Energy Newsbriefs
Articles for March 7, 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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NOTE TO ALL:
For the seventh consecutive year, the WSU Energy Program Library's Energy-Related Energy Legislation Tracking Tool for the 2011 Legislative session of Washington State is now available.
APPLIANCES
The following two short articles were published in the February 2011 edition of Appliance Design:
1. "Electronic Refrigerator Controller Saves Energy and Reduces Costs," by staff, is a discussion of a controller that is said to be an energy saver on several levels and to offer advantages over two inadequate products.
2. "Energy Efficiency, Sustainability Advances in Polyurethane Foam Reported," by staff, gives a glimpse of research and development undertaken to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of various materials used in appliance insulators. One, for example, is the blowing agent for rigid polyurethane foam.
BIOMASS
"Designing Fuel Systems for Large Biomass Plants," by Daniel Mahr, PE, Energy Associates PC, is a six-web-page article that appeared in the February 2011 issue of Power. It describes, in depth, the options for such systems. The article includes two sidebars, "The EU Cofiring Experience" and "Free Webinar: Defining Your Biomass, Wastes, and Low-Grade Fuels Firing Program."
BUILDINGS
"At the Top of the Class," by Jennie Morton, Assistant Editor, Buildings, was published in the February 2011 issue of that journal. The author first explains the concept of net-zero energy as it pertains to buildings, generally, and then discusses problems and their solutions, in part, by examining the experiences of three specific schools.
"California’s First LEED® Gold Winery Picks Radiant Cooling," by staff, was included in the February 2011 issue of Engineered Systems (ES). The cooling system reliably controls temperatures in two sensitive winery areas with 25-foot- high ceilings.
"Back in Black (& Green)," by Carol Tisch, is a case study of a project that achieved LEED-CI (commercial interiors) Platinum certification; it was published in the January/February issue of Interiors & Sources. An architectural firm moved its auto-dependent suburban headquarters to an office tower in downtown Atlanta to be near mass transit. The company took the opportunity to develop a stylish and sustainable office space that reflects the design approach it offers its clients.
HVAC/R (HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING, AND REFRIGERATION)
"Behind the Change in ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170," by Judene Bartley, MS, MPH, CIC, and Russ Olmsted, MPH, CIC, was published in the February 2011 issue of Engineered Systems (ES). It explains what the change entails, why it was needed, and its expected impacts.
"Practical Implementation of Chilled Beams for Offices," by Peter Rumsey, PE, FASHRAE, and John Weale, PE, LEED® AP, appeared in the January 2011 issue of Engineered Systems (ES). According to the authors, the use of chilled beams has increased use in the U.S. in the past decade. They give an overview that includes explanations of both active and passive chilled beams. This is followed by an excellent review of the technology with discussion of outside air supply, humidity control, duct sizing, waterside economizer systems, and much more.
POLICY
I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Non-Wires Alternatives Screening Study is a 74-page document, published January 12, 2011, for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The Executive Summary on document-page-one (PDF-page-nine) explains two alternatives to BPA's having to build new transmission (wires) in western Washington and Oregon states: re-dispatching existing generators and taking strong energy-efficiency and demand-response actions. There is, also, a brief article about this study in the February 2011 issue of the BPA's Journal.
"U.K. Reviews Feed-In Tariff Program," by Lisa Gibson, was published in the February 2011 edition of Biomass Power & Thermal. It explains the reason for the review and under what circumstances the tariff level might be increased for new anaerobic digestion plants.
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