Blog

2014 is the year for natural gas. Here are three trends to watch out for:   1. Natural gas for electricity Natural gas is most often used for electricity. As a more affordable alternative, natural gas prices have been heading higher over the last two years.   "Utilities without major natural-gas stakes are egging on […]

According to an "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects, renewable energy provided 100% of new U.S. electrical generating capacity in November 2013.   Solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, and hydropower units provided 394 MW of all new electrical generation placed in-service of last November. Renewable energy sources also […]

Thanks to falling prices and improved performance, LED bulbs are quickly gaining popularity with consumers and businesses alike. But are manufacturer's skimping on light quality?   A recent report from the Department of Energy reviewed solid-state lighting. The report found that the technology behind A-type LED lamps has improved dramatically over the last five years. […]

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) wind energy could generate up to 18% of the world's electricity by 2050. But the massive jump from 2.6% today would require the nearly 300 GW of current wind capacity worldwide to increase eight- to tenfold and cost nearly $150 billion a year.   In its "Technology Roadmap: […]

A recent story from USA Today highlights how LED light bulbs may be the best energy-saving solution and is poised to become the new standard.   Traditional incandescent light bulbs lack the efficiency one would expect of modern technology. In fact, about 90% of the energy incandescents use is wasted as heat, with only the […]

The automation of commercial buildings is a growing market as more and more building managers are seeing the benefits of energy management products and services. According to a report from Navigant Research, the annual revenue for these products will grow worldwide from $56.9 billion in 2013 to $100.8 billion by 2021.   The automation of […]

Westar Energy reached an agreement with Apex Clean Energy to purchase 200 megawatts of electricity from a wind farm near Arkansas City in early November.   The expanded wind program and construction will bring about $90 million to the Kansas economy and provide millions more in ongoing economic benefits. "The project is great for our […]

Some California energy growers are finding that installing solar panel arrays can be an answer to the dilemma of rising electric bills.   HelioPower's Tom Millhoff discussed some of the reasons why California's costs are high and how farmers can use solar technology and tax credits to reduce their own costs. California's electric costs are higher […]

The U.S. market for LED and high-efficiency lighting will continue to grow 10 percent annually through 2017. This will be an increase from $7.1 billion in 2012 to $11.7 billion in 2017 according to market research firm Freedonia in its industry study "LEDs & High Efficiency Lighting in 2017."   The growing market for LEDs […]