The recently released UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report shocked everyone who was paying attention. In short, attempting to mitigate temperature rises to 1.5 percent by 2050 (which already seemed impossible to most) is too little too late. The globe is on a trajectory to see temperatures rise more than 3 percent by that time. The resulting flooding, droughts and superstorms will be catastrophic. A drastic shift in energy sourcing and usage is necessary to limit economic and humanitarian costs. Fortunately, drastic doesn’t mean impossible. Microgrids and carbon dioxide recycling are two available solutions that can make substantial impact. Microgrids Microgrids enable centralized power generation, storage and delivery. They offer more efficient power transmission, reduce costs for consumers, and decrease the duration of blackouts which can save lives and protect economies. A microgrid can “cut air pollution from the electric utility sector as much as 30 percent by 2030, saving 34,000 deaths a year,” states Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative. The systems offer more immediate benefits as well. Hurricanes Florence and Michael, for example, resulted in nearly $100 billion in property damages. After factoring in electricity outages and stalled commerce, Accenture estimates that such storms can cost economies $150 billion per year. The implementation of microgrids would reduce the economic impact of natural disasters by quickly restoring power. Microgrids also facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources with flexible scalability. Local organizations do not need to wait on utility companies or governments to implement more sustainable practices. Solar panels, roof-mounted wind turbines, and other sustainable energy devices can be used as the primary energy source on individual projects. Several power companies are exploring the power, efficiency and reliability of microgrids. Edison International, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Duke Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric are just...

By eliminating the need to convert DC electricity to AC voltage for commercial and residential use, a new generation of Microgrids is set to upend the traditional energy infrastructure. While Edison beat Tesla in the first go-around, the latest battle of the voltage could have an entirely different outcome. Alternative power sources and smart fixtures provide much of the fodder for energy efficiency strategies, but one elephant in the room is AC/DC conversion. Currently, AC/DC conversion results in a 20% energy loss, not insignificant when you consider residential and commercial buildings consume 65% of all energy generated. By eliminating that conversion loss, DC microgrids are poised to significantly impact energy use and generation both in the US and internationally. Clean and Lean The benefits associated with DC microgrids include lower energy losses and an increase in utilization of onsite generation. DC microgrids are also more reliable and resilient, continuing to run unabated even as the grid goes down and power outages run rampant. And because DC microgrids ease the incorporation of onsite solar (and perhaps, someday, wind), there’s a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. Not only can DC microgrids improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on the grid, they can also help buildings meet net zero energy standards. At the November 2015 Greenbuild Expo in Washington DC, the Net Zero Energy Pavilion highlighted many microgrid technologies. Completely solar powered, the pavilion’s photovoltaic panels connected directly to the building’s lighting and appliances in a powerful representation of DC microgrid potential. Work and Play Not only does the incorporation of DC microgrids improve energy efficiency, they provide greater resource management. By enabling partial (if not total) decoupling from the grid, DC microgrids allow building managers and residents to exert more control over...