EERE Network News
June 08, 2005
News and Events
DOE Offers Guide to Building Energy Efficient Homes in the Southwest
A new free DOE guide could save 30 percent on space conditioning and water heating for people constructing new homes in western Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona, the non-coastal areas of California, and parts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.
Study Finds Huge Potential for White LEDS in the Developing World
Candles and kerosene lamps may seem like cheap light sources, but in fact their constant fuel expense and weak light make them quite expensive for the amount of illumination they deliver. A new study suggests that battery-powered white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) would be cheaper.
EPA Requires Ethanol Use in California, Connecticut, New York
Under a new decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California, Connecticut, and New York will be forced to continue using ethanol as a gasoline additive. The three states had petitioned the EPA to waive its oxygenate requirement after they banned the use of MTBE.
New Process Converts Sugars Into Diesel-Fuel Substitute
While today's ethanol plants ferment corn-derived sugars into alcohol, which is purified through distillation, a new process reacts biomass-derived sugars with hydrogen to convert them directly into a diesel-like fuel. The new biofuel consists entirely of long carbon-chain molecules called alkanes.
Food and Paper Industries Pursue Energy Savings
A number of food processing plants in California and Massachusetts are turning to combined heat and power systems for their energy supply, while Ocean Spray is preparing to use landfill gas at its Wisconsin Rapids plant. But for paper mills, avoiding waste is a good way to save energy.
South Korea to Build World's Largest Tidal Energy Plant
South Korea is planning to build the world's largest tidal energy plant, a 260-megawatt facility that will use hydropower turbines to capture the energy of high tide as the ocean flows into Sihwa Lake. Meanwhile, a propeller-based tidal energy device has won funding from the United Kingdom.
Site News
World Green Building Council
The World Green Building Council serves the real estate and development industry to help transform it into a sector in which sustainability is a core value.
Energy Connections
DOE Offers Energy-Saving Tips to Cut Summer Cooling Bills
Looking for ways to save money this summer? Some easy energy-saving tips from DOE could help you cut your cooling bills by as much as 50 percent. Along with a simple list of tips to help keep you cool, DOE also offers a variety of booklets, CDs, and Web sites to help you save energy at home.
