Articles for May 25, 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 although every URL is checked for accuracy prior to
the publication of Energy Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject
to change. Further, servers sometimes fail to connect to working URLs.
BIOFUEL/BIOPOWER
"Beneficial Blending," by Kris Bevill,
Staff Writer, Biodiesel Magazine, explain the advantages of blender
pumps in the world of biodiesel sales. While sales are not high enough to
warrant using B99, these pumps are adaptable to any blends that are
market-competitive. See this article in Biodiesel Magazine, April 2009,
at http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3311&q=&page=all.
"Study Suggests Bioelectricity Could Be More Efficient than Ethanol to Power Vehicles,"
by staff, reports on the research done and the author's caveat that more
factors need to be included in future research on this issue. See this May 7,
2009, article on the UC Merced website at http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/05072009_study_suggests_bioelectricity_could.asp.
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) REPORT
"U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Sources 2008 Flash Estimate" is the
May 2009, annual report on the topic from the U.S. Department of Energy's
Energy Information Administration. It also links to information, released in
December 2008, on several greenhouse gases in addition to CO2. See the report
at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/flash/flash.html.
ELECTRICITY DATA
The EIA (Energy Information Administration) of the U.S. Department of Energy
announced the State Electricity Profiles 2007 was published in April
2009. It includes a summary of key statistics for 1997, and 2001 through 2007
and other relevant information. See this title at http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/e_profiles_sum.html.
FLEETS
"The Automotive Future: A 100 mpg Bright IDEA" is an article, by staff, about a
new plug-in hybrid. Owners hope for a $450 million federal loan to move them
from development into production. See this article at in ENS (Environmental
News Service), April 21, 2009, at http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2009/2009-04-21-092.asp.
LIGHTING
"How Lighting Systems Can Impact Occupants," by Jeffrey Kahn, IESNA, LC,
lighting designer at KlingStubbins, is a five-part article published in the
April 2009 issue of Building Operating Management:
-
Part 1: Lighting Systems and Brightness. This part shows some of the important uses of low lighting
levels (underlighting) as well as the opposite side of the lighting coin,
bright lighting. See Part 1 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/Lighting-Systems-and-Brightness--10711.
- Part 2: Prismatic Versus Parabolic Fixtures. In only three paragraphs, the
interesting differences between both types of fixtures are highlighted and
the history of their falling in and out of favor is explained. See Part 2
at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/Prismatic-Versus-Parabolic-Fixtures--10712.
- Part 3: The Benefits of Indirect Lighting. Indirect lighting (uplighting) adds
a level of comfort to a space but can be too dull if not accompanied by
semi-direct lighting or a combination of lighting that includes both
indirect and direct. See Part 3 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/The-Benefits-of-Indirect-Lighting--10713.
- Part 4: Lighting Can Help Prevent Workplace Blahs. This explains the need
people have for sunlight or, when that is lacking, bright indoor lighting
for some small part of the day. An editing comment in brackets in the
text indicates that this Part 4 may not have been completely reviewed for
accuracy before publication. Nonetheless, it should be a worthwhile read
for most. See Part 4 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/Lighting-Can-Help-Prevent-Workplace-Blahs--10769.
- Part 5: Lighting Can Hold or Hurry Customers, and Define the Image of a Space.
The title is pretty much what the article is about, but attention is paid,
briefly, to the redesign of a space for a new, different use. The new use
will probably dictate a new lighting design. See Part 5 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/Lighting-Can-Hold-or-Hurry-Customers-and-Define-the-Image-of-a-Space--10770.
MICROSYSTEMS
"Rolling With It: Researchers Are Reducing Friction in MEMS [microelectromechanical
systems] Devices Using a Very Old Solution in a New Size" was written by
Jeffrey Winters, Associate Editor, Mechanical Engineering. The author reviews
the technical difficulties which have stalled the advance of microscale engines
in various applications. He then reports on the potential of ball bearings,
with their ability to work with minimal friction. See this article in Mechanical
Engineering, April 2009, at http://memagazine.asme.org/articles/2009/April/Rolling.cfm.
POLICY
"Electricity Feed Laws:
Fast Track to Renewable Energy Growth?" by Paul Gipe, is an excellent
review of electricity feed laws, a more generic term for what are commonly
called "feed-in tariffs." He covers the countries in which they have
been operating or recently introduced, and how they work to achieve speeded-up
renewables development under different policy scenarios. To see this article
in Solar Today, May 2009, select at the top of the
web page, then select the article title at http://www.solartoday-digital.org/solartoday/200905/. Tip: select the 'Settings' option at the top of the web page and try
out the single page and the two-page views to see which is preferable; often
the two-page view works better on a very large screen.
"Ray of Light in Washington State's New Energy Law," by Dierdre Gregg, Staff Writer,
Puget Sound Business Journal. The article describes the
basics of the law (signed by the state's Governor Gregoire on May 8, 2009),
which includes the requirement that utilities keep data on the energy use of
commercial buildings. By 2011 or 2012, the data would be available to potential
renters, lessees, and buyers, which is expected to increase energy efficiency
retrofits so buildings are more attractive to them. This article originated in
the Puget Sound Business Journal, May 1-7, 2009, and was posted on the
Washington Conservation Voters website on May 1 and modified on May 9, 2009, at
http://www.wcvoters.org/files/Ray%20of%20Light%20Puget%20Sound%20Business%20Journal.pdf.
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 referenced by title with credit to the Washington State
University Extension Energy Program. Copying, reprinting or dissemination,
electronic or otherwise, for any other use requires prior written permission
from the Washington State University Extension Energy Program.
