When we were growing up, we were told that water and electricity are a deadly combination. But under the right circumstances, they can work together for great benefit to society and the planet. Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Hydroelectric power is the use of falling water to turn a propeller-like piece called a turbine,…
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Blame it on the Groundhog
Spring should be well underway in the United States according to forecasts made on Groundhog Day by famed weatherman Punxsutawney Phil. But instead many parts of the US have been experiencing cold snaps and even snow this week. As a result, an Ohio prosecutor tired of a prolonged winter has indicted Punxsutawney Phil for fraud. This lingering winter…
The Butterfly Effect
I believe that the 2011Tohoku earthquake changed our seasonality forever. I know that most folks would rather say that Climate change causes earthquakes and Tsunamis, but I think that roughly, the chicken hatched an egg that became a chicken. The 2011Tohoku earthquake had such extreme magnitude that it shifted the earth’s axis by estimates of…
Smart Grid: new technology can improve power reliability and efficiency
In prior articles, I discussed what the Smart Grid is and how it is finally getting smarter in the middle of the grid. For further developments in this area, read on below. The main impact to the multi-family housing industry is that as the electricity grid becomes more efficient with less waste, it has the…
Visit a national Energy Lab
I recently visited the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO near Denver. The US Dept of Energy has several such laboratories and research centers spread throughout the country. Most of them welcome visitors during normal business hours. For a full listing, click here and then scroll down to the “Labs & Technology Centers” section….
Emerging green tech: Pumped-storage hydroelectricity. What was old is new again.
Hydroelectric power is the use of falling water to generate electricity. One form of this technology is Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH). “In a pumped storage facility, water is pumped during off-peak demand periods from a reservoir at a lower elevation for storage in a reservoir at a higher elevation. Electricity is then generated during peak demand…
The Smart Grid is finally getting smarter in the middle
In the last few years, much of the focus on the Smart Grid has been on customer premise equipment (CPE) such as Smart Appliances, Smart Meters, Smart Thermostats that provide real time alerts and pricing to consumers. Utilities all over the USA have been offering rebates on this equipment, which is well cataloged at www.DsireUsa.org….
What is the Smart Grid?
You may have heard a lot of buzz recently about the Smart Grid. But what exactly is this “grid”? Is it “dumb” now and growing “smarter”? (Short answer: yes.) And if so, should we be concerned that The Grid will become too smart for humanity’s own good at some point and try to take control…
Coming Soon: the very first ENERGY STAR clothes dryers
What is ENERGY STAR? ENERGY STAR® is a brand and certification program created by the EPA to give Americans a comfort level about buying products that would help conserve natural resources (electricity, natural gas, water). Since 1992 they have been attempting to give buyers credible, impartial information about how their purchasing decisions can help reduce…
“If they won’t, I will”
During the annual State of the Union Address on February 12, President Obama made it clear that the time has come to get serious on energy and the environment. In essence, he advised Congress: speak now or forever hold your peace. The President put them on notice that he won’t be shy about using his…