One of the trends for saving energy is that of energy monitoring at home or work. Companies are planning to launch wireless energy dashboards that will sit in your home, monitor energy data from your electricity meter and let you know if you’re being an energy hog. As reported by Earth2Tech:

While tech firms have been trying to sell you on the “digital home” for years — complete with wireless networks that can do everything from control your entertainment equipment to operate high-tech security systems to roast a chicken — the new energy management firms are keeping it simple by using low-cost hardware and open standards to monitor energy data.

This year is particularly important to these mostly young companies, as President Obama has pledged to help utilities install 40 million more smart meters (basically digital meters that create a 2-way connection with the power grid and the utility). Smart meters installed at homes can unleash data about the fluctuating price of electricity throughout the day, enabling consumers that have energy management tools to shift energy consumption to the time of day when power is cheapest. For utilities, that can mean better management of the power grid and eliminate the need to build out expensive power generating systems.

A half-dozen companies are launching their first energy dashboards this year, and a few others are starting to gain traction with already available online tools. One of the biggest differences between these firms is whether companies will sell directly to the consumer or to utility partners for upcoming smart meter rollouts. Several of the already-available options for consumers bypass smart meters and utilities and just help the interested consumer with a standard electricity meter. They’re cheap and available online, but they provide less detailed data.

Vodafone Qatar and Alcatel-Lucent announced the deployment of the first hybrid powered Base Station in Qatar, using an integration of solar and wind energy. Vodafone and other companies intend to learn from these trial sites and plans to apply these techniques all over the world.

The wind turbine at the Qatar site has been mounted at the top of the existing mast to leverage higher winds. The energy controller brings intelligent control to simultaneously draw power from both the photovoltaic panels and wind turbine, based on solar intensity and wind speed, making the most – at every second – of the two sources’ fluctuating availability. The system also carefully monitors battery charging cycles and diesel generator maintenance runs so as to maximize their lifespan. A full monitoring system enables real-time tracking of all weather and energy parameters; a key component to enabling large scale deployments.

We know that there’s a lot of wastage in energy consumption. Combine that ineffeciency with pilfering and incompetence and we have the disaster that we have been going through. Here’s an article which mentions a report which talks about efficient usage pays big.

The U.S. could successfully cut its non-transportation energy use by up to 23 percent by 2020 through energy efficiency initiatives alone, argues a report just issued by consulting firm McKinsey & Co. That differential could save the country as much as $130 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 gigatons every year.

That said, getting the U.S. in shape to actually effect these changes could be quite costly. The firm estimates that $520 billion would need to be invested first to put proper efficiency measures in place. Demand response and the smart grid are the two areas that should receive the bulk of this investment, the report suggests. Low-energy lighting, such as light emitting-diode systems, energy storage solutions and the like are also sectors that will likely see a lot of this startup money.

The report also highlights a couple of less-hyped methods for improving energy efficiency, including weatherizing homes and developing technologies for waste heat recovery. But implementing these changes is a massive task that would require a lot more than the money — it would take a shift in national attitude. Americans haven’t typically been good at adopting practices that require steep upfront costs in order to reap gradual rewards.

In order to push through these barriers, McKinsey recommends implementing new efficiency standards on local, statewide and national levels — strategies that would require participation from every segment of the chain from utilities to consumers and from companies to the government.

With most analysts’ eyes fixed on the climate-related legislation pending in Congress, McKinsey says more action needs to be taken to bolster green building in the U.S. The firm arrived at the same conclusions in a report issued two years ago. That one emphasized the links between tons of carbon dioxide saved and money saved.

Fuel cost is one of the most expensive items for many developing and developed countries. In Pakistan we have a lot of waste and inefficient use of our cars and commercial fleets. Perhaps high tech devices can help in this area. Check this out:

In an uncertain economy, organizations are turning to GPS-enabled Service Workforce and Fleet Management solutions to drive efficiencies into their service organizations so as to maintain customer satisfaction levels, drive resource utilization levels while controlling service-related costs. These firms are actively looking to increase visibility into all service resources via GPS, according to a recent research report titled “Service Workforce and Fleet Management: Driving Utilization with Location Intelligence,” published by the Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company.

“Organizations responding to our research indicate that they currently monitor and track the location of 35% of their workers and 47% of their vehicles,” said Sumair Dutta, senior research analyst, Aberdeen Group. “This is up from averages of 23% for workers and 35% for vehicles in 2008 with indications of further investments in 2010. These results are indicative of the value offered by GPS-enabled tracking, navigation and routing solutions in meeting cost containment and customer management pressures faced by today’s service and manufacturing organizations.”

Research findings in the Service Workforce and Fleet Management report indicate responding firms have seen the following average improvements in key service performance indicators since the adoption of GPS-enabled solutions:
– A 25% reduction in idle times
– A 32% increase in fleet utilization
– A 22% decrease in fuel costs and a 31% drop in daily mileage
– A 23% boost in workforce productivity

Via Telematics

Daily Wireless writes about a new wireless sensor for use in buildings.

What do you think about this new campaign from PEPCO?

 Sustainability initiatives have become a “must have” business imperative for companies, despite budget and return on investment (ROI) challenges, according to a new study from Aberdeen Research.

Aberdeen Group has benchmarked over 200 enterprises involved in sustainability initiatives for its ROI of Sustainability survey. The research company says that top performers excel at matching potentially hard-to-grasp concepts like environmental and social stewardship to actionable and measurable improvements to their bottom lines.

However, 46 percent of companies surveyed report that budget challenges remain an impediment to sustainability initiatives and 42 percent still find it difficult to demonstrate quantified business value and return on investment (ROI) in order to make a business case for sustainability.

Similarly, nearly 55 percent of respondents to a recent Panel Intelligence Quarter Sustainability Tracking study observe no financial criteria (i.e. ROI, payback period) when evaluating sustainability projects for their respective organizations.

Aberdeen used six key performance criteria to distinguish best-in-class companies, with top performers achieving between 6 percent to 10 percent reduction in a variety of costs while also making strides in retaining customers.

A key finding reveals that best-in-class companies reduced their energy costs by 6 percent, compared to an industry average of a 4 percent increase. These companies also reduced their carbon footprint by 9 percent and paper costs by 10 percent. They also cut both facility and transportation/logistics costs by 7 percent.

Other key findings show that top performers experienced a 16 percent increase in customer retention rates while driving sustainability-related costs down by an average of almost 8 percent across the board. Best-in-class companies are also 52 percent more likely to incorporate sustainability metrics into value chain performance management KPIs, and to use sustainability to guide major portions of their corporate strategy. In addition, 74 percent of these companies have an organization-wide sustainability policy compared to 58 percent for all others.

Reducing energy-related operating expenses tops the list of motivations for pursuing greener IT operations. See the survey result below from Forrester Research.

Although this article applies to the US architecture style, but this concept is something we all need to research and adopt. We cannot justify the century old ways we use to build our homes in Pakistan. Overall I think homes and offices are one the biggest consumers of energy and we need to make them efficient. Many times it does not take a huge effort or special technology, just common sense.

Via Wall Street Journal.

Here are five remodeling “future-proofing” tips experts recommend. Before you…

1. . . . Tear down sheetrock or take off siding.
Figure out where you can beef up insulation, particularly in exterior walls, basements and attics. Today there are multiple forms of insulation, many promoted as “green,” including soy-based foams, loose-fill cellulose (recycled newsprint) and denim. Go for the highest R-value (thermal resistance) — typically, the bigger the number, the better the insulation — you can afford and fit with proper installation.

Batt or blanket insulation is often cheapest; fiberglass is still widely used. The main drawback is that batts must be trimmed to fit around pipes and fixtures, leaving spaces susceptible to air leaks.

Loose-fill insulation made of fiberglass and cellulose can flow better around wires, pipes and other obstructions. Spray-in, expanding foam insulations do a particularly good job at this and don’t settle or sag over time, though are often pricier because of the materials’ high R-values. Many are urethane-based but some now substitute petroleum content with soybean material. “Fill the cavity any time a wall is open,” says Bruce Harley, author of “Insulate and Weatherize.”

Resources:

BioBased Insulation (www.biobased.net) and Soy Therm (www.soyol.com): soybean-based spray urethane foams with low or no VOCs.

air krete (www.airkrete.com): a lightweight spray foam made from cement, air and water, containing no CFCs or formaldehyde.

GreenFiber (www.greenfiber.com): a blow-in insulation made from 85% recycled-paper fiber.

SafeTouch (www.building.dow.com/na/safetouch): fiberglass-free batts made from non-irritating polyester fibers.

2. . . . Replace kitchen cabinets.
Inquire whether materials contain added urea formaldehyde, which is used in the adhesives of certain pressed-wood products, including those used to make kitchen cabinets. Formaldehyde has been classified as a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute recommends that “buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content” of such products.

The Formaldehyde Council Inc., a group of formaldehyde producers and users, says that at the low levels to which people are exposed there “is essentially no risk” and that formaldehyde-based products are harmless when used as directed. However, starting this year, California began regulating formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products sold in the state.

More mainstream wood-product manufacturers are adjusting product lines. Armstrong World Industries Inc. is developing a line of cabinetry boxes with no added formaldehyde.

Columbia Forest Products Inc., a large manufacturer of formaldehyde-free hardwood plywood, has organized a network of green fabricators to make it easier to find products like cabinets and furniture built without formaldehyde. “Consumers are asking for products that don’t emit VOCs into their kids’ rooms or kitchens, and that are made with environmentally accountable materials,” says Todd Vogelsinger, Columbia Forest Products’ director of marketing.

Resources:

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Environmental Stewardship Program (www.greencabinetsource.org) lists makers who embrace practices that benefit “the environment and society.”

Neil Kelly Cabinets (www.neilkellycabinets.com) and Breathe Easy (www.breatheeasycabinetry.com) make cabinetry with some formaldehyde-free materials.

The EPA’s Web site discusses formaldehyde (www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html).

3. . . . Buy a new hot water heater.

Lisa HaneyConsider going “tankless” or investing in solar technology to bolster your system. On-demand or “tankless” hot-water heaters fire up only when you turn on the hot-water tap. As water runs through the heater, it’s warmed instantly by an electric or gas-fired mechanism. Such appliances are considered more efficient in many cases than standard water-heater tanks, which continually consume energy to heat and store water you don’t use most of the day.

Meantime, a growing number of homeowners are enlisting the sun to help heat their water. U.S. installations of solar water-heater systems nearly tripled between 2005 and 2007, and some states, such as Hawaii, are beginning to mandate them in new homes. What’s more, residential solar water-heating systems can qualify for a 30% federal tax credit, while qualified tankless hot-water heaters can earn up to a $1,500 federal credit; there also may be state incentives.

Resources:

Find information on federal and state tax credits and rebates for renewable-energy and energy-efficiency options (www.dsireusa.org).

Find certified solar installers (www.findsolar.com).

Energystar.gov lists manufacturers of energy-efficient tankless water heaters.

4. . . . Build a new media room.
Make sure it’s designed to meet the future of home technology. Can wiring support a centrally located media-distribution system that feeds Internet access, movies, games and music to the rest of the home? Can you control lighting, security, and heating and air conditioning from a touch screen or remotely from a cellphone or PDA?

Gone are the days of just making sure you have enough outlets to run the stereo, TV and DVD player. Fast-advancing home-automation technology in every aspect of life means one day, refrigerators and other appliances will be more efficient and interconnected to relay problems to homeowners or central repair databases. General Electric Co., for one, now sells an Energy Monitoring Dashboard (www.ge.com/yourhome) that tracks home indoor energy and water consumption and emissions, and can be integrated with solar technology, thermostats and music to pipe throughout the house.

With 76 million baby boomers beginning to approach retirement, home tech will increasingly communicate with outside health-care providers. And it all will require proper planning and wiring to prevent information overload. While the upfront costs can be more, it can pay off to hire an electronic-residential-design pro to plan along with your contractor.

Resources:

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association helps locate certified electronic-design professionals in your region (www.cedia.net).

Continental Automated Buildings Association (www.caba.org), a not-for-profit industry association, is dedicated to intelligent home and intelligent building technologies.

5. . . . Paint a wall or refinish the floor.
Products that contain few or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the fastest-growing segments of the $21 billion paint and coatings market. VOCs are solvents that disperse into the air as paint dries, and have long been used to help it spread evenly and adhere to surfaces. But VOCs, which are largely responsible for that new-paint smell, can contribute to smog as well as kidney and liver damage, respiratory and memory problems and other illnesses, particularly in children. While you don’t need to rush out to repaint if your walls are in good shape (most VOCs dissipate after 30 days), home buyers increasingly are asking if these coatings have been used in residences. Plus, low-VOC paints are generally healthier for your family while painting is going on.

They typically cost the same as regular paints or just a few dollars more per gallon. You can also find low-VOC water-based urethane finishes for wood flooring. Some states, such as California, have already strictly limited the VOC emissions of paints sold there, and the federal government is expected to propose tightening its restrictions later this year.

Resources:

Green Seal (www.greenseal.org), Greenguard (www.greenguard.org) and Scientific Certification Systems (www.scscertified.com) post lists of certified paints based on health and environmental criteria.

The Environmental Protection Agency provides an overview of VOC health risks (www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html).

Both industries and consumers have been hit hard by the natural gas shortage. New connections for industrial areas have been tightly controlled over the last many months. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is planning to add 250 mcf per day additional gas in the system from June this year. The natural gas supply in Pakisan has significant problems of theft and other losses. Sui Gas company has large amounts unsetteled with Wapda and consumers as well.

The managing director of SNGPL said that company was trying to reduce line losses. Rs 1.5 billion have been allocated to reduce the losses up to 6 percent from the current level of 8 percent. The company was also trying to minimise gas pilferage as the government has been asked to enact law to award severe punishments to discourage gas theft which is currently 50 percent of total losses, he informed. Currently there is no effective legal act under which gas pilferage complaint is registered and culprits punished accordingly, he added.

Via Business Recorder.