Rankine cycle Archives - Michaels Energy

May 15

Efficiency by Baby Steps and Giant Bounds

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Rant 2 Comments

This post features concepts everyone can use to identify terrific savings opportunities, even if you did not take beloved calculus and thermodynamics. Let’s review a general hierarchy of typical energy efficiency families: 1. Shut it off 2. Slow it down, set it back (temperature, etc.) 3. Reduce waste 4. Retrofit or replace with efficient equipment Those are all wonderful and probably capture over 98% of portfolio savings. Even newer programs like behavioral, retro-commissioning, and strategic energy management merely pursue these items. What’s left? Smart design. I.e., 5. Don’t be stupid Or for the glass half full message, it would be…

Aug 13

Love0

GHG and NG

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant, Utility Stuff One Comment

E Source reported last week that green house gas (GHG) emissions are falling fast in this country, as shown in the chart nearby. Emissions tanked with the economy in 2009, and as I recall, the summer of 2009 was also cool, resulting in lower electricity sales. Even so, when adjusted for economic output, GHGs are falling fast. The reason for this is rather obvious if one follows the electricity market. It is much easier to get a natural gas power plant approved for construction as compared to a coal-fired plant. I have not done the analysis myself, but it is reported…