The US Navy is on their way to having 40% of their power come from renewable sources by 2020 and a big part of that move is helping their buildings save energy. They’ve got their researchers hard at work devising new technology and one solution that recently emerged from the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global has us marveling at its ingenuity. It is a magnetic energy regulation device that controls the flow of energy to lighting sources. The device also captures residual magnetic energy given off by energy transmitters which it redirects back into the lighting — total savings can be up to 40% at peak times.
“The device not only conserves electricity, but produces far less heat and produces less electromagnetic interference than conventional technologies” said Dr. Chandra Curtis, program officer in ONR Global’s Tokyo office. She noted that she was excited about this device providing savings across the power grid. In practice in barracks at a Navy base in Tokyo, Japan the device proved to work wonderfully in all intended aspects and significantly reduced power consumption over time.
Curtis and her team are working on a proposal for a larger test installation at the same barracks in Tokyo that would include a break room, printing press room, laundry room, gymnasium and several offices. The device was originally tested in an area that required 24 hour lighting, but using it in these varied spaces would show its efficacy in different situations. The tests should run into 2011 if approved.
Via Science Daily
If this is directed at lighting, why not just switch to LED lights. The savings would be greater than 40% and the maintenance lower with fewer bulb replacements. Some magical device that saves energy like that sounds a bit too good to be true, but maybe it is possible.
I’m confused about how saving energy increase the Navy’s use of renewable energy to 40%. While the team at GreenTechBuyer is certainly a fan of all green technology and efficiency projects, it seems like this is a bit of ‘green washing’ where something that saves money on overall energy consumption is being touted as relating to 40% of energy coming from renewables such as solar or wind energy. What am I missing?
I read the Navy article and it really was unclear exactly what the device is or does. As best I can tell, it is in place of or along with fluorescent ballasts.