Browsing Archive: September, 2011
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 29, 2011,
from Clean TechiesLED lights, or light emitting diodes, are increasingly more common in newly manufactured devices. A beneficial addition to solid-state lighting, LEDs provide long-lifelighting technology in applications such as safety street lighting, vehicles, medical devices and garden lighting. With a brighter output, longer life, lower consumption of power and little to no required maintenance, LEDs are a much-improved lighting option over incandescent bulbs.Why hybrid capacitors?
LEDs ha... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 28, 2011,
from Boston.comNEW YORK - Google wants to buy solar panels for your house. The search giant announced yesterday that it will provide $75 million to build 3,000 residential solar electricity systems across the country. Google will own the panels, and get paid over time by customers who purchase the electricity the panels produce. Google is creating a fund with a San Francisco company called Clean Power Finance that local solar installers will be able to tap so they can offer financing plans to p...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 27, 2011,
from newsobserver.comLooking for ways to lower your utility bills? Lowering the amount of energy you use to light your home is one place to start. About 20 percent of your monthly energy usage goes toward illuminating your home, and slashing that bill takes a little more effort than simply turning off the lights. Here are my top five ways to cut your lighting costs so you can Do Your Part and turn on instant savings. 1. Pick the Best Bulb There are more energy-efficient light bulbs to choos...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 27, 2011,
from NY TimesA Georgia company says it has overcome a major roadblock in turning agricultural waste into vehicle fuel and other useful chemicals by experimenting with a technology that treats the waste with compressed water heated to very high temperatures. The company, Renmatix, plans to cut the ribbon on a research and development center on Tuesday in King of Prussia, Pa., near the heart of the nation’s chemical and refining industry, to complete development of the process. The goal is t...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 27, 2011,
from Earth911Q: I’m beginning the sad, sad conversion of my apartment from summer to fall. Is there a proper way to clean and store my window conditioner unit? A: Sad, sad is right my friend. In fact, I can’t think of a more depressing end-of-summer ritual. For the past couple weeks I’ve been avoiding even looking at the two faithful — if a bit tired — window units in my own apartment because when I do, the grim reality that winter is just around the corner hits me like a quick and f... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 27, 2011,
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Saturday, September 24, 2011,
from Environmental News Network
Solar power could be harvested more efficiently and transported over longer distances using tiny molecular circuits based on quantum mechanics, according to research inspired by new insights into natural photosynthesis. Incorporating the latest research into how plants, algae and some bacteria use quantum mechanics to optimize energy production via photosynthesis, UCL scientists have set out how to design molecular circuitry that is 10 times smaller than the thi... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Saturday, September 24, 2011,
from Why Green PowerHome energy efficiency and sustainability have been major policy priorities for the Obama administration, but lurking in the background are two consistent questions: Beyond the documentable savings on utility bills, do such steps add to the resale value of a home? And do they make it easier or faster to sell your property? Housing groups and housing officials say that definitive statistical data covering multiple regions of the country are scarce. But some localized researc...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 23, 2011,
from NY TimesHOBOKEN, N.J. — On summer evenings, the running path along the riverfront here is clogged with businessmen on smartphones tripping over dog leashes and joggers weaving through a stream of strollers. It had gotten even more congested recently as curious pedestrians congregated around a fenced-off parking lot on Sinatra Drive to guess the purpose of the structure being built inside. "People have asked us if we’re building a waterfront bar,” said a worker, Steve Scribner. “As...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 23, 2011,
from Gas and Electricity PricesAre you fed up with shelling out over to fill up your tank. Do you wonder how it got so high, and whether it could ever go back down? Have you contemplated looking into a hybrid car for better gas mileage? There seems to be a lot of talk about hybrid cars, combined with the economy, the environment, and gas prices. Before you head out to get a new hybrid car, you must ask yourself a few questions. Are there different ways to bring down gas besides getting a hybr... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 23, 2011,
from Duluth News TribuneThe new passenger terminal under construction at the Duluth International Airport already was pretty green. The project — which is being built with sustainable and Earth-friendly approaches — is headed for LEED certification, a sort of environmental stamp of approval in building practices and energy efficiency. But the $70 million terminal project can go much deeper into sustainability now with a $3.8 million grant it just received from the Federal Aviation Administr... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 22, 2011,
from Spark EnergyWashing and drying clothes can use lots of water and electricity and can cost you a pretty penny if you’re not careful. The average American family does almost 400 loads of laundry per year, and, with a conventional washing machine, uses about 40 gallons of water for a full load. Using high efficiency (HE) front-loading clothes washers can help you save money on electricity. Such washers can cut the electricity you use to wash clothes by up to 70 percent, and, over the life ... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 22, 2011,
from GigaomMy organization, The Carbon War Room, has put together a consortium to tackle, as was reported in the New York Times this week: “one of the nation’s biggest energy problems — waste in older buildings — without new money from Washington.” With the consortium, we’re also tackling another case of waste: developed technologies that are not being deployed. Business can halve the world’s emissions using current technology, acting within existing policy frameworks, and despit... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
from Market WatchCHARLOTTE, N.C., Sep 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Heartland Health has saved
15,300 trees, 342,400 gallons of oil and 2,703 cubic yards of landfill space
while reducing its energy costs with greener practices and support from the
Premier healthcare alliance.
"Everyone in healthcare is being asked to do more with less. Having Premier
do all this work on energy is a big deal," said David Jones, vice president of
support services at Heartland in St. Joseph, Mo. "Premier stu... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
from Triple PunditAnyone who has watched waves lining up from a high point near shore can imagine the incredible potential of wave energy. Last week at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo in Honolulu, Carnegie Wave Energy Limited presented its progress in this field. Carnegie is an Australian company (one of only 2 publicly traded wave energy companies) working to bring wave powered energy to market. Carnegie raised $45 million to help develop the technology, in addition to $12.5 mi... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
from GreenBiz.comRegardless of size, most companies now have a sustainability strategy. Whether it's due to good economic sense, a corporate desire to do the "right thing," an evolving business model, or adhering to government mandates, the necessity for businesses to operate in a more sustainable manner has become the topic of the day. In the short term, most businesses look to simplify operations through the most obvious means such as adopting recycling policies, implementing energy-efficien... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
from Caelus Green RoomBelow are 6 great tips that will help get your home ready for autumn. Check for gaps around your windows and doors – Check for leaks by lighting some incense and watching the smoke or trying to insert a piece of paper through the seams of doors and windows. Eliminating leaks will increase the overall efficiency of your home heating and cooling. Do a walk-around outside you house – Be sure to walk around the entire perimeter of your house and bring in the summer items y... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
from iStock AnalystSept. 21--An Ohio State University plan to
drill 450 geothermal wells to help heat and cool several buildings has run
aground as soil conditions proved more difficult than expected.
The university has had to rearrange the
schedule for the project, which will heat and cool five dorm buildings
containing 2,360 beds, said Mary Lynn Readey, associate vice president for
facilities operations and development.
The project requires drilling beneath the
South Oval and the pa... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 20, 2011,
from BrighterEnergy.orgDetroit Edison, DTE Energy’s electric utility, will be seeking bids from qualified Michigan energy efficiency implementation vendors to provide energy-saving programs for two of the company’s programs: ENERGYSTAR and Commercial & Industrial. The company is seeking to increase the adoption of high efficiency ENERGYSTAR products through retail markets. In addition, the products will have more exposure to customers and better placement in stores, through market support o... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 20, 2011,
from Spark EnergyCentral air conditioning systems can last from 15 to 20 years. Sticking with an older unit may be less expensive in the short run, but not when it comes to helping you save money off monthly utility bills. Here’s some information to help you make a better decision when it comes time to get a new, energy-efficient central air conditioner. A Few Facts on Air Conditioning and Energy-EfficiencyIf you’re wondering whether it’s time to replace or upgrade your central air condi... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 20, 2011,
from Renewable Energy WorldLONDON -- Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs), and their application in geothermal heat extraction, have matured as a technology in recent years. But their take-up varies widely in Europe from country to country. Climatic and geological conditions differ a great deal, and economic circumstances and traditional construction methods are wildly dissimilar. At the recent Ground Source Live! Conference in Peterborough, UK, Philippe Dumas, manager of the ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 20, 2011,
from Mercury NewsFirst Solar, which achieved record efficiency for a thin-film
solar cell, will incorporate the advance into its manufacturing technology next
quarter to outpace cost reductions by Chinese rivals and compete against fossil
fuels without government aid.
First Solar developed a cell that converts 17.3 percent of sunlight into
electricity and applying those techniques may yield conversion rates of 15.3
percent in mass production, said Chief Technology Officer David Eaglesha... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 20, 2011,
from PR NewswireSummary "Geothermal Power in the United States (US), Market Outlook to 2020, 2011 Update - Capacity, Generation, Power Plants, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information on the geothermal power market. The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global geothermal power market with forecasts up to 2020. The report analyzes the power market outlook in... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 16, 2011,
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 16, 2011,
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 14, 2011,
from Renewable Energy World
This scene has played out before me countless times. An individual approaches me with only the vaguest idea of what a ground source heat pump is. I take my time, and explain that it is simply a method of extracting heat from the earth, to put in your home. I explain that since the heat already exists, we don't use electricity to generate the heat, just to pump it from one place to another. I move on to explain the benefits of this method of heating your home: lower ... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 13, 2011,
from Green BizSilicon Valley is well known for its exciting new technology. For nearly 20 years, one builder has followed the Silicon Valley way by continuously innovating. John Suppes, founder and president of Clarum Homes has been shattering energy efficiency records while appealing to the demanding Silicon Valley executives who are his primary customers. His most recent development is the first certified passive house on the San Francisco Peninsula that realizes a 90 percent improvement in ... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Tuesday, September 13, 2011,
With an impending energy crisis, the need for modernized insulation methods has reached an all-time high. Currently, almost half of the nation’s energy is used to heat and cool commercial and residential buildings. However, a typical home loses around 30 percent of this energy through its windows and doors. To address this wasteful use of energy, scientists have developed advanced technologies to help control the amount of temperature transferred from outdoors in. While many are still in te... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Saturday, September 10, 2011,
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 9, 2011,
from Facilities.net
After more than 10 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Energy Star Buildings program has become well established as a resource to help building owners and managers reduce energy use and improve their bottom lines. The Energy Star score — which shows how a building's energy use stacks up to comparable buildings on a 1 to 100 scale — is not only widely used by individual building owners, but also has been adopted by the LEED for Existing Buildings: O... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 9, 2011,
from Clean Techies
Arguably, the most complicated piece of machinery in the automotive world is a transmission. Transmissions transmit the power from the motor to the wheels in a way that prevents the engine from damaging itself while maximizing the power of the engine. Some battery electric vehicles may be able to skip the transmission all together using just two or three simplified set of gears. However, in internal combustion engines (ICE), the transmissions provide the gears to best capita... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 8, 2011,
from GreenBiz
Nature of Business radio, created and hosted by Chrissy Coughlin, is a weekly show on business and environment.
This week, Nature of Business host Chrissy Coughlin speaks with Fritz Morgan, Chief Product Officer at Boston-based Digital Lumens. Fritz talks to Chrissy about the intricacies and evolution of LED lighting, including light quality and cost as well as how Digital Lumens has found their niche in the industrial lighting arena. Fritz also discusses his career trajectory... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 7, 2011,
from Clean TechiesMaking buildings and our lifestyles more energy efficient is one of the best ways to reduce emissions because it can be done now. As we move towards alternative energy, some companies are also working on ways to cut down the amount of energy we use, and to create energy-efficient products.
Energy Refuge caught up with Anthony Domel from Chicago-based Energy Results, a company that provides energy efficiency solutions, to find out what we can do to save energy.
ER: What is... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Wednesday, September 7, 2011,
from Physorg.com
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have unveiled a semiconductor nanocrystal coating material capable of controlling heat from the sun while remaining transparent. Based on electrochromic materials, which use a jolt of electric charge to tint a clear window, this breakthrough technology is the first to selectively control the amount of near infrared radiation. This radiation, which leads to heating, pas... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Monday, September 5, 2011,
from GreenbangThe UK’s Nottingham University plans to use a hydrogen-based system to store renewably generated energy in a residential microgrid.
The deployment is part of the university’s Creative Energy Homes (CEH) project, which aims to stimulate ideas for sustainable design and promote new ways to provide affordable, environmentally sustainable and innovative housing.
Under a new phase of the CEH project, the university plans to store surplus solar and wind energy using a solid hyd... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Sunday, September 4, 2011,
from Caelus Green Room
Ecolabels and Green Stickers are labelling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are often voluntary, but Green Stickers are mandated by law in North America for major appliances and automobiles. They are a form of sustainability measurement directed at consumers, intended to make it easy to take environmental concerns into account when shopping. Some labels quantify pollution or energy consumption by way of index scores or units of measurement; others simply... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomic.edu on Sunday, September 4, 2011,
from Green Beat
Energy Hub, a provider of energy efficiency products and associated software, announced today that it has raised $14.5 million in its second round of funding.
The company builds web-enabled home energy software that tracks electricity usage. It sells outlets, surge protectors, thermostats and the like that plug into a home’s network and then exports that data to a web-based interface. It then gives home owners suggestions — such as powering down an air conditioning unit ... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Sunday, September 4, 2011,
from Caleus Green Room
1. When Replacing your Electric Clothes Dryer, Switch to a Natural Gas Model
Natural gas clothes dryers reduce your home’s peak load on the power grid compared to an electric dryer. When replacing your electric clothes dryer, select a natural gas model. In many situations, this will reduce your overall energy bill because natural gas tends to cost less than electricity, for the same heating value.
Purchasing Tips:
- To use a gas dryer, your laundry room must have a ...
Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Sunday, September 4, 2011,
from Morris Sun Tribune
It seems counterintuitive to rely on the sun to cool a building, but that's exactly what the West Central Research and Outreach Center is doing with a new solar-powered air conditioning system, one of the first systems of this kind in the country.
Renewable Energy Scientist Eric Buchanan is testing the performance of the system as part of a grant to the WCROC to test small-scale renewable energy through the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) wi... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 2, 2011,
from Healthy News Digest
by Earth Talk (HealthNewsDigest.com) - The Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act (H.R. 2417) was a failed attempt in July 2011 by some Republicans in the House to repeal a 2007 law mandating increased efficiency for light bulbs sold anywhere in the U.S. Sponsors of the bill cited the 2007 bulb efficiency requirements—whereby light bulbs must be 25 to 30 percent more efficient by 2014 and then as much as 60 percent more efficient by 2020—as a key example of how govern... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Friday, September 2, 2011,
from the Muskogee Phoenix
by Cathy Spaulding, Phoenix Staff Writer The Harris-Jobe Elementary media center goes dark when students aren’t in there studying or checking out books — that’s how media specialist Gina Batie wants it. Batie also makes sure power strips are unplugged and computers are shut off when nobody’s there. Her rule: “If you’re not using it, it’s off.” Such diligence has helped Harris-Jobe cut its energy use by more than 14 percent. It helped the school district cu... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 1, 2011,
from Energy Star. Visit for more details.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a new or substantially rehabilitated Multifamily High Rise (MFHR) building must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by EPA, making them designed to be at least 15% more energy efficient than MFHR buildings built to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2007.
To ensure that a MFHR building meets ENERGY STAR guidelines, the developer of a project parti... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu on Thursday, September 1, 2011,
from Bloomberg
Solar generators may produce the majority of the world’s power within 50 years, slashing the emissions of greenhouse gases that harm the environment, according to a projection by the International Energy Agency.
Photovoltaic and solar-thermal plants may meet most of the world’s demand for electricity by 2060 -- and half of all energy needs -- with wind, hydropower and biomass plants supplying much of the remaining generation, Cedric Philibert, senior analyst in the renewab... Continue reading ...
Posted by eco.nomics.edu from re-nest on Thursday, September 1, 2011,
According to the Slow Home Principle of Orientation, "a Slow Home is properly oriented to the sun, prevailing winds, and immediate surroundings in order to facilitate natural heating and cooling." While this sounds lovely and totally ideal, most of us live in dwellings that are already built with no way to change their orientation. If this sound like your situation, read on for ten ways to conserve energy.
10 tips continued Continue reading ...
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