All posts published in 2016
The Phononic solid state heating and cooling revolution is almost here Treehugger, May 9, 2016 In 2014 TreeHugger covered Phononic and its solid state cooling devices, suggesting that we may be on the verge of a cooling revolution. These were devices that they believed could actually replace compressor technologies in our fridges and our air … Read more
Regulations look past motors to improve system efficiencies Plant Engineering, May 6, 2016. Image credit: S.J. de Waard – CC BY-SA 3.0, Electric motor system efficiency and power electronics are impacting future energy saving opportunities as attention moves from motor efficiency to motor-driven system efficiency. In the U.S., the first move was to apply motor … Read more
Buildings must improve their energy use; here’s what that means for you CalMatters, April 30, 2016. Image credit: geralt Rows of newly minted model homes unspool across a verdant, rolling landscape in this sprawling master-planned community near Sacramento. Solar panels glint across 1,000 acres of rooftops. On a tidy cul-de-sac, a faux-grass lawn flanks the driveway … Read more
Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits Brownstoner recently reported on a real estate developer who purchased a seven-unit townhome in Brooklyn for $6.8 million in 2014. The developer plans to substantially renovate the building, creating a single-family dwelling, and the architects chosen for the job, Baxt Ingui, are well known for using passive house and energy … Read more
Protecting Our Health Through Energy Efficiency and Building Upgrades Energy Star, April 28, 2016 Did you know our sister group here at EPA offers an excellent guide about how to protect indoor air quality (IAQ) while making building upgrades? The Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades (the Guide) “walks” users … Read more
The Benefits of Energy-Efficiency Improvements in Multifamily MHN, April 29, 2016. Image credit: shard202 MHN caught up with long-time multifamily owner and manager Robert Nelson, president of New York-based Nelson Management Group, to discuss how his company has implemented vast energy-efficiency upgrades at its properties and the importance of energy management in the multifamily industry. MHN: What are … Read more
More Good Efficiency News for Rooftop Air Conditioners NRDC, April 29, 2016. Image credit: derwiki The Department of Energy (DOE) recognized six large companies this week for their investments in increasing the efficiency of these rooftop air conditioners by replacing or retrofitting aging, inefficient units with more efficient machinery. Rooftop air conditioners—commonly used in low-rise buildings … Read more
Can smart thermostats really help save money on your energy bill? Global News, May 1, 2016. Image credit: Nest According to a recent study commissioned by Telus, one of the greatest perceived benefits of living in a “smarter” home includes saving money and being greener. Of those who currently own a smart home gadget, 36 … Read more
We’re tracking major US energy efficiency metrics on a new webpage. Check out how 2015 measures up. ACEEE, April 15, 2016. Image credit: PDPics We picked metrics covering residential and commercial buildings, state adoption of building codes, energy savings from appliance standards, industry energy intensity, combined heat and power (CHP) capacity, personal and freight transport energy … Read more
How to make cities more energy efficient MIT News, April 20, 2016. Image credit: bryanucla New research shows how to identify the buildings where retrofitting for energy efficiency will have the biggest impact on a city’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The new findings, which require only minimal information about the buildings and their energy use, was … Read more