Waste Management has a new way to add recycling to multifamily properties that are short on available space. They have developed a split container dumpster with two sections – one for regular trash and one for single-stream recycling. This will eliminate the need for separate recycling dumpsters or toters, and the new dumpsters will fit in the original…
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Smart Meter deployments continue to rise
Smart Meters are an important part of the Smart Grid. Many utilities offer incentives to install Smart Meters. For information on incentives available in your area, browse the database cataloged at www.DsireUsa.org. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a division of the US Department of Energy (DOE): Electric meters with enhanced communication capabilities—an essential…
Good or bad? Nuclear power expected to hold steady
Nuclear power in the United States is not likely to be built at new sites due to safety concerns. Older power plants will be retired, but a few existing plants have plans to add capacity via new reactors. Other technology innovations have resulted in increased output. The net effect is likely that the USA will…
Energy you can be proud of: United States energy supply growing faster than demand
In a development that is good for national security, consumers’ wallets, and tree-huggers’ consciences, the latest projections from the US Department of Energy expect our production of energy to grow faster than our consumption. EIA projections show U.S. energy production growing faster than consumption through 2040
Opportunity on Mars and on Earth
In a recent discovery by the Mars Rover, Opportunity, NASA has found evidence that there was once water on Mars; potable water that you could drink. Mars, at one time could support life. When I think about the red planet and its similarity to the earth, it makes me want to check my toilets for…
Water, wind, and sun: helping to power America
The forces of nature are among the “green and clean” sources of electric power generation. While the United States is a world leader in terms of total KWH generated via renewable sources, it produces only about 13% of our total power. Many hope to see the renewable portion increase in the future for reasons of…
Should we be worried? America’s power infrastructure is getting older
You may have heard that many water utilities around the country are increasing their rates in order to help offset their rising capital costs to maintain and upgrade their aging infrastructure. But do these same concerns relate to electric utilities? How old are U.S. power plants?
Solar PV installations are on the rise
Wind energy gets most of the renewable energy attention these days, but solar PV has been growing too. As the technology grows more affordable, perhaps you have communities worth considering. For more info, see: Utility-scale installations lead solar photovoltaic growth New EIA data show total grid-connected photovoltaic solar capacity
How to compare electricity, natural gas, and other energy uses with a common unit of measure
Rental properties use electricity, natural gas, and other forms of energy. These commodities do not have a common unit of measure by default. NWP’s Consumption Smart and other tools help to make these conversions, but sometimes you have a need to understand and make the conversions on your own. How can we compare or add…
Green Button Promising to Give Millions of Americans Better Handle on Energy Costs
In September 2011, former White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra challenged the utility industry to make energy data more available to their customers, using one standard all providers could agree upon. A standard has been developed and is called Green Button. It provides millions of utility customers with easy access to a downloadable copy…