Some top energy efficiency news from around the interwebs (other than our own energy efficiency coverage):
Energy Efficiency News
Despite significant growth and much publicity, the green construction and technology market still accounts for only a small percentage of the commercial building stock worldwide. Today, the spread of sophisticated building automation systems (BAS), which take advantage of the convergence of information technology (IT) data and building data, is helping drive significant growth in intelligent and energy-efficient buildings. According to a recent report from Pike Research, aggressive energy efficiency goals within the building stock – which is undergoing tremendous growth, particularly in developing Asia Pacific nations – will drive revolutionary change in BAS technology and transform the building industry over the next decade.
Overall, the market for commercial building automation systems will double over the next decade, the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts, increasing from $72.5 billion in 2011 to $146.4 billion by 2021….
FutureDash™ Corp. [announced last week] that its EnergyBuddy™ home energy monitoring system is now available for pre-ordering on the world’s largest open-funding platform IndieGoGo at special introductory pricing.
With a unique glowing ‘red, yellow, green’ luminescent top EnergyBuddy tells you at a glance whether your consumption is over or under-budget. It also brings your electricity use to life in far more detail with colorful dashboards showing dials, gizmos and graphs so that you know exactly where your home’s electricity is being used and what you can do to reduce it.
Information and control is available on your iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone or computer screen as it happens, from anywhere on the net and is totally secure. Empowered with this information you can optimize your energy usage to cut your costs, reduce your energy budget and lower your environmental impact….
Technology Innovation and Cost Decreases are Fueling the Spread of Net Zero Energy Buildings
Several forces, including concerns about corporate image and branding in an increasingly sustainability-focused marketplace and growing interest in staying on the cutting edge of technology, are driving many in the construction industry toward the goal of producing zero energy buildings, i.e., buildings that produce as much energy as they consume through on-site and renewable energy systems. Many of the technologies needed to deliver zero energy buildings, such as energy efficient HVAC systems, have already been developed. Others, however, such as triple glazed windows and solar panels, are not considered cost-effective in comparison with conventional alternatives. According to a recent report from Pike Research, over the next few decades, cost decreases in these existing technologies and innovation in emerging technologies, driven by stringent government regulations, will help make zero energy building more attainable….
“Good Morning America” Summer Concerts Featuring GoVision LED Backdrop
ABC’s “Good Morning America” 2012 Summer Concert Series in Central Park will use an LED screen from Argyle, TX-based GoVision LP….
Other News
200 Nomination
Check them all out at the link above.
Analysis: Search for rare earth substitutes gathers pace
The hunt for substitutes for rare earth minerals is gaining momentum as auto makers, lighting companies and clean tech developers seek to reduce their reliance on thin and unreliable supplies of the raw material….
Bloomberg: “Cheap” Coal is Dead
Climate Deniers can only say coal is cheap because they do not value our children’s futures, to say nothing of their brains, lungs, and sex organs.
But even if you leave human health and well being out of the equation, “cheap” coal is gone, and the coal industry is a dead man walking….
The US electric transmission and distribution system is on the verge of a transformation to a smart electric grid. At the center of the evolution of the smart electric grid is the introduction of new technology at the customer meter, as well as the distribution and transmission system level. This technological innovation has required that the road map to a smart electric grid become a partnership of electric utilities and technology companies. Unsurprisingly, the introduction of this new technology has presented new legal, policy and regulatory challenges for state and federal utility regulators. The federal government has added additional momentum to this technological evolution by awarding $3.4 billion in smart grid investment grants to utilities and other entities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These investments are supporting two types of investments in smart grid technology—implementation of smart grid technology across utility service territories and demonstration of smart grid technology….
Image: looking out double-glazed windows via Shutterstock
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