The Future is Now for Energy and Environment

Sources of renewable energy have been an interest of mine for many years. I really got introduced to it when I got to know several people at the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado, where my wife worked in 1980. Pres. Bush renamed it the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 1993, but their mission is the same: “to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and transfer these technologies to the private sector”.  Since then, I have kept an eye on the developing technologies of renewable energy, with particular interest in solar photovoltaic (PV), fuel cells, wind, geothermal and transportation motivation. In recent years, I had an opportunity to work for a small urban renewal organization in northern Illinois called Zion Development. Along with it’s primary goal of restoring deteriorated neighborhoods, Brad Roos, its founder and Executive Director, is dedicated to renovating buildings using super-insulation techniques, using energy efficient heating, cooling, appliances and lighting, and most significantly, solar and geothermal energy sources.  Zion is completing their latest project, the “Lantow Lofts” this spring. This was a delightful chance to work with an organization and community leader who is actively applying these technologies today. The time for renewable energy to enter the mainstream has come.

In recent months, I’ve also had the privilege of getting get to know the people at University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) who have founded the Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE). Dr. John E. Bowers, Director, and Daniel T. Colbert, Ph.D, Executive Director, are establishing an excellent organization that is working with industry to speed development and deployment of energy efficiency technologies. Here’s their mission in their own words: “The Institute for Energy Efficiency is an interdisciplinary research institute focused on delivering significant energy efficiencies in less than 10 years. The Institute’s cutting-edge research activities leverage the considerable expertise of U.C. Santa Barbara’s highly acclaimed faculty, scientists, engineers and researchers, including five Nobel Laureates.” Check out and consider attending their upcoming, and inaugural Santa Barbara Summit on Energy Efficiency.

There are many exciting things happening today. Some that I have noticed:

• Wind generator construction is at an all-time high in the US and is the fastest-growing segment of renewable energy according to NREL’s Wind Research web page. Manufacturers I know who are involved in that segment tell me that there is a > 1 year order backlog in the US. As I made a road trip this summer from Illinois to California, I witnessed first-hand, small and large wind-farms in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, as well as California, that I had not seen 5 years earlier. In Illinois and Iowa, I seemed to encounter trucks carrying wind turbine blades about every 50 to 100 miles – more than I’ve ever seen.
• Solar Photo Voltaic at it’s highest efficiency, there are many manufacturers worldwide, and application is becoming more widespread. 20 years ago, the vast majority of solar installation were hot water systems. Today, although hot water is still dominant, Solar PV is growing at a much faster rate, and is approaching equal annual installation volume (see this report (PDF) on Solar Market Trends from IREC). California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), for example, is one of 15 CSU campuses that will build year a solar PV array to provide supplementary power, according to a recent CSUCI press release. CSUCI’s installation is expected to provide “about seven percent of its current annual power consumption”. Already, according to the release, “The CSU system already receives 20 percent of system-wide electricity from sustainable sources.”
• In spite of the struggles the auto industry is facing, the area in which they continue to invest, in fact see as their future lifeline, is in alternative motivation and fuel systems. These include hybrid, plug-in hybrid, all-electric, fuel cell, bio-diesel, and others. Here are a few articles on some of the company’s plans:
  • Ford, from NY Times.com
  • Toyota, from MSNBC.com
  • GM, from its own site on the new “Volt”,
  • Honda, from Consumer Reports.com
  • VW: Stephan Jacob’s Keynote to the Washinton Auto Show, 2009
  • Chrysler, from MotorTrend magazine
    
  • Mercedes-Benz, from Autoblog.com
• There is a rapidly growing community of technology developers and manufcaturers that are involved in making these automotive developments possible, and are brining them to market. Just do a search for any energy technology to get a list. Example: “fuel cell manufacturer“.

The future is now.

In spite of economic conditions, perhaps even because of it, this is a time to work toward a better, more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible future. Our focus as a nation is shifting, out of necessity, from self-indulgent accumulation, to conservation and responsibility. And our lives and those of our children have the potential of being better for it. So, let’s work together, and build the future now. Let’s save energy, be resourceful and creative in using energy, make wise choices when buying energy-using technology, and act environmentally responsibly. Join a local “green” community or network to get connected with what’s going on in your community.

As for me, we are continuing to think “green” at home and office, which has really been a life-long effort for us.  I work at my residence, so I don’t have to drive to an office. As many knowledge workers do today, I conduct the vast majority of my business online and via telecommunications. Plus, I am increasingly focusing my business on helping companies developing these emerging technologies bring their products to market.