount of energy. Source: Environmental News Network
Image by Flickr user roland
TIAA-CREF CEO on Building Energy Efficiency
TIAA-CREF manages one of the nation’s largest real estate portfolios. CEO Roger Ferguson discusses energy efficiency measures from buildings as a “win-win” strategy that can reduce carbon emissions and energy use at a net cost-savings. [source: Environmental Leader]
Two Tools for Crafting Green Building Laws
Local government looking for guidance on green building measures have two new resources from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. [source: GreenBiz]
Microsoft Hohm Connects to Home Power Monitor
Microsoft inks a deal with home energy monitor maker to let people get detailed information on home electricity use without the need for a smart meter. [source: cnet]
DOE Announces $30 Million for Energy Efficient Housing Partnerships
The US Department of Energy has announced up to $30 million in funding for 15 research partnerships that aim to deliver innovative energy efficiency strategies to the residential housing market.
The Real Reason Google is Buying Wind Power
Here’s the real reason Google entered into a contract earlier this month to buy clean power from a wind farm in Iowa: data centers. [source: Earth2Tech]
Photo by stephenjjohnson
Boston to Scan Office Buildings to Determine Energy Efficiency
To drive energy-efficiency efforts in Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced plans to use infrared technology to scan all buildings in Boston to determine their energy efficiency, reports Boston Herald.
The Cost of Energy Independence
Every president since Nixon has talked about the need to get the United States off of foreign oil and moving toward energy independence. So why hasn't it happened? The technical issue isn't really all that difficult, but the political challenge is enormous.
Dow Corning Receives $1.2 Million to Improve Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings
The United States Department of Energy has awarded $1.2 million to Dow Corning Corporation to develop an insulating facade system that may significantly increase the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.
Smart Grid Denied: When Regulators Say No
Securing a smart grid stimulus grant doesn't always guarantee a utility's smart grid project is in the clear. This week Maryland's public regulator, the Maryland Public Service Commission, denied Baltimore Gas and Electric Co's smart grid project request.
Clean Energy Report: Crossing the 'Valley of Death'
New report suggests possible solutions for overcoming the gap in financing for new clean energy technologies.
Photo by Werner Kunz
A list of interesting energy management headlines from the last few days . . .
Deepwater Drilling for U.S.? Try Deepwater Wind
An inside look at the lab that could help the U.S. keep pace with Europe.
LEED Certified Buildings May Not Be Healthy Buildings
Weaknesses in the way LEED certification measures adverse health impacts of building materials gives a false impression of the safety of "environmentally friendly" buildings, according to a new study.
‘Green' Energy is Critical for a Secure Energy Supply
Green energy systems are essential in securing energy supply and protecting the environment, according to a new report from Lloyd's 360 Risk Insight and UK think tank Chatham House.
No-Cost, Low-Cost Tips For Saving Money on Energy Bills
As the heat and humidity of summer approach, Dominion Virginia Power is encouraging customers to take no-cost and low-cost steps to reduce their energy use and lower their electric bills.
We Need $16B per Year for Energy Innovation
Americans spend more on potato chips every year than energy investment, said Kleiner Perkins venture capitalist John Doerr at an event on Wednesday morning for the newly created American Energy Innovation Council.
Photo courtesy of The European Wind Energy Association
Today we're premiering a midweek edition of Energy Management News. Rather than recapping the previous week's news every Monday morning, we're now going to give you energy management and sustainability highlights a couple of times each week. If you prefer these shorter, more frequent posts, be sure to let us know.
The Many Facets of Green Building Innovation
The process and adoption of innovation are the result of several forces at work, not all of them necessarily aligned: The need to customize the product to fit the specific needs of the client and the need for scope, scale and speed. You also must understand the group for which you are innovating.
A Pocket Full of Power
A new startup has created an economical, pint-sized fuel cell that could be just the thing for emerging markets. One prototype (built around a container that once held breath mints) will generate two to three watts of power.
USPS Inks $28.7M Deal to Cut Energy Costs at nearly 2,300 Locations
The U.S. Postal Service has signed a $28.7 million contract to install energy-management systems in up to 2,250 post offices as part of its plan to cut energy costs 30 percent by 2015 from 2003 levels, reports Bloomberg Businessweek.
Great Lakes to Get Great Big Wind Turbines
Traditionally, offshore wind farms have been located on the coast, but GE and LEEDCo hope to generate 1000 MW of wind energy from Lake Erie within the next decade.
Tax Fraud Plagues Carbon Trading Program
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, tax fraud is the carbon trading market's most egregious form of cheating, affecting about seven percent of this $125 billion market in 2009.
And now for something completely different . . .
iPhone More Important Invention Than Flush Toilets?
A question for the ages: Is the iPhone a more important invention than the humble toilet? Amazingly, for many Britons, it is. A recent survey indicates the iPhone is literally the greatest thing since sliced bread - at least in the UK.