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Intelli-Hood®
Lurking in commercial kitchens are some voracious beasts. Each year they gobble up vast amounts of energy and profits. According to the American Gas Association, they waste more than $2 billion of energy each year in the U.S. Food service industry. What are they? Commercial ventilation systems! During the second half of 2007, SMUD worked closely with its customers to test Melink Corportation's Intelli-Hood® system. The resulting energy savings were impressive..
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Archived CAT newsletters
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Customer Advanced Technologies
SMUD's Customer Advanced Technologies (CAT) is a research and development program designed to encourage customers to use and evaluate new or underutilized technologies.
Unlike many R & D programs, research is accomplished through implementing real-world demonstration projects (instead of laboratory testing). CAT provides funding for customers in exchange for a two-year monitoring agreement.
Completed demonstration projects include lighting technologies, light emitting diodes (LEDs), building envelopes, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and a wide variety of other technologies. To learn more about the program, click here.
Reports describing the results for many of these projects are available through this web page. To download the reports, please click on the links provided below. All files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print. For a free software download, click here.
Please note that SMUD does not endorse specific products or manufacturers. The information, statements, representations, graphs and data presented in these reports are provided by SMUD as a public service. Mention of any particular product or manufacturer should not be construed as an implied endorsement.
Quarterly newsletter
CAT produces a free electronic newsletter that is published and distributed via e-mail on a quarterly basis. The newsletter describes current research efforts and includes a calendar of scheduled technology workshops. If you wish to be added to the distribution list, please send your request to dbisbee@smud.org.
Lighting technologies
Since lighting comprises approximately 20 percent of all electrical energy use in California, development of new energy-efficient technologies is important for our energy future. The evaluations presented below demonstrate the pioneering spirit of SMUD's customer-owners.
Available Reports (click on links to download reports)
- California Kitchen Lighting System
- Office Torchiere Lighting System
- The Berkeley Lamp: An Evaluation of Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Table Lamps
- Just Right Light Ballasts: An Evaluation of Dimmable Fluorescent Lighting System Technology
- Lighting Circuit Power Reducers for Fluorescent Lighting Applications
- T5 Fluorescent Lighting Systems for High-Bay Applications
- Induction Lighting Systems
Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) seem to be almost everywhere. They are used as indicator lights for video equipment, battery chargers, telephones, digital cameras, clocks, appliances, electronic toys and many other applications. If you've driven anywhere lately, you've probably noticed a growing number of LED traffic signals, exterior signs and cars with LED brake lights. During the past couple of years, SMUD customers have completed several innovative projects.
Available Reports (click on links to download reports)
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
It takes a lot of energy to heat and cool our homes and businesses. SMUD is well-known for its innovation and pioneering spirit, particularly in the area of energy-efficiency. SMUD customers have installed geothermal heat pumps, evaporative condensed air conditioners, indirect/direct evaporative cooling (IDEC) systems and other ultra-high efficiency cooling techniques.
Available Reports (click on links to download reports)
- FREUS: Technology brief
- FREUS: SMUD report
- FREUS: ADM report
- Turbocor Compressors: Oil-free bearings, energy savings
- Coolerado Cooler: Innovative evaporative cooling system
- Desert CoolAire technical assessment
- Desert CoolAire executive summary
- Operation IDEC Rescue: Advantages of proper installation and maintenance
- OASys: Indirect-direct evaporative cooling system
- Ice Bear Thermal Storage System
- Air Conditioner Service Light Project
Building envelopes
SMUD is currently working with local builders to construct homes made from insulated concrete forms (ICF) and structural insulated panels (SIPs). Some of these homes will be showcased in technology evaluation in 2006. In the meantime, please visit these links to learn more about these exciting technologies:
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF):
- Insulated Concrete Form Association
- Portland Cement Association
- Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
Other technologies
SMUD Customers have participated in demonstration projects for a wide variety of technologies including non-chemical water treatment systems, voltage regulation devices, solar powered lighting systems and solar powered pond circulators.
Available Reports (click on links to download reports):
- Intelli-Hood: Demand Ventilation System
- CoolTrol: Refrigeration Management System
- Pulse-Power Water Treatment for Cooling Towers
- MCI Water Treatment Study
- Catalytic Water Conditioners
- The Electrical Harmonizer
- Solar Powered Lighting Systems
- SolarBee
- MicroPlanet: Enterprise voltage regulation
Additional resources
To participate
If you're interested in participating in SMUD's Customer Advanced Technologies Program or have questions regarding completed projects, please call 916-732-6409 or send an e-mail to dbisbee@smud.org.