As utilities crank up generators to supply demand for summer’s peak loads of electricity, some companies are making money by turning off their air-conditioners and helping utilities shave off the peaks.
In this video, international-technology giant IBM explains how it acts like a city by buying power from utilities and then not using that power during peak demand times. Keep reading →
Last week, one third of the country saw thermometers hit triple digits. Across the nation, air conditioners are cranking and sprinklers are chugging away as millions continue to seek relief from the summer heat.
While grateful for the welcome relief provided by utilities, many of us are increasingly mindful of the precious resources we are tapping. Just looking around at the buildings where we live and work, it is all too easy to identify ways we waste energy and water. In fact, it has been estimated that we throw away as much as 30-50% of the energy and water that flows into our buildings. Multiply that by the nearly 5 million buildings in the US alone and I’m sure you’ll agree we have a big opportunity to better conserve energy and water. Keep reading →
With the Plug-In 2011 Conference and Exposition currently taking place in North Carolina, both public and private organizations are taking action to help build the electric vehicle infrastructure and increase electric vehicle (EV) usage.
Illinois has recently passed two laws that will offer grants for EV purchases and establish an advisory panel to encourage EV usage within the state. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company leveraged social media on Thursday when it hosted a Hybrid Durability Live Chat and fielded questions from the public on EVs. Keep reading →
Rebounding orders in the electric transmission grid business sector of infrastructure giant Alstom led a broader extension of the company’s order book in the power sector after an extended period of weak sales due to the recession.
Alstom reorganized on June 15, 2011 into new business groups and joined up with Russian and Chinese companies in partnerships designed to boost its profile in the developing world economies making large infrastructure investments. Keep reading →
Natural gas assets and terminal ownership drove growth at one of the US’ emerging energy infrastructure giants.
Years of organic growth and acquisitions have lifted the already-significant Kinder Morgan Energy Partners into an increasingly central position in the US energy economy, and the firm’s exposure to the fast-growing natural gas production and distribution sectors put it at the heart of plans to grow US consumption and exports of that fuel. Keep reading →
The decline in costs in the solar industry over the past three years is “nothing short of astounding,” Recurrent Energy CEO Arno Harris said at the June REFF Wall Street Summit in New York.
And despite a slow start for the US solar photovoltaic (PV) market this year, analysts say the year will recover sharply to end with “frantic buying.” Keep reading →
There is wood in those Doritos.
Amid rollicking volatility in natural gas markets several years ago and against the background of burgeoning corporate concern about its environmental footprint, food and drink giant PepsiCo, owner of Frito-Lay, began reviewing its options for alternative fuels that could help it achieve several goals at once. Keep reading →
Over the past eighteen months, the global energy industry has experienced two near disasters that have been matched neither in scale nor frequency during recent history. That’s the bad news. The good news is we have a tremendous opportunity to learn something from these events if we play our cards right, and this knowledge will serve as the catalyst our nation needs to develop the policies and regulation necessary to encourage the adoption of intelligent energy strategies to carry us into a secure energy future.
We all know the story. In April 2010 the US was struck with the tragedy caused by the Deepwater Horizon incident. And in March 2011, the world watched in horror as the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan threatened a meltdown. Keep reading →
Electric vehicle charging stations are now headed home, literally.
GE Energy Industrial Solutions has joined with Lowe’s to offer consumers its new GE WattStation Wall Mount Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station. The station will charge EV’s in less time than standard overnight chargers and will soon be available for both home and commercial use, the company says. Keep reading →
Now oil firms are beginning to leverage smart grid technologies in their operations.
Saudi Armaco has begun installation of Smartcool’s ESM technology in its facilities in efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its air conditioning systems. After substantial testing with Saudi Aramco, Smartcool found that the ESM technology saved the Middle Eastern country 65,883 kWh in electricity costs for cooling. Keep reading →
