energy

University’s energy savings warm governor Locke’s heart

Washington State University recently was awarded a 2004 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Management from the office of outgoing Washington Gov. Gary Locke. The award, presented during the Jan. 28 WSU Regents meeting, is a recognition of a number of energy-efficiency improvements and environmental achievements made universitywide. Among the improvements cited by the award […]

Daylighting lab to promote energy-effective design

Daylight can make people happier, healthier and more productive. The challenge of bringing it into the workplace will be the focus of a Daylighting Lab and Integrated Design Center being established at the Interdisciplinary Design Institute of Washington State University Spokane with a grant from BetterBricks. BetterBricks is a project of the Northwest Energy Efficiency […]

Olympia Energy Program catches the wave

WSU’s Energy Program in Olympia is working on bringing a new wave of renewable energy into Washington homes.“Ocean wave energy is a clean alternative form of energy that does not produce the pollution and greenhouse gases that natural gas generating facilities do,” said Jake Fey, WSU Energy Program director. “It helps meet the growing need […]

Steam plant starting up

The new Grimes Way Steam Plant was used for the first time on Aug. 9 to admit steam to the Washington State University heating system. Testing of all three boilers, fueled both by natural gas and diesel, is continuing with hopes of having the plant fully functional by early September, said Mike Nearing, energy plant […]

Researchers show potential of farm waste as fuel

People have used biomass energy or bioenergy — the energy from organic matter — since the first use of fire for heat. Today, wood is still our largest biomass source. But other sources are becoming increasingly useful and — with the help of researchers like Shulin Chen, a Washington State University professor and associate director […]

Power outages continue in preparation for energy plant

This week, during spring break, Facilities Operations is scheduling several power outages that will affect a wide number of buildings. Here’s a brief Q&A with Terry Ryan, Washington State University’s energy manager, explaining why, when and where the articles are occurring. Q: Why we’re having the outages? TR: The new Grimes Way Steam Plant (GWSP) […]

Shock Physics nabs $18M

The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration has approved an $18 million, five-year extension to a grant for Washington State University’s Institute for Shock Physics. The initial $10 million grant, awarded in 1997, established the institute as a part of the DOE’s strategic investment in selected scientific disciplines important to science-based stockpile stewardship. According […]

Cogeneration dropped; steam production only

Washington State University officials report they will begin plans to develop a steam-only energy plant. The plant, first proposed as a cogeneration facility that would create steam and electricity, has become too expensive. “We are planning to move forward with a steam-only plant,” reported Greg Royer, vice president for Business Affairs. “The latest report we […]

New research institute to turn ag wastes into energy, products

Four major Northwest research organizations are bringing together industry, processors, growers, universities and federal laboratories to develop new methods for converting agricultural and food processing residue and wastes into commercially valuable “bio-based” energy and industrial products. Members of the new Northwest Bioproducts Research Institute include the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, […]