Department of Energy
Maturing VPP Markets Signal Grid Modernization Around the World
September 5th, 2024Breaking Down the New DOE Definition of Zero Emissions Buildings
July 10th, 2024
Defining a Zero Emissions Building from the Top Down
A zero emissions building is not as easy to define as you may think. Should it include embodied carbon, for example, should efficiency and clean energy generation be specific parts of the definition or should it simply refer to the level of emissions, whatever the approach? These are the kinds of questions being discussed in […]
DoE Claims US Can Save $10 Billion in Annual Grid Costs Using VPPs
The US Department of Energy (DoE) believes the nation can save as much as $10 billion in annual grid costs by 2030, simply by tripling the existing deployment of virtual power plants (VPPs). As the US ramps up sustainability processes in line with environmental targets VPPs are becoming an increasingly important factor in their success. […]
Nostromo Behind-The-Meter Energy Storage Business Examined
In this Research Note, we examine Nostromo, the Israeli public company developing Behind-the-Meter thermal energy storage solutions for commercial buildings. Founded in 2017, Nostromo Energy is a developer of sustainable energy storage and energy demand management solutions for commercial buildings that use chiller-based air conditioning. The system is based on proprietary IceBrick encapsulated ice cells […]
How Does Biden’s New Clean Energy Bill Impact Smart Buildings?
Last week, President Biden signed the new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law, which will drive over $430 billion toward clean energy and sustainability solutions, with a specific focus on buildings. While the total amount is a step down from the $550 billion suggested in the 2021 Build Back Better proposal, the emphasis on buildings in addition […]
Solar Power Beats DOE Targets By 3 Years Underlining Its Value to Buildings
In 2011 the US Department of Energy (DOE) set a target as part of their SunShot Initiative that the cost of solar power should reach a very competitive $1 per watt, or 6 cents per kilowatt hour, by 2020. Last week they announced they had reached this target a full three years ahead of schedule […]
Return Of The Microgrid… Again
It didn’t seem that long ago that we were all talking about microgrids, a lot. We may have anticipated a large series of small, renewably driven, battery powered, local energy grids that can be disconnected from the larger utility grid and operate independently. The momentum seemed to have cooled on this revolution however, but recent […]
The Smart Buildings Sector Needs to Get Specific on ROI
In the end, it all comes down to return on investment (ROI), for smart buildings and most everything else. The promise of energy efficiency, better access control, greater comfort and environmental responsibility are all well and good, but to convince the majority of customers, the smart building sector needs to get specific on the returns […]
A Truly Smart City Is One That Is Shaped By Its Citizens
“The most important components for smart cities are engaging communities and forging partnerships,” this was the statement of US Federal officials, during Smart Cities Week, last week, who underlined a theory that has become increasingly popular in the smart city debate – a truly smart city is one that is shaped by its citizens rather […]