Edward Vine

Office worker response to an automated Venetian blind and electric lighting system: a pilot study

Abstract A prototype integrated, dynamic building envelope and lighting system designed to optimize daylight admission and solar heat gain rejection on a real-time basis in a commercial office building is evaluated. Office worker response to the system and occupant-based modifications to the control system are investigated to determine if the design and operation of the prototype system can be improved. Key findings from the study are: (1) the prototype integrated envelope and lighting system is ready for field testing, (2) most office workers (N= 14) were satisfied with the system, and (3) there were few complaints. Additional studies are needed to explain how illuminance distribution, lighting quality, and room design can affect workplane illuminance preferences.

Public policy analysis of energy efficiency and load management in changing electricity businesses

The focus of this paper is (1) the potential effectiveness of the reform of the electricity industry on promoting energy efficiency and load management, and (2) the potential effectiveness of newmechanisms for promoting energy efficiency and load management. Many countries are initiating reforms of their power sectors to stimulate private investment, increase operation and management efficiencies, and lower the cost of power. These countries are unbundling vertically integrated utilities into distinct generation, transmission, distribution and retail supply companies; introducing commercial management principles to government-owned monopolies; and in many cases transferring operation or ownership to private companies. Electric industry restructuring may force regulators and policy makers to re-examine existing mechanisms for promoting load management and energy efficiency. In some cases, electric industry restructuring replaces the long-standing relationship between a single monopoly provider and protected customer franchise with a new set of relationships among retail electricity suppliers and customers who may now be free to choose suppliers. In these types of situations, markets, not government regulators and utility monopolies, are seen as determining future energy production and consumption decisions. However, it is uncertain whether this type of restructuring will overcome important market barriers to energy efficiency that limit markets for energy-efficient products and services from functioning effectively. As a result of these barriers, a large, untapped potential for cost-effective energy-efficiency investments exists. Supporters of public policies argue that energy-efficiency programs are an appropriate government strategy to capture economic efficiencies that the market cannot secure unassisted. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Guidelines for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Verification, and Certification of Forestry Projects for Climate Change Mitigation

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Office worker response to lighting and daylighting issues in workspace environments: A pilot survey

Abstract Based on a pilot survey of workers in an office building in St. Louis, Missouri, we evaluate reported levels of importance and satisfaction associated with lighting controls and other environmental conditions in workspaces and how they relate to physical features of the building and selected socio-demographic characteristics. We found that most respondents considered the majority of their workspace conditions important and satisfactory. The data suggest a negative relationship between how people evaluate the importance of and their satisfaction with their working environment: those who are least satisfied with features of their workspace consider these features very important, and vice versa. We also found that floor location, window orientation, and gender of worker were statistically significant correlates of many attitudes toward workspace features. Optimal benefits from new lighting and related control technologies will require good design and efficient hardware; however, our results suggest that careful integration of these technologies with worker values and priorities is essential if potential benefits are to be realized.

Adaptation of California’s electricity sector to climate change

Climate change is likely to pose considerable new challenges to California’s electricity sector. This paper primarily focuses on the adaptation challenges of an important component of the energy arena: electricity demand in the residential and commercial sectors and electricity supply. The primary challenge to California’s electricity sector will likely be the increase in demand for air conditioning as a result of rising temperatures. In addition, renewable energy sources, which are an increasing share of the electricity portfolio, are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Many of the key players have been actively considering the implications of climate change. Because electricity generation accounts for nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, this sector has been a target of the state’s efforts to reduce emissions. Fortunately, many of the same tools can simultaneously improve the sector’s resilience to a changing climate. Demand management strategies and supply diversification are both important strategies. Local governments can play a central role in encouraging the adoption of more energy efficient building codes and the use of more renewable sources, such as solar energy. The positive steps taken by many local governments are encouraging. Steps to increase public awareness are an important, often missing component, however. Increases in research, development, and demonstration to improve system resiliency and develop new energy conservation tools are also needed.

The evolution of the US energy service company (ESCO) industry: from ESCO to Super ESCO

As the restructuring of the US electric utility industry proceeds, utility companies are expected to be either competing or partnering with Super ESCOs to provide energy-efficiency services and energy to utility customers. In this paper, Super ESCOs and utilities were interviewed to see how these organizations are currently interacting and planning to interact in the future. As part of this investigation, the types of products and services Super ESCOs will be providing in the future and how utility restructuring will affect their business were examined.

International ESCO business opportunities and challenges: a Japanese case study

U.S. energy service companies (ESCOs) are very interested in expanding their businesses outside the U.S. Despite the needs of many countries for ESCO involvement, ESCOs face many challenges (i.e. marketing, financial, institutional, political and cultural impediments). Using Japan as an example, we present (i) impediments to the development of an ESCO industry, (ii) general guidance for helping Japan to develop its own ESCO industry, (iii) specific ESCO development strategies for Japan, and (iv) recommendations to U.S. companies considering joint ventures between U.S. ESCOs and Japanese companies.

Social and engineering determinants and their equity implications in residential electricity use

Energy conservation may occur because of either economic constraints or voluntary changes in values and lifestyle, with quite different social welfare implications. We examine the determinants of summer electricity use in single-family dwellings. Income and household size strongly affect energy use, while factors related to values and lifestyle are less important. A causal model approach is used to show how the social variables are related to energy use through intervening engineering/hardware variables.

International greenhouse gas trading programs: a discussion of measurement and accounting issues

Abstract There is general scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that this results from human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels. There is also a growing international consensus that the most cost-effective way to slow global warming is to establish international climate change trading programs that let institutions sell greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in an international trading program. A well designed international GHG trading program could save billions or tens of billions of dollars and could result in a more rapid transfer of cleaner, more modern energy generating, transmitting and using technologies to developing nations. Establishing an international GHG trading program will require the development of international consensus rules on how to value and credit investments, for example in energy efficiency, that result in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. Such a program would require the development of an international technical agreement on how to value emissions reductions attributed to energy-efficiency investments that reflect realistic estimates of future energy savings—and emissions reductions—that come from those investments. This paper examines five possible approaches for valuing energy savings which might serve as the basis for an international agreement, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and discusses lessons learned from conducting this evaluation process.

Evaluating the impact of appliance efficiency labeling programs and standards: process, impact, and market transformation evaluations

Energy-efficiency labels and standards for appliances, equipment and lighting are being implemented in many countries around the world as a cornerstone of energy policy portfolios. They have a potential for very large energy savings and are very cost effective. Once appliance labeling and standards programs have been implemented, it is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness. In this paper, we describe the types of activities that need to occur in the evaluation of appliance labeling and standards programs.