Energy Newsbriefs
Articles for April 25, 2011
ENERGY NEWSBRIEFS is a weekly current awareness service provided by the WSU Extension Energy Program Library and written by Angela Santamaria, WSU Energy Library Manager, to assist users in tracking developments in the energy field. To view past issues or to subscribe to receive an email notification of the publication of a new issue, go to the Energy Newsbriefs home.
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BUILDINGS
"Energy Upgrades: Taking a Long View," by Susan Bloom, is a two-part article in the March 2011 issue of Building Operating Management:
Part 1 is Longer-payback Energy Upgrades Maximize Building Efficiency. Energy upgrades requiring longer paybacks are less attractive to commercial building owners than they are to government-owned facilities because commercial buildings change hands more frequently. The author urges two approaches for the facilities manager to take, both of which make the longer paybacks more economically attractive. First, drop the commonly used simple payback approach; include savings associated with life-cycle costs, maintenance and operations, rebates, and the like. Second, reshape leases so that they reflect how attractive reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions are to tenants. A sidebar, "Tips for Going Long," is included.
Part 2 is Reaping the Benefits of Longer-Payback Upgrades. Further tips for making energy upgrades more attractive include combining several shorter and longer paybacks in one package and employing energy performance contracting. Two sidebars are included: "CCI Projects," describes four projects funded by the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI); "The Clinton Climate Initiative and Building Retrofit Program" gives basic information about the history and the work of the CCI BRP as well as contact information.
"List of Top 10 States for LEED Green Buildings Released" is a March 2, 2011, press release from USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council). Oregon and Washington states are, respectively, fifth and seventh on the list. The release includes a link to a spreadsheet listing all the specific buildings in the U.S. Of the nearly 30,000, almost all are newly constructed.
BUILDINGS – RENEWABLES – WORKFORCE
"A Site for Energy Education," by Michael Seifert, President, Ecotech Institute, was published in the March 2011 issue of Wind Systems. A new campus in Denver, Colorado, is developed from an old, unused commercial facility and the land around it. The building's energy performance has been dramatically improved with various upgrades. The school will educate and train its students for work in renewable industries, especially in wind. It is an outgrowth of the interest in high levels of renewable development and deployment, with an emphasis on job creation, on the part of Echotech, the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, and the state's legislature (with federal Clean Energy Funds).
ELEVATORS
"Elevator Modernization Planning Cuts a Tall Order to Size," by Jay Popp, Executive Vice President, International, Lerch Bates, Inc., is a three-part article, published in the March 2011 issue of Building Operating Management:
Part 1 is Steps to Determine Proper Scope of Elevator Modernization. The scope is going to depend on current and future tenant use and on the condition of all relevant equipment.
Part 2 is Preparing to Put the Elevator Modernization Plan into Action. Check for applicable code requirements (which may have undergone revisions), develop a plan, and notify tenants.
Part 3 is Elevator Products Showcase. Several products are featured including elevator controls (Schindler), a new system from OTIS and Motion Control Engineering, and several machine room-less designs from ThyssenKrupp and KONE.
NET-ZERO ENERGY COMMUNITIES
"Come behind the Scene at zHome to Meet the Experts," by Brad Liljequist, was posted April 19, 2011, on the Issaquah Press.com website. The first of its kind in the country, this community of multi-family, production (not custom) homes in Western Washington State will be net-zero energy and carbon neutral.
RESIDENTIAL EFFICIENCY STRATEGIES
EnergySavers.gov: Stay Warm, Save Money is a website, revised (and re-named) seasonally, from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. The site is now offering many tips for energy savings for the fall and winter.
SOLAR
"Brooklyn Bridge Park Receives Solar-Powered Charging Station," by staff, was published March 15, 2011, on the ED+C (Environmental Design + Construction) website. The station was donated to the park by Beautiful Earth, a renewable energy firm in Brooklyn. Its purpose is to power the sustainable park's fleet. The design and construction of the station is described.
WIND
"European Offshore Wind Turbine Capacity Grows 51% in 2010," by Sonal Patel, Senior Writer, Power, was published in the March 2011 issue of that journal. This is a quick review of the growth in Europe with some comparison made to the U.S.
The following three articles were published in the March 2011 issue of Wind Systems:
1. "Alignment: Torque vs. Tension" was written by Dan Pogatschnik, Wind Technology Specialist, TorcUP, Inc. The two methods are described. Each one has its place in certain wind turbine applications, but both have to be used properly to achieve good results.
2. "Cold Weather Construction Concerns," by Trent Schon, Director of Safety, Mortenson Construction’s Renewable Energy Groups, describes the proper installation of wind turbines in extreme climates.
3. "Precision Turbine Shaft Alignment," by Paul Berberian, National Sales Manager, Alignment Supplies, Inc., advises how to ensure that the alignment is optimal for smooth and reliable running. Three tools are compared and contrasted – straight-edge mechanical ones, dial indicators, and the laser alignment tool.
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