<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Two crazy environmental stories via podcast]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by A Siegel http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:26:09 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/1 Load balancing ...

One of the key benefits of the ice storage is that it flattens the electrical demand load, by moving some (good) portion of the electrical load from daytime peak into the night. That leads to a financial savings through paying less for off-peak electricity and lowering the requirements for building additional plants for peak loads.

There are much more aggressive concepts for this. For example, what if code required that every single refrigerator had a ice storage system for coolant? With a smart(er) grid, the nation's refrigerators could be used as a massive energy storage system to flatten peak demands. Make ice when power demand is lower (generally nighttime) or when renewable power systems are producing excess, use the ice for coolant during higher electricity cost periods or when the renewables aren't producing (e.g., wind power intermittency).  

The California system is getting tax benefits and building owners who use get to pay lower electricity rates as a path to reducing peak demands.

Blogging regularly at Energy Smart to Energize America .

]]> Load balancing ...

One of the key benefits of the ice storage is that it flattens the electrical demand load, by moving some (good) portion of the electrical load from daytime peak into the night. That leads to a financial savings through paying less for off-peak electricity and lowering the requirements for building additional plants for peak loads.

There are much more aggressive concepts for this. For example, what if code required that every single refrigerator had a ice storage system for coolant? With a smart(er) grid, the nation's refrigerators could be used as a massive energy storage system to flatten peak demands. Make ice when power demand is lower (generally nighttime) or when renewable power systems are producing excess, use the ice for coolant during higher electricity cost periods or when the renewables aren't producing (e.g., wind power intermittency).  

The California system is getting tax benefits and building owners who use get to pay lower electricity rates as a path to reducing peak demands.

Blogging regularly at Energy Smart to Energize America .

]]> Comment #2 by GreenMom http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:24:59 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/2 Decoupling and energy efficiency programs


Presumably what other states need is legislation like California's, decoupling utility profits from the amount of electricity they sell, and also providing incentives for demand-side management (don't utilities in CA have some requirement about having such efficiency programs?  I'm only marginally familiar with their rules).  

That way the utilities and large consumers all have incentive to come up with lots of way to boost efficiency in the system.

]]> Decoupling and energy efficiency programs


Presumably what other states need is legislation like California's, decoupling utility profits from the amount of electricity they sell, and also providing incentives for demand-side management (don't utilities in CA have some requirement about having such efficiency programs?  I'm only marginally familiar with their rules).  

That way the utilities and large consumers all have incentive to come up with lots of way to boost efficiency in the system.

]]> Comment #3 by odograph http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:34:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/3 SCE

Southern California Edison is very active in pushing efficiency.  They have long given rebates to consumers on efficient appliances.  The push this year was to put in a sort of active electric meter for homes with air conditioners.  They give an option of payment plans.  The more you give SCE the ability to turn down your air conditioner, the lower your rates.  This allows them to reduce peak demand.

I know there are a variety of commercial programs as well ... but I don't get those fliers in the mail.  I'm sure there is more on their website.

]]> SCE

Southern California Edison is very active in pushing efficiency.  They have long given rebates to consumers on efficient appliances.  The push this year was to put in a sort of active electric meter for homes with air conditioners.  They give an option of payment plans.  The more you give SCE the ability to turn down your air conditioner, the lower your rates.  This allows them to reduce peak demand.

I know there are a variety of commercial programs as well ... but I don't get those fliers in the mail.  I'm sure there is more on their website.

]]> Comment #4 by Whiskerfish http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:58:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/4 Nigerian flares

Shell made a huge deal of their mission to end flaring. They've gone silent now that they're missing all the targets.

Exxon is not hte only evil oil co in the world!

Whiskerfish

]]> Nigerian flares

Shell made a huge deal of their mission to end flaring. They've gone silent now that they're missing all the targets.

Exxon is not hte only evil oil co in the world!

Whiskerfish

]]> Comment #5 by Corey McKrill http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:19:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/5 Shooting themselves in the foot

If Shell and Exxon voluntarily made a tiny investment in natural gas power plants and offered the electricity to the locals, they probably wouldn't have to kill nearly as many angry villagers or deal with hostage crises all the time.

Frequently asked technical questions about Grist's newsletters and website.

]]> Shooting themselves in the foot

If Shell and Exxon voluntarily made a tiny investment in natural gas power plants and offered the electricity to the locals, they probably wouldn't have to kill nearly as many angry villagers or deal with hostage crises all the time.

Frequently asked technical questions about Grist's newsletters and website.

]]> Comment #6 by nedruod http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:59:10 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/6 Merchandise Mart, Chicago IL

You might be interested to know the Merchandise Mart in Chicago (the largest commercial building in the U.S. by volume, and second to the pentagon only in floor space), uses the same kind of system.

In the case of The Mart it's not a new environmental advancement, but just a very old system that's been around since the it was opened in 1930.

]]> Merchandise Mart, Chicago IL

You might be interested to know the Merchandise Mart in Chicago (the largest commercial building in the U.S. by volume, and second to the pentagon only in floor space), uses the same kind of system.

In the case of The Mart it's not a new environmental advancement, but just a very old system that's been around since the it was opened in 1930.

]]> Comment #7 by ffletcher http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:02:27 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/i-had-no-idea/7 Ice Storage Is Cool

New buildings should employ thermal storage.  This should become part of any new building standards.

Efficiency should be become as mandatory as renewable standards and enforceable at the time a building is significantly remodeled or title passes.

In the cases of extreme energy inefficiency I have thought about having the utility simply fund the improvements from rates and making the improvements mandatory.

]]> Ice Storage Is Cool

New buildings should employ thermal storage.  This should become part of any new building standards.

Efficiency should be become as mandatory as renewable standards and enforceable at the time a building is significantly remodeled or title passes.

In the cases of extreme energy inefficiency I have thought about having the utility simply fund the improvements from rates and making the improvements mandatory.

]]>