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 en Copyright 2008 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:54:56 -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 http://www.energypriorities.com/ 300 300 720 Denis Du Bois itunes-contact@energypriorities.com energy, power, efficient, efficiency, renewable, sustainable, green, building, climate, denis dubois Smart energy ideas for sustainable business. EnergyPriorities.com An LA Times columnist's misunderstanding of the smart grid points out one of the toughest hurdles for advocates: explaining it to the general public and media. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/06/smart_meters_lazarus.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/06/smart_meters_lazarus.php Energy Policy Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:54:56 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois "Probably not" is the response from people Janis Mara interviewed. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/06/green_scene_flash_pan.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/06/green_scene_flash_pan.php Energy Business Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:23:11 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois I attended ConnectivityWeek in Santa Clara last week. I had excellent interviews with some of the real leaders in smart buildings, and I recorded the keynote presentations. I'm working on a set of podcasts, and I welcome your input about the conference or smart buildings in general. (Go to About > Contact) http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/in_draft_cw08.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/in_draft_cw08.php [Briefings] Thu, 29 May 2008 07:51:48 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois HelioVolt and Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co. today announced a partnership to incorporate solar energy systems directly into standardized curtain wall products, the exterior glass facades that dominate modern urban construction. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/heliovolt_aga_bipv.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/heliovolt_aga_bipv.php Renewable Energy Tue, 06 May 2008 06:26:45 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois Financial justification tools face three major challenges: Prospects don’t believe their output; facilities managers are not financially trained; and sales reps are not trusted to explain the numbers. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/marketing_roi_tools.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/marketing_roi_tools.php Energy Business Fri, 02 May 2008 07:04:10 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois PG&E Chairman and CEO Peter Darbee called a handful of journalists into his boardroom and talked about being a successful utility in an era when it's is less about building centralized power plants and more about tapping renewable energy and balancing supply and demand. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/pge_darbee_green_fortun.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/05/pge_darbee_green_fortun.php Smart Energy Thu, 01 May 2008 16:00:06 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois Beijing is building up for the Olympics, spending $40 billion to impress the world -- and pushing commercial architecture to its limits. National Geographic's May 2008 special-edition issue, "China, Inside the Dragon," features dozens of articles, most of them short, all of them about China. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/china_new_great_walls.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/china_new_great_walls.php Buildings Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:34:51 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois Suniva's investors have put US $55 million of venture capital into a startup whose technology promises to achieve high efficiencies with low-cost monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Denis Du Bois interviews founder and solar pioneer Ajeet Rohatgi about the future of the PV industry and the meaning of his company's name. (podcast) http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/suniva_rohatgi.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/suniva_rohatgi.php Renewable Energy Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:16:37 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois When I started Energy Priorities on Earth Day 2004, "sustainable business" for most companies meant having enough working capital. Few people took global warming seriously. Venture capital investment in clean tech (counting everything from agriculture to water) in the previous year had barely crested a billion dollars. The 2003 blackouts were behind us; our attention was on the elections... http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/year_4.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/year_4.php Energy Business Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:02:58 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois The upcoming issue of Time Magazine will be all about "How to win the war on global warming." It's interesting to note that this is the cover story in all worldwide editions of Time, except for Europe. That edition focuses on US-UK relations. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/time_how_to_win_war.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/time_how_to_win_war.php Energy Policy Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:36:28 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois How will Beijing stage "green games" in one of the world's most polluted cities? By placing all sources of pollution on hold for two months. If the plan fails, the International Olympic Committee's president says smog could postpone some outdoor events. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/beijing_construction_halt.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/04/beijing_construction_halt.php Buildings Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:43:11 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois 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 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois 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 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois I thought the Beijing Olympics would create a world platform for progress on the environment. Turns out I was wrong. An older and stronger issue is taking the lead. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/china_olympics_green.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/china_olympics_green.php Energy Policy Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:47:55 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois Energy Minute: Biomass is slowly gaining popularity for space heat -- in part because it's a renewable energy source, and in part because it's less expensive to operate than a conventional furnace. (podcast) http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/biomass_central_heat.php http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/03/biomass_central_heat.php Renewable Energy Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:31:10 -0800 Denis Du Bois Denis Du Bois