Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Saifur Rahman, vice president of new initiatives and outreach for IEEE Power and Energy Society, about how President-elect Obama’s energy policies will affect the world-wide energy crisis. He explains how Obama’s policies will create a ripple effect around the world because people are looking to Obama to claim a leadership role in energy. His policies will lay the framework for other countries to follow and execute their own energy plan, says Saifur. He also critiques Obama’s call for 1 million plug-in hybrid cars by 2015.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Firas Ahmad, director of U.S. business development for Emergence BioEnergy. He explains how Emergence BioEnergy installs simple biowaste burners with sterling engines in developing countries where electricity is unreliable. He hopes to develop a franchise-like system that will allow individuals to own systems and provide energy to others in their area.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Mark Breuker, director of client solutions for Advantage IQ, which provides facility information and expense management services. He provides an overview of how President-elect Barack Obama's energy policies will affect industries and how they use energy.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Neal Elliott, Ph.D., associate director for research for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) about the new tax credit for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems. He tells just how important CHP is, given that 20% of our power could come from it.

Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast interviews Jennifer Zerwer, spokesperson for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, about its use of Raser Technologies’ hybrid-electric trucks that get 100 miles per gallon. She also talks about the challenges of integrating hybrid vehicles into the grid.

In part 2 of this interview, Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast interviews Ray Wuslich, partner with the law firm Winston & Strawn, Washington D.C., about the presidential candidates' energy policies. He discusses the surprising similarities between the two candidates’ positions on many of the main issues, highlights the candidates' differences and offers commentary on the issues.

Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast interviews Ray Wuslich, partner with the law firm Winston & Strawn, Washington D.C., about the presidential candidates' energy policies. He discusses the surprising similarities between the two candidates’ positions on many of the main issues, highlights their differences and offers commentary on the issues.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Ralph Cavanagh, co-director of the energy program for the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), about the challenges facing the EE industry—including lack of programs in higher education—and the programs and policies needed to ramp up EE as quickly as possible. Cavanagh, whose organization has partnered with the American Public Power Association, calls, among other actions, for creating more rewards for customers using EE—including inverted rates that provide an incentive to use less energy.

Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast interviews Susan Meredith, author of Beyond Light Bulbs: Lighting the Way for Smarter Energy Management, about how energy storage plays an integral role in transmission. She discusses how energy demand doesn’t always match supply, especially with the introduction of intermittent forms of energy, such as wind and solar. Energy can be stored in batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, ultra-capacitors, pumped hydro power, geothermal, or compressed air. Combining these different energy storage techniques with renewable energy is critical for developing a comprehensive and stable energy grid, she says.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Kenneth Reich, partner in WolfBlock's Environmental and Land Use Practice Group in Boston. He discusses the need for federal policy to fix the outdated and inefficient US transmission system. A national energy policy must alleviate grid congestion, implement energy efficiency and demand side resources, and eliminate electric heat loss over long distances, he says.

Energy Efficiency Markets Podcast interviews Kurt Yeager, co-author of the new book "Perfect Power: How the Microgrid Revolution will Unleash Cleaner, Greener, More Abundant Energy." The electric transmission grid in the US is outdated and overloaded and is not sufficient for the addition of new, intermittent, renewable energy sources. He argues that we need to use smart technologies and implement new policies at the local and national level to solve this problem. His plan would put consumers in control of their energy usage.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Nancy Edwards Cronin, principal partner with IP Capital Group. She discusses the growing market for "new" Smart Buildings and how science fiction is becoming a reality as technology advances and prices drop for energy efficient appliances. For example, technologies are under development that may deliver wireless electricity or turn off all appliances and lights with one main switch.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Steve Wunker, senior partner with Innosight, which advises businesses about entering new markets. He discusses the strategic side of entering new markets for companies that offer energy efficiency technologies. He recommends that expanding businesses try to win on several performance metrics and seek trade offs to facilitate innovations.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Steve Wunker, senior partner with Innosight, which advises businesses about entering new markets. He discusses the strategic side of entering new markets for companies that offer energy efficiency technologies. He recommends that expanding businesses avoid chasing big name customers initially and instead seek strong “foot-hold” customers that need the efficiency product and do not compete with other customers.

Energy Efficiency Markets interviews Mark Breuker, director of energy consulting for Advantage IQ, a comprehensive expense management and an energy and environmental solution service for multi-site companies. He explains how companies can measure and reduce their carbon footprint in order to receive carbon credits, which are quickly becoming a hot commodity as legislation changes. He discusses how CEOs and employees feel empowered once they get a handle on their carbon emissions by cutting operational costs, helping control climate change, as well as generating good PR.