Tag Archives: energy consumption

Storing Solar Power Increases Energy Consumption and Emissions, Study Finds

By Environment, , , , , ,

AUSTIN, Texas — Homes with solar panels do not require on-site storage to reap the biggest economic and environmental benefits of solar energy, according to research from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. In fact, storing solar energy for nighttime use actually increases both energy consumption and emissions compared with sending excess solar energy directly to the utility grid. (more…)

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UA-Developed Technology Helps Find Happy Middle Between Low Temps and High Bills

By Technology, , , ,

UA researchers have created a first-of-its-kind thermostat add-on that reliably predicts electricity costs, putting consumers in control of balancing their comfort and budget

Researchers at the University of Arizona, with the support of Tech Launch Arizona, are one step closer to giving consumers something they’ve never had before: a way to easily and instantly make informed decisions about the trade-off between comfort and the cost of electricity for heating and cooling, which typically accounts for half of a home’s electricity bill. (more…)

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Berkeley Lab Creates New Energy Model for Chinese Cities

By Environment, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

To tally the energy consumption of a city, the usual method is to add up all the energy used by residents—when they drive their car or turn on the air-conditioning—plus all the energy consumed by commercial buildings and industries in their day-to-day operations. But how should one account for the energy that went into building the office park where people work or paving the roads that people drive? And what about the energy required to make the clothes they are wearing? (more…)

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