City University of NY and IBM are collaborating to reduce energy use in public schools and Hawaii is among the first states to adopt a statewide public charging network. Oh, and don’t forget to turn the lights off during Earth Hour this Saturday.
New York City and IBM Reducing Energy Use in Schools
The City University of New York and IBM are working together to reduce energy consumption in NY public schools. The project has been collecting data about weather and energy usage to create portfolios of schools for the past 10 months. It uses IBM software to track, predict, and optimize energy consumption in buildings. Improved energy efficiency wills save the school districts money and offset greenhouse gas emissions. New York City aims to reduce its municipal carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2017. In addition, K-12 public schools are participating in the Green School Alliance’s Green Cup Challenge in an effort to curb energy consumption and instill energy saving habits in students and teachers alike.
Turn the Lights off this Saturday
On Saturday March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time, people around the world will take a stance against climate change in an event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Individuals and businesses in over 4,600 cities around the world will turn off the lights for one hour to spread their message about conscious energy consumption. The event is dubbed Earth Hour and advocates of global sustainability initiatives are encouraged to participate.
Hawaii Works toward Cleaner Transportation
AeroVironment has been chosen for an $820,000 government contract to develop cleaner transportation in Hawaii. Up to 320 AeroVironment electric vehicle charging docks will be set up all over the islands. Hawaii will soon have one of the country’s first statewide public charging networks to support EVs. Cities like Chicago have undertaken similar goals to install electric infrastructure to ease the transition to cleaner vehicles. Moreover, consumers who purchase an EV in Hawaii are eligible for a $4,500 rebate from the state government.
Biorefinery Approved for California
In another effort to offset the U.S. dependence on foreign oil, the DOE has approved funding for a biorefinery facility in Visalia, California. The $20.5 million loan will go toward constructing a Corn-to-Cellulosic Migration plant that will work to produce “greener ethanol” from corn stover, switch grass and wood chips. The pilot plant will be built by Logos Technologies and EdeniQ, both companies selected by the DOE under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Upon completion, the facility is expected to process 2 tons of cellulosic biomass daily.
Nexxus Bulbs Energy Star Approved
We have already noted that Nexxus LED bulbs will be available at Lowe’s retailers, making the bulbs far more accessible for consumers. However, Nexxus’ bulbs have now received Energy Star certification with one of the models, the Array Par 38 LED exceeding the performance of a 90-watt incandescent bulb by delivering 930 lumens using less than 20 watts. The bulbs are designed to last 50,000 hours and can save users up to 80 percent in energy costs.
