HVAC

Rather than expanding current wind and solar power sources, energy experts indicate it is more crucial to eliminate and restructure current consumption methods. Jim Sweeney, an energy economist from Stanford University, says "freeing up 10 percent of current demand would leave more energy available than expanding all current wind and solar production tenfold." Echelon, a Silicon Valley-based company, indicates certain areas known as "smart cities" are doing this using networking technology.

According to the Department of Energy, sheet metal duct work is responsible for up to 20% to 40% of energy loss in homes (and fiberglass is poor alternative due to its carcinigenic nature). KoolDuct is a fiber-free foam-based alternative to sheet metal. Why aren't more people in the United States taking advantage of this?

One arena that is quickly becoming a model of choice for many cities, states and businesses across the nation is The Greensboro Coliseum. The Coliseum will receive energy efficient lighting upgrades throughout, water system retrofits, upgrades to the HVAC system, and many other "green" renovations. Once complete, the improvements should reduce electricity use by a quarter and water consumption and natural gas use by more than half.