Utility Tracking and Benchmarking Blog | WegoBlog

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. This week we take a look at ways you can make your home (and bike!) green.  So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate, Sean, Lily, Catherine, and Casey.

In a time when environmental consciousness is on everyone's minds, the military is being held accountable for their energy foot print; a challenge the military seems to be taking to heart. Energy efficiency has become a primary focus in the administration of military bases.

The Army's first step towards energy efficiency has been implementing net zero bases, which require that they create as much energy as they use by converting buildings to energy efficient facilities and installing solar energy panels, they have also made strides in reducing their energy consumption over all. One way in which the Army has reduced their energy use is by reducing the number of and changing the type of non-tactical fleet vehicles. In 2011 they reduced their non-tactical fleet by 8,000 vehicles. The Army has the largest non-tactical fleet out of all branches of the government and intends to reduce this portion of their vehicles by 20 to 40 percent over five years. Beyond the reduction in non-tactical fleet vehicles, they are looking at the types of vehicles used in these areas, converting to hybrids, high efficiency vehicles or alternative fuel vehicles where possible. The Army is also researching lighter armor and alternative fuel options for combat vehicles, while still trying to maintain the most safety for our troops.

The Navy has installed smart electricity meters in their barracks, which have tighter security requirements. This meter change has given the Navy an energy savings of 5 percent. In addition to tighter monitoring of their bases' electric usage, the Navy has installed 9 million square feet of installation in their temporary structures, cutting fuel consumption by 77,000 gallons of gasoline per day. The Navy has also taken steps to reduce energy consumption on their ships by converting to energy efficient materials and even hybrid engines, as well as installing stern flaps to decrease drag creating more energy efficient ships.

Energy efficiency is the responsibility of all of us. With the U.S. military's combined numbers it could be called the countries fourth largest city. That makes the U.S. military an important tool in moving forward to a more energy efficient America. The U.S. military seems to be listening and taking this task seriously with the steps it has implemented towards energy efficiency so far.

Native plants and grasses in the place of traditional lawns can save resources, cut landscaping costs and significantly reduce pollution.

The Palace of Versailles.

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. This week we take a look at some new nifty technologies and one old-school throwback.  So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate, Sean, Lily, Catherine, and Casey.

It's a common occurrence for utility bills to come in, go to accounting, get paid, and be filed away, never to be seen again.  A lot of useful data is being filed away, especially in the case of water bills.  Even if you take the time to look at your water usage, what does it mean?

Typically, when people hear that their neighbor wants to install a wind turbine, they shudder as they think of a loud, large, bird-killing machine towering over the trees and obstructing the view from their back porch.  However, this doesn’t have to be the case.  Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are a promising solution to moving towards renewable energy in residential areas, be it rural, suburban, or even urban. 

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. This week we take a look at what's going on in the world of climate change adaptation and resilience.  So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate, Sean, Lily, Catherine, and Casey.

Battery-powered, electric vehicles are a promising solution to concerns over air pollution, peak oil, achieving energy independence, and climate change. But can our power grid support the increasing market of EVs?  With annual sales predicted to reach nearly 360,000 by 2017, many are concerned that the grid cannot support the additional demand.  However, the answer to the question is actually yes, our power grid can support the adoption of electric vehicles into the light duty car market.  What remains unclear is whether local distribution transformers will be able to handle the additional power load.

For many, hearing the term waterless toilet likely conjures up an image of a smelly outhouse.  However, it might surprise you to know there are many of these toilets, better known as composting toilets, which do not smell at all and don’t use any H₂0.  “How could this even be possible?” you say.  Well lucky enough, Wegowise has got your back (side).  We’re going to give you the low down on how composting toilets work.