Your Information Source for Home & Building Automation

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(IS-2009-51) Global Carbon Mechanisms
This paper from the Carbon Trust explores methods used to reduce carbon emissions.
As carbon trading credits grow, new mechanisms to encourage practices that reduce
emissions are needed. The appropriate pricing of carbon emissions to continue the
scheme and to benefit developing countries are discussed. Detailed economic analysis
in presented.
(IS-2009-50) Achieving 30% and 50% over ASHRAE 90.1-2004 in a Low-Rise Office
Building
This study by ConSol attempted to reduce energy consumption is a low-rise four story
95,000 square -foot building by 30-50% below the ASHRA 2004 level. They were able to
achieve only a 15-23% reduction with about a 10-year payback period. The study was
done using energy simulation software from the U.S. Department of Energy. The
simulation was conducted for the climates in thee cities: Newport Beach, California,
Baltimore, and Chicago. Energy efficiency was achieved with improvements in
insulation, glazing, lighting, HVAC, and the use of photovoltaics. Greater improvements
would require “a design approach that analyzes buildings as holistic systems rather than
as disconnected collections of individually engineered subsystems.”
(IS-2009-49) Clean Energy Trends 2009
Clean Edge, Inc. tracks the implementation of the market for clean technologies for
energy annually. This study for 2009 projects almost a tripling of markets for biofuels,
solar, and wind in10 years. However, retrenchment is expected in 2009 because of the
economic recession. Governments are now investing more in this sector. The following
five trends were identified: smart grid, storage technology, development of clean energy
markets, grid infrastructure improvements, and micropower grids.
(IS-2009-48) Geared for Change - Energy Efficiency in Canada's Commercial
Building Sector
This paper is joint development of The National Round Table on the Environment and the
Economy (NRTEE) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) about
reducing the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. The NTREE seeks to reduce
carbon emission by 58% less than the projected output in 2050 if there were no change.
The focus is on clustered buildings that are highly efficient. Achieving this goal requires
industry commitment and “stringent regulations.” Buildings should be considered in the
context of the city and transportation. Policies will be needed on energy pricing,
command and control regulations, subsidies, and information programs. Policies in other
countries are reviewed.
(IS-2009-47) Smart Grid: A Practical View
This paper describes some of the features of an electric smart grid. A smart grid overlays
information technology on the elements of the electric grid. Losses of electricity
(conversion to wasted heat) may occur due to faults to ground and resistive transmission
pathways. The grid needs to be monitored for these faults with a distributed
communications network, similar to a cellular telephone network. An Internet Protocolbased
network is recommended.
(IS-2009-46) Sony Online Entertainment Realizes an Estimated 50% IRR on Its
Service Strategy
This article summarizes the methods used by Sony to provide customer support for game
products. Sony purchase specialized software to provide details about customer
problems during game play. The integration of customer support into the game business
at Sony is described with a summary of takeaways to benefit other companies. Sony
was able to achieve a 50% return on the investment in this new system for customer
service.