I learned some interesting things about cable TV and home energy consumption, with the help of my handy kill-a-watt monitor. I tested each of my components for how much power they consume in standby mode. For the most part, there was no cause for alarm. However, one exception stands out, and it’s a big one. [...]
Archive for the ‘efficiency’ Category
2 Jun
Kill-a-Watt Chronicles – My Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audit
Announcing the Kill-a-Watt Chronicles – an exploration of power consumption in the home.
26 May
The Promise of LED Lighting
One of the presentations at last weeks Boston University Seminar on Disrupting the Status Quo on Energy Management really got me thinking over the long Memorial Weekend. Specifically, The Smart Light: Ubiquitous Communications for the Network by Thomas Little, Professor and Director, Smartlighting Center at Boston University drove home the inherent advantages of LED lighting [...]
21 May
BU Electric Energy Management Panel Discussion Prepared Remarks
Notes from the Boston University Symposium on Disrupting the Status Quo in Energy Management on May 21, 2009: Moderator, Rob Day, Renewable Energy Business Network Hamid Elahi, GE Energy – Energy Applications and Systems Engineering Larry Gelbien – Engineering NSTAR Electric and Gas Philip Giudice – Mass Department of Energy Resources Robert Kaufmann – Center [...]
21 May
Smart Light for Ubiquitous Communications for the Network
Notes from the Boston University Symposium on Disrupting the Status Quo in Energy Management on May 21, 2009: Smart Lighting ERC Center intent is to develop enabling technology for producing light via LEDs – some for bio imaging, indoor communications, outdoor communications/transportation, display technologies. NSF has put $18 million investment over 10 years. BU focuses [...]
21 May
Systems Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Energy Solutions
Notes from the Boston University Symposium on Disrupting the Status Quo in Energy Management on May 21, 2009: Michael Caramanis, Professor Division of Systems Engineering, BU Need to take a systems approach Best strategy to conserve fossil fuels is to stop using them. Heat pumps are 3-4 times more efficient than fossil fuel systems. Electrification [...]
21 May
Disrupting the Status Quo in Electric Energy Management
Welcoming Remarks by Adrei Ruckenstein, Associate Provost and Vice President for Research, Boston University Why haven’t we made more progress in abandoning fossil fuel base industrial economy? Our hesitation as a nation is due to a lack of courage in charting uncharted territory. We need a paradigm shift. Einstein – “We cannot solve today’s problems [...]
12 May
Closing Remarks – Participating in the Governors Energy Challenge
1. Sign authorization form. 2. The Challenge determines your 2007, 2008 consumption. 3. The Challenge provides an energy audit and identifies high ROI low hanging fruit. 4. You sign up for your plan. 5. Peregrine Energy determines your carbon footprint. 6. The Challenge provides your own online secure portal to track your progress. Q: Are [...]
12 May
Staples Energy Management
Bob Valair, Staples Company spend on energy worldwide is close to $200 million. First store in Brighton was opened in 1986. Now stores are all high-efficiency lighting, high efficiency HVAC, motion sensors, etc. Still have a long way to go. Utilize reduction and how to be efficient. Have 4 full-time people that manage energy. Have [...]
12 May
Willy’s Gym – Energy Conservation
Barbara Niggel, Willy’s Gym Three clubs – 13,000 s.f., 120,000 s.f. (focus of initial efforts), 13,000 s.f. (woman’s only). Started early on with simple things, like H2O bottle recycling. Incentives for members to bring own towels. Moved website to green servers. Cape Light Compact and Rise Engineering did energy audit. Replaced tennis and basketball lighting, [...]
