Demand Response Class at Edison's CTAC (FCI Employee Testimonial)

I was fortunate enough to be apart of Southern California Edison's Demand Response training today and the information was invaluable. The class instructor, David Wiley, did an excellent job at explaining the basics of Demand Response and even some of the more technical aspects. I was familiar with many of the concepts already, but he did a great job of giving a more complete understanding of the head knowledge I acquired beforehand. I learned interesting facts such as:

-20% of California's energy is imported on hot days
-When energy reserves are low, energy costs are high (sort of a no brainer, but it clicked for me in the class)
-When power plants/generators charge more than $.50 per kWh, this sends a red flag to the government
-Price Response deals with getting paid to not use higher priced energy
-When businesses shift load to off peak times, this allows them to lower their over head cost and in turn provide their customers with lower prices

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I absorbed today. I even got a free water bottle! I want to thank FCI for sending me to such a great training and applaud Edison for providing an excellent learning experience. I am one happy employee. If you would like to attend an Edison CTAC seminar, visit: sce.com.

Google to Build New Green Office in California

Search engine powerhouse, Google, has announced plans to construct a new company building that will be "extremely green". Google has partnered with the German architecture firm Ingenhoven Architects to construct the future 600,000 sq ft. structure. Ingenhoven is known for being environmentally responsible and utilizing renewable energy sources.The office will be located in Mountain view, Ca and plans will be rolled out in 2011, construction is expected to start in early 2012.
Google has long been recognized for employing energy efficient practices that promote sustainability. The company has been known to use energy created from wind, recylced computer equipment, and encourage employees to commute via more fuel efficient transportation. In an age where environmental responsibility is increasingly becoming priority for many businesses, Google is showing itself to be a leader. In your opinion, what other companies are showing innovation and leadership in sustainability?

Bill Gates Not Sold on Energy Efficiency

Bill Gates, the 2nd richest person in the world, announced that energy efficiency was a "cute" attempt at solving climate change but not a viable answer at the most recent Wired conference held in New York. The Microsoft mega mind is convinced that nuclear power is the way to go when choosing an energy source that will effectively deal with climate control. Gates has invested heavily in nuclear R&D companies and is noted for his support of nuclear initiatives. He argues that energy efficiency technologies will never get us to the 90% reduction in carbon emissions that the nation is aiming for. Even if that were true, a staunch supporter of nuclear power would have to admit (if they were truthful) that energy efficiency is the game changer that has opened up innovative and conscientious thought concerning how we power our country. The advent of the CFL has spurned both rich and poor on a massive scale to give thought to changing the way we produce and utilize energy. If anything, we should seek to find ways to utilize clean energy. Nuclear power has the potential to put us in the same position as coal has. It is the author's biased (won't lie about that) opinion that Nuclear power is a quick fix method that has a high potential to backfire whereas energy efficiency and conservation will require more time, energy, and creativity but will yield more effective results that will last longer. This is about future generations too. But then again, I'm no billionaire. What do you think? Does Nuclear energy trump energy efficiency?

Demand Response:The Next Big Wave in the Energy Sector?

Demand Response (DR) seems to be a very controversial topic in energy circles, largely due to the fact that it is an emerging market in the energy sector. The purpose of DR is to reduce energy load in facilities during specified times, usually when there is a high demand for energy. DR helps to ensure that the rolling blackouts that California was famous for in the late 80's and 90's are minimized. It appears that DR, also known as Management of Demand, is starting to pick up steam as forward thinking countries such as China and England are soliciting the assistance of American Energy giants (Honeywell and Johnson Controls) to implement DR programs. Large DR firm EnerNoc has been in a wrestling match with east coast grid juggernaut PJM (one of the biggest demand response customers in the nation) over the price DR participants should receive for giving up their right to "revenue gererating" energy. There are still a lot of kinks to work out in the DR initiative but there are many credible proponents that are positioning themselves to reap the benefits should Demand Response catch on. FCI has recently partnered with Perry Software Solutions and this union will expand our capacities to serve our client base interested in pursuing Demand Response programs.

What State is Top Dog in Energy Efficiency???



According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the most energy efficient state is (drum roll please....) California. Massachusetts and Oregon followed behind in second and third place. Other states that filled the remaining top ten spots were New York, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Maine. California has held the number one spot in the ACEEE ranking for four years in a row. The golden state has proven itself to be a leader in energy efficiency over the last several years by modeling and implementing an energy efficiency plan that out performs other states as well as the expectations of the federal government. President Obama has stated that his goal is to have 1 million electric vehicles on American roads by 2015.



Nissan Leaf



Part of California's energy initiative is to have 1 million electric cars on California's roads by 2020. The plan also looks to generate 30 percent of the state's electric power from renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, hydropower, etc.) by 2020 as well. Among the most improved states concerning energy efficiency were Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska. Texas, Alabama, North Dakota, Mississippi, and New Hampshire were at the bottom of the list.

FCI Looking To Roll Up Its Sleeves in Long Beach (Delivering A Sustainable Planet #4)

So it turns out the city of Long Beach is serious about energy efficiency and conservation. In 2006, the city installed a giant photovoltaic system in the Long Beach Convention Center. According to LongBeach.gov the system pumps out over 1 million kW-hours of pollution free electricity, making it one of the premier solar systems on the west coast. Since FCI has recently made its humble abode in Long Beach, we are eager and anticipating to join the city's energy cause as it pertains to the city wide approach to sustainability, conservation, and efficiency.  This progressive city is a perfect fit for FCI because we share a common goal in delivering a sustainable planet. FCI is looking to partner with Long Beach in implementing Demand Response programs (The convention center and city hall participate in Edison DR programs) and other initiatives that assist Long Beach in reaching its conservation ambitions. For more information on Long Beach EE projects, visit LongBeach.gov.

FCI's Open House is a Big Hit!

                                                       

FCI and ES&T (Energy Services and Technology) recently hosted an open house event in celebration of its one year anniversary at the brand new Long Beach, CA facility. The new FCI headquarters was the place to be as representatives from Southern California Edison, SoCal Gas, LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), Councilmember Steven Neal (Long Beach, 9th District), and a host of other distinguished guests were in attendance. FCI was proud to showcase its 11,000 square foot facility and highlighted new energy technologies within the building such as: High Bay LED fixtures, motion sensors, the PERI Grid Max Analytics system, Remote controlled flat panel LED fixtures, and AMTC Hybridflo/Hybridflush products. FCI's Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Watts, unveiled the company's crisp new logo and announced a definitive merger between FCI and ES&T, creating their new holding company FCI Energy Services and Technologies Group,Inc. and the joint venture with Peri Software Solutions (founders of the Peri Grid Max Analytics system). The environment was electric with live jazz, professional catering (which was delicious), and plenty of networking. To say the least, FCI knows how to throw a party. Video footage and pictures from the event will be up soon!