Energy Performance Ratings

Energy Performance Ratings for windows, doors, and skylights indicate the potential for gaining or losing heat as well as transmitting sunlight into the home. Heat loss or gain can occur in a number of ways: Conduction, Radiation, and / or Air leakage. These properties are typically measured and rated according to a number of performance characteristics. Performance Characteristics The National...

Crude Oil Pricing

Oil Rig Crude Oil or petroleum, the “black stuff” that comes out of the ground, is made up of a variety of elements such as carbon, hydrogen and sulfur, and originates from the remains of plants and animals that existed in prehistoric ages. Hence, it is commonly referred to as fossil fuel. However, crude oil must be refined to produce energy, whether in the form of gasoline, kerosene or...

Fundamentals of Electricity

Fundamentals of Electricity As we build the energy authority website, we remain mindful that many of our readers might benefit from a tutorial of the terms and concepts around each form of energy. So, interspersed among our articles will be writings addressing some of the more basic elements of the principles involved. This article deals with those that underlie electricity. Electrons – The...

Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are an integrated photovoltaic (PV) product that directly generates electricity from sunlight and in some cases converts electricity to heat. They are made of the same material used in conventional solar panels: Wire Photo sensitive waterproof product Material to generate electric current in sunlight Like solar panels, solar shingles generate electricity. But, unlike solar...

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...

Hybrid Cars and Solar Power

Hybrid electric cars try to save energy and reduce emissions wherever  possible while the car is running. Fuel efficiency is achieved when a vehicle is stopped, decelerating, or moving slowly in traffic because the gasoline engine switches off and an electric motor (which creates little or no emissions) switches on. The gasoline engine reengages only as the driver requires more power to reach...

An Introduction to Smart Grid

Smart Grid – the Time is Now “Smart Grid” fulfills a comprehensive vision to improve the reliability, efficiency, and security of the electric network. The current grid (or network) becomes “smart” when the conventional electric system is augmented with communications infrastructure, data management, automation, and control technologies that provide for improved management of power...