Are Builders Getting Bang for the Buck?
A Balancing Act Around Energy Efficient Construction
Energy efficient construction (EEC) is a focus area for cities and states as they move to reduce carbon emissions – after all, current buildings account for nearly 40 percent of such pollution. In many jurisdictions, developers—and consumers, to whom costs are passed down—must contend with building code changes that call for more EEC. But these areas also have introduced tax incentives to aid the process.
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Battery Storage Now 30% Cheaper Than Gas Peaker Plants for Firming Renewables
Australia's Clean Energy Council (CEC) says in a newly published paper that large-scale battery energy storage has become the best way to spread energy generated by solar and wind throughout any day, and to instantly respond to peak energy needs in the National Electricity Market (NEM) for long and short durations.
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Implementing Community Solar for Low-Income Populations
Community Solar can deliver tangible benefits to low-income communities including reduction in their utility costs. The U.S. Department of Energy found that low-income households face an energy burden (the percentage of a household’s income that is spent on energy costs) three times higher than other households. Community Solar can help reduce this energy burden and provide energy equity to the low-income population who have not been able to access solar.
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Barium Paint Reflects 98% of Light, Remains Cooler Than Ambient Even in Full Sunlight
A new formula for white paint has been developed that reflects 98.1 percent of all light that hits it, remaining significantly cooler than the ambient temperature, even when sitting in full sunlight. "If you were to use this paint to cover a roof area of about 1,000 square feet [92.9 square meters], we estimate that you could get a cooling power of 10 kilowatts," said mechanical engineer Xiulin Ruan of Purdue University. "That's more powerful than the central air conditioners used by most houses.”
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