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The momentum for electric utilities to achieve high levels of energy efficiency savings has never been greater. Regulation has taken the lead. Utilities operating in seven states, for example, are required to meet more than 20 percent of their load in 2020 with energy efficiency programs.
Broader + Deeper = Greater Savings
Seeded on Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:30 PM EST
Article Source: blog.rmi.org - Brendan O'Donnell- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (5)
Energy efficiency is a central ideal, if not the cornerstone, of Rocky Mountain Institute’s Reinventing Fire, a vision for an oil-, coal- and nuclear-free U.S. energy system by 2050. In fact, RMI believes that 40 percent of capacity can be replaced by energy efficiency.
To meet these ambitious goals, utility program managers are trying to adopt two strategies: seeking more breadth (total program customers) and going for more depth (savings per customer).
- 2 votes
#1 - Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:30 PM ESTA big part of this is HVAC, especially since some of the efficiency technology and techniques are counter to air quality and health concerns. For instance, making the home as air tight as possible is great for the energy bill, but horrible for health. The toxins we produce from our bodies and activities have to be reduced in the indoor air. So I hope they are including in the program help with heat exchanged air exchange. This is basically a counter-current flow of outdoor air to indoor air through a heat exchanger. They can retain about 80% of the energy in the indoor air, while replenishing and refreshing the indoor air with fresh air.
Ground assisted heat pumps would be an excellent investment in efficiency improvements, too.
- 2 votes
#2 - Sun Jan 1, 2012 1:51 PM ESTAbsolutely.. does not do anyone any good.. to create their own lab experience while using their own home as a petri dish for micro organisms to fester in..
- 1 vote
I remember when this became a problem in the late 70s and early 80s. Homes with too little air exchange resulted in concerns with radon for one and many off gases from insulation, building materials, and furniture. And "air tight" homes with wood stoves developed problems with high carbon monoxide and low oxygen concentrations.
- 1 vote
I leave my basement vented by leaving the windows open a bit.. and wrapped the hell out of my water pipes around said windows.. just in case of radon.. which being on rock and ledge around these parts is more probable than not..
Having an all electric home.. and it has been insulated extra to about 1.5 feet in the attic and blown in insulation in the exterior walls.. we open windows in rooms that we do not use to allow for air flow for about 6-8 hours a day..
I also have thermostats that will not allow for over 75 F .. had them replaced from the old ones that went over 90.. I have turned down the temp of the water heater to 120.. I prefer to do it at the water heater itself instead of the 'gizmo' that one can put with a mixing valve for the shower to adjust automatically.. because if one does it at the water heater it will not allow it to go above 120.. where as; if one does it at a mixing valve.. they are still heating their water to 140-150F or more.. which cost money.
- 1 vote
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