Implementing Changes

"For example, research on lighting patents between 1992 and 2007 suggests that governance processes, which strengthen energy performance standards and constant R&D investments, could spur energy innovation; specifically, energy and environmental policies – and the patenting process in particular – significantly impacted technological innovation (Kim and Brown, 2019)." [1] R&D has a positive affirmation towards significant success in innovations. Patents are a subset of R&D teams that prove an inventor's idea works in practice and serve as a gateway for revolutionary changes. Even though lights have been around since the early 1800s with Thomas Edison's first commercially patented light in 1879, there will be continuous improvements in light sources and better cables for emitting light. Countries need to be able to spend more on R&D as the economic growth from these ideas equates to increasing market gain and a long term effect on support for these energy technologies on the environment.

Energy security is the storage capacity of energy but also the consistent acquisition of energy. Materials like lithium-ion for batteries and even are dwindling. While hydrostorage technology usually comes with a lapse timeframe from when it is operating to being stationary. Engineers will face a tough task of meeting future demand for energy storage, and will have to come up with new solutions to resolve this. Another problem we face as a nation is becoming too reliant on imports or being content with traditional ways. "Hungary and Slovakia are reliant on gas for over half of the energy requirements of the buildings stock (including residential, commercial and public buildings) and are therefore in a vulnerable position with regard to gas supply." [3] Energy security does not only rely on supply from the actual equipment acruing the energy, but it is consistent with relationships between other countries. Companies need backup plans for when equipment and supply is low. Expanding alternative routes will make countries less vulnerable powering homes and facilities. Options may include bonding with nearby nations, progressing the nations own technology to be self-reliant, or using natural resources that the lands provide. These two countries also have a colder climate so certain technologies will be easier to implement like gas lines which wouldn't freeze. For instance, if you use wind turbines during the winter, the ice would prevent the turbines from being able to turn efficiently. This would cause greater loads on the blades and may even damage the turbine. This is another factor to consider when considering an overall better technology.

iCAP (Illinois Climate Action Plan)

At iCAP, professors and researchers are admitted to a council overseeing a bunch of topics like energy on the UIUC campus. As a campus of over 40,000 students, this is a great task. UIUC is set up as a city in itself with underlying problems related to emissions, cooling/heating within buildings, and pilot methods for cleaner energy. With iCAP, students have the chance to learn from the iWP (iCAP Working Group) through events and meetings. Q&A sessions are set up as well as virtual meetings to ensure the iWP is working effectively and using resources to solve problems. Students can take advantage of this by learning about important advances and communicating with higher education advocates. For example, the Illinois Climate Action Plan iCAP 2020 states, "Increasing space utilization rates can include clarifying appropriate allocation policies for various room categories and implementing innovative solutions like hot-desking (wherein workspaces are used by multiple people on a rotating basis)." [7] Slightlines, LLC was able to conduct experimentation as shown in Figure 5 that lead to UIUC being among the lowest in efficiency towards space utilization between other BIG10 universities. While people may not know this, space is a concern when you are operating unnecessary facilities and your occupancy per user versus Gross Square Feet is low. For UIUC to perform at close to net zero space consumption then the increased efforts toward using up space more effectively and altering outdated methods needs to be a priority towards energy goals.