Utilities Turn Their Customers Green, With Envy

Utilities Turn Their Customers Green, With Envy - NY Times.

Peer pressure, what a powerful emotion! And some utilities are using it as a way to get people to reduce their usage of electricity by showing how they compare to their neighbors.

Solar Panels on White House

It seems some solar panels were installed by President Bush, but very low key. That's a shame. Jimmy Carter also had some installed, but they were taken out under Reagan, unfortunately.

Golden State Doubles Solar Use in 2008

Golden State Doubles Solar Use in 2008 - msnbc. I hope this keeps up! Very exciting! Which may be related to this - SunPower profit leaps on rising solar panel sales

Stimulus and Alternative Energy

I am getting worried the stimulus is becoming not very stimulating.

• Fixing the Tax Problems of Renewable Energy

• House Energy Stimulus Unveiled

• Biomass, Geothermal and the Stimulus New York Times
  

EPA Waiver Economic Impact

Will the EPA waiver for California have a negative economic impact? Some people think so and my thoughts are BS.

Why? Take SUV's for example. Hyrid SUV's already exist and don't cost that much more than a regular one, but with cheap gas why would anyone want to buy one? Hmm...

And I thought Detroit was already working on lots of hybrids and electric cars already?

References:
Obama directs EPA to reconsider Bush-era auto emission policy Los Angeles Times

California's energy efficiency an economic boon

California's energy efficiency an economic boon - San Francisco Chronicle

This is the same idea of WalMart, just being more efficient which leads to higher profits! Unfortunately sometimes governments needs to give some incentives in order for companies and people to become more energy efficient. How public utilities in California are rewarded is a great example, that is why they subsidize CFL's and do other activities to reduce the demand for electricity since they are regulated by California.

Mexico turns toward alternative energy The Associated Press

Mexico turns toward alternative energy The Associated Press

Good news overall. There is the challenge of the historical issues that can complicate any investment, especially when they can use it as an issue to push forward their own political agendas.

The LA Times headline, Slumdog' doesn't feel good in India on Indian reaction to Slum Dog Millionaire was another example of some people pushing their own political agenda. The actually opinion in India is much more nuanced. Of course when you read the article, it reads "some Indians". Which was not apparent from the headline.

Lower gas prices send buyers after big cars again USA Today

Lower gas prices send buyers after big cars againUSA Today What short memories some people have! Of course their may have been some incredible discounting going on. So is Chrysler going to restart the Durango production? What impact will the higher margins have on the health of Chrysler and GM for selling more SUV's?

Steinway Installs World's Largest Solar Cooling System

Steinway Installs World's Largest Solar Cooling System - Press Release. I am curious on the timing/reasoning, since Piano sales are pretty dismal at the moment.

BREAKING: Obama Tax Breaks for Solar and Wind Approved!

BREAKING: Obama Tax Breaks for Solar and Wind Approved! - translation they have gotten out of committee. They still have a ways to go and a lot of negation between now and becoming law.

Layoffs clouding the solar industry

Layoffs clouding the solar industry from Marketplace.

Financing is the issue, if it's to hard to get financing places need to layoff. Sad.

How Green Is My Orange?

How Green Is My Orange? from the NY Times. Pepsi did a study, interesting. And of course since it's interactive dependent on transportation distance, one number does not quite capture it.

Ford Hybrid Update

Good article about Ford's Hybrid Chief, but what is more interesting is what it shows about the direction that Ford is going in:

Ford's Hybrid Chief Moves Ahead Special Report- Washington Post

Plug-in hybrids -- wave of the future?

Plug-in hybrids -- wave of the future? from the SF Gate

Good general overview of the current status and the comments have a lot of value.

CFL Health Tips

When CFLs Fail: How to Keep Your Compact Fluorescent Glowing from Popular Mechanics. Good article.

It would be nice to have a way to tell the different types of electronics in the CFL. The cheap magnetic resonnance type verses the solid state electronics.

Solar needs a bail out?

Solar Power, Suffering in the Recession, Needs a Bailout Too from Time Magazine.

My opinion what solar needs is for credit to be unfrozen. The question is what form would a bail out be? If as a way for people to finance solar more easier, that makes sense. The challenge is making capital productive, which does not seem to have been done with Tarp.

DC Power in China?

China Tests High-Tech Power System - from the WSJ. My guess is high voltage DC power, and China's way of establishing a national grid. Europe also has some DC power installations.

Related Posts:

• Lifeline for Renewable Power
  Gore Urges Obama to Create US Power Grid limits Renewables
• DC Power High Voltage Transmission Advantages

Solar is a bit dirty...

I will try not to be sarcastic...

Solar energy's darker side stirs concern - from the LA Times.

Electronics in general is not very clean because of the materials used. But, of course, most things when you get into the details have challenges. Even something as simple as a dairy farm has an environmental impact. This article brings up the issue what do you do with the solar panels end of life? Recycling is going to be interesting... And then there is the manufacturing process that is usually never brought up.

Solar, or the semiconductor based on, is semiconductors. This deals with exotic metals that are put on with super thin coatings that are etched. Etching means some type of acid, and what do you do with all the stuff you just etched off. Yes, semiconductors are not very clean, and they have contaminated a lot of the water in silicon valley.

Smart Grid - Surprising Support

I believe a smart grid is actually going to be funded! Why, because of this Pickens' Windmills Tilt Against Market Realities Wall Street Journal.

T. Boone Pickens has been doing a lot of politicing in favor of a smart grid and from the article, looks like he has been very successful! The smart grid is needed for his windmills. That has always been a weak area (somebody to push a smart grid), because the current stakeholders don't really care. The ones who do are the alternate energy people and for whatever reason have stayed out of this.

Gas Engines Get Upgrade in Challenge to Hybrids

Gas Engines Get Upgrade in Challenge to Hybrids from the WSJ. Exciting! This means regular cars can easily get more mileage for only a slight increase in cost! Amazing what happens when fuel efficiency becomes a higher design concern.

Prices for rooftop solar systems fall as supply grows

Prices for rooftop solar systems fall as supply grows - US Today.

Exciting News for consumers! And with the lower prices, increased demand, and more production, lower prices! A great cycle for getting more solar!

Quote that is very interesting, since I live in California!

In California, which accounts for nearly 70% of the U.S. solar market, a typical 4-kilowatt, $32,000 solar energy system cost a homeowner about $23,000 last year after state and federal incentives. This year, if prices sink as expected, that system is likely to cost $10,000 to $12,000.

New Prius Competitor

It's nice there is finally a real competitor to the Prius! This should help prices eventually...

From the NY Times - Honda Unveils a Cheaper Hybrid Challenger to Toyota’s Top-Selling Prius

Gulf Oil States Seeking a Lead in Clean Energy

Gulf Oil States Seeking a Lead in Clean Energy from the NY Times.

When everybody working on clean energy to be in the lead, when the shakeout comes, who will still be there? It's going to come down to cost eventually, and is this field that is about efficiency and technology. And of managing it effectively, as well as having the technical workforce that can make this happen. The gulf states are doing a lot of work to increase the skill level of their workforce by making deals with world class colleges around the world.

Toyota Plug-in - A year early

Told ya! Toyota Plug-In Hybrid Coming Late This Year - New York Times

My previous post - Toyota and Volt - Watch what you wish for... My thought is GM was basically taunting Toyota with the Volt, so Toyota, being Toyota, just worked a little bit harder to get their plug in out first. And doing it in the usual, super careful way - ie quality will be A+.

Death of Plasma?

EU is set to create energy requirements that will probably kill larger Plasma's in the EU due to their 4X higher energy usage. Plasma television screens set to be banned under new energy legislation from the UK Daily Mail.

Green Ham - Environmental Pork

So what is the US Gov. going to do about the impact of the credit crunch? Nobody's sure. Will they help homeowners install solar, or direct loans to manufacturers, and/or just build a smart grid alternate energy? Some type of tax credits? I hope the right use of funding is done, and not more roads to no where based on the amount of power of a state's representative/senator has in congress. Environmental Pork - I guess the term would be Green Ham.

Smart Grid in Obama Plan

Having a smart grid in Obama's revewable's plan is huge! It's been a chicken or egg issue, which comes first, improving the grid or more power. You can't improve the grid without the power being there, but you can't build the power if you won't have a grid. Very existing! Hopefully it's a DC Power Grid.

Obama renewables plan more ambitious than appears - Reuters

Related Posts:

• Lifeline for Renewable Power
• Gore Urges Obama to Create US Power
  Grid limits Renewables
  DC Power High Voltage Transmission Advantages

Solar, Solar, and Solar

Seems even more companies are jumping in, and capacity is going up. The winner for this is the consumer with lower prices... The question is it going to be a bubble or not? Like the railroads, Internet infrastructure, and ? The good thing is all these bubbles actually had a good effect since they built something...

Toyota Solar Power

Good article debunking the idea - Solar Powered Cars: Not Just Yet from the NY Times. Basically would add very little to the mileage of the car at this time. Now, if it was an external solar array that would be possible.

CFL to Halogen - Bad Comparison

The LA Times mentioned the CFL a one of the bad design trend they hope dies in 2009. The author suggested using a Halogen with a dimmer makes it better than a CFL.

That's a bit misleading...

CFL to Halogen Bulb Comparison

Positives:
2 TO 4X the life Halogens are usually 2000 hours, where a CFL is 8000. I am not sure if dimming a CFL would also extend the life.
Twice the efficiency at least (60 to 72 lumens per watt vs. 10-30 lm/W)
CFL's are not a fire danger - Halogens heat up to around 1000 Deg. F.
CFL's usually cost less than Halogens (dimmable CFL's more).

Negatives of CFL's compared to Halogen:

• Mercury
• Cheaper CFL's have poor Light Rendering
  

Varies:

• Some CFL's can be dimmed.
• Some CFL's have excellent color that are good enough for most applications.

Applications for Halogen

• Halogen - Restaurants that need perfect color, and can afford to double their electricity bill.
• Halogen - Clothing stores that need perfect color
  
• Art exhibits that don't mind the heat.
• Above Mirrors such as in bathrooms
  

CFL's

• Every place else, and if cost is more important than perfect color, in the above applications.
  

The author is an architect who is into lighting. Anyway, the article in the LA Times is a bit misleading on CFL's on their positives and negatives compared to halogen.

I used to work for International Rectifier as a Marketing Manager focusing on Lighting products, and wrote an article about DALI. DALI is a standard for controlling the dimming of fluorescent ballasts, pretty big in Europe.

Sempra solar energy project makes advances in costs

7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour! Wow! Very competitive! Benchmark is 9 cents.

Sempra solar energy project makes advances in costs from the LA Times.

Only problem is nobody is sure what the real cost is.

Clean energy jolts job markets

Clean energy jolts job markets from the LA Times.

A comment that bothers me is that President Carter squandered billions on alternate fuels. Strange comment, since today we are doing ethanol and a lot of funding into alternate fuels. Just think if the funding had continued from 1981 to now in alternate energy, instead of being started only when oil got expensive and alternate energy became an emergency.

Unfortunately, President Carter has become the President that democrats have forgotten (pretend did not exist). His comment on Israel in his recent book made him ever more politically radioactive (using the word apartheid with Israel), as did how his Presidency is perceived in popular thought. Before his recent book, President Carter had an A+ reputation of his activities after being President. One relative commented he made a better ex-President than he did President. At the recent Democratic Convention, he was not on stage or even mentioned that I remember.

Related Posts:
What If - Carter's Energy Policy

Links:
Jimmy Carter: Israel's 'apartheid' policies worse than South Africa

Flat-screen TVs to face energy-efficiency rules in California

Flat-screen TVs to face energy-efficiency rules in California from the LA Times.

Wow!
LCD -- liquid crystal display -- sets use 43% more electricity, on average, than conventional tube TVs; larger models use proportionately more. Plasma TVs, which command a relatively small share of the market, need more than three times as much power as bulky, old-style sets.

I thought these comment was pretty, umm, weak - my comment in italics.

Mike McMaster, president of Wilshire Entertainment Inc., worries that a rush to impose TV efficiency standards "would be basically the end of our business."

"It would kill dealerships because people would buy on Amazon and have them shipped in and maybe not pay sales tax," he said. "If a customer wants a 12-cylinder car or a 60-inch plasma that uses this much energy, they're going to get it."

87% of large screen TV's already meet the requirements, my guess is most Plasma Models don't and cheaper models. Plasma's weigh more than LCD's and are a better cost for larger screens, but LCD's are catching up.


"The passion is correct. The proposal is not," said Doug Johnson, senior director of technology at the Consumer Electronics Assn. in Arlington, Va. "We can accomplish this without regulation as a result of innovation and voluntary approaches."

Looking at cars, the only time that higher mileage cars have been built is when the price of gas is higher, or the government mandated fuel standards.


If 30% of televisions fail to meet standards and can't be sold, California could lose $130 million in tax revenue and 15,800 jobs, Shawn DuBravac, an economist with the Consumer Electronics Assn., testified at a Dec. 15 Energy Commission workshop.

Again, 87% of current stock meets the standard, and it should go up by 2011 because engineers will start designing for this.

Larson said. "Every dollar spent on energy efficiency returns $2 in savings,"

Over what time period? Is it a 1 year payback, or ?

Solar Cars

I read that Toyota is working on a Solar Car - Yet more solar Prius rumors from CNET. Responses I read were a little doubtful. Then I read Op-Ed: Four Ways for Detroit to Save Itself which mentions adding solar panels to a car could increase mileage 20%. Hmm... So may be solar panels on a car plus a solar charger at home is a solar car.

Lifeline for Renewable Power

Lifeline for Renewable Power from Technology Review published by MIT. Article states why a smart grid is important, and mentions the US gets less than 1% of it's power from Wind, and Germany is at 14%. Unfortunately they did not mention the easy solution of DC Power Transmission Lines!

Related Posts:

• Gore Urges Obama to Create US Power
• Grid limits Renewables
• DC Power High Voltage Transmission Advantages

Cleantech forecast: guardedly optimistic

Cleantech forecast: guardedly optimistic from the Mercury News.

Wow Quote - "You can measure in months, not years, how far we are away from being able to produce solar power at prices that are competitive with fossil fuels,"

Wind actually makes more sense than Solar right now on the cost, but I guess since not related to Silicon Valley much it did not get a lot of coverage.

Energy efficiency - I hope this becomes bigger, there is a lot of opportunity in this area.