Free app gives energy buyers fast access to historical data

Site helps consumers zero in on most energy efficient products

Which appliances, which cars, which televisions are the most energy efficient? A helpful resource for consumers is the TopTenUSA site. Mission of the nonprofit, part of a global alliance of Top Ten organizations, is to identify and publicize the most energy-efficient products on the market. Covering a wide array of common household products, from laptop computers to clothes washers and pickup trucks, the site offers an easy way to compare energy details – for instance, why one refrigerator ranks over another.

IEEE focuses developing tomorrow's technical workforce

Addressing a critical issue in the electric power industry, the IEEE Power & Energy Society is bringing together representatives from government, academia, industry and utilities for a panel discussion titled Building the Technical Workforce for Our Energy Future in New York City on June 14. The event will focus on the importance of developing the technical workforce within the power and energy industry and how the PES Scholarship Plus Initiative is helping to address this issue.

Steal this idea: TXU Energy's 'Bright Ideas for Kids' site

With summer break on the way, TXU Energy has come up with fun activities to get kids engaged in the importance of conservation. Its Bright Ideas for Kids website includes an energy thieves video and another video that shows them what goes on in their house when no one is home. Hands-on activities include DIY home energy audits, puzzles, solar pizza box ovens and more.

And finally, a few good reads...

·         Sci-fi no longer, NREL engineers smart homes â€“ by Heather Lammers @ NREL

·         Introducing the V-Pole, a connectivity, electricity, utility pole mashup â€“ by Katie Fehrenbacher @ earth2Tech

·         Catastrophic recovery readiness: Will utilities put Department of Homeland Security’s UICDS solution to the test?– by Nancy Broe @ McDonnell Group