Green Building and Manufacturing Articles
Ethanol-Powered Vehicles Generate More Ozone Than Gas-Powered Ones
ScienceDaily (Dec. 14, 2009) - Ethanol -- often promoted as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that could help wean the nation from oil -- would likely worsen health problems caused by ozone, compared with gasoline, especially in winter, according to a new study led by Stanford researchers.
Ozone production from both gasoline and E85, a blend of gasoline and ethanol that is 85 percent ethanol, is greater in warm sunny weather than during the cold weather and short days of winter, because heat and sunlight contribute to ozone formation. But E85 produces different byproducts of combustion than gasoline and generates substantially more aldehydes, which are precursors to ozone.
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Peak uranium: More reasons to worry about powering the nuclear revival
Is it time to start worrying (again) about "peak uranium"?
Every so often, the world's planned nuclear renaissance runs into concerns about future availablity of the main fuel source for all those reactors.
A few news items this week fuel those concerns. Chinese officials acknowledge that their planned nuclear push could strain uranium supplies in the future-especially since Chinese uranium production seems well below domestic needs already. And India's existing nuclear fleet is running well below capacity because of shortages of domestic uranium. India has also planned a massive nuclear-energy expansion. All that has Russia eager, as always, to step into the breach with offers to supply uranium to potential new customers.
The fears over "peak uranium" boil down to simple math: The world presently consumes a lot more uranium than it produces. The latest numbers from the International Atomic Energy Agency say global annual consumption is 69,100 tons; global production from mining is around 43,000 tons. The difference-for now-is basically made up from nuclear-weapons stockpiles, which obviously aren't an infinite resource.
That's the arithmetic that has renewed "peak uranium" chatter in recent weeks. Swiss scientist Michael Dittmar talks of a supply crunch as soon as 2013. And all those worries are based on the size of the world's current nuclear power fleet.
The thing is, China, India, the Middle East, and the U.K. are already ramping up their own nuclear renaissance. The U.S.-the world's biggest user of nuclear energy-has plans for more, though perhaps not as much as Republicans would like. Either way, nuclear expansion on the drawing board seems likely to increase the world's appetite for uranium.
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THE NEXT ECONOMIC STIMULUS: ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR HOMES?
In the next economic stimulus package President Obama wants to offer a rebate to homeowners who make energy efficiency and conservation improvements. No details yet. It's Congress's job to hash out the fine print. None the less, this is a good idea. Should it happen, the sooner the better.
--- An energy efficiency improvement is a gift that keeps on giving. Even small reductions in energy consumption translate into smaller utility bills. For the homeowner, money saved is money that can be spent elsewhere (or set aside).
--- Energy efficiency and conservation products tend to be U.S. made. Many brands of efficient windows, insulation, heating and air conditioning equipment and water heaters come out of U.S. factories. A energy efficiency rebate incentive would put these factories to work.
--- Some efficiency products, such as some brands of compact fluorescent and LED lights, as well as on-demand water heaters, are made overseas, which is no help to U.S. factories. Still, retailers and distributors of these imported products would benefit from rebate to homeowners.
--- Some efficiency and conservation upgrades can be done by homeowners, but many, such as installing new HVAC systems, are typically done by a local contractor. Along with the factories that make the equipment these contractors would receive the bulk of the new work created by an energy efficiency stimulus.
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Energy Efficiency Technologies Offer Major Savings, Report Finds
ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) - Energy efficiency technologies that exist today or that are likely to be developed in the near future could save considerable money as well as energy, says a new report from the National Research Council. Fully adopting these technologies could lower projected U.S. energy use 17 percent to 20 percent by 2020, and 25 percent to 31 percent by 2030.
Achieving full deployment of these efficiency technologies will depend in part on pressures driving adoption, such as high energy prices or public policies designed to increase energy efficiency. Nearly 70 percent of electricity consumption in the United States occurs in buildings. The energy savings from attaining full deployment of cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies in buildings alone could eliminate the need to add new electricity generation capacity through 2030, the report says. New power generation facilities would be needed only to address imbalances in regional energy supplies, replace obsolete facilities, or to introduce more environmentally friendly sources of electricity.
Many cost-effective efficiency investments in buildings are possible, the report says. For example, replacing appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, and hot water heaters with more efficient models could reduce energy use by 30 percent. Opportunities for achieving substantial energy savings exist in the industrial and transportation sectors as well. For example, deployment of industrial energy efficiency technologies could reduce energy use in manufacturing 14 percent to 22 percent by 2020, relative to expected trends. Most of these savings would occur in the most energy-intensive industries, such as chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, iron and steel, and cement.
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Report: education is key to green buildings
A survey by Dovetail Partners reviews green building products and finds that better education for contractors, manufacturers and tenants is the most important part of a successful green project.
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Anaerobic Digesters to Help Cut Dairy Emissions by 25% by 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on December 15 an agreement with U.S. dairy producers to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 while turning manure into electricity using anaerobic digesters. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy , the USDA, and dairy producers, the groups agreed to work together to reach the target. USDA will contribute by undertaking research initiatives, allowing implementation flexibility, and enhancing efforts to market anaerobic digesters to dairy producers.
Anaerobic digester technology is a proven method of converting waste products, such as manure, into electricity. The technology utilizes generators that are fueled by methane captured from the animal manure. Currently, only about 2% of U.S. dairies that are candidates for a profitable digester are using the technology, even though dairy operations with anaerobic digesters routinely generate enough electricity to power 200 homes.
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Study: No Health Impact From Wind Turbines
A detailed literature review published on Tuesday by the American and Canadian wind industry associations found no medical basis for the health complaints that often arise near large wind-farm projects.
But the 85-page industry-financed study is unlikely to settle the persistent question of whether those who live near turbines are indeed susceptible to so-called "wind-turbine syndrome."
Written by a seven-member panel of experts from a range of technical disciplines, the report concluded that there is no evidence that audible or "subaudible" turbine sounds and vibrations have physiological effects.
The authors did, however, concede that some people are irritated by turbine swishing noises, especially in the absence of other ambient sound:
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Study: LED lifecycle assessment
A study on the lifecycle assessment of LED lamps shows the latest generation of lamps achieves a very high score for environmental friendliness.
A study on the lifecycle assessment (LCA) of LED lamps by OSRAM shows the latest generation of lamps achieves a very high score for environmental friendliness. This study involved a close look at their entire lifecycle--how much energy and raw materials the lamp consumes in terms of production, use, and disposal and the environmental impact involved in the process. The result was that today's LED lamps achieve the LCA values of compact fluorescent lights and are far superior to conventional incandescent lamps.
LEDs are among the most energy-efficient light sources available on the market. LED lamps are already today more than five times more efficient than incandescent lamps and future technical achievements offer additional potential for the coming years.
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NY State Energy Plan Promotes Clean, Efficient Alternatives
A New York State board has recommended a plan intended to make energy more affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly while helping to create jobs over the next 10 years, officials said.
The plan, released Tuesday by the State Energy Planning Board, is not binding, but Gov. David A. Paterson, who convened the board last year, said the recommendations will guide legislation he plans to pursue in the year ahead.
"New York will lead the nation in the clean energy economy, and this state energy plan will help us get there," Governor Paterson said in a statement.
The plan includes improvements in energy efficiency, more reliance on state energy supplies like natural gas and increased investment in clean-energy projects as a source of jobs.
One initiative in the plan, which updates energy goals set in a similar report in 2002, calls for a new state building code that would require stricter energy efficiency standards. Another calls for disclosing energy use for buildings at the time of sale to encourage energy upgrades. The plan also calls for expanding solar and wind energy projects while doubling the state's production of natural gas, a less polluting fossil fuel than coal.
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Big Box Solar
Akeena Solar's Andalay all-in-one panels to sell at 21 Lowe's stores for $893.
For the first time, homeowners can purchase high-performing, easy-to-install solar panels off the shelves of a major retailer, announced Akeena Solar, a leading installer and manufacturer of solar power systems. The Andalay AC panels are available at 21 Lowe's home-improvement stores throughout California. The panels are featured as part of Lowe's Energy Center at the stores.
"The PC revolution in the computer industry occurred when new technology made PCs easy to use and affordable," says Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena Solar. "Likewise, with panels becoming plug-and-play appliances, the solar revolution has started. The availability of solar panels in Lowe's stores makes it easy for homeowners to go solar and is a big step toward getting solar on every sunny rooftop."
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California Approves New Wind Power Transmission Lines, Solar Roofs
SACRAMENTO, California, December 18, 2009 (ENS) - California energy regulators have approved Southern California Edison's request to construct a 173 mile long electricity transmission line to bring wind power generated in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in Kern County to Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
To increase access to new renewable energy, the California Public Utilities Commission, CPUC, Thursday approved construction of Segments 4-11 of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "California leads the nation in developing renewable energy, and with the approval of this project our ability to harness the power of the wind and other renewable sources to deliver clean energy to Californians has been strengthened."
"The thousands of megawatts of renewable energy capacity this transmission line will add to our grid will help California meet its ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard, protect our environment, increase our energy security and further the growth of our green economy," the governor said.
In September, the governor signed an executive order directing the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations increasing California's Renewable Portfolio Standard from 20 percent by 2010 to 33 percent by 2020.
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