The incandescent light bulb has now been almost completely phased out in the United States. The light emitting diode is the new leader of light. Though LEDs have been on the market for years, many in the industry say we’re only beginning to realize their full potential. They can become even more energy efficient. And because they are tunable and dimmable, they can undo light pollution, create better workspaces, and help us sleep better.
Separation Anxiety
Separating chemicals is an important industrial process, but it can sap a huge amount of energy, especially when the things you're separating are closely related. For fuel-makers, cutting the energy required to separate hydrocarbons could lower the price of fuel and shrink its carbon footprint. To this end, researchers developed a new, durable membrane that can separate compounds that differ by less than a nanometer.
Impulse Control
Aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg recently completed a flight around the world powered solely by solar energy. The journey was a stunt, but organizers hope that it will inspire the world to think more conscientiously about the environment. As for aviation, many engineers are concerned that air travel is already very close to its peak efficiency, so there is very little room for improvement. With global demand for air travel on the rise, commercial air travel is poised to have a growing impact on the environment.
Do more with less
With the Clean Power Plan on hold, the Obama Administration is pushing on other fronts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most important strategies is increasing energy efficiency, especially in retrofitting buildings with better compressors and tighter insulation. Buildings consume about 40 percent of energy in the United States and the majority of structures standing today will still be around for decades.
ICY HOT
Many refrigerators and air conditioners use a class of chemicals called hydrofluorocarbons as refrigerants or in insulating foam. These compounds happen to be extremely powerful greenhouse gases, thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide, and their use is going up.
Researchers and some companies are now coming up with ways to use fewer HFCs, if any, in cooling systems. They presented some of their work as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rolled out new rules to keep these gases in check.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy (left) and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz (second from left) speak to a scientist from Oak Ridge National Laboratory about refrigeration research.
Your Thermostat is Sexist
In one of the most click-baitey articles I've ever written, I talk about some research that investigates how buildings are calibrated for comfort. Most buildings are designed around men in suits, leaving women frigid in offices. However, some places are experimenting with less air conditioning and looser dress codes, moves that can drastically save energy.
CO2 Dynamo
The Department of Energy recently allocated funds for a 10-megawatt demonstration system of a turbine generator using supercritical carbon dioxide. Compared to conventional steam generators, supercritical turbines are much smaller and more efficient.