So what, exactly, is a fiber optic lighting system? nelight. Image credit: Boston Children’s Hospital In most cases, a fiber optic system combines three elements: 1. An illuminator. An illuminator is basically a metal box containing a special lamp with the ability to concentrate light into the end of a fiber optic harness. An illuminator … Read more
Intelligent Buildings: Energy Savings from Smart Controls RMI Outlet, February 24, 2016. Image credit: MichaelGaida 1. INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS ARE A FAST-GROWING MARKET Commercial buildings consume a lot of energy. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technology Office, the cost of energy to operate the 5.6 million commercial buildings in the United States … Read more
A Watched Pot: What Is The Most Energy Efficient Way To Boil Water? Inside Energy, February 23, 2016. Image credit: Unsplash What is the most energy efficient way to boil 500 milliliters (about 2 cups) of water? And which method has the smallest carbon footprint? For appliances – microwave, electric tea kettle, electric stovetop – the … Read more
Mapping technology turning Depok in Indonesia into smart city Computer Weekly, February 24, 2016. Image credit: gr8effect The Indonesian city of Depok has implemented smart mapping technology to boost government efficiency and productivity in line with its commitment to achieve smart city status by 2025. Depok, just south of the capital Jakarta on the island of Java, … Read more
Cree Reinvents Lighting Controls with the Push of One Button Cree, February 4, 2016. Image credit: tpsdave Cree, Inc. introduces SmartCast™ Technology, the first self-programming wireless lighting-control system that reduces energy consumption by more than 70 percent*, at half the cost of traditional lighting controls. Intuitive and easy to use, luminaires enabled with Cree SmartCast Technology … Read more
Smart digital platform to boost energy efficiency in cities CORDIS, February 17, 2016. Image credit: karanja The platform, designed for city planners, industry and energy stakeholders, assesses and maps buildings’ energy behaviour, and can also remotely control public street lighting. The platform has already succeeded in cutting energy use in several cities across Europe where it … Read more
Reversible fuel cell goes both ways for the US Navy Gizmag, February 9, 2016 Boeing has delivered a new type of fuel cell to the US Navy for testing that can both store energy and generate electricity. Called a “reversible solid oxide fuel cell,” it’s designed to absorb energy from renewable sources, such as wind … Read more
DOE proposes light bulb standard EE News, February 12, 2016. Image credit: suvajit DOE issued a proposed rule this afternoon for light bulbs that would likely lead to the phaseout of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), analysts say. The rule has been under discussion for more than a decade. It was affected by a “light bulb rider” … Read more
Presented at the AESP 26th National Conference on February 3, 2016 Lucy Neiman and Gita Subramony, ERS The growing focus on distributed generation (DG) has fueled new approaches that streamline and reduce the complexity of project installations. This design and initial results from an accelerator program encourages and promotes the installation of combined heat and power … Read more
Shape memory alloys the basis for more efficient refrigerant-free cooling Gizmag, February 8, 2016. Image credit: By preserving our food and keeping our buildings comfortable in hot weather, mechanical cooling systems have been a boon, but with their refrigerant gases and high power consumption they’re not exactly environmentally friendly. In an effort to make a … Read more