flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Power systems will become more decentralized for better disaster resiliency

Codes and Standards

Power systems will become more decentralized for better disaster resiliency

Businesses, homeowners will control more power-generation capacity.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 9, 2018

Recent storms such as Hurricane Florence in the U.S. and Typhoon Mangkhut, which struck the Philippines and China, highlight the need for decentralized infrastructure, according to a recent Bloomberg article co-written by an energy analyst.

“On the basis of economics alone, the power systems of many countries will become highly decentralized in coming years,” the article says. By mid-century, more than a third of power-generation capacity in Japan will be customer-controlled in homes and businesses, the analyst asserts.

In Brazil, more than half of power generation will be in the control of private customers. If millions of small generators compensate for a small number of centralized failures, such decentralization would make electric systems more resilient.

While decentralization will grow based on the cost of energy, it will take government action as well. “Centralized decisions on things like building codes and flood zones can catalyze resilience,” the article says.

Related Stories

| Feb 9, 2012

Stiffer OSHA fines put strain on Kansas contractors

A fine for a violation that once cost between $750 and $1,200 now runs $7,000 or more per incident, according to a state industry association official.

| Feb 9, 2012

Webinar focuses on lessons learned from LEED-certified industrial project

A Construction Specifications Institute webinar will focus on the lessons learned through the design and construction of a LEED-certified industrial project, Better Living Mill Shop, the first industrial building in Central Virginia to earn LEED certification.

| Feb 8, 2012

California likely to eliminate redevelopment agencies

Leaders of California cities had been trying to fashion a compromise with lawmakers after the state Supreme Court ruled the state had the authority to eliminate the agencies and use their property tax money for local services.

| Feb 8, 2012

Project aimed at economical seismic retrofits on historic Memphis structures

The group will develop a low-cost seismic retrofit model that would benefit aging brick-and-mortar structures. It involves bolting steel brackets to existing wooden floor and ceiling joists.

| Feb 8, 2012

Houston signs on to Better Buildings Challenge

The challenge has about $4 billion in federal and private-sector funds, which it will use for building energy upgrades nationwide in the next two years.

| Feb 8, 2012

OSHA offers free health and safety consulting for small businesses

The consultants offer confidential, non-punitive advice.

| Feb 8, 2012

Controversy over pay for prisoners on roofing job in Michigan

The disagreement was over whether the prisoners should have been paid prevailing wage for their brief time on the job because the project was paid for with a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

| Jan 30, 2012

ZigBee and ISO 50001: Two new standards to make buildings greener

These developments demonstrate the dynamic nature of the market and the continued need for development of program standards of many different types that help builders and owners translate high performance and sustainable buildings goals into practical measures on the ground.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021