Happy Christmas to all our energy saving supporters.
Over the past year it has been my lot to write (not bloviate) on energy saving technologies that sound useful, but are in reality little more than 'near scams'. As we draw to a close in 2010, it is frustrating to reflect on how much traffic is generated by energy saving scams compared to articles on energy attitude or how to conduct a basic energy audit.
So you might imagine my pleasure at being sponsored by Edge Consulting to attend a presentation hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) san Francisco Chapter titled - Downwind Faster Than the Wind.
Here is a link to the full article - Downwind Faster Than the Wind.
If you do not visit this link you will truly miss out. And do go to the video - click the image on the page - be patient, it takes a minute or so for the 'cart' to pick up speed but once it gets going, it really gets going.
Please do remember to save energy and to think about why you do this!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Smart Meters - Independent Review
Hello energy readers
A few weeks ago we posted an article on smart meters and health. Goodness, has it been well read and discussed.
So in keeping with open4energy's style we have built an information directory on the topic. In it we cover the topic, and link to articles and updates which we feel are relevant.
There is so much being written that is not accurate, but because it is contentious, it gets publicity.
We do hope that this link to Smart Meters - An Independent Review will help our community.
A few weeks ago we posted an article on smart meters and health. Goodness, has it been well read and discussed.
So in keeping with open4energy's style we have built an information directory on the topic. In it we cover the topic, and link to articles and updates which we feel are relevant.
There is so much being written that is not accurate, but because it is contentious, it gets publicity.
We do hope that this link to Smart Meters - An Independent Review will help our community.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Smart Meters - Health Issues
Yikes
What a lot of "stuff" about this topic ....
For any who want to "know" some of the science, please please read up on electromagnetic health risk by Bob Spofford.
What a lot of "stuff" about this topic ....
For any who want to "know" some of the science, please please read up on electromagnetic health risk by Bob Spofford.
Monday, August 23, 2010
open4energy family is growing
Greetings to all our open source energy fans.
We are pleased to announce that the family of open source quality discussions is growing.
open4sleep is an open source discussion on sleep and snoring while open4posture is a closely related forum on our posture.
I do hope that you will support them in the same way that you have supported open4energy.comopen4energy. Which by the way has started an article on the current smart meter debate.
Finally we have opened our first Drupal powered to represent our SmartPosture products. The first of these is the innovative SmartMotion Chair.
Please do remember to save energy and to think about your health!
We are pleased to announce that the family of open source quality discussions is growing.
open4sleep is an open source discussion on sleep and snoring while open4posture is a closely related forum on our posture.
I do hope that you will support them in the same way that you have supported open4energy.comopen4energy. Which by the way has started an article on the current smart meter debate.
Finally we have opened our first Drupal powered to represent our SmartPosture products. The first of these is the innovative SmartMotion Chair.
Please do remember to save energy and to think about your health!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Renewable Power Rebellion
A must read ...
If you are following the Marin Clean Energy discussion, this article by Chris Nelder titled The Renewable Power Rebellion - Local Supply is the Name of the Game, clearly explains the issue we face.
Do we allow a monopoly to prevent a community from taking the pro-active steps required to secure its long term stability?
If you are following the Marin Clean Energy discussion, this article by Chris Nelder titled The Renewable Power Rebellion - Local Supply is the Name of the Game, clearly explains the issue we face.
Do we allow a monopoly to prevent a community from taking the pro-active steps required to secure its long term stability?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Marin Clean Energy - Mavericks
On a lighter note, has anyone been tracking the Mavericks surfing competition?
Won by a South African surfer this year!
It is a appropriate that open4energy's opinion on the Marin Clean Energy Plan is being promoted by Sandra Cannon & sfbayaxis.
Won by a South African surfer this year!
It is a appropriate that open4energy's opinion on the Marin Clean Energy Plan is being promoted by Sandra Cannon & sfbayaxis.
Friends of Mill Valley
The city of Mill Valley is being pressured by 11 former Mill Valley mayors, led by Betsey Cutler, Dennis Fisco and Anne Solem to withdraw from the Marin Clean Energy Plan.
The group cites "the risk of higher taxes, burdensome municipal debt and/or reduced municipal services inherent in the uncertain economics of the Marin Clean Energy plan."
A web site called Friends of Mill Valley has some interesting commentary of the debate.
The group cites "the risk of higher taxes, burdensome municipal debt and/or reduced municipal services inherent in the uncertain economics of the Marin Clean Energy plan."
A web site called Friends of Mill Valley has some interesting commentary of the debate.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Marin Clean Energy - pull the plug
The evidence is mounting against the Marin Clean Energy Plan.
open4energy continues to review the opinions being discussed in it's unbiased review of the plan, which includes links to relevant web sites.
open4energy continues to review the opinions being discussed in it's unbiased review of the plan, which includes links to relevant web sites.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Marin Clean Energy - Opt Out
Over the next 90 days Marin rate payers will be asked to decide if they want to remain as a customer of PG&E - to opt out - or to accept that they are now part of a new pseudo government energy utility called Marin Energy Authority, and the Marin Clean Energy Plan registered with the CPUC in December 2009.
This is not as obvious as some have made out. There is far more at stake than getting from a 22% to 25% clean energy content in 2010.
On the one side is the argument that more competition will accelerate compliance with AB32, ensure more clean energy investments for Marin County, and secure greater energy price stability by being free of oil fluctuations.
On the other side is the argument that this is a dilution of PG&E's resources, that you cannot separate supply from demand (electricity is electrons moving at the speed of light) and that politicians trading in energy futures using the counties credit, will lead to another Enron.
But, opinions aside, it is a fact that this decision has been forced on Marion by politicians in favor of MEA using the legislation of AB117.
We call on all Marin County rate payers, having had the option of a ballot taken from them, to voice their decision. Either "opt out" of the Marin Clean Energy plan by contacting PG&E. Or DO nothing to say YES to having your account transferred. Note: It has been transferred !
To help rate payers understand the pros and cons, open4energy has published an unbiased summary of the issues to be considered.
We have also created a directory of web sites that we suggest rate payers visit to understand the legislation, governance, and issues to consider.
But whatever you do, please do not ignore this decision - it is important to Marin and the direction of energy supply in California!
This is not as obvious as some have made out. There is far more at stake than getting from a 22% to 25% clean energy content in 2010.
On the one side is the argument that more competition will accelerate compliance with AB32, ensure more clean energy investments for Marin County, and secure greater energy price stability by being free of oil fluctuations.
On the other side is the argument that this is a dilution of PG&E's resources, that you cannot separate supply from demand (electricity is electrons moving at the speed of light) and that politicians trading in energy futures using the counties credit, will lead to another Enron.
But, opinions aside, it is a fact that this decision has been forced on Marion by politicians in favor of MEA using the legislation of AB117.
We call on all Marin County rate payers, having had the option of a ballot taken from them, to voice their decision. Either "opt out" of the Marin Clean Energy plan by contacting PG&E. Or DO nothing to say YES to having your account transferred. Note: It has been transferred !
To help rate payers understand the pros and cons, open4energy has published an unbiased summary of the issues to be considered.
We have also created a directory of web sites that we suggest rate payers visit to understand the legislation, governance, and issues to consider.
But whatever you do, please do not ignore this decision - it is important to Marin and the direction of energy supply in California!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Marin Energy Authority - Update
It has been quite a shock to find how we (the smart technologists) are ignoring the plight of our biggest smart grid customer, PG&E.
While we have been selling them our array of technologies for the smart grid, they have been fighting a competitive bid to supply electricity to the residents of Marin county by Shell Energy North America, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell.
A new government body called the Marin Energy Authority has been funded by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and awarded a five year contract for electricity supply to this foreign oil conglomerate. But this is obviously the tip of Shell's aspirations. Now that they have a line in to PG&E, and can force PG&E to deliver and bill this energy to the customers, they can begin the same process in other communities.
But this is bad news indeed in the long term.
Shell get to cherry pick the supply of electricity, while PG&E need to deal with the complex issues of reliable delivery, the roll out of a smart grid to manage peaks and troughs of demand, and subsidies to support low income families.
And as their profits are eroded we have to assume that the budget cuts will slow down the investments in our Silicon Valley technologies.
I am not often one to rally to the support of a semi-government institution like PG&E, but fellow technologists this is not good for any of us. It is not even good for clean tech, for in the end Marin will fail to make the user savings also needed to reduce emissions. It is not OK to feel good about using "cleaner" energy (a highly questionable claim in the first place) while continuing to "guzzle" large amounts of energy in your home. Marin has been abjectly lacking in the uptake of smart thermostats and similar technologies to save energy.
How sad that the leaders have steered the community on this selfish path to make themselves feel good.
But the leaders have made a serious error of judgment in deciding for Marin residents that we should all be switched to this new supplier. Although each resident is automatically enrolled in the new authority, we do have the option to ask PG&E to keep us as their customer.
I call on all residents of Marin who pay an electricity bill to PG&E to contact them, and make it clear that they do not want to be any part of this new authority, who are potentially doing so such harm to the largest customer of innovation in the valley.
This list of articles on our web site will help familiarize you all with the issues.
To the City Council of Mill Valley re Marin Energy Authority
MarinIJ - to the Editor re Marin Clean Energy
Letter to Matthew Hymel - Marin Administrators Office
Supervisors OK loan guarantee for Marin Clean Energy
Marin Clean Energy - Marin County Civil Grand Jury
If you see this post, please can you both opt-out of this scheme, and let anyone you know to do the same.
While we have been selling them our array of technologies for the smart grid, they have been fighting a competitive bid to supply electricity to the residents of Marin county by Shell Energy North America, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell.
A new government body called the Marin Energy Authority has been funded by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and awarded a five year contract for electricity supply to this foreign oil conglomerate. But this is obviously the tip of Shell's aspirations. Now that they have a line in to PG&E, and can force PG&E to deliver and bill this energy to the customers, they can begin the same process in other communities.
But this is bad news indeed in the long term.
Shell get to cherry pick the supply of electricity, while PG&E need to deal with the complex issues of reliable delivery, the roll out of a smart grid to manage peaks and troughs of demand, and subsidies to support low income families.
And as their profits are eroded we have to assume that the budget cuts will slow down the investments in our Silicon Valley technologies.
I am not often one to rally to the support of a semi-government institution like PG&E, but fellow technologists this is not good for any of us. It is not even good for clean tech, for in the end Marin will fail to make the user savings also needed to reduce emissions. It is not OK to feel good about using "cleaner" energy (a highly questionable claim in the first place) while continuing to "guzzle" large amounts of energy in your home. Marin has been abjectly lacking in the uptake of smart thermostats and similar technologies to save energy.
How sad that the leaders have steered the community on this selfish path to make themselves feel good.
But the leaders have made a serious error of judgment in deciding for Marin residents that we should all be switched to this new supplier. Although each resident is automatically enrolled in the new authority, we do have the option to ask PG&E to keep us as their customer.
I call on all residents of Marin who pay an electricity bill to PG&E to contact them, and make it clear that they do not want to be any part of this new authority, who are potentially doing so such harm to the largest customer of innovation in the valley.
This list of articles on our web site will help familiarize you all with the issues.
To the City Council of Mill Valley re Marin Energy Authority
MarinIJ - to the Editor re Marin Clean Energy
Letter to Matthew Hymel - Marin Administrators Office
Supervisors OK loan guarantee for Marin Clean Energy
Marin Clean Energy - Marin County Civil Grand Jury
If you see this post, please can you both opt-out of this scheme, and let anyone you know to do the same.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Marin Clean Energy - Update
One more update, we have posted a link in our blog on protecting the small company.
There are times when economies of scale are simply essential to solving the complex issues of providing a critical resource. I think of a comment I heard recently, comparing the roll out of the smart grid by utility companies to the growth of the Internet. In some ways they are similar, said the speaker, but we must also remember that much of our equipment needs to last more than 40 years.
This is one where the expert opinion is to pull the plug as soon as possible.
Residents, step back, and use your "energy" to explore how to use less energy in your own home!
There are times when economies of scale are simply essential to solving the complex issues of providing a critical resource. I think of a comment I heard recently, comparing the roll out of the smart grid by utility companies to the growth of the Internet. In some ways they are similar, said the speaker, but we must also remember that much of our equipment needs to last more than 40 years.
This is one where the expert opinion is to pull the plug as soon as possible.
Residents, step back, and use your "energy" to explore how to use less energy in your own home!
MCE - Marin Grand Jury
I thought it would be useful to make sure, despite our reluctance to read, that all the opinion expressed in writing were available to the debate. The is nothing like argument based on hearsay and emotion to destroy any logical approach to determining the correct answer for Marin's residents.
Here is a link to the report titled Marin Clean Energy: Pull the Plug issued by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury in December 2009.
We do encourage all interested parties to read the report, prior to evaluating the opinions being expressed on it. The conclusion however is quite clear, in particular that the Marin Energy Authority abandon its efforts to compete with PG&E.
Here is a link to the report titled Marin Clean Energy: Pull the Plug issued by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury in December 2009.
We do encourage all interested parties to read the report, prior to evaluating the opinions being expressed on it. The conclusion however is quite clear, in particular that the Marin Energy Authority abandon its efforts to compete with PG&E.
Marin Clean Energy
open4energy has decided to weigh in on the Marin Clean Energy discussions.
Our first post titled Understanding the Marin Clean Energy Proposal introduces opposition and raises some questions on electric vehicles and the demands they will be placing on the grid.
We hope to partner with the various bodies, so that we can bring unbiased accurate information to our readers.
We are concerned as to how a small body might realistically be able to provide cleaner energy than the billions of dollars being invested by PG&E and the other utilities.
Our first post titled Understanding the Marin Clean Energy Proposal introduces opposition and raises some questions on electric vehicles and the demands they will be placing on the grid.
We hope to partner with the various bodies, so that we can bring unbiased accurate information to our readers.
We are concerned as to how a small body might realistically be able to provide cleaner energy than the billions of dollars being invested by PG&E and the other utilities.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
DIY Home Solar Energy
open4energy is pleased to announce the launch of our new discussion forum on Home DIY solar energy.
The opening article is a Solar Energy Guide for consumers first considering solar energy. It is a joint publication of open4energy and Solar Man Dan a licensed contractor and NABCEP-certified solar installer.
With the number of DIY self styled plans for building solar energy panels pervading the Internet we believe that this is a much-needed entrant from a real professional in the industry.
The complete list of energy saving scams continues to grow daily.
We are also pleased to announce our partnership with http://scamraiders.com who will be hosting the ongoing end-user discussions on energy saving scams.
The press release by WebWire has more information on the announcement.
The opening article is a Solar Energy Guide for consumers first considering solar energy. It is a joint publication of open4energy and Solar Man Dan a licensed contractor and NABCEP-certified solar installer.
With the number of DIY self styled plans for building solar energy panels pervading the Internet we believe that this is a much-needed entrant from a real professional in the industry.
The complete list of energy saving scams continues to grow daily.
We are also pleased to announce our partnership with http://scamraiders.com who will be hosting the ongoing end-user discussions on energy saving scams.
The press release by WebWire has more information on the announcement.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Google Energy Subsidiary
It was brought to my attention today, I have been asleep!
Google to apply for subsidiary to participate in delivery of electricity. On the face it, it might make sense? They use a lot of electricity so are allowed to care about it. But hold on a moment, is this all about green? If they cut their bill by 50%, would that be material to their business.
I am not one to question motives, but when a body who already controls the information I read, applies to manage the electricity I get - I wonder?
"Google Energy" Subsidiary: What's Google Up To?
Read what we have to say at open4energy, and what many have to say at earth2tech.
Google to apply for subsidiary to participate in delivery of electricity. On the face it, it might make sense? They use a lot of electricity so are allowed to care about it. But hold on a moment, is this all about green? If they cut their bill by 50%, would that be material to their business.
I am not one to question motives, but when a body who already controls the information I read, applies to manage the electricity I get - I wonder?
"Google Energy" Subsidiary: What's Google Up To?
Read what we have to say at open4energy, and what many have to say at earth2tech.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
KVAR - Negligible Consumer Savings
It is not my place or intention to harm another business. As I have said earlier, I have not used a KVAR power factor unit, my information is based on professional opinion and the science of power factor correction.
In addition, it is possible - in fact probable - that there are some homes which have the type of heavy motors which which require power factor correction to reduce line resistance costs.
But, I urge all consumers to understand that the savings will most probably be Nil. In fact you energy could go up if your unit remains on while the motors are idle.
This KVAR Energy Controller review includes opinions from others. We are not alone in our view!
In addition, it is possible - in fact probable - that there are some homes which have the type of heavy motors which which require power factor correction to reduce line resistance costs.
But, I urge all consumers to understand that the savings will most probably be Nil. In fact you energy could go up if your unit remains on while the motors are idle.
This KVAR Energy Controller review includes opinions from others. We are not alone in our view!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Scamraiders blog launched
Open4energy has posted its first blog with scamraiders, a leading web site dealing with consumer fraud.
The blog asking for help on identifying power home energy saving, particularly factor correction scams, requests
Help Fight Energy Scams and is well worth a read!
And while we are on the subject, here is an update to the list of energy scams we have identified since our earlier posting.
Earth4Energy
EcoSaverWorld
Electric Saver Nitro
Free Energy Plans
GreenDIYenergy
Kill-A-Watt Saver
Magnets4Energy
Power4Home
Power Saver Enersonic
We sincerely hope that there links will help our readers avoid home energy saving scams!
The blog asking for help on identifying power home energy saving, particularly factor correction scams, requests
Help Fight Energy Scams and is well worth a read!
And while we are on the subject, here is an update to the list of energy scams we have identified since our earlier posting.
Earth4Energy
EcoSaverWorld
Electric Saver Nitro
Free Energy Plans
GreenDIYenergy
Kill-A-Watt Saver
Magnets4Energy
Power4Home
Power Saver Enersonic
We sincerely hope that there links will help our readers avoid home energy saving scams!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
List of Energy Monitors
A short reminder that we have renamed our list of home energy saving devices in order to separate home energy saving from home energy monitoring.
The new list called complete list of home energy monitors only includes devices that monitor. If they have the capability to act on what they monitor, they are considered a saving device.
As an aside, we thank SPlat controls for their help is promoting our work on power factor correction.
The new list called complete list of home energy monitors only includes devices that monitor. If they have the capability to act on what they monitor, they are considered a saving device.
As an aside, we thank SPlat controls for their help is promoting our work on power factor correction.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Free Energy Plans
Readers, there is only one way to say this - scam scam scam and scam
Yes there are a few honest scientists investigating renewable energy, but you will not find them at the top of a Google search.
We have posted a copy of a great article Free Energy Devices which clearly lists what to be looking for to spot the scam.
On lists again, we have added a third list of energy saving .... to our lists. It is called a Complete List of Home Energy Control Systems.
Yes there are a few honest scientists investigating renewable energy, but you will not find them at the top of a Google search.
We have posted a copy of a great article Free Energy Devices which clearly lists what to be looking for to spot the scam.
On lists again, we have added a third list of energy saving .... to our lists. It is called a Complete List of Home Energy Control Systems.
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