Energy

  • Most Topular Stories

  • OpenEI Apps now live!

    OpenEI Blog
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:31 pm
    An App is defined as a small, specialized application or tool downloaded onto mobile devices, or used on tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Apps have not always invoked the idea of such a specialized function, but the way we now consume information has led to a shift in the definition.In line with the growing demand for apps, OpenEI's main mission is to bring information related to energy to everyone, and that now includes a large collection of energy apps.On OpenEI's mainpage, you can look up at the top left banner and see the "apps" tab. Once there, you'll be able to freely use 47…

  • Profile of control center paints picture of future

    SmartGridNews.com
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:20 pm
    SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst shares a glimpse of a new state-of-the-art transmission control center, which he sees as a view into the future – and the future of distribution operations as well. Click inside to find out why.

  • IBM and VELCO to Build Next Generation Communications Network for Vermont Energy Grid

    IBM Press Releases - Energy & Utilities - United States
    23 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm
    At the 2012 DistribuTECH conference, IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) today announced an agreement to build an intelligent fiber optic and Carrier Ethernet communications and control network across the State of Vermont. Spanning more than 1000 miles, this advanced fiber communications network will connect transmission substations to Vermont’s distribution utilities, delivering reliable electric service and the capabilities required for the state's future Smart Grid. E-mail this page Save to del.icio.us Digg this

  • Ghostbusters! Saving Electricity by Fighting Vampire Power

    CleanTechies Blog - CleanTechies.com
    EnergyRefuge.com
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    These days we are surrounded by gadgets that require an increasing supply of electricity. Therefore finding ways to charge them with as little energy as possible and avoiding energy waste are steps we can take decrease our energy consumption and carbon emissions. A new range of products designed to eliminate “wasteful stand-by consumption, also known as vampire power”, promises to do just that. They are produced by Bracketron and feature what the company calls GreenZero Technology. Their eco selling point is that they don’t consume energy when left plugged into power outlets, like most…

  • The bird’s eye view of Big Data

    GE Global Research
    Abha Moitra
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm
    This blog was co-written along with Christina LaComb. While it is common knowledge that Big Data challenges exist for companies such as Google, Facebook, and Cisco, the problem is also facing GE in a very significant manner.  A number of GE product lines require the ability to consume and process massive amounts of data.  These include remote monitoring and diagnostics, electronic medical records, smart grid, and credit card processing. But the landscape of possible solutions is a daunting and highly fluid space, with a plethora of emerging technology players and approaches targeting…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    OpenEI Blog

  • OpenEI Apps now live!

    27 Jan 2012 | 1:31 pm
    An App is defined as a small, specialized application or tool downloaded onto mobile devices, or used on tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Apps have not always invoked the idea of such a specialized function, but the way we now consume information has led to a shift in the definition.In line with the growing demand for apps, OpenEI's main mission is to bring information related to energy to everyone, and that now includes a large collection of energy apps.On OpenEI's mainpage, you can look up at the top left banner and see the "apps" tab. Once there, you'll be able to freely use 47…

  • Linked Open Data: The Essentials

    18 Jan 2012 | 1:52 pm
    If you've been following the OpenEI blog for any length of time, you've certainly seen us refer to Linked Open Data. OpenEI is alive today largely thanks to LOD helping populate and manage many areas of our site from across the web.As one small part of the huge movement in knowledge sharing, OpenEI is proud to be linked to the release of "Linked Open Data: The Essential", authored by Florian Bauer (REEEP) and Martin Kaltenbock (Semantic Web Company), with contributions from others, including Jon Weers, a lead programmer at OpenEI.The book is a guide intended to help people understand what LOD…

  • Energy Expenditure vs. Energy Use

    5 Jan 2012 | 2:15 pm
    How much energy are we using? And what are the costs? Its a hot topic today, as companies market energy efficient products and the nation's energy grid undergoes a make over. Its important for people to know what the current trends are, and what if their options are cost-effective.To help with that, the Department of Energy has created several maps that will help you see the data today on energy use by state and personal energy use.Check out these maps:State Energy ExpenditureEnergy Consumption/person

  • Hydropower in the United States

    16 Dec 2011 | 12:22 pm
    Hydropower is an important energy source in the United States, and has remained a relatively steady source of energy over the past several decades. But how well do you understand the landscape of hydropower in the United States?EIA's energy in brief is an in-depth analysis of the role of hydropower in the United States. Some important highlights of the resource are:- Hydropower is the largest renewable electricity source in the United States- The Pacific Northwest far exceeds the rest of the country in output of hydroelectricity. The Grand Coulee dam in Washington is the largest power plant…

  • Recent Worldwide growth in Smart Grid

    15 Dec 2011 | 2:22 pm
    Within in the past week, several initiatives across the globe showed that the momentum behind smart grid is real. Just this past week, projects including energy efficiency, wireless sensor technology, power plant automation systems, and load control have sprung up.Here's a look at the recent activities:Brazil:IntelliSAW, a provider of wireless sensor systems for smart grid applications, established an exclusive distribution agreement with Brazilian electricity industry systems and service provider Adperc. This agreement will provide Adperc the services it needs to grow and move into the smart…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SmartGridNews.com

  • Profile of control center paints picture of future

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:20 pm
    SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst shares a glimpse of a new state-of-the-art transmission control center, which he sees as a view into the future – and the future of distribution operations as well. Click inside to find out why.

  • Transmission and distribution infrastructure revenues to double by 2020

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pm
    Revenues from transmission and distribution infrastructure investments are expected to more than double over the next several years – from $7.27 million in 2010 to $15.53 million in 2020, according to a new analysis from Global Data. The business intelligence company says the increase in demand from emerging economies is primarily responsible for the growth.

  • VC investments in energy: Insights from PwC's Tracy Lefteroff

    26 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pm
    In an interview focused on the state of the VC industry as it relates to energy, Tracy Lefteroff, Global Managing Partner of PwC's venture capital practice, anticipates a flat 2012 in the U.S. Instead, he suggests looking north if you want to see where the dollars are flowing.

  • DistribuTECH buzz part 3: Surveys, videos, trends and whispers

    26 Jan 2012 | 3:12 pm
    The big event in San Antonio may be over, but we've got wrap-ups you won't want to miss. Click for notes and whispers from our many one-on-ones with industry execs, for a new smart grid implementation survey released by Microsoft and OSIsoft, plus videos from the show floor (including a demo of EPRI's new insulator robot named Ike).

  • Report: More utilities are realizing the benefits of social media

    26 Jan 2012 | 2:13 pm
    Marketing and advertising companies have been taking advantage of social media for years, and now more and more electric utilities are catching on - using them for their own marketing, communications and business strategies, according to a new white paper from Pike Research. Get more on the story inside.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    IBM Press Releases - Energy & Utilities - United States

  • IBM and VELCO to Build Next Generation Communications Network for Vermont Energy Grid

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pm
    At the 2012 DistribuTECH conference, IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) today announced an agreement to build an intelligent fiber optic and Carrier Ethernet communications and control network across the State of Vermont. Spanning more than 1000 miles, this advanced fiber communications network will connect transmission substations to Vermont’s distribution utilities, delivering reliable electric service and the capabilities required for the state's future Smart Grid. E-mail this page Save to del.icio.us Digg this

  • IBM Research Determines Atomic Limits of Magnetic Memory

    12 Jan 2012 | 3:40 am
    Punctuating 30 years of nanotechnology research, scientists from IBM Research have successfully demonstrated the ability to store information in as few as 12 magnetic atoms. This is significantly less than today’s disk drives, which use about one million atoms to store a single bit of information. The ability to manipulate matter by its most basic components – atom by atom – could lead to the vital understanding necessary to build smaller, faster and more energy-efficient devices. E-mail this page Save to del.icio.us Digg this

  • European Commission Awards IBM for Energy Efficient Data Centers

    4 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm
    IBM today announced the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union, has awarded 27 IBM Data Centers for energy efficiency, based on the European Union (EU) Code of Conduct for Data Centers. The honor represents the largest portfolio of data centers from a single company to receive the recognition. E-mail this page Save to del.icio.us Digg this

  • Energy Aid Founded by IBM and Practical Action Launches to Provide Universal Energy Access

    4 Dec 2011 | 10:19 pm
    IBM and international development charity Practical Action today announce the launch of Energy Aid, a new global charity with a mission to provide sustainable energy for those who have limited or no access for heating, lighting, cooking, communications and mechanical work. E-mail this page Save to del.icio.us Digg this

  • IBM Helps India’s Wave Inc Build Smarter Township

    20 Nov 2011 | 8:44 pm
    IBM today announced that Wave Inc, one of India’s leading diversified business groups, has engaged IBM to provide a roadmap to make its green-field township, Wave City, a Smarter Township. Located in Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh State), Wave City is among the largest integrated township development projects in India’s National Capital Region. The 4500 acre township will be one of the first urban developments in the country to be designed with smart systems to improve the quality of life for residents while keeping operating costs low and maintaining high levels of service. E-mail this page…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    CleanTechies Blog - CleanTechies.com

  • Ghostbusters! Saving Electricity by Fighting Vampire Power

    EnergyRefuge.com
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    These days we are surrounded by gadgets that require an increasing supply of electricity. Therefore finding ways to charge them with as little energy as possible and avoiding energy waste are steps we can take decrease our energy consumption and carbon emissions. A new range of products designed to eliminate “wasteful stand-by consumption, also known as vampire power”, promises to do just that. They are produced by Bracketron and feature what the company calls GreenZero Technology. Their eco selling point is that they don’t consume energy when left plugged into power outlets, like most…

  • California ‘Clean Car’ Rules Mandate Boost in Electric Vehicle Sales

    Yale Environment 360
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    California regulators are expected to pass new rules today requiring that 15 percent of all new cars sold by 2025 be powered by electricity, hydrogen, or other reduced-emission sources. The new rules proposed by the California Air Resources Board would also require a 75-percent reduction in smog-creating emissions from new cars, SUVS, pickups and minivans, and a 50-percent reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2025. According to the board, the initiative would put about 1.4 million low-emission vehicles on California roads by 2025, compared with current levels…

  • Going Solar in Vermont is about to Become Profitable

    Solar Calfinder
    27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    In Vermont’s state legislature, a bill is under consideration that will help owners of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems put more green into their pockets. It’s not a rebate or an incentive program to reduce installation costs, but a change to net-metering policies–a change that can reap substantial savings for Vermont residents. What Is Net Metering? When a grid-connected, residential solar system generates more electricity than the home is currently using, the home’s electrical meter literally spins backward, sending the surplus energy back into the electrical grid. In…

  • Why Cleantech Investors Should Get Ready for eDiscovery

    CleanTechies Guest Author
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    How the long arm of the law could reach cleantech investors when their portfolio companies become embroiled in green patent litigation This blog’s readers are well aware of the critical role private-sector funding, whether through venture capital, investment banks, or other funding mechanisms, plays in furthering Cleantech innovation. And followers of this blog are increasingly being regaled with dispatches from the burgeoning world of Cleantech patent litigation. While the natural temptation of those on the “money” side is to leave the “legal” side to the lawyers, a recent decision…

  • Much Light, Little Heat Efficiency

    Elisa Wood
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    Energy efficiency in the US is much light and little heat – literally. Government policy pays a great deal of attention to saving electricity, but focuses little on the thermal energy we waste. “Policy is electricity-centric in the US. Unless you are making kilowatts, the most efficient investments are off the radar,” said Rob Thornton, president of the International District Energy Association (IDEA), who I recently interviewed while writing this year’s edition of Pennwell’s US Guide to Combined Heat and Power Companies. We throw away a lot of the heat. Power plants, for example,…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    GE Global Research

  • The bird’s eye view of Big Data

    Abha Moitra
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm
    This blog was co-written along with Christina LaComb. While it is common knowledge that Big Data challenges exist for companies such as Google, Facebook, and Cisco, the problem is also facing GE in a very significant manner.  A number of GE product lines require the ability to consume and process massive amounts of data.  These include remote monitoring and diagnostics, electronic medical records, smart grid, and credit card processing. But the landscape of possible solutions is a daunting and highly fluid space, with a plethora of emerging technology players and approaches targeting…

  • Kicking off 2012 with EEDP

    Chris McConnell
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:43 am
    Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog as we kick off 2012! I released a very short posting last time to point out GE Experts that can be found on Twitter. As 2012 begins, new projects begin, old projects are continued and papers/patents begin taking shape. As a part of the Big Data team, we have been continuing work on our patent and preparing a few papers, hopefully looking at VLDB (Very Large Databases) 2012, while we continue to ramp up for another year of some great research! Although we keep pushing forward, I thought this would be a great time to reflect on 2011 as well. I’ve done a…

  • Bonissone honored with IEEE Award

    Tech Tributes
    24 Jan 2012 | 8:17 am
    Longtime computer scientist Piero P. Bonissone was selected to receive the Fuzzy Systems Pioneer Award from IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS). The Fuzzy Pioneer Award is the highest honor given by the IEEE CIS and recognizes the significance of contributions made at least 15 years prior to the award date. Honorees have contributed to the advancement of theory, technologies, and/or applications of fuzzy systems by inventing new technologies, creating innovative technical developments, implementing new products, or managing innovative product design or production processes. CATS,…

  • “Quo Vadis Anthropogenic CO2?” Part 3: Uses of CO2

    Konrad Eichhorn Colombo
    23 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm
    So far I have discussed the problems that CO2 can pose and methods at hand to capture CO2 emissions.  The next question is, what are the potential applications of the CO2 after it has been captured? Well, in the oil industry for instance, CO2 represents a desirable product. Instead of ‘simply’ storing the CO2 underground, it could be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In simple terms, EOR refers to a number of technologies that allow increased recovery of oil in depleted or high viscosity oil fields. EOR is also sometimes referred to as tertiary oil recovery because it usually…

  • Stump the Scientist: Static electricity

    Stump the Scientist
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm
    As always, thanks for submitting your Stump the Scientist questions!  We appreciate everybody playing along with us!  We’ve finally got some cold weather in Upstate New York so today’s question that came in from Facebook is especially fitting… Question from Facebook fan Jason Burdorff: Why is there more static electricity when there is cold weather? (or at least, why is it more noticeable?) Response from Chief Scientist Jim Bray: Static electricity refers to the separation of positive electrical charge (from the protons in atomic nuclei) from the negative electrical…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    FINalternatives

  • More Fines Handed Down In Greenlight Insider-Trading Case

    Jon Shazar
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:35 am
    British regulators continued to levy fines for insider-trading at Greenlight Capital today—and they may not be finished. read more

  • Bridgewater Up 23%

    Jon Shazar
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:34 am
    In 2011, Bridgewater Associates showed why it is the biggest—and one of the most respected—hedge funds in the world. read more

  • Mets Owners Seek End To Madoff Case

    Jon Shazar
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:55 am
    Having had most of the case against them junked, the owners of the New York Mets are going after the rest. read more

  • Carlyle Arbitration Requirement Stokes Fury

    Jon Shazar
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:52 am
    The Carlyle Group's plans to forestall investor lawsuits against it after its initial public offering has sparked angry recriminations from shareholders rights group and Capitol Hill. read more

  • Freeman, Barai Banned By SEC

    Jon Shazar
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am
    Two of the hedge fund managers to plead guilty in the expert-network insider-trading case have been barred from the securities industry. read more
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Colorado Cleantech Industry Association Blog

  • CCIA Welcomes New Board Appointments

    Marie Rotter
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:23 pm
    (Left: Chas Eggert) (Right: Steve Hane)The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) is happy to announce our 2012 board chair and vice chair appointments: Charles R. (Chas) Eggert as chairman, and Steve Hane as vice chairman. Eggert and Hane, both CCIA founding board members, will fulfill traditional roles on the trade association board and bring unique cleantech and venture capital experience to the positions. For CCIA this will be a great opportunity to further take our organization into a leadership position for cleantech in the country. Eggert is President and CEO of OPX…

  • Can't Miss Events in January

    Marie Rotter
    20 Jan 2012 | 4:28 pm
    CCIA has a big week next week! Below is a list of our sponsored events next week. Stay informed on efficiency, financing your startup and meet with investors. Energy Connections – Focus on Efficient Buildings Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 - 9 a.m. Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce1445 Market St., Ste 3200Denver, CO 80202 Join us for the first Energy Connections Meeting of 2012. This session will focus on the challenges and opportunities of the green building market. Guest speakers include: Anne Hayes of Westfield Tim Heaton of Coolerado Steve Bachar of Silver Bullet Water Treatmentand others.

  • Becoming Part of the Advanced Energy Economy: A Q&A with CCIA’s Executive Director Chris Shapard

    Marie Rotter
    13 Jan 2012 | 12:23 pm
    Recently, Colorado Cleantech Industry Association announced it was becoming a charter member of the Advanced Energy Economy. Described as “a chamber of commerce for clean energy businesses,” CCIA Executive Director Chris Shapard talks about what the AEE is all about: Q: What is the Advanced Energy Economy? A: AEE is focused on the creation and support of regional economic organization focused on advanced energy growth and innovation. The founding members believe that national energy strategy will be defined out of regional development – a bottoms up approach rather than a top-down push.

  • Smart Grids Are a Feasible Solution But Major Education Initiative Needed

    Marie Rotter
    3 Jan 2012 | 5:18 pm
    A recent study has suggested that some American consumers may be warming to the idea smart grids to manage utility delivery. Smart grid initiatives mostly focus on an attempt to modernize the current utility grids. However, there are several misnomers and inaccuracies in the information that is currently widely available to the general public. The disparate and at time incorrect information has divided consumers into distinct groups with varying degrees of support for smart grid initiatives. The study found that most people fit into one of five categories: Concerned Greens, Young Americans,…

  • Thank You to Colorado's Cleantech Community

    CCIA
    1 Dec 2011 | 12:04 pm
    As we head further into the holiday season, we want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" to all of our members, partners and colleagues for your support throughout 2011. We, the CCIA team of staff and volunteers, greatly appreciate your support throughout the year. Because of your partnership, we've had a very successful year working on your behalf. Following are a few highlights. Earlier in the year, with intense lobbying from the CCIA, the Colorado General Assembly passed a $20 million funding stream for the clean technology grant program to provide seed stage funding to Colorado…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Alagasco | Energy Efficient Natural Gas

  • Reduce your home’s energy usage

    Alagasco
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:47 pm
    When you think about taking steps to conserve energy or “go green,” most people think that they will have to make drastic changes around their home that will cost them more than they save. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Saving energy and money can easily be done by just taking a few extra (inexpensive!) steps around your home. There are ways to save energy in nearly each and every room of your house. Here are some helpful tips on ways to reduce your energy usage room by room: Bedroom: Lower your thermostat at night while you’re sleeping. Layer your blankets to keep warm and…

  • Alagasco responds to storm damage

    Alagasco
    23 Jan 2012 | 4:06 pm
    A line of storms moved across central Alabama in the early hours of Jan. 23, and Alagasco crews responded quickly to secure the affected areas. Crews were mobilized in Trussville, Center Point, Oak Grove, Hueytown, Pinson and Clay. As many as 275 meters were turned off Monday due to damage in those areas. However, service has already been restored to some properties that sustained only minor damage.                                                     Alagasco coordinated its field efforts with Trussville Utilities because of the shared…

  • Alagasco assisting Trussville Utilities on storm response

    Alagasco
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:45 am
    Alagasco’s contact center is open for those who need to report storm damage. If you smell natural gas, please call 1-800-292-4008. Alagasco is coordinating with Trussville Utilities on storm response. Callers may experience a slight wait time because of the storm-related calls that are coming in this morning, but all of Alagasco’s emergency phone lines are open. If a call comes in to our contact center from someone who’s actually a customer of Trussville Utilities, our representatives will transfer those calls to the proper number. If you are customer of Trussville Utilities, the phone…

  • Alagasco offers options to make bill payment a little easier

    Alagasco
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:54 pm
    Our world is constantly changing. The things that we have depended on for years are starting to change, and new technology is taking their place. It seems that there’s more on our plates than ever, and the time to get it all done gets less and less. With the recent postal service changes like increased rates and the proposed end of Saturday delivery, one thing that no one wants to chance is bills not being paid on time.  And with so much on our “To Do” lists, it’s easy to forget to pay a bill. Alagasco offers several ways to pay your bill and make sure that payment is received on…

  • Fourth-Grader Wins Statewide Essay Contest

    Alagasco
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:04 am
    We were proud to partner with the Alabama Gerontological Society (AGS) for the annual statewide essay contest. The contest was open to fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. They each wrote an essay about their favorite adults. The 13 winners got their pictures in the AGS calendar along with excerpts from their essays. The grand prize winner was Joshua Topliss, a fourth-grader from Decatur. He wrote about his Grandmother, Lynell Kukielski, and the life lessons she has taught him. The other winners were: Alayna Pody, a sixth-grader from R.L. Young Elementary School in Talladega, wrote about…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SBSC: Innovating Green Energy

  • The Most Polluted Cities in the Philippines

    D. Perez
    12 Jan 2012 | 11:50 pm
    Pollution is everywhere. It is one of the world’s biggest environmental battles that destroys wildlife and causes health problems to millions of people. It takes different forms of energy like... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • TGEG – Leading the Way towards a Zero Waste Society

    Frezel Enriquez
    21 Oct 2011 | 1:17 am
    The waste products that are covering our lands are ruining the natural ecosystem of our country. These waste products are actually the main reason for the wide spread of pollution in our country;... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • What are the Advantages of Utilizing a Biomass Technology?

    Frezel Enriquez
    16 Oct 2011 | 11:59 pm
    With the more we live in now, pollution in lands, water sources and even the air are starting to become even more and more harder to cure. Many non government and government agencies are looking for... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Biomass Technology – Myths Dispelled

    Frezel Enriquez
    13 Oct 2011 | 6:52 am
    Through the rise of globalization along came the problems or concerns with regards to pollutants are destroying our natural ecosystem. Along with the industrial revolution came the destruction of our... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Advantages of Biomass Technology

    Frezel Enriquez
    13 Oct 2011 | 3:09 am
    Due to alarming rise of the pollution that are spreading on our lands many government and non -  government agencies are racing towards finding the next green technology that will probably help... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Green Energy Reporter

  • Publisher’s Note: In a Bear Market, Bears Hibernate

    Terrence Murray
    5 Jan 2012 | 4:29 am
    Dear Readers, Since it’s founding in 2009 Green Energy Reporter has published nearly 2,000 articles chronicling the most important developments in the North American renewable energy industry. We are proud to have brought our readers exclusive, actionable market intelligence for over two years. However, given the continuing challenges affecting this sector, we have made the difficult decision to suspend daily publication. Today renewables are an essential source of energy, and their share of the North American energy supply will continue to grow in the coming years. We at G.E.R.

  • NRG Suspends Offshore Development

    Terrence Murray
    14 Dec 2011 | 2:43 pm
    NRG Energy, blaming  a lack of federal subsidies and regulatory uncertainty, has stopped development work supporting its offshore wind projects, including a 200-megawatt initiative in Delaware. The suspension, NRG said, would impact the Mid-Atlantic Wind Park, a 200-megawatt projects slated for construction off the coast of Delaware. NRG, which acquired the Mid-Atlantic project as part of its 2009 buyout of New Jersey developer Bluewater Wind, said it’s been forced to scale down its offshore ambitions because it was unable to find a partner to help finance Mid-Atlantic and other…

  • As Expected First Solar Cuts Earnings

    Terrence Murray
    14 Dec 2011 | 1:31 pm
    First Solar, the U.S. developer of thinfilm photovoltaic panels, has reduced its earnings estimate for this year and next year and has announced plans to cut  100 jobs. Under its revised guidance, First Solar expects 2011 net sales to range between $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, down from an initial range  of $3.0 to $3.3 billion. Next year, First Solar forecasts net sales of  $3.7 to   $4.0 billion. According to Bloomberg the company had expected 2012  revenues of $4.06 billion. The earnings’ cut reflects the challenging market conditions faced by Western solar panel makers, which…

  • Energy PE Firm First Reserve Forms $1B Wind Venture

    Terrence Murray
    5 Dec 2011 | 1:38 pm
    Energy private equity firm First Reserve has teamed up with Spanish developer  Renovalia Energy to invest up to $1 billion on European and North American wind power projects. First Reserve is putting $150 million of its own equity in the venture, writes Reuters, which first reported the news. Fully developed First Reserve and Renovalia could invest as much as $1 billion. The First Reserve investment comes as project finance banks, pressed by the European debt crisis, are tightening lending, forcing renewable energy developers to secure new sources of capital to finance their projects.

  • Solazyme Venture Signs Landmark Supply Deal With Pentagon

    Terrence Murray
    5 Dec 2011 | 12:36 pm
    A joint venture between Tyson Foods and a unit of Solazyme, the Bay Area maker of algae-based biofuel, have secured a contract to sell the U.S. Navy up to 450,000 gallons of next-generation drop-in biofuels. The navy will buy a biofuel blend made from non-food waste distilled by Louisiana-based Dynamic Fuels, which is jointly-owned by Tyson Foods and Solazyme unit, Syntroleum Corporation. The deal is part of the Obama’s administration’s $510 million, three-year investment program to advance the development and deployment of drop-in biofuels to substitute conventional,…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Pulper Tank

  • Retweets are not Comments

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pm
    Lately I have noticed that many blogs have integrated Twitter feeds in to their comments section. In theory this sounds like a great idea. After all, isn’t it useful to gather all related conversations in one place? But that’s not what seems to be happening. I find the long list of empty retweets quite a distraction. Here are some reasons why I think this practice is not helpful: Comments are primarily meant to promote conversations. Retweets are not comments. They have their purpose and the way I see them, they primarily serve to spread the message. They are message promoters not…

  • A Recap

    20 Nov 2011 | 9:40 am
    It’s been almost 9 months since I started writing this blog. Although I have written only 25 articles so far (some of them not long enough to call ‘articles’), I think the blog has gone off in too many directions. I initially wanted to focus only on technical issues. But I seem to have written a lot of non-technical stuff. Here’s the complete list so far: Influencing User Memory to Improve User Experience Keeping Tabs on Your Competition: Lessons from the Google-Bing Copying Episode Cloud Computing, Mobile Computing and Multi-core Processors: A Golden Braid for…

  • Creating Great Products

    18 Nov 2011 | 10:02 pm
    There are quite a few lists of good Product Management books on the Internet. Marty Cagan’s “Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love” often shows up in such lists and that’s how I came across it. The most useful part of this book is Cagan’s list of ‘Opportunity Assessment’ questions. The complete article is even available on his website. In fact, the book definitely feels like a collection of blog articles. However, that definitely does not diminish the good insights in the book. The second take away from this book was the concept of…

  • Information & Meaning

    8 Nov 2011 | 6:57 am
    “The central dogma says, “Meaning is irrelevant.”, Freeman Dyson on Shannon's Information Theory "Information is cheap, but meaning is expensive.", George Dyson Of course, the context of both these quotes is completely different. I happened to come across both of them quite recently and found it quite interesting to compare the quotes from father and son. [I kind of cheated on this post. I haven't written in a while and I wanted to post something quick and easy so that I can start getting back in the groove.]  Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • The Producing-Consumer Paradox

    11 Oct 2011 | 10:01 pm
    In a previous post, I had briefly touched upon the idea of living in a world where the amount of content produced, both print and media, far exceeds what one can consume in a lifetime. I had come across NPR’s blog on that issue and the concept fit well with my thoughts about a book I was reading at that time. In today’s digital world, everyone seems to be producing content. There are millions of blogs, photo collections, and online videos; thousands of TV channels; thousands of ebooks available at the touch of a button; millions of other books in the old-fashioned paper format;…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ExxonMobil's Perspectives Blog

  • What am I paying for in the price of a gallon of gasoline?

    Ken Cohen
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pm
    I’m asked this question a lot. And I know a lot of drivers ask themselves this question when they pull up to the pump. The answer is based on the economics of supply and demand and how products are manufactured and sold – along with what the government takes in taxes. Let’s take a look, based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s breakdown of the estimated average price of a gallon of gas in December 2011, which was $3.27.     Raw materials = $2.62 The cost of the raw materials used to make a product has a major impact on the final product price. The raw material for…

  • The facts about Keystone XL

    Ken Cohen
    19 Jan 2012 | 4:53 pm
    Yesterday, President Obama announced that he had rejected the permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The decision came despite the State Department’s rigorous study showing that the Keystone XL pipeline would pose no undue risks to people or the environment – neither by the type of crude it would be carrying, nor by the safety of the pipeline itself. The president cited “the rushed and arbitrary deadline” set by Congress. And the State Department, despite its earlier findings, informed the president it “does not have sufficient time” to obtain the information…

  • More U.S. jobs thanks in part to shale natural gas, White House report finds

    Ken Cohen
    12 Jan 2012 | 12:32 pm
    Earlier this week, I talked about how growing production of shale natural gas is spurring a “renaissance” in U.S. manufacturing. Yesterday, that “renaissance” was the talk of the White House. There, President Obama held a forum recognizing the influx in U.S. manufacturing jobs and investment and released a report detailing the reasons behind this positive trend. According to the report, the U.S. has created 334,000 manufacturing jobs in the past two years, while manufacturing production has increased by about 5.7 percent on an annualized basis since its low in June of 2009,…

  • Shale gas: A one-million job renaissance for American manufacturing

    Ken Cohen
    10 Jan 2012 | 3:46 pm
    Amid all the concern expressed about a decline in the United States’ manufacturing base in recent years, a positive turn of events is helping drive a comeback in this critical sector of the American economy: shale natural gas. A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, “Shale Gas: A renaissance in US manufacturing?”, sums up two main reasons why exponential growth in U.S. shale gas production is giving a much-needed boost to U.S. manufacturers – and creating the potential for 1 million more manufacturing workers by 2025. The first is the increase in demand for everything from steel…

  • Study sums up the extraordinary performance – and potential – of U.S. shale gas

    Ken Cohen
    6 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am
    $76 billion share of U.S. GDP. $33 billion in capital investments made. $18.6 billion in federal, state and local government tax and federal royalty revenues. 600,000 jobs supported. And that was just in 2010. These impressive stats sum up the economic contributions of U.S. shale gas production in 2010, according to a recent study from IHS Global Insight. But even better outcomes are yet to come, the study’s findings show. The U.S. shale gas industry will continue to be a major generator of jobs, government revenue and economic stimulus for decades as production continues to increase.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Green Electricity

  • Could the Olympics change your views on energy???

    greenadmin
    17 Jan 2012 | 12:53 pm
    I read a fantastic article on the Business Green Industry Voice Blog today about how the London Olympics has the potential to make some permanent changes regarding Londoners approach to a more sustainable way of life. As it says in the blog post “It is easier to get people to think about changing their behaviour when their normal routines are disrupted.” The main disruptions look like they will form around transport givenm that there is to be an expected influx of around 5.3 million visitors over the 100 day affair. In fact on some of the more heavily scheduled days this will…

  • Scotland set for renewables push in 2012…

    greenadmin
    10 Jan 2012 | 5:19 am
    It looks set to be another booming year for renewables in Scotland, especially with the reputation as a welcome home for green energy investment starting to grow. In fact initial figures are showing that there is a pipeline of around £46 billion of investment for renewables in Scotland which should generate up to 17GW of renewable energy capacity. Fergus Ewing – Scotland’s Energy minister has said he is “relentlessly positive” regarding 2012. It is believed that such a large scale investment in renewable energy will not only create jobs throughout Scotland and further strengthen the…

  • Saving energy over winter

    greenadmin
    15 Dec 2011 | 4:28 am
    Hi all, Well I think it’s fair to say that winter is definitely upon us now…. And with winter comes the cold and with the cold comes high heating bills. But fear not because the lovely folks at Videojug have provided us with a great video that shows exactly how to seal up your home and make sure you’re not wasting any energy.  

  • Highland wind farm is online

    greenadmin
    21 Nov 2011 | 5:24 am
    A new wind farm in the Scottish Highlands has finally been connected to the national grid, with the first two turbines now online and generating electricity. This is good news for SSE as it means they are beginning to see a return on what is expected to be a £100 million investment. The wind farm will be home to 35 turbines in total that once complete will generate around 180GWh a year. At the moment 15 of the 35 wind towers have been erected and the full site is expected to be operational by the end of this financial year. SSE’s Managing Director of Renewables Jim Smith said…

  • Scotland get £100m to spend on green energy

    greenadmin
    19 Nov 2011 | 10:34 am
    The Scottish government has been given an additional £100m to spend on renewable energy after a deal was put in place between Holyrood and Westminster. Scotland has been granted permission to invest around half of the funds available in the UK’s fossil fuel levy on renewable energy sources such as wind farms. However, while this money is of course a step in the right direction, things are apparently not as rosy as they seem, with Holyrood Finance Secretary John Swinney saying that the move is ‘long overdue’ and that “For too long Scotland’s money has been sitting…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Green Forums

  • Big Energy Tips from Big Energy Week

    greenman
    17 Jan 2012 | 10:03 am
    Big Energy Week started on the 16th of January 2012 and will be running till the 21st of January the project is being ran by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of consumer groups, energy suppliers and Government bodies. The idea is to help people who don’t know that help is available. On the website www.bigenergyweek.org.uk you can get your hands on plenty of advice about how to cut your energy bills, there’s some helpful phone numbers and links as well as a guide about what’s happening in your area. Big Energy Week is trying to help people save money on their energy bills by…

  • Keeping warm in winter

    greenman
    15 Dec 2011 | 4:45 am
    Big Energy Week started on the 16th of January 2012 and will be running till the 21st of January the project is being ran by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of consumer groups, energy suppliers and Government bodies. The idea is to help people who don’t know that help is available. On the website www.bigenergyweek.org.uk you can get your hands on plenty of advice about how to cut your energy bills, there’s some helpful phone numbers and links as well as a guide about what’s happening in your area. Big Energy Week is trying to help people save money on their energy bills by…

  • Top 10 Energy Saving Tips….

    greenman
    29 Nov 2011 | 4:43 am
    Big Energy Week started on the 16th of January 2012 and will be running till the 21st of January the project is being ran by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of consumer groups, energy suppliers and Government bodies. The idea is to help people who don’t know that help is available. On the website www.bigenergyweek.org.uk you can get your hands on plenty of advice about how to cut your energy bills, there’s some helpful phone numbers and links as well as a guide about what’s happening in your area. Big Energy Week is trying to help people save money on their energy bills by…

  • Upgrading electronic appliances

    greenman
    17 Nov 2011 | 11:22 am
    Big Energy Week started on the 16th of January 2012 and will be running till the 21st of January the project is being ran by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of consumer groups, energy suppliers and Government bodies. The idea is to help people who don’t know that help is available. On the website www.bigenergyweek.org.uk you can get your hands on plenty of advice about how to cut your energy bills, there’s some helpful phone numbers and links as well as a guide about what’s happening in your area. Big Energy Week is trying to help people save money on their energy bills by…

  • Are you switching energy suppliers this winter? Poll

    greenman
    8 Nov 2011 | 5:46 am
    Big Energy Week started on the 16th of January 2012 and will be running till the 21st of January the project is being ran by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of consumer groups, energy suppliers and Government bodies. The idea is to help people who don’t know that help is available. On the website www.bigenergyweek.org.uk you can get your hands on plenty of advice about how to cut your energy bills, there’s some helpful phone numbers and links as well as a guide about what’s happening in your area. Big Energy Week is trying to help people save money on their energy bills by…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    FPL Blog

  • Powering the Fight, Michelle Patterson’s story

    Nicole Benvenuto
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:47 pm
    Read one breast cancer survivor’s story and learn how you can make a difference

  • Powering the Fight, Michelle Patterson’s story

    Michelle Patterson
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:18 am
    Just like you are supposed to, I scheduled annual mammograms when I turned 40. I never really worried about the tests because there is no family history of breast cancer and I treated the appointments as a standard test. Fast forward a few years and, in December 2008, I received a call from my doctor who told me that the routine mammogram revealed a lump in my left breast. After a biopsy at Bethesda Hospital, my doctor shared with me that the lump was cancerous. I thought it must be a mistake when I got the news. I was at lunch at the office and I started crying. My coworkers immediately…

  • When to replace air conditioning units to save on energy costs

    Energy Expert
    2 Jan 2012 | 10:13 pm

  • The energy-savings plan you need on your New Year’s resolution list

    Danielle Mousseau
    2 Jan 2012 | 10:04 pm
    It’s no secret that this is the time of year for New Year’s resolutions. Each year I evaluate everything from my fitness to my finances and set goals to make improvements. This year I am putting out a challenge to all FPL customers (including myself) to add one more resolution to the list – one you wouldn’t normally think about: getting your home “energy fit.” New Year’s Resolution: Get your home “energy fit” in four steps: Step 1: Before you can get your home “energy fit” you need to find out what kind of shape it’s in by completing the new Online Home Energy Survey.

  • FPL Helps Flip the Switch on the Giving Season at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

    Brian Quail
    12 Dec 2011 | 5:12 pm
    The holidays are the busiest time of year here are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.  As one of the largest Boys & Girls Club organizations in the nation, with more than 13,000 youth members at 13 facilities, we couldn’t be more thrilled when Florida Power & Light Company chose our Nan Knox Unit to receive a free energy makeover. Because of FPL and S & H Lighting, the kids we help and the future families that will use our services will have brighter days. The makeover included an overhaul of outdated lighting in our gym and the replacement of old, inefficient light…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Advancing Education for Sustainability

  • Taking Time to Reflect

    adcortese
    25 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pm
    The last few months of 2011 were full of important sustainability news and events relevant to Second Nature’s work and the ACUPCC. The ACUPCC Regional Collaborative Symposium, hosted by Bunker Hill Community College in November, was a big hit with very positive feedback from the evaluations from the participants.  One of the highlights was a panel [...]

  • Leadership and Innovation from the First Five Years of the ACUPCC

    Second Nature
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:01 pm
    2012 marks the 5 Year Anniversary of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and with it a growing collection of successful leadership stories and innovative projects from over 670 signatory institutions. The first submission of Progress Reports for institutions that have completed a Climate Action Plan show remarkable progress in climate mitigation [...]

  • New Features on the ACUPCC Website

    Second Nature
    6 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    Happy New Year! We’re thrilled to kick off 2012 with the newly redesigned Resources & Support section of the ACUPCC website. Watch the video below for a quick tour, then visit the website to browse the resources in a new, user-friendly way. ACUPCC resources are always free for signatories of the commitment. Send your feedback, [...]

  • Broken Promises – I’m Scared For My Future

    Second Nature
    12 Dec 2011 | 8:17 am
    Anjali Appadurai, a student at the College of the Atlantic in Maine, addressed the conference on behalf of youth delegates at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban. “It always seems impossible until it’s done. So, distinguished delegates and governments around the world, governments of the developed world: Deep cuts now. Get it done,” [...]

  • EPA Green Power Leadership Awards Recognize ACUPCC Signatories

    Second Nature
    8 Dec 2011 | 5:00 am
    The EPA Green Power Partnership recognized the following ACUPCC signatory institutions with 2011 Green Power Leadership Awards: Allegheny College Franklin & Marshall College Mercyhurst College Santa Clara University University of Central Oklahoma Five of the ten Green Power Purchasing awards went to colleges and universities – all of which are part of the ACUPCC network. [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Dahn Yoga and Tai Chi

  • Tai chi exercises inspire career change

    Phil
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:03 am
    TweetAuthor Douglas Noll is 61 years old and has lived a full and varied life. He spent 22 years of his professional career as a lawyer before deciding that litigation was not the best way to settle disputes. This realization was partly inspired by tai chi exercises, according to an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent. "Tai chi has two paradoxes: The first is that the softer you are, the stronger you are, and the second one is that the more vulnerable you are, the more powerful you are," Noll told the interviewer. This philosophy compelled him to reevaluate his career…

  • Tai chi teaches med students energy healing and the essentials of self care

    Phil
    16 Jan 2012 | 8:58 am
    TweetMedical students may be accustomed to several teaching techniques: cadaver dissection, live patient simulations and so on. However, a growing number of medical schools are incorporating classes on complementary treatments such as tai chi in order to teach energy healing and the essentials of self care, according to a report in The Huffington Post. During the last 10 years, the number of institutions teaching integrative medicine – which combines conventional and alternative therapies – has increased from eight to 51, according to the news source. This includes places like…

  • Tai chi exercises may help back pain

    Phil
    9 Jan 2012 | 7:56 am
    TweetWithin any given three-month period, about 25 percent of American adults deal with back pain for at least one day, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. This makes it one of society's most common health problems. Now, a new study from Australia demonstrates how tai chi exercises can help alleviate back pain. After seeing the positive results tai chi had on patients with arthritis in a previous trial, a team of scientists decided to assess the regimen's impact on back pain, according to Arthritis Today. They experimented on 160…

  • Tai chi movements are popular among baby boomers

    Phil
    4 Jan 2012 | 6:55 am
    TweetStarting in January 2011, the earliest members of the baby boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) began turning 65 years old, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ultimately, a person has been turning 65 every 15 to 30 seconds for the last year! With age can come potential health complications, but as some seniors are discovering, tai chi movements can help alleviate stress. "I appreciate having the opportunity to help people get healthier," said Yvette Monet, a fitness instructor who teaches both tai chi and yoga, as quoted by The Newnan Times-Herald.

  • Tai chi can be an energy healing therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

    Phil
    30 Dec 2011 | 8:11 am
    TweetIt's not uncommon for people who live with diseases that cause pain to experience depression as well. One such condition is rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause mobility issues and, as a result, chronic low mood. However, tai chi may prove to be a psychologically beneficial energy healing therapy for these patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the body's immune system goes rogue and attacks the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a division of the National…
Log in