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
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Five Benefits of Data Center Energy Management
The amount of money wasted each year on idling servers equals the cost of the Apollo space program. But a number of simple strategies can help get your server load under control and start your company saving energy and money. (GreenerComputing)
Google Enters Wholesale Energy Procurement Market
Google has entered the wholesale energy market in a big way by signing a 20 year-deal to buy power from a NextEra Energy wind farm. (SmartMeters)
U.S. Government Moves to Implement Cool Roofs
The Department of Energy is embarking on initiatives to install cool roofs on its buildings whenever practical and is urging other federal agencies and commercial entities to do the same.
GE Offers $200m for a Smart Energy Idea
GE is offering a $200 million dare to startup entrepreneurs, technology pros and other innovative thinkers: Find a way to “reinvent how energy is produced, distributed and consumed.” (Consumer Energy Report)
Can’t Stand the Heat? Check Your Kitchen Ventilation System
Restaurants and other food service establishments are among the highest commercial consumers of energy per square foot. Take steps to improve the energy efficiency and performance of your CKV systems. (Prenova Energy Insider)
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California's Buildings Waste Huge Amounts of Energy, Study Says
Commercial buildings are responsible for 37 percent of California’s energy needs, according to a new report by Next 10.
Database Compiles Green Computing Incentives from Utilities
Software company Computer Lab Solutions has developed a database of incentives that utilities offer for green computing programs.
Kohl’s, Office Depot Add More Energy Efficient Stores
Continuing on their path to save energy and cut costs at their retail stores, Kohl’s Department Stores and Office Depot have recently added to their portfolio of energy-efficient stores.
California Attorney General Sues Fannie and Freddie
Take that, mortgage giants! California Attorney General (and gubernatorial candidate) Jerry Brown has filed a lawsuit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for blocking clean power financing programs known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE).
First Public EV Charging Station Opens in NYC
Coulomb Technologies installed its first charging station in New York that the public can use to recharge electric vehicles.
Photo by Alfonso Jimenez
Hospitals More Likely to Invest in Energy Efficiency
According to new research from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and Johnson Controls, healthcare organizations are more likely to invest in energy efficiency for their facilities compared to other industry sectors across North America.
Demand Response Helps Fill Supply Gaps in Heat Wave
Faced with brutally hot days and high energy demand last week, grid operators found that dialing down energy with demand response efficiency technology worked as effectively as drawing more juice from power plants.
Philadelphia Adds Solar Panels to Historic Bourse Building
Contributing to Philadelphia’s goal to become the greenest city in the U.S. by 2015, the historic Bourse building, the nation’s first commodities exchange, circa 1895, now has 210 solar panels on its roof, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
PA Investments Will Help Replace Inefficient Energy Systems with Cleaner, Money-Saving Solutions
Commercial businesses, school districts, and homeowners throughout Pennsylvania will be able to replace old, inefficient energy systems with new technology and save a total of $190,000 a year, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Austin Burke said on July 7.
Smart Thermostat Connects to Solar Panels
You have solar panels on your rooftop, a digital thermostat on your wall and a heating and cooling system throughout your home — why not connect the whole lot of them?
Photo courtesy of brykmantra
With 4th of July celebrations upon us-as well as the summer heat-no one wants their energy bills to rise with the temperature. Now is the time to think about how to manage your home energy use effectively, practically, AND economically. So, to coincide with our nation celebrating its independence, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program is bringing you cooling tips for every budget.
Cooling Tips for Every Budget
Staying cool this summer doesn't have to mean cranking up the AC and spending a lot of money. A typical household spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. EPA's ENERGY STAR program has some low-to-no cost energy-saving tips to beat the heat and save money, too.
No-Cost
- Program your thermostat to work around your family's summer schedule-set it a few degrees higher when no one is home, so your cooling system isn't cooling an empty house. With proper use, programmable thermostats can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
- Check your HVAC system's air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it, but change the filter at least every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool-wasting energy.
- Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan.
- Close the curtains and shades before you leave your home, to keep the sun's rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to act as shade.
Low-Cost
- Remember to have your HVAC system serviced annually to ensure it's running at optimum efficiency for money and energy savings.
- Swap out incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices-ENERGY STAR qualified lighting not only uses less energy, it also produces about 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, so cooling bills will be reduced, too.
- Seal your ducts. As much as 20 percent of the air moving through your home's duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections. Seal duct work using mastic sealant or metal tape and insulate all the ducts that you can access (such as those in attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and garages).
- Make sure that connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet your floors, walls, and ceilings. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.
Medium-to-Higher Cost
- When buying a room AC unit, look for one that has earned EPA's ENERGY STAR. If every room air conditioner in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR qualified, they would prevent 900 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually-equivalent to the emissions from 80,000 cars.
- Add insulation to your attic to keep cool air in-if every American household did so, we'd collectively save more than $1.8 billion in yearly energy costs.
- Hire a contractor to seal and insulate the interior ductwork in your home (the ducts you can't reach yourself). For help on choosing the right contractor, go to www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement.
- If your central AC unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with a model that has earned EPA's ENERGY STAR could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.
For more information about keeping cool and comfortable while saving money this season, visit www.energystar.gov.
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 handful of interesting energy management stories from the last few days . . .
Shining a Light on Greater Building Efficiency
Lighting upgrades are just one element of a larger process that can yield greater savings and better energy performance in buildings.
Can Kevin Costner Help Clean up the Gulf?
What can actor Kevin Costner do for the oil-soaked Gulf Coast? Last week, the movie star told Congress he has a device that can separate oil from water in a safe, clean, and effective manner.
The Second Wave of the Smart Grid
Smart meters, yes. But then what?
New Study: Burning Trees for Power Worse for Climate than Burning Coal
A study commissioned by MA Department of Energy Resources and released last week reaches the conclusion that burning trees to make electricity is worse for the climate than burning coal. Who didn't know that?
Burger King Restaurant Cuts Energy Costs by 45%
The quick service chain has unveiled a new energy-efficient restaurant located in Germany that uses state-of-the-art technologies and renewable energy to power one-third of the restaurant's energy requirements, reducing energy costs by 45 percent and CO2 emissions by more than 1201 metric tons annually.
Photo by Ian Livesey
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
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of websites devoted to energy efficiency and sustainability. But who has time to read them all? You don't. We like to focus on what really matters. So twice each week, Prenova brings you five energy management stories we think you'll find interesting.
New Study Explores Value of 'Recycling' Old Buildings
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Cascadia Green Building Council, and the Green Building Services sustainable development consultancy have launched a study project to quantify the economic and environmental value of reusing existing buildings.
The Oil Industry's Plan to Survive the Gulf of Mexico Spill
You name the oil company, they're leaving the Gulf.
Energy Efficiency Investment Remains Strong Despite Downturn
Investment in energy efficiency remained high last year despite the economic downturn, according to a survey conducted by Johnson Controls. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that financial institutions in particular are beginning to see the value of investments in energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR Announces New Measures to Enforce Energy Efficiency Compliance
The famous blue and white logo of the ENERGY STAR program, jointly run by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environment Protection Agency, has lost some of its luster thanks to a few high-profile manufacturers who failed to comply with the program's energy efficiency guidelines.
How Should Regulators Encourage Energy Efficiency?
Finding the right regulatory framework to reward investor-owned utilities for energy efficiency has been a holy grail in the electricity business. Would any successful organization be excited about selling less of its product?
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Here are the top five energy management stories making headlines this week . . .
What is Your Thermostat Setting?
While the official start of summer is not until June 21, the warm weather has long since settled into the area. The days are growing longer as we approach the summer solstice, meaning the heat is also lingering.
Gulf Oil Spill: The Worst-Case Scenario
It's hard to imagine how the Gulf oil spill could get any worse. In the last 41 days, millions of gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf and at least 100 miles of Louisiana's coastline has been inundated with crude. Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is looking a lot more likely.
LEED System Expands to Include Neighborhood-Scale Developments
The U.S. Green Building Council recently released a certification system for green neighborhood development, known as LEED-ND. This expands the well-known LEED system for green buildings to larger-scale projects ranging in size from two buildings to multiple buildings on sites up to 320 acres.
EnergyHub and the Consumer-Facing Smart Grid
EnergyHub's home energy networking products aim to give the residential energy consumer control and insight into their energy usage.
Novel Energy-Saving Ideas for Data Centers
A "follow the moon" philosophy for data centers aimed at shifting workloads to locations where electricity costs are the lowest at any given time is one energy-saving idea presented by Harkeeret Singh, global head of energy and sustainable technology for Thompson Reuters.
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