Customer Acceptance of the Smart Grid

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb-Energy Efficiency Significant investments have already been made in designing and constructing an electric grid that is automated, managed, and controlled by information and communications technologies. Thus far, the approach has been to place these enabling capabilities on top of a relatively aged and obsolete infrastructure, somewhat offsetting the potential...

SmartGrid and Renewable Energy: The Unresolved Questions

Wind Turbine Farms As the electricity industry forges ahead in defining and ultimately implementing SmartGrid and transitioning to a supply portfolio that includes renewable energy sources, there are a number of unanswered questions and obvious objections that must be confronted to ensure the full benefits of improved reliability, increased energy efficiency, and reduced CO2 emissions.  These...

The Inevitability of Smart Grid

Expansion of Driving Forces Point to Smart Grid Wind Turbine Farm Much of the current industry discussion around Smart Grid tends to focus on its benefits related to improved environmental stewardship through energy conservation and the introduction of renewable energy resources. Although these benefits will have a permanent role in the overall business case for Smart Grid investments, there are...

The Peak Oil Debate – Does it Matter?

Establishing the Context The theory of peak oil implies that there will be a time at which global oil production begins a permanent decline as a result of supply and economic production factors. Should world demand continue to increase (as it has), the point of peak oil will pose a significant supply and price problem for the world economy. The question we seek to explore is, “Have we reached...

Reducing Home – Related Energy Costs

In reviewing the electricity price trends over the past 50 years (refer to figure 1) real electricity prices are at a level consistent with the industry’s lowest real level of the 1960s. Since many consumers are interested in reducing their overall household costs, there are certainly opportunities to reduce costs related to the use of electricity. However, the first step requires an...

Home Appliances – Energy Consumption vs. Conservation

Refrigerator/Freezer According to the EIA, U.S. residential, commercial and industrial customers consume 25 percent of the electricity generated worldwide, with more than 30 percent of that consumption, or 1.14 trillion kWh, used in homes. This seemingly high level of energy consumption in the residential sector can be attributed to the energy required to operate home appliances. Even though the...

Lowering Heating Bills – A Simple Proposition

With the continued increase in costs to heat homes in the winter and mounting financial pressure to make ends meet, homeowners are challenged to afford the comfort of an optimally heated home. This article identifies a number of simple and relatively inexpensive actions that can result in lower heating bills. Ceiling Fans Ceiling Fan Be sure to establish the fan’s direction in the clockwise...

Energy Star – Promoting Energy Conservation

Energy Star Label The Energy Star program, currently covering over 50 product categories, was started by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992. As currently positioned in the market, the Energy Star label highlights those products that are more energy efficient than other products in the same category. Most commonly found on appliances, the label can now be found on roofing materials...

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

In 1998 the U.S. Green Building Council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program which has evolved into the authority for establishing green building requirements for new construction and older homes, and for certifying new homes. In so doing, LEED drives the regulations to ensure that new construction is healthy and durable for both the occupants and...

Solar Powered Refrigerators

Solar power, often referred to as photovoltaics, is gaining traction as part of the overall energy efficiency solution. Applications range from powering our homes to charging cell phones and radios; and recent technological developments suggest that widespread production of solar powered automobiles will soon be a reality. Along these same lines, tremendous strides have been taken in applying...