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Saturday, November 29, 2014

AES Eletropaulo Chooses Cisco Technology for the Most Innovative Smart Grid Project in Brazil | The Network

AES Eletropaulo project of R$ 75 million will benefit 250,000 people with smart meters in the city of Barueri, São Paulo



AES Eletropaulo Chooses Cisco Technology for the Most Innovative Smart Grid Project in Brazil | The Network

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

From U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:




Advances in technology and reductions in costs has resulted in several major car makers recently announcing their first mass produced #hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) sold in the #US. These students from Washington State University are hoping their innovation will help increase the critical hydrogen fueling infrastructure needed to give more Americans the option of driving zero emission #FCEVs. They won our 2014 Hydrogen Student Design Contest to design a drop-In hydrogen fuel station with their design pictured below. Learn more about this year’s contest and how university #students can sign up to compete in next year’s contest: http://bit.ly/FCEVcontest
#Cougs

Wind Turbines at Turkey Hill Dairy

From U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:




Happy #Thanksgiving from EERE! On this day where millions of Americans feast on #turkey, we feature a 2011 #TBT photo showing wind #energy powering theTurkey Hill Dairy in #Pennsylvania. Our State Energy Program provided support for the state working with this large producer of ice cream to install two wind turbines at a landfill site neighboring Turkey Hill’s facility. Go back in time and learn about this successful Recovery Act project that produced 770,000 kilowatt hours of renewable #electricity in the first month of operation:http://go.usa.gov/sH4z.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Declining Costs

From U.S. Department of Energy:




Big declines in the cost of wind and solar power are making them competitive with conventional energy sources like coal and natural gas. 

In some cases, they're even cheaper →http://nyti.ms/1yNgZFE

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Duke Energy Progress begins installing 18,000 LED street and area lights in Wilmington - Duke Energy

WILMINGTON, N.C. -
Duke Energy Progress has begun installing approximately 18,000 light-emitting diode (LED) street and area lights in the Wilmington area as part of a new initiative to modernize outdoor lighting across its service area.


Duke Energy Progress begins installing 18,000 LED street and area lights in Wilmington - Duke Energy

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Belgian researchers report turning sawdust into ga - Renewable Energy From Waste

Group says hydrocarbons from sawdust cellulose could provide an alternative to shale or crude oil.



Belgian researchers report turning sawdust into ga - Renewable Energy From Waste

Cutting edge energy

Video (3:13)

CNBC's Josh Lipton looks at the innovation of future energy alternatives.


http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000333905

Solar energy gets a facelift

Video (2:42)

CNBC's Morgan Brennan looks at the future of alternative power sources and how scientists plan to innovate solar energy installations.

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000333851

GBB assisting Maryland County with public-private - Renewable Energy From Waste

GBB assisting Maryland County with public-private - Renewable Energy From Waste

CalRecycle issues grants for eight projects - Renewable Energy From Waste

CalRecycle issues grants for eight projects - Renewable Energy From Waste

Energy Vision recognizes innovation in RNG project - Renewable Energy From Waste

Energy Vision recognizes innovation in RNG project - Renewable Energy From Waste

Monday, November 24, 2014

This bus runs on human poop - Nov. 24, 2014

The A4 bus service from Bristol to Bath in the United Kingdom might as well be called "the number two." It runs on human poop and food waste.

The U.K.'s first "bio-bus" is powered by biomethane gas, which is generated through the treatment of sewage.


This bus runs on human poop - Nov. 24, 2014

White House threatens to put brakes on alternative fuels - LA Times

 As biotech masterminds and venture capitalists scramble to hatch a new generation of environmentally friendly fuels that can help power the average gasoline-burning car, they are confronting an unexpected obstacle: the White House.
Yielding to pressure from oil companies, car manufacturers and even driving enthusiasts, the Obama administration is threatening to put the brakes on one of the federal government's most ambitious efforts to ease the nation's addiction to fossil fuels.


White House threatens to put brakes on alternative fuels - LA Times

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Iowa - the Land of Corn and Soybeans (and More!)

From USDA:


Farmers in The Hawkeye State produced more than $17.3 billion worth of crops in 2012 and lead the nation in acres planted to corn. Check back next Thursday as we take a look at another state and the 2012 Census of Agriculture.
Farmers in The Hawkeye State produced more than $17.3 billion worth of crops in 2012 and lead the nation in acres planted to corn. Check back next Thursday as we take a look at another state and the 2012 Census of Agriculture.
If you take a drive through Iowa, there is no way you can miss our beautiful farms all around you. With the most recent Census of Agriculture counting more than 30.6 million acres of land dedicated to farming, agriculture is truly at the core of Iowa. 
 Iowa farmers produced more than $17.3 billion worth of crops in 2012, with corn and soybeans making up the largest portion of the state’s agriculture. Our farmers have been leading the nation in production of these two key crops for decades. In 2012, Iowa growers tended to more than 13.7 million acres of corn and more than 9.3 million acres of soybean fields, ranking number one in the nation. 
Iowa’s livestock sector is also thriving, with our growers producing nearly $13.5 billion in livestock, poultry, and their products, such as milk and eggs, in 2012. The Hawkeye State livestock farmers hold top spots in several key categories. For example, according to the Census, in 2012, Iowa had the largest inventories of layer hens and hogs and pigs in the United States. That year, the sales of Iowa hogs and pigs alone topped $6.7 billion. Our sheep, goat and cattle industries also are among the largest in the nation. 
Our farmers also know that farming extends far beyond producing crops and livestock. Stewardship of our farmland resources is extremely important to ensuring long-term sustainability and our farmers used conservation tillage (excluding no till) on 8.8 million acres, the most in any state, while no till was practiced on an additional 7.0 million acres. 
From a renewable energy stand point, our farmers are innovating and finding new conservation and financial opportunities, which is why Iowa had 2,464 farms producing on-farm renewable energy in 2012. Our farmers rank second in the nation in the number of farms with wind turbines generating energy.   
These are just some of the major achievements for Iowa farmers. Agriculture is so tightly woven into the Hawkeye State culture and economy, it would be simply impossible to list all of our farming accomplishments here. But there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of facts available about Iowa in the Census of Agriculture, so feel free to check them out at www.agcensus.usda.gov.

Friday, November 14, 2014

NREL: News Feature - New Initiatives Debut at Industry Growth Forum

The clean energy revolution is now, and the Energy Department is stepping up its commitment to help innovators commercialize their best ideas. At the recent Industry Growth Forum (IGF) in Denver, Colorado, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson announced the new Lab-Corps program to accelerate the transfer of clean energy technologies from the national laboratories to the marketplace, so that game-changing innovations don't languish for lack of money and equipment.

The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be the hub of the new Lab-Corps, partnering with five other national labs—Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.


NREL: News Feature - New Initiatives Debut at Industry Growth Forum

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Johnson Controls Leader Steps Up Commitment to Indonesia’s Energy Conservation Efforts

From Johnson Controls:


Johnson Controls Leader Steps Up Commitment to Indonesia’s Energy Conservation Efforts
Indonesia, Jakarta – November 11, 2014 – Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, announces the renaming of its Building Efficiency Indonesia office from PT York Aditama Teknik to PT Johnson Controls Indonesia. The renaming is part of its expansion plan in Indonesia to meet the nation’s increasing focus on energy conservation and the development of energy-efficient buildings.
In cities, buildings consume more than 30 percent of the total energy used.  The government is directing more attention to sustainable development as construction spending continues to grow at an estimated 10 percent annually, according to IHS. 
“Decisions made on building design, construction, equipment and maintenance today have major implications on cost, energy consumption levels and environmental conditions for years to come,” said Ken Lim, President Director of PT Johnson Controls Indonesia. “As a company strong in building products and controls, we see many benefits we will bring to Indonesia,” said Lim. “We want to triple our business in Indonesia. Renaming helps clarify our principal of Johnson Controls and underscore our commitment to the country’s energy conservation.”
PT Johnson Controls Indonesia has been supporting Indonesia’s energy conservation by helping customers optimize buildings’ energy efficiency for their entire life cycle – from design, build to repair and maintenance. To date, the company has more than 100 employees located in Jakarta and Surabaya and a wide network of partners serving the whole spectrum of building categories, especially in complex and commercial buildings. About half of the major malls in Jakarta are cooled by the company’s YORK® chillers.
Other key customer segments include food and beverage industry, power plants as well as other petro-chemical industries that require reliable industrial refrigeration. PT Johnson Controls Indonesia’s expansion plan will be further driven by innovation in Technology, Application and Service.[1]
[1] Refer to appendix 1: supplementary information
Besides helping to achieve sustainable development through developing and providing energy efficient products and solutions, Johnson Controls is recognized as one of the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine and one of the most ethical companies by Ethisphere Institute. In Indonesia, the company actively supports Habitat for Humanity as well as other community projects under its Blue Sky Initiative.[1]

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.