The early onset of Daylight Saving Time in the United States this year may have been for naught.
"We haven't seen any measurable impact," said Jason Cuevas, spokesman for Southern Co., one of the nation's largest power companies, echoing comments from several large utilities.
That may come as no surprise to the Energy Department, which last year predicted only modest energy savings because the benefits of the later daylight hour would be offset.
For example, households may draw less electricity for lights at night, but will use more power in the early in the day as they wake to darker and chillier mornings.
"There might have been a small increase in morning lighting, and a slightly larger decline in evening lighting usage," said a spokeswoman at New Jersey utility Public Service Enterprise Group Inc, but that modest decline will have no impact on its overall sales or earnings.
The U.S. Congress will evaluate the effects of the earlier switch to Daylight Saving Time.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Daylight Saving Time: Good or Bad?
As many of you already know, Daylight Saving Time(DST) is meant to help in conserving energy. But what are the true effects of this act? For the most part the verdict is still out, on whether this will actually help conserve enrgy. I would like to hear from all of you out there on your thoughts about this issue. So far I have heard mixed reviews on the overall importance and effectiveness of DST. Below are two interesting articles on the subject.
Daylight Saving Time Extended by Four Weeks in U.S. Starting in 2007
Every spring we move our clocks one hour ahead and "lose" an hour during the night and each fall we move our clocks back one hour and "gain" an extra hour. But Daylight Saving Time (and not Daylight Savings Time with an "s") wasn't just created to confuse our schedules.
The phrase "Spring forward, fall back" helps people remember how Daylight Saving Time affects their clocks. At 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour ahead of standard time ("spring forward"). We "fall back" at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November by setting our clock back one hour and thus returning to standard time.
The change to Daylight Saving Time allows us to use less energy in lighting our homes by taking advantage of the longer and later daylight hours. During the six-and-a-half-month period of Daylight Saving Time, the names of time in each of the time zones in the U.S. change as well. Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time, Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), Mountain Standard Time (MST) becomes Mountain Daylight Tome (MDT), Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), and so forth.
Winners of new daylight savings
The jury is still out on whether extending daylight savings this year will translate into energy savings -- the stated goal behind the move -- but there’s no doubt that some industries expect to cash in on the clock change.
Among the sectors that stand to gain the most when the time changes as of tomorrow morning, providing an extra three weeks of sunshine this spring (another week will be added on in the fall) is the some sports and recreation industries.
“Golf has been the biggest winner in the daylight saving sweepstakes,” said Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time.
Daylight Saving Time Extended by Four Weeks in U.S. Starting in 2007
Every spring we move our clocks one hour ahead and "lose" an hour during the night and each fall we move our clocks back one hour and "gain" an extra hour. But Daylight Saving Time (and not Daylight Savings Time with an "s") wasn't just created to confuse our schedules.
The phrase "Spring forward, fall back" helps people remember how Daylight Saving Time affects their clocks. At 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour ahead of standard time ("spring forward"). We "fall back" at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November by setting our clock back one hour and thus returning to standard time.
The change to Daylight Saving Time allows us to use less energy in lighting our homes by taking advantage of the longer and later daylight hours. During the six-and-a-half-month period of Daylight Saving Time, the names of time in each of the time zones in the U.S. change as well. Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time, Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), Mountain Standard Time (MST) becomes Mountain Daylight Tome (MDT), Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), and so forth.
Winners of new daylight savings
The jury is still out on whether extending daylight savings this year will translate into energy savings -- the stated goal behind the move -- but there’s no doubt that some industries expect to cash in on the clock change.
Among the sectors that stand to gain the most when the time changes as of tomorrow morning, providing an extra three weeks of sunshine this spring (another week will be added on in the fall) is the some sports and recreation industries.
“Golf has been the biggest winner in the daylight saving sweepstakes,” said Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Solar Energy Report
This months report in Physics Today is a comprehensive look at solar energy. It is by far one of the most informative and up-to date articles, on this subject matter. Read it in the March issue of Physics Today.
Written by:
George Crabtree is a senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois, and director of its materials science division. Nathan Lewis is a professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and director of the molecular materials research center at Caltech's Beckman Institute.
Written by:
George Crabtree is a senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois, and director of its materials science division. Nathan Lewis is a professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and director of the molecular materials research center at Caltech's Beckman Institute.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Investing in Renewables
Going green just isn't what it used to be. Amid rising fuel costs and climbing consumption, more people are getting involved in environmental issues and concerns in new ways.
Yes, there are still ardent environmentalists who have a compost pile in the backyard and a solar panel on the roof. But in the larger picture, significant players in the field are starting to offer economic incentives, not ideology, to involve greater numbers in the green campaign. These include government bodies as well as organizations that are dedicated to promoting the use of alternative, renewable sources of energy.
"In the past few years there has been a significant rise in using passive means of energy conservation," says Michael Richarme, at the Arlington, Texas-based analytical research firm Decision Analyst Inc. "Passive conservation is the simple act of reducing energy use by improving home insulation or using a product that consumes less fuel. "That's a definition of green that's been getting a lot of attention lately."
Yes, there are still ardent environmentalists who have a compost pile in the backyard and a solar panel on the roof. But in the larger picture, significant players in the field are starting to offer economic incentives, not ideology, to involve greater numbers in the green campaign. These include government bodies as well as organizations that are dedicated to promoting the use of alternative, renewable sources of energy.
"In the past few years there has been a significant rise in using passive means of energy conservation," says Michael Richarme, at the Arlington, Texas-based analytical research firm Decision Analyst Inc. "Passive conservation is the simple act of reducing energy use by improving home insulation or using a product that consumes less fuel. "That's a definition of green that's been getting a lot of attention lately."
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Program for Real Energy Security Act
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday unveiled a bill that would spend about $15 billion to double U.S. automobile fuel efficiency, expand ethanol distribution and build more mass transit.
The so-called "Program for Real Energy Security Act," to be introduced next week, is the second energy bill Democrats have proposed since taking control of Congress in January.
The new bill, backed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and about 100 other lawmakers, could form the basis of energy legislation House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to call for a vote before the chamber recesses in August.
The bill would fund research into ways to double U.S. automobile fuel efficiency, focusing on hydrogen, fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and other high-tech ideas. It would give grants to build more public transit and commuter rail systems, Hoyer said.
The so-called "Program for Real Energy Security Act," to be introduced next week, is the second energy bill Democrats have proposed since taking control of Congress in January.
The new bill, backed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and about 100 other lawmakers, could form the basis of energy legislation House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to call for a vote before the chamber recesses in August.
The bill would fund research into ways to double U.S. automobile fuel efficiency, focusing on hydrogen, fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and other high-tech ideas. It would give grants to build more public transit and commuter rail systems, Hoyer said.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Hi-Tech Energy Efficiency Initiative
Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Dell, HP, IBM, Microsoft, AMC, SprayCool, Rackable Systems, VMware, and Sun Microsystems have launched an initiative called The Green Grid that aims to develop standards, measurement methods, processes and technologies to improve the energy efficiency of high technology products, Red Herring reports.
Energy usage is a growing concern for the high technology sector. U.S. data centers and their associated infrastructure consumed five million kW of energy in 2005, the equivalent of five 1,000 MW power plants, according to a recent report from AMD, a member of The Green Grid.
Computer companies have also been rolling out new energy-efficient products recently. Dell has unveiled two PowerEdgeservers that the company says underscores its commitment to environmental responsibility and its goal to design the most energy-efficient products.
Dell’s not alone - manufacturers such as IBM, HP and Sun have made recent announcements concerning the energy efficiency of their systems. IBM recently announced that it would launch a new business unit in 2007 that will focus on environmental technologies. Hewlett-Packard announced a new energy management system, dubbed HP Dynamic Smart Cooling, that’s designed to deliver 20 to 45 percent savings in cooling energy costs. In addition, Sun has unveiled its Project BlackBox.
Most recently, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced that it is leading a nationwide coalition of utilities to tackle energy efficiency programs for the high tech sector, focusing on data centers and incentives for energy efficiency.
Energy usage is a growing concern for the high technology sector. U.S. data centers and their associated infrastructure consumed five million kW of energy in 2005, the equivalent of five 1,000 MW power plants, according to a recent report from AMD, a member of The Green Grid.
Computer companies have also been rolling out new energy-efficient products recently. Dell has unveiled two PowerEdgeservers that the company says underscores its commitment to environmental responsibility and its goal to design the most energy-efficient products.
Dell’s not alone - manufacturers such as IBM, HP and Sun have made recent announcements concerning the energy efficiency of their systems. IBM recently announced that it would launch a new business unit in 2007 that will focus on environmental technologies. Hewlett-Packard announced a new energy management system, dubbed HP Dynamic Smart Cooling, that’s designed to deliver 20 to 45 percent savings in cooling energy costs. In addition, Sun has unveiled its Project BlackBox.
Most recently, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced that it is leading a nationwide coalition of utilities to tackle energy efficiency programs for the high tech sector, focusing on data centers and incentives for energy efficiency.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Hollywood goes "green" at Oscars
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) made history tonight by partnering with the producers of the 79th Annual Academy Awards to significantly reduce the impact the telecast and related events had on the environment, setting a high profile example for an estimated 40 million viewers at a time when global warming, soaring energy demand and threats to forests and other landscapes are the focus of rising national attention.
The Academy Award's first-ever greening initiative -- which included a variety of energy-saving solutions -- was led by NRDC in collaboration with Oscar producer Laura Ziskin. The effort included offsetting carbon emissions of the pre-show, the red carpet event, the telecast, and the Governor's Ball; incorporating environmental features into the greenroom design; promoting recycling and reducing waste generated by the annual event; and using recycled materials in paper products, including the Oscar ballots themselves.
Leonardo DiCaprio, an NRDC trustee and nominee for Best Supporting Actor, announced this landmark initiative with former Vice President Al Gore during the live Oscar telecast. According to Mr. DiCaprio, "For the first time in the history of the Oscars, environmentally intelligent practices have been thoughtfully integrated into the planning of tonight's event to make our world healthier and help combat the threat of global warming."
The Academy Award's first-ever greening initiative -- which included a variety of energy-saving solutions -- was led by NRDC in collaboration with Oscar producer Laura Ziskin. The effort included offsetting carbon emissions of the pre-show, the red carpet event, the telecast, and the Governor's Ball; incorporating environmental features into the greenroom design; promoting recycling and reducing waste generated by the annual event; and using recycled materials in paper products, including the Oscar ballots themselves.
Leonardo DiCaprio, an NRDC trustee and nominee for Best Supporting Actor, announced this landmark initiative with former Vice President Al Gore during the live Oscar telecast. According to Mr. DiCaprio, "For the first time in the history of the Oscars, environmentally intelligent practices have been thoughtfully integrated into the planning of tonight's event to make our world healthier and help combat the threat of global warming."
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Farm Waste as an Energy Source
Eastern North Carolina's largest utility and the region's largest hog producer say they found an economical way to generate energy from farm waste.
"For us, it has a lot of positives," said Don Butler, spokesman for Smithfield subsidiary Murphy-Brown. "We're sequestering greenhouse gases, utilizing what we have to make fuel and energy, and creating a revenue stream."
The proposal comes at a time of increasing interest in alternative forms of energy generation. The state legislature is considering requiring utilities to produce at least some of their energy from sources other than coal or uranium.
"For us, it has a lot of positives," said Don Butler, spokesman for Smithfield subsidiary Murphy-Brown. "We're sequestering greenhouse gases, utilizing what we have to make fuel and energy, and creating a revenue stream."
The proposal comes at a time of increasing interest in alternative forms of energy generation. The state legislature is considering requiring utilities to produce at least some of their energy from sources other than coal or uranium.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Global Warming: An Energy Problem
Global warming is not an "environmental" problem, it is an energy problem, first and foremost. Almost 90% of the world’s energy is supplied through the combustion of fossil fuels, and every time we burn these fuels to make energy we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; carbon dioxide, in turn, is the principal component of the "greenhouse gases" (GHGs) that are responsible for warming the planet. Energy use and climate change are two sides of the same coin.
This article was written by Michael T. Klare, a professor of peace and world-security studies at Hampshire College, a Foreign Policy In Focus columnist, and the author of Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependence on Imported Petroleum (Metropolitan Books, 2004).
This article was written by Michael T. Klare, a professor of peace and world-security studies at Hampshire College, a Foreign Policy In Focus columnist, and the author of Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependence on Imported Petroleum (Metropolitan Books, 2004).
Monday, February 19, 2007
Tax Credit Incentives for Energy-Saving Homes & Vehicles
With fuel and other energy costs skyrocketing last year, consumers who purchased energy-efficient home improvements or hybrid vehicles can take a tax credit — one of the tax code's biggest prizes.
Credits amount to pure gold for the taxpayer because they are a dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax liability, whereas a tax deduction only reduces the income against which tax is assessed.
Many home improvements can qualify for the residential energy credit, including insulation, certain water heaters, air conditioners, fans, furnaces, skylights, exterior windows and doors, solar panels and metal roofs with pigmented coatings designed to reduce a home's heat gain.
Credits amount to pure gold for the taxpayer because they are a dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax liability, whereas a tax deduction only reduces the income against which tax is assessed.
Many home improvements can qualify for the residential energy credit, including insulation, certain water heaters, air conditioners, fans, furnaces, skylights, exterior windows and doors, solar panels and metal roofs with pigmented coatings designed to reduce a home's heat gain.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Trash into Energy
Called a tactical biorefinery, the device was designed at the behest of the U.S. Army. But researchers say the generators could also be used in civilian situations, such as emergencies that require portable generators.
About the size of a small moving van, the diesel generator can process several types of refuse, including paper, plastic, Styrofoam, cardboard, woodchips and food waste.
"This is a very promising technology," Michael Ladisch, a Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering who leads the project, said Thursday in a statement. "In a very short time, it should be ready for use in the military, and I think it could be used outside the military."
About the size of a small moving van, the diesel generator can process several types of refuse, including paper, plastic, Styrofoam, cardboard, woodchips and food waste.
"This is a very promising technology," Michael Ladisch, a Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering who leads the project, said Thursday in a statement. "In a very short time, it should be ready for use in the military, and I think it could be used outside the military."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Finding the Cheapest Gas Prices
Average U.S. gasoline prices are on the rise, based on this 3 month outlook provided by AustinGasPrices.com.
Here is a useful resource for finding the cheapest gas prices in your city. Using this effectively will save you a fortune.
Gasoline Prices For US Cities
Here is a useful resource for finding the cheapest gas prices in your city. Using this effectively will save you a fortune.
Gasoline Prices For US Cities
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Department of Energy Building Going Solar
The House of Representatives passed new legislation for the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) building -- with hopes that the project will serve as a model for other government buildings.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
$25 Million Global Warming Prize
British billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, with former Vice President Al Gore, offered a $25 million prize Friday for anyone who can figure out a way to curb global climate change by removing at least 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year from Earth's atmosphere.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Six Ways Students can Save Energy and Money
By following the tips listed below students can help the environment while helping them selves. It’s simple: less energy use = reduced bills. I was able to cut my $104.11 electric bill down to $33.16 in 3 months by following these tips. It really works and all it takes is a little awareness.
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Unplug appliances not in use.
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Shutdown instead of using standby mode for TV’s, monitors, and other appliances.
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Turn off AC/Heater when not at home.
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Turn off lights when not in use.
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Use energy saving light bulbs. On average they last 10 times longer and use 25% less energy than ordinary light bulbs.
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Take showers instead of baths. On average showers use 50% less water than baths.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Five Tips to be an Energy Efficient Driver
- Observe the Speed Limit
- Gas mileage rapidly decreases at speeds above 60 mph.
- On average every 5 mph over 60 mph is $0.20 extra per gallon of gas.
- Drive Sensibly
- Rapid acceleration, speeding, and braking are all factors in wasted gas.
- On average driving erratically lowers gas mileage by 35% at highway speeds.
- Avoidable Idling
- Idling achieves zero mpg.
- On average larger engines waste more gas than smaller engines at idle.
- Remove Extra Weight
- Relative to the vehicles weight, extra mass can decrease gas mileage.
- On average an extra 50 pounds can reduce mpg by 1%.
- Use Cruise Control
- Maintaining a constant speed, in most cases, will save gas.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Super Bowl XLI powered by Renewable Energy
This year Super Bowl XLI and the NFL Experience Theme Park will both be powered by 100% renewable energy. By using REC’s (renewable energy certificates) the NFL Environmental Program exhibits their commitment to clean renewable energy.
"The NFL has taken a leadership role in bringing energy independence and environmental stewardship to the state," said Vinnie Fugere, Sterling Planet's client manager for the NFL.
Further reading at Sterling Plant
"The NFL has taken a leadership role in bringing energy independence and environmental stewardship to the state," said Vinnie Fugere, Sterling Planet's client manager for the NFL.
Further reading at Sterling Plant
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Exxon Mobile sets new profit record
Breaking the previous annual record of $36.1 billion, Exxon Mobile earns $39.5 billion in 2006. The oil giant posted these numbers despite having a slip up in fourth quarter earnings.
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