This webpage provides a comprehensive set of up to date links providing a wide range of Energy Management guidelines.  It is set up as a resource for Federal Agencies, thus is National in scope and covers a range of topics.  A useful nexus site for anyone in the industry of Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy, and professions/users/decision makers who rely on a reliable source of Government Agency information.  ~ DT

• “While researching the SBI, they came across a Montana code passed by the Legislature in 2009. It directs state agencies, including the university system, to adopt high-performance building standards when new state buildings are constructed, or when major renovations take place.”
• “The standards call on agencies to optimize energy performance and enhance indoor environmental quality. They also direct agencies to conserve natural resources and cut energy costs.”
• “But four years after the code was adopted, the state has not agreed upon a universal high-performance building standard. The lack of such guidance — good for all state buildings, including those at public universities — has student leaders and other proponents frustrated.”
• ”To the layman, the array of standards appear similar in their goal to make efficiency a way of life in taxpayer-funded buildings across Montana. Yet the rating systems differ, however slightly, and state officials haven’t agreed on which standard agencies should follow.
• “There’s a number of high-performance building standards being proposed and used,” Javins said. “There’s been a series of (state) meetings to develop the administrative rules so they can enact that 2009 legislation.” “

"“Since 2003, there has been tremendous growth in solar energy systems technology, along with new developments in materials science related to solar energy, windows technology and thermal energy management films,” says Daryl Myers, an ASTM member who is retired after 37 years…"

"The standard establishes uniform criteria for measurement procedures, equipment and reporting of results with respect to modern measurement equipment. ASTM E903 will be used by manufacturers of glass, coatings, films and optical components of solar energy systems elements to assess the reliability, durability and performance of these components in order to optimize the entire materials system performance."

….In recent years, vendors including Google and Microsoft have experimented with going around utilities in an attempt to establish a direct relationship with power customers. It hasn’t worked to date. I’m in agreement with Opower’s Kavazovic. “They’ve got the relationship. And they’ve got the data, including invaluable AMI data,” he says. “The utility role is essential.”

We’ll be going into much more detail about full-circle customer engagement at our webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 16. We will have multiple experts on hand to highlight lessons learned by the utilities who’ve gone before. And to answer your individual questions. The webinar is free to Smart Grid News readers, but you must click to reserve a place in advance.”

Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry’s oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.

"….DTE and other utilities have consistently asserted the devices are safe and secure. Studies have also maintained smart meters do not pose a threat to homeowners. " | "In documents filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, one of the litigants, …, claims she began to experience health issues such as nausea, headaches, and insomnia after DTE deployed the smart meter was installed at her residence in September 2011. …"

"As a first step, each household’s electricity meter was replaced with a digital smart meter….. Smart meters record power consumption data on an internal memory chip at 15-minute intervals. Once a day these data are anonymized and transmitted via the power lines to an energy-data management system. "  |  "Some 100 households that were selected at random have been equipped with smart appliances from Miele. “These appliances automatically choose the lowest tariff for their operating cycle,” …"  |  "Another 13 households.. were fitted with combined heat and power units (micro-CHPs). In addition to producing hot water, these can also generate electricity. “If demand for power exceeds the amount currently on offer from the utility, the micro-CHPs can be activated via the gateway to feed electricity into the grid,”…"

"…96% of participating (large) businesses indicated that they had started implementing energy-saving measures. Moreover, when asked about their motivations to reduce energy consumption, respondents cited “reduce energy costs” as their most important driver." | "Businesses can save energy when relying on renewable energy. One efficient way is to install biomass production of space or process heating." | "Major savings can also be realized when businesses start relying on onsite solar and wind power." | "Building control plays an important role in industrial energy-efficiency…. By deploying effective building controls, consumption can typically be reduced by up to 30%." | "Having identified the most important areas of energy-saving potential is a first step towards greener and more energy-efficient businesses. However, the turn towards energy-efficiency still is a challenge, as it involves vast investment sums. …"

"With the 80% drop in price of solar panels over the past five years, the cost of solar is as currently the same or lower than the price of grid power in 20 states across country."  |  "Crane and Kennedy, Jr. urge for the removal of costly regulations for solar energy so that infrastructure can be built that will not fail in the event of natural disasters, as seen with Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast."  |   Read the original article here.

"Microgrids can shrink the amount of fossil fuels consumed to create electricity by networking generators as a system to maximize efficiency. They can also be used to help integrate renewable energy resources (such as wind and solar) at the local distribution grid level."

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"Who needs this report?Microgrid technology vendorsSmart grid hardware and software companiesSystems integratorsDefense contractorsUtilitiesMilitary agenciesInvestor community …"