GE's Home Energy Management System, Featuring Nucleus with Brillion Technology

Residential scale energy monitoring system that works with GE Brillion technology. This is one of the first steps to a smarter grid and to make people aware of their energy consumption.

May 26th, 2011 Environmental Thursday Program - 93.5 Caribbean Country

Unfortunately, Karl Knight and Miguel Quinones had to cancel the inaugural appearance the evening before.  Thus, Steffen't segment has environmental contact at the beginning and end with crime discussion in the middle.  The recording software split the show in 2 segments:  Steffen/Chakroff.

Cut Cost and Engage Employees Through Energy Efficiency

Employee engagement is an effective, but possibly underutilized strategy for improving energy efficiency.  In fact, energy efficiency can be a gateway to wider business innovation and engage stakeholders in broader process evaluations.  Suggestions made in our eco friendly training include:

• Establishing a baseline of consumption for benchmarking efforts.
• Create an energy policy for the business.  Using your consumption information, you may want to identify areas of improvement. 
• Implement behavior and usage modifications.
• Measure and monitor your progress.
• Communicate your success and appreciation to employees for taking eco action.

U.S. Department of Energy Announces Five BetterBuildings Case Studies That Highlight Key Lessons to Improve Energy Efficiency Programs Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the release of five case studies from a series spotlighting some of the most innovative projects funded under the Department's BetterBuildings program. BetterBuildings is a national program that is working to transform the marketplace for energy efficiency upgrades in homes, businesses, and institutions.

Energy Star Product Finder

You can find what products are certified Energy Start for all categories under the program. This website also explains how products are certified and what the benefits are.

The 2030 Challenge for Products Unveiled

The 2030 Challenge for Products aims for the global architecture, planning, design, and building community, to specify, design, and manufacture products for new developments, buildings, and renovations to meet a maximum carbon-equivalent footprint of 30% below the product category average through 2014 – increasing this reduction to 35% in 2015, 40% in 2020, 45% in 2025, and 50% by 2030.

Will you accept the challenge and make it a reality?!!

World’s top 10 greenest banks ranked

Bloomberg Markets Magazine ranked the world’s greenest banks for the first time and came out with a top 10 list that assessed 188 banks in 49 countries. The list ranked by looking at two performance areas: renewable energy investment, and their own efforts to reduce waste and carbon footprint in their operations.

Investments in renewable energy – which covered wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass, biofuel and other related renewable energy technology – make up 70 percent of the scores. These investments must have been made between 2004 and 2010.

Banks that are not members of recognized benchmark indexes and have less than $10 billion market capitalization were not included.

Environmental performance, accounting for 30 percent of scores, covered waste and carbon emission reduction efforts. Banks that disclosed the most information about their greenhouse gas emissions and energy use scored more points, along with those who publicly provide the most recent and measurable data.

WAPA releases Solar Power RFP

In a news released issued on May 20, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority has released a request for proposal for a total of 10 MW of solar power to be installed between the islands of St Thomas and St Croix.

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to purchase solar photovoltaic generation from independent power producers. The Authority is seeking a maximum of 10 megawatts (MW) of electrical capacity, allocating approximately 5 MW to each of its two generation facilities serving the districts of St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix. Consideration will be given to a different allocation of the 10 MW capacity between the two districts. The selected respondents will be responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining all facets of the project.

The utility will sign a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the procurement of solar energy from one or more selected respondents, with an option to renew for another 5 years. To assist interested bidders, the preferred model of the PPA with specific terms and general concepts important in developing responsive proposals is included in the RFP. The Authority seeks photovoltaic generation to assist in lowering the cost of power production in the territory, so more favorable consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate a number of important characteristics, including cost effective product pricing, experience, strength of plans for development, construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities utilizing commercially proven technology, and the financial strength of the respondent. Under the PPA, projects are required to be commercially operational 18 months after approval of the agreement by the Authority's Governing Board and the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission.

A pre-bid conference and informational webinar is scheduled for June 7 and site visits will take place on June 15 and 16 for all interested parties. Proposals are due on September 20. A guaranteed commercial operation date has been set for December 2013.

To review the full solar PV RFP, visit www.viwapa.vi. Questions about proposal requirements may be directed to Madeline Stevens Webster or Debarah Smith at pr-18-11@viwapa.vi .

Recycling efforts on the Virgin islands

Recycling in the USVI has been a volunteer effort with little support right now from the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA). Take a look at these brochures from the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development Council (VI RC&D), St Thomas-St John Recycling, St Croix Recycling. It would be terrific to see more than commercials from the VIWMA encouraging us to use recyclable grocery bags. For example, they could be very helpful in getting us to organize our waste glass as a supply for the cement makers on the islands as it is perfect for that purpose. Home Depot collects all their cardboard to go back in the Crowley containers, perhaps cardboard collection at the dumpsters could be combined with the Home Depot effort. Do you have some background on this? How might we create ways that more significant recycling can be done on these islands?

Energy efficient products

I’ve been involved in energy efficiency improvements since the early 90s and have been fascinated by the improvements to the technology, especially in the lighting arena. I remember how traffic lights and exit signs in the 90s slowly started to use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Now these LEDs are starting to replace the ever efficient CFLs and fluorescent tubes in everyday fixtures. However, since many of the manufacturers are new (and perhaps untested in the market for reliability) most folks don’t realize they are available. The Energy Efficiency Working group is looking at many technologies to help folks source great products for their energy saving needs. What products would you suggest they look at?

Knight takes over at V.I. Energy Office

See the news about Karl Knight who has become the Director at the VI Energy Office. Congratulations Karl!

Air Conditioning in Hot & Humid Climates, Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Lighting, and Operations & Maintenance Training" at no cost to the public

Link to agendas: https://edinenergy.sharefile.com/d/s5708dff8eac45189

Greenhouse: Sydney's Traveling, 'Waste-Free' Strawbale Restaurant by Joost Bakker

Very interesting concept. Thought out as a whole and not as separate components. A good example to follow in how the process of designing and creating a piece of sustainable architecture really works.

Presentations from April Workshop

For those interested, here are the presentations from the Workshop.

DOE Announces Guide for 50 % More Energy Efficient Office Buildings

May 11, 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the release of the first in a new series of Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) to aid architects and engineers in the design of highly energy efficient office buildings. The 50 % AEDG series will provide a practical approach to commercial buildings designed to achieve 50 % energy savings compared to the commercial building energy code used in many areas of the country. This 50 % AEDG for Small and Medium Office Buildings is the first in a series of four to be released in the coming months. These commercial building guides support President Obama’s goal to reduce energy use in commercial buildings 20 % by 2020 and will help drive demand for energy-saving products made in the United States.

See the full story

Take the 2030 Challenge

Are you up to the challenge?! Let's be carbon neutral by 2030!! This is achievable!!

ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides

ASHRAE has develop these guidelines to help al design and operations team members to achieve 30% reductions (and in some cases 50%) for a number of building types. Great guide that simplify the process of code compliance and increase energy efficiency.

You can do a little to save a lot

Take a look at the linked report in this news story. As the story indicates, the report suggest changing maintenance habits can be more important than large capital projects.

Energy metering

The Montessori School has recently done some tremendous energy improvements to their facilities including renewables. What they found most remarkable was their success in getting the facility occupants to reduce their energy consumption. And the most vehement energy reducers were the students. They became obsessed with finding ways to slow the energy consumption and all becasue they had a meter that registered easily for them what the facility was consuming. They got instant gratification as they turned off the lights because the meter reflected the change. We should all put these meters in our homes and businesses. It would be interesting to see if the rest of us get as enthusiastic as the Montessori kids. Would you like one? I love the ones for $100 and less.

AIA To Offer Guide for Sustainable Projects

The AIA will release a Guide for Sustainable Projects in May 2011 to help builders, designers, and building owners understand and customize green building contracts.