Digital Energy Net

Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dependency on volatile fossil fuels or foreign sources, increase infrastructure resilience, and mitigate demand peaks. Investment in insulation, energy-saving appliances and smart thermostats as well as public transport can make energy more cost-effective for families with limited funds.…

Smart cities use technology to transform environmental, social and financial aspects of urban life through data-driven decision making and streamlining factors like public transport, energy distribution, waste management and citizen engagement. Amsterdam boasts motion-detected streetlights to help guide drivers to their cars while smart waste bins notify local trash services when they’re full. Meanwhile, in…

Smart grids are essential in the transition towards green energy. They reduce outage frequency and duration, mitigate storm impacts, and facilitate faster restoration processes. Optimizing electricity flows means minimizing losses and incorporating renewable sources for cost savings across utilities and consumers alike, but they need the appropriate investments to reach their full potential. Real-time monitoring…

Urban mobility is essential to our lives both individually and collectively as individuals and citizens of cities alike. It facilitates economic development at various scales and attracts businesses and residents while at the same time helping reduce environmental impact by supporting green transportation solutions like cycling or public transit. Trip creation is a key element…

Energy storage systems have become an integral component of the electric power industry, offering multiple advantages including supporting renewable energy integration and lowering demand charges for end users. Pumped hydrostorage and batteries are currently the two primary grid-scale energy storage technologies used, respectively. ARPA-E is investing in technologies which can store energy for extended durations.…

Zoning laws outline where and how new development should take place, preventing incompatible land uses from coming into conflict and encouraging an orderly expansion process. Zoning regulations are part of any city’s master plan and govern building height, parking minimums and floor area ratios (FAR). They also set regulations for lot coverage and setbacks. Residential…

Land use planning is a complex endeavor that entails many steps, from making sure factories don’t near schools to making sure new apartments are in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Furthermore, this involves the zoning of land to accommodate different uses such as recreational, agricultural, commercial and industrial. An effective land use plan provides for closeness between work…

Community engagement involves engaging people in decisions that affect them and creating long-term sustainable outcomes, processes, relationships and discourse. Effective community engagement should take into account the unique needs and characteristics of different stakeholders to prevent tokenism and build trust and credibility. 1. Understand the Community Identification and understanding of a community is critical for…

Digital governance is the practice of assigning roles and responsibilities for an organization’s digital presence online, including websites, mobile sites, social channels, data ownership, the Internet and web-enabled products. Furthermore, it outlines quality standards for these initiatives. Key to effective digital governance is early involvement of stakeholders. This helps establish who has decision-making authority and…

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer drivers a range of cruising ranges, prices, performance features and luxury amenities that allow them to customize their selection to their individual preferences. Depending on where you reside, incentives and rebates may also be available; check with local governments for eligibility criteria before making your selection. Unlike gas cars, electric vehicles…