Home Energy Monitoring

Intel made some pretty cool energy monitoring software that runs on Windows. Kind of cool, but wouldn't it bet sweeter if this was out on your iPhone?

http://www.fastcompany.com/1610846/the-ipad-of-home-energy-management?partner=rss

Wave Energy Taking Scotland by Storm

This article talks about the up and coming wave energy solutions taking hold in Scotland rough seas. Applications for other areas are sure to follow close behind!

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24865/

Cool New Solar Technologies

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2010-03/timeline-simpler-sonar

Life in General

Well, things have been going pretty well in the Ferguson family. Tonight we had family home evening and we read from Preach My Gospel about Patience and then shared some scriptures about the subject. I was saying that I do not really remember any time in the scriptures where they want you to be anxious about things. (Notable exceptions include Ammon, Jacob and "anxiously engaged", but those seem more like exceptions. The activity, which literally only came to me as we sat down, because it was sitting in front of us after giving up on it yesterday, was untangling and not-ty skein of yard on its way to becoming a ball! Boy, this took us nearly 2 hours, but we did eventually find success. We realize our kids will be amazed at how boring their parents were in their early marriage days. Boring, yes, but happy for sure. The yarn by the way is contributing to a hooded sweater for our Baby!!

Hurray!

Jamund

Utah Wind Map

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/maps_template.asp?stateab=ut


Also, more local wind/solar companies:
http://www.imwindandsolar.com/windenergy.html
http://www.pioneersolar.com/home.asp
http://www.wasatchsun.com/

Solar Energy & Recycling

 

I've also been asked to find out more about doing solar energy in American Fork, Utah. What are the potentials for getting incentives (in the form of net metering or direct tax subsidies)? What are some actual opportunities for energy generating on the roof of a small commercial building? What might the associated costs be and would might be the length of return given standard energy prices as well as in a climate of increasing electricity costs. I've also been asked to find out more about opportunities for recycling in American Fork. City council meetings here we come! Amazon.com has a number of solar panel offerings, as seen above!

Some other interesting links:
http://en.openei.org/wiki/Utah
http://www.utsolar.org/
http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/american-fork-utah.html

Wind Turbine

So I've been asked by someone to do some research about installing a wind turbine on in someone's 3/4-acre back yard. They live in Highland, Ut. I need to do some research about what it would take to install this 30-ft, 900 watt wind turbine from a city policy perspective, how much wind is located up there in Highland and how much energy it might generate. This is such a cool idea! Also does the local utility offer any sort of Net Metering.

Much more on this whole subject coming soon. I'm considering researching the net metering and other incentives for renewable energy throughout Utah. I'll keep you all posted!

If anyone has experience doing this kind of thing in utah I would love to know about it.

- Jamund

I passed the LEED test!

I received a score of 173. The passing score is 170. The total possible is 200. There are 100 questions and while they don't tell you how they're weighted, based on my scores and results it appears to weigh heavily in favor of the energy related questions, probably to do with the USGBC's focus on energy production and carbon emissions.

I will post more later and hopefully you can pass it to!

-- Jamund

LEED G.A. Test March 23rd

I can't believe I'm finally going to be taking the LEED Green Associate examination! This is an important opportunity for me especially as I am continuing to pursue Green Sparks IT, my consulting business, which is still being planned out properly. Tips on studying and other things will be posted here as I discover them!

For now point your browser to http://www.usgbc.org/ and start preparing!

XOXO Jamund

Green Doctors Offices

I recently had an appointment with the dentist and just wanted to bring up the stark contrast being the dimly lit waiting room with the relatively well lit room in which the dentist cleaned my teeth. The waiting room had high ceilings and not many windows. Brown walls seemed to suck in any light that came from the horrible orange-colored fluorescent light mounted to the ceiling. The magazines everywhere said "Read Me", while the poor lighting slowly made that ever-more difficult. Contrast to the naturally-lit, windowed view from the operating room, where I could see outside and notice the natural beauty of Provo at 11AM. My eyes felt fine (except for the times the dentist shined a high powered light shined over my face). It was much better....