Efficiency embraces both suppliers and end users. Generation facilities use 5 to 6 percent of the electricity they produce to power their own operations. Transmission losses drain off an additional 2 to 3 percent, while distribution accounts for an additional loss of 5 to 6 percent. Fortunately, the industry is aggressively exploring ways to increase its own efficiency while rolling out programs to help end users do the same. Scroll down to learn more about both sides of this topic.
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An organization of U.S. businesses has 're-launched' to act as the leading trade group promoting the development of an American Waste Heat to Power market. The organization will support and promote projects designed to capture waste heat generated by industrial applications and convert it into emissions-free electricity.
Texas and Oklahoma are pretty low in the rankings of energy efficient states. But a group of companies, including electric service providers cooperatives, retailers, manufacturers have joined forces to push for advanced building systems and energy-efficient products and services in the region. There's more on the new coalition inside.
Energate is working with the province of Ontario to deploy its residential demand response solutions as part of a province-wide program intended to reduce demand during peak load periods – and participating consumers also are expected to benefit from energy-saving tools and technology.
GE Appliances and Flint Energies have teamed up in a pilot project to better understand the potential for GE's Brillionâ„¢-enabled appliances to save consumers money and lower peak load when coupled with peak time rebates. And a Colorado company is bringing its online game designed to get consumers involved in saving energy to Texas.
The Arlington, VA company that works with utilities in the U.S. and U.K. to provide energy usage data to utility customers has committed to abide by a set of data principles that cover access, security and privacy. If others in the industry follow Opower's lead, could it help reduce consumer pushback?
We encourage our readers to share their thoughts or sound off on our news stories and the hot smart grid topics of the day – and you're not shy about letting us know what you think. 2011 was no exception. In case you missed some, we're taking a look back at the hottest Tuesday Topic discussions from throughout the year.
There's a lot of smart grid happening this week – from power plant automation and wireless sensor projects to a California initiative to give customers access to their energy use information with the click of a button. Learn more about five very different smart grid projects that caught our attention.
When it comes to energy efficiency, a Scrooge-like mindset can be a good thing. That's why we called on our penny-pinching but gadget-loving Technical Director for a few of his kilowatt-reducing gift suggestions from the Smart Grid News store.
Industrial distributed generation is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate, according to a new report from Pike Research. Find out why SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst says it's time for utilities to keep a close eye on this growth surge.
President Obama announced a $4 billion investment to make buildings more energy efficient, part of his Better Buildings Initiative. Carl Ford of TMCnet suggests this isn't a new idea.
With considerable help from Johnson Controls, Virginia's corrections system has embarked on a training program for prisoners to give them the training and experience they will need to enter careers in energy efficiency on their release. It's an interesting program.
Cities throughout the world, pressured by increasing populations and demand for services, are looking for ways to ensure efficient and sustainable communities. Meanwhile, leading smart grid companies - most recently Schneider Electric and Telvent - see smart city apps as a source of new growth. Click inside for details on this important trend.
The city of Seattle has taken the next step toward upping the energy efficiency level of its commercial buildings by requiring building owners to benchmark and report on how efficiently their buildings perform. Click inside to find out why Washington state's biggest city is taking such an aggressive stance.
TXU Energy is marketing a deal for customers willing to make some changes in how and when they use electricity: a three-tiered rate plan that features "deep discounts," particularly at night. It's one of few actual dynamic pricing deployments. SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst shares some thoughts on TXU's marketing strategy behind the plan.
A new study from The Brattle Group anticipates energy efficiency programs are going to catch on so fast that they will cause peak electricity demand to dip significantly from previous forecasts. Click inside to learn what else the Brattle economists are bullish on.
A New Jersey electric power executive admits he fell in love with smart grid gadgetry way back when. But now he's lamenting that utilities collectively decided to skip the low-hanging fruit (efficiency) and went to the top of the tree. Find out why.
Why aren't smart buildings talking to the smart grid? The obstacles are not technical, says SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst. Instead, they are about convincing hearts, minds and wallets. A California company has just made two announcements that may overcome two of the most significant blockers - finding the right person to talk to and finding a way to pay for it. Click to read why this could be a watershed.
You would think from reading the news coverage (including ours) on energy efficiency opportunities in commercial buildings that most everyone gets it and is on board. SGN News Editor Doug Peeples recently found out that's not necessarily the case. The reasons why may surprise you.
The energy efficiency battle has a new ally, courtesy of a Silicon Valley startup that boasts alums from Apple, Google and other tech notables. And don't dismiss their Nest Learning Thermostat as just another smart thermostat. You'd expect more from creators of the iPod, right?
Curtailing electricity demand in a society that can't buy all the latest electronic gizmos fast enough? In a world that needs to keep the wheels of industry churning out all of those gizmos - and providing jobs? A reader made the point the other day that we might be better off promoting energy innovation over curtailing demand. What do you think? It's this week's topic in our discussion forum. Please join in.
There's plenty at stake in energy efficiency efforts, but a limited understanding in the energy community of what the public awareness and willingness surrounding energy efficiency is. Click inside where Peter Gardett of AOL Energy zeroes in on the biggest obstacle of all to widespread adoption of energy efficiency technologies.
Step aside, California. You're not the top-ranked state in energy efficiency anymore. In the newest scorecard from energy efficiency council ACEEE, Massachusetts earned the highest marks for its progress in energy efficiency programs and policies. Click inside to find out why - and where your state ranks.
Honeywell will conduct the first automated demand response pilot project for commercial and industrial facilities in Europe for Scottish and Southern Energy. The project will zero in on giving Scottish and Southern the capability of reducing or shifting energy use temporarily to accommodate power demand spikes. Read more inside.
New research from Ernst & Young has found that over half of the UK's top 250 companies have invested in energy efficiency improvements, but that same research led the company to caution that those investments could come to a cold stop. What was that again? Read the story to learn why energy efficiency could be in danger of becoming one more "next big thing" that didn't make it – as surprising as that may sound.
Buoyed by a successful pilot program, Oklahoma Gas & Electric is moving toward its goals of peak demand reduction and customer adoption with the installation of Energate's smart thermostats in up to 40,000 homes. There's more on the story inside.
We're getting mixed signals about the vitality of the smart grid market. On the one hand, the recent DistribuTECH conference was one of the most successful ever. On the other, a well-known Wall Street analyst recently told his clients that the smart metering sector is "facing several headwinds," including weak regulatory support in the U.S. and delays in European adoption. Taking the pulse of the smart grid industry is this week's Tuesday Topic.
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