All posts published in 2016
Ask the Expert: What’s the difference between “net-zero” and “carbon-neutral” in relation to buildings and efficiency? Ryan Pollin, ERS, for Zondits There are many different but nearly synonymous terms for buildings, campuses, and communities going in the general direction of net zero. Per the Department of Energy, the best term is a zero energy building (ZEB). This is … Read more
Jesse Remillard, ERS, for Zondits There are strong signs that commercial, or behind-the-meter, energy storage has turned a corner in regards technical maturity, commercial value, and ultimately, financial credibility. A report issued by Sandia National Laboratories in August says that many sources believe that the commercial energy storage market is currently at the “tipping point,” … Read more
Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits Zondits has previously written about Ohio’s tumultuous relationship with energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. Over the past few years Ohio has been in a suspended state as these goals remain frozen, putting the future of energy efficiency and renewable energy on hold. Now a new bill (HB 554) has … Read more
DOE Funds Projects to Develop Electric Motor Innovations ACHR News, December 8, 2016 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $25 million for 13 projects aimed at advancing technologies for energy-efficient electric motors through applied research and development. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Next Generation Electric Machines projects will address the … Read more
Energy Efficiency Through Plug Load Control: Not Exciting…But Effective Energy Manager Today, July 6, 2016 A July feature at Automated Buildings put the topic in context. The piece, written by Alerton’s Kevin Callahan and Kevin Clinger, pointed to two reasons that plug loads should be paid attention to. Ensuring continuity of operations is one. The other, … Read more
Lisa Markowski, ERS, for Zondits New England’s largest state is also home to its largest battery storage project, which began operation in December 2016 at the Wyman Energy Center in Yarmouth, Maine. This supersized battery, which consists of eight individual battery units (each the size of a freight container), holds a total of 1,300 lithium … Read more
Niagara Falls unveils spectacular LED lighting upgrade Lux, December 14, 2016 The Niagara Falls Illumination Board has unveiled a new LED-based dynamic lighting system that makes the famed falls even more spectacular at night. The twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls, New York collaborated on the $4 million solid-state lighting (SSL) … Read more
Meet the streetlights that are powered by footsteps Lux, November 30, 2016 A new street lighting system that harnesses energy from pedestrians’ footsteps has been installed in Las Vegas in the United States. The foot-powered fixtures were developed by EngoPlanet, a New York based start-up. The street lights are part-powered by kinetic energy generated by … Read more
California Is First State To Set Energy-Efficiency Limits For Computers NPR, December 16, 2016 California is the first state to adopt efficiency standards for computers and monitors, the state’s energy commission announced this week. The commission approved regulations that limit the amount of energy computers and small servers can use when they are idling, asleep … Read more
LEDs Cut New York’s Christmas-Light Energy Needs by 35% Greentech Media, December 14, 2016 New York’s grid operator reported on Monday that holiday-light energy use has declined by about one-third from 2010, largely due to the switch to LEDs. This year, holiday lighting will add about 750 megawatts of load, down from about 1,150 megawatts in 2010. … Read more