LANCASTER, Calif. and SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 31, 2014 – The City of Lancaster has partnered with Green Charge Networks to install an intelligent energy storage system and an electric vehicle charging station at the Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH). During its regular meeting Tuesday, March 26, 2014, the Lancaster City Council approved the initiative. Funded by a California Energy Commission (CEC) grant, the system will be installed by private partner Green Charge Networks at no cost to the City. The project will generate an estimated $3,200 annually in cost savings.
Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris speaking at San Francisco 100% Renewable Conference
“The City of Lancaster continues to seek new and innovative ways to foster the use of renewable energy, protect the environment, and create cost savings for our taxpayers in the process,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “Energy storage is the cutting edge of renewable energy technology and it will propel our city toward becoming America’s first truly Net Zero City. We are proud to partner with Green Charge Networks to implement this technology in our community.”
The energy storage system will be the first installed in the High Desert region of California. The electric vehicle (EV) charging station – specifically, a Nissan DC fast charger – will also be the first of its kind in the High Desert. The charger features rapid charging capability which can charge compatible electric vehicles to 80 percent capacity in approximately 20 minutes. The charging station, to be located in MOAH’s rear parking lot, will be available for use by the public.
“Quite simply, this is a win-win for the citizens of Lancaster,” said Vice Mayor Marvin Crist. “Not only will this project contribute to protecting the environment by fostering the use of electric vehicles; it will also save taxpayer dollars by lowering MOAH’s energy costs and make a new charging station available for electric vehicle owners throughout our community. We’d like to thank the California Energy Commission for making this grant opportunity available.”
“We’re honored to partner with the City of Lancaster to help the city continue utilizing power more efficiently. Since solar-generated power is now required in new homes in the City of Lancaster, the next evolution will come from intelligent energy storage and power efficiency, which will help offset demand charges,” said Steve Kelley, Senior Vice President of Sales at Green Charge Networks.
The energy storage system and EV charging station will be installed in April. The charging station will be available for public use immediately upon installation.
MOAH is located at 665 W. Lancaster Boulevard. For more information regarding the museum, visit www.lancastermoah.org.
About Green Charge Networks
Founded in 2009, Green Charge Networks is a leader in intelligent customer-sited energy storage. The company gives commercial and industrial customers control of rising demand rates on their monthly electric bills. Green Charge Networks’ product complements solar PV, electric vehicle charging, and energy efficiency. The GreenStationTM was developed in partnership with leading utilities around the country, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Fortune 500 customers. GCN is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA with offices in New York City. For more information, visit www.GreenChargeNet.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter @GreenChargeNet.
About the City of Lancaster: The City of Lancaster is a thriving community of more than 158,600 in northern Los Angeles County. Clean air, attainable housing, wide open spaces, and a close-knit community make Lancaster an ideal place for families. A low cost of doing business, endless potential for growth, and a strong commitment to business from local leaders has earned Lancaster the Eddy Award for “Most Business-Friendly City” in Los Angeles County from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. In addition, Lancaster boasts more than 300 days of sunshine per year, making it the ideal place to pioneer new solar energy technologies. No matter how you look at it, it’s positively clear that Lancaster is the perfect place to live, work and play.
This article is a repost, credit: Green Charge Networks.
Super-efficient “living laboratory” seeks to address two major sources of U.S. CO2 emissions: cars and homes
Project achieves more than 11 tons of CO2 reduction per year compared to a conventional home and vehicle
Honda home energy management system (HEMS) maximizes the home’s energy efficiency while communicating with the electric utility to improve grid stability
Home surpasses California’s 2020 target for zero net energy residential construction
Member of University of California, Davis community will live in home, drive Honda Fit EV (electric vehicle)
A 9.5kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on the roof will generate more energy than the home and Fit EV consume on an annual basis, due in large part to the efficient design of the home. Photo by Dorian Toy. Courtesy of Honda
Honda today marked the opening of Honda Smart Home US, showcasing technologies that enable zero net energy living and transportation. The home, located on the West Village campus of the University of California, Davis, is capable of producing more energy on-site from renewable sources than it consumes annually, including enough energy to power a Honda Fit EV for daily commuting. A Honda-developed home energy management system and an energy efficient design will allow the home’s occupant to use less than half of the energy of a similarly sized new home in the Davis area for heating, cooling and lighting. The home is also three times more water-efficient than a typical U.S. home. See videos about Honda Smart Home US.
Honda Smart Home US, construction of which began in April 2013, will serve as a residence for a member of the UC Davis community, whose selection will soon be announced. The fully-furnished home comes equipped with a Honda Fit EV battery electric vehicle for the resident’s daily transportation.
In addition to showcasing Honda’s vision for sustainable, zero-carbon living and personal mobility, the home will function as a living laboratory where the company, along with researchers from UC Davis and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), will evaluate new technologies and business opportunities at the intersection of housing, transportation, energy and the environment.
Honda’s environmental efforts extend beyond personal mobility to address two of the primary sources of CO2 emissions: cars and homes. Together, energy used to power homes and light duty vehicles contributes to approximately 44% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in the United Statesi. Technology that enables distributed renewable energy generation to supply power to homes and cars seamlessly is one of the key potential pathways to address climate change.
UC Davis’s West Village, where the Honda Smart Homes is located, is the largest planned zero net energy housing development in the U.S. Opened in 2011, West Village is home to the university’s internationally recognized research centers focused on energy efficiency, sustainability and transportation.
A 10kWh battery energy storage system in the garage, using the same lithium-ion cells that are used in the Honda Fit EV, allows stored solar energy to be used at night, when household demand typically peaks and electric vehicles are usually charged. Photo by Dorian Toy. Courtesy of Honda
Honda Home Energy Management System
Honda Smart Home US implements Honda’s home energy management system (HEMS), a proprietary hardware and software system that monitors, controls and optimizes electrical generation and consumption throughout the home’s microgrid. A 10kWh battery energy storage system in the garage, using the same lithium-ion cells that are used in the Honda Fit EV, allows stored solar energy to be used at night, when household demand typically peaks and electric vehicles are usually charged. Honda’s HEMS leverages the battery to balance, shift and buffer loads to minimize the home’s impact to the electric grid. The system will also enable Honda to evaluate the second life, or re-use, of EV batteries in grid applications, home-to-grid (H2G) connectivity and other concepts.
Honda’s HEMS is also capable of improving grid reliability by automatically responding to demand response signals and providing other grid services. If the electricity grid is overloaded, for example, Honda Smart Home is capable of shedding its load and even supplying power back to the grid. This type of smart grid connectivity will enable the mass deployment of electric vehicles and renewable energy without sacrificing grid reliability.
Sustainable Features
Honda Smart Home US brings together innovative technology and the latest green building concepts:
Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
A 9.5kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on the roof will generate more energy than the home and Fit EV consume on an annual basis, due in large part to the efficient design of the home. All of the energy for space heating, space cooling, ventilation, lighting, hot water, appliances and consumer loads, in addition to the transportation energy for the Honda Fit EV, is supplied by the solar panels on the home.
DC-to-DC Electric Vehicle Charging
The Honda Fit EV included with the home has been modified to accept DC power directly from the home’s solar panels or stationary battery, eliminating up to half of the energy that is typically lost to heat during DC-to-AC and AC-to-DC power conversion. When the solar panels are generating electricity at full capacity, the vehicle can fully recharge in approximately two hours directly from sunlight.
When the solar panels are generating electricity at full capacity, the vehicle can fully recharge in approximately two hours directly from sunlight. Photo by Dorian Toy. Courtesy of Honda
Geothermal Radiant Heating & Cooling
In homes and cars, heating and air conditioning systems consume significant amounts of energy. In the ground beneath Honda Smart Home’s backyard, eight 20-foot deep boreholes allow a geothermal heat pump to harness the ground’s relatively stable thermal sink to heat and cool the home’s floors and ceiling throughout the year. Researchers from UC Davis will evaluate the performance of the system to determine its adaptability to mainstream use.
Pozzolan Infused and Post-Tensioned Concrete
Concrete accounts for approximately 5% of global, man-made CO2 emissionsii. This large CO2 footprint is a result of producing cement – the concrete’s “glue” – by heating limestone to more than one thousand degrees Celsius. This heating requires the burning of fossil fuels, while the chemical reaction itself also releases CO2. A naturally-occurring substance called pozzolan was infused into the Honda Smart Home’s concrete to replace half of the cement typically needed. A technique called post-tensioning, which uses steel cables to compress the concrete slab, was also used to reduce the amount of concrete and steel needed. Watch videos on pozzolan and post-tensioning.
Advanced Lighting
The LED lighting used throughout the home is not only five times more energy-efficient than conventional lighting; it is also designed to support the health and wellness of the home’s occupants. Honda worked with researchers from the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis to explore new circadian color control logic. Mimicking the natural shifts in daylight that occur from morning to night, the circadian-friendly lighting design allows occupants to select lighting scenes that complement occupants’ circadian rhythms and support nighttime vision. The amber hallway night lights, for example, provide enough light to navigate through the home in darkness without depleting a photopigment in the human eye called rhodopsin that helps humans see in low-light conditions. This allows occupants to move about safely and return to sleep quickly and easily. Exposure to bright, blue-rich light during the day helps put body and mind in an alert and energetic state, but at night, blue light can disrupt circadian sleep cycles. Therefore Honda Smart Home minimizes the use of blue light at night.
Passive Design
Honda Smart Home is designed to be extremely energy efficient by taking into account local weather conditions, sun direction and the home’s outer shell. Known as “passive design,” these techniques reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling while maintaining comfortable living conditions.
The Honda Smart Home’s south-facing windows are optimized for heating and cooling, while the north-facing windows are positioned to maximize natural light and ventilation. This will keep the home naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Double stud walls, cool roofing material and a fully insulated concrete slab all contribute to the home’s energy efficiency.
Sustainable Materials & Waste Management
Sustainable materials were used throughout the construction process. Rather than cover the concrete foundation with wood, diamond pads were used to create a smooth, polished finish. For the roof, metal was selected, which is more recyclable than asphalt. All lumber used in the construction process was sustainably harvested from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), while advanced framing techniques were used to reduce the amount of material needed. Honda Smart Home will seek a number of “green” certifications, including US Green Building Council’s LEED, National Association of Home Builders’ National Green Building Standard and U.S. EPA’s Energy Star. Finally, 96% of the construction waste associated with the project, including drywall, brick, plastics and lumber, was recycled.
Surpassing California’s 2020 Zero Net Energy Goal
The Honda Smart Home US was designed to address specific challenges associated with the transportation and energy sectors in the United States. California’s Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, for example, sets a goal for all new homes to be zero net energy beginning in 2020.iii Through a combination of advanced technology integration, energy efficiency measures and sustainable design techniques, Honda Smart Home surpasses that goal by producing enough energy to power the home and an electric vehicle on a daily basis.
Sharing Data and Technical Details
Hundreds of channels of energy data generated by sensors throughout the house will be shared with PG&E and UC Davis researchers. In addition, Honda’s Environmental Business Development Office, in conjunction with Honda R&D, will use the home as a living laboratory to test new technologies and evaluate new environmental business opportunities.
Regular updates on the home can be found at www.hondasmarthome.com. Contribute to the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #HondaSmartHome.
By The Numbers: Emissions and Water Consumption
Honda Smart Home is expected to generate a surplus of 2.6 megawatt-hours of electricity over the course of a year, while a comparable home will consume approximately 13.3 megawatt-hours. This results in a net offset of nearly 13,100 pounds of CO2 per year, even when taking into account California’s relatively clean electricityiv. The excess energy anticipates potential future increases in energy needs, such as the addition of more occupants or electric vehicles to the home, and an increased daily commute.
The savings are even more dramatic when you consider Honda Smart Home produces its own transportation fuel. CO2 savings rise to more than 23,500 pounds per year versus a comparable home and vehiclev.
Honda Smart Home is three times more water-efficient than a typical U.S. household. In a typical home, the toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water consumptionvi. Dual-flush toilets with WaterSense certification, along with low-flow faucets in the sinks and showers and a high-efficiency washing machine and dishwasher all contribute to water savings. A technique called xeriscaping was used in the garden, where 30% of a typical home’s water is consumed. Plants that thrive naturally in arid climates were selected, while filtered greywater recycled from the home is the only source of water other than rain.
Executive Quotes
“With the Honda Smart Home, we’ve developed technologies and design solutions to address two primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions – homes and cars,” said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Ultimately, our goal is to contribute to the public dialogue about addressing CO2 emissions.”
“In West Village, UC Davis made a commitment to build zero net energy housing and gave our research center the goal of creating the first university hub to focus and energy and transportation research,” said Dan Sperling, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. “Honda Smart Home is a dynamic environment that will help the university meet its research objectives and is a perfect example of the industry partnerships we strive to build.”
About sustainability at UC Davis
UC Davis has long served as a proving ground for innovations in environmental sustainability. Sierra Magazine named UC Davis the nation’s #1 Cool School in its 2012 ranking of the country’s greenest colleges. In 2011, UC Davis West Village opened its doors and is on track to become the nation’s largest planned zero net energy community. Four UC Davis building complexes are certified LEED Platinum, the highest ranking awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. Aggressive recycling, composting and reuse efforts prevent more than 63 percent of campus waste from entering landfills annually. Through its Climate Action Plan, the campus has reduced greenhouse gas emissions below year 2000 levels and expects to reach year 1990 levels by 2020. The campus also boasts more than 42 miles of bike paths and more than 20,000 bike racks, earning it a gold award from the League of American Bicyclists.
About Honda Environmental Leadership
Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Honda has led the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and a Honda vehicle has topped the list of America’s greenest vehicles from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for eleven out of the past thirteen years. The company leads all automakers with thirteen LEED-certified “Green Buildings” in North America. Ten of its 14 North American manufacturing facilities are zero-waste to landfill.
In 2006, Honda became the first automaker to announce voluntary CO2 emissions reduction targets for its global fleet of automobile, power sports and power equipment products and its global network of manufacturing plants. Today, the company is striving for even greater reductions in CO2 emissions that contribute to global climate change, while also working to minimize waste, water use and the total environmental footprint of its operations worldwide.
Honda established operations in America in 1959, and now employs more than 26,000 associates in its U.S. sales, R &D and manufacturing operations with a capital investment of more than $12.5 billion. Over 95% of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. are produced in North America, using globally and locally sourced parts.
(KAHULUI, Maui, 9-4-13) – Maui Electric Company has implemented operational improvements to increase its use of available wind energy and has plans to integrate even more. It is now using about 91 percent of available wind energy compared to an estimated 72 percent prior to making the changes. The increased use of wind energy results in estimated savings of more than $22 per year for a typical Maui residential electric bill. With additional changes, Maui Electric expects to increase the amount of wind energy used to roughly as much as 95 to 98 percent, which could save a typical residential customer another $7 to $10 per year.
“We want to make sure our customers get the maximum benefit of our abundant wind energy resources while still getting reliable service. We’ve made a lot of progress and will be making further changes to ensure our customers benefit even more,” said Sharon Suzuki, Maui Electric president.
Maui Electric’s growing use of renewable energy includes wind power, biomass energy from Hawaii’s last working sugar plantation, hydroelectric power, and energy from photovoltaic systems. As of the end of 2012, 21 percent of the electricity used by Maui Electric customers came from renewable sources.
To ensure safe, reliable electric service, Maui Electric uses some of its generators to balance the output from renewable energy sources, like wind farms and photovoltaic systems. This output varies from moment to moment depending on a number of factors including wind speeds, wind direction, cloud cover, weather conditions, and time of day.
To increase the use of wind power, Maui Electric has:
modified some of its generator control systems
reduced the use of the four generating units at the Kahului power plant
fully incorporated the battery energy storage system at the Kaheawa Wind II wind farm
To integrate even more wind energy and improve the Maui system, Maui Electric is planning to:
deactivate two of the four generating units at the Kahului power plant in 2014
retire all four Kahului generating units by 2019
modify the use of generating units at the Maalaea power plant
Maui Electric detailed these efforts in a report filed yesterday with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. The report also covered other options that will or are likely to be implemented, and others that require additional analysis before they can be implemented. These options include implementing demand response pilot programs under which customers allow selected types of electrically-powered equipment or appliances to be turned off in an emergency, installing a battery energy storage system or implementing measures to shift customer usage to certain time periods, upgrading transmission lines, and implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The PUC directed Maui Electric to prepare the report when it issued a final decision for the company’s 2012 rate request in May 2013.
Background
Electricity generation must match electricity demand (consumption by end users) at each moment. When the generation supplied to the electric system exceeds the amount of electricity being used by customers, Maui Electric first reduces output from some of its oil-fired generating units and may take some of its generating units offline. However, to maintain reliable service, there are limits on how low the output of firm generators can be turned down and constraints on whether a unit can be taken offline. After these steps are taken, if there is still more generation than demand, the amount of generation from an as-available generator, like a wind facility, may need to be lowered, or “curtailed.”
On August 2, BYD Shaoguan Industrial Park held a grand opening event, displaying its assembly line of the world’s first iron battery-powered BYD new energy 3.5T electric forklift. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Shaoguan Municipal Party Secretary Zheng Zhentao, Mayor Yi Xuefeng, BYD president Wang Chuanfu, senior vice president Wang Nianqiang and various representatives from government and professional media were present at the event. Wang pointed out that the new energy forklift truck industry will be the future of forklift development. He stressed that the BYD forklift will not only be an innovation as a technology and as a product but will also pave the way for an innovative market.
The New Energy forklift truck will lead the future development of the forklift industry.
Currently, the petrochemical resources that humans depend on are depleting. As well, its extensive use towards urban development causes mass pollution in densely-populated cities. An example was when Beijing and Tianjin experienced severe smog earlier this spring. These problems indicate that environmental protection is unable to be delayed any longer. As the environmental factors become more severe, people’s awareness of protecting the environment becomes more and more prevalent. A product, especially a forklift, which advocates low-carbon and the saving of energy, is attractive to clients. BYD’s iron battery-powered forklift is the world’s first of its kind, producing zero emissions. It has a long life, a high change/discharge rate and is virtually maintenance-free. Compared to the conventional internal combustion forklifts and lead acid battery forklift, the BYD iron battery production process releases no heavy metal pollution or emissions. The charging process does not product acid fog. After the one life cycle, the battery can be recovered for energy storage, making it a true green product that effectively overcomes the manufacturing of lead-acid batteries. BYD’s iron battery is perfect for usage in pharmaceuticals, cold chain, food, and settings such as airports where eco-friendly approaches are necessary.
BYD 3.5T electric forklift broaden the scope of electric forklift industry.
It is reported that the 3.5T forklift truck accounted for approximately a full share of more than 50% in domestic market, while internal combustion forklifts had a full share of close to 80% in 3.5T category. Traditional lead-acid batteries are mainly manufactured for smaller 2.0T forklifts since lead-acid batteries cannot be used for heavy-duty, high-efficiency products. The 3.5T electric forklift market holds a “there is a demand but no product” dilemma. Having quickly achieved the global market with its own technology and industrial advantages, BYD utilizes vertical integration on the basis of integrated innovation. BYD successfully developed its “iron battery” technology applicable to the large-tonnage electric forklift field, being the first to break the large-tonnage electric forklift development bottle neck. The launch of the BYD 3.5T electric forklift greatly broadened the scope of the application of electric forklifts and will provide the logistics of the large-tonnage electric forklift industry with effective solutions.
About BYD
BYD Co., Ltd is a leading-edge provider of green energy technologies that specializes in the IT, automotive, and new energy industries. Being the world’s biggest rechargeable battery manufacturer, BYD also has the largest global market share for cell-phone chargers and keypads. BYD branched out into the auto business in 2003, and has kept a robust yearly growth rate successively. In 2008, Warren Buffett invested $232 million to take a 9.89% stake in BYD. Today, BYD is the fastest-growing Chinese auto company and a global pioneer in the field of new energy vehicles including Dual Mode Electric Models and Pure Electric Models.
Based on its core Fe Battery technology, BYD has worked out a Green City Solution, which aims to electrify urban public transportation systems by transitioning from gasoline and diesel buses and taxis to pure electric ones. In March 2012, BYD and Daimler AG officially announced the entirely new EV brand Denza in China.
In addition, BYD has also focused on the Research & Development and manufacturing of a wide range of new energy products, including energy storage system, solar energy products and LED lighting . For more information, please visit www.byd.com, www.bydeurope.com, www.facebook.com/bydcompany, or [email protected].
This article is a repost, credit: BYD, http://www.byd.com/na/news/news-170.html.
