Energy efficiency

Will the U.S. recycle nuclear materials for fuel?

The U.S. does not recycle nuclear waste from power plants because it could be used for weapons, but that might change.

Pete Domenici, the Republican Senator from New Mexico, said the country should start to examine the benefits of recycling fuel, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

France and most other nuclear energy-producing countries recycle fuel. Doing so cuts down the amount of fuel that needs to be mined, as well as the amount of nuclear waste that needs to get buried. Recycling, however, leads to byproducts that can be used to build bombs.

Domenici also said he wants … Read more

Office Depot trying to demystify green, recycling

One of the toughest things about being environmentally sensitive is knowing exactly how to do so.

To that end, Office Depot will launch a new brand on Earth Day (April 22) called "Office Depot Green" that will specialize in green products. And the company will explain why its products are green too, i.e. provide information on recycling, reuseability, etc. The company will also set up programs for small businesses that will explain strategies and tips for energy efficiency and other topics. Designer Kelly LaPlante will set up a site later this year that will rate the greenness of building materials. … Read more

Green in the boardroom: the environment tops utilities execs' concerns

Energy utility executives say that the environment and greenhouse gas regulations top their worry list.

Researcher Platts and consulting firm Capgemini on Tuesday published the results of a survey that asked 100 executives from the utilities industry what their biggest concerns are.

Although there are no federal regulations to restrict greenhouse gas emissions, utility executives are already preparing.

Ninety-five percent of respondents said that the industry's focus on environment has increased from 2006. Global warming, climate change, and carbon emissions were the top environmental issues, according to 77 percent of the participants.

The reason that utilities are taking carbon … Read more

Smart grid investment heats up

A handful of smart grid start-ups have announced expansion funding, a sign that utilities are starting to see the technology as a way to meet burgeoning electricity demand.

Broadband over power line (BPL) company Ambient has signed a $10.7 million contract with Duke Energy, according to VentureWire. It raised $2.5 million in January of this year.

The reported deal follows the funding of Redwood City, Calif.-based eMeter, which announced Sunday that it took in $12 million from Siemens, Foundation Capital, and DBL Investors.

eMeter makes software designed to help utilities gather and integrate information generated by advanced … Read more

Taming the power pack sprawl: photo contest highlights mess under desktops

Here's one that many CNET readers can enjoy: snap a photo of that dusty rat's nest of wires under your desk. Best-case scenario, you win lunch in Beverly Hills and maybe influence green-tech policy.

The contest is called "What's Under your Desk" and it's put on by Green Plug, a company that launched at Demo last year. Here's a video review from Michelle Thatcher at CNET and write-up from News.com's Erica Ogg on Webware.

The idea is to send in photos of those tangled messes caused by consumer electronics to make … Read more

Clean-energy integrator Standard Renewable gets $7 million more

Standard Renewable Energy, which wants to build a nationwide chain of dealers that can install solar panels and advise businesses and homeowners on saving energy, got $7 million in a second round of funding.

The company also said that Peter Corsell, CEO of smart grid specialist GridPoint, joined the board.

Standard, Conergy, and Solar City are trying to bring more standardization and brand equity to the energy efficiency field. Back in the '70s, and still today, solar installers were mostly independent dealers and contractors. Some, such as Berkeley's Sun Light and Power, established strong reputations. Others weren't so … Read more

'Nature': Energy tech not moving fast enough for climate change

Science journal Nature published a commentary on Wednesday that argues that scientists' climate change models overestimate the impact of low-carbon energy technologies.

A transition to cleaner forms of energy is one of the pillars of any discussion around mitigating global warming, along with policy and changes in lifestyle.

In their article, the Nature authors pick apart the assumptions built into the climate change reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC).

In short, they argue the IPCC studies are "dangerously" optimistic regarding the pace of clean technology and energy efficiency adoption.

An excerpt:

"Here we show … Read more

Energy-efficient smart grids on the cheap?

Smart grid technology is touted as a way to reduce stress on the power grid and lower consumers' costs. But a study suggests that simple and relatively cheap energy meters could accomplish some of the same goals.

Energy Insight, an affiliate of IT research firm IDC, conducted a survey that confirms what most people would expect: consumers are crying out for more information on their electricity usage.

That's not surprising given the rising costs of electricity in many parts of the U.S. and growing environmental concerns.

The 283 consumers in the study voiced interest in devices that display … Read more

Energy Star electronics ratings get corporate boost

The government's Energy Star program and the tech industry's Climate Savers Computing Initiative will work over the next three years to develop more-efficient standards for consumer electronics.

"Today's partnership announcement unites Energy Star and industry in an effort to rally the technology industry to reduce computer energy consumption and fight climate change," said Bob Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, in a press release.

Energy Star, launched in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency, is considered the first "green" U.S. consumer label for electronics … Read more

Will plug-in hybrids crash the grid? Duke Energy says no

Duke Energy and smart grid company GridPoint said on Thursday that they have found a way for people to charge plug-in hybrid cars in a way that won't bring the power grid to its knees.

The companies said that they have completed a test using GridPoint's SmartGrid Platform device to charge up cars after 10 p.m.

The timing of when during the day plug-in hybrid cars are charged is crucial.

Oak Bridge National Laboratories earlier this month released a study that found that timing is everything when it comes to plug-in hybrids.

In the worst-case scenario, the … Read more