Energy Conservation News articles from August 1999

Energy Conservation News archives from August 1999

OUTLOOK: Energy Savings in Competition Act.
August 1, 1999... A new analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE, 1001 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 801, Washington, DC 20036; Tel: 202/429-8873) estimates that measures to save energy that are included in the Clinton...

ASE to ASHRAE: 90.1R Is No Good.
August 1, 1999... In a highly detailed and very critical statement, the Alliance to Save Energy (William R. Prindle, Director, Buildings Programs, Alliance to Save Energy, 1200 18th St. N.W., Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036; Tel: 202/857-0666; Email:...

GOVERNMENT: Electricity Shortages May Advance Rulemaking.
August 1, 1999... At the height of recent East Coast (and elsewhere) electricity shortages during heat waves, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced a six-point initiative to help prevent major power outages. Richardson made the announcement during a...

INTERNATIONAL: Vietnam Setting Up Efficiency Centers.
August 1, 1999... According to a U.S.-AEP Environmental Trade Lead for Vietnam (TON# 990628AV01) supplied to ECN by Maria Fyodorova of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (1200 18th St. N.W., Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036; Tel: 202/785-0507, Fax:...

RESIDENTIAL: Innovative Construction Saves 35%.
August 1, 1999... Southern California Edison (2244 Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead, CA 91770; Tel: 626/302-1212, Fax: 626/302-2517; Website: edison.com) has unveiled a showcase home built with new construction techniques that can save consumers 35% on energy costs...

Online Usage Info for Customers.
August 1, 1999... Enercom (P.O. Box 90845, Atlanta, GA, 30364-0845; Tel: 404/209-8229, ext. 221; Website: enercomusa.com), an organization specializing in Internet- and PC-based energy application gateways, has signed a contract with Avista Utilities (1411 E....

Gas Demand Offset by Efficiency Gains.
August 1, 1999... According to GRI's (Gas Research Institute, 8600 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60631-3562) 1999 Residential Sector Summary (GRI- 99/0006), residential gas demand is expected to increase about 1% per year through 2015. "Most of the historical...

Smart Solar System Headed for the Public.
August 1, 1999... A novel system that uses the power of the sun to directly heat water is about to become commercially available after years of development and testing at NIST. An exclusive license has been granted to Four Seasons Solar Products Corp. (5005...

Meter with Two-Way Communication.
August 1, 1999... Schlumberger Resource Management Services (RMS; Website: sib.com/rms) and Domosys (Guy-Anne Paquet, Domosys Corp., 1995 rue Jean-Talon sud, Suite 202, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada G1N 4H9; Tel: 418/681-8022, ext. #233, Fax: 418/681-8015; Email:...

COMMERCIAL: Micro-Cogen Has Great Potential.
August 1, 1999... NiSource, Inc. (801 E. 86th Ave., Merrillville, IN 46410-6272; Tel: 219/853-5200, Fax: 219/647-5589; Website: nisource.com) has installed what is believed to be the nation's first micro-cogeneration system, providing electricity and thermal...

Geothermal Heats, Cools College.
August 1, 1999... For the last 18 months, Feather River College (Quincy, CA) has showcased a large-scale geothermal heat pump project - one that is turning into a model for California schools eager to save on energy bills. Designed and engineered through a...

INDUSTRIAL: Aspen Cultivar Has Huge Implications.
August 1, 1999... Researchers at Michigan Technological University (1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931-1295; Tel: 906/487-1885, Fax: 906/487-2338) have genetically engineered a new breed of 2XL-aspen that could revolutionize pulp and paper production. Their...

Ethylene Process Could Save Billions.
August 1, 1999... A new way to produce ethylene - the raw material of ethylene glycol (antifreeze), polyethylene (plastic), polystyrene (packaging) and polyester fabrics - has been developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota (Department of Chemical...

Adaptive Controller Cuts Gas Cost by 5%.
August 1, 1999... Los Alamos researchers report using their computer modeling expertise to develop a model-based, adaptive controller that efficiently regulates natural gas flow to steel company blast furnaces. The new controller, which now runs all 3 hot blast...

TRANSPORTATION: Genetic Algorithms Find Efficient Fuels.
August 1, 1999... Chemical engineers at Purdue University (1132 Engineering Administration Bldg., West Lafayette, IN 47907-1132; Tel: 765/494- 2096, Fax: 765/494-0401) have developed and demonstrated how a computerized system that mimics evolution can discover...

Engine Concept Under Review.
August 1, 1999... According to Advanced Engine Technologies, Inc., they have developed a 100-lb. engine containing just 3 moving parts. The engine was demonstrated in Los Angeles in late July. According to press reports, the new engine concept is being tested...

UTILITIES/POWER GENERATION Transformers Cut Losses, Improve Quality.
August 1, 1999... An engineering consortium led by Purdue University (1132 Engineering Administration Bldg., West Lafayette, IN 47907-1132; Tel: 765/494- 2096, Fax: 765/494-0401; Website: ece.purdue.edu/~esac) and the University of Missouri has taken a major...

World's Most Efficient Power Plant in Wales.
August 1, 1999... GE Power Systems (One River Rd., Schenectady, NY 12345; Tel: 518/385- 2211; Fax: 518/385-9051; Website: ge.com/powersystems) and BP Amoco (Britannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M7BA, U.K.; Tel: +44- 171-496-4000, Fax: +44-171-496-4630;...

Capstone Announces Stand-alone Microturbine.
August 1, 1999... Capstone Turbine Corp. (18700 Oxnard St, Tarzana, CA 91356-1413; Tel: 818/774-9600; Website: capstoneturbine.com), developer and manufacturer of the first commercial microturbine power generator for the distributed energy market, has announced...

Combining Biomass and Wind Power.
August 1, 1999... The Advanced Alternative Energy Corp. (AAEC, 1207 N. 1800 Rd., Lawrence, KS 66049-9024; Tel: 785/842-1943, Fax: 785/842-0909; Email: lbj@cjnetworks.com, Website: aaecorp.com) has developed a concept for combining renewable biomass and solid...

State Grants Spur Geothermal Energy.
August 1, 1999... The California Energy Commission has awarded grants totaling $7.5 million to projects that will tap California's enormous geothermal energy resources. The funds, available from the Energy Commission's Geothermal Resources Development Account...

APPLIANCES: Graphite Material Has Efficiency Applications.
August 1, 1999... Poco Graphite (1601 S. State St., Decatur, TX 76234-2799; Tel: 940/627- 2121) is expanding its product base with Grafoam, a material developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), that could lead to more powerful...

EU Improves Appliance Efficiency.
August 1, 1999... Results of a recently completed SAVE study have found that the sales-weighted efficiency of cold appliances sold in the EU improved by about 10% from 1992 to 1996. The study, conducted by PW Consulting (U.K.) and Ademe (the French energy and...

Longer-Lived Batteries Described.
August 1, 1999... According to the August 13 issue of Science, a new class of batteries that last 50% longer than typical batteries has been created. These "super-iron" batteries should not only keep the music in your walkman playing longer (the authors have...

HVAC: Researchers Rank Air Conditioners.
August 1, 1999... Researchers at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE, 1001 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 801, Washington, DC 20036; Tel: 202/429-8873) have released a new listing of top-rated air conditioners for 1999 on the group's...

INDUSTRY NEWS: SolarAttic Files for $4.8 Million Offering.
August 1, 1999... On August 3, SolarAttic, Inc. (15548 95th Cir. N.E., Elk River, MN 55330- 7228; Tel: 612/441-3440; Website: solarattic.com) announced that the company has filed an Offering Statement to raise up to $4.8 million in capital through the sale of...

RESOURCES: Online Service Identifies Options.
August 1, 1999... Consumers shopping for new appliances now have key information about energy efficiency at their fingertips. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has just announced that updated lists of top-rated energy-efficient...

Efficiency Directories Available Online.
August 1, 1999... Need a new, energy-efficient HVAC system installed in New York? Need an energy audit of a facility in India? Two new online directories can get you the help you need. The New York State Energy Efficiency Directory allows you to search by type...

CALENDAR.
August 1, 1999... September 19-24, 1999, 20th International Congress of Refrigeration, Sydney, Australia. Contact: ICR99 Secretariat; Fax: +61 3 9328 4116; Email: icr99@airah.org.au. September 27-29, 1999, 2nd Annual Earth Technologies Forum, Washington,...