by Jeff Ihnen | Nov 17, 2014 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant
Last week, I was reviewing a scope of work for retro-commissioning, also cleverly known as RCx – and it moved me to pulling hair out by the fistful. “That’s it”, I thought. “I’m going to relieve my rage on next week’s Energy Rant.” First, there is the infamous...
by Jeff Ihnen | Jun 23, 2014 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant
Let’s skip the energy supply side this week and talk about thermostats used for cooling. Let’s broaden the discussion to include both programmable thermostats and “smart” or “learning” thermostats. The Nest falls into the latter group. Speaking for the Nest, which I...
by Jeff Ihnen | Mar 3, 2014 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant
Perhaps I am naïve, but to be more effective it seems interveners would do well to understand motives of profit-driven enterprises and their customers. Consider, for example, this recent article in Midwest Energy News lamenting CenterPoint Energy’s withdrawal from...
by Jeff Ihnen | Dec 31, 2012 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant
I’ve read enough energy-saving tip lists to fill a Webster’s dictionary[1]. In this rant, I dissect some common ones, some uncommon ones, and provide some myself. Cook with small appliances – toaster oven, slow cooker, electric skillet: I would strongly advise...
by Jeff Ihnen | Dec 10, 2012 | Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant
Believe it or not, I did not have a rant topic in mind going into Saturday morning – my rant writing time. But the fog burned off quickly as a topic came into view – one that arose during the prior week. Incidentally, I once heard a “meteorologist” instructor say he...
