Domestic

Are Today’s Smart Meters Already Obsolete?

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Should smart meters ship with additional memory and processing power, plus an operating system to run applications? Several meter and communications vendors have taken a step down that road, including Echelon and SmartSynch. Now a UK firm called Sentec wants to take things to the next level. If it succeeds, next-generation meters will look less like old-fashioned meters with a communications module grafted on. And more like smart phones for energy (with apps and all).

I use the Discovery Showcase series to highlight new companies and new ideas. I bumped into this latest concept at Metering Europe in Amsterdam this October. If the concept takes off it could insulate utilities against the obsolescence issue – the fear that smart meters will need to be swapped out in just a few years. And it could send meter makers scrambling back to their labs to catch up. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 24, 2011 at 2:30 PM

Shedding New Light On Efficient Bulbs

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The Lumen Coalition wants consumers to know: There’s a bulb for that.

The new ad hoc group of 40 business and advocacy organizations has formed to help consumers sort out what’s happening with light bulbs as new energy efficiency standards, voted by Congress in 2007, begin taking effect in January. What is happening, the coalition says, is a flood of new choices, and a lot of them don’t look like the compact fluorescent curlicue. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 21, 2011 at 6:00 AM

LG Doubles Down On Solar

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Large technology and manufacturing firms are boosting their investment in solar components, leveraging large balance sheets and access to capital as they introduce new products while smaller competitors struggle.

The collapsing price of solar panels has brought down several firms in recent months, and is blamed in part for the high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra, a Department of Energy-backed firm that claimed it had a high-technology solution but was unable to bring down costs or expand quickly enough in the rapidly-transforming solar business. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 20, 2011 at 6:00 AM

The Daily Stat: Saving Energy Because The Neighbors Do

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The Daily Stat: Saving Energy Because the Neighbors Do http://s.hbr.org/qnMl4a HarvardBiz

 /  Published October 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Overcoming Sticker Shock To Move Ahead On Energy Efficiency

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Americans understand the advantages of, and need for, energy efficiency as much as their European counterparts, but need further education about pricing advantages before they will take action that matches European levels.

The awareness of energy efficiency and the willingness expressed by Americans in a recent study conducted by Harris Interactive of four developed, mature economies surprised Mitch Williams, Senior Vice President at Rexel Holdings USA. Rexel, a large international distributor of electrical equipment, sponsored the study, which conducted interviews of 1,000 adults in the US, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 14, 2011 at 10:30 AM

Neither Ugly Nor Expensive

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“It looks too ugly and it’s too expensive.”

Those are the two impediments to domestic solar, according to David Field, President & CEO of California-based OneRoof Energy. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 26, 2011 at 8:00 AM

A Touchdown For Solar

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The upcoming football season is looking sunny for the Washington Redskins’ stadium. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Commercializing The Solar Rooftop

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Solar companies promise that residential consumers can save thousands with rooftop solar installations. Commercial customers may in fact be able to save even more.

This Constellation Energy video is directed at large business owners with at least 2.5 acres of available land or a 100,000 square foot roof and an annual electrical usage of 1 – 1.5 million kwH. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 12, 2011 at 11:40 AM

Residential Solar Business Gets A Rooftop Boost

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Can’t afford the upfront costs of rooftop solar panels, but really want them anyway? No problem, especially if you live in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio or Pennsylvania and get your power from Constellation Energy.

The electric company announced on Wednesday a new residential solar leasing program to customers in those states with a choice of a low down payment or a 20-year prepaid lease. Customers will also be able to choose the solar module that best fits their needs and budget. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 9, 2011 at 11:45 AM

Energy Savings From Below

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Investors and players in the energy business often focus on the flashiest technologies, ranging from highly visible solar and wind in the generation sector to next-generation smart meters monitoring usage on the customer level.

Geothermal is often the “forgotten renewable.” While some countries and regions are able to access large-scale geothermal power production, the use of distributed geothermal to regulate temperatures and limit the extremes of air-conditioning or heating use could promote huge efficiencies in energy use across the entire US. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 17, 2011 at 6:00 AM
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