Parker discusses "energy crunch" and technological solutions
Graham Parker
Rolling blackouts, darkened traffic lights, stranded elevators, chilly grocery stores. Today's power crisis in California reminds us that the U.S. continues to be very dependent on energy and that power shortages in one region of the country can have a significant impact on another region.
However, unlike the energy crisis that hit the nation in the early 1970s, Graham Parker believes there are real alternatives--in the form of new technologies and efficiency measures--for saving energy and money. "We don't have to go back to the days of doing without, doing with less," says Parker, program manager in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Energy Science and Technology Division.
At the March 14 Community Science and Technology Seminar Series lecture, Parker discussed the impact of California's power crisis on this region, what citizens can do to save energy and offset rising energy costs, and how PNNL is contributing to energy efficient technology development.
Parker works with the public and private sectors in partnerships to develop and deploy new technologies, including lighting and appliances, for residential and commercial applications. His research centers on water conservation, energy efficiency and market transformation for clients including the U.S. Department of Energy, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric and the U.S. Army Forces Command.
"The crisis in California crosscuts the entire west coast, and utilities are facing the difficult decision of how they will handle the increase in the price of electricity for their customers," Parker said. Among the solutions are building new power plants. "But utilities also are trying to find technological solutions, and that's where PNNL is helping."
For example, researchers are working with utilities and governmental agencies in Northern and Southern California to change the energy purchase and use behavior of public housing authorities and apartment dwellers and owners. The approach includes education, identification and promotion of energy efficient appliances and lighting, and testing to ascertain the savings and ensure the quality and user-acceptance of energy efficient products.
Closer to home, researchers at the Laboratory recently participated in the design review process for the new City of Richland police station and Community Center and the retrofitting of the Richland Public Library. "Many energy efficient recommendations were implemented," Parker said, "including high-performance, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, efficient lighting and insulated windows."
New and emerging energy efficient technologies also are on the drawing board at PNNL, including miniature air conditioning and heating units, and fuel cells to generate power. "These innovations are still in the development stage but we're confident they will be a major contribution to the nation's energy future."
The Community Science and Technology Seminar Series is supported by the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology and by the local chapter of Sigma Xi, the international honor society of scientific and engineering research.
