Casa Buí has developed a tool to estimate the Building Energy Rating of a domestic dwelling. Based on a selection of dwelling characteristics, the tool can estimate the BER Value and an estimate of the Annual Energy Consumption.
The tool also gives some suggestions on how to improve the BER estimate. While it does give an indication of the BER value, it is a guide only and is based on general assumptions about a multitude of other characteristics of a dwelling. To get an accurate value for your dwelling, Casa Buí's Energy Assessors can carry out a comprehensive BER Assessment on your dwelling.
Engineering Services
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Solar Photovoltaic Power - Continues to grow investment and output
The previous week has seen announcements of many new solar projects in the United States, the size of each continuing to grow. The technology continues to drop in price and the decision by GE to build a new plant to manufacture solar panels from cadmium-tellurium (Cd-Te) thin film pads is sure to result in wider adoption in the years ahead. GE is one of the largest manufacturers of wind turbines worldwide and has been long holding its fire on how to get involved in solar technology.
Solar continues to grow quickly, a result of rapidly falling panel prices and state incentives. Also, solar panels produce power during the heat of the day, when the demand from the grid is at its highest and power prices are high. Wind typically blows strongest at night, and has to compete with lower wholesale power rates. A recently released report on wind power output in Scotland has detailed that the output is not meeting previous expectations for both output level and reliability.
The recent events in Japan will have a significant impact on expansion of Nuclear Energy which recently had been making large inroads due to the fact that it does not produce any greenhouse gases. China is also striving to reduce its reliance on coal to reduce its CO2 emissions. Germany is also planning to accelerate decommissioning of its nuclear power plants - it had previously planned to phase them out within 25 year. All these developments bode well for the solar industry.
Solar power in off-grid applications is also contributing to quality of life in rural areas of Cambodia in the form of independent household supplies. Solar power recharges batteries during the day which can be used to supply four hours of lighting and TV for a typical family.
Casa Buí provides engineering services in Solar PV systems design and installation. SEAI have a Solar Power Calculator and a Best Practice Guide that can assist you in deciding if this is the project for you. While there are grants available for Solar Thermal installations in Ireland, there currently are no grants available towards the cost of Solar PV installations.
Solar continues to grow quickly, a result of rapidly falling panel prices and state incentives. Also, solar panels produce power during the heat of the day, when the demand from the grid is at its highest and power prices are high. Wind typically blows strongest at night, and has to compete with lower wholesale power rates. A recently released report on wind power output in Scotland has detailed that the output is not meeting previous expectations for both output level and reliability.
The recent events in Japan will have a significant impact on expansion of Nuclear Energy which recently had been making large inroads due to the fact that it does not produce any greenhouse gases. China is also striving to reduce its reliance on coal to reduce its CO2 emissions. Germany is also planning to accelerate decommissioning of its nuclear power plants - it had previously planned to phase them out within 25 year. All these developments bode well for the solar industry.
Solar power in off-grid applications is also contributing to quality of life in rural areas of Cambodia in the form of independent household supplies. Solar power recharges batteries during the day which can be used to supply four hours of lighting and TV for a typical family.
Casa Buí provides engineering services in Solar PV systems design and installation. SEAI have a Solar Power Calculator and a Best Practice Guide that can assist you in deciding if this is the project for you. While there are grants available for Solar Thermal installations in Ireland, there currently are no grants available towards the cost of Solar PV installations.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
LTE (4G Mobile) is coming, but what will it bring?
3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), is the latest standard in the mobile network technology tree that produced the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies.
The Global Mobile Suppliers Association reported on Tuesday (April 5) that 196 carriers in 75 countries are investing in LTE at some level. The report says 140 of those operators will deploy commercial LTE systems in 56 countries, up 118 percent from a year ago, and 56 other carriers are conducting LTE trials. It estimates at least 73 LTE networks will be in commercial service by the end of 2012.
It will extend from end user data plans to cellphones, back-end systems and the chips, IP cores and patents that make them work. But it remains to be seen just how those changes will play out.
The Global Mobile Suppliers Association reported on Tuesday (April 5) that 196 carriers in 75 countries are investing in LTE at some level. The report says 140 of those operators will deploy commercial LTE systems in 56 countries, up 118 percent from a year ago, and 56 other carriers are conducting LTE trials. It estimates at least 73 LTE networks will be in commercial service by the end of 2012.
It will extend from end user data plans to cellphones, back-end systems and the chips, IP cores and patents that make them work. But it remains to be seen just how those changes will play out.
The best Cloud Storage solution?
We published a link recently for details about accessing a free 5MB of storage on Amazon Cloud Drive. There are other options like SkyDrive, Dropbox, as well as Amazon. But which is best?
Worldwide Marine and Hydro Projects
See this link from US Dept of Energy for details of current Marine and Hydro projects worldwide.
Save Energy with Smart Windows that tint/untint to sun's heat
Smart windows from SAGE tint and untint based on control signals responding to the heat of the sun. The windows include a solid state electrochromic reaction, controlled through a low voltage DC power supply. When the coating darkens, the sun’s light and heat are absorbed and subsequently reradiated from the glass surface – much the way low-emissivity glass also keeps out unwanted heat.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Energy Saving Tips for Small Business
Seee some Energy Saving Tips on how you can save energy in your home, small business or farm
Prospects for one million EVs in US by 2015
Barack Obama has an ambitious target to have one million Electric Vehicles on the road in US by 2015. Read how the recent events in Japan and Middle East might impact the success of this target.
Top 10 Uses for Twitter
Have you ever wondered what you can use Twitter for to help your business - read this article for some valuable suggestions.
What is a Passive House?
A passive house is one in which a comfortable interior climate can be maintained without active heating and cooling systems. Read more about how the requirements for a Passive House can be achieved.
All passive houses have to be modelled with the Passive House Planning Package from the Passivhaus Institut.
All passive houses have to be modelled with the Passive House Planning Package from the Passivhaus Institut.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Innovative Deepwater Platform Aims to Harness Offshore Wind and Wave Power
Principle Power, Inc, of Seattle, have a device known as the WindWaveFloat, will combine their floating offshore wind turbine platform with wave energy convertors, so the system can simultaneously generate electricity from the wind and the waves.
Automated Backup System for your computers
See how to create an automated backup system for your computers from Adam Pash
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