December 2010 Issue - Energy Savings/ Alternative Energy (Feature Article) - Adv.: Nov. 5, 2010
Issue Month:
Dec 2010
Editorial Deadline:
Oct 08, 2010
Editor:
Jim Harrison
415-456-1404
Editor:
Paul O'Shea
941-359-8684
This monthly series of feature articles focuses on designing energy savings into products. But as we all know, the world of “green” is not only about saving energy, but also about using alternative forms of energy.
Energy Savings
The articles provide insight into methods electronics design engineers can use to develop products that require less energy. The applications involved include motor control, personal computers, servers, lighting, industrial automation, vending machines, telcom equipment, home audio equipment, home appliances, and more. It would not include, for example, portable electronics that, while they demand low power for long battery life, do not represent a significant energy usage item.
Alternative Energy
Alternative energy focuses on power solutions that limit greenhouse gases and dependency on oil. It includes the major energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. These renewable energy sources are used in concert with new electronic product designs used for The Smart Grid, back-up power, telecom, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cells, and many other applications. For example, some new applications for photovoltaic cells and wind power use the newest, most efficient inverters to change ac to dc power.
