energy efficiency

John Mizroch, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Department of Energy (DOE),  discusses the various projects underway within EERE, including researching and developing the use of biomass such as switchgrass and zero energy homes and buildings. He also explains how improving energy efficiency in buildings and furthering development of lithium batteries for vehicles is important for the United States' national security.

If you think the virtual, online world helps reduce energy consumption in the real world (a topic we’ve touched on before here at Green Options Media), think again: a new study by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company provides scary insights into how Internet computing is devouring more and more power and spewing out more and more greenhouse gases.

Oakland, California-based architect Michelle Kaufmann has made a career of promoting green homes and green communities through her company, Michelle Kaufmann Designs. But if you’re not in the market for a new house, she still has some pretty cool tips for greening your home on the cheap.

The most energy-efficient businesses in the U.S. can consume a third less energy than a more conventional company. By arming themselves with knowledge about the financial benefits of sustainability upgrades, facility managers can make these efficiency programs an easy sell.

Cost is the perennial barrier to green corporate investments in energy efficiency, but a new approach from economist Jerry Jackson, the author of "Energy Budgets at Risk," can help companies evaluate these expenditures using tools created by the financial industry.

There are plenty of measures firms can take to limit the environmental impact of business conferences, even in the least-green of locations -- although ultimately holding fewer events may be most sustainable answer.

...a technology available right now that can make some wanton energy waste history. It’s a surge protector that stakes the hearts of vampire electronics without hassling you, the sleeping victim.

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.

Because the Clinton Climate Initiative is taking a very practical approach to addressing climate change through building energy efficiency, it presents an opportunity for companies to learn vital lessons about implementing energy efficiency programs in their own facilities.

Speakers discuss national green infrastructure initiatives, local environmental programs underway in Alexandria, Va., including smart growth and transportation alternatives, as well as the growing involvement of religious organizations and members in the issues of environment and climate change.

Fred Maas, President and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC and Developer of Del Sur, an 1,800-acre "green" residential community in San Diego, Calif.,praised Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Ensign (R-NV) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for introducing the "Clean Energy Stimulus Act." The Act extends expiring tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

There are some surprisingly easy ways to reduce IT costs while improving performance and cutting energy use.

Love them or hate them, Wal-Mart has been making news for a while now with their environmental efforts including asking vendors to reevaluate their packaging and trying to decrease energy usage in their stores.

Energy Service Companies like Johnson Controls and Ameresco have developed a partnership with utility companies that shows energy efficiency can be both profitable and beneficial.

When generating electricity, roughly two-thirds of the energy is lost. Heat is created as a byproduct to spin turbines and later wastes away in cooling towers. Chicago has committed to produce 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity by 2010 with a process call combined heat and power or cogeneration, which finds use for the generated heat. This process can be over 90% efficient.