ACEEE Archives - Page 4 of 7

Feb 23

Gamification; From a Non-Gamer

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 2 Comments

The ACEEE just released a study on energy efficiency programs delivered as games - gamification. At this stage of my career, I never dismiss something that works, for some people, as dumb. Gamification does not seem to be something I would be interested in as a participant, but it does seem to be a hot item; behavior based, and therefore, I am interested in learning what this is all about, as best as I can, from the ACEEE report. First, I start with my experience, which doesn’t matter, but you’re going to get it anyway. I would need a psychiatrist…

Jan 19

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Energy Code Compliance; Any Relation to Performance?

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 4 Comments

Last week, I received a late Christmas package in the form of an opportunity to throw a pitch for code compliance that would actually move the needle. This will be at the AESP National Conference in Orlando. I owe a substantial thank you to ACEEE for choosing papers at last year’s Summer Study for Buildings and this recently published research report, Energy Codes for Ultra-Low-Energy Buildings: A Critical Pathway to Zero Net Energy Buildings. I discussed the Summer Study papers in a post back in August. There were seven(!) papers presented on the subject of code compliance. The lack of…

Dec 22

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Combined Heat and Power Ins and Outs

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 2 Comments

Combined heat and power (CHP) is quite easy to understand from an energy efficiency perspective. Deploying policies to encourage it is very complex due to a number of things: What fuel type are we saving? What is fair for the utility? What are the public benefits? How should any incentives be derived? CHP Overview In a conventional thermal power plant fired by coal, roughly 20% of the energy is lost to the exhaust in the form of waste heat. Roughly 45% of the thermal energy is rejected to the atmosphere or body of water – river, lake, or ocean. This…

Dec 15

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Wind Energy – Finally Going Somewhere

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 2 Comments

This week’s post features a strong shot of irony. South Dakota ranks 49th of 51 jurisdictions (50 states plus the District of Columbia) in ACEEE’s 2014 Energy Efficiency Scorecard report, yet its citizens overwhelmingly support wind power. And when I say they support wind power, they act on it – not “yes, I love it ”. This isn’t a “do you support renewable energy” question – which, as discussed in last week’s post about freeridership, is a question loaded with social pressure. No. South Dakotan’s aren’t slaves to political correctness; nor are they complainers. I know because I went to…

Oct 13

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Energy Efficiency and Jobs- As Never Seen Before

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant

Last week’s post ended with a suggestion to use a benefit/cost metric like that produced by ACEEE, shown in the chart. The results of ACEEE’s study indicate that energy efficiency is the cheapest resource for “producing” energy. As long as it is the cheapest source, let’s keep buying. The regulated utility business is weird. The energy efficiency business is off-the-chart weird. Why? Because we produce the ballyhooed tawagem. We produce a lack of something. Nothing. A vacuum. We save energy at a lower cost per kWh than it costs to generate a kWh, with anything.So, what does this mean? How…

Aug 25

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Energy Code (non) Compliance; Could it be… SATAN?

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant No Comments

I spent last week at ACEEE’s Summer Study for Buildings, and one topic area I maximumly followed was energy codes and code compliance. In past years, I would rank codes and standards second to the bottom, just above lighting for my priorities. The reason for my sudden interest is the vaporizing gravy train of widgets, especially lighting and the need for other savings mechanisms. Why not code compliance?States are updating energy codes willy nilly to the next rounds of ASHRAE 90.1 / International Energy Conservation Code. As the Church Lady used to say, “Isn’t that special?” The problem is the…

Aug 18

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Energy Efficiency Potential Studies – Rulers, French Curves, and Tarot Cards

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant One Comment

ACEEE just released its first assessment of energy efficiency potential studies (potential studies) across the land – its first in 10 years! Hallelujah! I’ve been waiting all this time. That may not be true, but certainly I am interested in potential studies, so this is a great excuse and opportunity to write about it. Potential studies are used by states and utilities to determine technical, economic, and achievable energy savings for purposes of setting savings targets and designing EE portfolios by assessing key technologies and market applications…among other things. Technical potential is the savings that could be achieved if all…

Jun 16

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The Nuclear Option – Show Me the Love

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 2 Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement a couple weeks ago to decrease carbon emissions from power generating plants by 30% has kicked up a lot of cheering, but also mudslinging and absurd statements. As an engineer, I am an emotionless number crunching, skeptical coot constantly in search of reality and facts – trying to illuminate others who are swayed by hype, 24/7 news, and the internet. Opinions may change, and should, based on facts that do not. Friday morning I was stretching in my hotel room and reading The Wall Street Journal on my iPad when I came across this…

May 27

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Energy Efficiency Under Attack – Stalin Would be Proud?

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 3 Comments

Last week I attended the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (MEEA) annual meeting for its members in Chicago. It was well worth my time and expense. As one might guess, it featured sessions of accomplishments, organization metrics, and feedback sessions for improvement – what’s important to members. I think many attendees would agree the premier session of the day was “Energy Efficiency Under Attack”, namely in the Midwest battleground states of Indiana and Ohio. What an irony, as this has been the subject of a couple recent posts, The Case for Energy Efficiency – That Our Mothers Understand and Failing Energy…

Apr 07

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Attribution and Net to Gross – Pop Tarts or Oatmeal?

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant 4 Comments

Last week I attended the ACEEE National Symposium on Market Transformation in Baltimore. Learning and information gathering from conference sessions are typically down the list of reasons I attend conferences. This conference however turned out to be very beneficial on both of those counts. In particular, the net-to-gross (NTG) football, as described in last August’s Energy Program Evaluation Asylum post, was uncased for another game. This time I learned something. One session featured heavy doses of program attribution, and of course, the NTG football. Speakers included Bob Wirtshafter from Wirtshafter Associates and Mike Messenger from Itron. Both gentlemen demonstrated the…

Gamification; From a Non-Gamer

Energy Code Compliance; Any Relation to Performance?

Combined Heat and Power Ins and Outs

Wind Energy – Finally Going Somewhere

Energy Efficiency and Jobs- As Never Seen Before

Energy Code (non) Compliance; Could it be… SATAN?

Energy Efficiency Potential Studies – Rulers, French Curves, and Tarot Cards

The Nuclear Option – Show Me the Love

Energy Efficiency Under Attack – Stalin Would be Proud?

Attribution and Net to Gross – Pop Tarts or Oatmeal?

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