Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

Articles for August 3, 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.

BUILDING ENVELOPES

"Three Options for a More Energy-Efficient Exterior" is a three-part article, by James Piper, PE, Contributing Editor, Building Operating Management, in the July 2009 issue of the journal of the same name:

• Part 1: Insulated Metal Wall Panels Gain Acceptance. These panels now come in a variety of colors and are suitable for industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities. The author describes the panels and mentions some advantages they have over fixed-wall systems. See Part 1 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/windowsexteriorwalls/article/Insulated-Metal-Wall-Panels-Gain-Acceptance--10938.
  
  
• Part 2: A New Generation of EIFS. Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) are another kind of panel-system for building exteriors that offer a number of advantages which are described. Additionally, they now are, generally, designed to manage and drain any water that seeps in or condenses behind the panel surface, thus preventing water-damage to the structure. See Part 2 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/windowsexteriorwalls/article/A-New-Generation-Of-EIFS--10939.
  
  
• Part 3: The Role of Interior Storm Windows. There are occasions when windows that are not terribly energy efficient cannot be replaced and cannot be covered with exterior storm windows. These are times when interior storm windows can help expand the energy efficiency and extend the energy-efficient life of the in-place windows. See Part 3 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/windowsexteriorwalls/article/The-Role-of-Interior-Storm-Windows--10941.
  
  

DATA CENTERS

"Data Centers and DG," by Don Talend, explains how data centers can benefit from distributed generation (DG), a way to generate power at the data center, itself. See this five web-page article in Distributed Generation, July-August, 2009, at http://www.distributedenergy.com/july-august-2009/data-centers-dg.aspx.


FUEL CELLS

"Breaking New Ground: Innovative Fuel Cell Projects Forge Ahead," by Ed Ritchie, highlights three successful efforts to employ fuel cell technology to provide on-site power generation: St. Helena Hospital in St. Helena, California, the University of California at San Diego, and the U.S. Army. See this four web-page article in Distributed Energy, July-August, 2009, at http://www.distributedenergy.com/july-august-2009/breaking-new-ground-1.aspx.


HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION, and AIR CONDITIONING)

"Evaluating Airflow-Measuring Devices" was authored by Leonard A. Damiano, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Ebtron Inc. The article discusses the selection of the airflow-measurement devices for controls applications. It focuses on two types of measurement devices: velocity-pressure and thermal dispersion. See this three web-page article in HPAC Heating/Piping/AirConditioning Engineering, posted July 1, 2009, at http://hpac.com/ventilation-iaq/evaluating-airflow-measuring-devices-0709/index.html.


RENEWABLES

"Architectural Wind: Logan Airport and Maui Ocean Center Find Small and Beautiful Energy Where Tall and Functional Doesn't Fit," by Ed Ritchie, discusses the advantages of artistically-designed and aesthetically-attractive wind turbines at highly visible locations. These small turbines generate relatively low, though still acceptable, levels of power. They do, however, give positive publicity to renewables generally, and wind power specifically. The article highlights two installations, a Gold-LEED airport in Boston and an aquarium in Maui. Accurate data on the power generated will be reported in March of 2010. See this three web-page article in Distributed Energy, July-August 2009, at http://www.distributedenergy.com/july-august-2009/architectural-wind-energy-1.aspx.

"First Nation Takes Lead on Solar Power: T'Sou-ke Project Models Energy Autonomy for Other BC Aboriginal Communities" was written by Colleen Kimmett, Associate Editor, Briarpatch. The T'Sou-ke band of British Columbia is one of several First Nation communities that are located far off-grid and rely on generators for power. The T'Sou-ke project, small-scale though it is, marks a noteworthy departure from total reliance on a carbon-emitting and relatively expensive energy technology. See this article in The Tyee, July 24, 2009, at http://thetyee.ca/News/2009/07/24/FirstNationSolarPower/.


RESTROOMS

"New Options for Restrooms" is a three-part article, by Brandon Lorenz, Senior Editor, Building Operating Management, in the July 2009 issue of the journal of the same name:

• Part 1: What the Restroom Communicates About Your Building. This part of the article highlights faucet aerators which save energy, but may present a challenge or two in certain situations. The author explains how to overcome those challenges. See Part 1 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/plumbingrestrooms/article/What-the-Restroom-Communicates-About-Your-Building--10985.
  
  
• Part 2: An Overview of New Toilet, Hand Dryer, and Sensor Technology. Here the focus is on the water and energy that can be saved given new and improved toilets, hand dryers, and sensors. See Part 2 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/plumbingrestrooms/article/An-Overview-of-New-Toilet-Hand-Dryer-and-Sensor-Technology--10986.
  
  
• Part 3: Restrooms and Building Code Issues. This final piece of the article covers the difficulties of working with code officials who are unfamiliar with some of the newer technologies and are wary of the possible risks they may pose. See Part 3 at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/plumbingrestrooms/article/Restrooms-and-Building-Code-Issues--10987.
  
  

THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES

"Improved Filler Metal Enables Higher-Temperature Dissimilar Metal Welds," by Kent Coleman and John Hainsworth, discusses the new filler metal, P87, developed by EPRI. The application is for boiler tubing at power plants. See this three web-page article in Power, July 2009, at http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Improved-Filler-Metal-Enables-Higher-Temperature-Dissimilar-Metal-Welds_1998.html .


TRANSMISSION and RENEWABLES

"The Odd Couple: Renewables and Transmission," by Martin Piszczalski, PhD, discusses the serious challenges presented by the need to transmit power produced by non-traditional sources. See this four web-page article in Power, July 2009, at http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/The-Odd-Couple-Renewables-and-Transmission_1999.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 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.