All posts published in 2016
Researchers report new thermoelectric material with high power factors Phys, November 14, 2016 Researchers reported this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have demonstrated a step forward in converting waste heat – from industrial smokestacks, power generating plants or even automobile tailpipes – into electricity. The work, using a thermoelectric compound composed of … Read more
NYS Looks to Change Utilities’ Role in Energy Projects Energy Manager Today, November 10, 2016 Last week, a mandated report entitled “Energy Efficiency Metrics and Targets Options Report,” which was written by the Clean Energy Advisory Council, was released. The report draws heavily on work by Energy Innovation, a think tank based in San Francisco. Michael … Read more
How to Be Energy Efficient in Your Kitchen this Thanksgiving DOE, November, 23, 2011 Many of us will be thankful for a delicious home cooked dinner this Thursday. But did you know that cooking accounts for 4.5% of total energy use in U.S. homes? And that figure doesn’t include the energy associated with refrigeration, hot water heating, … Read more
What do the 2016 election results mean for energy efficiency? American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), November 10, 2016 Now that the hard-fought 2016 election is over, I think it is useful to consider its impact on energy efficiency policy. No doubt, a lot of uncertainty remains because of President-elect Donald Trump’s lack of … Read more
Renewables surged past coal in 2015 to become world’s biggest source of electricity: IEA CNBC, October 25, 2016 Renewable energy moved past coal in 2015 to become the biggest source of global electricity capacity, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday. Last year “marked a turning point for renewables” the body said, with clean … Read more
Britain’s last coal power plants to close by 2025 The Guardian, November 9, 2016 The last coal power station in Britain will be forced to close in 2025, the government said as it laid out its plan to phase-out the polluting fossil fuel. Ministers promised last year that the UK would close coal power within … Read more
Lisa Markowski, ERS, for Zondits Two Roads Brewing Co. is expanding its Stratford, Connecticut, operation with a focus on energy efficiency. The craft brewery has purchased 2.5 acres adjacent to its campus to build a separate facility for production of fruit-based sours and barrel-aged beverages without risk of cross-contamination. Construction of the 25,000-square-foot facility is … Read more
New Flooring Tech Generates Electricity Through Your Footsteps Futurism, October 31, 2016 Pavegen, a British clean-tech company, is taking an innovative approach to sustainability by generating energy from something that most people do every day: walk. The technology is basically a multifunctional, custom flooring system that is outfitted with a wireless transmitter, which allows the data … Read more
University Science Building saves $1.2 million in annual energy costs while maintaining environmental safety ventilation requirements Analytika, April 13, 2015 This university Science and Engineering Building (SEB) is a 130,000 square foot state-of-the-art nanotechnology research facility. It houses class-10, class-100, and class-1,000 cleanrooms, offices and classrooms. The Challenge The University has a goal to reduce … Read more
Guess who gets zapped by Springfield’s latest energy-efficiency plan Crain’s Chicago Business, November 5, 2016 Who knew cutting electricity usage could cost so much? The state’s large industrial and manufacturing companies would see significant increases in their electric bills to help bankroll a dramatic expansion of energy-efficiency programs run by Commonwealth Edison and downstate utility … Read more