However, with the seemingly never-ending safeguards and security protocols that we deal with on a daily basis, it seems that the most fundamental aspect of our security rarely gets the attention it deserves. I am referring to our energy security.

Let’s talk about renewable energy! It seems as though everywhere we look there are solar arrays popping up. While that is encouraging. One thing that is more encouraging than this is the price for renewable energy.

Sunlight is probably the most sustainable form of energy that exists; it is certainly the most abundant. The problem, however, is that it can’t be used to fuel everything. For example, we are not able to use it as a fuel for our vehicles. In fact, in most instances where fuel is needed and/or used in our everyday lives, it is in a liquid or gaseous form.

It appears window air conditioners (AC) are getting a makeover! Window ACs have been a necessity for spaces that do not have central AC for some time now. A new product designed by a company called Gradient, addresses the primary grievances people have with window AC units.

The race to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change is on and it is driving a lot of innovation. One of the greatest attributes to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) is air conditioning. Air conditioning is one of the great conundrums of our time because the effects of climate change cause us to use more air conditioning to cool us off. Adversely, the more air conditioning we use, the more we negatively affect the climate.

Many people overlook their water heaters and often do not know just how much of their home or facility’s energy usage can be attributed to their water heater. Water heaters are one of the most utilized appliances and the most seldom seen. Although we don’t think about them a whole lot unless something is wrong, let’s not overlook some of the biggest innovations in water heating technology of recent decades which have turbocharged energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

Currently, there are investor-owned utilities that offer considerable incentives for installing pipe insulation due to the great potential for energy savings. However, these incentives are for insulation that is installed after-the-fact where insulation was not previously existing. What if the pipe and the insulation can be installed together as a singular measure?

In recent years, we have seen growing innovations to increase the energy efficiency in HVAC systems. Some of those innovations include smart HVAC technology, geothermal HVAC technology, and solar HVAC technology.

If you have a pulse, I am sure you have heard of Wi-Fi. This is the wireless interface through which we can connect our computers, laptops, and mobile devices to the internet. But what on earth is Li-Fi?

However, do not allow yourself to become desensitized to it but rather take a look at what is being done both in public sector leadership as well as private sector leadership to address this issue. We can use these as signals to think about what changes can be made on the smaller scale to support these efforts.

We have talked about innovation in battery backup and the energy efficiency and resiliency benefits to having battery backup to compliment your solar PV system. However, we have not fully discussed the limits of battery backup.

Unless you are living under a rock, I am sure you are aware of the California statewide initiative to electrify all buildings, including residential. I am sure you are also aware that one of the most common objections people have to electrifying their homes is they do not want to give up their natural gas cooktops.

Have you ever picked up a carton of milk and wondered, what is the difference between homogenized milk, pasteurized milk, and ultra-pasteurized milk?

For more than two years we have been bringing you Technology Tuesdays. We have talked about a wealth of different topics and explored many brand-new technologies breaking into the marketplace. Today, I would like to talk about an older topic that frequently gets overlooked although it is one of the most effective items out there at saving money and energy.

Here is some food for thought: your HVAC system accounts for around 30% of your building’s total energy usage. This can be a significant number if you live in certain parts of California. Specifically, the central valley where 100-degree weather is commonplace during the summer months. This fact is one of the reasons the market is looking for more efficient alternatives for rooftop air conditioners.

Here is a question for you to think about: is your building a smart one? Not in the sense they have smart people working IN them; we already know there are but is the building itself smart?

I have 2 words for you: building envelope! Exciting, right? If we are honest, it is not very exciting, but it is the backbone of any energy efficiency work we do inside of buildings.

What is exciting is the concept of highly insulating windows or ‘Super Windows.’