An Internet-routing algorithm that tracks electricity price fluctuations could save data-hungry companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon millions of dollars each year in electricity costs. A study from researchers at MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and the networking company Akamai suggests that such Internet businesses could reduce their energy use by as much as 40 percent by rerouting data to locations where electricity prices are lowest on a particular day.
A new paper in Science says that using biomass—corn or switchgrass—to make electricity rather than ethanol is the smarter move on all counts. “Bioelectricity” offers more energy per acre of cropland, and fewer environmental impacts. Scientific American does the heavy lifting.
My friend Sanyakhu-Sheps Amaré , Executive Director of Phoenix Communities, Inc., and I are putting together NECST (pronounced “Next”): Northern Eastern Electricity Community Systems and Technology, i.e. an an internet think tank hub on electrical micro-grid clearinghouse publishing scientific and Community Economic Development social impact papers on Micro-Grids. Contact me at benoit@hardyvallee.net if you are interested in providing thought leadership in this area.
The first paper we are discussing to be developed is on the need for governments and municipalities to simultaneously include in their national and regional grid infrastructural upgrade equal focus Micro-grids development. Here is a powerpoint that present the approach. The idea is to have a micro-grid (a community smart-grid) as a tool for Community Economic Development. You can also read an interview with Sanyakhu here
The Canadian Electricity Association (the association of all Canadian electric utilities) recently launched a new program, Sustainable Electricity .
Sustainable Electricity comprises the following four elements:
A Policy for Sustainable Development – Corporate Responsibility – CEA member utilities have committed to implementing the program’s policy, operationalized by key guiding principles which form the basis of the program.
Performance Indicators and Reporting – Each of the guiding principles is supported by specific indicators and metrics that will be used track overall industry sustainable development performance. Utilities will report on the performance of these key indicators, and overall industry results on sustainable development will be published in an annual report to stakeholders.
Public Advisory Panel – A Public Advisory Panel, made up of distinguished and qualified Canadians, will provide independent opinion and advice to the CEA Board of Directors on the implementation of, and improvements to, Sustainable Electricity.
External Verification – The implementation of Sustainable Electricity will be verified by an independent external verifier.
I think this is a serious intent (with performance measurement and accountability) to increase the triple bottom-line. It’s also coherent with smart grid initiatives.
Working in a Management Consulting firm (SBR Global), I blog
about organizations, decision-making and energy. My background includes
cognitive science, economics and philosophy of science.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.hardyvallee.net/management-epistemology/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-micro3.png){kind=icon}
