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Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

Articles for November 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 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.



BIOMASS

Two articles by Lisa Gibson, Associate Editor, Biomass Magazine, appeared in subsequent issues of Biomass Magazine:

  1. “Mighty Microbe” explains how the Q Microbe produces more ethanol per volume of fermentation “broth” than is, normally, the case. The microbe accomplishes this while using nearly any cellulose and without needing any enzymes other than its own. See this article in the September 2009 issue at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3007 .


  2. “Agave Might Be ‘Missing Energy Crop’,” by Lisa Gibson, Associate Editor, Biomass Magazine, describes the potential that the plentiful plant, agave, may have as an ideal feedstock for biofuels. See this article in Biomass Magazine, October 2009, at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3155 .



DATA CENTERS

The following two articles on energy savings in data centers were published in the September 2009 issue of Sustainable Facility:

  1. “Green Data Centers: Four Steps for Increasing Efficiency” was written by Ron Bednar, Manager, Strategic Marketing, Liebert Products, Emerson Network Power. The thorny problem of employing new and efficient ways of cooling data centers while their power needs are ever increasing is addressed with practical approaches. See this article at http://www.sustainablefacility.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000659600 .


  2. “Greening MassMutual’s Data Center,” by Sean Anderson CEM, CPE, is a case study of a large stand-alone data processing facility. Energy efficiencies and emissions reductions were achieved as a result of equipment changes in server aisles, the addition of on-demand ventilation, and the incorporation of biofuel for backup power. See this case study at http://www.sustainablefacility.com/Articles/Cover_Story/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000660423 .



GREEN BUILDINGS AND ECONOMICS

“Big Pink, Other High-Rises, Go Green to Compete,” by Dylan Rivera, Oregonian, describes the phenomenon experienced in Portland, Oregon, by high rise owners. They are retrofitting their buildings in order to attract commercial renters/lessees who have begun to require green building certification, among other things, before they agree to rent/lease. See this article in the Oregonian, October 28, 2009, at http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/10/big_pink_other_high-rises_go_g.html .



HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION, and AIR CONDITIONING)

Two articles on new construction with an emphasis on HVAC design appeared in the September 2009 issue of Consulting-Specifying Engineer:

  1. “Greening Schools: The Building Envelope Is the Top Priority When Designing and Engineering Green Schools” was co-authored by Richard L. Kronick and Michael Ivanovic, Editor-in-Chief, Consulting-Specifying Engineer. The design of the building envelope along with the siting plan should come before the design of the mechanical systems. The mechanical system design, including the sizing of the mechanical system, will, in large measure, depend upon building siting and the building envelope. Important considerations concerning LEED certification, indoor air quality, and much more are included. This informative article is part of a series, HVAC Technology Report; this article includes links to other articles in the series. See this article at http://www.csemag.com/article/354041-HVAC_Technology_Report_Greening_schools.php .


  2. “HVAC Design for a Performing Arts Center,” by Denzil Gallagher, Buro Happold, is a case study describing the very complex design for the HVAC system of the Experimental Media and Performance Center at Polytechnic Institute. Often, building systems designers are balancing energy efficiencies with indoor air quality. With this facility, one important aspect of the design for the HVAC system was balancing energy efficiency with acoustical requirements that greatly exceed ordinary needs. See this interesting case study at http://www.csemag.com/article/354026-HVAC_design_for_a_performing_arts_center.php .



LIGHTING

“NEMA Publishes Guidance on Solid-State Lighting” is an article about a new white paper from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). The white paper, published August 2009, is LSD 51-2009 Solid-State Lighting -- Definitions for Functional and Decorative Applications. See the article on the Facilities Net website at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/NEMA-Publishes-Guidance-on-SolidState-Lighting--11165 .



RENEWABLES -- LOCAL VS. GRID-TRANSMITTED

Energy Self-Reliant States, Second and Expanded Edition, is from the New Rules Project and written by John Farrell and David Morris. It makes a case for locally-generated renewables as superior to long-distance transmission where costs for initial investment, O&M, and transportation are high. The entire 37-PDF-report is at http://www.newrules.org/sites/newrules.org/files/ESRS.pdf ; it is a large file and may take one or two minutes to download. The Executive Summary begins on document-page iii of the report. An article that summarizes the report may also be of interest: “States Could Generate Their Own Power with Homegrown Renewables,” by staff, appeared in Renew Grid, October 23, 2009, that summarizes the report; see this article at http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.4615 .



TRANSMISSION

“NM Project Would Link Nation’s 3 Electric Grids,” by Heather Clark, Associated Press. This article describes the vision for a station in New Mexico (NM) that would connect the country’s East, West, and Texas power grids. See this Associated Press article, posted on the Google website on October 14, 2009, at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5giMkwo6cFPWD1X-zXg4cgE7v_lIAD9BAGI080 . Additionally, the Tres Amigas home page, http://www.tresamigasllc.com/ , provides contact information as well as a link, http://www.tresamigasllc.com/pdf/FinalAmigasFactSheet_1253075040.pdf , to a fact sheet on the proposed project.

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.