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Building Better Neighborhoods
Also inside:n NEMA@Home: Save Energy without Sacrificing Safetyn What is Connected Home Technology?n Reaping Rewards of Effective IEC Participationn Mexican Mandatory Standard to Include Arc Welding
the magazine of the electroindustry
2014 Hermes Award W
inner
Published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association | www.NEMA.org | April 2015 | Vol. 20 No. 4
KNOW UL?THINK AGAIN.Did you know we could help you reduce the overall risks and costs associated with PV plant development? In the process of pioneering safety and standards over the past 120 years, UL has acquired a vast knowledge of the relevant regulations and technologies that can help you meet your PV power plant’s scheduled COD as well as maintain projected lifecycle performance and returns – from the design phase to commissioning and operation. Put your trust in the same third-part experts that AHJs and other stakeholders in the PV value chain rely on.
For more information on UL services for PV plants, please contact [email protected] or call 1.877.ULHELPS (1.877.854.3577)
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Electroindustry text and cover pages are printed using SFI®-certified Anthem paper using soy ink.• SFIfibersourcingrequirementspromoteresponsibleforest managementonallsuppliers’lands.
• SFIworkswithenvironmental,socialandindustrypartnersto improveforestpracticesinNorthAmerica.
• TheSFIcertifiedsourcinglabelisproofElectroindustryisusing fiberfromresponsibleandlegalsources.
ECO BOX
FEATURESTransitioning from Smart Buildings to Smart Cities .................................................................................8
Smarter Cities Lower Energy Consumption, Carbon Emissions through Motor Upgrades...........................10
Sustainable Landscaping Strengthens Smart Communities ...................................................................12
Improving Existing Transportation Infrastructure Can Have Big Impact ..................................................14
The Integrated Grid: Realizing the Full Value of Central and Distributed Energy Resources ......................16
Living off the Grid in Guatemala ..........................................................................................................18
NEMA@HomeManaging the Home of Tomorrow Today ........................................................................... NEMA@Home 3
Spring Cleaning Safety Checklist ....................................................................................... NEMA@Home 3
ThePatrickProject: A Year of Energy Savings....................................................................... NEMA@Home 4
Why Buy It When I Can (Safely) Make It? ............................................................................ NEMA@Home 5
Creative Ways to Hide Electronics, Electrical Cords .............................................................. NEMA@Home 5
Connected Home Begins with Planning ............................................................................. NEMA@Home 6
Coming Next Month:Are You Grounded?Electric Safety from Plant to Plug
Available on the App Store
electroindustryPublisher / Editor in Chief | Pat Walsh
Contributing Editors | Chrissy L. S. George William E. Green III
Economic Spotlight | Tim Gill
Codes & Standardization Trends | Vince Baclawski Government Relations Update | Kyle Pitsor
Art Director | Jennifer TillmannNational Advertising Representative | Bill Mambert
CONTENTS
electroindustry (ISSN 1066-2464) is published monthly by NEMA, the Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209; 703.841.3200. FAX: 703.841.5900. Periodicals postage paid at Rosslyn, VA, and York, PA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NEMA, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The opinions or views expressed in electroindustry do not necessarily reflect the positions of NEMA or any of its subdivisions.
Subscribe to ei, the magazine of the electroindustry, at www.nema.org/subscribe2eiContact us at [email protected]
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Cover photo courtesy of Pecan Street, Inc.
Building Better Neighborhoods
Also inside:n NEMA@Home: Save Energy without Sacrificing Safetyn What is Connected Home Technology?n Reaping Rewards of Effective IEC Participationn Mexican Mandatory Standard to Include Arc Welding
the magazine of the electroindustry
2014 Hermes Award W
inner
Published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association | www.NEMA.org | April 2015 | Vol. 20 No. 4
Newsmakers NOTES
DEPARTMENTS
NEMA Officers .......................................................................................................................................................................................3
From the Chairman ...............................................................................................................................................................................3
View from the Top .................................................................................................................................................................................4
Government Relations Update ...............................................................................................................5
FERC Seeks Supreme Court Review of Appeals Court Demand Response Decision ...........................................................................5
MITA Builds Support on Capitol Hill .....................................................................................................................................................6
ANSI Briefing on Capitol Hill Includes NEMA Standards ......................................................................................................................6
Electroindustry News ..........................................................................................................................19
ESFI to Address Hazards in Older Homes during National Electrical Safety Month ..........................................................................19
NEMA Welcomes New Members .......................................................................................................................................................19
Electric Resistance Heating Section Launches Outreach, Names Leadership ...................................................................................20
The Perfect Pour ..................................................................................................................................................................................21
Code Actions/Standardization Trends ...................................................................................................23
Effective IEC Participation ...................................................................................................................................................................23
Recently Published Standards ............................................................................................................................................................24
International Roundup .......................................................................................................................25
Mexican Mandatory Standard to Include Arc Welding ......................................................................................................................25
NEMA Plays Notable Role in CANENA 2015 Annual Meeting ...........................................................................................................26
Economic Spotlight .............................................................................................................................27
We Are NEMA ......................................................................................................................................28
Did You Know Webinars to Explain Impact of DOE AmendmentNEMA’s Motor & Generator Section will host a series of webinars in April related to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent amendment of Section 431 of the federal energy code covering the efficiency of electric motors. It affects most motors from one to 500 horsepower sold in the U.S. and will take effect June 1.
The section’s Energy Management Committee Chairman Rob Boteler and Immediate Past Chairman John Malinowski have teamed up—with input from other section members and NEMA staff—to explain the impact of this amendment to end users and OEMs in the U.S.
Individuals and organizations may register at no cost. Contact William Hoyt, NEMA industry director, at 703-841-3211 or [email protected].
28
Patient advocates, including May Steinhardt, shared their concerns about the role of imaging in diagnosing and treating their cancer on Capitol Hill.
Fred Small, Engineering Manager, Wire Mesh Products, Hubbell Wiring Device–Kellems, explains why non-current carrying products are included in NEMA’s product scope.
6
4Pette demonstrates how to find a bright spot in a crisis.
NEMA@HOME
FROM THE CHAIRMANOfficersChairman
Don Hendler President & CEO Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
First Vice ChairwomanMaryrose Sylvester President & CEO GE Lighting
Second Vice ChairmanMichael Pessina President Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.
TreasurerThomas S. Gross Vice Chairman & COO Eaton Corporation
Immediate Past ChairmanJohn Selldorff President and CEO Legrand North America
President & CEOKevin J. Cosgriff
SecretaryClark R. Silcox
Don Hendler Chairman, NEMA Board of Governors
Smart homes were once reserved for celebrities and titans of industry. Flash forward to 2015 and the Internet of Things (IoT): we now expect interconnected automation at home, at work, and in our communities.
Today, smart homes are not only a niche market for the growing middle class; they are the hub of what many business managers refer to as the “razorblade” model. Based on King Gillette’s prototype of providing a permanent supply of an add-on product (e.g., razorblades) in order to complement a more permanent product (e.g., the razor itself), today’s smart homes are magnets for add-ons. Adding lighting controls, thermostats, and other smart accessories to compatible hubs, gateways, and controllers in the smart home enable increasingly advanced applications.
While many manufacturers have been providing connected devices for this formerly niche market for decades—utilizing standard protocols as well as custom drivers—solutions are now available for nearly every budget, and with more options and exposure than ever before. Furthermore, these embedded devices and smart objects have been incorporated into nearly every field, which enable even more complex concepts, such as smart grids. This presents unparalleled opportunities for NEMA members. Additionally, because many smart devices benefit from professional installation, this evolution increases opportunities for our associated contractors as well.
Buildings, communities, and entire cities are being connected to the cloud for energy savings, convenience, and analytics. Technology platforms have emerged for residential and commercial properties, allowing NEMA members to offer automation and control by smartphone apps. Robust wireless technology with simplified programming allows contractors to learn the system in the morning and install it in the afternoon.
Even as LED and other bulb technologies, like CFLs, reduce energy demands, consumers are plugging in more electric vehicles, computers, TVs, and appliances. Smart grids allow for the most efficient use of existing infrastructure, transmission lines, and highly variable renewable resources. In the world of connected devices, consumer products can respond to utility signals via cloud services. Coupled with demand response or time of use strategies and utility scale energy storage, utility companies can quickly stabilize energy pricing across a specific area during peak hours. Connecting cities takes this concept one step further to a grander scale of a fully connected world. The future is wide open for our industry.
Energy code lighting control requirements are driving opportunities. ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2010 and California Title 24 2013 mandate use of daylight harvesting in conjunction with automation. Building systems can determine occupancy and save money automatically by setting HVAC, water heaters, pool pumps, and other high-draw devices to a pre-determined energy saving setting. These solutions enable remote access to a single home, a franchisee with multiple locations, or a corporation with hundreds of facilities.
Ultimately, connected systems increase quality of life for business owners, employees, homeowners, and family members, and will continue with incredible momentum as manufacturers further embrace a smarter world. ei
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 3
Providing solutions for the connected home starts with understanding and appreciating the idea of home. According to Merriam-Webster, home is a person’s
familiar or usual setting; a congenial environment suited to one’s taste or nature. Our desire to preserve the familiarity of the homes, to be secure, comfortable, and entertained—these are constants that help drive broad acceptance of new consumer technologies.
In the connected home, this familiar environment will also communicate digitally with the resources we use—resources that can be measured and managed for greater efficiency. Driven largely by the explosive growth of smart phones, tablets, and the internet, our homes will be connected to IT (phone, internet, and TV), electricity, water, gas, and products that manage the indoor environment, such as heating and air conditioning systems. Mass-market acceptance will ultimately depend on how well the products work, and whether they meet a demonstrated need or provide a desired benefit.
Our job, as NEMA manufacturers, is to provide smart products that are useful, affordable, and reliable. They have to eliminate and solve problems,
Ű Taking a Leadership Role in Connected Home TechnologyMike Pessina, President, Lutron Electronics
simplify lives, and create a more congenial living environment. If they meet these requirements—and if they work reliably—the smart devices we create, such as lighting, temperature, and security systems, have the potential to be as ubiquitous as TVs and microwaves.
Our customers also want products that provide security, entertainment, environmental sustainability, energy savings, and even fun. We have to remain focused on meeting their wants and needs in a way that enhances their lives, and does not threaten the security and sanctity of their homes…their havens…their castles.
Embracing Simplicity What are some of the challenges to success? Right now there are billions of things in the Internet of Things, and many of them speak different languages. Ultimately, the connected home will rely on compatibility between different manufacturers’ products. We have to make connected “things” simple for the consumer to install and operate, enhance communications, and improve convenience.
We also have to keep in mind that customers value different features. They will embrace devices that work as expected, but they are not likely to pay for, or be forced to use, features that they don’t want or need.
As NEMA manufacturers, we have a great opportunity to drive connected home technologies. The products we make are currently in our customers’ homes, already part of their familiar, congenial environments, and already part of the Internet of Things. We are uniquely poised to provide products that make the connected home successful.
Imagine that your home anticipates your arrival, adjusting lights, window shades, and temperature to your preferences. It turns on your favorite music and unlocks the door as you reach the entryway. You feel more relaxed and secure. You are pleased that the lights weren’t on all day wasting energy, and equally happy that you don’t have to come into a dark, uncomfortable house. This is not a futuristic scenario; it’s what we can do for our customers today.
Now our job is to listen carefully, and adapt to our customer’s changing needs. By embracing smart technology at all levels of consumer interest—and at every price point—we can continue to expand the market for connected solutions, benefit society, and provide products that make people’s lives better. After all, that’s what we strive to do with everything we manufacture: make people’s lives better, which makes a significant contribution to society and the economy. ei
What the industry is saying: Dallas-based research firm MarketsandMarkets found, in a new research report, that the smart homes market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent
between 2015 and 2020, and reach $58.68 billion by 2020.
NTS Smart Technology Blog & News
4 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
View from the Top
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Court of Appeals decision holding the agency lacked authority in its Order 745 proceeding to establish a wholesale pricing methodology for demand response in the real-time and day-ahead electricity auction markets run by wholesale electricity market operators.
In a 2-1 decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that demand response was part of the retail market, and the Federal Power Act reserved regulation of the retail electricity market to the states.
The court of appeals reasoned that demand response is, in effect a reduction in retail electricity consumption and is no different from the effect of any reduction in retail consumption on the wholesale price. One company active in the demand response market, EnerNOC, also asked the Supreme Court to review the decision in a separate petition.
FERC’s Order 745 was challenged by the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) in 2011. EPSA’s response was due in March.
In addition to ruling that FERC lacked authority to establish a methodology to price demand response resources in the real-time and day-ahead electricity auction markets, the court of appeals also ruled that the methodology was arbitrary and capricious. FERC is not seeking review of that part of the ruling.
If the Supreme Court were to accept the petition and reverse the court of appeals, FERC would then have to reconsider its methodology. Critics of the methodology argue that FERC’s formula for demand response compensation is too generous to customers who agree to curtail electricity consumption to help the grid balance demand and supply.
FERC’s petition, filed by the U.S. Solicitor General, notes the Supreme Court has previously recognized that “FERC’s exclusive jurisdiction [over wholesale electricity markets] applies not only to rates but also to power allocations that affect wholesale rates.”
A 2002 ruling from the Supreme Court upheld FERC’s assertion of jurisdiction over unbundled retail sales of electricity in connection with its open access rule for interstate transmission of electricity. The court observed that the electricity market is no longer neatly divided into spheres of wholesale and retail sales.
The petition argues that FERC’s actions in Order 745 were plainly wholesale. “The level at which demand response providers are compensated by wholesale market operators for bids into the wholesale system has about as ‘direct’ an effect and as clear a ‘nexus’ with the wholesale transaction as can be imagined: The payments to demand-response providers are recouped by adjusting the wholesale rate paid by purchasers in the wholesale market.”
The payers for demand response resources, the parties to whom FERC’s Order 745 is directed, are transmission operators in wholesale electricity markets, i.e., independent systems operators and regional transmission organizations.
A number of groups have filed friend of the court briefs in support of FERC’s petition, including several state public utility commissions, consumer advocacy and environmental groups, and a number of major electricity consumers.
One EPSA member, NRG Energy, Inc., supports the FERC petition and filed a separate brief. “There is nothing inherently ‘retail’ or ‘wholesale’ about electricity,” NRG’s brief says; “there is nothing inherently retail or wholesale about demand response. The demand response programs that fall within FERC’s jurisdiction are critical to efficient functioning of wholesale markets for electric energy; that is inconsistent with the D.C. Circuit’s insistence that demand response is inherently a retail product.”
NRG points out that distributed solar panels may reduce the amount of grid power consumed directly by the [retail] customer or feed excess electricity [at wholesale] into the grid for resale. Smart thermostats allow the owner to adjust temperatures automatically or remotely, reducing or potentially increasing power drawn from the grid on command. This can reduce retail consumption or be aggregated and sold into the wholesale market. Other examples cited by NRG include electric vehicle charging systems and combined heat and power devices.
A decision on whether to accept the case for review is expected before the Supreme Court recesses in June. ei
Clark R. Silcox, Legal Counsel | [email protected]
Ű FERC Seeks Supreme Court Review of Appeals Court Demand Response Decision
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
ruled that demand response was
part of the retail market, and
the Federal Power Act reserved
regulation of the retail electricity
market to the states.
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 5
Government Relations Update
Patient advocate May Steinhardt (left) shared her concerns about the role of imaging in diagnosing and treating cancer with staff in the office of Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI). Photo by Dave Brown, Powell Tate
In March, the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) was on Capitol Hill to build support for patient access to medical imaging services and medical imaging and radiation therapy manufacturers. Congress is considering legislation that will directly affect reimbursements for imaging services, namely the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), which was set to expire on March 31. At press time, Congress was considering a permanent fix for SGR that could save the imaging community from harmful cuts in the future.
MITA also has thoughtfully built bipartisan support for the repeal of the medical device tax and is working with congressional staff on the appropriate vehicles for repeal.
Throughout March, MITA complemented its advocacy efforts by bringing in both member company executives and patient advocates to voice support for patient access to medical imaging and repealing the device tax. Manufacturers across the industry presented a united front to lawmakers and stressed the strain that the device
NEMA participated as an exhibitor at a March 12 briefing on Capitol Hill about voluntary consensus standards and the global supply chain. NEMA personnel spoke with House of Representatives staff members about the value NEMA standards bring in medical imaging, workplace safety, energy efficiency, airport security, roadway traffic management, and global market access.
In his opening remarks, ANSI Board Chairman Kevan Lawlor, who is also president and CEO of NSF International, explained that standards are important ways to “create consensus global solutions” to many challenges. Speakers at the event highlighted
tax places on research and innovation within each company. Additionally, 17 passionate cancer survivors and advocates met with members of Congress and their staff to share their story, and the role of imaging in diagnosing and treating their cancer.
With 15 cuts to imaging since 2006, the industry cannot afford to be on the chopping block for further
current standards work underway to address specific challenges including corruption, worker safety, food safety, and sustainability.
For example, Kathy Seabrook, president of the American Society of Safety Engineers, highlighted a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) management system standard on occupational health and safety that lies at the intersection of markets, sustainability, and public policy.
Ranyee Chiang, director of standards for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, hailed international voluntary consensus standards as
reimbursement cuts. Senate Republicans also introduced a budget bill that includes medical device tax repeal, which will be considered in both houses after the April recess. ei
Andy Dhokai, Director of Federal Relations |
useful for governments looking for identifiers of acceptable products.
Other speakers briefed participants on ISO 45001, an international standard for occupational halth and safety management systems; ISO/CD 37001, an emerging ISO management system standard to aid companies in their efforts to avoid bribery and stay complaint with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act. ei
Craig Updyke, Manager, Trade and Commercial Affairs |
Ű MITA Builds Support on Capitol Hill
Ű ANSI Briefing on Capitol Hill Includes NEMA Standards
6 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Government Relations Update
Follow the Charge »
When Facebook set out to be one of the most energy effi cient data center operators in the world, we embraced their bold vision. The challenge of a world demanding more and more digital information combined with the power-hungry nature of data centers, truly inspired us.
Facebook’s new 300,000 square foot facility in Forest City, NC presented the opportunity to help power their ever-expanding network of over one billion users with critical reliability and exceptional effi ciency.
Building on our prior success with Facebook, our expertise in energy effi ciency and back-up power protection, we helped design a unique solution. Facebook optimized their data center effi ciency with our Power Xpert® 9395 and 9390 UPSs with Energy Saver System technology.
Today, Facebook commands a power usage effectiveness rating that’s well below the industry average of 1.83. And looks forward to achieving even greater effi ciency in the future. Thanks in part to Eaton.
Eaton.com/followthecharge©2015 Eaton. All rights reserved.
Energizing Facebook’s data center to power the next generation of social networking.
NEMA April_8.5x10.875.indd 1 3/6/15 3:58 PM
Rob Murchison, a principal with Intelligent Buildings LLC: “Openness will not spontaneously occur.”
But the potential gains by what we at Tridium call the Open Internet of Things are too great to ignore. The economy is transitioning from a business paradigm that regards information as power and data as something to be hoarded to a paradigm that views information as a source of innovation and data as something to be shared. “The more data we have,” says Mr. Murchison, “the more conversations we can have, the most opportunities there are to transform data into information, and information into actionable knowledge.”
We provide an open platform that connects dozens of different types of devices inside buildings. But we see no logical reason why connectivity should end at the property line. Our goal is to integrate buildings with each other and with municipal systems, as shown in the accompanying diagram.
For example, building automation systems optimize energy consumption of HVAC, lighting, elevators, servers and computers, and other electricity-consuming devices inside buildings and building complexes. But commercial buildings plug into larger electric grids. Smart grid technologies enable power companies to become defter at managing electric loads. Utilities are experimenting with time-of-day pricing, load-shedding, and other strategies to reduce peak electric loads.
The more data that power companies and commercial buildings can share, the more power companies can curtail capital expenditures that get passed on to ratepayers. Sharing energy consumption data also opens the potential for businesses to generate and share their own power in eco-districts—installing solar power, perhaps, or generating electric power and utilizing heat waste.
Water conservation presents another avenue for the integration of public and private data. Municipal governments spend
The economy is transitioning from a business
paradigm that regards information as power and data
as something to be hoarded to a paradigm that views
information as a source of innovation and data as
something to be shared.
Envision Charlotte has accomplished the remarkable feat of organizing owners of 61 of the 64 largest buildings in downtown Charlotte, North
Carolina, to conserve energy, save water, and achieve other sustainability goals. Initially, the not-for-profit group worked with Duke Energy to reduce energy usage by changing peoples’ behavior—turning off lights, setting back thermostats, and implementing other common-sense measures. That simple initiative shaved electricity consumption 6.2 percent.
The next step, now underway, is the large-scale implementation of building automation. Property owners are installing sensors to monitor energy consumption patterns in their buildings, and using automated controls to adjust lighting, regulate room temperatures, and manage other energy uses. Envision Charlotte aims to achieve 20 percent savings within five years.
For an encore, the board is discussing how to conserve energy on a district-wide scale. Aggregating data opens up new options, such as allowing the power company to better match electrical supply with demand or enabling property owners to work on joint projects. Changing individuals’ behavior and optimizing individual buildings can achieve a lot, says Executive Director Amy Aussieker, but district-level collaboration “is where the big change is going to happen.”
Building Open City SystemsAround the U.S., cities like Charlotte are moving aggressively to harness the Internet of Things (ubiquitous sensors and controllers communicating through the internet) and Big Data (massive volumes of data emanating from all those devices) to find ways to cut costs, improve the quality of municipal service, and engage citizens. To achieve the potential of district- or city-wide collaboration, these so-called Smart Cities must integrate dozens of buildings and diverse municipal systems, each of which may be built upon a different technology base. In effect, smart cities must evolve beyond open building systems, in which different devices talk to one another, to open city systems, in which different systems talk to one another.
The job is easier said than done. The Internet of Things (IoT) is prone to balkanization. At least four technology alliances are developing competing sets of communications standards. Building automation system vendors sometimes prefer to build closed systems that lock in customers. Property owners have various reasons, from security concerns to competitiveness or public-relations issues, to keep data to themselves. Says
Transitioning from Smart Buildings to Smart Cities
Wayne c. tighe, Vice president of Sales, tridium inc., a Honeywell international company
8 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
billions of dollars nationally to ensure a reliable supply of drinking water, an issue that is mission-critical in drought-prone areas of the country. Yet, municipal water systems lose on average 20 percent of that water through leakage.
By capturing data where water is actually consumed—in factories, commercial buildings, and residential houses—water companies can get a better handle (a) on where leaks are occurring and (b) who is consuming the water, (c) what they’re using it for, and (d) when they’re using it. Such data can be useful in formatting rate structures that inhibit consumption or putting into place conservation measures such as the recycling of “grey” water.
Seeking the Holy GrailPublic safety also could benefit from an Open IoT. Commercial buildings operate surveillance cameras, both inside and outside the premises. They provide outdoor lighting of grounds and parking lots. They track the coming and going of employees and visitors—and their cars.
Law enforcement authorities can access some of this data now, particularly surveillance tapes. Assuming privacy issues can be dealt with, creating tighter interoperability between public and private systems can provide more data on a timelier basis to help authorities identify and track down bad guys, from muggers to terrorists.
The Open IoT can help address cities’ chronic transportation issues as well. Smart cities are thinking about how they can both tame traffic congestion and reduce pollution by curtailing the number of vehicle miles traveled. Already, cities are implementing an array of promising strategies such as congestion pricing, traffic signal synchronization, and smart on-street parking, all of which are systems that could benefit from sharing data with each other.
The Holy Grail in municipal planning, however, is implementing a system of transportation demand management. Building systems can readily capture data on when employees arrive and depart from the office, and how many of them park their cars in the company garage. Aggregating that data across a business district like downtown Charlotte would be incredibly useful to municipal authorities.
By tweaking parking supply and price, adjusting bus schedules, or giving preference to car poolers in express lanes,
smart cities and their major employers can encourage employees to share cars, ride bicycles, take the bus, or change the times of their commute, thus forestalling the necessity for expensive construction projects.
Government and industry are investing billions of dollars in smart buildings because the business cases for energy conservation, water conservation, security, and safety have been amply demonstrated to generate a competitive return on capital. Those cases don’t exist yet for the city-wide pooling of data and information described here, but economic logic suggests that an Open IoT that facilitates the integration of building and municipal systems is the logical next step.
From a managerial perspective, implementing smart buildings is simple—typically, a single owner or manager calls the shots for an individual property. Creating a functional group out of diverse corporations, organizations, and government entities, each with differing priorities and financial capabilities to carry them out, is far more complicated. But the progress seen so far in cities like Charlotte suggests that the effort will be well worth it. ei
Mr. Tighe is responsible for IoT software and M2M hardware products at Tridium. He has has extensive knowledge of IT solutions including Big Data analytics, cloud services, data center management, smart cities, embedded software, and Internet of Things.
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 9
BUIlDINgBETTERcOMMUNITIES
as Energy Efficiency Districts, which provide low-interest loans for energy conservation projects in their communities. These programs offer long-term monetary savings for consumers and decreased energy consumption for municipalities.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that electric motors consume more than 50 percent of all electricity in the U.S. About $85 of every $100 in an industrial plant’s electric bill can be traced to an electric motor, and yet, studies show that up to 40 percent of the energy in the nation’s 5 million commercial buildings is wasted.
The most efficient way to slash this waste and lower costs is by installing higher efficiency motors in heating and cooling systems, and replacing the motors that drive many manufacturing processes with more appropriately sized, variable-speed models. This is already happening; however, despite $35 billion spent on commercial building automation in 2013 alone, 94 percent of commercial buildings still don’t have the “smart” automation technologies to tailor energy usage.
Motor upgrades, clearly, remain the low-hanging fruit in achieving energy efficiency. Far more than alternative forms of energy, these upgrades represent a significant, relatively low cost and largely untapped approach to reducing coal and oil use in the U.S.
Since 1978, California has led the U.S. in implementing energy-efficient strategies for new construction, and the state’s efforts have paid dividends. According to the California Public Utilities Commission, “California’s building and appliance standards have saved the state’s consumers more than $56 billion in natural gas and electricity costs since 1978 and averted building 15 large power plants.”1
Encouraging Retrofits Smart cities don’t limit their efforts to new construction. At the time energy efficiency laws were passed in California, for example, the state already had more than seven million existing homes. Most building infrastructure in use today will remain so through 2020, according the California Institute for Energy and Environment.
1 California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, January 2011 (www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A54B59C2-D571-440D-9477-3363726F573A/0/CAEnergyEfficiencyStrategicPlan_Jan2011.pdf )
Across the country, cities and their utilities are under regulatory pressure to lower carbon emissions and increase their use of renewable energy
sources. Smart cities often meet these goals by taking advantage of federal subsidies and tax credits to build wind farms and install solar arrays.
Many smarter cities, however, have found less costly, more practical ways to shrink their carbon footprint and lower energy consumption. They’re also helping the people and businesses that live and work there join the process.
Renewables: Only Part of the SolutionWind and solar energy receive considerable attention in the media, but for utilities, renewable energy sources still present major limitations. For one thing, they’ve made the electrical power grid more unstable. Case in point: peak usage is typically greatest at night—when the sun has gone down.
Also, affordability depends heavily on government subsidies. Wind power currently accounts for just 1.6 percent U.S. energy output, according to the Institute for Energy Research. Its long-term goal is reaching five percent.
To help reach this goal, the government subsidizes wind to the tune of $23 per megawatt hour—roughly 60 times the $0.44 per megawatt hour that goes to coal-fired power plants, the backbone of the U.S. electrical power industry, and 100 times more than the $0.25 per megawatt hour that goes to natural gas production. Coal and natural gas account for more than 70 percent of the U.S. power supply.
Smarter Approach: Lowering ConsumptionA more practical approach to reducing the nation’s carbon footprint is to reduce energy consumption on a local level. In the U.S., commercial and residential sectors account for 72 percent of electricity use and more than 36 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The economic and environmental benefits of lower consumption, therefore, can be substantial.
According to the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), among the most cost-effective and fastest solutions is to lower building energy demand. Smart cities and their utilities accomplish this by creating comprehensive policies and support programs, such
Smarter Cities Lower Energy Consumption, Carbon Emissions through Motor Upgrades
Scott Durfee, Director of product management, nidec motor corporation
10 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
To achieve state-mandated greenhouse gas reduction goals, smart cities have programs that support retrofits of existing buildings, as well as new construction. It’s a great idea, considering that 78 percent of companies are planning energy efficiency upgrades in the next two years, according to a DOE survey.
Investing in energy-saving measures offers several advantages to commercial businesses and homeowners alike. The initial cost is typically low. In fact, approximately 85 percent of commercial energy efficiency projects are funded using internal resources, reports DOE. If financing is required, interest rates are also low and, in most parts of the country, interest payments are tax deductible. In most cases, annual energy cost savings is greater than the annual payments for the improvements.
The motor industry is keeping up its end of the bargain by developing products that support energy-saving efforts. Motor technology breakthroughs, for example, have led to the creation and adoption of NEMA Premium® Motors and have made brushless permanent magnet motors an economical option to standard induction motors.
Consider the findings of one California study that analyzed how an average three-ton-rated furnace performed when its original 480W motor was replaced with a 300W variable speed motor. With a standard KW/h cost of electricity at $.24374, the savings amounted to $189 per year—or roughly $60 more than the annual payments for motor financing, as illustrated in table 1:
Table 1. Savings Realized with Variable Speed Motor
Variable Speed Motor plus Installation
Homeowner Pays 10%
Energy Efficiency Loan Amount
Annual payments for Efficiency Upgrade Assessment at 6% for 4 Years
Forecasted Utility Bill Savings per Year
Savings after Efficiency Upgrade Assessment
$568 $56.80 $511.20 $129.40 $189.53 $60.13
These savings, while small on an individual basis, quickly add up. Studies suggest it is possible to decrease energy demand among end users by 20 to 24 percent globally by 2020, 36 percent of which comes from building efficiency improvements in the residential and commercial sectors.
According to the MGI report, a $520 billion investment in energy efficiency measures in North America would return $1.2 trillion to the economy by 2020, resulting in a net positive investment of $680 billion.
Renewable energy sources are important, and have their place in our global energy portfolio, but as the smartest cities know, energy savings begin at home. ei
Mr. Durfee, Director of Product Management—Variable Speed Technology, is responsible for developing integrated electronic control technology for the HVAC market.
For further readingAnnual Energy Review: 2008. Energy Information Administration
Annual Energy Review: 2009. Energy Information Administration
Carbon Caps and Efficiency Resources: How Climate Legislation Can Mobilize Efficiency and Lower the Cost of GHG Reduction. Richard Cowert, 2012
Enabling Investment in Energy Efficiency: A Study of Energy Efficiency Programs that Reduce First-Cost Barriers in the Residential Sector. Merrian Fuller, September 15, 2008
Energy Efficiency: California’s Highest Priority Resource. California Energy Commission, August 2006
The Carbon Productivity Challenge: Curbing Climate Change and Sustaining Economic Growth. Eric Beinhocker, Jeremy Oppenheim, Ben Irons, Makreeta Lahti, Diana Farrell, Scott Nyquist, Jaana Remes, Tomas Nauclér, and Per-Anders Enkvist. McKinsey & Company, 2008
The Public Benefit of California’s Investments in Energy Efficiency. Mark Bernstein, Robert Lempert, David Loughran, and David Oritz, March 2000
Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy Ken Ostrowski, Hannah Choi Granade, Jon Creyts, Anton Derkach, Philip Farese, and Scott Nyquist. McKinsey & Company, 2009
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 11
BUIlDINgBETTERcOMMUNITIES
“There are many benefits to engaging in these practices, and one that may surprise people is that it’s actually economical. It’s as affordable as traditional land care practices, and that, in turn, shows that we [local governments] are careful stewards of public funding,” he added.
Mr. Focht highlighted a project he and his team spearheaded related to lawn-mowing frequency. Areas which received regular mowings were reassessed to see if it was necessary. If mowing was deemed unnecessary, the areas were converted to native meadows, which increased biodiversity, cut down on mowing cycles and greenhouse gas emissions (less driving to sites), and increased storm water capture.
“Making these changes saved the city $1.2 million,” said Mr. Focht. “Those savings can now be invested elsewhere.”
SITES CertificationASLA, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at University of Texas at Austin, and the U.S. Botanical Garden established the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) to transform land development and management practices through the nation’s first voluntary guidelines and rating system for sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. The certification program is modeled after LEED2 and, as of August 2014, includes 34 projects that have achieved certification under the 2009 Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks.
2 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
When most people think of a “smart” city or community, technology is often the first thing that comes to mind: energy-efficient light bulbs,
electric vehicle charging stations, and renewable energy sources. However, there is a crucial element to a smart city’s success that is often overlooked—sustainable landscaping.
Sustainable landscaping goes beyond tree and shrub selection. It’s an approach that considers the entire environment in which the city exists—an integrated site design. Sustainable residential landscaping practices can improve the environment and increase energy efficiency. For example, basic sustainable landscaping practices, such as strategic tree placement, can reduce summertime cooling energy needs by seven to 47 percent and wintertime heating needs by two to eight percent.1 In addition to energy savings, sustainable landscapes capture carbon, clean surrounding air and water, and restore habitats.
Mark A. Focht, first deputy commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and immediate past-president of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), noted that sustainable land care is almost expected now.
“More people are aware of sustainable practices and now it’s assumed that local governments will perform that way,” he said. “These practices are a reflection of how we treat ourselves and our families. Do we want to spend time in public spaces that are not maintained in safe or viable ways?”
1 www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/Vid_Energy.html
Sustainable Landscaping Strengthens Smart Communities
chrissy l. S. george, nEma communications
12 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
The highest rating in SITES is four stars, and one of the few landscapes to achieve this is the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Center has also achieved LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum Pilot Certification3, and Net Zero Energy Building Certification through The Living Building Challenge™.4 The Center is an outstanding example of how the built and living environments can work harmoniously together to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability.
Consumers interested in creating a more sustainable outdoor environment can access a variety of resources through Phipps. For example, through Project Green Heart, consumers can access information on how to create a rain garden, how to choose sustainable plants for a garden, and how to practice sustainable lawn care and landscaping.
Making an ImpactThey say it takes a village. One building, one home, or one rain garden does not make a community environmentally sustainable. It takes participation from all community members.
Whether a building owner considering energy efficiency upgrades or a citizen cultivating his own rain garden, each makes an impact on the habitat and ecosystem that surrounds them. Let’s give that some thought. ei
Ms. George ([email protected]) is editor of eiXtra and a regular contributor to ei.
3 wellcertified.com/well-building-standard/overview 4 living-future.org/netzero
Local ImpactAn impressive example of sustainable landscaping is Washington Canal Park, which is only a few miles from NEMA headquarters. Located in southeast Washington, D.C., along the Anacostia River, the park achieved a three-star SITES rating and LEED Gold certification.
Formerly a three-acre brownfield, it now includes a skating rink, a pavilion with café and dining area, and a linear rain garden. The rain garden—the park’s focal point—functions as an integrated storm water system estimated to save the District of Columbia 1.5 million gallons of potable water annually, and satisfy up to 95 percent of the park’s water needs.1
Other sustainable design elements throughout the park include:
• installing 28 geothermal wells under the skating rink, which provide an energy supply for park utilities and provide an estimated 37 percent reduction in energy usage1;
• using native and adapted plants, dark-sky lighting elements, and high albedo (solar reflecting) paving; and
• incorporating features that encourage sustainable practices, such as electric vehicle charging stations, bike racks, and recycling bins.
1 www.sustainablesites.org/certified-sites/washingtoncanal
Washington Canal Park is located a few miles from NEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., along the Anacostia River. Photo by OLIN / Sahar Coston-Hardy
Park Tavern, ribbon bench, and jet fountain at Canal Park. Photo by OLIN / Sahar Coston-Hardy
Overall view of Washington Canal Park, which is located a few miles from NEMA headquarters, along the Anacostia River. Photo courtesy of OLIN/Karl Blumenthal
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 13
BUIlDINgBETTERcOMMUNITIES
traffic delays, Tyler installed a traffic control solution in their existing infrastructure to coordinate traffic signals with real-time based on current traffic patterns. Since the traffic control software was installed, the city has reduced travel time by 22 percent and delays by 49 percent. These savings amount to more than $1.6 million for Tyler drivers.
Also in Texas, San Antonio VIA Metropolitan Transit is already experiencing a 20 percent reduction in travel times for its bus riders thanks to new software used as part of their new bus rapid transit (BRT) system. VIA was first in the U.S. to install a transit signal priority (TSP) solution using “virtual” GPS-based detection zones for its transit vehicles. This approach was cost-effective and avoided construction delays. The TSP software allows the VIA Primo bus fleet’s on-board computer to automatically request green lights when the bus is behind schedule, subsequently improving travel time and getting riders to their destinations on time.
There is no denying the need to build new physical infrastructure, but technologies exist today that result in immediate improvements. It’s hard to imagine a world in which we can gather information at the touch of a button, but our transportation infrastructure is operating on systems in place before the invention of the internet. Software can provide affordable, effective solutions that encourage economic growth, support city resiliency efforts, and help the U.S. transportation system finally move into the 21st century. ei
Mr. Miller has more than 36 years of experience in the management, design, and development of critical control systems including traffic control, vehicle active safety, petrochemical process control, pipeline control, oil field production, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.
Cities around the world are facing a unique opportunity to improve their infrastructure, and it couldn’t come at a better time. In the U.S.,
infrastructure grades have been near failing since 1998, averaging only a D, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. This low grade is reflected in the frustrations that Americans experience on a daily basis as they drive on roads and bridges built in the 1950s, and ride on rail lines that were placed in the ground almost a century ago.
Improvements to these physical transportation systems are essential pieces of a larger solution, but they are only a partial answer to our current problems. There needs to be serious consideration to incorporate advanced, intelligent technologies into our transportation systems, a true “software infrastructure.” Significant improvements in mobility can be made by utilizing intelligent transportation software in our cities and municipalities. Integrating the use of smart technology into a city transportation system can simplify modernization without requiring cities to completely rebuild.
While making some progress, the transportation sector must continue to leverage technology to help improve existing infrastructure. Other industries like telecom surge ahead, yet few transportation systems are fully automated.
And it’s not just large cities that realize the need to improve their infrastructures. Small- and mid-sized cities are upgrading their mobility systems as they experience growing city centers and subsequent transportation needs.
Tyler, Texas, was experiencing growth in its commercial district, but citizens were frustrated with increased traffic congestion created by the economic development. Instead of a hardware solution that may have resulted in construction and additional
With the aid of software, municipal traffic controllers can access a central traffic control system via a “private cloud” from their PC, tablet, or smartphone, enabling them to conveniently and efficiently control traffic systems such as traffic lights, detectors or parking garages as if they were standing right next to the traffic computer. Photo courtesy of Siemens
Improving Existing Transportation Infrastructure Can Have Big Impact
Dave miller, principal Systems Engineer, research & Development, Siemens itS
14 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
creative Ways to Save Energy without Sacrificing Safety
NEMA@HOME 1 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
A publication from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Available on models WFL98HEB and WEL98HEB. ®/™ ©2015 Whirlpool. All rights reserved.
Whirlpool® works with NestIf energy is in high demand, the Nest Learning Thermostat can tell your Whirlpool® Smart Front Load Washer & Dryer to delay the start of a cycle. Because saving energy isn’t just for thermostats.
The thermostat that knows whenit’s time to do the laundry.
PROCESSCOLORS:
CMYK(4-COLOR PROCESS)
PRINTING STATIONS FONTS USED:Akkurat Pro RegularAkkurat Pro Light
ei, the magazine of the electroindustry (US) Magazine Advertisement
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PUBLICATION:
April
PART DESCRIPTION:Nest ThermostatMagazine Advertisement
VERSION: 3FILE NAME: 10367_ADV_US_ei_v3.ai
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NOTES: Dimensions:Trim: 8.5” W x 10.875” H;Bleed: 8.75” W x 11.125” H;
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80 70 70 10010.2 7.4 7.4 100 100 100100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 100 10070 70 30 30 100 100 60 70 70 4070 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 3.1 2.2 2.270 40 40 75 66 6650 40 4025 19 19B 0 0 0 0
100 70 30 100 10 25 50 75 90 100100 60 100 70 30 100 60 40 70 4070 30 100 40 40 100 40 100 40 70 40 70 40 40 340 70 40 70 40 40100 60A
3%ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009
H22128_1a_10367_ADV_US_ei_v3.ai03.06.15EpsonHP
C21666x02H_Laundry_3u_US_NC_leaf.tif
Wireless control is typically the best option for delivering simple, affordable, reliable connected-home control whether you are looking for do-it-yourself or do-it-for-me solutions. Look for manufacturers and solutions that offer products that talk to each other across platforms, and offer local controls like dimmers, switches, and thermostats that are easily accessible in the home, as well as remotely from anywhere in the world via smart devices and apps.
For example, when you go to bed at night, you may wonder if you left the kitchen light on. Just pull up the app on your smart phone, and you can make sure the house is also put to bed!
This is not a futuristic scenario; it’s available today. Smart technology is available at every price point, and wireless integration means you have the option to expand your connected home over time. Start with something as simple as controlling one light from your smart device, and see how connected technologies can make your home more comfortable, smarter, and more energy-efficient. ei
Seventy-two billion dollars. That is the expected size of global smart home revenues by 2017, according to the Deloitte Research Technology, Media,
and Telecommunications team. Berg Insight estimates that as of 2014, there were already nearly 10 million connected homes in North America and Europe. Driven largely by the explosive growth of smart phones, tablets, and the internet, that number is expected to more than double in the next two years.
What should you consider as you plan your smart home makeover?
At the top of the list is connected control of heating/air conditioning and lighting. These are systems that improve comfort and convenience, but they can also deliver significant, measurable reductions in energy use. Using technologies that are simple to install and program can ease the transition to a smart home and can improve the rate of adoption for connected controls.
Managing the Home of Tomorrow TodayDavid m. Weinstein, Vice president residential Sales, lutron Electronics
Spring Cleaning Safety Checklist
Test the batteries in your smoke detectors. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Test the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Every year, more than 200 people in the U.S. die from CO poisoning.
Make sure circuit breakers and fuses are labeled correctly.
Make sure light bulbs are the correct wattage for their fixtures.
Ensure your home is protected from electrical surges by using surge protective devices. These include surge-protected power strips, and protection installed at an outlet or at a fuse box. Learn more at www.nemasurge.org.
Replace burned out light bulbs with energy-efficient varieties, such as LEDs.
Consider installing lighting control products such as dimmers, timers, or occupancy sensors. These products allow lights to automatically turn on and off as needed.
Replace your current thermostat with a programmable one. (Some utility companies will install it for you.) This technology allows you to control your heating and cooling needs more efficiently. ei
Spring cleaning—it’s an annual ritual for most. We have a few more items to add to that honey-do list, but not to worry. There’s no heavy lifting involved.
NEMA@HOME
NEMA@HOME 3 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Lessons LearnedDespite missing out on more than a month’s worth of solar generation, we still managed to generate 1,845 kilowatt-hours of electricity from March 2014 through February 2015, enough to offset 80 percent of our electricity over the same time period.
This experience has taught us a few things that might help you make your own home more energy-efficient:
• Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Focus on improving the energy systems in your home one at a time to avoid getting overloaded and frustrated. Start with the easy things that save the most energy (LED lighting and lighting controls, programmable smart thermostats, plug-load controls) and move on from there to the more difficult and costly energy conservation measures (appliances, windows, insulation).
• Never let a good crisis go to waste. When faced with the need to replace something in your home, take a moment to research your options and ask contractors about the energy performance of various options.
• Think about the lifecycle cost. Take into account the lifecycle cost of the light bulb, appliance, or (in our case) roof before making a decision based on the up-front cost alone. Spending a little more today on new windows or a new hot water heater could save you a lot of money and energy in the future.
Next StepsWe’re not done yet; Amy and I have a list of projects that we will take on one at a time. This spring we will replace our front and rear doors with ENERGY STAR®-certified ones that better insulate our home and provide additional daylight.
Over the coming years we will replace our furnace, air-conditioner, hot water heater, and refrigerator with more energy-efficient models. Each of these small upgrades together will bring us closer and closer to our goal of zero net energy. ei
My wife, Amy, and I have been working for the past year to reduce our 115-year-old row house’s annual net energy consumption to zero with
the help of dozens of NEMA member products.
We have made our home more energy-efficient by:
• replacing 100 percent of our lights with LEDs;
• using lighting controls to dim and turn off lights when not in use;
• installing a smart thermostat;
• using plug-load controls to reduce wasted energy, while simultaneously protecting our home and ourselves from electric shocks and arc faults;
• and much more (see the April 2014 ei article, “Walking the Walk: Creating a High-Performance Home with NEMA Member Products” for a list of installed technologies).
We also installed a solar photovoltaic system to generate electricity to offset the little energy that our house does use.
Setbacks and OpportunitiesWhile we started on target to reach zero net electricity in our first year, a leaky roof forced us to adjust our plans. Initially patched by our solar contractors in the early summer, the leak returned in the fall, dumping gallons of rainwater into our bedroom.
The original tin roof, re-coated and patched numerous times over its 115-year life, was clearly overdue for a more modern, better insulated replacement. While this was a bit of a setback—it required our solar panels to sit dormant in our backyard for about six weeks—Amy and I used it as an opportunity to increase the thermal insulation. We chose a reflective white roof (thermoplastic polyolefin) that will reduce the need for air-conditioning in the summer months.
We also added extra layers of insulation (polyisocyanurate foam board) underneath the roofing membrane to reduce wasted energy from air leaks.
ThePatrickProject: A Year of Energy Savings
patrick Hughes, Director, government relations
This is the final installment of #ThePatrickProject, which has been a year-long series following Patrick and Amy’s progress toward making their house a zero net energy home. View articles, videos, and podcasts online at: www.nema.org/hpb/thepatrickproject
Never let a good crisis go to waste. Pette, the family dachshund, appreciated a different perspective when solar panels were removed to replace the roof. Photo by Patrick Hughes
4 NEMA@HOMENEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Jonathan Stewart, manager, government relations
With its origin at the crossroads of the “American Garage” and “Consumer Imagination” concepts, you could be forgiven for not
knowing much about the Maker Movement. Over the last 10 years it has steadily gained momentum and is on the cusp of a full-fledged U.S. subculture.
Borrowing from the likes of hobbyists, woodworkers, and technologists, it is hard to define what exactly constitutes the movement because it continues to evolve and progress. By all accounts, principles of innovation, re-creation, sharing, and learning are to be credited for the movement’s success. But I would add one more principle that is important for the movement’s future: safety.
The Maker’s toolkit includes a range of equipment, from computers and 3-D printers to welding equipment and buzz saws, but any tool that runs on electricity should be handled with caution. Makers should ensure that the tools they purchase are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as CSA, Intertek, or UL. A product listing means, among other things, that the product has been tested and certified to safety standards for both the product and its components.
The Maker Movement is expanding beyond your neighbor’s garage, looking to convert more consumers into Makers. How long before corporate America takes notice and begins incorporating aspects of the subculture into the office place? With so many new venues on the horizon, the Maker Movement must also be a safety movement. ei
Why Buy It When I Can (Safely) Make It? Creative Ways to
Hide Electronics, Electrical Cords
Looking for some creative ways to hide electrical cords and other unsightly electrical components in your home? Kerra Michele of the popular Apt Envy blog offers five ways to help you tackle these nuisances. Find these tips and more at www.nema.org/NEMA-at-Home. ei
NEMA Government Relations Manager Alex Boesenberg embodies the inventiveness,
resourcefulness, and safety of the Makers Movement with listed welding equipment and personal protection in his at-home workshop. Photo by Pat Walsh
NEMA@HOME 5 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
NEMA@HOME
Achieving a Digital LifestyleThe first step is to lay out all the systems you want integrated into the home. Work backwards: start with the applications you want in every room and then plan the wiring to support them. Each system is going to have its own set of requirements for cabling, infrastructure, power, installation location, and devices used to manage and control them. We recommend installing Category 6 cabling for its performance and bandwidth advantages. Cabling standards from TIA and BICSI also recommend Category 6, and require Category 5e at a minimum.
The next step is to plan out the components needed for the various systems. Depending on the number
of phone lines and internet extension locations, there are options for modules that serve as a routing point for voice and data networks. These modules give the homeowner flexibility and control over the systems just as they do in commercial buildings.
The final step is bringing the various cabling systems back to the structured wiring enclosure, similar to how
a breaker box is the hub of the electrical system. Structured wiring
enclosures fit between standard construction stud spaces (see photo)
and accommodate everything from a small apartment-sized network to large custom homes with many system applications.
The structured wiring enclosure also serves as the hub for entertainment options. A coaxial cable coming from the cable service or satellite television provider connects to a splitter located in the media enclosure and branches out to deliver video content to multiple rooms. Whole-house audio systems can be routed through the enclosure and can be controlled by wall-mounted switches. Some installations even include home theater applications.
Many options are available to meet the needs of the homeowner’s digital lifestyle. Having a strong structured wiring backbone in an organized central hub is crucial to supporting high-bandwidth demands and optimal wireless performance. ei
Mr. Slater collaborates with sales teams around the globe. Mr. Groenig manages residential products for Leviton Network Solutions.
The number of connected devices in the home has grown significantly over the last few years. To adequately support this trend, it is important to
build residential networks on an organized structured cabling foundation.
Too often, homeowners knowingly accept poor network reliability and quality for the convenience of a wireless system. While wireless technology has improved, the hunger for bandwidth outpaces it. Modern homes use an average of six connected devices per household, including 4K and Ultra HD TVs, VOIP, streaming media servers, and game consoles, as well as internet-enabled printers, thermostats, appliances, and more.
No one using the latest consumer technologies should accept poor network quality and low data rates. High-speed, hard-wired structured cabling offers the ideal solution to support today’s demands. Wi-Fi should be designed as an extension of a well-planned home networking array, not the sole connectivity option.
Residential structured cabling combines concepts from demanding commercial cabling applications with multimedia to accommodate audio, video, voice, data, and security systems. The smartest home networks use wired connectivity for stationary devices like Blu-ray® players, desktop computers, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and then add a wireless router to provide the strongest Wi-Fi signal to portable devices such as tablets, laptops, and phones.
If installed during new construction, a well-planned structured cabling system benefits the homeowner and increases the value of the home. But even if that opportunity has passed, there is great value in organizing the various systems into a unified design to reduce overall cost, provide maximum functionality, and maintain an aesthetically pleasing result.
To prepare for home network growth, it is important that homeowners organize their connections. A structured wiring panel or enclosure serves as the central hub for a network, and is an excellent option for housing routers, switches, modems, and more in one place. Mantels, entertainment centers, and desktops can quickly become overcrowded and cluttered, making it difficult to troubleshoot problems. By consolidating the network in a structured wiring enclosure, homeowners save valuable space, eliminate clutter, and have easy access to all of their connected devices.
Connected Home Begins with Planningbill Slater, international marketing manager, and brian groenig, Senior product manager, leviton
A structured wiring enclosure serves as the hub for cabling systems in the home.
6 NEMA@HOMENEMA electroindustry • April 2015
THE FUTURE IS ON™
Smart
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SmarTest™
Okay, so maybe the Leviton Self-Test GFCI isn’t smarter than the wheel...but did you ever try
plugging your electric shaver into a granite slab? The new UL standard, effective June 29,
2015, requires that every box-mounted GFCI manufactured must perform a self-test. Well,
that’s just great! We’ve had a Self-Test GFCI for years and have always believed it is a smart
solution for safer protection. And speaking of safety, Leviton SmartlockPro® Self-Test GFCIs
feature our patented Reset/Lockout, preventing reset if damaged and unable to respond
to a ground fault. The safety of your family and ours is NOT an option - it’s our mission.
For more information or to speak to a sales rep, please visit www.leviton.com/SmarTest
SmarTest - Changing the Course of GFCI History
© 2015 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
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8 NEMA@HOMENEMA electroindustry • April 2015
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 15
Benefit-Cost FrameworkTo systematically and thoroughly address the implications of DER, planning protocols and operating procedures must be adopted that see interconnected assets from end to end. In this context, a consistent benefit-cost methodology is essential. The EPRI framework is rooted in the fundamentals of power system engineering and economics, making the methods applicable to all regions, systems, markets, technologies, and research questions.
By using a common evaluation methodology, utilities and other stakeholders can compare studies in ways that make the results understandable and applicable to others. The methodology will accelerate understanding of the impacts of DER adoption—at low and high levels—on the power system, including both distribution and transmission system impacts. Moreover, the methodology can evaluate configurations reflecting different loads and different electricity demands in all electricity markets.
The framework is composed of four analytic elements that correspond to the steps undertaken to conduct a fully integrated system study (Figure 1). It begins by specifying the core assumptions: market conditions, DER adoption, and scenario definitions. This data is then used to quantify the impacts of DER on the distribution system and on the bulk power system.
Identifying and quantifying distribution system impacts is accomplished through hosting capacity studies, which determine the level of DER interconnection that can be locally accommodated without impacting the quality of supply for existing infrastructure. Subsequently, energy, capacity, and reliability analyses are undertaken to identify designs and approaches that take advantage of DER benefits while avoiding adverse impacts.
The bulk power system analysis begins with resource adequacy, making sure that sufficient resources are available to meet electricity demand. Next, transmission expansion studies determine whether the power generated can be delivered to the distribution system without a drop in service reliability. Three additional analyses—transmission performance, system flexibility, and operations practices and simulation—ensure that all system benefits and impacts are considered.
As depicted in the figure, distribution and bulk power system analyses might be viewed as separate endeavors. That is not the case. The analyses are performed sequentially and, in some
The role and operation of the electric power system is evolving to accommodate changes in the ways electricity is produced, delivered,
and used. Through a combination of technological improvements, policy incentives, and consumer choices in technology and service, the landscape of the industry is changing.
Center stage is regulatory and consumer demand for a more flexible, connected, and resilient power system. A successful transformation of the existing electric power grid will depend on the optimal integration of distributed energy resources (DER) such as small natural gas-fueled generators, combined heat and power plants, electricity storage, and solar photovoltaics (PV) on rooftops.
Enabling an Integrated GridTo better understand the costs and opportunities of different technological and policy pathways for the evolving electric power system, EPRI initiated a three-phase effort aimed at enabling a transition to an integrated grid. The approach recognizes that the integrated grid should not favor any particular energy technology, power system configuration, or power market structure. Instead, it should make it possible for stakeholders to identify optimal architectures and the most promising configurations—recognizing that the best solutions vary with local circumstances, goals, and interconnections.
Phase I in 2014 resulted in a concept paper1 that outlined the main issues and identified four areas where focused collaboration would be necessary to optimize the power system while providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electricity: interconnection rules and communications technologies and standards; assessment and deployment of advanced distribution and reliability technologies; strategies for integrating DER with grid planning and operation; and enabling policy and regulation.
Phase II, released in February 2015 and described in more detail below, presents a benefit-cost framework2 that defines the tools and methods necessary to conduct consistent, repeatable, and transparent studies to assess potential integrated grid pathways and to accommodate DER. Pilot projects deployed as part of Phase III will provide the data needed for stakeholders to optimally integrate distributed energy resources and put the benefit-cost framework to the test.1 www.epri.com/abstracts/Pages/ProductAbstract.aspx?ProductId=30020027332 www.epri.com/abstracts/Pages/ProductAbstract.aspx?ProductId=3002005177
The Integrated Grid: Realizing the Full Value of Central and Distributed Energy Resources
Karen Forsten, Director, power Delivery & Utilization Sector, Electric power research institute (Epri)
16 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Integrated Grid Pilot ProjectsCreating a robust grid modeling framework is essential, but it’s just the first step. The technologies developed and operating procedures formulated must be subjected to rigorous in-situ field testing to ensure they perform as intended. EPRI is coordinating pilot projects in several categories to fulfill that obligation:
• Utility-scale PV, with and without storage
• Distributed storage (customer-side systems) operated in conjunction with intermittent DER
• Microgrids that serve local customers’ needs for greater electric service reliability and resiliency
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure that serves the needs of electric vehicles, but can be operated to achieve grid benefits as well
• Customer-side technologies such as PV (with and without storage), and devices used by customers to control when and how much electricity they use
EPRI’s benefit-cost framework is ready for widespread application, but it is a work in progress. The complexities brought about by DER integration require the development of new planning tools and operating methods. Moreover, the transition to the integrated grid is beyond the scope of any one organization. It requires careful collaboration among multiple parties sharing a mutual interest in DER integration. EPRI intends to promote and support ongoing technology assessments and performance documentation efforts in conjunction with other stakeholders. ei
cases, iteratively. The distribution studies describe how power flows change at the substation—where the two elements of the electric system come together. The first pass through an integrated DER analysis calculates the distribution impacts, and subsequent passes identify benefits and impacts at the bulk power system level.
The benefit-cost step, which determines the accumulated impacts and net benefits, requires a reference case to establish a basis for comparing DER interconnection cases. The reference case may omit DER or include DER connected only at the time of the study. Alternatively, the study may stipulate a level (or levels) of DER adoption and determine the impacts that result. Either approach exposes the implications of different levels of DER adoption on distribution circuits, as well as different approaches for the related system design modifications.
Many of the impacts identified in the distribution and bulk power system analyses are costs or costs saved—the former incurred to mitigate adverse impacts, and the latter those that would have otherwise been incurred but are avoided. These are aggregated categorically, making a distinction between benefits and costs.
Other impacts define tangible changes that should be identified and quantified, but that are not readily monetized because they are not transacted in the electricity (or any) market. Emissions associated with electricity generation, changes in delivery reliability, and changes in the economy (such as employment and wages) are examples of externalities for which there are no market transactions to definitively set a value for their level. From a societal perspective, as many benefits and costs as possible should be monetized so that the net benefits derived reflect utility and customer interests, as well as those of all economic sectors and all citizens.
Distribution System
HostingCapacity
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3 6
52
SystemNet Costs
ResourceAdequacy
MarketConditions
Adoption/Deployment
Scenarios
TransmissionPerformance
TransmissionExpansionFlexibility
Operational Practices & Simulation
SocietalBene�t-Cost
Customer orOwner
Bene�t-CostSystemBene�ts
ThermalCapacity Reliability
Energy
Core Assumptions Bene�t-Cost
Bulk System
Ms. Forsten is responsible for various cross-sector initiatives and strategies including a new effort focused on the integrated grid and realizing its full potential value of central and distributed resources.
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 17
BUIlDINgBETTERcOMMUNITIES
Rainwater harvesting is practiced during the Guatemalan rainy season. Rain is collected from bungalow roofs, and is used for showering and cooking, and to water plants. Additional rainwater is stored in a combination of holding ponds and freshwater tanks. To heat the rainwater used for showering, warmth is harnessed from the midday sun via passive solar.
When it comes to toilets, the farm does not rely on modern plumbing. Instead, it uses composting toilets, as flushing toilets and inadequate sewage systems are the main source of pollution on Lake Atitlán. Composting toilets are not the typical outhouses most of us are familiar with—fly-infested, smelly holes in the ground. Waste is mixed with ash and sawdust, which helps to minimize odor, and when the toilet is full, it is “closed off” and left to compost for 18 months. At that point, the nutrient-rich fertilizer is safe to be used as feed for the forest orchards and trees. When collected properly, composted human waste is an effective source of nitrogen for trees, just like cow or chicken manure.
MYF is an excellent example of how people can live sustainably, almost anywhere, if they utilize the resources they already have. Think about the difference we could all make if we practiced more sustainable living habits. ei
Ms. George ([email protected]) is a practicing yogi and regular contributor to ei.
In a tranquil Guatemalan forest along the shore of Lake Atitlán, Mystical Yoga Farm (MYF) is an ongoing, real-time experiment in the practices of
sustainable living, as well as a retreat center and spiritual community focused on an organic connection with the environment, and nurturing the bodies and souls of yogis, teachers, and healing practitioners.
I visited the farm in February for a yoga retreat and experienced firsthand how sustainably the property operates. Sustainable living is aimed at leaving as little of an imprint on the environment as possible, and this means using clean energy sources, and using and reusing resources already available. As an example, the farm harvests rainwater, sources local building materials, composts (human and food waste), and utilizes passive solar techniques.
All of the farm’s power comes from two small solar arrays, one of which I helped install during my stay. The farm’s new 1.2KW rooftop solar array will power a refrigerator, an appliance the farm currently lacks. A new addition to the property is a 95-gallon solar thermal water heater, which will heat water for showering. Using clean, emissions-free renewable energy helps balance the needs of this modern community with a remote location and sustainable intentions.
Living off the Grid in Guatemala chrissy l. S. george, nEma communications
The farm’s 1.2kW rooftop solar array will power a refrigerator. A 95-gallon solar thermal water heater is also under construction. Photo by Chrissy L. S. George
18 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Electroindustry News
The National Fire Protection Association estimates that an average of 47,820 home electrical fires occur each year. These fires result in 455 civilian deaths, 1,518 civilian injuries, and $1.5 billion in property damage.
Many of these fires occur in homes built before 1970, which account for 44 percent of the nation’s housing stock, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These homes were built before many of the electronics and appliances we use today were invented. Today, the average
AeroVironment, Inc. www.avinc.com Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment/Systems Section (05EV)
Blue Earth Diagnostics www.blueearthdiagnostics.com Molecular Imaging Section (09MO)
Budderfly LLC www.budderfly.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
Canon Healthcare Solutions www.usa.canon.com/cusa/healthcare X-ray Imaging Products Section (09XR)
ClipperCreek, Inc. www.clippercreek.com Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment/Systems Section (05EV)
Continental Control Systems, LLC www.ccontrolsys.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
home has more televisions than people and our growing dependence on energy heightens the risk of overburdening an older home’s electrical system, which can lead to fires or electrocutions.
Next Month, ESFI’s National Electrical Safety Month 2015 campaign will feature the release of the second edition of its campaign publication, Electrical Safety Illustrated, which is a magazine that discusses timely electrical safety issues and equips consumers with the knowledge to protect their homes,
Crest Healthcare Supply www.cresthealthcare.com Health Care Communications & Emergency Call Systems Group (03SB-2)
Davidge Controls www.ezmeter.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
DENT Instruments, Inc. www.dentinstruments.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
Focal Point LLC www.focalpointlights.com Emergency Lighting Section (02EM) Luminaire Section (02LE)
Franklin Control Systems www.cerusind.com Industrial Automation Control Products & Systems Section (01IS)
Quadlogic Controls Corporation www.quadlogic.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
families, and communities from electrical hazards. The subject of this year’s publication is That Old House, This New Update, which will inform readers about common hazards posed by America’s aging housing stock and features a variety of updates that can be made to all homes.
Visit www.esfi.org for more information on ESFI and how you can get involved with National Electrical Safety Month. ei
Julie Chavanne, Communications Director, ESFI | [email protected]
Rapiscan Systems www.rapiscansystems.com
inDUStrial imaging & commUnicationS (04iic)
Triacta Power Technologies, Inc. www.triacta.com Electrical Submeter Section (05ESM)
Zevacor Molecular www.zevacor.com Molecular Imaging Section (09MO)
aSSociatE mEmbErSHip
Alpha Magnet, LLC alphamagent.com Industrial Supplier
EPLAN Software & Services LLC www.eplanusa.com Associated Enterprise
Quality Plus Associated Enterprise
Ű ESFI to Address Hazards in Older Homes during National Electrical Safety Month
Ű NEMA Welcomes New Members
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 19
ElectroindustryNews
The NEMA Electric Resistance Heating (ERH) Section recently implemented a campaign to educate consumers on the benefits and advantages of electric heat. Based on the podcasts “What is Zone Heating?,” “A History Lesson on Electric Resistance Heating,” and “Electric Resistance Heating Tackles Misconceptions,” the section has reached 500+ people with important consumer and industrial information.
The campaign also includes driving consumers to www.advancedheat.org; submitting feature articles for ei magazine, eiXtra (NEMA’s bi-weekly e-newsletter),
and industry/trade publication(s); and a social media marketing plan, which includes electric resistance heating facts and trivia.
During a recent section meeting, a white paper entitled “Market Benefits of Electric Resistance Heat,” was approved and will be used to educate consumers, federal and state regulators, and standards developers on the benefits and advantages of electric resistance heat.
Also during the meeting, NEMA recognized Jim Garrigus (Marley Engineered Products) as retiring chairman, Dan Berry (TPI) as new
the chairman, and Hutch Johnson (Cadet Manufacturing) as the vice chairman. The section has also launched a new Market Data Report, which provides participating members with market information. ei
Harry Massey, Industry Director | [email protected]
Ű Electric Resistance Heating Section Launches Outreach, Names Leadership
For more information on ERH visit advancedheat.org
20 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
The term VAR crossed the threshold from engineering to business jargon some time ago. While Volt/VAR management technologies have been in practice for decades, the frequency with which the term VAR now appears suggests that it’s prudent to revisit the summary explanation of this unit of measurement.
VAR is the acronym for volt-ampere reactive, a unit of reactive power in alternating current (ac) power systems. Even many non-technical readers are likely aware that ac electricity reverses direction many times a second and is represented by a sinusoidal wave. One layer of detail lower, current and voltage are both represented by sinusoidal waveforms, offset by a half phase (90 degrees) in a purely resistive circuit.
In an ac circuit, current and voltage are typically out of phase by more or less than a half phase. When current lags voltage by more than 90 degrees, the circuit is inductive; when current leads voltage by more than 90 degrees, the circuit is capacitive. Generally, power systems suffer from inductive problems. Transformers, induction motors, induction generators (e.g., wind turbines), and high intensity discharge lighting are causes for a circuit to be inductive.
Synchronous generators, synchronous motors, and capacitive loads cause a circuit to be capacitive in the alternative.
Utilities traditionally use capacitor banks on distribution networks in order to make circuits less inductive and maximize useable power. Additionally, advanced inverters (including those used with energy storage systems) are able to supply corrective power to adjust inductive and capacitive circuits, which can, in the future, become an additional ancillary monetized benefit of such systems. Volt/VAR optimization programs control capacitors and tap changer-
equipped transformers to optimize voltage in real time without violating regulations or service agreements.
WHy iS tHiS concEpt important?The traditional analogy to explain reactive power and the unit VAR is a glass of beer (figure 1). Just as within nearly any ac circuit there is reactive power (VAR), there is foam in beer. Unfortunately, only the portion of power in which voltage and current are in phase form real power (W for watt) to do useful work. Real power (W) is the liquid beer that does real work—quenches your thirst and provides other side effects. In total, the apparent power (VA for volt-ampere) is the sum of the real and reactive power, or the total glass of beer.
Reducing reactive power is the goal because both real and reactive powers need to pass through the generation and distribution system. Doing so increases energy efficiency by reducing total generation needs and reduces peak demand costs and equipment needs by transmitting and distributing less total energy. Utilities strive to maximize the ratio of real power to reactive power (perfect power) just as I strive to maximize the amount of liquid to foam when I homebrew (perfect pour). ei
Ryan Franks, NEMA Technical Program Manager ([email protected]), is a 2014 IEC Young Professional. He also holds a certification in Brewing Technology from the Siebel Institute.
Ű The Perfect Pour
Figure 1. Summer saison representing real (W), reactive (VAR), and apparent (VA) power.
Var
W
Va
What the industry is saying: A number of voltage-adjustment and reactive power correction technologies, grouped under the heading of dynamic voltage and VAR control architectures (DVCAs), can help
ensure power delivery that is both reliable at peak loads and continuously efficient. The report forecasts that cumulative worldwide investment in DVCA technologies is expected to total nearly $17.7 billion from 2014 through 2023.Smart grids designed with DVCA can be flexible and active throughout the distribution system, with flexible volt/VAR control (VVC) at primary substations and distribution circuits, active power electronics at the edge of the grid, and VVC embedded in smart electric vehicle EV chargers and smart photovoltaic (PV) inverters.
Navigant Research
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 21
Code Actions/StandardizationTrends
Smb/cag propoSal concErning proJEct managEmEntThe IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB) has set up Ad Hoc Group 58 on standardization project management to examining the stages and timing of the current standards development process, with the goal of introducing project management and associated tools, flexibility and training into the IEC as a means to enhance timeliness of document completion.
nEW SyStEmS EValUation groUp approVED SMB noted the report from Systems Evaluation Group (SEG) 4 and approved its work plan and the holding of the seminar on LVDC planned to be held in New Delhi, India, in October. The SEG 4 work plan has the following elements: Current Status and Standards and Standardization; Stakeholder Assessment and Engagement; Market Assessment; Collection and Rationalization of Current Voltage Data—LVDC; Collection and Rationalization of LVDC Safety Data; and LVDC for Electricity Access.
itU propoSED cHangES to patEnt policy ITU-T1 ad hoc group on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), which reports to the director, made proposals to modify the text on patents, notably the text concerning transfer of rights. SMB noted the changes proposed by the ITU director’s Ad Hoc Group on IPR and agreed with the following:
• SMB endorsed the principle of transfer of rights.
• SMB recommended that the current patent policy agreed between IEC, ISO, and ITU remain unchanged.
• SMB asked that the IEC General Secretary be requested to work with his counterparts at ISO and ITU to develop common language for the Guidelines to the IPR Policy. If no common language is possible, then language suitable to the IEC regarding transfer rights should be added to the IEC portion of the IPR guidelines.
1 ITU (International Telecommunication Union) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Its study groups comprise the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
Such language should be as clear as possible to be widely understood by IEC TC/SC experts.
• SMB recommended that the Patent Declaration Form be modified in a suitable manner to reflect that the need for declaration of RAND licensing be recognized by the declarer and any future successor of the cited IP, using the text proposed by the ITU.
• SMB invited ISO/TMB to concur and requested the IEC General Secretary to communicate this decision to ITU. ei
IEC UpdatesFrom IEC “e-tech” February 2015 (www.iec.ch/tcnews/2015/tcnews_0115.htm)
Do you care about or have critical interest in one or more standards being developed in the IEC? Would you prefer to write the requirements, providing the ability to address product considerations perhaps years in advance? Are you dissatisfied with being told your design needs to be revised after spending many hours in development and verification?
If so, then you need to volunteer to be designated as a U.S. expert to participate actively in one of the many maintenance teams, project teams or working groups in IEC. The detail work of incorporating
the latest technology is accomplished through text, table, and figure addition to product and horizontal standards. You need to also be a member of the U.S. National Committee of the IEC Technical Advisory Group related to the IEC Technical or Subcommittee responsible for the standard.
To be most effective, you need to be able to work collaboratively and make contributions to the standards development effort. You should also be able to travel to meetings in exotic locations (think Stockholm in January
with snow and subzero temperatures, think Egypt in the summer time with no air conditioning, think Cleveland whenever; no these aren’t boondoggles). Think back to your time in school when you were assigned homework to complete before the next class. Still, the rewards can significantly outweigh any of these little inconveniences. ei
Please contact Ken Gettman ([email protected], or 703-841-3254) for more information.
Ű Effective IEC Participation
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 23
Code Actions/StandardizationTrends
The following standards are available on the NEMA website.
ANSI C136.16-2014 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Enclosed, Post Top-mounted Luminaires
This standard is useful to roadway and area lighting manufacturers, municipalities, and utilities; and provides requirements to allow for the interchangeability of enclosed, post top-mounted luminaires. ANSI C136.16-2014 may be downloaded or purchased in hard copy for $38.
ANSI C136.34-2014 American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Vandal Shields for Roadway and Area Lighting Luminaires
This standard is useful to roadway and area lighting manufacturers, municipalities, and utilities. Revisions to this version include updated references, added section titles, and revised language to be consistent with other C136 standards. ANSI C136.34-2014 may be downloaded or purchased in hard copy for $52.
ANSI C136.35-2009 (R2014) American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Luminaire Electrical Ancillary Devices (LEAD)
This standard covers the electrical and mechanical interchangeability of electrical devices mounted on or in luminaires, brackets, or remotely mounted on the support structure of
the luminaire and that may draw power from the luminaire. ANSI C136.35-2009 (R2014) may be downloaded or purchased in hard copy for $44.
New UL Variable Frequency Drive Standard and Its Effects on Unit Short Circuit Rating
This white paper focuses on the impact of the UL adoption of IEC standard 61800-5-1 on safety requirements for adjustable speed drives with respect to certification of these devices. Specifically, it addresses changes in the evaluation of short circuit ratings assigned by the drive manufacturer. It may be downloaded at no cost. ei
Ű Recently Published Standards
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For more information on IDEA’s Data Certification Program, please contact your Data Management Specialist or visit: www.idea4industry.com
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IDEA recognizes the following manufacturers, who have achieved 95% Compliance for their IDW items!* >
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24 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
International RoundupCode Actions/StandardizationTrends
Back in 2013, NEMA was notified that the revision of the Mexican Mandatory Standard NOM-003-SCFI-2000 Electrical Products—Safety Specifications was going to include arc-welding equipment for the first time. Specific standards listed within the NOM-003-SCFI standard will require their corresponding products to comply via a NOM certification mark.
The leading Mexican manufacturer of arc-welding equipment was instrumental in having arc-welding equipment included, and identified the arc-welding standard to be included in its revision. At the time, it was suspected that the reasoning behind this was to protect the home/hobbyist market from substandard or counterfeit products produced outside of North America.
The included standard—NMX-J-038/1-ANCE-2005 Arc Welding Power Sources—is not a North American harmonized standard. NEMA’s Arc Welding Section was concerned that the current product focus and reference in NOM-003-SCFI for arc welding did not support or reflect the harmonization efforts for Canadian and U.S. markets that allow entry for global manufacturers of NAFTA, IEC, CSA, and UL standard products.
U.S. and Canadian harmonized arc-welding standards UL 551, CSA C22.2 No. 60, and national adoptions of IEC 60974-1 were developed over many years and address the industry needs. To revise and harmonize NMX-J-038/1-ANCE-2005 would take years, and in the meantime, would restrict U.S. and Canadian manufacturers from selling products in Mexico.
Over the last 18 months, NEMA’s Arc Welding Section worked with member company counterparts in Mexico, in the NEMA Mexico office, and with the leading Mexican manufacturer to gain exemptions for arc-welding and
plasma-cutting equipment intended for industrial and professional use in the NOM-003-SCFI revision. There are three rationales behind this:
• Industrial and professional welding/cutting equipment has an excellent record for safety and quality in Mexico.
• Industrial and professional welding/cutting equipment is intended to be used in facilities where workplace safety practices and operator training are enforced.
• Industrial and professional welding/cutting equipment is less likely to be counterfeited due to the equipment’s more complex design, its educated consumers, lower volume of manufacture, and high product cost.
Currently, there is no testing lab in Mexico that can certify arc-welding products. Also, there was a need to have Mexican authorities recognize current certifications already in place as U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of arc-welding products have been required to have them certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Lab for decades. If the exemptions hadn’t been included in the NOM-003-SCFI revision, the potential workload of products requiring Mexican certification would have been overwhelming.
NEMA also raised awareness of the implementation timeline, and proposed that the NOM-003-SCFI revision be applied to non-exempted arc-welding and plasma-cutting equipment in two years. The exemptions and lengthened implementation schedule gives arc-welding section members financial benefits—reduced number of products subjected to a certification regime, and the ability to better negotiate with testing agencies for favorable certification costs, still ensuring that arc-welding equipment intended for the Mexican home/hobbyist market meets minimum safety and performance requirements.
NEMA Mexico recently learned that the Mexican Ministry of Economy Secretary is expected to publish the new edition of NOM-003-SCFI in the Mexican Official Gazette sometime during the March 2015 time frame.
The NEMA Arc Welding Section is keeping standards harmonization at the forefront. It recently kicked off a new CANENA project on a tri-national effort for arc-welding equipment to allow the same standards base to be used in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. ei
Steve Griffith, Industry Director | [email protected]
Ű Mexican Mandatory Standard to Include Arc Welding
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 25
International Roundup
NEMA played a prominent role in the recent 2015 CANENA (Council for the Harmonization of Electrical Standards of the Nations of the Americas) annual meeting, which took place in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Celebrating 20 years of standards harmonization, CANENA boasts a portfolio of more than 80 harmonized standards that effectively ensure that products can be made to a single design and sold throughout North America. Export data from the U.S. International Trade Commission reinforces the value of this effort; exports of NEMA members’ products to Canada and Mexico reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion in 2014.
The impact of harmonized standards was nicely summarized by Luis Ivan Hernandez, director of standardization for ANCE, the national standards development organization in Mexico. He gave a clear presentation on the recent revision of the key technical regulation for safety of electrical products, NOM-003-SCFI-2015. This regulation references more than 100 different voluntary consensus NMX standards; by doing so, it makes compliance mandatory. For every NEMA member product included in this regulation (which also regulates appliances), the appropriate standard has been harmonized via CANENA.
Gene Eckhart spoke on behalf of the American National Standards Institute’s Standards Alliance, an initiative supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The initiative is designed to support developing countries with implementing commitments under the World Trade Organization’s agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
Demand-based and results-oriented, the initiative features multi-year engagement focusing on strategic issues identified by participating countries. Funding is a public-private model, leveraging access to expertise in the U.S. private sector and U.S. government agencies. The Alliance currently has work plans for numerous countries in the Americas, including Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. NEMA’s collaborative efforts with the Alliance include the adoption of numerous electrical product standards harmonized via CANENA in these countries.
With strong support from Stephen Irving, Lutron’s senior standards engineer, Mr. Eckhart also made a presentation on the emerging technical regulation on low-voltage electrical equipment, expected to come into force in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) later this year.
rEgUlation coVErS WiDE ScopEThe regulation has been under development for nearly one decade! As regards this regulation, the overall scope includes all electrical and electronic devices, appliances, and fixtures that contain electrical and/or electronic components designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000V
for alternating current, and between 75 and 1500V for direct current.
In practice, the regulation names specific products by two separate lists. List One allows suppliers’ declaration of conformity, and List Two requires third party / notified body certification. To date, only List Two has named any products, with the current schedule requiring voluntary compliance by June of 2015 and mandatory compliance in July of 2016.
The regulation covers safety, electromagnetic compatibility, administrative requirements, product registration and marking, and market surveillance. While the current standards being used are GSO standards—mostly “fast-tracked”-adopted IEC standards—the regulation serves as a great opportunity for NEMA to introduce the entire portfolio of CANENA harmonized standards as candidates for adoption by the GCC standardization organization as the basis for future conformity assessment. ei
Gene Eckhart, Senior Director for International Operations |
Stephen Irving, Senior Standards Engineer, Lutron Electronics Company |
Ű NEMA Plays Notable Role in CANENA 2015 Annual Meeting
26 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
Economic SpotlightInternational Roundup
NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America was largely steady for a third straight month in March as the index inched up to 58.3 from 57.9 in February and 57.5 in January.
One-third of March’s panelists stated conditions improved during the month, 17 percent indicated they worsened, and 50 percent claimed they were unchanged. These proportions were broadly similar to those reported in both January and February.
The survey’s measure of the mean degree of change in current North American conditions firmed in March, climbing to +0.3 from +0.2 a month ago. Panelists are asked to report intensity of change on a scale ranging from –5 (deteriorated significantly) through 0 (unchanged) to +5 (improved significantly).
Meanwhile, the EBCI for future North American conditions slipped modestly in March. The index retreated to 75 from 78.9 a month ago, but remained firmly above January’s reading of 67.5. Sixty-one percent of March’s panelists expect the business environment to improve over the next six months compared to 11 percent who expect it to decline. Another 28 percent of panelists expect conditions to remain largely unchanged.
Visit www.nema.org/ebci for the complete March 2015 report. ei
Tim Gill, Deputy Chief Economist | [email protected]
Ű Little Change in NEMA’s Business Conditions Indexes between February and March
North American Current Conditions Magnitude: March 2015
Num
ber o
f Res
pons
es
0
2.25
4.5
6.75
9
Change in Conditions Rating-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Median = 0 Mean = 0.3
NEMA electroindustry • April 2015 27
Q Today’s American cities are constantly evolving. New and innovative technology companies are entering and disrupting nearly every industry, and cities that are able to be flexible and adapt to these changes are setting up their environment, residents, and every facet of city government for success.
This is particularly true when it comes to electric vehicles (EV), the infrastructure that supports them, and the network and energy management systems that they plug into. EVs have seen enormous growth across the country over the last few years, and truly “smart” cities will not only plan for the industry’s future expansion and the growth in load it will bring, but also leverage it to develop more integrated, intelligent transportation networks.
ChargePoint, one of the world’s largest EV charging networks, has more than 20,000 spots to plug in and charge. With the data the network provides, site owners—whether they are cities or businesses—are able to manage access, demand, and pricing, contributing to more intelligent energy management.
The future of cities is smart, and the future of smart cities is in intelligent transportation and energy management. And that’s good news for residents and for the environment. ei
NEMAI am
StocK art crEDitSCover, 1: ©Roman Sigaev/Dollar Photo Club10: ©alexpli/Dollar Photo Club11: ©art1art/Dollar Photo Club
16: ©iStockphoto.com/marcduf25: ©iStockphoto.com/kadmy
Got a question? Ask the experts at [email protected]
Q: If “NEMA” stands for National Electrical Manufacturers Association, then why are non-current-carrying products included in its product scope?
Simply put, current-carrying conductors and devices must be properly protected and supported during their service life. Products in the non-current-carrying category are used in electrical infrastructure to achieve this basic necessity. For example, products found in the scopes of NEMA 5TC and NEMA 5RN—conduit, tubing, surface raceways, associated fittings and accessories—properly protect, support, and route current-carrying conductors to their destination. Cable trays, which are found in the scope of NEMA 5CT, also provide support and routing for cables, raceways, and insulated conductors. Finally, products within the scopes of NEMA 5FB and NEMA 5OS
provide fittings for cable strain relief, boxes for securely mounting current-carrying wiring devices, and accessories for supporting conduit. The products mentioned within these five NEMA sections are non-current carrying products, yet are of fundamental importance to the safety and effectiveness of the overall infrastructure of our electrical system.
Fred Small, Engineering Manager, Wire Mesh Products, Hubbell Wiring Device–Kellems
Erin Mellon, Director of Communications, ChargePoint
Bryan Holland Don Iverson
NEMA@HOME Section1: ©iStockphoto.com/PGMart 3: ©iStockphoto.com/R_Jasson 3: ©iStockphoto.com/samdiesel 3: ©iStockphoto.com/pkazmercyk5: ©iStockphoto.com/SerrNovik28 NEMA electroindustry • April 2015
We Are NEMA
ExpertASK THE
ExpertsLISTEN TO THE
Recently, the NEMA field reps attended the National Electrical Code® 2017 First Draft meetings. Bryan Holland, Southern Regional Field Rep, and Don Iverson, NEMA’s Midwest Field Rep, talk about the meetings and the importance of revising the electrical code every three years.
www.nema.org/field-reps-recount-nec-2017
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