Energy Priorities [EPXclusives] Denis Du Bois http://energypriorities.com/ Energy Priorities delivers information, ideas and commentary on smart energy -- a resource for businesses who want to be more informed energy users -- an asset to entrepreneurs and investors in the new energy sector. Topics include energy-related technologies and best practices for business, presented in non-technical language, with insights that help you take action. Published as a public service of P5 Group, Inc., Seattle USA. ISSN 1938-7326 energypriorities.com Energy Priorities delivers information, ideas and commentary on smart energy -- a resource for businesses who want to be more informed energy users -- an asset to entrepreneurs and investors in the new energy sector. Topics include energy-related technologies and best practices for business, presented in non-technical language, with insights that help you take action. Published as a public service of P5 Group, Inc., Seattle USA. ISSN 1938-7326 energypriorities.com en Copyright 2004-2008 Energy Priorities Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:12:08 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://energypriorities.com/images/EP-iTunes-cover-art.jpg Energy Priorities http://www.energypriorities.com/ 300 300 720 energy, power, efficient, efficiency, renewable, sustainable, green, building, climate, warming, property, hvac, lighting, controls, marketing, denis dubois Smart energy ideas for sustainable business. EnergyPriorities.com Clean Denis Du Bois itunes-contact@energypriorities.com Three Buildings Net Zero Energy - Building Priorities Briefing We explore three commercial buildings without power bills, and contrast the many meanings of "zero" in energy and carbon. First, a commercial building proven to be zero energy -- and then some. In the first 12 months after construction, this building produced more energy than it consumed. Then we learn about two more buildings presented in the ZEB session at Globe last month. The Energy Minute is about the meaning of zero: What should be counted when designating a building "net zero energy" or "zero carbon"? In the Program Notes we have photos and links to more information for those of you who are researching the net-zero option for your own buildings. (podcast) (photo)

]]> We explore three commercial buildings without power bills, and contrast the many meanings of "zero" in energy and carbon. First, a commercial building proven to be zero energy -- and then some. In the first 12 months after construction, this building produced more energy than it consumed. Then we learn about two more buildings presented in the ZEB session at Globe last month. The Energy Minute is about the meaning of zero: What should be counted when designating a building "net zero energy" or "zero carbon"? In the Program Notes we have photos and links to more information for those of you who are researching the net-zero option for your own buildings. (podcast) (photo)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/bpb_zero_energy.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/bpb_zero_energy.php Buildings Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:12:08 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Sentient Building Marks Major Advance in Artificial Intelligence: Exclusive Interview CHICAGO, April 1, 2008 -- Remember the turn of the 21st century, when intelligent buildings were at the bleeding edge of technology? Now, artificial intelligence is out of the lab and headed for a building near you. Buildings have literally taken on a life of their own and today, the first of April, the first sentient building opened in Chicago Illinois. Denis Du Bois interviews Cornice Leed, the brains of the new Gore Tower office building in the Windy City. (podcast) (transcript)

]]> CHICAGO, April 1, 2008 -- Remember the turn of the 21st century, when intelligent buildings were at the bleeding edge of technology? Now, artificial intelligence is out of the lab and headed for a building near you. Buildings have literally taken on a life of their own and today, the first of April, the first sentient building opened in Chicago Illinois. Denis Du Bois interviews Cornice Leed, the brains of the new Gore Tower office building in the Windy City. (podcast) (transcript)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/april_1_2008.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/april_1_2008.php Buildings Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:16:06 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Globe Conference Draws Business and Sustainability Leaders to Vancouver from around the World GLOBE 2008-- If you know about Globe, then you know this is one of the biggest international events about sustainability. If you haven't heard of Globe, I can tell you it is not yet-another-upstart conference to tap into the environmental revival. The Globe 2008 conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is also one of the longest-running conferences for sustainable business, having started in the early 1990s. (photos)

]]> GLOBE 2008-- If you know about Globe, then you know this is one of the biggest international events about sustainability. If you haven't heard of Globe, I can tell you it is not yet-another-upstart conference to tap into the environmental revival. The Globe 2008 conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is also one of the longest-running conferences for sustainable business, having started in the early 1990s. (photos)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/globe_conference_2008.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/globe_conference_2008.php Energy Policy Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:11:39 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Energy Independence at the Office and at Home - Building Priorities Briefing Energy independence comes in many forms. We look at a commercial office example and a residential example that demonstrate how solar helps owners to be self-sufficient in ways that match their values. The California Healthcare Foundation covered the roof of their newly renovated offices with solar panels. Going solar is consistent with their mission to improve the health of Californians. Borrego Solar co-founder Chris Anderson built a new home for himself and went off-grid. He wants to show Northeasterners that a home can be energy independent and comfortable at the same time. Renewable energy isn't the only green-building feature of these two projects. (podcast) (photos)

]]> Energy independence comes in many forms. We look at a commercial office example and a residential example that demonstrate how solar helps owners to be self-sufficient in ways that match their values. The California Healthcare Foundation covered the roof of their newly renovated offices with solar panels. Going solar is consistent with their mission to improve the health of Californians. Borrego Solar co-founder Chris Anderson built a new home for himself and went off-grid. He wants to show Northeasterners that a home can be energy independent and comfortable at the same time. Renewable energy isn't the only green-building feature of these two projects. (podcast) (photos)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/bpb_independence.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/bpb_independence.php Buildings Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:20:10 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Solaicx Anticipates Growth, Even if Economy Slows RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- If the global economy coughs, will it choke off the flow of capital into the solar energy sector? Or does this hot industry have a special antibody that makes it immune to a recession? The prospect of a slowdown is a global issue. For a global perspective, Denis Du Bois interviews Peter Bostock of Solaicx, a company that ships its ingots and wafers to major photovoltaic cell manufacturers all over the world. (podcast)

]]> RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- If the global economy coughs, will it choke off the flow of capital into the solar energy sector? Or does this hot industry have a special antibody that makes it immune to a recession? The prospect of a slowdown is a global issue. For a global perspective, Denis Du Bois interviews Peter Bostock of Solaicx, a company that ships its ingots and wafers to major photovoltaic cell manufacturers all over the world. (podcast)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/rew08_solaicx_bostock.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/rew08_solaicx_bostock.php Renewable Energy Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:52:24 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Renewable Energy World Conference Is Changing with the Industry RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 opened earlier this week with keynote addresses by two well-known Nevada dignitaries. This is the fifth year for the conference and expo formerly known as Power-Gen Renewable Energy and Fuels. More than the name has changed. This article is your gateway to our coverage of this all-renewables conference.

]]> RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 opened earlier this week with keynote addresses by two well-known Nevada dignitaries. This is the fifth year for the conference and expo formerly known as Power-Gen Renewable Energy and Fuels. More than the name has changed. This article is your gateway to our coverage of this all-renewables conference.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/renewableenergyworld08.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/renewableenergyworld08.php Renewable Energy Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:13:07 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Senator Reid Opens Renewable Energy World Conference with Call for Policy Changes RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- As oil prices closed above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Renewable Energy World 2008 conference and expo opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, today with a keynote address by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (photos)

]]> RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- As oil prices closed above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Renewable Energy World 2008 conference and expo opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, today with a keynote address by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (photos)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/rew08_harry_reid.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/rew08_harry_reid.php Renewable Energy Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:15:19 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Mayor Marks Kyoto Anniversary with Home Show Tour Seattle Home Show -- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels commemorated the anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol on opening day of the 64th Annual Seattle Home Show with a short speech and a tour of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy exhibits here.

]]> Seattle Home Show -- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels commemorated the anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol on opening day of the 64th Annual Seattle Home Show with a short speech and a tour of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy exhibits here.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/shs_2008_nickels_kyoto.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/shs_2008_nickels_kyoto.php Energy Policy Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:08:00 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Cohousing: Green Building Trend and Opportunity - Building Priorities Briefing This month we explore the cohousing trend in residential green building. We start with an audio tour of a cohousing community now under construction in New Hampshire. The sustainable housing development uses wood pellet boilers to provide heat and hot water, so the Energy Minute is about using biomass as a heating fuel. In the third half of the show we hear about what opportunities the cohousing trend creates for builders and developers. (podcast) (photos)

]]> This month we explore the cohousing trend in residential green building. We start with an audio tour of a cohousing community now under construction in New Hampshire. The sustainable housing development uses wood pellet boilers to provide heat and hot water, so the Energy Minute is about using biomass as a heating fuel. In the third half of the show we hear about what opportunities the cohousing trend creates for builders and developers. (podcast) (photos)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/bpb_cohousing.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/bpb_cohousing.php Buildings Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:08:48 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois FY 2009 Budget Request Means Big Cuts for Efficiency, Renewables The total FY 2009 request for the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is a 27 percent cut from the FY 2008 level. Nuclear and "clean coal" are obvious priorities for the Administration, with increased budget proposals for each.

]]> The total FY 2009 request for the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is a 27 percent cut from the FY 2008 level. Nuclear and "clean coal" are obvious priorities for the Administration, with increased budget proposals for each.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/fy_2009_budget_energy.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/02/fy_2009_budget_energy.php Energy Policy Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:11:59 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Open Networks for Building Control Systems - Building Priorities Briefing This is the premier edition of the new Building Priorities Briefing. This month we'll see what decisions went into the design of a new mixed-use campus to reduce their costs throughout the building lifecycle. The Energy Minute this month is about open versus proprietary networking methods for building controls. And Denis Du Bois interviews the consultant who designed the networked controls system for the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. (podcast)

]]> This is the premier edition of the new Building Priorities Briefing. This month we'll see what decisions went into the design of a new mixed-use campus to reduce their costs throughout the building lifecycle. The Energy Minute this month is about open versus proprietary networking methods for building controls. And Denis Du Bois interviews the consultant who designed the networked controls system for the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. (podcast)

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/01/bpb_open_controls.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/01/bpb_open_controls.php Buildings Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:35:58 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2008 2008 promises to be an interesting and fruitful year. We can look forward to the effects of a new Energy Bill, presidential elections, and a growing trend toward sustainability in every aspect of business.

All three hold tremendous potential to strengthen profitability, competitiveness and our outlook for a sustainable future.

Our wish for you is to realize your full share of that potential in 2008.

Happy New Year,

Denis, Linda, Chris, Kathleen and everyone else who makes the virtual "printing press" go round at Energy Priorities.

]]> 2008 promises to be an interesting and fruitful year. We can look forward to the effects of a new Energy Bill, presidential elections, and a growing trend toward sustainability in every aspect of business.

All three hold tremendous potential to strengthen profitability, competitiveness and our outlook for a sustainable future.

Our wish for you is to realize your full share of that potential in 2008.

Happy New Year,

Denis, Linda, Chris, Kathleen and everyone else who makes the virtual "printing press" go round at Energy Priorities.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/happy_new_year_2008.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/happy_new_year_2008.php Energy Business Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:09:45 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Austin Clean Tech Hub Expands: HelioVolt To Build Thin-Film Solar Factory Austin, Texas will be the site of the first manufacturing facility for HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of thin film solar energy products. The site was announced this morning. HelioVolt is headquartered in Austin, home to several clean-tech companies.

]]> Austin, Texas will be the site of the first manufacturing facility for HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of thin film solar energy products. The site was announced this morning. HelioVolt is headquartered in Austin, home to several clean-tech companies.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/heliovolt_austin_solar.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/heliovolt_austin_solar.php Renewable Energy Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:51:42 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Summary of the Energy Independence and Security Act, H.R. 6. The Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into law moments ago by President Bush. This Energy Priorities summary, based on a list provided by Rep. Jay Inslee's (D-WA) office, focuses on the highlights of the bill. Renewable electric energy provisions are in Title VI; green building provisions are in Title IV.

]]> The Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into law moments ago by President Bush. This Energy Priorities summary, based on a list provided by Rep. Jay Inslee's (D-WA) office, focuses on the highlights of the bill. Renewable electric energy provisions are in Title VI; green building provisions are in Title IV.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/energy_bill_summary2007.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/energy_bill_summary2007.php Energy Policy Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:33:04 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois Data Center Energy: Information Resources Emerge Data center managers are increasingly concerned about the energy footprint of their operations. Power consumption, cooling demand, and physical space are at or near maxed-out levels. Several resources are emerging to provide information about shrinking the footprint and reducing the energy-related risks in data centers.

]]> Data center managers are increasingly concerned about the energy footprint of their operations. Power consumption, cooling demand, and physical space are at or near maxed-out levels. Several resources are emerging to provide information about shrinking the footprint and reducing the energy-related risks in data centers.

]]> http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/data_center_energy_info.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2007/12/data_center_energy_info.php Buildings Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:04:46 -0800 Clean Denis Du Bois