Tag

Energy Efficiency

All articles tagged with #energy efficiency

innovation4 days ago•11 min saved

MIT advances photonic links to petabit-speed data transfer

MIT's FUTUR-IC program unveils advances in electronically-photonic integration to push data transmission toward and beyond one petabit per second with lower energy use, including evanescent and GRIN optical couplers plus a third previously developed one—optical 'solder bumps' linking photonic devices. These approaches can be manufactured with existing semiconductor equipment, and Earthster models environmental impact while the initiative trains a workforce for semiconductor efficiency. The aim is to separate computation (electronics) from communication (photonic) to reduce data-center energy as AI and cloud services scale.

via Interesting Engineering|

#co-packaged-optics #data-centers #energy-efficiency

policy8 days ago•6 min saved

Trump push to loosen home-appliance efficiency standards faces backlash

The Energy Department proposes weakening or pausing future efficiency updates for home appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines), arguing it preserves consumer choice and lowers costs, but critics warn it would increase energy use and strain the grid, undo decades of efficiency gains, and could face lawsuits from Democratic-led states; the move mirrors earlier Trump-era efforts and follows other rollbacks since he returned to office.

via The Washington Post|

#appliance-standards #consumer-costs #energy-efficiency

world11 days ago•3 min saved

EU dodges pro/con on home air conditioning amid blistering heatwave

Amid a brutal heatwave, the European Commission declined to take a pro or con stance on private-home air conditioning, saying it won’t micromanage consumer choices and that the issue should be addressed through energy efficiency and building renovations; it left room to revisit if political context changes and highlighted an Electrification Action Plan to power heating and cooling from cleaner energy. The debate ties into the broader Green Deal rethink toward net-zero and decarbonisation, with renewables accounting for about 47% of EU electricity in 2025.

via Euronews|

#air-conditioning #electrification #energy-efficiency

technology19 days ago•6 min saved

AI’s Slow Burn: How Software Bloat Could Undermine the AI Boom

The piece argues that neural-network AI may be hindered by software bloat, citing Wirth’s Law, which posits software slows faster than hardware speeds improve. It contrasts the experience of evolving, bloated software (like a CMS) with simpler, older tools, and warns that AI’s enormous energy use and growing infrastructure could be economically risky and potentially wasteful. The author calls for oversight and critical evaluation before large-scale investments, suggesting that efficiency and smarter design are essential to avoid an AI-driven bubble and unsustainable energy demands.

via CleanTechnica|

#ai #data-centers #energy-efficiency

science22 days ago•7 min saved

Substrate Sculpting Boosts Ultrathin Superconductors Toward Practical Electronics

Chalmers University researchers show that nanoscale sculpting of the substrate beneath an ultrathin cuprate superconducting film creates an interfacial electronic landscape that stabilizes superconductivity at higher temperatures and under strong magnetic fields, a design principle that could accelerate practical superconducting electronics, energy systems, and quantum devices.

via ScienceDaily|

#cuprates #energy-efficiency #nanoscale-engineering

technology25 days ago•2 min saved

Amazon Smart Thermostat Hits Sub-$60 in Early Prime Day Sale

Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is on sale for $57.99 in an early Prime Day deal—the best price since Black Friday. It learns your routines, adjusts for home/away and sleep, supports 24-volt HVAC systems, tracks energy usage via the app, and integrates with Alexa for voice control and routines, offering strong value under $100 for those in the Amazon ecosystem.

via The Verge|

#alexa #amazon #energy-efficiency

environment-energy25 days ago•11 min saved

Renters gain affordable climate control with window-mounted heat pumps

Window-mounted heat pumps offer a low-cost, DIY alternative to full split systems, delivering heating and cooling in apartments and older homes for about $3,000–$4,000 and avoiding major renovations; they can be moved to a new property but have limited capacity and lose efficiency in very cold weather. Federal subsidies for this equipment expired in 2025, though some utility programs may still help pay the cost; the NYC Housing Authority has begun installing them in some apartments.

via The Conversation|

#apartments #energy-efficiency #environment-energy

technology26 days ago•3 min saved

Eco-Friendly, Budget-Smart Cooling: Whole-House Fans as an AC Alternative

The article explains that a whole-house fan installed in an attic can pull cool outdoor air through open windows and vent it into the attic, offering a cheaper and greener cooling option than a traditional HVAC system. Installation costs typically run about $900–$2,400 compared with $7,500–$14,500 for a new HVAC, and the system can reduce energy use—especially when used with an AC—but it’s best in climates with cool evenings and may be less effective in humid or very hot conditions; proper installation is crucial to avoid pests or moisture.

via SlashGear|

#cost-savings #energy-efficiency #home-improvement

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

Unplug These 7 Household Devices Before You Head Out

An expert advises unplugging high‑draw or heat‑producing devices when you’re away to reduce fire risk. The seven to unplug are space heaters, air fryers, portable AC units, hair tools, older coffee makers, lamps/old cords, and toasters; low‑draw electronics like monitors, phone chargers, TVs and alarm clocks can stay plugged in if cords and outlets are in good shape.

via CNET|

#appliances #electrical-safety #energy-efficiency

energy1 month ago•7 min saved

DOE Limits Electrification in Reopened Home-Upgrade Rebates

The DOE published guidance for $8.8B in HOMES and HEEHR home-efficiency rebates, reopening funds but barring funding for switching from fossil fuels to electric heat, requiring insulation/air-sealing upgrades before appliances, and scrapping DEI/Justice40 considerations; states must adjust plans before funds are released, a move applauded by some for efficiency gains but criticized by advocates who say it narrows electrification and equity goals.

via Inside Climate News|

#doe #electrification #energy

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Ultrafast, low-heat magnetic switch could redefine AI hardware

Researchers at the University of Tokyo unveiled a spintronic switch made from Mn3Sn antiferromagnet that can flip a binary state in about 40 picoseconds—up to 1,000× faster than the fastest AI accelerators and with far less heat and energy—offering a path to cooler, more efficient future hardware, though overall computing speed also depends on non-switching components and commercialization challenges.

via TechSpot|

#antiferromagnet #energy-efficiency #mn3sn

science1 month ago•2 min saved

NASA Night-Lights Map Reveals a World of Brightening Hubs and Dimmed Regions

NASA's nine-year Black Marble analysis shows Earth's night lights are not simply expanding: radiance rose about 34% while dimming offset it by roughly 18%, with regional shifts like brighter West Coast US, dimmer East Coast due to efficiency and economic changes, and increased brightness in China and northern India, plus European dimming from conservation efforts and a 2022 energy crisis. The findings, published in Nature, emphasize a dynamic and uneven global light footprint tied to urban evolution and policy impacts.

via CBS News|

#black-marble #energy-efficiency #nasa

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Night Lights Uncover a World of Brightening Booms and Dimming Shifts

NASA’s Night Lights (Black Marble) maps show a nuanced 2014–2022 view: global radiance rose about 34%, but increases and decreases occur in tandem. U.S. West Coast areas brightened with growth, while parts of the East Coast dimmed as LEDs and energy shifts took hold. Internationally, China and northern India saw brightening, while Paris (33%), the UK (22%), and the Netherlands (21%) dimmed due to energy-efficiency measures; Europe’s 2022 dimming followed the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis. The data come from VIIRS sensors on Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21, and the findings were published in Nature (April 2026) with downloadable maps and animations available from NASA Earth Observatory.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#black-marble #energy-efficiency #nighttime-lights

technology2 months ago•5 min saved

Beam-grid breakthrough: chip-scale optical wireless hits 362 Gbps in lab tests

Researchers demonstrated a chip-scale optical wireless transmitter built from a 5×5 VCSEL laser array that achieved 362.7 Gbps over a two-meter free-space link by running 21 lasers in parallel. A microlens and beam-shaping optics create a structured grid to prevent interference, enabling multiple simultaneous links in a room while consuming about 1.4 nanojoules per bit—roughly half the energy per bit of state-of-the-art Wi‑Fi. The work shows optical wireless can complement existing networks and relieve crowded radio bands in indoor spaces.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#energy-efficiency #free-space-optical-communication #multi-user-beams

innovation2 months ago•9 min saved

China rolls out energy-smart 200-qubit Hanyuan-2 quantum computer

China unveils Hanyuan-2, a 200-qubit dual-core quantum computer built on neutral-atom technology that uses under 7 kW and can operate in conventional environments, with its two cores sharing workloads and aiding error correction for real-world industrial use, developed by CAS Cold Atom Technology in Wuhan for commercialization.

via Interesting Engineering|

#cas-cold-atom-technology #energy-efficiency #hanyuan-2