Everyday Efficiency: Boiling Water

A Watched Pot: What Is The Most Energy Efficient Way To Boil Water? Inside Energy, February 23, 2016. Image credit: Unsplash What is the most energy efficient way to boil 500 milliliters (about 2 cups) of water? And which method has the smallest carbon footprint? For appliances – microwave, electric tea kettle, electric stovetop – the … Read more

Using Mapping Technology to Achieve Smart City Status

Mapping technology turning Depok in Indonesia into smart city Computer Weekly, February 24, 2016. Image credit: gr8effect The Indonesian city of Depok has implemented smart mapping technology to boost government efficiency and productivity in line with its commitment to achieve smart city status by 2025. Depok, just south of the capital Jakarta on the island of Java, … Read more

Cree SmartCast Technology Redefines Lighting Efficiency

Cree SmartCast Technology

Cree Reinvents Lighting Controls with the Push of One Button Cree, February 4, 2016. Image credit: tpsdave Cree, Inc. introduces SmartCast™ Technology, the first self-programming wireless lighting-control system that reduces energy consumption by more than 70 percent*, at half the cost of traditional lighting controls. Intuitive and easy to use, luminaires enabled with Cree SmartCast Technology … Read more

Building Blocks for Net Zero Cities

Smart digital platform to boost energy efficiency in cities CORDIS, February 17, 2016. Image credit: karanja The platform, designed for city planners, industry and energy stakeholders, assesses and maps buildings’ energy behaviour, and can also remotely control public street lighting. The platform has already succeeded in cutting energy use in several cities across Europe where it … Read more

Boeing Delivers a New Reversible Fuel Cell

Reversible fuel cell goes both ways for the US Navy Gizmag, February 9, 2016 Boeing has delivered a new type of fuel cell to the US Navy for testing that can both store energy and generate electricity. Called a “reversible solid oxide fuel cell,” it’s designed to absorb energy from renewable sources, such as wind … Read more

A DOE Standard Could Phase out CFLs

CFLs Lighting Standard

DOE proposes light bulb standard EE News, February 12, 2016. Image credit: suvajit DOE issued a proposed rule this afternoon for light bulbs that would likely lead to the phaseout of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), analysts say. The rule has been under discussion for more than a decade. It was affected by a “light bulb rider” … Read more

What’s Hot? Combined Heat and Power – A New Approach to Project Acceleration

Presented at the AESP 26th National Conference on February 3, 2016 Lucy Neiman and Gita Subramony, ERS The growing focus on distributed generation (DG) has fueled new approaches that streamline and reduce the complexity of project installations. This design and initial results from an accelerator program encourages and promotes the installation of combined heat and power … Read more

Metal Muscles Make Refrigeration More Efficient

Shape memory alloys the basis for more efficient refrigerant-free cooling Gizmag, February 8, 2016. Image credit: By preserving our food and keeping our buildings comfortable in hot weather, mechanical cooling systems have been a boon, but with their refrigerant gases and high power consumption they’re not exactly environmentally friendly. In an effort to make a … Read more

Weatherbug Home Saves National Grid Customers 3X More

National Grid Weatherbug Home

Market Study Finds WeatherBug Home Delivers 3X Higher Consumer Energy Efficiency With Improved Customer Comfort In Utility Pilot Business Wire, January 29, 2016. Image credit: Weatherbug Consumers who integrated WeatherBug Home’s HVAC control and optimization capabilities with their connected thermostat saved 16.5% electricity when cooling their home as compared to 5.1% HVAC savings from a … Read more

Deciphering LED Metrics

Inside LED Metrics Buildings, January 29, 2016. Image credits: Lee_seonghak Lighting Facts Labels The DOE established the LED Lighting Facts program to ensure one consistent source of information about all LED products. Lighting Facts labels include five basic metrics. Color temperature (CCT): Color temperature characterizes how “cool” (blue) or “warm” (yellow) a white light appears. Ratings … Read more