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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Jeremy Grantham Interview - CNBC.com

This is an important interview that I found on a website called Investment Postcards.

Grantham has been in charge of institutional investing for a long time. He offers what appears to me to be a very straightforward examination of the recent activity of the Fed -- the so called QE2.

He notes that there will be a stock market bull run as a result. He also notes that we are in dangerous territory in terms of future inflationary pressure as well as in alienating our foreign trade partners.

Finally -- and this I think is critical and too often overlooked -- he clearly states that the US Government's stimulus package was too small. The US Government should be investing in infrastructure projects and putting a lot of people now unemployed back to work.

He really is emphasizing the need for the US to spend government on JOBS.

What energy efficiency and public power infrastructure projects could we be investing in?

Monday, November 15, 2010

Success - My Road Map

I have not the luxury of eternity. Yet, I must practice patience. Nature never works in haste. -- Og Mandino quote

I have neither the knowledge nor experience to achieve greatness, to achieve my goals, to achieve dreams. So I will follow the principles of success ...

What are those principles?

1. To start fresh -- today I will begin a new life.

2. To greet each day, each person, each challenge with love. Without love, I will fail even though I may possess all the world's knowledge.

3. To persist until I succeed. I will try and try and try again and put yesterday's failures behind me. I will persist. And I will succeed.

4. I will recognize that I have a unique purpose. I will imitate no one. I will proclaim my uniqueness. I am nature's greatest miracle!

5. I will live this day as though it were my last.

6. I will become a master of my emotions. I will master myself.

7. Never will I become so self-involved, so important, so powerful as to forget to laugh at myself. I will cultivate a sense of perspective.

8. I will aim high and multiply my value a hundredfold. I will always strive to make the next hour better than the last.

9. I will act. Now.

10. I will pray ... for patience, wisdom, courage, love, and compassion -- and to develop the abilities that will match my opportunities.

By using these principles each day as my guide I will reach my goals!

These ideas were written by Og Mandino in a great little book, The Greatest Salesman in the World. But these principles may be applied to any profession or avocation. They need not be limited to sales.

This weblog will be changing over time, expanding from energy efficiency to cover other subjects -- including personal development. Stay tuned!

(For a copy of Mandino's book, check out Amazon

Monday, November 08, 2010

Monday After Changing to Standard Time

Now that time in most of the USA has switched back to 'standard' time, have you noticed how easy the day was today?

Fewer folks on the road, and the kids were able to get to school while there was still plenty of daylight.

Anyone notice whether this fall is warmer than in the recent past? I've kept the thermostat down, as a result. I think the furnace ran only twice this season.

All of this will result in lower utility bills for us. I hope for you, too.


Changing Tone

You'll note that I've changed the tone of this blog. I'm not on a mission to save the world from inefficiency -- just going to make my contribution at a slower pace.


Friday, March 26, 2010


Looking for a New Refrigerator?

Don't forget to ask for your rebate from the utility

You're losing money if you don't check this website for rebates that utilities pay out if you replace your old refrigerator. My utility paid me $25 to junk my old unit. That was sweet!

What's more, my new unit is larger, and more efficient. So I am getting more for the same amount of money.

So check out the Energy Savers website (http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/70022.html) to locate your utility and find out just how much you might be owed.

Friday, March 19, 2010


Bright Lights of Tinsel Town to Go Out for One Hour

"Earth Hour" Takes Place March 27 8:30 PM Local

One effective way to lowering utility bills is to simply not turn on an appliance when it isn't needed.

What about turning off your lights for only 1 hour. How much would that save you?

Earth Hour was created to increase public awareness of the impact of energy use on climate change. One article I read indicated that the city of Las Vegas will participate -- go dark from 8:30 to 9:30 local time -- to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. According to the article, the energy saved will be equal to 65 megawatts of electricity.

What do you think? I Earth Hour worth the bother?

Monday, March 08, 2010

Chinese Legislators Want Increased Strategic Oil Reserves | HeatingOil.com

Chinese Legislators Want Increased Strategic Oil Reserves | HeatingOil.com

Seems the People's Republic of China is thinking strategically about its national energy needs.

Democrats and the Link to Conservative Ideas

I always wonder why it is the Democrats who are always preaching Energy Efficiency? It makes little sense -- since "to conserve" (i.e., to prevent rapid alteration or diminishment of either the status quo, cultural traditions, or wealth) is at the heart of "conservatism."

Natural resources are the foundation of a nation's wealth. This includes the raw materials that are used to generate electricity.


What I do find interesting is that few Republicans seem to discuss the strategic importance of energy conservation to our nation's security. Imagine the USA conducting World War II without rationing gasoline or recycling used motor oil. It just does not compute.

This comes to mind because we're about to switch to Daylight Savings Time (March 14) here in the USA. Daylight Savings Time was developed in World War I to conserve electricity for use in war manufacturing. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Savings Time to the second week in March to the Second Week in November.
Is all this thinking about the strategic importance of conservation just left to the independents?


Saturday, March 06, 2010


The Energy Efficiency Money Pie
Have you gotten your fair share?

Last year, utilities spent more than $5 billion in energy conservation and efficiency programs for their customers.

Did you get some of that money? If not, why didn't you ask for it? You should have, because that money is a part of the rates you pay.

If you did not get your share of last year's pie, don't get disgusted -- more is on the way for this year. Just log onto your utility's website and start looking for a rebate or other benefit that will help you reduce the amount of electricity, gas or propane that you use -- as well as lower your energy bills.

Energy efficiency leads to lowering utility bills ... and saving you money.

P.S. -- Don't forget that you can start right now saving energy and lowering bills by completing a very simple do-it-yourself home energy analysis. There is absolutely no reason to wait to save money!

The complete website address for this easy analysis is as follows:

http://bancheromedia.blogspot.com/2009/07/time-to-analyze-your-home-energy-use.html

Tuesday, March 02, 2010


Energy Efficiency's Pay Back

There's money in this for you!

Just picked up a note that McKinsey & Co. -- a well-regarded management consulting firm -- conducted an analysis that showed that improvements in US energy efficiency could save this country $1.2 trillion -- that's with a T not a B -- and that the cost of realizing that huge savings is less than $600 billion. Read more here.

That mean's we can double our investment, and we'd get to separate ourselves further from foreign interests that want to keep us enslaved to Saudi oil.

To start investing your energy efficient future now.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Managing Energy Costs, with Smart Appliances and Demand-Based Pricing

Here is a story about a pilot program to control costs by encouraging homeowners and renters to use their electric water heaters in the evening, when the demand (and cost to produce) energy is lower.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Electricity Bills Rising

To pick up on an earlier theme -- electricity bills are definitely going up, even though the economy is still the pits: see why PG&E rates went up on January 1.

Summer time is PG&E's peak -- the time when the most electricity is in greatest demand. And the more it is in demand, the higher the cost.

Best get your summertime energy conservations started now, or plan to get them started soon. These can include:
  • Improving your windows with replacement windows that are more energy efficient
  • Planting trees and bushes that may provide shade
  • Installing an attic vent on your roof (especially one that is solar powered, so that it won't have any negative impact on your utility bill)
  • Installing a programmable thermostat, which can be programmed to prevent the air-conditioner from running when cool air isn't needed (such as when you are not at home)
More summer time tips appear inside.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Energy Efficiency Experts
List of Five Leading Experts in Energy Efficiency

As a resource for all of you interested in energy efficiency, energy conservation, energy policy development, and lowering utility bills, here are five people who are national leaders:

Steven Chu
Secretary of Energy
Department of Energy
Washington DC
Read about him on Wikipedia
See his Facebook page

Dr. John Chamberlin
Principal
The CADMUS Group
Washington DC
His resume
Areas of expertise include: Energy efficiency utility rate design, demand response rates, demand-side management resource planning for utilities.

Dr. Ahmad Faruqui
Principal
The Brattle Group
Cambridge MA
A recent announcement recognizing his work
Areas of expertise include: Smart grid design, demand-side management resource planning for utilities.

Bill Prindle
Vice President
ICF International
Fairfax, VA
His bio
Areas of expertise include: Energy efficiency policy , energy efficiency technology, energy policy and climate change.

Dr. Bill Rose
University of Illinois
Champaign IL
Area of expertise: He champions efficient building design.