Want to reduce the energy used by buildings? Make cities denser. Vox, January 26, 2017 For many years, urbanists have been singing the praises of urban density. Done well, density can increase economic output, increase per capita productivity, increase disposable income (by reducing heating, cooling, and transportation costs), and improve physical and mental health. Compact, … Read more
Northwestern Cuts Energy Use in the Battle of the Buildings Northwestern, January 23, 2017 From September 1 through November 30, 2016, Northwestern competed in the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR’s Battle of the Buildings, a national competition to reduce energy use in buildings. The top performer among the University’s competing buildings was the Tarry Research and Education … Read more
Why bother with energy efficiency? Control Design, January 19, 2017 “The end user is looking for energy-efficient machines, but these users are also looking to do more work with fewer machines as a means of saving energy,” says Mark Sobkow, vice president of manufacturing solutions, RedViking in Plymouth, Michigan. “We do a lot of projects that focus … Read more
DOE Publishes New CALiPER Snapshot on Troffers Department of Energy The U.S. Department of Energy’s CALiPER program has released a new Snapshot Report on LED troffer luminaires. Among the key findings of the Snapshot, which is based on DOE’s LED Lighting Facts® database: The efficacy of LED troffers is notably higher than what’s typical of troffers that are fitted … Read more
Urban innovation: Will the digitalization create sustainable cities? Huffington Post, October 31, 2016 Imagine a city. In the center, a brand-new supermarket has been equipped with digital solutions that constantly monitor the cooling systems’ performance to make more out of the energy used. Maybe a new skyscraper is popping up next door to the supermarket. … Read more
CO2 Utilization: A Look Ahead The Energy Collective, January 9, 2017 Finding ways to convert carbon dioxide from an energy and industrial sector waste product to a useful commodity could spur the development of new technologies, products, and industries while limiting emissions to the atmosphere of climate-altering pollutants. In 2016, U.S. policymakers demonstrated leadership in … Read more
Where Marijuana Plants Flourish Under Energy-Saving LED Lights New York Times, November 25, 2016 As cannabis has increasingly gone legitimate — about two dozen states had already legalized it in some form before several others eased restrictions on Election Day — electric utilities have struggled to cope with the intensive energy demands of the proliferating … Read more
MD’s first net-zero energy school opens its doors Construction Dive, January 5, 2017 Maryland school officials opened the first net-zero energy school in the state on Monday, according to The Baltimore Sun. In addition to energy-efficient elements like insulation, a geothermal heat pump and programmable lights, Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia, MD, also includes 2,000 … Read more
The importance of drive train efficiency Control Engineering, December 6, 2016 Rather than breaking down the drivetrain into different sections and focussing on a single component, such as the motor, Bauer believes that a view should be taken of a single, ‘electro-mechanical’ package – one which must be fully integrated to achieve maximum performance. Despite … Read more
Simplify With Networked Lighting Controls Facility Executive, December 23, 2016 Facility managers have a duty to deliver high-quality, reliable solutions to their customers/occupants in the most cost-effective manner possible. To do so, they must have a broad understanding of the tools and solutions available to maximize the operational efficiency of the buildings they manage. This … Read more