Energy Efficient Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems

Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), easily mistaken for stucco or concrete, consist of a wall cladding that uses stiff insulation boards on the outside of a structure’s wall and an exterior coating made of plaster. This building technology originated in Germany in the aftermath of World War II and was introduced to the U.S. in the 1960’s. There are a number of varieties, but all...

Introduction to Demand Response

21st Century Electric Grid The traditional electric grid is a one-way system in that it provides electricity in response to an initiating event such as turning on an appliance or the cycling of a home’s heating and cooling system. A smart grid, the 21st century version of today’s grid, offers 2-way communication between the utility and consumer, where: The flow of electricity can be...

Solar Air Heater – Supplement to Conventional Heating

Solar Panels As homeowners are considering measures to reduce energy consumption solar energy invariably becomes a topic of discussion. The challenge in taking the discussion to the next step is that building a new solar home or implementing an extensive retrofit of an existing home is extremely expensive and it is particularly daunting given the uncertainties regarding economic payback. There...

Mobile Communications with Home Energy Management Systems

In previous articles we have addressed the topic of reducing home energy consumption by applying good insulation, installing double-paned glass and weather stripping; installing alternative energy technologies such as solar panels, and simply lessening the use of energy by turning off basic electronics and air conditioners when not needed. An important part of managing the use of energy includes...

LED Streetlights

Streetlights are an important public safety service that is expensive to maintain and consume a significant quantity on energy. Consequently, a number of U.S. cities, most notably Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, are embarking on programs to convert traditional street lights to light emitting diode (LED) lighting. These LED lighting systems are attractive because they: Do not consume as much...

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

ANWR – The Developing Controversy The Arctic National Wildlife Range is a fairly desolate frozen tundra region encompassing 8.9 million acres in the Northeast corner of Alaska. It was established in 1960 by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a wildlife refuge. Eight years later the largest oil field in North America, known as Prudhoe Bay, was discovered and developed nearby and the...

The Rising and Critical Role of Electricity

Energy is the Foundation of Modern U.S. Life GDP Growth and Energy Usage Each electric utility’s transmission and distribution system is fundamentally an energy delivery network. A first principle is that total energy usage (broadly defined) and GDP growth have always been and always will be highly correlated. Simply stated, economic growth in the U.S. (and in every developed economy)...