BrighterEnergy.org » Heat and Efficiency

NREL to cut 150 jobs, ahead of expected budget cuts

James Cartledge — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:00:06 +0000

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is looking to cut 100 to 150 jobs in response to expected reductions in its budget over the next several years. The US Department of Energy agency in Golden, Colorado, is offering a Self-Select Voluntary Separation Program (SSVSP) to its regular employees. Taking action now allows the laboratory to [...]

Obama pledges rapid permits for seven major transmission projects

James Cartledge — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:00:02 +0000

The Obama Administration pledged yesterday to accelerate permitting and construction for seven major electricity transmission projects to boost grid capacity across the country. The White House said the move will create “thousands” of construction and operations jobs, while transforming the nation’s electric system into a “modern, 21st century grid” that is safer and more secure, [...]

New York Stock Exchange fitted with super-insulating glass

James Cartledge — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:00:36 +0000

The New York Stock Exchange has been fitted with super-insulating glass that can improve thermal performance by almost 60% according to its supplier, Serious Energy, Inc. The SeriousGlass commercial glass installed in the designated National Historic Landmark is also expected to reduce solar heat gain in the summer by 40% compared to standard glass. SeriousGlass [...]

Business leaders urge Illinois lawmakers to back grid modernization

James Cartledge — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:00:11 +0000

Business leaders in Illinois are urging the state’s General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto on legislation to modernize the state’s electricity grid. Representatives from local chambers of commerce, manufacturing, high-tech, construction and environmental organizations gathered yesterday to draw attention to the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (Senate Bill 1652). Meeting at the S&C Electric [...]

ClipperCreek unveils demand response system for vehicle charging station

James Cartledge — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:27 +0000

Electric vehicle charging station producer ClipperCreek has unveiled a new system that will allow utilities to measure charging consumption and ensure grid reliability. The California-based company has teamed up with software firm Silver Spring Networks to develop the CS-40 charge station, which features two-way communications technology called Direct-to-Grid. The grid-connected CS-40 uses Silver Spring UtilityIQ [...]

NRG in bid to monetize electric vehicle power storage

James Cartledge — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:06 +0000

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) is partnering with the University of Delaware on a project that seeks to enable electric vehicle owners to sell electric storage services from their vehicle batteries. The storage services would mean their parked electric vehicles helping out power companies in stabilizing the electricity grid. Pioneered by UD professor Willett Kempton, [...]

American government giving renewable energy the cold shoulder

James Cartledge — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:52 +0000

Renewable energy has had less support from the US government than any other new form of energy supply in American history, according to new research. Energy sources from timber to fossil fuels and nuclear power have had “significant” federal incentives over the past 200 years, creating millions of jobs according to analysis from San Francisco-based [...]

Washington utility offers heat pump rebates to a million customers

James Cartledge — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:00:10 +0000

Power utility Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is offering more than one million of its customers in Washington State rebates towards the purchase of ENERGY STAR®-rated hybrid electric heat pump water heaters. The utility has doubled its rebate from $250 to now $500 on qualified hybrids, also called heat pump water heaters, such as the GE [...]

Four cleantech startups win support in San Francisco

James Cartledge — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:00:49 +0000

Cleantech technology accelerator Greenstart has inaugurated its first startup program yesterday at a ceremony in San Francesco. The first line-up of companies to be supported by the accelerator include developers of energy efficiency systems, manufacturers of a renewable form of diesel and developers of energy management systems. Greenstart said the companies are all at different [...]

Detroit utility to add energy efficiency programs

James Cartledge — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:00:20 +0000

Detroit power company DTE Energy plans to issue a Requests for Proposals (RFP) to add energy efficient programs to its electric profile. Detroit Edison, DTE Energy’s electric utility, will be seeking bids from qualified Michigan energy efficiency implementation vendors to provide energy-saving programs for two of the company’s programs: ENERGYSTAR and Commercial & Industrial. The [...]