All posts published in 2016
Scientists Can Recycle CO2 Using Gold ENERGY, May 27, 2016 Using sunlight and gold to change carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel may sound like a task for a Hogwarts graduate, but it’s the kind of magic that researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are performing to make a positive impact on the world’s … Read more
Amber Plante, ERS, for Zondits Researchers at the University of Maryland and, in a separate study, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have created an innovative and highly insulating material that could one day revolutionize the way buildings are made. It’s wood – but not your typical lumber, of course: the team has … Read more
Divyanshu Kamboj, ERS, for Zondits The first wave for Internet of Things (IoT) has provided consumers with myriad services that were largely based on domain-specific vertical applications. As the IoT landscape consolidates further across various industry verticals, one emerging trend is to use an ecosystem lens to identify opportunities for collaboration and value creation. The … Read more
Valerie Eacret, ERS, for Zondits As temperatures in the northern hemisphere start to climb, many of us reach for the thermostat and turn on the air conditioning – in our homes, at work, and in our cars. People who don’t crank the A/C typically fall into one of two buckets: those who have it but … Read more
Here’s how GE is using software to change its business model CNBC, June 7, 2016 Call it the “Industrial internet” if you will. Take industrial machines from jet engines to medical equipment and turn them into intelligent interconnected devices. Suddenly, you are no longer just selling assets, you are selling services. You can improve the … Read more
Surcharge to fund energy efficiency in R.I. lacking support Providence Journal, June 1, 2016 State lawmakers are debating a plan to help home heating oil and propane customers pay for energy efficiency improvements — such as new furnaces — with a surcharge on those fuels. A bill, developed by the Rhode Island Office of Energy … Read more
Avista’s Helpful Approach is Working to Make Small Businesses More Energy Efficient Seattle PI, May 12, 2016. Image credit: monicore Entrepreneurs are busy people. Small businesses typically don’t have a dedicated energy manager or facility manager, so the task of reducing the energy spend falls to the owner. That makes it hard for utilities to reach … Read more
3 ways the IoT is already making cities smarter GreenBiz, June 1, 2016 Smart city case studies Cities across the nation and the world are using sensors and smart devices to transform every sector of public service. 1. Transportation Smart traffic management will enable car drivers to face less traffic jams, and real-time data will … Read more
Condenser Units: When to Repair and When to Replace ACHR News, June 6, 2016. Image credits: stevepb CAUSE OF FAILURE Many things can cause an outdoor condensing unit to stop working, the most common of which are compressor and coil failures. Scott Merritt, owner of Fire & Ice Heating & Air Conditioning in Columbus, Ohio, also … Read more
Minnesota utilities offer new energy-efficiency incentives Star Tribune, June 2, 2016. Image credit: skeeze Xcel Energy is trotting out new money-saving incentives for owners of energy-efficient, multi-tenant buildings. The incentives were laid out in Xcel’s Triennial Conservation Improvement Program, which was filed with Minnesota utility regulators this week. The “Multi-Family Building Efficiency” program is a joint … Read more