It's not a secret that our energy usage is overtaxing our production (and will be seriously threatened if not overwhelmed as the population continues to drastically expand, developing nations begin to match first-world energy usage levels and easily tapped energy supplies shrink). One band-aid for the problem was touched upon in the most recent
Discover issue (which isn't online yet, so I'm
linking to a parallel article).
Boulder, Colorado is running an experiment with a modern "smart grid" and new technologies that looks very promising. The program boils down to a number of points:
- Customers of the utility have their houses upgraded to "smart" status that allows for computer control via in-home controls or over the Internet of most of the major appliances as well as giving online real-time reports of how their homes are using electricity. This allows people to, for example, turn their thermostats up or down from their work computer or cell phone if their schedules change.
- The utility keeps customers updated (currently via their Web site or wireless messaging) of the status of the grid and when electricity is being supplied to the grid by renewable (in this case, wind) sources. A future proposal (which I like) is an "ambient light" in the house (a glowing orb or some such) that glows green when the grid is using renewable energy and red when it is using conventional power plants or being overtaxed.
- Customers can program their houses to use energy-intensive appliances (like dishwashers, laundry machines and rechargeable battery banks) only when the grid is using renewable energy.
- Customers with plug-in hybrids (which should be a wave of future cars) can not only set their cars to charge only during "green" times, but can leave their cars connected to the grid to act as additional energy sources during "red" times, acting as storage banks to ease strains on the grid by "selling" their stored electricity back to the utility (or rather, having it deducted from their bill), offsetting the cost of the hybrid.
The experiment faces a number of major hurdles. The technology isn't cheap (not even counting the cost of a hybrid). It relies on a certain level of computer-aptitude (I think this sounds fantastic, but my grandmother, who doesn't own a DVD player, let alone a computer or smart phone, would think it was horribly frustrating). And even some of those who are savvy enough to participate in such a system will resist for personal reasons (the experiment has already met resistance because a necessary component is allowing the utility to determine how you're using your electricity and giving them the technical capability to change your appliance settings).
Despite that, I'm hoping the experiment does well. It will determine whether a larger program is rolled out in other cities.
Labels: environment, science, technology
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Saturday, May 16
Happy Birthday!
To my mother, who deserves much praise for having to put up with a child like me (not to mention Haley . . .). :) Hope it's a great one.
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Sunday, May 10
Happy Mother's Day. :)
A note of congratulations and thanks to all those who have gone through the perilous and trying steps of bearing progeny. :)
I considered sending my mother
this card (in addition to the real one that left glitter all over my work desk). I'm fairly confident in saying now, however, that I am no longer the favorite (a position I held by bitter unanimous acknowledgment from all three of my siblings, despite dissent from my our maternal benefactor, for most of three decades). I relinquish the title with no ill will; bestowing the coveted "grandparents" title has certainly earned my brother the position. (My mother will, of course, post her assertion that she loves all of her children equally, a phrase I heard Lisa use in relation to her own children just a few days ago; I think mothers must be genetically programmed with that response.) ;)
Given the above, I sent her
this card instead. I'm still
King of the Lab when it comes to gizmos in the Cooper family. :)
Seriously, though, Happy Mother's Day to my mother, my grandmothers and all the other mothers out there. Enjoy your day. :)
Labels: holiday, mom
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Saturday, May 9
A Day at the Zoo
Provided for your enjoyment, my first real experiment with the new 17-40L lens. I'm not that impressed with the photo results (the twins of course were
as impressive as usual). Either I'm really out of practice or even an
L-class lens doesn't make me a good photographer.
Labels: alec, kyle, photography, twins
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Wednesday, May 6
Happy Birthday!
To Maureen. Hope it's a great one. :)
Labels: birthdays, friends, maureen
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Sunday, May 3
Meep Meep
Congratulations to Meghan for
running more in one morning (13.1 miles) than most of us will run all year. I think she's taking the "out run them" approach to surviving the Zombie Apocalypse. :)
Labels: congratulations, meghan
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Friday, May 1
Who Wears Short Shorts?
Happy
No Pants Day. :) I have the day off, so I'm afraid I won't be able to propagate this meme through the firm (although I have this vague suspicion that it wouldn't be well-received . . .).
Labels: amusement, holiday
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Mortal Combat
This struck me as funny tonight.
Labels: amusement
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