With record-setting heat roiling the U.S. this summer, air conditioners are working overtime to keep everyone cool. That spike in electricity demand can overwhelm “the grid:” the wires, transformers, meters, power plants and everything in between. But thanks to ongoing innovations in wireless communications and power systems structure, the grid is getting better at handling Continue reading →
brownouts
The risks of brownouts next summer are growing, because of delays in building a high-voltage power line in northern New Jersey. Still, they remain a “very low probability,” executives of the regional power grid told state officials last week. “As we go into 2012, the risks are increasing,” Michael Kormos, senior vice president of operations Continue reading →
An old Cleantechnica writer (actually, our previous editor), Ariel Schwartz, wrote a great article this week on how a nascent smart grid helped to prevent brownouts and blackouts in New York during a record-breaking heat wave earlier this month. Although our nation’s electricity grid has a ways to go before we can really call it Continue reading →
Imagine using a single screen to save energy and money throughout the home. No more paying for air conditioning when you’re not around, or having unused TVs draw current all night — now you simply set your house to stop wasting energy automatically. A display shows you just how much you’re saving, and how you Continue reading →
