The obvious result is that the company saves 75% on the cost of powering those phones during the down hours, and the more power-hungry the phones, the more the savings.
07 Sep, 2010
ENERGY Linx
What if there's much less coal than we think?
DoE changes course on capturing emissions from coal burning (NY Times)
Energy Storage commentary by John Peterson -- this one is on "earnings season surprises," but here's a paragraph that I liked:
In late-July I argued that the origins of specious battery-cost forecasts were political and ideological rather than scientific, and drew
vitriolic comment from scores of readers who've bought the mythology and
think me out of touch with the way technology develops. It's more than a
little gratifying to see a man with the technical stature of Bill Gates
joining me in the Luddite camp and cautioning that while we can expect
baby steps, the giant leaps for mankind will be few and far between.
02 Sep, 2010
Stimulus + Construction
There are
different ways of classifying the funds for construction in last year’s stimulus
legislation (AGC estimated $135 billion) but there is growing agreement that the
money for construction is being spent more slowly than many had expected.
“At the end of July, nearly 18 months after the stimulus passed, more than half of the $275 billion in investments [in infrastructure, health care and other areas] had yet to be spent,” the Washington Post reported on Saturday. “Administration officials say the stimulus remains on schedule, with 70% expected to be spent by September 30….Many of the unspent funds lie in programs portrayed from the outset as true long-term investments, such as $8 billion for high-speed rail, $17 billion for health information technology and $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health. But other programs that had been viewed as quicker job-generators are also taking a while to get rolling.”
The $862 billion total included “$230 billion to fund an array of projects ranging from road repaving to modernizing the electricity grid to launching new high-speed rail services,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. “So far, $182 billion of the infrastructure money has been awarded, though the government has paid out only $66 billion. The biggest projects have been the slowest to start….A few recipients of $7.2 billion in grants allocated to the expansion of broadband Internet services have started laying cables, but the rest are still busy with preconstruction work.”
“At the end of July, nearly 18 months after the stimulus passed, more than half of the $275 billion in investments [in infrastructure, health care and other areas] had yet to be spent,” the Washington Post reported on Saturday. “Administration officials say the stimulus remains on schedule, with 70% expected to be spent by September 30….Many of the unspent funds lie in programs portrayed from the outset as true long-term investments, such as $8 billion for high-speed rail, $17 billion for health information technology and $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health. But other programs that had been viewed as quicker job-generators are also taking a while to get rolling.”
The $862 billion total included “$230 billion to fund an array of projects ranging from road repaving to modernizing the electricity grid to launching new high-speed rail services,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. “So far, $182 billion of the infrastructure money has been awarded, though the government has paid out only $66 billion. The biggest projects have been the slowest to start….A few recipients of $7.2 billion in grants allocated to the expansion of broadband Internet services have started laying cables, but the rest are still busy with preconstruction work.”
(More)
02 Sep, 2010
Electric Vehicles - Lots of Info
I've written LOTS of stuff about Electric Vehicles in the past 13 months.
The first 3 -- from an 8/10/10 phone conference on which I listened in:
1. the GM view of the Volt, EV charging, and more.
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--8-25--2010.aspx
2. what speakers from ECOtality + Coulomb had to say about the DoE-funded EV charger installation projects on which they are working. http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--8-27-2010.aspx
3. Eaton’s Mike Dixon on EV charging.
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--8-26-2010.aspx
The phone conference (more than 60 minutes, web replay) -- topic: "Charging 101" --
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/16497/pid/16497
+ + + + + + +
Back in February 2010, there were four postings based on reporting from the EDTA’s conference (held in conjunction with the Washington Auto Show):
4. Ideas (?) on electric vehicles from three Republican politicians and the EPA’s Administrator.
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--2-8-2010.aspx
5. Are we trying to make the move to EVs succeed? Or are those who seem to be behind that move trying to help them . . . fail?
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--2-9-2010.aspx
6. How the EV and The Smart Grid fit together (kinda-sorta . . .).
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--2-17-2010.aspx
7. A little from a PG&E exec, and a lot from a fellow from Duke Energy – two utility people on the EV.
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--2-26-2010.aspx
+ + + + + + +
From last August (these posts are 1-year-plus old now, so some of the stuff in here might be history, and not current):
8. HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, EVSEs & More (8/20/09)
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--8-20-2009.aspx
9. Other stuff from my PlugIn2009 notebooks (8/26/09)
http://www.tedmag.com/news/news-room/special-report/Special-Report/Special-Report--8-26-2009.aspx
No, that is nowhere near the be-all and end-all. Here are
some places to go if you want to follow EV developments VERY closely (I am not writing for any of these) --
EV.com – you gotta admire whoever chomped down on this URL!
Green Car Advisor (on Edmonds.com)
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/
PlugInCars.com
The EDTA
AutoBlogGreen
Green Car Reports (from HighGear Media)
http://www.greencarreports.com/
DoE page: Alternative & Hybrid Vehicles
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/hybrid_electric.html
30 Aug, 2010
Electrical Apprenticeship Comments Of Note
Fred Humphreys, Home Builders Institute (HBI) president and CEO, was recently interviewed . . . about the benefits of electrical apprenticeships. The following is excerpted from the Lowe’s article.
An apprenticeship certainly isn’t the only way to become an electrician. Trade schools, community colleges and starting as an electrician’s assistant are other options aspiring electricians can pursue.
But the combination of paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction provides apprentices with invaluable experience to become licensed electricians and enjoy a successful career.
“Electricians, in particular, are held to a higher standard because of the nature of the work,” said Humphreys. “Employers want to hire bright, articulate apprentices because their students will have to go to customers’ homes and speak professionally with them about the job.”
25 Aug, 2010
ENERGY Linx
During the past two years, car sales in North America have declined
while bicycle sales have soared; the number of young people taking up
farming has increased for the first time in decades; and organic seed
companies have had a tough time keeping up with mushrooming demand from
home gardeners. These trends show that higher fuel prices and public
awareness will indeed motivate behavior change. But we have a very long
way to go before we, the people of the world, have broken our dependency
on fossil fuels, scaled back our use of other resources, and
sufficiently reduced our impact on natural systems. Meanwhile, public
education and citizen-led efforts (like the Transition Initiatives) are
essential now to build community resilience so as to absorb the economic
and environmental shocks that at on their way, and to help us all
adjust to life after growth.
What if there's much less coal than we think? -- from the enviro website, Grist.org. I'm not sure this is gloomy. The writer's points:
1. If coal is gonna be harder to obtain and not-so-damn-cheap anymore, why bother with carbon capture and storage?
2. If there's less coal than you think, maybe climate change isn't going to get worse.
2. If there's less coal than you think, maybe climate change isn't going to get worse.
Eating Gasoline in America -- no, this isn't about ethanol. It's VERY interesting, very outside-the-box thinking. I like this guy Gregor. Read this, it'll make you want to click the link and read the rest of it:
Food stamp data is an excellent portal through which to gauge economic
sensitivity to gasoline prices, because to be in need of food stamps and
to qualify for them helps us locate a threshold of economic pain, in
the American household budget. Why? Because the average food stamp
benefit per month is roughly $340 per household.
If your family needs an extra 85 dollars a week to put enough food on the table, you can be confident that a change in petrol prices from two dollars to three dollars, or especially to four or five dollars a gallon, matters. And not a little. Especially if one is commuting 60-90 miles per day.
If your family needs an extra 85 dollars a week to put enough food on the table, you can be confident that a change in petrol prices from two dollars to three dollars, or especially to four or five dollars a gallon, matters. And not a little. Especially if one is commuting 60-90 miles per day.
25 Aug, 2010
More Building Flipping???
Considering long-term capital gains taxes have averaged 26 percent over
the last fifty years, even hitting 40 percent in 1976 during the
Nixon/Ford administrations, risk of further increases once the economy
stabilizes remain high. As a result, though investors often choose to
hold assets in the year following a rate hike, perceived tax-related
risks may encourage them to continue selling assets in 2011.
EleBlog take: Does this mean we'll have more "motivated sellers" of commercial buildings, with prices coming down a bit as a result? That can't be good for construction, can it? 24 Aug, 2010
WIRELESS Linx
From the release: Wireless charging entails placing rechargeable devices on mats or pads
containing transmitters that put out a charge. The devices contain coils
that wirelessly receive the power.
Lighting control: Hardwired vs. Wireless (from CE Pro)
Wireless goes batteryless
Giving buyers wireless control (from ConstrucTech) -- interesting angle
“With up to 50% of the next generation of homeowners using exclusively
wireless technology on a regular basis, it’s safe to say that wireless
has been proven reliable and well adopted by consumers. Builders and contractors that incorporate wireless options into their
plans will differentiate their services and attract more of today’s
tech-savvy customers.”
24 Aug, 2010
Electric Vehicle Linx
What does GM really think about the Volt? -- by John Peterson, a writer I'm now reading regularly.
G.M.'s Electric Lemon -- the Volt. From the NY Times.
Flat rate in Detroit for E.V. charging: $40/month
New battery for cheap EVs (from Technology Review)
"If you buy an electric car, you suck" (from SkepticBlog)
. . . yes, I know, 6 links is a lot. I could easily have produced 60 (and most would have been relevant and different from each other!). The EV topics is hot right now. Incidentally, the "you suck" headline is tongue-in-cheek (I think).
23 Aug, 2010
ElECTRICAL Linx
"Go to the Code before you deploy panels & accessories"
Technology for ECs -- release from EMOBUS, Inc. -- how McBride Electric and Baker Electric rolled out Electronic Mobility Management to reduce operational overhead and drive down direct carrier billing costs
DC-to-DC converter PLUS custom wiring harness -- another release. Includes this:
According to eIQ Energy, the company's Parallel Solar technology
platform has already made array installation easier by replacing
traditional series wiring with parallel connections, which greatly
reduce the requirements for on-site skilled electrical work. By adding
the option of a custom wiring harness fabricated by one of the nation's
contract manufacturers, installers at the job site can simply unroll the
cabling, attach it to the modules, and plug in the necessary fuses - no
manual connections or terminations are needed on the module side of the
inverter.
18 Aug, 2010
Safety: Arc Flash Myths
I assume you are looking at Electrical Contractor magazine and Mike Holt's website on a regular basis. There's a lot about safety in those 2 places, and it should be reliable.
However, here's a piece from Plant Engineering: "Exploding the Myths about Arc Flash." The author, from Shermco, included this (from deep in the article) - with which one could hardly argue, I don't think:
Another thing I hear all the time is, "We've never had an accident here,
so why worry about it?" This goes along with people saying "We've done
it this way for (20, 25, 30) years, why should we change now?" and "Arc
flashes are so rare, chances are we'll never see one." You really have
to love the optimism in these statements. I also love people who are
willing to roll the dice, especially with other people's lives and
well-being.
29 Jul, 2010
Energy Storage: Your Tax $ At Work
ABB Inc. along with SuperPower Inc. and Brookhaven National
Laboratory received $4.2 million to try and build an advanced
superconducting magnetic energy storage device.
In short, this involves storing energy from the grid in the magnetic field of a coiled wire, and could theoretically have "near-zero" loss of energy.
The aim is to bring a fringe technology toward the mainstream of power storage, making it "cost-competitive for delivering megawatt hours of stored electricity."
In short, this involves storing energy from the grid in the magnetic field of a coiled wire, and could theoretically have "near-zero" loss of energy.
The aim is to bring a fringe technology toward the mainstream of power storage, making it "cost-competitive for delivering megawatt hours of stored electricity."
26 Jul, 2010
3/10ths Of A Cent
"If transmission upgrade costs of $12 billion per year were to be rolled-in, average retail rates would increase by only three-tenths of a cent per year."
In other words, the average electricity rate-payer (across the U.S.) would pay $0.003 more per kilowatt hour.
As the average per-kWh rate in the U.S. is about a dime, this isn't exactly a stupendous increase!!!
As the average per-kWh rate in the U.S. is about a dime, this isn't exactly a stupendous increase!!!
His larger point: "A $12 billion increase in revenuer requirement supports a capital outlay of $80 billion (based on a levelized annual carrying charge of 15%)." That's what's needed, he said, to make the grid improvements needed for wind power.
Bottom line, then, renewable energy's needs for more transmission -- in this analysis/opinion -- are VERY affordable.
- - - - -
There are hurdles to get from here to there, including some Eisenstat pointed out in his presentation. Among them, the fact that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission doesn't have a tradition of allocating national grid-expansion costs in this way (i.e., take the gross cost, divide it by 100% of the ratepayers, etc.).
Eistenstat's argument (which he was nice enuf to put on a wordy slide):
It is presumed, as a matter of policy, and rightly so, that reliability upgrades benefit all users of the grid; there is no logical basis to treat any differently those upgrades which improve grid economics, or allow RPS standards to be met, or that would otherwise improve our security.
RPS = renewal portfolio standard, by the way.
- - - - -
I can think of a relatively simple reason this won't work: It will be portrayed as Another Tax On You From Washington.
This doesn't mean Eisenstat is "wrong" . . . it just means there's at least one enormous hurdle for this idea to get from here to "right."
25 Jul, 2010
Wire + Cable Linx
-- from ControlDesign.com's "Listen to the Cable Guy" column
Outdoor cable - a CE Pro articles:
22 Jul, 2010
Pickens Drops Wind
T. Boone Pickens' newest version of the Pickens Plan to reduce oil imports depends almost entirely on natural gas. Wind power, which played a key role in the original Pickens Plan, isn't even mentioned.
21 Jul, 2010
Association Stuff
IEC: Radio!
NEMA: Possible standards -- on natural light!
AIA: Houses are . . . shrinking
BICSI: May/June magazine now online
21 Jul, 2010
ENERGY Linx
Caribbean island is building "the world's largest hybrid wind-diesel power plant."
Carbon capture has a "water cost" -- and it sux. From IEEE Spectrum.
High-Impact Risks to the Power Grid -- 120-page study with 19 "proposals for action."
Energy use up 2.6%, energy spending rises 79%
Carbon capture has a "water cost" -- and it sux. From IEEE Spectrum.
High-Impact Risks to the Power Grid -- 120-page study with 19 "proposals for action."
Energy use up 2.6%, energy spending rises 79%
20 Jul, 2010
StreetZaps
The motto on the site: "Reduce your risk of outdoor shocks or electrocution."
... good idea!!!
20 Jul, 2010
Green + Paperwork
So you don’t have to be an expert in all LEED standards to be an asset to your clients in the building process. If you are a steel contractor, for example, you would be well served to know the manufacturing location of the steel you are supplying. Becoming an expert in your niche area of expertise should be your goal. There is a complexity to the LEED standards and green building that is real, however, for many companies becoming an expert with basics such as paperwork can make a big difference.
Simply knowing what paperwork to fill out for different agencies, as well as having backup documentation from suppliers or manufacturers, can make you knowledgeable and valuable to a project. For example, some agencies such as the NYCSCA have their own paperwork system that is different from the LEED system. Being well versed in this, again, can help you to become an asset to a project (not to mention your client).
People ask me why I never, ever read Fiction. My answer is always the same: Real life is so much more incredible than the human imagination . . .19 Jul, 2010
Wire + Cable Linx
http://www.designnews.com/article/439434-Look_Deeper_at_Shielding.php
Working With Class I Speaker Cable
http://www.rwonline.com/article/99986
Protect Pets from Cable & Wire Hazards
http://www.beststuff.com/audiovideo/protect-pets-cable-and-wire-hazards.html
EZ-Wiring -- a plug-and-play modular wiring system
http://www.electeconline.com/Products_EZ-Wiring.html
...note NO compensation paid for the 4th link! I read an enthusiastic write-up on EZ-Wiring in Environmental Business News, 5/10 (it's a paid newsletter).
06 Jul, 2010
RE-POST - WIND
I actually threw a lot of energy into this. I believe most of this stuff (maybe ALL of it) -- is good. Some of it is REALLY relevant to those interested in electrical contracting, even if you couldn't care less about wind turbines.
Take a look, click away!
In the past month, a dozen Special Report blogs posted here on what I learned at the May 23-26 Wind Power show and conference, as well as some follow up. What's below isn't still more, but an index to the dozen pieces . . . plus one additional thing.
Intro
piece from Dallas -- some facts about the Big Wind shindig.
Politics & Wind -- a look at the opening plenary, AWEA, and RES.
Dramatic decline in wind turbine installation -- why? The federal subsidy is still in place.
Electrical distributors exhibiting at the Wind show -- includes some really lousy pictures, taken by me.
Electrical contracting companies Doing Marketing! -- I was so shocked by this, I devoted 2 blogs to it:
An explanation (all words).
A look at the booths (pictures and a few words).
What is 'Small' wind all about? Can distributors sell wind turbines? Tentative stabs at answers.
Visits with exhibitors -- there were 1,428. I wrote about two, Eaton and T&B.
Michael Caliel, CEO of Integrated Electrical Services (a very large electrical contractor) talks with tED.
Part One (some background, including links to ancient TEDMAG columns)
Part Two ("a man wrestles with an octopus")
What others are saying after the Big Wind shindig -- plenty of links for more info.
Final words (for now) = GO SOLAR! -- where Joe ended up after spending 1 month on wind.
25 Jun, 2010
IEC Magazine Goes Digital
As far as I can tell, it's the first issue of the publication that's offered (in its entirety) to all comers.
24 Jun, 2010
Green Linx
30 'Lifestyle Greening Tips' -- each with a link for more info
http://www.buildinggreentv.com/keywords/challenge/9826
Missing The Boat With Net Zero
[NOT an anti-net-zero-energy post, but a specific slam -- and one that's merited, I think]
http://www.thegreenworkplace.com/2010/06/missing-boat-with-net-zero.html
'Green To Gold' thinking
[not sure I agree with this perspective, but it's worth a think]
http://ehstoday.com/safety/management/asse-andrew-winston-companies-green-gold-8827/
Geothermal is the way to go, according to an 'investment guru'
[he's not the only one saying this, but he provides specific stock recommendations]
http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/na/6536
ANTI-GREEN: "The Bursting of the Green Bubble"
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/4264/The-Bursting-of-the-Green-Energy-Bubble
http://www.buildinggreentv.com/keywords/challenge/9826
Missing The Boat With Net Zero
[NOT an anti-net-zero-energy post, but a specific slam -- and one that's merited, I think]
http://www.thegreenworkplace.com/2010/06/missing-boat-with-net-zero.html
'Green To Gold' thinking
[not sure I agree with this perspective, but it's worth a think]
http://ehstoday.com/safety/management/asse-andrew-winston-companies-green-gold-8827/
Geothermal is the way to go, according to an 'investment guru'
[he's not the only one saying this, but he provides specific stock recommendations]
http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/na/6536
ANTI-GREEN: "The Bursting of the Green Bubble"
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/4264/The-Bursting-of-the-Green-Energy-Bubble
24 Jun, 2010
E-Newsletters - CONSTRUCTION
http://www.construction.com/ResourceCenter/
AGC's newsletters (a big bunch of 'em)
http://www.agc.org/cs/news_media/newsletters
AIArchitect -- every 2 weeks, from the American Institute of Architects. Good stuff.
http://info.aia.org/aiarchitect/
ACEC - The Last Word - archives. This is a weekly from the engineering assn.
http://www.acec.org/publications/lastword2010.cfm
24 Jun, 2010
Turning Against CCS
8/07 -- I was a fan of CCS, but then I looked into it -- it's BALONEY.
2/08 -- Cost of CCS "out of sight"
Now, out of Australia comes the news that Tim Flannery, an environmentalist (and "former Australian of the Year, who has championed CCS") . . .
. . . said he had changed his view. See the article here. Flannery just discoverd (according to the 5/27/10 article) that "it is economically unfeasible [and] . . . it simly is not going to happen in the future."
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST.
22 Jun, 2010
Renewable Energy Newsletters
Wind Energy Weekly
http://www.awea.org/windenergyweekly/WEW1389.html
EERE Network News
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm
EERE Program News
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/program_news.cfm
e-FFICIENCY News (from Alliance to Save Energy)
http://ase.org/section/_audience/e_fficiency
http://www.awea.org/windenergyweekly/WEW1389.html
EERE Network News
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm
EERE Program News
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/program_news.cfm
e-FFICIENCY News (from Alliance to Save Energy)
http://ase.org/section/_audience/e_fficiency
21 Jun, 2010
What Is A DC-DC Converter?
A DC to DC converter is an electronic circuit which converts a source of
direct current (DC) from one voltage level to another. This is
particularly important in hybrid and electric vehicles because the
battery cell voltage varies with state of charge which would cause
vehicle performance to vary with battery state of charge without a DC-DC
converter to maintain the voltage level.
Conversely, generator charging voltage varies with speed and would, without a converter, present a variable charging voltage to the battery that would affect battery life and limit the practical speed range in which regenerative charging was possible.
Switched DC to DC converters convert one DC voltage level to another, by storing the input energy temporarily in inductors and capacitors and then releasing that energy to the output at a different voltage. Physically small inductors and capacitors can be used by operating at high switching frequencies, and high efficiencies are possible when using high power, high frequency devices such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). A switched DC to DC converter regulates the output voltage, presenting a constant voltage to the output device (e.g. a traction motor drive).
While most DC-DC converters work in one direction only, hybrid and electric vehicles require bi-directional control to recover energy from regenerative braking. Bi-directional DC-DC conversion provides a constant supply voltage to the traction system, stepping up the battery voltage during motoring operation, and providing a controlled charging current to the battery during regenerative braking.
Conversely, generator charging voltage varies with speed and would, without a converter, present a variable charging voltage to the battery that would affect battery life and limit the practical speed range in which regenerative charging was possible.
Switched DC to DC converters convert one DC voltage level to another, by storing the input energy temporarily in inductors and capacitors and then releasing that energy to the output at a different voltage. Physically small inductors and capacitors can be used by operating at high switching frequencies, and high efficiencies are possible when using high power, high frequency devices such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). A switched DC to DC converter regulates the output voltage, presenting a constant voltage to the output device (e.g. a traction motor drive).
While most DC-DC converters work in one direction only, hybrid and electric vehicles require bi-directional control to recover energy from regenerative braking. Bi-directional DC-DC conversion provides a constant supply voltage to the traction system, stepping up the battery voltage during motoring operation, and providing a controlled charging current to the battery during regenerative braking.
21 Jun, 2010
EV Links
The cost of batteries might not decline as much as hoped in the next 10 years (AutoWeek.com).
5,000 charging stations to be set up (by Coulomb Technologies -- which is a neat name, ain't it?) in 9 U.S. metros.
Daimler intros "electric smart car" for the U.S.(write up on IEEE Spectrum site)
Stim $ to fund "a free home electric-charging station worth up to $2,000" . . . 15,00 of 'em. Up to 4,400 of them will go to buyers of the Chevy Volt, it said in USA Today.
5,000 charging stations to be set up (by Coulomb Technologies -- which is a neat name, ain't it?) in 9 U.S. metros.
Daimler intros "electric smart car" for the U.S.(write up on IEEE Spectrum site)
Stim $ to fund "a free home electric-charging station worth up to $2,000" . . . 15,00 of 'em. Up to 4,400 of them will go to buyers of the Chevy Volt, it said in USA Today.
19 Jun, 2010
Coal Out, NatGas IN
The promise: 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, 95% downshift in nitrogen oxide, almost total elimination of mercury, and near-complete wipe-out of sulfur dioxide.
Key phrase is in the next-to-last paragraph, in which the president of Siemens Power Generation Group says
"I don't know of any negotiation we have currently going on for new coal plants."
19 Jun, 2010
Economic Linx
UCLA's Anderson Forecast -- slow slog for the U.S., slower, sloggier for California.
How do you succeed in times like these? Learning to love uncertainty. (Good luck with that!)
Do you own stocks? You gotta read this piece about The Algo Monsters. (The gist: You're a tool)
Will corporations have to pay more to borrow money?
Something to think about: Food Prices Are About To Explode.
How do you succeed in times like these? Learning to love uncertainty. (Good luck with that!)
Do you own stocks? You gotta read this piece about The Algo Monsters. (The gist: You're a tool)
Will corporations have to pay more to borrow money?
Something to think about: Food Prices Are About To Explode.
17 Jun, 2010
Newsletters, Electrical - Associations
IEC's Electrical Matters
http://multibriefs.com/briefs/iec/index.php
NECA This Week
http://www.necanet.org/publications/newsletter/index.cfm?fa=necaThisWeek
Code Question of the Day
http://www.neca-neis.org/cqd/index.cfm?fuseaction=showArchive
Contractors Code Letter
http://www.neca-neis.org/newsletter/
NECA Convention NL
http://www.necaconvention.org/
FINAL TOTALLY IMMODEST NOTE: I invented Code Question of the Day in 1996-98, when I was publisher of Electrical Contractor and NECA's first "webmaster." It's probably one of the best non-magazine things I've ever done in my life!
16 Jun, 2010
Electricity, The Default Culprit
Story here.
I get a bit tired of electricity being blamed for absolutely everything, so I asked Paul Rosenberg, a friend who also is a forensics expert (he wrote a column on electrical court cases for Rexel's POWER OUTLET magazine for most of that publication's life. I was the mag's editor).
Paul, whaddya think of this? His e-mailed response (sight unseen, of course -- I didn't hire him to go to Utah!):
Being immediately adjacent to a substation brings an arc into the realm of possibility, but it would require very unusual circumstances. Substations are very carefully designed and installed - precisely to avoid things like this - and arcs require something on the order of 30kV per centimeter. That means a 300kV voltage (fairly high for a substation) would only generate a 10 centimeter arc.
So... something very odd could have happened at the substation to have caused this, but it is highly unlikely. I'd say that an idiot with a firearm is a more likely scenario.
So... something very odd could have happened at the substation to have caused this, but it is highly unlikely. I'd say that an idiot with a firearm is a more likely scenario.
16 Jun, 2010
Electrical Linx
Where do the batteries in EVs go after life is over? The NY Times answers.
NEMA touts its 47-page guide ("white paper") on Selective Coordination.
In CT, a utility mgr. spoke to contractors about EVs - and wrote it up for the local paper's website, too.
13 Jun, 2010
VIDEO: Matthew Simmons On Oil Spill
The reason for all this: The book, Twilight in the Desert, was marvelous. It wasn't a bunch of assertions. It was a bunch of data! If you troubled to go through the data (which took Simmons a lot longer than it will take you to read, even though the book is tough to penetrate at times) . . . you end up thinking that Peak Oil is very possible.
And all Simmons gathered data about, and wrote about, was Saudi Arabia!
I'm not certain he knows everything about anything in the petroleum sector, but I have a lot more faith in this guy than Yergin, for example. And, with the GOM oil spill in the headlines, naturally someone got around to filming Simmons on what's going to happen.
See the video here.
What gets me about it: I've heard no one else say what Simmons maintains here -- a bunch of "what ifs" that add up to a nightmare:
a. What if the oil stays in the water until hurricane season? Seems likely.
b. What if there are strong hurricanes that end up sending GOM waters ashore? A possibility.
c. What happens next? Simmons says the oil will come ashore -- and wreck the utility of shoreline real estate.
b. What if there are strong hurricanes that end up sending GOM waters ashore? A possibility.
c. What happens next? Simmons says the oil will come ashore -- and wreck the utility of shoreline real estate.
13 Jun, 2010
PetroLinx
Projected impact of the 2010 Hurricane Season on Crude Oil Production in Gulf of Mexico.
"Global subsidies to dirty energy top $550B a year."
Global total carbon dioxide falls -- China's jumps.
Did the U.S. DoE's analysis arm change its mind about peak oil? And was that change -- politically inspired?
Planet Earth is using more coal, less natural gas (according to, of all orgs, BP!)
"Global subsidies to dirty energy top $550B a year."
Global total carbon dioxide falls -- China's jumps.
Did the U.S. DoE's analysis arm change its mind about peak oil? And was that change -- politically inspired?
Planet Earth is using more coal, less natural gas (according to, of all orgs, BP!)
13 Jun, 2010
EleLinx
"Other take-aways" from Connectivity Week.
How the European crisis could have an impact on U.S. construction.
In Cleveland, the Mayor is trying to arrange a 10-year LED contract.
What's up with Fuel Cells?
10 Jun, 2010
RRREALLLLLY Interesting Blog Post
Both of these assignments are good work for someone like me. THEREFORE, I'm not likely to insult John Grau!
So you should take what follows with a grain of salt -- and consider what's here up to this point as a disclaimer.
- - - -
Grau blogs pretty regularly on www.NECATransmissions.com. In his May 20 blog, he wrote about union health-care benefits. This is important, as NECA is an association comprised of union electrical contractors. NECA's prime job (on the national, regional, and local level-- locally thru 120 chapters) is Labor Relations. NECA negotiates with IBEW.
At some level of perception, then, Grau could be seen as the "lead negotiator" on the contractor side in the IBEW-NECA relationship.
Here's some of what Grau posted:
As we focus on survival in the electrical construction industry, one
lament I hear time and again is that the cost of benefits for union
electricians is a significant competitive disadvantage for NECA
employers. Not only are the level of benefits and their associated
costs much higher than for non-union competitors, but add to that the
impending costs to salvage underwater pension plans, and it makes the
whole situation unsustainable.
and the conclusion:Obviously, when collective bargaining is involved, the solutions are easier said than done. But in the long run, there really aren’t many other options. To stay the way we are is simply unsustainable.
10 Jun, 2010
Green Linx
The architects (AIA) just held their annual shindig -- here's their take on a Green convention.
NOTE: There's some stuff there about a "Virtual" convention and having the event "come to you." Does that mean AIA wants to discourage folks from coming to its annual meeting?
A Vision of the Future of Solar -- on PV and concentrating solar power, taken from a report. Lotsa grafix.
Searching for New Green Projects -- by Jerry Yudelson, on TEDGreenRoom.com.
08 Jun, 2010
EleLinx
Crude Oil & Copper -- Better Value Than Gold -- this person's prediction, which we'll all (I hope) live long enough to check:
"It seems highly probable that Crude Oil and Copper, although not as glamorous as Gold, are actually the better commodity plays going forward. Expect Oil to be well over $100 a barrel in 2011, and Copper to break the $5 a pound barrier as well."
...copper just recently fell through the $3/pound "barrier," which had held for a long time. It's possible it will fall a bit more. If it does, then what this person is forecasting will amount to a DOUBLE in the next 12-18 months. The oil prediction is not quite as dramatic, now is it?
FREE WEBINAR on Changes to 2011 NEC -- June 18 -- from NECA.
Lutron Electronics enshrined at The Smithsonian!
IEC Chapter Awards -- coverage of the Rocky Mountain Chapter's event.
08 Jun, 2010
EleLinx
NECA has updated its page on Social Media.
From TEDMAG.org, by yours truly -- the roundup of MAY BLOGS. Includes 5 from EE Global --
Lamp Seasoning for Fluorescent Dimming Systems -- from NEMA.
From TEDMAG.org, by yours truly -- the roundup of MAY BLOGS. Includes 5 from EE Global --
Energy Efficiency, an Action Plan
Zia Eftekhar (of Philips)
Allen Breeze (of Schneider)
Final 3 speakers from the EE Global opening session.
First 3 speakers from EE Global opening session.
Zia Eftekhar (of Philips)
Allen Breeze (of Schneider)
Final 3 speakers from the EE Global opening session.
First 3 speakers from EE Global opening session.
Lamp Seasoning for Fluorescent Dimming Systems -- from NEMA.
07 Jun, 2010
From The Usual Suspects
Posted + E-mailed by Mike Holt -- Newsletter of the National Low-Voltage Contractors Association
Usual great stuff from Frank Bisbee -- June "Heard On The Street" compendium of datacom news.
And what's happening at Electrical Contractor magazine -- a webinar on Thursday (6/10) on Integrated Project Delivery
....note that no one paid EleBlog for these listings.
07 Jun, 2010
Wind Turbine For Your House
I don't think you're going to get rich by installing one of these. But if you want to be outrageously, amazingly, aggressively GREEN, this is the way to go.
03 Jun, 2010
JuJu List
A Tech Savey Electrical Contractor Injects Mobil Technology for Tracking Down Construction Leads
What's wrong?
1. Savvy is how you spell "savey"
2. Mobile is how you spell "mobil"
3. "Injects" is a questionable use of that word in the headline, isn't it?
2. Mobile is how you spell "mobil"
3. "Injects" is a questionable use of that word in the headline, isn't it?
Add to that, the beginning of the item has TWO datelines, I kid you not, one after the other.
You might be interested anyway, so here's the link.
(More)
27 May, 2010
Decline Of AC Power Distribution?
Download issue #5 of this thing, a 48p PDF, by clicking here. See page 8.
Here's part of the thinking that went into the thing. Note that OLED = organic light-emitting diode.
OLED technology is set to change the dy- namics of provisioning power services in office buildings of the future because it is a low power DC voltage driven technology that does not generate any heat. Buildings of the future will need very little AC mains distribution as they adopt an alternative DC power solution. Leading the charge in this space is Power over Ethernet (PoE)—an IP based solution that is easily integrated into building severs for auto- mated management and control.
27 May, 2010
Home Hazards
- Remove throw rugs or use double-sided tape or a nonslip backing to secure them.
- Clear a path. You should never have to walk around furniture or piles of papers, or hop over extension cords or safety gates.
- Make sure there's a light in your stairway, and light switches (the kind that glow) at the top and bottom of the stairs. If your home lacks those, hire an electrician.
- Where practical (the cellar or garage, for starters), paint the top edge of stairs with a contrasting color so that you'll see it better.
- Secure loose stair carpeting and fix loose or uneven stairs.
- Consider putting handrails on both sides of stairs.
- In the kitchen, put often used items on shelves you don't have to stretch to reach.
- Invest in a good step stool; don't use a chair.
- Use a rubber mat in the tub or shower. Many bathtubs are too slippery.
- Hire a carpenter to install grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet.
- Position a lamp next to your bed so that it's easy to reach.
- Use a night-light if the path from bedroom to bathroom would otherwise be dark.
21 May, 2010
Keeping Panels Cool
Halfway measures, such as cutting holes in the panel and installing
filters and fans, can work in clean environments, but few industrial
settings are so contaminant-free as to make this a practical approach.
In addition, it won’t work for outdoor installations. And, if the filter
is dense enough to prevent the entry of contaminating dirt and
moisture, it will clog and be a preventive maintenance concern, or lead
to overheating if not maintained properly.
Your choice is between dirt and moisture contamination slowly eating away at open, vented or filtered control panels, or sudden death from heat damage if they’re kept sealed and clean. You must do battle with one or the other, contamination or heat. To help make the correct choice, consider the most popular enclosure cooling technologies, along with some general cost considerations and characteristics to keep in mind in evaluating their fit for your requirements.
Your choice is between dirt and moisture contamination slowly eating away at open, vented or filtered control panels, or sudden death from heat damage if they’re kept sealed and clean. You must do battle with one or the other, contamination or heat. To help make the correct choice, consider the most popular enclosure cooling technologies, along with some general cost considerations and characteristics to keep in mind in evaluating their fit for your requirements.
14 May, 2010
Sensors + Health Care
Imagine a job that involved sitting in front of a refrigerator 24 hours a day and checking its temperature every five minutes. It is doubtful many people would apply. Plus, what organization would want to spend the money on that person’s salary? It might be nice to be sure the temperature in the refrigerator remained constant, but is it really worth it in the scheme of things? How much would the owner be out if just one refrigerator breaks?
Try $80,000. That’s how much a research pharmacy lost when one of its refrigerators failed over one week-end. The unit contained $80,000 worth of research pharmaceuticals, which all had to be thrown out. That’s quite a loss for one weekend.
This is all about "M2M" -- machine-to-machine. The short article also talks about remote monitoring (of patients, not just refrigerators!) in health care.
02 May, 2010
Airsealing Electrical Outlets
27 Apr, 2010
Did You Know . . .
21 Apr, 2010
23 Magazines Stop Publishing
Among the dead -- Plant Engineering, Consulting-Specifying Engineer (in part an electrical magazine, Building Design & Construction, and Purchasing. These are among my favorite trade publications!
Or, to say it properly . . . they were.
09 Apr, 2010
Energy Deadlines
1. Product rebates are First-come, First-served. Means: When the FedGov $$$ runs out, you're out of luck.
2. Tax credits (which are very nice things!) are available from the FedGov for certain stuff "Placed In Service" by 12/31/10.
Get moving! More here:
http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/news/2010/04/clock-is-ticking-on-certain-energy-efficiency-incentives/
06 Apr, 2010
Facebook Page ---
(yeah, yeah - who doesn't?)
http://www.facebook.com/stevenchu
05 Apr, 2010
Low-Voltage Switchgear Checklist
http://www.plantengineering.com/article/185019-Low_voltage_switchgear_continues_its_evolution.php
(article from GE)
05 Apr, 2010
Electrical Safety - In Spanish
http://www.iaei.org/magazine/?p=4852
01 Apr, 2010
Sheet Metal Writing
http://www.pinp.org/resources/#pinp
#1 -- inside front cover, a brief (and pretty good, upon reading it!) piece on construction economic prospects.
#2 -- page 20, a one-page piece on future employment needs in the sheet metal biz.
28 Mar, 2010
Train As Electrician - Go Anywhere!
Here comes some backing from the Poughkeepsie Journal. 3/20 headline "Electrician background a good base for home inspection business." The article --
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100320/BUSINESS/3200314/Young-professionals-Electrician-background-a-good-base-for-home-inspection-business
. . . details how 30-year-old Brian Reyes moved on from his start as an IBEW electrician (he became a journeyman @ age 24). After a Sept. 09 layoff, he started up a home inspection business. From Reyes:
We always worked around plumbers, heating guys and cooling guys and structural guys," Reyes said. "We all had to work together, pretty much, so that's how I got to see all the building and how it was built."
28 Mar, 2010
Conduit Sleeve Bonding
http://www.csemag.com/article/453379-Bonding_conduit_sleeves.php
26 Mar, 2010
Chemicals & Green Building
Here's something that caught my eye, a reaffirmation of a data point I think I already knew:
" . . . there are limits to our research. There are 60,000 to 80,000 chemicals in use today,and the vast majority of these have never been tested for environmental health and safety concerns."
That's right -- you're swimming in a sea of toxic goop. Not only have those chemicals NOT been individually tested, any impact some of them might have on YOU when combined (as they are, every day, in our environment) is . . . unknown, unregulated, and . . . unimaginable.
24 Mar, 2010
Posts on Renewable Energy
Renewable energy business assumptions ("carbon is as carbon does")
Solar in 2010-11 -- boom years?
Solar: A four-bagger through 2011?
Which way the wind is blowing?
24 Mar, 2010
Gensets - The 'Nitty-Gritty'
It's common knowledge that battery system failures are at the core of most generator set failures. Many of these could be avoided by making sure that a proper battery charger is installed. The battery charger needs to be able to float to zero-net charge on the batteries; it needs to be sized correctly per NFPA 110 (most are too small); and it needs to have ambient temperature compensation in the charge rate. It's also important that the fuel system design is correct for the engine that is installed, and this can change a bit from engine to engine. Proper maintenance, including battery bank replacement, is critical. If that isn't done, the system will be unreliable within two or three years of installation.
20 Mar, 2010
Promotional Stuff
1. New on ElectricTV -- a video story about the work done on an archives for AZ state stuff. Look for the item on the Polly Rosenbaum Archives.
2. The first Electrical Design Library edition -- a 4-page document (free downloadable PDF) -- covers The Smart Grid.
2. The first Electrical Design Library edition -- a 4-page document (free downloadable PDF) -- covers The Smart Grid.
20 Mar, 2010
Generators, Outages, Houses, Safety
• Generators should be operated in well-ventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings.
• The generator should be located so that exhaust fumes cannot enter the home through windows, doors or other building openings.
• Battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with a battery back-up should be installed in the home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Should CO enter the home and pose a risk, an alarm will sound.
• The generator must not be refueled while it is running. The generator should be turned off and allowed to cool down before refueling.
(More)
11 Mar, 2010
Motor Myths
What are the myths?
1. Motors are a commodity.
2. All motors are designed + manufactured to work reliably on inverter power.
3. Motor efficiency is federally legislated.
4. Bearing L10 life is an effective measure of a motor's expected bearing life.
5. Vibration levels on motors do not matter for my application.
05 Mar, 2010
Electric Vehicle Blogs
Late Jan '10, EDTA conference at the Wash. Auto Show, D.C. --
Politicians talk about the EV
EVs, car companies, utilities & government (heaven help all of us!)
How the EV and The Smart Grid fit together
More from my EDTA notebook (final words)
-- and from the August '09 PlugIn2009 event -- (these 2 are each long posts than the ones above)
Electric Vehicles - an exploration
Who will marshall EVSEs for installation?
09 Feb, 2010
The EC Biz In So. Africa
"One of the greatest opportunities currently for electrical contractors
to gain new business is to become familiar with the new technologies
that conserve power in both the industrial and domestic sectors . . . "
. . . sound famliar? It's from the director of the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (click to see the rest and a pic of the guy).
An interesting piece: "When the recession ends, the electrical contractors industry will still be faced with serious skills shortages." I believe that's going to happen here in the U.S., too.
07 Feb, 2010
You Got It BACKWARDS (you fool you)
But, unfortunately for both of us, I can read.
Here's the headline on a short blog he posted: "Florida Rate Hike Denied, or Another Case Of Politics Costing Us Big Time."
Go and read the thing. The "us" he's talking about here is THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. In other words, whatever happens in Florida among the ratepayers, the regulators, and the utilities, they all exist to give "us" work.
I actually think the Florida regulators DID make a mistake. But I also think the what Short wrote is damaging -- to "us" -- in the short run, the long run, and all of the time in between. Thing is, WE exist to serve THEM. They do NOT exist to provide us with revenue.
That's the right thing, the way it is, right? So Shot's got it ass backwards, ain't he?
(More)
31 Jan, 2010
'Solar On A Stick'
28 Jan, 2010
Google To Sell Power (?)
Unlike the utility business (preferred place-of-residence for dinosaurs that didn't die 70 million years ago), Google is creative.
I am betting this news had 1,100 utility execs looking for brown underwear . . .
28 Jan, 2010
Energy Storage - Types
But there's more involved. Here are alternatives from a slide I tore out of a presentation. Slide heading: "Several types of Thermal Storage."
Current used in Industrial Market
Newer concepts
What's this all about? Solar and wind are NOT reliable suppliers of electricity. The wind blows, and blows hard; then it suddenly stops (almost without warning). The variance in solar energy generated can be steep, too, even in sunny places -- first, there are clouds (and pollution) decreasing the power generation; then, of course, the sun disappears at night. High pressure steam
Molten salt
Hot oil
Molten salt
Hot oil
Newer concepts
Solid media beds
Reversible chemical reactions
Porous castable ceramics
Reversible chemical reactions
Porous castable ceramics
So if your utility is going to get to 33% renewables -- as is mandated in California for 2020 -- you're going to lose reliability if you don't figure storage out in the next 10 years. Voila! That's what's happening now.
And we're not talking about a small thing. We're talking UTILITY-SCALE energy storage!!!
26 Jan, 2010
Energy Harvesting
Well, it's years later. EnOcean is HUGE HUGE HUGE.
If you've ignored Energy Harvesting, Wireless, and Next Generation Building Energy Management -- you need to read an article by that title, at AutomatedBuildings.com, from EnOcean's marketing manager.
Catch up. NOW!
23 Jan, 2010
Drawing A Blank
ThinkEco, which
showed off its modlet, an electronic outlet that can be controlled from
a Web-based application, allowing users to set schedules for whatever
is plugged into the outlet.
I went to www.thinkecoinc.com, and found nothing about the product.
23 Jan, 2010
CE Pro Revamps Site
So it's only fair to note that the magazine has redesigned its site, changing a lot of stuff.
19 Jan, 2010
Stacked AFCIs = Overheating Panelboards?
18 Jan, 2010
Work Where You Live, Etc.
More than 34 million U.S. workers now telecommute at least part time, and some analysts predict that the number of teleworkers in the U.S. will reach 63 million by the year 2016 as corporations look for ways to reduce their operating expenses and carbon footprints.
Add in the fact that more than 14% of all U.S. households already contain a home-based business (and that’s according to Small Business Administration estimates prior to the downturn) and you’ve got yourself a pretty hefty case for flexible plans that can accommodate workstations, inventory storage, meeting space, and maybe even ground floor retail or studio space with exterior signage.
17 Jan, 2010
Tool Tracking From The Truck
[after talking about all of the "wired" stuff they are pushing into vehicles these days]
If
you are a contractor or run a business where you and a crew use work
tools, there’s even a Ford truck with an RFID-enabled system from
DeWalt that tracks and manages all your tools and gear. Each tool has
an RFID tag. That lets the system alert you if something is missing so
that you don’t leave tools behind at work sites. Just imagine the
savings from not losing tools
15 Jan, 2010
EcoBuild Coverage - 5 Posts
Intro to EcoBuild - Plus A Bit About 'GreenSpeak'
Energy Star for Buildings (Portfolio Manager, Plaques, etc.)
Green Stuff -- IGCC, SAVE & NZE
Bits & Pieces (But Not Leftovers) -- on keynote speakers (including the GSA guy), solar and Convia.14 Jan, 2010
Solar Sign of the Times?
But late last year (reported the 12/29 Orlando Sentinel), the Orlando Utilities Commission requested bids on a large solar plant. It got responses "from 27 teams of bidders" -- an outcome described as "something of a supernova of interest."
Article.
11 Jan, 2010
Green Tape
Dom's words:
"There's also lots of green tape. I think many of you are hearing the term "green tape" for the first time -- where environmentalists are stopping some of the progress . . . there's a very interesting case now . . . environmentalists are fighting wind towers because of bird migration and things like that, so there's a lot of things tied up there."
Can't provide a link, as this is off-line. I googled "green tape" and of the 1st 10 links, 8 of them were about . . . actual tape, colored green. The two links to "green tape" in the meaning Dom provides it above were to a Chamber of Commerce blog (the CofC folks are to the right of Attila the Hun, and he spent a lot of time making sure no one could possibly be meaner!) and the other from the Heritage Foundation (somewhere in between the CofC and Attila, kinda sorta).
07 Jan, 2010
Smart Meter Screw-up
- - - - -
A story from the Whig-Standard in Ontario, Canada goes into the travails of a family that received a $985 electric bill as the result of some sort of smart-meter malfunction.
Hey, that's for ONE MONTH. Here's the lead on the story:
The Kingston family feuding with Hydro One over high
electricity bills -- including one that reached a whopping $985.15 for
a single month -- has received a rebate of $63.93.
A letter from the publicly owned utility referred to the payment as a "gesture of good will."
"It's also kind of insulting," said Heather Wilkins. "I think if they were buying me off, it would be more than $63.93."
Wilkins and her husband, Dave, still suspect the smart meter that was installed on their house last spring gave inaccurate readings that led to their exorbitant bills.
What this proves: Utilities may be automating, but they still behave in the same old (Ty-Rex-like) way. It's hard to shake your DNA, and most power companies are, well, dinosaurs.Here are the (slim) details provided on the whopping error:
On Aug. 6, for example, from 11 a. m. to midnight, consumption was
recorded at 44.5 kilowatt hours. During one hour, from 11 p. m. to
midnight, the draw was nine kilowatt hours -- three times the base load
-- even though no one was in the house at the time because the family
was at their cottage.
Read the thing here. 07 Jan, 2010
Interesting Leftover From September
NECA is run by something called a "Board of Governors." This board, with representatives from each of the org's 120 chapters, votes on things once a year in an annual meeting timed to coincide with NECA's convention. In Seattle in September, they considered Ordinary Proposal #4.
Here's the concluding paragraph:
Therefore, be it RESOLVED that the National Electrical Contractors Association promotes and endorses revising the National Electrical Code on a five-year cycle rather than the existing three-year cycle.
I am told this resolution passed on a voice vote. What does it mean? Nothing, for the immediate future. But . . . it means something!
07 Jan, 2010
Slow
"This is as slow as I've seen it in 30 years" -- Wayne Brockett, owner of Crown Electric Co. (commercial electrical contractor) of Beaumont, Tex.
31 Dec, 2009
Skeptics On Smart Grid
Here's a link that will take you to the online issue of the magazine, page 10. A comment of note:
"It is a question . . . of whether the advanced meter initiatives are the most cost-effective way [to save energy] We have proven methods already. What more does it achieve for us to do advanced meters?"
31 Dec, 2009
Making Lemonade
CE Pro magazine offered a fine example of that: Simply Home Cinemas (a professional installer of consumer electronics) --
will pull out a customer's rightful A/V property, including home theater
seating, screens, projectors, equipment racks and other gear that
legally belongs to the original homeowner.
SHC stores the gear until a new homeowner moves in, at which point SHC attempts to sell the equipment at bargain prices (about 40 percent off retail) and install it at standard labor rates.
SHC stores the gear until a new homeowner moves in, at which point SHC attempts to sell the equipment at bargain prices (about 40 percent off retail) and install it at standard labor rates.
Story here.
28 Dec, 2009
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs
Feature.
24 Dec, 2009
Productivity & Distributors
Why is the workforce growing older?
1 - the older electricians are not going to be able to retire precisely when they would like, thanks to the current economic situation.
2 - electrical contractors are not training enough apprentices to become journeymen right now.
That link above goes to the final column of several, which includes links to the previous pieces posted by TEDMAG and to other interesting stuff (some of it written by me, Joe Salimando, going back to the year 2001) on the subject of productivity.
21 Dec, 2009
Construction in Houston
Here's a part of what Don Short posted on 12/7, on the state of construction in Texas:
There is a stark contrast in medical projects in the area. One project, east of Houston near Katy, has ongoing construction for a larger sized facility. The other, south of Houston near Clear Lake, is partially built with construction suspended at this time.
The greater Houston area has many empty offices, flex office/warehouse space, and other commercial buildings bordering their loop roads. There is some commercial construction in spite of all the vacancies. Construction equipment rental companies have plenty of equipment inventory available for rent on their lots. Not a good sign.
The lack of private projects has made an impact upon engineering firms in the area. Some offices have cut down staff levels by seventy-five percent with the remaining staff wondering when the next project will come in the door. Others have cut out the third party consultants and reduced working hours along with pay. The steps they are taking are very similar to those being undertaken by the construction firms.
21 Dec, 2009
Compressed Air
Energy storage is gonna be HUGE. Reason: Solar and wind aren't "unreliable" -- they just don't produce relentlessly or on a you-can-bet-on-it schedule. If a given utility or state (or country) is going to go with a lot of solar/wind/etc., it needs energy storage . . . in heavy amounts . . . both to store the energy generated when we don't need it (i.e., when the wind blows at night) and also to make up for the times when power isn't available when we DO need it (i.e., the sun doesn't shine at night).
Release.
17 Dec, 2009
Faculty Member + Contractor
12 Dec, 2009
Does an electrical charge have weight?
12 Dec, 2009
Dumb Things Smart People Do . . .
1. Replace the original fuse with a cheaper one.
4. Grab the cheapest DMM on the rack.
8. Keep both hands on the test.
10. Hang onto your old test tool forever.
4. Grab the cheapest DMM on the rack.
8. Keep both hands on the test.
10. Hang onto your old test tool forever.
It's a list put together by the editors at Plant Engineering.
12 Dec, 2009
Retired After 49 Years
Yes, as you already have imagined -- he was an electrician. He retired in November at the age of 66. The piece isn't online.
04 Dec, 2009
EcoBuild - Next Week In D.C.
-----------------------------------
As you can see, there's a banner ad at right for EcoBuild. It's been there in previous years.
Well, this year the folks who run that event (which I plan to attend, by the way -- it's in my hometown!) asked if we could go one step beyond. Look below, and you'll see the deal they are offering - to YOU!
Take advantage of this! Go to www.aecEcobuild.com and enter the EleBlog code -- ELBF9EKC. Read on!
------------------------------------
Ecobuild America, which is sponsored by the National Institute of
Building Sciences, educates design and construction professionals and students on
how to improve our built environment. This unique conference and exhibit, not
only introduces new strategies and materials to create high performance,
sustainable structures, but also the technology to do it faster and more
profitably. The conference and show will be held at the Washington Convention
Center in DC, December 7-10, 2009.
This is the most comprehensive event
of the year for everyone who plans, designs, constructs, owns and operates
buildings and infrastructure in the built environment ... commercial,
residential, and Government.
If you haven't registered yet, please use the special ELEBlog code – ELBF9EKC -- to get a FREE
exhibit and keynote pass. Here’s what else you can look forward to in the 2-day
exhibit, Dec. 9-10:
…the products, services, and technology you need to build it faster, better,
and under budget!
§
BIM & Information Technology
§
Building Performance & Energy
Efficiency
§
Green Building, LEED &
Sustainable Design
§
Practice & Business Management
§
Sustainable Sites &
Infrastructure
…special Exhibit
Pavilions and Theaters with FREE
educational sessions:
§
NEW! IP/Intelligent Buildings
Pavilion and Theater
- NEW! The AEC Interoperability Center,
sponsored by buildingSMART™ alliance
- Bookstore with Hot Titles
- NEW! The BIM Aquarium The Eco Aquarium
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) Pavilion,
sponsored by buildingSMART™ alliance
- BIMStorm – LIVE,
sponsored by Onuma
- Green Mechanical / High Performance Buildings Pavilion
and Theater
- IP/Intelligent Buildings Pavilion and Theater
- Job Fair
- Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Pavilion and Theater
- SG Blocks Show House
- Smart and Sustainable Theater
- Special show discounts, new product debuts, software
test drives, FREE mini-training sessions and more!
For complete event information: visit www.aecEcobuild.com.
We look forward to seeing you at Ecobuild America!
04 Dec, 2009
Snubbers
04 Dec, 2009
2010 House - Top 10 Products
Better Light Fixtures
There are a handful of areas where it can be painfully obvious that the builder took the cheap way out. Inferior lighting is one of them. Here are a few tips: Don’t try to get too fancy. Don’t get brass. Do go for something simple and elegant, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. If money is an issue, focus on a living space that everyone sees, such as the dining room/kitchen or great room. Keep in mind that low-cost and cheap aren’t the same things. You can often find a nice simple light for just a few dollars more than your original choice and get a priceless "wow" factor in the process.
Dimmers
Say you haven’t bought into the energy efficiency hype of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and your pockets aren’t deep enough for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For you, incandescent is the one true light. Fair enough, but at least install a few dimmers so your buyers can save some bucks by lowering the intensity of the light output as needed. Dimmers allow homeowners to save energy, extend the life of light bulbs, and gain more lighting flexibility in their home. Again, think strategically and install dimmers just in the kitchen, living room, and maybe the dining room if margins are tight.
There are a handful of areas where it can be painfully obvious that the builder took the cheap way out. Inferior lighting is one of them. Here are a few tips: Don’t try to get too fancy. Don’t get brass. Do go for something simple and elegant, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. If money is an issue, focus on a living space that everyone sees, such as the dining room/kitchen or great room. Keep in mind that low-cost and cheap aren’t the same things. You can often find a nice simple light for just a few dollars more than your original choice and get a priceless "wow" factor in the process.
Dimmers
Say you haven’t bought into the energy efficiency hype of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and your pockets aren’t deep enough for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For you, incandescent is the one true light. Fair enough, but at least install a few dimmers so your buyers can save some bucks by lowering the intensity of the light output as needed. Dimmers allow homeowners to save energy, extend the life of light bulbs, and gain more lighting flexibility in their home. Again, think strategically and install dimmers just in the kitchen, living room, and maybe the dining room if margins are tight.
Better this than nothing -- but only marginally, doncha think?
02 Dec, 2009
Use lAbandoned Phone #s
. . . that's when I sit down and talk to myself. So if you see me, and I'm mumbling, it's NOT into a cell phone.
Most recently, this came upon me after reading: Use abandoned phone numbers to boost remodeling business.
If you're a contractor of ANY kind -- forget the remodeling piece of that headline -- you NEED to read this.
29 Nov, 2009
"The Best Industry"
1. The industry is not going away.
2. The industry rewards hard work.
3. The industry is merit-based.
. . . from Matt Stevens, who has a blog.
27 Nov, 2009
China's Costs
I came across an interesting factolito on China the other day, while cleaning up some files. It came from an article in Monthly Labor Review, which is a U.S. Department of Labor publication. Headline "China's manufacturing employment and compensation costs: 2002-06."
Here's the key sentence, for me:
[in 2006] . . . the average hourly compensation costs of China's 112 million manufacturing employees were $0.81.
That's right:
a. There were 112M people doing manufacturing in China in 2006.
b. They were paid an average of 81 cents per hour.
27 Nov, 2009
Expanded Training Center
11 Nov, 2009
James Craft & Son
From Bill Craft, vp of service (and the 4th generation in the biz):
Why it's successful: We consider ourselves to have very sound financial
management. When there's downturns like this we feel it's important to
be very proactive in the changes that we need to make. We don't like
having to cut jobs and cut expenses and those sorts of things, but
that's ultimately what we have to do. (In this recession) we saw the
signs early and we began making the adjustments immediately and we kind
of made them in stages.
10 Nov, 2009
In-Depth Screw Clamp Blog
It's a relatively short post (in words) -- accompanied by 11 illustrations. If you're into this stuff, you might find it incredibly interesting.
For me, it -- once again -- shows why the Internet is going to kill print publications. Something this detailed (and illustrated) on a subject like this woulid be "edited down" to a smaller size (for printing) by a print magazine editor.
10 Nov, 2009
Energy Harvesting -- More
Self-Powered Wireless Keycard Switch Unlocks Hotel Energy Savings.
EnOcean offers "energy harvesting" technology -- no wires needed, no electricity supply needed. It's amazing. The release above was emitted on 10/28/09.
But wait: In looking for the release online, I came across stuff EnOcean was talking about 18 months ago. For example: This article (on the same subject) posted to Automated Buildings back in 3/08.
10 Nov, 2009
Electricity's Price -- Going Up!
-- embedded deep in a New York Times article about The Smart Grid and the "test" of the technologies in Boulder, Colo.
03 Nov, 2009
Microgrids
Pike Research has a research survey out claiming that Microgrids are going to go bananas in the next 5+ years. You have to pay to see it; what little it will share for free can be found here.
Microgrids are being driven in part by the broader
push to create a Smart Grid that will add intelligence and automation
to the electricity infrastructure while facilitating the integration of
renewable energy resources, electric vehicles, and greater customer
control over energy consumption. In part, however, the microgrid is an
alternative vision to a highly integrated “Super Grid” — microgrid
proponents are advocating deployments where a community, corporation,
or institutional entity can operate autonomously from the larger grid
infrastructure.
Pike Research forecasts that over 3 GW of new microgrid capacity will come on line globally by 2015, representing a cumulative investment of $7.8 billion. North America will be the largest market for microgrids during that period, capturing 74% of total industry capacity. In North America, the largest category will be instutional microgrids, followed by commercial/industrial and community grids. In other regions, however, the story is different and we expect community microgrids to be the largest category in Europe and Asia Pacific.
BASICS? See this article (many years old) from a DoE national lab.
15 Oct, 2009
EVs and Fuel Economy
An article from the National Renewable Energy Lab tackles the issue:
In an effort to objectively predict on-road energy use of a PHEV, NREL
developed a method to adjust the standard test cycle results from each
mode of PHEV operation. The adjusted values are then combined into a
single fuel economy prediction.
NREL has applied this technique to its PHEV analysis for several years, but until recently has not been able to validate it against data on a large number of PHEVs operating on the road. Partnering with two other DOE laboratories provided that opportunity.
NREL has applied this technique to its PHEV analysis for several years, but until recently has not been able to validate it against data on a large number of PHEVs operating on the road. Partnering with two other DOE laboratories provided that opportunity.
06 Oct, 2009
Wacky Jobsite Stories
There are a number of truly astounding stories on the 2 web pages that piece occupies. Here's my favorite, from Long Island, N.Y. --
While installing a Crestron system in a client’s new home, I was asked
to test a TV that wasn’t working in a different part of the house. As I
was led to that room by the house manager, he told me to be very quiet
while in the room because the client’s dog was having a psychic reading
in there.
I was told that the dog was not acting like himself for the past few weeks, so the client felt it may be the new surroundings and there may have been another dog living in the house previously.
They were trying to channel the old dog’s spirit by having the new dog speak to him through a psychic. Here is a visual for you: picture a woman in a robe standing with the new dog’s paws in her hands and she is making the dog howl to try and channel the spirits of the old dog.
I had to leave because I thought I was on a hidden camera.
06 Oct, 2009
Contractors & The Collapse
I thought AMM was a great publication. I haven't seen it since the 1980s, so I don't know if it has sustained that quality. But I recently came across an article from AMM monthly (August issue) -- "Contractors are caught in the aftershock of the collapse."
It's about Electrical Contractors. I looked online, and you can get the first few lines (and then a chance to pay to see the rest).
NOT aiming to violate copyright laws here, let me give you what I can give you:
From Dan O'Brien, president, Current Electrical Construction (Portland, Ore): "I think there is still some pent-up demand out there, but until money starts flowing again, we will have some serious issues." O'Brien said stuff that was in the planning stages got canceled.
From Terry Cole, president, Hamer Electric (Longview, Mich.): "There are businesses that want ot build but can't because they can't get credit."
From Thomas Anderson, EVP at Bergelectric (Escondido, Calif.): "We are finishing up some projects that were begun or planned before 2007, but we are seeing very few new projects being started up, and a numbger of projects that have already begun [are] now being canceled."
Add Cole: "There used to be four to six bids for each job. Now we see 14 to 20."
Actually, I've heard a lot of that. I recently heard about an EC who went to pick up bid documents and, upon finding out he was #60 (the 60th EC to pick up docs for this project), left them where they were.
04 Oct, 2009
GE + The Smart Grid
04 Oct, 2009
The Smart Grid
1. I posted 3 daily blogs and one summary blog on the thing on TEDMAG.com.
DAY ONE = I only covered the keynote speech by Energy Secretary Stephen Chu.
DAY TWO = various items, including what's going on in Austin (Texas) and California.
DAY THREE = the dogs won't eat the dog food; who's on which side of the meter?
FINALE = various thoughts; various links of use; energy storage.
02 Oct, 2009
Offsite Backups -- From Stan Shook
Hard drives, which, in a serious fire or
flood or tornado (for you mid-westerners) or earthquake can be
irreparably damaged. And that TAPE BACK-UP you have... well, maybe
someone remembered to take it home or put it into the fire safe, but it
might not have everything from every employee's computer on it.
Speaking of the TAPE BACKUP... when was the last time you and your office managers sat down and really discussed what was being backed up and what should be? What sort of back-up plan/system does your company actually have and how well is it enforced? (what about your own personal files at home?)
Speaking of the TAPE BACKUP... when was the last time you and your office managers sat down and really discussed what was being backed up and what should be? What sort of back-up plan/system does your company actually have and how well is it enforced? (what about your own personal files at home?)
28 Sep, 2009
Aluminum Remains An Issue
Example: I might assume that "everyone" knows about aluminum wiring in older homes. But a local (California) newspaper columnist got a question recently about aluminum wiring which reveals (in the question) that at least one older electrician might not be as familiar with aluminum-wiring issues as . . . well, as I assume everyone in the electrical industry already is.
21 Sep, 2009
General Impressions of NECA Show
1 -- NECA's members turned out in bigger numbers for Seattle 2009 than they did for Seattle 2000. I'm not sure why, but here are some ideas.
a. 2000 was a boom year in construction (as was 2001). There was a lot to do. They stayed home.
b. Seattle 2000 was a new venue for The NECA Show. When in doubt, folks don't get on airplanes. NOW, they've heard (from the folks who went) that it was a pretty good convention city.
c. 2009 is NOT a boom year in construction. There's less to do. They came.
d. Seattle is a cheaper convention city than a lot of other cities (i.e., Chicago). With times tough, the idea of Seattle presented a lower level of resistance in the minds of contractors.
e. A lot of business owners don't want to go on "junkets" when they are laying people off (when times are tough, stay home). But Seattle does NOT seem like a junket city.
b. Seattle 2000 was a new venue for The NECA Show. When in doubt, folks don't get on airplanes. NOW, they've heard (from the folks who went) that it was a pretty good convention city.
c. 2009 is NOT a boom year in construction. There's less to do. They came.
d. Seattle is a cheaper convention city than a lot of other cities (i.e., Chicago). With times tough, the idea of Seattle presented a lower level of resistance in the minds of contractors.
e. A lot of business owners don't want to go on "junkets" when they are laying people off (when times are tough, stay home). But Seattle does NOT seem like a junket city.
That's it. I can't figure it out otherwise.
2 -- NECA contractors seemed in a pretty good mood for much of the show; I saw this for myself, and I heard it from others. Why? Remember that NECA's members are contractors who employ UNION electricians. They are in the best position to bid on, get, and perform work for the federal government and state/local governments (thanks to Davis-Bacon laws). And what's the only booming sector right now, in the U.S. economy? GOVERNMENT.
3 -- As noted in one of the blog entries on TEDMAG, there was a lot of green at this event. Folks are starting to understand that green is BIG for people in the electrical sector, and it's going to be bigger. In fact, as the result of listening to a number of greenish presentations, I came to the conclusion that -- perhaps -- the electrical construction sector (and maybe the mechanical/HVAC contractors, too) will be exempt from the 2-3-5 years of horrid construction volumes that are probably coming at us.
4 -- There were a lot of exhibitors. Notably, some of the larger companies took smaller booths for this show. But according to a reliable source, some of them have already corrected that error for the Chicago show (2010) -- enlarging their booths from this year to next. The fact is, the amount of $ charged by NECA (or any other show sponsor) for each 10x10 booth space is NOT the major cost of exhibiting. I think it's on the order of $3,000 for a 10x10 (or thereabouts) -- so to go from a 10 x 20 to a 30 x 30 is to go from about $6K to about $18K. That's not a big upshift in investment to reach big electrical contractors who are thriving in government and looking to grow in green.
No, the big costs are: (a) putting stuff in the booth; (b) on-site costs at the convention center (labor, renting equipment); (c) flying your people in to staff the booth; and (d) feeding and entertaining your people and guests at the show. If you take a bigger booth,these costs go up much more than $12K. However, it might be worth it. See this 2001 column -- it's very long -- that I wrote about trade shows, accessible via the Wayback Machine. I re-read it recently; 8 years later, I still can't disagree with me!
5 -- I like to wander trade shows -- just walk around with a destination or attention to the time -- and watch people talk to each other. What I see is IDEAS being exchanged. An electrical product isn't a product to a contractor, it's a piece of his armament . . . something that the contractor can use to better satisfy a customer. That goes even more for a tool or piece of equipment the contractor's workforce can use on a job -- it's not a tool, it's a way to get the workers to be more productive with less physical stress. The attendees who walk thru such an event and have their thinking caps on go home with a head full of ideas. I think this applies not just to the NECA Show, but to any trade show or conference. That's why I plan to attend a one-day event on social media -- for writers -- in the next few weeks.
I'm precisely the same as the contractors attending NECA -- a guy who needs to expose himself to ideas in order to, maybe, make more money or at least better serve my customers. I believe my understanding on this issue is perfect!
21 Sep, 2009
TEDMAG Posts from NECA
1 -- energy audits, NECA's social networking, Graybar on data centers, Gexpro on Green, and a brief personal note. HERE.
2 -- HERE. Some pictures. Green presentations, general. Green Advantage (???). Energy roadmap (Tom Glavinich). Solar (and training).
3 -- Short Day 3 of the event -- Solar-in-a-Box, tips on social networking for contractors, best new product for distributors, Diogen & Diogenes. Plus, the best (in my opinion) for last -- productivity ideas form Legrand.
4 -- WRAP-UP -- more photos (from a lousy photographer, me).
30 Jul, 2009
On My Other Blog . . .
I'm excited by the challenge. What's that? The idea of doing a blog over here (on electrical contracting) and a blog over there (for electrical distributors).
While the blog software/formatting isn't yet set-up on the site, the first "blog version" posted earlier this week. I'm pretty happy with it, but then, I wrote it. Maybe you'll like it? There's data on electrical contractor employment, electrical distributor employment, and the U-6 unemployment rate (which is going up, now nearly 17%).
Please take a look!
(More)
30 Jul, 2009
Selective Coordination
As Littelfuse makes fuses, the article as written is . . . well, about - fuses!
28 Jul, 2009
COMPLEX: U.K. Electrician Search
Type 'electrician' into the national database of qualifications and you'll get a list of 84 accredited qualifications. These are offered by 11 different awarding bodies, in turn drawing from 292 different occupational standards under the heading of 'electrical trades'. These standards have been developed by 13 different standard-setting bodies or Sector Skills Councils.
So far, so traceable. But then we turn to funding, inspection and auditing; a conservative estimate is of a further 30 organisations involved here. In total, this means potentially more than 50 different bodies to design, fund, assure and develop the competent changing of a light bulb.
So far, so traceable. But then we turn to funding, inspection and auditing; a conservative estimate is of a further 30 organisations involved here. In total, this means potentially more than 50 different bodies to design, fund, assure and develop the competent changing of a light bulb.
25 Jun, 2009
What They Say -- It's True!
But see this item on BuildingOnline.com. McGraw-Hill Construction, which is certainly one of the strong (if not THE strongest), is said to be starting a new 6x publication, SNAP (Sweets News and Products).
That's what real capitalists do. They wait for the bottom and they start a business; when the economic tide comes in (and it will, eventually, even if this IS a Depression!!!) -- their boats float and the cash comes rolling in. Same thing with the stock market: Pretty soon, the S&P 500 will crash from the 900 level . . . perhaps back down to 666, perhaps below that . . . and savvy people will start cherry-picking the cheap stocks that will make them money in the 2012-15 period.
But to DO that, beyond being very smart -- you have got to have money!
23 Jun, 2009
Electric Vehicles
A new Senate bill would provide up to $30 billion for factories to
retool their operations to meet demand for clean tech products,
including components for hybrid and electric vehicles.
On the same subject: There's an EV show coming up in August in Long Beach, Calif. -- Plug In 2009.
23 Jun, 2009
Arc Flash - Code Issues
5 misconceptions about compliance
NFPA 70E urges industry to turn it off or put it on.
5 considations for choosing an arc flash hazard analysis.
NFPA 70E urges industry to turn it off or put it on.
5 considations for choosing an arc flash hazard analysis.
21 Jun, 2009
Spec'ing Panelboards - Changes
It didn't take long to confirm that our manufacturing brethren have
noticed the change. They already have the products waiting for us,
sometimes still listed under “lighting and appliance panelboards.” To
the manufacturers' credit, there already has been a great deal of
research and white papers addressing any potential thermal issues that
might be caused by 84 overcurrent protective devices in the same
enclosure.
The new panels are the traditional 20 in. wide x 5.75 in. deep tubs; however, we must now plan for a 62 in. high tub (84 circuit panelboards equipped with a main circuit breaker).
The new panels are the traditional 20 in. wide x 5.75 in. deep tubs; however, we must now plan for a 62 in. high tub (84 circuit panelboards equipped with a main circuit breaker).
17 Jun, 2009
For Canadians -- Blackout Tracker
08 Jun, 2009
92 Congresspeople At JATCs
I'm not sure if that includes Senators or not. If it does, it's 92 out of 535, which is a pretty good result. If it's just counting people from the House of Representatives, it's 92 out of 435.
Now, I know, I know -- NECA-IBEW is union. I work for NECA-IBEW. This whole thing is awful, I'm prejudiced, blahblahblah.
That's not the point here. It's good for the elected folks (in Washington or anywhere else) to get out and rub shoulders with people in the electrical construction industry. This is a good thing for the country, as well as a good thing for the industry.
04 Jun, 2009
Contractor Reports
Answer: It's not so bad right this minute, but when we look ahead to the summer (July-Aug and beyond) . . . it really sucks.
Among other things:
-- layoffs coming
-- 15 to 20 bidders on jobs where not too long ago there were 3 to 5
-- "everybody's bidding below cost to get work" (to keep the core crew members busy)
-- "we are developing budget numbers for some people" -- which means there ARE projects in the design process, but -- if they get off the boards and into ground-breaking -- those are months and months away from generating significant electrical work.
I don't know how long this lasts, but I suspect it's going to be a while; and it's going to really suck.
04 Jun, 2009
AGC Meets With Bigwigs
04 Jun, 2009
Association Shut-Down
I'm aware of other orgs where folks are having a "rolling" furlough -- everyone gets to take a week "off" (unpaid) . . . but not at the same time. This is wild!
01 Jun, 2009
Coulomb Technologies . . . EVs
In the U.S., there are 247 million cars but only 53 million garages. In San Francisco, for examples, 51% of cars are parked outside at night.
Coulomb provides charging stations that go curbside in condominiums, apartments, public lots, at the workplace, or anywhere consumers park.
Our stations are unique because they include Smart Grid integration and a billing system that provides money to pay for all recurring costs. We have the capability to build charging infrastructure to enable rapid growth of the electric vehicle market.
Coulomb provides charging stations that go curbside in condominiums, apartments, public lots, at the workplace, or anywhere consumers park.
Our stations are unique because they include Smart Grid integration and a billing system that provides money to pay for all recurring costs. We have the capability to build charging infrastructure to enable rapid growth of the electric vehicle market.
Find the company here.
[If you're like me, the name "Coulomb" rings some sort of bell. I went to Wikipedia -- here's a profile of the man and here's a read-out on the unit of electrical measurement!
01 May, 2009
Safety + The Calendar . . . !!
But: Did you also know that May 3-9 is Building Safety Week . . . ?
01 May, 2009
Found: New Blog
Two recent posts were on his first-ever visit (and speaking appearances) at the User's Conference of McCormick Systems, a sponsor of this site (and client of the EleBlog's owner as well). See the 4/23 and 4/28 posts.
25 Apr, 2009
EERE Weekly Newsletter
Here are the contents of the 4/22 edition --
Greenhouse Gas rulin from EPA
High-speed rail from Obama Admin.
Fuel cells get $41.9M in funding.
Plug-in hybrid school buses get $10M
DoE's plans to invest nearly $4B in Smart Grid
Utility green power sales up 20% in '08
+
EIA projects faster clean energy growth
High-speed rail from Obama Admin.
Fuel cells get $41.9M in funding.
Plug-in hybrid school buses get $10M
DoE's plans to invest nearly $4B in Smart Grid
Utility green power sales up 20% in '08
+
EIA projects faster clean energy growth
That's a wowser of an issue! I know, because I read this thing religiously. To subscribe (e-mail sub, FREE) go here. To access the achieves (back issues posted back to 1999!!!) -- here.
23 Apr, 2009
Common Installation Deficiencies
In case you forget, there is ALWAYS a link to Mike's site right here, at right.
A recent post was on the state of NH's "common installation deficiencies" list. It's online here.
. . . we are talking, of course, about ELECTRICAL installation problems. According to the post, it's a 14-page list!
21 Apr, 2009
Automation & Facebook
designed to share information, insights, and opinions on the topic of
industrial automation and control in the discrete and process
manufacturing sectors, featuring news and articles from Control
Engineering.
14 Apr, 2009
3,858 Stores May Close
14 Apr, 2009
More Bad News On Magazines
According to the item linked, "a group of lenders may assume ownership" of the magazine group.
14 Apr, 2009
Smart Grid 'Score Card'
Most recently (3/2), the thing included 13 articles, classified by vendor/product, product type, primary/secondary market, and "Score." One article got a 90 (out of 100). The one with the most interesting title (Does your power system always have a pulse?) got a 76.
All of the articles are linked.
10 Apr, 2009
Reporting From NFM+T Event
EPAct & Green Purchasing (two subjects, unrelated)
Bad Stuff About LEED
Total Lighting Management, plus "bits & pieces"
10 Apr, 2009
Energy Drainers In A Home
"The TV . . . represented a stunning 8% of residential electricity consumption in the U.S. in 2007, nearly doubling in just three years."
"U.S. households spend about $100 a year on . . . vampire power." That's the power that stays "on" when you think you've turned something "off."
"You would have to do 44,000 Google searchers to equal the carbon emissions from burning just 1 gallon of gasoline."
"U.S. households spend about $100 a year on . . . vampire power." That's the power that stays "on" when you think you've turned something "off."
"You would have to do 44,000 Google searchers to equal the carbon emissions from burning just 1 gallon of gasoline."
10 Apr, 2009
Bad SW Job
Note that there is no magazine that would run the story the other way (an integrator screwing up, an electrical contractor saving the home builder's bacon) . . . not one.
08 Apr, 2009
Green Issue Canceled
08 Apr, 2009
More Magazine Problems
31 Mar, 2009
Thermal Imaging
29 Mar, 2009
E-J Gets Into 'Energy'
I have the press release in front of me. It says:
"E-J Energy Services is providing cost-cutting solutions, many at no cost to the client, using reliable and sustainable methods."
29 Mar, 2009
Wireless Electricity - 12/08 Update
Grier Graham, vice president of product development, said the company
can use a laser to generate about 1.5 watts of power to a solar cell as
far away as 10 meters. That’s enough to power an electronic speaker or
small low-wattage light-emitting diode (LED) lights. It can also charge
the battery in a digital picture frame.
But it’s not enough to operate a laptop (which requires maybe 30 watts to 50 watts).
But it’s not enough to operate a laptop (which requires maybe 30 watts to 50 watts).
23 Mar, 2009
Insurance & Transformer Maintenance
1. A business owner may assume the power transformer(s) on his/her/its site is the responsibility of the utility company. NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
2. It may be assumed that when the transformer goes bad, insurance will cover it. This might NOT be the case, if you've completely disregarded maintenance.
21 Mar, 2009
Retail Electricity Shut-Offs
many retailers don't think to call providers ahead of time to schedule
a service shut-off. Often, that's left to the last minute—when staff is
in its last day of occupancy.
But utilities companies usually have a waiting list of up to five days for service cancellations and they will continue to charge retailers even if the sites have already been vacated.
Another common mistake is failing to review bills. Once a chain leaves a particular location, it should make sure it’s not being charged for extra days of service.
If this strikes you as "basic blocking and tackling," well -- it is!!! But just read the article linked above. A lot of stuff "falls through the cracks" -- and much of it goes out the door with dollar signs attached. (More)
But utilities companies usually have a waiting list of up to five days for service cancellations and they will continue to charge retailers even if the sites have already been vacated.
Another common mistake is failing to review bills. Once a chain leaves a particular location, it should make sure it’s not being charged for extra days of service.
18 Mar, 2009
Trade Magazines In Decline
Yes, yes, people don't read print anymore, they get their news on the Internet. Sure. But who the heck is going to WRITE the news, if not trained journalists?
Yes, yes, there are blogs. But damn few bloggers are good at what they do. And they get things wrong. The huge brouhaha over Dan Rather, in 2004, for example, was a big noise about almost nothing -- and the bloggers got it WRONG.
- - - - -
Well, in my small corner of the world, trade magazines (my first "true love" in business) are going kerplooey. Stuff that's come to light just since New Year's Day:
LIGHTWAVE -- a magazine in the Fiber Optics business: Going electronic ONLY.
INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION -- going to 6x/year from 12x/year.
CABLING BUSINESS -- going electronic ONLY.
ARCHI-TECH -- a neat magazine. No more printing. Shifting to 52-times-yearly (weekly) electronic version.
- - - - -
In an even smaller corner of the world, ELECTRICAL, there is this:
1. I apologize for this, but I can't remember which -- either Electrical Products & Solutions or Electrical Contracting Business is going to cease print publishing.
2.It's not publishing, but if it happens, it sucks: Rumors are reaching me that Electric West, being held this week in Las Vegas, might not be repeated.
16 Mar, 2009
Wind Turbine Maintenance
05 Mar, 2009
Stimulus Detritus
19 Feb, 2009
More on the Stimulus
19 Feb, 2009
Copper Column
Copper confuses analysts and experts. They knew nothing
about a surge to $4.
Copper’s price peaked, originally, at roughly 1.75x the highest price forecast by anyone, anywhere.
Copper’s price peaked, originally, at roughly 1.75x the highest price forecast by anyone, anywhere.
18 Feb, 2009
Resi Wind -- Rush To Regulate
Officials in Colleyville and Southlake have heard from residents
interested in installing turbines on their property to reduce their
electric bills and carbon footprints. Both cities are now looking at
ways to regulate the structures before they begin transforming
neighborhood landscapes.
According to the article, one town went one way (wind turbines OK), the other banned them.
"You need at least half an acre of land," said Ed Smith, who sells
renewable energy products through his company, SSB Designs, in
Arlington. "The turbines need to be at least 30 feet above the nearest
obstruction within a football field, so you do need a pretty wide-open
area."
18 Feb, 2009
Stimulus Analyses
NECA: While it’s far from perfect, this legislation will aid in the recovery of our industry.
LightNow: Although there is some money for new construction in the stimulus package, existing public buildings–Federal buildings and schools–appear to be the big winners in the bill, particularly projects involving energy efficiency improvements.
TEDGreenRoom: Politics aside, a capital infusion of this magnitude will certainly make a huge impact on countless members of every organization that represents the electrical industry.
LightNow: Although there is some money for new construction in the stimulus package, existing public buildings–Federal buildings and schools–appear to be the big winners in the bill, particularly projects involving energy efficiency improvements.
TEDGreenRoom: Politics aside, a capital infusion of this magnitude will certainly make a huge impact on countless members of every organization that represents the electrical industry.
16 Feb, 2009
Cables For Robots
“Cables are often just an afterthought in work cells. After the
end-of-arm tooling is selected, the programming is done, and safety
mechanisms are installed, the last thought is usually the cabling,”
professes Wayne Murphy, Product Manager at igus East Providence, Rhode
Island.
“Cables are the component that will give the work cell the most trouble, so engineering them later will be more difficult. If cable routing is engineered during the design of the work cell, integrators can plan for them correctly.”
“Cables are the component that will give the work cell the most trouble, so engineering them later will be more difficult. If cable routing is engineered during the design of the work cell, integrators can plan for them correctly.”
13 Feb, 2009
Resi Surge Protection: MYTH?
a service entrance powerline surge protector -- often called a whole-house surge protector -- does not live up to the billing.
Reason: 80% of the surges with which a house must deal originate within the house!
08 Feb, 2009
Reader's Digest & DIY
A link came up (in my "clipping" of the web) to How to install a dimmer switch, on the Reader's Digest site.
Turns out there's more. Off to the right, there are links to "how to hand a ceiling light fixture" and "stripping wire."
08 Feb, 2009
Knob + Tube and Insulation
a. There's no grounding conductor on the knob-and-tube wiring. Get rid of it!
b. Hire a licensed electrician to do the work.
Way to go, ZC!b. Hire a licensed electrician to do the work.
06 Feb, 2009
'Frugal' Energy-Saving Tips
Take shorter showers. Showers account for most of a household's
hot-water use, Luxton says. Baths are even worse. Cutting showers to 10
minutes from 30 minutes could slash water-heating costs by 50%.
06 Feb, 2009
Thought-Based Technologies?
Of interest:
65% of consumers believe some companies overstate their "green" credentials. "Green" is the #1 mega-trend.
#2 is "the evolving human-machine interface." What are we talking about here?
#2 is "the evolving human-machine interface." What are we talking about here?
"Look for multi-touch PC and phone displays, motion-sensing game controllers, voice controls in cars, and yes even thought-based control technologies."
#3 "Connectivity is cultivating a new crop of services and business models consumers can access anytime and anywhere." I read #3 over several times, I can't really discern a trend here, or a major diff from #2.
#4 "(No) strings attached is a dichotomous trend. More devices are cutting the cord and going wireless, while simultaneously more services are being attached to them." Again, I'm really not sure how this is different from #2.
EleBlog take: Two mega trends. We all already knew about Green. Those of us who read science-fiction probably previously read something about "thought-based control" (but of people, not machines!).
30 Jan, 2009
Top 10 Utility Predictions
2. Renewable energy growth will slow in 2009 but rebound in 2010.
The high cost of credit will slow near-term growth of many renewable energy markets (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal, biomass) but the fundamentals of renewable energy will ensure a rebound by 2010.
3. Utilities will place greater emphasis on distributed energy as a grid support tool.
Investor
funding for utility scale energy storage -- especially for automotive
and grid-scale applications -- will markedly increase. Accelerated
deployment of commercial stationary storage applications are expected
to ensue.
30 Jan, 2009
Energy Harvesting: More
BE SURE to read to the end, which talks about a "piezoelectric wireless" lighting switch.
28 Jan, 2009
Technology Trends
Energy Management
Apple in the Home
Wireless HD
Virtual Surround Sound
National Installation Programs
Online Content.
Apple in the Home
Wireless HD
Virtual Surround Sound
National Installation Programs
Online Content.
The piece on Installation programs, though brief, is damn interesting!
23 Jan, 2009
Senior Living Design Trends
1. Optimizing resident privacy and dignity
2. Creating homelike settings
3. Introducing hospitality design concepts
4. Expanding individual choice
5. Using technology to enhance senior living
6. Filling in the continuum
7. Taking the 'R' out of CCRC
8. Expanding urban options
9. Seeking more sustainable environments
10. Capitalizing on globalization
19 Jan, 2009
Ground Rods -- Requirements
Not only is the use of non-conforming material in violation of the NEC,
where it carries a certification mark of a listing agency, its
non-conformance places it in violation of use of that certification.
Situations have been documented where a legitimate certification is being violated with the material being produced at other plants, often in foreign countries, not legitimately certified.
Situations have been documented where a legitimate certification is being violated with the material being produced at other plants, often in foreign countries, not legitimately certified.
15 Jan, 2009
Broan, Eaton + Progress @ IBS
15 Jan, 2009
Coming Soon: Sears Does Installs
Starting this February, Sears will target consumers as part of a huge
online marketing campaign as it hopes to become a conduit for
integrators to fill up their excess unused labor hours.
12 Jan, 2009
Utilities & Home Energy Mgmt
Reasons:
1 -- the marketplace isn't creating energy savings on "the other side of the meter." Customers aren't biting.
2 -- electrical contractors don't have the marketing muscle to create a market for energy-smart installations on the customer side of the meter (including the residential AND commercial markets).
3 -- utilities are getting a BIG PUSH to create energy savings (which is not the business they've been in). A lot of the low-hanging fruit can be found . . . on the other side of the meter!!!
2 -- electrical contractors don't have the marketing muscle to create a market for energy-smart installations on the customer side of the meter (including the residential AND commercial markets).
3 -- utilities are getting a BIG PUSH to create energy savings (which is not the business they've been in). A lot of the low-hanging fruit can be found . . . on the other side of the meter!!!
Another piece of evidence: A 1/7/09 column on the UtiliPoint International website titled Musings on Home Energy Management Systems. The article doesn't precisely "Say" that utilities should get into this business . . . but why else is it posted to the site, by a Utilipoint staffer??? She writes:
Where will the home energy management system reside? What will it
communicate with? How will customers interact with it? Who will sell it
to customers? Why will customers use one? To answer these questions, it
is important to understand how TVs, cellular phones, and computers will
evolve and work together over the next decade.
08 Jan, 2009
Preventing Meter Tampering
06 Jan, 2009
Home Theaters: Cabling + Conduit
Many people do the wiring for a home theater installation by first
running a lot of conduit in walls, and then pulling cable in as needed.
As often as not, this turns out rather badly.
It’s easy to
underestimate the size of conduit required, and we have had countless
calls from people who suddenly, at the peak of their installation work,
need to pull a large amount of cable through an undersized conduit.
If you’re going to use conduit, we recommend installing the largest conduit your wall cavity will accommodate; 3/4 inch conduit will give you lots of grief unless your cabling needs are exceedingly modest.
The best use of conduit in most home theater installations is as a
future-proofing device rather than as a primary means of installing
cable.
Rather than installing cable in conduit, consider installing cable and conduit. As long as you have access to the space where the conduit will go, it’s generally easier to install the cable alongside, and the conduit then provides some assurance that, in the event that you need to run new types, or duplicate runs, of cable, you’ll have a convenient way to get them in.
That section is followed by tips "to make life easier" if you're going to run conduit for a home theater and pull cable through it.05 Jan, 2009
China Power Plant Openings
"Goldman Sachs power analyst Franklin Chow predicts that 40 gigawatts of new capacity will come online in China in 2009, less than half the net addition of 90 GW in 2007."
Also of note: "November electricity output plummeted 9.6% from the year-earlier level, to its lowest figure in a decade, as the global economic slowdown was increasingly felt by Chinese industry."
EleBlog take:
1. The 11/08 power consumption decline kind of puts the finishing touch on the idea (expressed months ago by economists and others) that the Chinese economy -- and other emerging markets/countries -- were "disconnected" from the economic fate of the U.S. and the Western world. I didn't know it at the time (not for sure), but it was Bunk.
2. If China will build power plants with half the power-producing capacity in 2009 compared with 2007, that's got to be good for global warming. China builds a lot of coal burners, and (from what I've read), the plants are being built so fast and with such rotten old technology that they are especially awful polluters (that is to say, they produce a lot more pollution per watt of power generated than modern coal-burners in the West).
3. Along with that, less power-plant building means reduced Chinese consumption of copper, doesn't it?
31 Dec, 2008
Car As Emergency Generator
24 Dec, 2008
Retail Bail-Out, Too
What's interesting, of course, is that there is NO NATIONAL SALES TAX. The retailers are asking Obama to tell the states to implement these "holidays."
It does get worse and worse, doesn't it?
21 Dec, 2008
Elephant Joke (Switchgear!)
....that's the lead from a relatively mundane story, Procedures for Inspecting Switchgear, on the site of the Intl. Assn. of Electrical Inspectors.
21 Dec, 2008
GFCIs & Exterior Installs
16 Dec, 2008
LNG Conventional Knowledge
Here is the conventional knowledge, as expressed (here) in an article in the Sept/Oct issue of ENERGYBIZ magazine. The interviewee is Thomas F. Farrell II, the guy who runs Dominion Energy - which happens to be my local utility here in VA.
Q: Are we putting too much reliance on gas? Coal plants are getting cancelled left and right. Do we have the gas to make up for that?
A: I don’t believe we do. And I don’t think we have the gas infrastructure to deliver it even if we had it. That’s going to make us increasingly reliant on foreign sources of natural gas, which is going to tend to drive up the price of gas. It will become more of an international commodity with its price set on the world markets rather than being set domesticall
A: I don’t believe we do. And I don’t think we have the gas infrastructure to deliver it even if we had it. That’s going to make us increasingly reliant on foreign sources of natural gas, which is going to tend to drive up the price of gas. It will become more of an international commodity with its price set on the world markets rather than being set domesticall
The diff: Electric utilities no longer burn crude oil to produce electricity. If coal is going to be a problem (because of pollution it causes), the utes will burn gas. They can't get enough of it, Farrell said -- which leads in the direction of IMPORTS.
14 Dec, 2008
Mechanics Liens Up 86%
12 Dec, 2008
Rebound?
EleBlog take: It feels as if we're time traveling. This headline is from 2013.
08 Dec, 2008
Marketing To ECs
Many people say electrical contractors, or plumbers or HVAC technicians
aren't looking at Internet [during business hours], and that may be
true. But now there are so many vehicles that they have adopted—like
iPods and iPhones, for example—so you can use those for demonstrations.
You can take it out to them or send it to them. Video is hot—anything
we can demonstrate, anything we can communicate visually, quickly,
succinctly, and show it in action. Show me the application; how does it
work?
She's quoted in a brief piece in BtoB magazine.
30 Nov, 2008
Greenwashing: UL Enters Fray
30 Nov, 2008
Retail Blogger On Panic
28 Nov, 2008
Sprinklers In Homes: Code Appeal
28 Nov, 2008
8 Neat 'Best Practices'
Pay Techs for Being on Time
Liberty Bell Alarm & Home Theater was having a problem with its 20
technicians being tardy in the morning and with productivity being down.
The problem is made worse when you have two-man crews and one guy is on time, being paid, waiting for his partner.
Its solution is to pay technicians a $1 per hour bonus for being on time for the daily 7 a.m. meeting and for being out the door with the trucks fully loaded by 7:30 a.m.
This has resulted in productivity being way up.
(More)
The problem is made worse when you have two-man crews and one guy is on time, being paid, waiting for his partner.
Its solution is to pay technicians a $1 per hour bonus for being on time for the daily 7 a.m. meeting and for being out the door with the trucks fully loaded by 7:30 a.m.
This has resulted in productivity being way up.
26 Nov, 2008
Canadian Code News
26 Nov, 2008
Movement On EVs
There's more going on. Here's a DOE write-up of recent stuff.
Also: Another DOE news item (with many embedded links) talks about EVs and hybrids at the L.A. Auto Show.
26 Nov, 2008
Construction Rebound?
The construction industry, beset by one of the biggest drops in employment in the current economic downturn, could be poised for a rebound under President-elect Barack Obama's expected stimulus package.
Mr. Obama hasn't offered details, but anticipating a surge in public-works spending, investors bid up construction and engineering stocks URS Corp., a San Francisco-based engineering and construction company, rose 34%, global giant Fluor Corp. rose nearly 17% and Granite Construction Inc., a domestic engineering company, rose 22%.
Steven Fisher, an equity analyst for UBS in New York, said that 11 engineering firms he tracks had lost, on average, two-thirds of their market value this year through Friday as big construction projects were delayed due to state and local budget concerns. But Monday, share prices for that group rose by an average of 16%, far outperforming the broader market.
and thisFrom highways to schools, state and local governments have been
postponing approved construction projects in recent months. Assured
funding would jump-start these projects. The American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials, a group of state and local
government officials, has a list of 3,109 "ready-to-go" highway
projects that could break ground in 30 days to 90 days worth $18.4
billion.
25 Nov, 2008
Coal Ban
In a major win for environmentalists, the U.S. EPA's Environmental
Appeals Board handed down a landmark decision on Thursday that
essentially puts a freeze on the construction of as many as 100 new
coal-fired power plants around the U.S.
Certainly, this is NOT an unmixed blessing. I count myself as a tree-hugger, so I feel like celebrating this move. On the other hand, I've done enough reading to feel that I know that we're going to need MORE power plants, and coal's cheap . . . so there's another feeling stimulated by this, and it adds to the gloom one might feel right now about the nation's future prospects.
20 Nov, 2008
Automation & Electronics
M2M and A&E signed a deal that will see the contractor supply hardware to M2M "used for the monitoring and management of remote assets." A&E also will do installation and integration.
Note: M2M means "machine to machine." M2M is one of the next BIG THINGS -- see M2M magazine (which has nothing to do with the company referenced above).
20 Nov, 2008
Kill Watts @ Lunch!!!
19 Nov, 2008
GE Wind Delivery Delays
``We haven't seen any cancellations but we have had discussions with some customers on the financial situation,'' said Steve Bolze, who runs GE's power and water unit, in a telephone interview today from Belfort, France. ``Some are looking for delays in delivery because there may be some uncertainty about renewable energy incentives or questions about how they will get financing for projects.''
That's from a Bloomberg news item (today).
18 Nov, 2008
Where Do The Cables Go?
17 Nov, 2008
Group Promotes DC Power
14 Nov, 2008
100 Years
Today, Kelso-Burnett has four offices in the Chicago metro and 400+ employees. According to the story, there is an ESOP, with 65 employee owners in possession of 79% of the company.
07 Nov, 2008
Rifkin Speaks
I regretted coming in late. I missed all kinds of context. What I heard was interesting, but it was like watching the last five pitches of an 11-8 baseball game!
Fortunately, the GridWeek sponsors have posted a 17-page white paper by the way, "Leading The Way To The Third Industrial Revolution and a New Distributed Social Vision for the World in the 21st Century."
Yeah, it's a long title, and 17 pages isn't a brief! I've had this in my reading pile, and haven't gotten to it. So -- here it is, untarnished by an EleBlog take. I don't necessarily agree with Rifkin on everything (I've heard him speak and read his stuff b4) -- but -- he's got a brain between his ears, and it's going to be worth reading what he had to say on this subject, and thinking about it.
07 Nov, 2008
Did U Know About Juneau?
. . . electricity customers suddenly faced a 500 percent
rate increase. That got their attention, according to Jason McLennan,
CEO of the Cascadia Region Green Building Council.
“It was a big social experiment in change,” said McLennan, who spoke last week at the Northwest Construction Consumer Council’s annual conference in Seattle. “People began turning off lights and unplugging items such as TV’s when not in use. They began looking at how to use energy differently.”
As the cost of electricity rose in Juneau, so did sales of clothespins and compact fluorescent bulbs. The Juneau “experiment” shows that people can quickly change behavior, especially when there is an economic incentive.
The bulk of the article is about "building greener," by the way.07 Nov, 2008
Conference Room Considerations
His August NL included these "Ten factors critical to conference room design" -- lots of ELECTRICAL/DATACOM stuff to think about here:
1. Large electrical floor boxes to accommodate both data and audiovisual connectivity
2. Conduit sized for HD video, audio and data cabling
3. Millwork designed to allow easy connection of microphones and computers to audiovisual presentation and conferencing systems
4. Enclosures for loudspeakers and projector cabling
5. Proper light for video conferencing
6. Acoustical treatment
7. Isolation from external noise
8. Control of mechanical noise levels
9. Mechanical systems designed to handle additional cooling requirements
10. Space allocated for audiovisual and conferencing equipment cabinets and racks Buildings (May 2008).
JEFF ADDED THIS (i.e., this is NOT from the EleBlog) -- I would like to add a few more key items to consider – drop-down projection screen, flexible dimmer switches for lighting, if interior glass, blinds if privacy is important. One of my clients just installed a very cool (and expensive) system where the conference doors and interior glass turn opaque at the flip of a switch, using some new technology that does something electronic to the molecules in the glass. Also, consider where to locate conference rooms to proximity of main reception (do you want visitors walking through your office space on the way to the meeting?), restrooms and coffee bar or lunchroom (closer is better unless you already have coffee-colored carpeting). Lastly, if you occasionally bring lunch in for conferences is there a set-up area for the caterer or a counter to put out the food?
04 Nov, 2008
Utility Shutoffs
Digital meters allow power companies to do things remotely that previously required sending out work crews. For example, utilities can take meter readings wirelessly and switch a customer's power off or on without having to send a crew to a house. They also can use a "service limiter" feature to cut power flows to a trickle until customers pay up. Utilities are installing millions of these meters across the U.S.
Southern California Edison . . . currently disconnects late-paying customers owing as little as $30, but that could drop lower in the future. That usually would be a money-losing proposition, because it requires a crew to be sent out to disconnect service manually. But the company is in the process of installing 5.3 million digital meters, at a cost of $1.63 billion, which will allow remote, wireless shutoffs, making it economical to take action even for tiny amounts owed. In a recent filing with regulators it said it could adopt "rigid enforcement" of payment rules in the future for those owing less than $30. It hypothesized it could cut off an additional 129,000 people a year.
Lynda Ziegler, senior vice president of customer service at SoCal Edison, said the utility doesn't have enough wireless meters to support a policy change yet. She added that notification requirements mean it still could take nearly three months to sever a delinquent account. But she said the utility may seek authority from the Public Utilities Commission in the future to act more quickly or to convert certain customers to prepaid service because "one of the struggles people have is catching up when they get behind."
I've read a great deal about "the smart grid" and the first fruits of that these days -- automated meters. Here's a side I don't usually get to read much about: Turn-offs can be faster and made on those owing the utility VERY LOW AMOUNTS OF MONEY.Why is this good?
02 Nov, 2008
Electrical Testing - 10 Dumb Things
02 Nov, 2008
System Integration
Service and repair companies have started offering pre-installation as well as post-installation assistance. Software houses, especially programmable logic control (PLC) programmers, are installing hardware, while panel builders are moving into the programming business. Some electrical contractors who have traditionally run the wires and hooked up the electrical equipment specified in the project's design have also begun building the required control panels, too.
Why? The reasons vary, but most relate to better serving a client's needs or providing more competitive pricing. Most distributors and panel builders have engineers on staff anyway, so with some additional training and specialized equipment, it's relatively easy to get into the system integration business for clients who want to outsource their automation projects to a single company.
Conversely, traditional system integrators have typically subcontracted their control-panel work to independent panel builders. When business is steady, many integrators establish or acquire their own in-house panel shops to profit from the extra work and reduce the overhead for the project. Lower overhead often translates into lower costs for the client.
29 Oct, 2008
Real Estate Advice
- Investors should sit tight. Opportunities will surface at significant discounts.
- Buy discounted loans.
- Recap distressed borrowers – invest in maturity defaults, construction loans/bridge loans, or take mezzanine positions and equity stakes in properties.
- Invest in publicly-held real estate investment trusts (REITs) – they will lead the market’s recovery.
- Focus on global pathway markets – 24-hour coastal cities.
- Staff up asset managers, leasing pros and workout specialists. Separate good assets from bad.
- Retrench on development and reorient to mixed-use and infill. Higher-density residential with retail will gain favor in next round of building.
- Go green – cutting energy expenses is likely to be a priority.
- Buy or hold multi-family; hold office; hold hotels; buy residential building lots, but be prepared to hold.
- Purchase distressed condos in urban areas near transit.
- Focus on neighborhood retail centers with strong grocery anchors and chain drugstores .
29 Oct, 2008
Slow, Painful Death
For nearly five years, borrowers were like the prettiest girl at the
party in the commercial real estate financing world. Lenders were
tripping over themselves to shovel money out the door. It had become an
auction business.
“The cheapest money at the highest advance rate, with the least recourse, would walk away with the prize,” recalls Patrick Feltes, senior vice president of GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance, a hotel lender who works out of the Phoenix office.
“Today, I'm the prettiest girl at the party,” says Feltes wryly. “Suddenly, relationship lending is back. If it's a good deal and you are willing to work with me so that I can bank a profitable deal, then yes there is money out there for good product and good sponsors.” His remarks came during a Lodging Conference panel discussion Sept. 24 at the Arizona Biltmore hotel.
The problem for borrowers is that lenders have no sense of urgency, emphasizes panelist Joe Epstein, president and founder of First American Realty Associates, a mortgage banker specializing in hotels. “The lenders know they're in control, and they're taking their time. They are underwriting unbelievably diligently and being tremendously conservative.” They're being very selective about those to whom they're making loans, says Epstein.
EleBlog take: This is going to take a while to bottom out. How long? No one knows. But it might very well come to feel like "forever."
03 Oct, 2008
Solar Meeting: 30,000 Visitors
I kind of wish I had gone. According to another graphic, there were 237 "manufacturers of wafers, solar cells, PV modules, concentrators, silicon providers, ingots." That would have been something to see!!!
25 Sep, 2008
More on EHV Transmission
At first, when I heard the speech, with the big piece on EHV, I thought this was a bit crazy. Remember, I credit Bodman with being intelligent. What we need, of course, is DISTRIBUTED generation -- CHP plants (see previous item posted today) . . . wind and solar all over the place . . . etc.
So a few hours later, when Bodman's deputy for electricity (Kevin Kolevar) sat down with the media for a short time, I asked him a direct question about the EHV. I wasn't hostile, I just wanted to know.
- - - - -
Kolevar explained the pro-EHV point of view succinctly. The idea is:
Large windfarms are going to be located remotely.
Large solar electric installations are going to be located remotely.
Large electric power plants that use coal and make use of carbon-neutralizing technologies are going to be located remotely.
Nuclear power plants are going to be located away from major cities.
. . . and so on.
Therefore, if you are pro-solar, or pro-coal-with-controlled-emissions, or pro-wind, or pro-nuclear . . . you have to take into account that the power plants of the future will be located a long way away from the major urban centers of the U.S.
So it follows (in this line of thinking, anyway) that what you will want is EHV transmission lines, which would be the most efficient way to get the power from the remote places it will be generated to the places that people live and work.
- - - - -
I understand this line of thinking. The notion is: We're going to need a LOT of electricity. We can't be certain we'll meet it with a lot of small, dispersed power plants. We can't be sure we'll get 1 million solar roofs in California anytime soon. We can't place a big bet on CHP -- for that matter, we can't place a big bet on distributed energy meeting our future needs.
Therefore, the safe bet is that BIG power plants (even if they are concentrating solar plants or mega-wind-farms) are going to be needed, and built. And if that's the case, why fart around sending the power over smaller transmission systems?
I'm not sure I agree with this line of thinking. But I did change my mind during the course of the day -- from thinking Bodman had lost his mind, to giving him credit for (at least) consistent thinking.
My basic belief is that CHP, microturbines, fuel cells, solar on every roof, small wind installations, and one heck of a lot of energy conservation are -- together -- the answer. But even I am coming to question whether that line of thinking will solve our energy problems.
25 Sep, 2008
Secretary Bodman's Speech
But he makes sense anyway.
He delivered a keynote at GridWeek. It wasn't a big departure from what he said last year, I don't think.
But there was some interesting NEWS the Secretary threw in to this speech -- the idea that we need to have an EHV transmission system (he means 345 kV or higher). Here it is:
If we are to truly transform our electric system, then we must come together to answer some key questions about our energy future.
And one critical – but unanswered – question is whether or not we need an interconnected extra high voltage (or “EHV”) transmission system.
Just as we’ve done with the smart grid concept over the last three years, the time has come to aggressively engage this question and to decide on a path forward. Such a system would be a high-capacity inter-regional network of high-voltage [345 kV and higher] transmission lines that would augment but not supplant our existing lower-capacity networks.
To put it simply, it would be the electrical equivalent of the interstate highway system. Today, by comparison, we have some high-voltage lines in some areas, but they are not integrated into a network.
In my view, the benefits of such as system could be extensive and could enhance our nation’s energy security and economic well-being.
First off, if we believe that renewable power will continue to play an increasingly large role in our power generation, as I do, then we must confront the problem of linking up large-scale clean-energy facilities with major population centers.
And, in my view, relying on large amounts of remotely-sited generation – whether from wind, solar, geothermal, clean-coal, nuclear or other sources – may not be feasible without building an EHV overlay system.
Secondly, such a system would greatly enhance the reliability and robustness of transmission and has the potential to be considerably more efficient than our current grid – particularly when married with smart grid technologies.
Our nation’s fleet of power plants is very diverse already. And that diversity is a good thing because it allows operators to adjust to relative changes in price and availability of supply, as well as to adapt to severe weather, maintenance problems and other challenges.
However, this also means that the optimal flow pattern changes constantly. And so, a robust, smart transmission network is essential to operate the fleet in a flexible, reliable and efficient manner under a wide range of conditions.
This is particularly challenging as we consider the new generation capacity that will come online over the next several decades.
There would likely be other benefits as well, including enhanced resiliency and security in the event of a catastrophic, albeit low-probability, event – such as a combination of near-simultaneous failures of key equipment, a major natural disaster, or a terrorist attack.
While the cost of putting an EHV system in place – and making it “smart” – would be substantial, at the end of the day, the relative cost of transmission is still likely to remain a small fraction of electricity’s total delivered cost – even into the future.
Today, transmission accounts for between 5 and 10% of the cost of a delivered kWh, providing benefits that greatly outweigh its costs. Looking ahead, regardless of whether or not we pursue an EHV system, our nation will make major investments in all parts of our electricity system – generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. And we need to make the right ones.
Accordingly, as we have done with the smart grid concept, we should seriously consider whether an EHV overlay in some form should be integrated into our plans for modernizing the transmission grid.
There are clear benefits of such an overlay, but also a number of uncertainties. For example, major new discoveries of domestic natural gas could lead to an extended period of lower gas prices and make it possible to generate electricity at low cost close to load centers; major advances in photovoltaic technology could make onsite generation much more cost-effective in many areas; and major advances in energy storage technology could combine synergistically with onsite generation.
In short, it’s possible to envision some long-term scenarios in which an EHV overlay could turn out to be less advantageous than it appears today. At this point, we just don’t know for sure.
25 Sep, 2008
GridWeek Coverage
First, some definitions and information about the event itself. This is an EleBlog take, so it's not necessarily the official story.
1. There is an idea out there called "The Smart Grid." If you were part of the electrical industry in the first half of the 1990s, you remember "The Smart House" -- and a shudder just went up your spine. Overlook that. This is something else.
2. The idea of "The Smart Grid" is to take today's outdated national electrical transmission + distribution infrastructure and update it -- somehow. I heard a lot of optimistic stuff at the sessions I attended. I sure wish it would all come to pass. Why am I skeptical? We need at least $1 trillion in spending over the next 10 years -- just on T+D (forget generation for a second). HOLY MOLEY!!!
3. There's a lot more to "The Smart Grid." I didn't do it justice with #2 above. I'll try in the coming posts.
4. The U.S. Dept. of Energy is a partner in GridWeek, has been an enthusiastic participant, and likes what it has seen in two editions. I heard an assistant Energy secretary, in a semi-informal conversation with the press (it can't be informal if a bunch of ink-stained wretches have their notebooks open, can it?), say that the GridWeek format was something the department really liked -- and they'd like to extend it to other stuff on which they are working on in the electrical area.
5. Some amazing numbers and information came out of people's mouths during this event. I certainly didn't get all of it; for one thing, there were 3 breakout sessions going on at once, and I didn't hear everything. Most of the presentations are on the Web, and I'll download them, print them, and eventually read them -- so maybe the EleBlog's "coverage" of this event will extend, in dribs and drabs, to Christmas.
6. An awful lot is being demanded of electric utilities. Coming from the electrical construction world, and having watched these idiots make A MAJOR BOTCH out of deregulation, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the companies and their executives. However, it's fair to note that they are being pulled in a lot of directions. It's not possible that the leaders of this industry can charge forward in all of these directions and make significant progress all at once. For one thing, they ain't got the money.
7. Finally (finally for now), there is a Big Heaping Steaming Mass of Information coming out of the electrical utility business -- when it comes to energy efficiency, alternative energy, energy T+D, and more -- all at the same time. At one press event, I wrote down so many notes on reports that one woman (a California PUC commissioner) talked about that I got them confused. There's a report coming out soon from the Electricity Advisory Committee to the Energy Secretary -- I didn't even know the EAC existed. And there is more. It's a confusing time.
More as I get it out of my notes.
25 Sep, 2008
Recent Columns
Lighting & More -- I went to the American Lighting Association's annual shindig, which was held here in National Harbor, Md. I detail remarks from 3 electrical industry speakers. It's interesting stuff, thanks to what they said (more than my write-up).
Green + the electrical industry. Here's a snippet from this piece:
Not long ago (like 2003-2004), people were rushing over to one side of the boat. In that case, it was housing. Many NAED distributors were under-represented in residential; they sought to fix that.
Not much later, the bottom fell out of housing. From what I can tell (this blog item), this disaster may take a long, long time to fix.
Human beings can’t help but extrapolate present trends with a ruler. Could what happened to housing (from king of the world to...well, joker) happen to sustainability? Is the “green” trend headed—at 150% of full speed—toward some sort of cliff?
21 Sep, 2008
Wiring Enclosure Disaster
When Hayes, along with his ace technician Gregg Francis, reported to
the home, he found the wiring enclosure hadn't even been fastened to
the wall.
"There was an extension cord powering the enclosure, too. So, there were code issues as well," he says.
"The labeling was done with Scotch tape."
"There was an extension cord powering the enclosure, too. So, there were code issues as well," he says.
"The labeling was done with Scotch tape."
A great (and short) installation story, and there are before/after pictures, too.
21 Sep, 2008
"Virtual Power Plants"
We have begun to create a network of dispatchable customer generating (DCG) assets to add low-cost peaking capacity to our generation mix, with the DCG becoming one of the assets in the stack, along with traditional generating capacity, demand response and energy efficiency.
As
a brief overview of the DCG program, Detroit Edison will pay for all
fuel, maintenance and repair costs associated with a customer's
generator in exchange for up to 250 hours per year of dispatch rights
for the contracted 10 years. Detroit Edison also provides 24-hour
real-time monitoring, schedules fuel delivery, adds any switchgear or
necessary relay upgrades and routinely tests the generators by
operating them for short periods under load.
EleBlog take: This ain't fantasy. It is NOT a plan. It's what's happening in the real world!
21 Sep, 2008
GHG Rules - Good Or Bad?
19 Sep, 2008
Pre-Fab + Mass Customization
10 Sep, 2008
Electronics + Power Use
- a 27-inch color TV uses 100 watts of power. A 42-inch plasma TV? 250W.
- a set-top box uses 30W of power. Two set-top boxes "consumer as much energy in one year as a refrigerator."
18 Aug, 2008
Iran Meeting Iraq's Power Needs
In other words, after all of the time we (the U.S.) have put in -- all the blood, sweat, tears and, of course, Money -- the Iraqis can't generate their own power.
INTERESTINGLY, I found this story on Nexis, and then went looking for it on the Internet. It was almost impossible to find. Apparently, the Western news sources ignored it or didn't catch on. Here's a link to the one place I found the piece -- and below find an excerpt:
. . the situation has been improving over the past four months -– with
Iran's assistance. The Bush administration and western companies like
Bechtel have failed to deliver on promises to improve infrastructure.
"Now, the province gets power from Iran under a contract signed about two years ago between the Iraqi government and Iran," Naseer Milmy, an employee with the directorate-general of electricity told IPS.
Electricity cuts are now programed; houses get two, sometimes four hours at given times. This is considered remarkable progress even if the voltage of supplied electricity is often lower than the required 220-240.
"This problem should be tackled by the Iranian side," said an engineer at the directorate-general of electricity, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It is supposed to build voltage regulators each 100 kilometers from the border to the province to avoid loss in the power."
The Iranians are working on it. "There is another line of power from Iran which is being worked on and should be finished within a month," Diyala's directorate-general of electricity said in a statement. "This will have a great effect on the improvement of the voltage and increasing the hours given."
EleBlog take: Let's put it all together, shall we?
a. The hook-ups of electricity arranged by contractors for the U.S. Defense Dept. resulted in the electrocution deaths of some 12 or more U.S. soldiers
b. Additionally, we've been "on the ground" in Iraq since April 2003, and we've not been able to provide reliable power to the Iraqis. According to stuff I've read previously, some of them (especially the Sunnis!) had it when Saddam was the boss -- power for 10-12 hours a day. Now, as noted above, "houses get two, sometimes four hours" . . . at reduced voltage.
And the bulk power is being imported from Iran.
THIS IS NOT GOOD. There are a lot of conclusions one might draw here (i.e., the U.S. is incompetent) and problems to come from the arrangements noted in the article linked above (Iraqis reliant upon Iran for supply of reliable power).
Think about it.
12 Aug, 2008
Aged Wiring In Older Homes
12 Aug, 2008
Lightning Safety
12 Aug, 2008
More PHEVs In The News
Recent stuff:
6/18 DOE Newsletter -- "DOE to Award $30M for PHEV Demos"
7/23 GreenBiz.com item -- "PHEVs in the Spotlight"
09 Aug, 2008
Commodity Prices - 5 Columns
July 9 -- oil & electrical products.
July 16 -- commodities (in general)
July 24 -- are commodities a bubble?
July 31 -- what is copper's price telling us?
Aug 7 -- more thoughts about energy
July 16 -- commodities (in general)
July 24 -- are commodities a bubble?
July 31 -- what is copper's price telling us?
Aug 7 -- more thoughts about energy
09 Aug, 2008
Smart Home Website
15 great ideas for smart home security
Distributors offer a varied menu
Distributors offer a varied menu
. . . and more, including the opportunity to subscribe to several weekly e-mail newsletters.
03 Aug, 2008
China's Oil Consumption
Oil futures markets don't have contracts out to 2025. Traders don't trade on what might happen, maybe, in 10 years. My friend's argument was ridiculous.
Why then, he asked, have oil prices fallen? It was, I answered, what was happening in China. In preparation for the Olympics, the Chinese have been trying to get the pollution in Beijing (and elsewhere) to go away . . . by closing factories and cutting driving in half.
That, my friend said, was ridiculous. The Chinese don't use that much oil.
Well, he was wrong (I think). Two points:
1 -- Oil prices are set at the margins. The entirety of world oil consumption (some 84-85 million barrels of oil per day) isn't repriced every single morning. Most of it is under contract. A small amount is bought/sold on the spot market. So small changes in consumption affect the spot market.
If I'm right about this, we'll see a few weeks after the Olympics. If I'm right, one would predict that prices would bounce back up to the $140s, right?
2 -- I found a Washington Post article (7/28) about China's Cars. It didn't address my dispute with my friend, but it contained the following facts:
China alone accounts for about 40 percent of the world's recent
increase in demand for oil, burning through twice as much now as it did
a decade ago. Fifteen years ago, there were almost no private cars in
the country. By the end of last year, the number had reached 15.2
million.
If China continues to increase its use of oil at the average pace of 6 to 7 percent a year, as it has since 1990, it will consume as much as the United States in more than 20 years.
. . . less than 4 percent of the country's 1.3 billion people have already bought one. That's where the United States was in 1915. "The entire energy market of the world is being affected by this country already. Can you imagine when we get to 50 people out of every 1,000 in China owning cars?" asked Friedhelm Engler, design director for General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry's joint-venture engineering and design lab in China.
If China continues to increase its use of oil at the average pace of 6 to 7 percent a year, as it has since 1990, it will consume as much as the United States in more than 20 years.
. . . less than 4 percent of the country's 1.3 billion people have already bought one. That's where the United States was in 1915. "The entire energy market of the world is being affected by this country already. Can you imagine when we get to 50 people out of every 1,000 in China owning cars?" asked Friedhelm Engler, design director for General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry's joint-venture engineering and design lab in China.
Zhai Yongping, an energy specialist with the Asian Development Bank, fears the Chinese are buying into the American lifestyle: "big houses, big air conditioning, big roads." Compared with the breakneck pace of road construction, public transit has developed slowly. To encourage the Chinese to go green, General Motors, which has ranked first for passenger car sales in China in each of the past three years, is preparing to market hybrid vehicles or cars that run on alternative fuels. But Zhang doesn't expect Chinese consumers to change their car-buying habits. "Fuel economy is probably the last thing Chinese look for," Zhang said as he drove around the Shanghai suburbs in his Hummer. He said he wasn't worried about filling up the tank even after the government trimmed oil subsidies last month, raising gas prices about 18 percent.
These quotes won't necessarily lead you to conclude that I was correct on my side of the argument (besides, TIME will tell -- the Olympics will come to an end, Beijing will go back to where it was in terms of energy consumption, and we'll see where oil prices are in mid-October).However, these quotes from the Post piece should give all of us a good idea of where oil consumption is heading. It's heading to China, and what happens in the U.S. -- marginal decreases in consumption due to reduced driving by some of our citizens in summer -- just isn't going to matter, in the short run OR the long run!
03 Aug, 2008
Power Mgmt: Turn It Off!!!
He sketched out a scenario for a 200-person office that operates 9-5, Monday through Friday:
01 Aug, 2008
Cramer Wrong On TNB
======================
from a 5/19/08 post by Tom Brennan to CNBC.com:
Cramer's been talking ad nauseum lately about these "new tech" companies –
the ones committed to solving the world's problems, not just making video games
cooler or cell phones smaller, which is what he believes our tech industry has
become.
Thomas & Betts fits the mold of a new-tech play even if it doesn't look
like it. That's because this electrical company is actually a stealth play on
wind.
In addition to its main business of electrical supplies, TNB also makes
wind towers. This is a small part of the overall company – about 10% - but
Trinity the railcar maker, had an equally small percent of wind exposure and
look what that did to its earnings.
TNB doesn't seem to be doing much to promote its wind business, even though
the wind industry is growing fast. That's why Cramer's mentioning it now.
------------------------------------------
FAST FORWARD TO: this piece of the 7/23/08 TNB analyst conference
call
--------------------------------------------
Alex Rygiel - FBR Capital Markets
Perfect. That's what I… clarification I wanted. And then can you talk about a little about the steel structures business because clearly the wind farm [ph] market is about to take off and as it relates to the wind farm market, there is two opportunities. There is transmission poles and there are wind towers. First, can you address, what you think the growth you could be in transmission poles and then address, why we haven't seen Thomas & Betts talk about the wind towers and if you do have an interest in getting into wind towers over the next couple of years?
Dominic J. Pileggi - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Okay. Let's take your second question first, about the wind towers. We are not in the wind tower business. It's a different technology that making the multiple [ph] and so that's not part of our business. Obviously, we are in the transmission line, almost a 100% of our business is in transmission, so we will clear that up. Okay. And we don't have any plans on the table now to get into wind towers. Okay.
-------- and just a bit later ----------
Alex Rygiel - FBR Capital Markets
And I am still trying to understand, but kind of a follow up here, I have looked at Trinity Industries and they have built a very large wind tower business over the last three years, from zero to doing to something like $400 million a year this year and they've got a backlog of something like a $1.5 billion or so of wind towers. Why is it, that somebody like Trinity that doesn't have a pole business per say could enter that market and see very dramatic rapid growth. But Thomas & Betts would avoid it.
Dominic J. Pileggi - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Well Alex, they are different technologies and we got to see down their engineers to give it to you in great detail. But ours are made with the press break, it's a totally different technology to make a wind tower, which we don't do. It's actually simple, as it is.
=================================
EleBlog take -- What all of this proves:
a. Cramer doesn't know everything about everything. His defends might say
"he doesn't pretend to,"
but to those of us who have something inside our crainiums besides bat
guano, he sure as heck does.
b. It appears at least one analyst listens very carefully to what Cramer
says, takes notes, and
regurgitates Cramer's declarative statements in the form of questions.
21 Jul, 2008
Copper Bubble?
Electronic trading on the LME saw the 3-month copper price hit a fresh record on 2nd Jul