Making Energy Data More Accessible

From the blog of the U.S. Dept. of Energy:

Taking Steps to Make Energy Data More Accessible

February 7, 2012 

Matthew Loveless

Data Integration Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

What does this mean for me?

• Energy data is becoming more open and accessible, and that means better data access for software developers.

From economic projections and fuel costs to renewable energy potential estimates and power outage reports, the Energy Department produces vast amounts of data. These data are most valuable when they are being used to produce reports, analyses, tools, and applications, and so it is no surprise that we are always looking for ways to make energy data more accessible.

That is why we’re excited about the growth of tools for making energy data available via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs allow web and mobile applications to access updated energy data in a variety of formats, and often simplify the process of developing a data-driven application.

The Socrata Open Data API (SODA) is one of these new tools. Data.gov makes this service available to federal agencies, providing a platform for interacting with data online and connecting that data to applications via the API. We’re just getting started with hosting energy data on SODA, but one example is the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) State Energy Data System. You can access the SODA version here, and you should also check out the extensive analysis and documentation provided by EIA on their website.

OpenEI is another example of Energy Department web services, this one sponsored by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. OpenEI hosts a variety of U.S. and international energy data, with a focus on renewables. In particular, OpenEI contains a database of incentives and policies that encourage renewable energy generation and energy efficiency, and this database is available to developers.  For example, the team at DSIRE collects this information, but it also appears on Energy.gov via OpenEI’s data services.

The national labs are also involved in efforts to make Energy Department data more accessible. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched their Developer Network to help software developers access and use renewable energy and alternative fuel data. Any aspiring coder can sign up for an API key and start using NREL’s first-rate data on electricity, solar energy, or alternative fuels.

As the year goes on, we’ll be making more and more data sets available via these services, continuing our mission to make Energy Department data as open, and as useful, as possible.

Good Idea

I received this as a forwarded e-mail message.  I have no idea how many people saw it before I did or who the original author was.  But it seems like a good idea.

 I have a friend who used her solar lights inside at night when her current was off during the hurricane. She stuck them in a jar or

bottle and said they gave off plenty of 'free light'. She put one in

each room and would put them back outside in the daytime and

bring them in at night as long as the current was off. They are

safe to use and cheaper than batteries. Bring in a solar light
one night and test it.

Due to a thunderstorm, we lost power for about 5 hours. We were scrambling around in the darkness, looking for matches, candles, flashlights, etc. We looked outside, and noticed our solar lights

shining brightly all around our patio, stairs, dock, etc. They were beautiful. My wife walked outside, and brought several of the solar lights inside.

We stuck the solar light pipes into plastic drink bottles containers

and they made the nicest, brightest, safest, lighting you could ever imagine.

We put one in the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room, etc. There was plenty of light. There are all types of solar lights available. We bought ours at Harbor Freight. We put them all around our yard. They look nice and they do not attract flying bugs like the outdoor lights around our doorway.

The lights we have fit into the small (20 oz) water bottles and they

also fit into most of the larger liter bottles. If you need a weight in

the plastic bottle to keep them from tipping over, you can put a few

of the pretty colorful "flat marbles" that they put in aquariums, and vases. (you can also use sand, aquarium gravel, etc., whatever you have available).

The lights we have were perfect inside our home. They burn all night long if you need them.

The next day, you just take your solar lights back outside and they

will instantly recharge and be ready for you to use again any time

you need them.

Perfect for power outages, hurricanes, etc.

I never thought of it and now you don't have to. -----