Industry News

'Green grabbing' - the rapidly-growing appropriation of land and resources in the name of 'green ' biofuels, carbon offsetting schemes, conservation efforts and eco-tourism initiatives – is forcing people from their homelands and increasing poverty, new research has found.

The 2012 ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Systems and Equipment discusses systems and the equipment that comprises them, including features and differences. It is designed to help system designers and building operators select and use equipment. It contains 52 chapters. 

The Energy Department has announced more than $7 million for three innovative lighting projects at companies in California, Michigan and North Carolina that aim to lower the cost of manufacturing high-efficiency solid-state lighting (SSL) technologies like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). 

The cost of managing a building can be measured by the cost per worker, per square foot. Reducing that cost, however, requires a more in-depth building analysis. Integrating a thermal imaging-based people counting system can evaluate an office building’s utilization, for example, with a layered approach. Rather than apply sweeping changes to an entire building, the system intricately studies specific areas.

The Energy Department has announced winners for the “Apps for Energy” competition, with app developers submitting more than 50 innovative mobile and web applications that will help utility consumers save money by making the most of their “Green Button” electricity usage data. 

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) concludes that up to about 22% of current U.S. energy consumption could be replaced by what experts are calling "intelligent efficiency."

Considering greening operating rooms?  A new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows cost savings and reduced environmental impact without compromising patient care.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced plans to invest up to $120 million over five years to launch a new Energy Innovation Hub, establishing a multidisciplinary and sustained effort to identify problems and develop solutions across the lifecycle of critical materials.

Commercial buildings, restaurants, and hotels are often prime locations for stainless steel use.  Disease-causing bacteria has long been an issue to contend with when choosing stainless steel, but researchers have developed a new way to provide a layer of antibacterial coating that will disinfect and kill potential threats.

With the constant focus on electric vehicles and sustainable transportation, a swap to the propane-powered cab should come as no surprise.  Yellow Cab of Pittsburgh, a division of the Pittsburgh Transportation Group (PTG), is introducing propane-powered taxi cabs to Pittsburgh.