This 2-hour course explores recent trends in electricity use that will impact the engineering design process as codes, standards, systems and practice move toward a transition to a sustainable future. The course looks at present worldwide and U. S. electrical trends and how they are affecting the transition toward sustainability. It will look at trends in electrical generation and use and the economic impacts of these trends. Life cycle costs of solar, wind and energy storage will be compared with costs of fossil generation. The present and anticipated future job market in energy efficiency and renewable energy will be explored for engineers, architects and field workers. Detailed design examples will be included for EV charging, zero energy buildings and energy storage. References: Information has been obtained from open sources, author’s experience and manufacturers’ websites, as well as the National Electrical Code and other applicable codes and standards.  Other references are listed on the individual slides.

Learning Objectives

• Major trends in electricity generation.
• Major changes in grid use that will effect engineering design.
• Electric vehicle charging – charging levels, Code requirements, unidirectional, bidirectional, cost comparison of fossil vs electric fuel.
• EV battery storage capacity, range, calculations of charging time and miles/kWh.
• Example service calculation for adding an EV charger.
• Taking advantage of cost-effective energy efficiency measures.
• The economics of zero energy buildings.
• Emerging energy storage technologies.
• Small-scale storage system sizing.