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Updated: Nov. 2, 2019

News Stories In the Past Year
Look for the Energy Star Label One Thing We Can Do: Look for the Energy Star Label Oct. 23, 2019 (NY Times Climate Forward)- You probably recognize it. A sticker on a fridge or a dishwasher: the Energy Star symbol. But what, exactly, does it mean? Energy Star is an energy efficiency certification program run by the Environmental Protection Agency. To get that sticker, a product must pass independent testing by an E.P.A.-recognized lab. Energy Star refrigerators today use approximately 50% less energy than average ones sold 15 years ago. Energy Star LED light bulbs use up to 90% less energy and may last 15 times longer than uncertified ones. The washing machines approved under the program use about 25% less energy and 33% less water than uncertified ones, on average. How Unwinding Can Cool Us Down (Not the Way You Think) A New Cooling Technique Relies on Untwisting Coiled Fibers Oct. 10, 2019 (ScienceNews)-A new way to chill out is simple: Just unwind. Called twistocaloric cooling, the method involves unwinding tightly twisted strands of various materials. The technique was used to chill water by several degrees Celsius, scientists report in the Oct. 11 Science. Cooling techniques like those used in traditional refrigerators rely on cycles of compressing and expanding gases. But those gases can contribute to global warming (SN: 10/25/16). So researchers have been looking for alternative cooling methods based on manipulating solid materials. Consider a rubber band: When stretched, it heats up, becoming warm to the touch. When released, it cools down. The same goes for twisting and untwisting. View the 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard Reveals Leading States In Clean Energy Adoption Oct. 3, 2019 (inhabitat)- Just in time for the annual celebration of Energy Efficiency Day, the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. For this year’s report, the states leading on clean energy adoption are Massachusetts and California, while North Dakota and Wyoming still have more than a few strides to go before fully catching up. In step with Energy Efficiency Day’s message of “Save Money, Cut Carbon, Breathe Easier,” ACEEE’s goal is to share tips and tools that promote a clean energy future. No surprise then that ACEEE firmly advocates for effective energy usage to reduce consumer bills and limit pollution. Click now for the story and a slideshow. The World's Smallest Engine Created in Dublin Physicists Create the World's Smallest Engine Aug. 21, 2018 (ScienceDaily)-Theoretical physicists at Trinity College Dublin are among an international collaboration that has built the world's smallest engine -- which, as a single calcium ion, is approximately ten billion times smaller than a car engine. The engine itself -- a single calcium ion -- is electrically charged, which makes it easy to trap using electric fields. The working substance of the engine is the ion's "intrinsic spin" (its angular momentum). This spin is used to convert heat absorbed from laser beams into oscillations, or vibrations, of the trapped ion. Click now for the story. Increasing HVAC Heat Exchanger Efficiency 5 Fold Making HVAC Heat Ex- changers Five Times Better From Water Using Magnetic Liquid Aug. 1, 2019 (Science Daily)) -Researchers from Tsinghua University and Brown University have discovered a simple way to give a major boost to turbulent heat exchange, a method of heat transport widely used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In a paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers show that adding a readily available organic solvent to common water-based turbulent heat exchange systems can boost their capacity to move heat by 500%. That's far better than other methods aimed at increasing heat transfer, the researchers say. Click now to read this welcome news story. Getting Rusty on Renewable Energy? Could Rust Be a New Source of Renewable Energy? July 30, 2019 (Popular Mechanics)) -Rust is often associated with decay and disrepair, but scientists at Caltech and Northwestern University are looking at rust differently: as a means of generating electricity. Rust, after all, is nothing more than iron oxide. Thin films of it, as the scientists show in a new study, could be used to generate electricity when interacting with salt water. Combining metal compounds and salt water is a well-known way of conducting electricity, since chlorine and sodium ions can carry electrical currents. The process can even be replicated in your kitchen. Click now to read the complete story. Air Conditioning - Both a Blessing and a Curse One Thing You Can Do: Beat the Heat Efficiently July 3, 2019 NY Times Climate Forward - A heat wave scorched Europe through the weekend and Americans are facing what’s predicted to be a very hot couple of months. Last summer ranked as the fourth-hottest on record for the lower 48 states, and this year’s temperatures are expected to be above average in most of the country. So, how do you win the battle against summer heat in a sustainable way? When it comes to cooling your home, you basically have three options: open your windows, use fans or turn on the air conditioning. Click now to learn what you can do. N.M. Public Service Wants To Be Emission-Free by 2040 PNM Plans Early Retirement of Coal Plant With Massive Addition of Solar + Storage July 1, 2019 Renewable Energy World - On July 1, Public Service of New Mexico filed a plan with regulators in the state for how it plans to get to a 100 percent emission-free power by 2040. The utility reviewed four scenarios, all of which involved the early retirement of the San Juan Coal Plant, to arrive at its recommended path forward. The utility considered four possible scenarios for how it could most effectively meet the directive of the Energy Transition Act, which was announced on March 25. The act requires the state to get 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2045. Click now for the story and to see an infographic. NY Will Pass Aggressive Clean Energy Mandate New York to Pass 'One of the Most Aggressive Clean Energy Mandates In the Country' June 19, 2019 Renewable Energy World - New York is poised to pass its own version of the Green New Deal with a climate bill that would more than triple the state’s solar capacity and aggressively promote development of wind farms off the state’s coast. The legislation calls for boosting the amount of solar power in New York to 6 gigawatts by 2025, from about 1.7 gigawatts currently. It would also have 9 gigawatts of offshore wind generation installed by 2035. None of the state’s power currently comes from offshore wind. The bill codifies New York’s goal of getting all of its electricity from emission-free sources by 2040. Achieving that would put the state ahead of even progressive California, which has set of target of 100% clean power by 2045, and other states that have set clean-energy standards. New York is also looking to cut economy-wide emissions 85% by 2050. Governor Andrew Cuomo called the bill “the most aggressive in the country” during remarks on the radio program The Capitol Pressroom on WNYC. Click now for the optimistic story.	Canada Will Add 36,000 Workers for Energy Efficiency Canada’s Energy Efficiency Sector to Add 36,000 Workers In 2019 Electric Light & Power, Apr. 30, 2019 - Canada’s energy efficiency goods and services sector directly employed an estimated 436,000 permanent workers in 2018 and is poised to grow by 8.3% this year, creating over 36,000 jobs, according to a new report. These workers were employed across about 51,000 business establishments across six industries. Together, these establishments generated $82.6 billion in revenue in 2018 and were generally optimistic about growth prospects in 2019. Interested? Click now for whole story. Big Buildings and Energy Inefficiency Big Buildings Hurt the Climate New York City Hopes to Change That. NY Times Climate Forward, Apr. 17, 2019 -New York City is about to embark on an ambitious plan to fight climate change that would force thousands of large buildings, like the Empire State Building and Trump Tower, to sharply reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation, expected to be passed by the City Council on Thursday, would set emission caps for many different types of buildings, with the goal of achieving a 40 percent overall reduction of emissions by 2030. Buildings that do not meet the caps could face steep fines. Wind and Solar? - We’ve Got Efficient Light Bulbs America’s Light Bulb Revolution NY Times Climate Forward, Mar.8, 2019 - Solar panels and wind turbines get a lot of attention, but a more inconspicuous instrument is helping to reshape America’s energy economy right now: The humble light bulb. Over the past decade, traditional incandescent bulbs, those distinctive glass orbs with glowing wire centers, have been rapidly replaced by more energy-efficient lighting. The shift has driven down electricity demand in American homes, saving consumers money and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. A New Way to Cut Down on Air Conditioning A New Fabric Will Automatically Cool You Down When You Get Hot and Sweaty Feb. 13, 2019 M.I.T. Technology Review -Too hot one minute, too cold the next. Anyone who’s engaged in office warfare over the air conditioning can tell you that trying to keep everyone happy is impossible. But what if we all wore clothing that adjusted to us, rather than having to fiddle with the temperature dial? A new fabric, developed by a team at the University of Maryland, is the first to automatically warm wearers up or cool them down as needed. When you’re feeling hot and sweaty—when playing sports, say— the fabric lets infrared radiation (heat, to you and me) pass through. But when you’re colder and drier, it traps the heat in. No More Incandescents For America Come 2020 California Set Light Bulb Efficiency Standards 2018 - The Nation is Next Feb. 8, 2019 Energy Central -One of the least energy efficient products in modern history, the incandescent light bulb dating back to the days of Thomas Edison, was permanently retired in California in January, 2018. In 2020 for the rest of the nation will follow suit. Georgia Utility IRP Falls Short on Efficiency Clean Energy Group Says Georgia Power’s New IRP Falls Short on Solar, Energy Efficiency Feb. 1, 2019 Renewable Energy World -On January 31, 2019, Georgia Power, the largest utility in the state submitted its newest integrated resource plan (IRP) to the state utility commission for approval. The plan calls for the retirement of approximately 1000 MW of coal-fired generation and the construction of 1000 MW of solar generation. In response to the IRP, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) said the plan doesn’t go far enough. “While we commend Georgia Power for retiring approximately 1,000 megawatts of coal-fired capacity at Plants Hammond and McIntosh, the utility is only acknowledging the inevitable with the retirement of these two minimally-operating coal plants,” the organization said in a statement. New Years Resolutions to Conserve Automobile Energy Conserving Automobile Energy Greener Ideal, Dec. 31, 2018 - Here’s one that should be up there is both healthier on your vehicle, the environment and eventually, your wallet: fuel conservation for the long haul. I Will Drive Safer And Conservatively I Will Keep Up With Routine Maintenance I Will Plan My Routes More Effectively, I Will Not Drive Around The Parking Lot Looking For The Best Spot Details in the article. An Inexpensive Large-Scale Flexible T.E. Generator Harvesting Waste Heat as Energy from a Curved Surface Solar Thermal Magazine, Dec. 20, 2018 - A team of researchers led by Osaka University developed an inexpensive large-scale flexible thermoelectric generator (FlexTEG) module with high mechanical reliability for highly efficient power generation. Through a change in direction of the top electrodes at the two sides of the module and the use of high density packaging of semiconductor chips, the FlexTEG module has more flexibility in any uniaxial direction. This improved efficiency of recovery, or thermoelectric conversion, of waste heat from a curved heat source, enhancing the module’s mechanical reliability as less mechanical stress is placed on semiconductor chips in the module. Cheap Hydrogen Fuel? We’ll Take ItNew Catalyst Produces Cheap Hydrogen Fuel Nov. 29, 2018 -Queensland University Professor Anthony O'Mullane said the potential for the chemical storage of renewable energy in the form of hydrogen was being investigated around the world. "The Australian Government is interested in developing a hydrogen export industry to export our abundant renewable energy," said Professor O'Mullane from QUT's Science and Engineering Faculty. Click now to read more from Science Daily.

Of Interest
How To Heat And Cool Buildings With Wastewater Wastewater To Heat And Cool Buildings From: Huber Technology -Most companies and agencies today operate with the concept of business sustainability. This is a holistic way of managing a business that includes environmental, social, and financial responsibilities. To meet this triple bottom line, companies must find ways to be cost-efficient, socially responsible, and eco-friendly at the same time. Heating and cooling facilities uses large amounts of energy, and accounts for much of a company’s operating costs. With new technologies, companies can reduce reliance on fossil fuels while saving money. Curious? Click now to learn more. How to Maximize Your Vehicle’s Fuel Economy How to Maximize Your Vehicle’s Fuel Economy Union of Concerned Scientists, - How you drive and take care of your vehicle can have a big effect on how much fuel you use. Follow these simple tips to save money and reduce pollution. Covered are “Before You Hit the Road,” “Behind the Wheel,” and “Driving a Clean Car Revolution.” Interested? Click now to get up to speed. Carbon Offsets: How they Work in California How Carbon Offsets Work EnergyCentral Apr. 9, 2019 -Offsets are financial instruments that are used by the California Cap and Trade Program and other similar programs. This paper we will reviews the types of offsets, offset protocols and offset verification. Click now to go to the article, and then click “Publication” in the blue oval. It's Time For Citizends to Take ChargeA Citizen's Guide to Reducing Energy Waste -With clean energy from the sun and wind, we have the technology to provide for our energy needs without the global consequences of pollution. Yet we’re still producing and consuming virtually all of our energy in ways that do lasting damage to our environment, our health and our climate. And to make matters worse, of all that dirty energy we produce, two-thirds of it ends up being wasted. We can address the largest environmental challenges of our time by shifting toward 100% renewable energy. The fastest, easiest and cheapest way to do that is to first reduce the total amount of energy we use and let go to waste. Learn how you can reduce your energy waste and become more energy efficient in your home. Click now to learn more from the Environment Florida. Guide To Lowering Your Electric Bill The Ultimate Guide From Arcadia Power The article tells about the many ways we can save power and reduce both our carbon footprint and utilty bills. Click now to read it. Charging Smart - A Smart Thing to Do Union of Concerned Scientists Sound Solar Solution Everyone loves electric cars—they’re clean, fun to drive, and increasingly affordable to own. But what do electric vehicles (EVs) mean for the electricity grid? Could they enable the use of more renewable power? Drivers, electric utilities, and the environment can all benefit when electric vehicles are better integrated with the grid. Click now for much more. - Make Power While Being TowedTiny Tigermoth Camper Generates Power While Being Towed Feb. 7, 2017- Taxa Outdoors’ tow camper, the TigerMoth, is a compact home on wheels geared towards traveling adventurers. The lightweight camper sleeps two, has LED lights, and even better, comes with a built-in electrical system that generates energy while being towed. The camper’s battery can store energy for at least seven days, making off-grid living easier than ever before. Lakes That Can Store Electricity?Lakes Can Work Like Batteries That Charge The Electricity Grid Solar and wind are poised to become a larger part of that green-power mix. But there’s a problem: people need electricity even when the sun’s not shining and the wind isn’t blowing. One way to solve this problem is to store the excess energy and then release it when there’s a need. Highways Making Electricity?California Freeways Will Soon Generate Electricity Energy conservation is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about freeways jammed with idling vehicles. But in California, which has some of the most congested freeways in the country, that's about to change. The CEC has approved a pilot program in which piezoelectric crystals will be installed on several freeways. It's a Walking Solar Panel!The First Flexible,Fiber-Optic Solar Cell That CanBe Woven Into Clothes An international team of engineers, physicists, and chemists have created the first fiber-optic solar cell. These fibers are thinner than human hair, flexible, and yet they produce electricity, just like a normal solar cell. The US military is already interested in weaving these threads into clothing, to provide a wearable power source for soldiers. Drive Green For Life™Offering the Drive Green for Life Program Click now to sign up for a free estimate. Net-0 Energy HomesBuilding & Powering an Award- Winning Net Zero Energy Home Can a home be beautiful, powered entirely by solar energy, use sustainable heating and cooling systems and save it’s owners roughly $3,500 a year? Why, yes it can. Just ask Joanne Coons, who built her award winning, single-family, Net Zero Energy Home in 2010. Sustainable Woman Joanne talks Net Zero standards, efficient appliances and goods, her 10kW solar panels and more.	Wasting Electricity When Devices Are Not in Use Home Idle Load: Devices Wasting Electricity When Not in Active Use July 14, 2015 (National Resources Defense Council(NRDC))-There has been a veritable explosion in the number of electronics, appliances, and other miscellaneous devices plugged into, or permanently connected to, America's homes. Most are consuming electricity around-the-clock, even when the owners are not using them or think they have been turned off. This always-on energy use by inactive devices translates to $19 billion a year -- about $165 per U.S. household on average -- and approximately 50 large (500-megawatt) power plants' worth of electricity. Click now for the full story. How to Shop for Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs How to Shop for Energy -Efficient Light Bulbs July 22, 2019 (National Resources Defense Council(NRDC))) -One of the easiest, cheapest ways to fight climate change may be shining down on you right now. The bulbs you use in your kitchen ceiling, chandelier, bedside lamp, or bathroom vanity can be either a major energy suck or a smart way to lighten your power load. Incandescent light bulbs were a revelation when they were introduced by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century, but those bulbs were so inefficient that up to 90 percent of the energy they used was wasted as heat. These were the only option until 1980, when compact fluorescent lamps (known as CFLs) hit the market as a more efficient alternative. The early CFLs were not only prohibitively expensive but also too bulky for most lamps, and slow to fully light up. But over the next 20 years, CFLs improved dramatically. Click now light up your life. Call a Pro to Energy Assess Your Home Energy Assess Your Home Jan. 15, 2019 Energy.Gov -Professional energy assessments generally go into great detail to assess your home's energy use. The energy auditor will do a room-by-room examination of the residence, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills. Many professional energy assessments will include a blower door test. Most will also include a thermographic scan. There's also another type of test -- the PFT air infiltration measurement technique -- but it is rarely offered. Check out the Energy Saver 101 home energy audit infographic to get an idea of what energy auditors look for and the special tools they use to determine where a home is wasting energy. Make Every Window a Power Source Fully Transparent PV Cell Could Make Any Window/Screen a Power Source Aug. 26, 2014, -Researchers at Mich. State have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a P.V. solar cell.They can be efficiently deployed in a many settings, like tall buildings or any kind of mobile device that demands high aesthetic quality like a phone or e-reader. Click now for images and more info. Rhubarb: It's Not Just for Pie Hook Up Your Solar Panels To A Giant Rhubarb Battery January 13th, 2014 -Yes, all you rhubarb fans take note. A new energy storage breakthrough is under way at Harvard University, and it is based on a common little molecule that is almost exactly the same as one found in rhubarb. Click now for a story worth reading, rube, or not. Save $$ and the Environment 10 Tips for an Energy-Efficient Home June 23, 2018 -Energy bills are one of the largest regular bills behind mortgages, rent and council tax. The average annual dual-fuel bill, which covers both gas and electricity, stands at more than $1,700 per household – and this is on the rise. For most homeowners, cost is secondary to the aesthetics and milieu of the home they are creating. Can you design a beautiful home that still helps you save each month on your energy bill? Click to read the Greener Ideal article. Greenhouse Farming Helper How LEDs Are Set to Revolutionize Hi-Tech Greenhouse Farming June 13, 2014 - LEDs outperform incandescent lights, hands down. But they should also give farmers unprecedented control over plant growth, development and nutritional content in future, say researchers. Click now for more on this story and a graphic chart. Energy Efficiency, CA.StyleNew California Partnership Launches Statewide PACE Program Jan. 26, 2015 -Reducing energy use by enhancing efficiency has long been viewed as “low-hanging fruit” in the drive to lower energy bills, boost economic productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions Sending Heat Into Space Material Cools Buildings by Sending Heat into Space December 1, 2014 -It requires no electricity, uses the universe as a heat-sink even with the sun shining. -A material that simultaneously reflects light and radiates heat at frequencies that vent it through the Earth’s atmosphere could one day help cool buildings on hot days. Click now to read all about this potential breakthrough. It Chills and It ChargesSolar-Powered Beach Mat Charges Your Phone and Chills Your Beverages Powered by a five-watt solar panel and a built-in thermal fridge, the Beachill waterproof mattress lets beach-goers keep their drinks cold and their portable devices charged while making a positive impact on the environment. Ask the Energy Expert A New Jersey Town Keeps Its Citizens Informed Experts weigh in on tips for energy efficiency. Appliances, home energy audits, driving tips. Try it, you might just learn something. Driving Tips Tips on Greener Driving We're Not Talking About Golf Clubs Want to save money and reduce your carbon footprint? Who wouldn't? Click now to see just how to do it. And by the way, get rid of that Hummer.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Aracdia Power Arcadia Power was started to give everyone the chance to know - and decide - what kind of energy they support, putting power in the hands of the people. Bright Source Energy BrightSource’s LPT solar thermal system is operating at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) in California’s Mojave Desert. Ivanpah, which began commercial operation in 2013, is delivering power to PG&E and Southern California Edison. The project is currently the largest solar thermal power plant in the world. Ivanpah was constructed by Bechtel and is operated by NRG Energy, one of the project's equity investors. Click the here to see a PDF fully explaining the facility. Community Energy Service SmartLights is specially designed to help small businesses become more energy-efficient. This program offers free start-to-finish technical assistance and instant rebates to help defray the cost of upgrading and/or repairing existing equipment. SmartLights can help with comprehensive lighting retrofits, refrigeration tune-ups, controls, and seals replacement, replacing domestic hot water heaters, and referrals to appropriate HVAC programs. Their services include: a free, no obligation energy-efficiency assessment, instant rebates (typically range from 25%-75% of total project costs), negotiated volume pricing with qualified installation contractors, free start-to-finish project management and quality control, rebates paid directly to your contractor to help defray your out-of-pocket costs, and referrals to other energy efficiency programs as needed. .	FC PowerTrekk myFC PowerTrekk is a hybrid fuel cell charger that generates electricity from water and salt – to make sure you’ll have instant power anywhere, anytime. Check out the video by clicking on the logo. Florida Energy Conservation Advisors Provide FREE Home Energy Conservation Evaluations for HOME OWNERS throughout central west Florida, including Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, & Sarasota Counties. This FREE Evaluation should result in substantial reductions from your current utility bills. Our National and State Governments along with local Utility Companies are providing Tax Credits, Rebates and other incentives to HOME OWNERS who reduce their Energy waste and Fluorocarbon Footprint. Google Energy Conservation Links to all sorts of information on energy conservation (the cheapest form of renewable energy you can get) Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. Dept of Energy DOE's Building Technologies (BTP) funds research and technology development to reduce commercial and residential building energy use. Energy Star Learn about Energy Star products that save energy and MONEY. This web page provides home energy saving tips.	National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Energy Outreach Network The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development (R&D). NetZero-USA (Reducing Fixed Costs / Improving Bottom Lines) One of the biggest challenges that businesses face today is the rising cost of power. As our nation struggles to find new power sources, one thing becomes abundantly clear: Energy costs will continue to rise with no apparent end in sight. North East Sustainable Energy Association Promotimg sustainable energy and whole systems thinking. Orlando Utility Commission Orlando Utilities Commission, in pursuing what apparently would be only the second project of its kind in Florida, plans to offer customers the chance to buy power from a solar garden in southwest Orlando at a fixed price for as long as 25 years. “If you want to do solar, this is the cheapest way to do it," OUC spokesman Tim Trudell said. OUC’s residential customers now pay 10 cents to 12 cents for one kilowatt-hour of electricity, which is enough to power 10 light bulbs of 100 watts each for an hour. Power generated by the solar garden would cost 13 cents per kilowatt-hour. To see why residents might be willing to pay a little more than conventional rates, click the logo.