Articles for April 6, 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 past issues or to subscribe to receive an email notification of the
publication of a new issue, go to Energy Newsbriefs archives at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.
Please be aware that
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Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject to change. Further, servers
sometimes fail to connect to working URLs.
NOTE: The WSU Energy Library has a newly revised version of its AGRICULTURE MATTERS database on the Library's web page at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/. The database is geared to assist in understanding the possibilities for Energy Efficiency and Conservation on the farm or ranch and for Bio Products that are farm or ranch based. The database contains nearly 400 records of mostly web-accessible articles and is free to all.
AUTO RANKINGS
The ACEEE (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy) has a valuable website where various cars are evaluated for fuel efficiency – or inefficiency. The homepage for this website is http://www.greenercars.org/. The greenest cars are shown at http://www.greenercars.org/highlights_greenest.htm; the meanest (the least green) are listed at http://www.greenercars.org/highlights_meanest.htm. The website includes other relevant information.
BIOFUELS
The following two articles related to biodiesel appeared in the March 2009 issue of Biodiesel Magazine:
- "Animal Fat-Based Biodiesel: Explore Its Untapped Potential" by Jeremy Goodfellow, Vice President of Energy, Sanimax, shows why animal fat-based biodiesel compares favorably to plant-based biodiesel in terms of several important features including cetane numbers, performance in cold weather, sustainability, and more. He explains how the historic misperception of animal fat-based biodiesel came to be. See it at http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3241.
- "Glycerin: Research Turns Up New Uses" was written by Erin Voegele. The increased production of biodiesel since 2003 has led to an increase of crude glycerin, a saleable byproduct of biodiesel production. New uses for crude glycerin are needed to ensure the economic viability of biodiesel. View this article at http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3237&q=&page=all.
BLOCK GRANTS
The federal government is accepting applications for and releasing Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG). These grants are one part of the government’s larger two-pronged effort: first, to reduce energy use and encourage the use of energy from renewable sources and, second, to stimulate the economy. An EECBG website has been developed to assist states and municipalities as they seek funding for efficiency and conservation projects; the site links to the required three-step process that must be followed and to a good deal of other related information. See the website at http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/.
BUILDINGS
"Economic Stimulus Act Provides Billions for EERE Programs," by staff, focuses on the money being made available for activities related to the housing industry. See this article in Oikos Green Building News, March 2, 2009, at http://oikos.com/news/2009/03.html#Stimulus.
"Older and Wiser: Reinventing an L.A. Landmark," by Matthew Cherry, Corporate Communications Manager, Brookfield Properties, describes the greening of a 1970’s office tower. The installation of a new energy management system was core to the success of the project. See this two web-page article in HPAC Heating/Piping/AirConditioning Engineering – Fastrack, February 10, 2009, at
http://hpac.com/fastrack/office-tower-environmental-commercial-0210/index.html.
"Planning and Achieving High-Performance Buildings" was written by Peter D'Antonio, PE, CEM, LEED AP, PDC Engineering Services, Inc. The author explains the qualities that make a building a high-performance one, describes the essential steps for designing a high-performance building, and enumerates the requirements for the appropriate mechanical systems in such a building. Three case studies of high-performance buildings are included in this informative article. See this four web-page article in HPAC Heating/Piping/AirConditioning Engineering, February 2009, at http://hpac.com/green/planning_achieving_highperformance/.
DATA CENTERS
"Data Centers: Tips For Improving Server Efficiency," by Kenneth Brill, is a three-part article in the February 2009 issue of Building Operating Management:
FORECASTING
Averting the Next Energy Crisis: The Demand Challenge is a March 2009 report from McKinsey & Company. It covers oil prices, which are expected to increase, and makes suggestions for business and government for dealing with them as well as increased energy demand and emissions. To see the entire 150-page report or just its 10-page Executive Summary, go to http://mckinsey.com/mgi , select the report title, then select the option, and register (this one time registration is free). Note that an abbreviated, one-page, Executive Summary is at http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/next_energy_crisis/executive_summary.asp.
HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION, and AIR CONDITIONING) – EMISSIONS
"Reducing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions," by Ian Spanswick, shows how well different HVAC systems can pay for themselves through energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions. See this three web-page article in HPAC Heating/Piping/AirConditioning Engineering, February 2009, at http://hpac.com/green/reducing_greenhousegas_emissions/.
NEIGHBORHOODS
"Portland Neighborhood Tries for Green Certification," by Rob Manning, is an interview with members of development and architectural firms who have worked on the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon. It gives an idea of the challenges in store when an entire neighborhood attempts to meet the requirements of LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Neighborhood Design). The March 30, 2009, Oregon Public Broadcasting, interview can be read or heard at http://news.opb.org/article/4629-portland-neighborhood-tries-green-certification/.
SOLAR
"Akeena Charges Direct to AC," by Sara Stroud, explains the newest solar panel development from Akeena, Inc. It includes microinverters and AC wiring in the panel, saving, says the company, money and energy. See this article in Sustainable Industries, February 2009, at http://www.sustainableindustries.com/energy/39106007.html.
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
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copy or disseminate all or part of this material is granted, provided that the
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