HERE COMES THE “NEGAWATT”!!!

When looking at the looming price of oil, topping $142 a barrel today (7/8/08) and forcasts of $12 - $15 per gallon by 2010 you can’t help but look for alternative and renewable sources of energy. What if it turned out that energy efficiency and conservation was the single biggest solution? Could the campaign for “Drill more, Pay less” be too little, too late for solving our energy crisis and peak oil?

This article by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute answers these questions with a litany of facts to clear the air and confusion about how to look at solving our energy needs and keep the environment from further going south.

Peace,

Bruce

###

Using smarter technologies, more brains and less money to wring more work from less delivered energy–what energy experts call “end-use efficiency”–is the largest, cheapest, safest, cleanest, fastest, most diverse, least visible, least understood and most neglected way to provide energy services.

How big is it? The 46% drop in U.S. energy intensity, a measure of energy consumption per dollar of real gross domestic product, during 1975-2005 represented, by 2005, the equivalent of a new energy “source.” This source was slightly larger than annual total European energy use, 2.1 times the size of U.S. oil consumption, 3.4 times bigger than U.S. net oil imports, six times domestic oil output or net oil imports from OPEC countries and 13 times net imports from Persian Gulf countries.

Three-fourths of U.S. electricity–69% of which is used in buildings, nearly all the rest in industry–can be saved for less than the price of just running a coal or nuclear plant. This “negawatt” potential is not just in smarter motors, lights, appliances, etc., but even more in their larger systems. For example, three-fifths of the world’s electricity runs motors, and half their shaft power runs pumps and fans. Designing friction out of pipes and ducts can save 10 times as much fuel at the power plant.” -Armory Lovins

###

Here is the full article on Forbes.com

The Case for Efficiency
Amory B. Lovins 07.07.08

“We can save our bottom lines, and maybe our butts, by taking economics–and efficiency–seriously.” -Armory Lovins

Physicist Amory B. Lovins has been a leading practitioner of advanced energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles and industry for over three decades. He is co-founder, chairman and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute, an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank that implements transformational energy and resource efficiency, chiefly in the private sector.

Howdy friends,

I would like to draw your attention to a term called “Open-source.” Most of you that are familiar with the term think of the collaboration and cooperation that is part of software development. It has been a MAJOR player in the development of our current software and hardware computer technologies. It has now evolved into much, much more than that. We have shifted into a time where “people” (collective masses) now have more power than the giant corporations… through collaboration and synergies.

What I would like to submit to you, is that an amazing new company has utilized this concept of “Open-source” to bring about a paradigm SHIFT in the energy industry through decentralized cooperation and collaboration. We are talking about a group of passionate and caring individuals that are dedicated to a mission much greater than themselves. Why? Is it the money? Is it the fame? ……… or is it to be part of something that has the POTENTIAL to SHIFT our experience of business as usual on it’s head. Could it be a worth the risk of time and personal energy to contribute toward part of the solution for the biggest challenge of our time? Both economically and environmentally?

We are on an adventure… if it were easy, it would not be called an adventure. If there were no challenges there would be no learning. We are breaking ground with not only a business that has not been done before… but even more importantly, with a collective energy of people that will rival the likes of Google, Wikipedia, and SETI. Citizenre will become not only a household name… it will become “THE” company to emulate in the new “green” age. Life is not an accident. Everything has it’s ultimate purpose and each and everyone of us has a part to play.

I am very happy to be part of this process and find the process a joy. Sure results are what counts in the end… but the end is not all it is cracked up to be…. Smelling the roses along the way, while not being to worried about a few thorns, makes for a happy solar traveler…

I would like to share three videos with you to illustrate these points… hope you enjoy them and find inspiration in them.

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

##A Man Who Grew A Finger

#

#
We live in an amazing time folks! GO SOLAR!
In-joy,
Bruce

This is an amazing presentation from the UK-Channel 5.
It has many, many points woven into a problem solving approach to the out of control Consumerism that is growing on a global scale. It makes the point, much like the “Story of Stuff” that we are living a linear mode of consumption on a finite planet… we will run out of resources.

It may take a few minutes to watch all four parts but it will be well worth your time.

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (1/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (2/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (3/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (4/4)

Consumerism re-born?