Articles for February 2, 2009
ENERGY NEWSBRIEFS is a
weekly current awareness service provided by the Washington State University
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
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of a new issue, go to Energy Newsbriefs archives at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.
Please be aware that
although every URL is checked for accuracy prior to the publication of Energy
Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject to change. Further, servers
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BIOMASS
The
following three articles appeared in the January 2009 issue of Biomass
Magazine:
1)
"Craving Corn and the Cob,"
by Ryan C. Christiansen, Staff Writer, Biomass Magazine, tells the story
of corn cobs and energy. Corn cobs, unlike decaying corn stover, do not
provide nutrients to soil. They are valuable, however, for the production of
ethanol. View this article at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2307&q=&page=all.
2)
"Go Green Pronto, Toronto,"
by Ron Kotrba, Senior Writer, Biomass Magazine, shows how this Canadian
city is collecting organic household waste to use in energy generation. The
waste collected constitutes nearly a third of all household refuse. See this
article at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2308&q=&page=all.
3)
"Size Matters," by Anna
Austin, Staff Writer, Biomass Magazine, explains why there are two views
on biomass plants: they should be large and centrally located, they should be
small and distributed over many sites. In the United States, where the grid is
well developed and the population is primarily in large cities, the former may
make more sense. However, in regions where the grid is not as developed and
where the population is distributed in small, numerous towns, smaller biomass
plants may be the better way to take advantage of local resources and serve
local populations. See this article at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2309&q=&page=all.
FUEL CELLS
"Japanese Develop Manure-Powered Fuel Cell,"
by staff, explains how cattle dung and urine are the basis of hydrogen that is
produced without releasing any carbon dioxide. See this article in Laboratory
Equipment, January 19, 2009, at http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-manure-powered-fuel-cell-011909.aspx?xmlmenuid=51.
LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN) BUILDINGS
"Tenants
Seek Green Pastures" is a three-part article by Greg Zimmerman, Executive
Editor, Building Operating Management in the December 2008 issue of that publication:
- "Developers
Are Embracing LEED, and Tenants Are Responding" explains how
LEED-certified buildings, once viewed as financial risks by developers,
now represents a way for them to avert risk. Read it at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/Developers-Are-Embracing-LEED-And-Tenants-Are-Responding--10267.
- "Will
the Economic Downturn Slow Green Development?" suggests why green and
traditional development should slow at about the same rate. See it at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/Will-the-Economic-Downturn-Slow-Green-Development--10268.
- "LEED
2009 Approved by USGBC Members" reports that the new LEED will
require water savings and that energy will increase its share of LEED
points to over 35% of the total required. View it at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/LEED-2009-Approved-by-USGBC-Members--10269.
LIGHTING
"Lighting: The Clean
Factor," by Leah B. Garris, Managing Editor, Buildings, explains
why it is so important to keep light fixtures and lamps clean and includes an
easy-to-follow, 10-step approach to their every year or two thorough cleaning.
View this article in Buildings, January 2009, at http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6833.
POLICY
"Seventy-Five Nations
Join New International Renewable Energy Agency [IRENA]" is a short article
which gives some interesting information about the origins of IRENA and its
political reasons for being. See this article, which includes links to a
related press release (from WCRE, the World Council on Renewable Energy) and
the IRENA website, in EERE Network News, January 28, 2009, at http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12207.
TURBINES (GAS)
The following two articles
appeared in the November-December 2008
issue of Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production:
"Air Inlet Filtration
for Gas Turbines: The Balance between Efficiency and Pressure Drop" was
written by Paul Sennett, Dollinger Power Systems. It establishes the
importance of design and filtration for air intake systems to help ensure
system optimization, and it explains the technology involved in these systems.
It, also, shows, in two different scenarios, how a good initial design can be
thwarted by major changes to the site, or near the site, where the system is.
See this article at http://www.cospp.com/display_article/346786/122/CRTIS/none/none/1/Air-inlet-filtration-for-gas-turbines-—-the-balance-between-efficiency-and-pressure-drop/.
"Fuel-Flexible
Gas Turbine Cogeneration: Advantages and Challenges of Using Waste Gases"
was authored by Robin McMillan and David Marriott, both of Siemens Industrial
Turbomachinery, Lincoln, UK, and Su Ri Han, Siemens China, Shanghai, China. The article focuses on the gaseous fuels that can fire a turbine. See the
article at http://www.cospp.com/display_article/346787/122/CRTIS/none/none/1/Fuel-flexible-gas-turbine-cogeneration-—advantages-and-challenges-of-using-waste-gases/.
RECYCLING
"Green Your Electronic Waste by e-Cycling," by
Bill Rockett, Vice President at M&K Recovery Group, explains why it is
important to e-cycle the broad range of electronic products from a commercial
facility. It, also, shows how to do it properly. See this article in Buildings,
January 2009, at https://buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6840
SOLAR - FINANCING
"Union Bank Targets
Smaller Solar Projects," by Lindsay Riddell, Business Times,
explains the interest of Union Bank in projects requiring loans as little as
two million dollars. In harsh economic times, expensive projects are seen to
carry greater risks. See this article in San Francisco Business Times,
posted January 23, 2009 and modified January 26, 2009, at
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/01/26/story16.html?b=1232946000^1766377&ana=e_vert.
Past issues of Energy
Newsbriefs are available at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.
Generally, subscription information
for the journals cited above can be found at the home page of their web
sites.
© 2009
Washington State University Extension Energy Program. This publication
contains material written and produced for public distribution. Permission to
copy or disseminate all or part of this material is granted, provided that the
copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage, and that each is
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