As if coal couldn't get any dirtier

Recently, Patriot Coal Corporation filed paperwork with the courts terminating roughly $1.6 billion in health benefits for thousands of American coal miners. The move came as a last ditch effort to avoid Chapter 11 bankruptcy, proving again that big business considers stock holders interest's over those of their own blue collar workers.

According to Patriot Corp, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) operate at substantially higher labor costs, prohibiting the company from staying competitive in the cut-throat energy industry. Patriot is demanding "more flexible work rules and a significantly lower labor cost structure." Aka work longer for less. Anyone jumping at that opportunity?

"The actions we have taken today are necessary for the survival of Patriot and the preservation of more than 4,000 jobs," said Chief Executive Bennett Hatfield, in defense of the retiree benefit cuts.

Patriot did propose an alternative. Instead of cutting befits, the company offered the union a profit-sharing trust known as the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA). Yet, union leaders are aware that Patriot may want to file for bankruptcy. Legal loopholes will allow them, and other energy companies like Patriot, to save billions by eliminating employee pensions. Men and women who have dedicated their lives to the mines are being cast aside in favor of protecting the price of a share.

Will the CEO be forfeiting his private jet? Will the President of Patriot forgo his annual bonus for the good of the company?

Heck, no!

Like a cancerous tumor, our current energy industry is corrupt, feeding off of free enterprise, and needs to be cut out if society hopes to survive. But it's difficult in a world where big business dominates the market. Where families have little choice over what energy provider supplies their town. Where gas has topped $4.00 a gallon. Where coal miners' futures are determined by CEOs. We need to eliminate these destructive habits once and for all. How?

The SH-box allows countries, corporations, and communities to invest in a clean, low-cost energy alternative. NRGLab is working towards establishing a new energy infrastructure. A cleaner, freer world. Because no one should be enslaved to the establishment. Break free by learning more about NRGLab at http://nrglab.asia/

Saving time or wasting energy? Studies on DST

Whether you're aware of it or not, Daylight Savings Time (DST) began yesterday, springing clocks forward and forcing millions of commuters to lose an hour of sleep. But does the time change actually save energy? A new study out of Indiana, U.S.A, offers evidence to the contrary.

As of 2006, 77 of the state of Indiana's 92 counties were legally allowed to stay on standard time throughout the year, instead of adhering to DST. Farmers, as most employed people, were reluctant to work an extra hour in the morning. Caffeine and cattle -- not a fun way to wake up.

However, it quickly became difficult for people to travel in state, between counties, let alone out of state, to do business. "Does 9-5 mean their time, or mine? 'Out to lunch?' It's lunch time already!?" So, seven years ago, the state government passed legislation to coincide with DST. This gave professor Matthew Kotchen from the University of California-Santa Barbara, and one of his Ph.D. students, Laura Grant, an idea --

Taking millions of readings every month from the Duke Energy Corporation, one of Indiana's largest energy providers, Kotchen and Grant were able to compare consumption data from the counties forced to switch to DST. Their study was conducted over a period of three years, and the pair sampled nearly every household in the southern-half of Indiana.

What did they find?

Keeping the state on DST was costing Indiana tax-payers an additional $8.6 million every year! Kotchen theorized that higher air-conditioning costs on hot afternoons off-set reduced lighting during the day. "I've never had a paper with such a clear and unambiguous finding as this," said Mr. Kotchen, who presented his findings to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

This isn't exactly what Ben Franklin had in mind when, on a trip to France in 1784, he suggested enforcing a tax on window shutters and firing canons at sunrise to force people to wake up earlier than they were accustomed. In what would become a precursor to DST, Franklin noted that "the city of Paris might save every year, by the economy of using sunshine instead of candles."

During World Wars I and II, the U.S. government relied on DST as an energy-saving measure, as citizens banded together to save money to donate towards the effort overseas. DST became part of Americana. A symbol of sacrifice. It was extended in 1974, and then again in 1975 in response to an oil shortage. (Imagine that -- an oil shortage) The Department of Transportation analyzed data from that period, and in a report filed in 1975, concluded that DST cut down on energy consumption by only 1% during the months of March and April. A second report, filed a year later, reduced that percentage -- and found no change whatsoever.

When politicians are weighing their choices on energy policy, they often cite outdated research from the 70s, or worse -- they look back to good ol' Ben Franklin's days, when things like Air Conditioners, Tivo, and the Internet didn't exist. People's consumption habits have changed. We can't look to the past for answers. We have to scrutinize the present while listening to the whisper of the future in the back of our minds.

"What can I do about it?" you ask.

Well, besides writing your state Representative and demanding the befuddled U.S. Congress come to an agreement on ANYTHING, the little things always go a long way. During DST's cooler months, fight the temptation to turn that thermostat way up. Are you using more than one light? Try opening the blinds instead. Don't blast the air-conditioner, creating new Arctic conditions in your living room. Turn on a fan. Or better -- open a window.

Energy bills have skyrocketed since the 70s, and it's no wonder why, when politicians are thinking in terms of 8-track tapes. There are more people on this planet, fighting for every watt of power. NRGLab's SH-box, which generates clean electricity from crystal technology, may very well bring energy costs down to the point where we can say: "Who cares about DST? Let's not fight. Let's crank up the AC!"

Future Waterworld features new trade routes: no Kevin Costner

As the ice caps continue to  melt, new trade routes through the arctic are expected to open by mid-Century, increasing trade between the United States and Asia. Sure, we may be forced to live in Waterworld, where pirates run amok in a Kevin Costner-less future, but hey -- at least the economy will see a boost.

For hundreds of millions of years, the Arctic has been an impenetrable sheath of ice, forcing seafarers to navigate around the obstacle through man-made canals. Currently, trade between the U.S. and Asia runs primarily through the Suez and Panama canals; but as the planet continues to warm, the Northwest passage could become the next most-viable trade route. Hear that, Canada? With your meteor defense system and this added economic leverage -- you're on the verge of becoming the next superpower.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Plus, man may soon be able to pass directly over the North Pole for the first time in Earth's history. Due to the albeido effect, where in which reflective light-colored ice is replaced by murky sun-absorbing water, the more the ice melts, the hotter the planet gets; becoming a viscous, downward spiral ending in the Apocalypse.

So, global warming is growing exponentially, and moderate energy policies aren't doing enough to address the seriousness of this fact. Last fall, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center recorded the level of Arctic ice at an historic low. Now, scientists are scrambling to try and predict the consequences of heightened sea levels.

According to Laurence Smith, a geography professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, "The (Arctic) distances are vast. The landscape is boggy and wet and covered with lakes. What you see is a shutdown of human access on land and an increase of human access in the ocean."

Ships capable of plowing through an estimated four-feet of ice will be able to make the 'over-the-globe' trip by 2050. This new route will save ships 30% of current travel times through the Northern Sea Route.

It's nice to try and paint a silver lining on global warming. I joke about Waterworld and amphibious adaptations, but really -- melting ice caps shouldn't be seen as a positive thing. Although offering temporary economic perks, new sea routes are but a glimpse of a bitter long-term reality. The water is rising. The question is, when will our ancestors have to build themselves houseboats?

Besides, there are other ways to boost the economy! Like investing in clean-energy. Developing new strategies through collaboration. We don't have to simply accept our dismal fate. We have the ability to change the world. It starts with slowing global warming by cutting down on fossil fuel consumption. And how can we do that without descending into chaos?

Visit the NRGLab homepage at http://nrglab.asia/ to learn more about how the SH-box is the answer.

Big business addresses climate change?

Late last week, the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) gave their recommendations to President Obama regarding climate change. According to the BCSE, investing in green-energy will not only stimulate the tech industry, but could pull the entire economy out of the hole Americans currently find themselves in. Thank goodness for the sequester then, which, if left unresolved, will result in billions of federal spending cuts, leaving little to no room for green-energy investing. Hooray, for split Congresses.

In a letter from the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) “the window to prevent catastrophic climate change is rapidly closing.” The Task Force requested suggestions on how federal agencies could cut down on their carbon emissions. In reply, the BCSE released a factbook entitled 'Sustainable Energy in America', in which they identified economic-based legislation as the “optimal policy.” They also recommended the following measures:

1. Allow existing power plants to achieve target emission rates.

2. Use an output-based approach to setting emissions standards for New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) of greenhouse gases.

3. The Department of Energy should implement efficiency measures, including appliance and equipment standards, manufactured housing efficiency standards, and previously announced programs for commercial buildings.

4.The federal government should follow through on commitments made in the White House Executive Order 13514, including making greater use of federal performance contracting, aggregating procurements within federal agencies, between federal agencies, and leveraged with state and local government procurements, and clarify that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) qualifies under this executive order.

5.Federal agencies should support efforts to strengthen the smart grid, especially distributed generation at disaster centers, hospitals, etc., and should implement and update climate change adaptation plans to improve resilience.

6.Congress should continue to support research, development and deployment of homegrown and clean energy sources.

These actions could significantly cut into America's carbon emissions, and would set a positive example for the rest of the world to follow. As previously quoted, “the window to prevent catastrophic climate change is rapidly closing.” We have passed the development period. It' time for implementation. It's time for change. It's time for the SH-box and other innovative green initiatives to finally get the recognition, and the funding, they deserve and need to save the world.

The SH-box: because sometimes it's cloudy, rainy and windless

Opponents of alternative energy, namely oil corporations and those currently with the most to lose financially, are quick to point out the shortcomings of current options. Electric cars don’t have a far enough range. Solar panels are useless on stormy days. Windmills are impractical eyes-sores that work best on stormy days. Obviously, there are some conflicting ideas here on which direction the world should take, even among the environmental enthusiasts. Solar. Wind. Nuclear. Hydrogen. The list goes on, and on, and on…

Yet every point brought up by the skeptics is valid. Solar panels are limited due to their reliance on photovoltaic cells. Wind doesn't produce enough energy to meet staggering demands. Nuclear is dangerous (See: Japanese meltdown). Hydrogen is too expensive. So, should we just give up and stick with a doomed infrastructure; counting the days until the oil’s all dried up, and the skies are black, and the water’s tainted, and the Earth wilts away?

At NRGLab, their answer is a resounded, “Heck, no!” Based out of Singapore, NRGLab has developed poly-crystalline technology for producing low cost electricity from natural heat. Self-contained generators called SH-boxes pump out electricity for as little as $.03 per kw, and with absolutely no carbon emissions! The SH-box will run for more than ten years, too. It will outlast your cell phone, your car — most things being produced and sold in this disposable world we live in. But not the SH-box. No need to mount it on your roof, either. The SH-box can be installed anywhere and can be integrated into any current energy grid.

Have I caught your interest? Want to know more? Check out NRGLab on Youtube: NRGLABSGD. You can even get a copy of their business plan here: http://nrglab.asia/images/NRGLAB_Str…3_SH_Boxes.pdf

NRGLab is working towards creating a renewable, reliable, and sustainable future for billions of people across planet Earth. All it takes is vision backed by innovative thinking. Luckily, the scientists and partners at NRGLab are brimming with both.

February highs for gas prices

As I predicted, gas prices in America have soared to all-time seasonal highs. According to AAA spokesman John Townsend, ‘February “is the most expensive we’ve seen gasoline in the dead of winter.”

Despite vehicles becoming more fuel-efficient and more people growing conscious of the miles they're driving, the bills just aren't reflecting this progress. In a study performed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American family spends roughly $3,000 a year on gas. This includes heating the house. Driving to work. Things that, if re-imagined, could be accomplished just the same via alternative energy sources.

In February, the national average for gasoline rose to $3.80 a gallon. (On the West Coast of California, it's more like $4.00 plus) This price depends on a number of factors, of which the American Institute for Energy Research has broken down into four basic components:

1. World markets

2. Refining costs

3. Taxes

4. And distribution markup.

Saudi Arabia produces 700,000 fewer barrels now compared to a year ago. As a result, market competition between Iran and Iraq has increased. Add to that the current civil uprising in Syria, another major crude oil producer, and it's no wonder why, with the American government's dependency on foreign oil, people are paying the price. There are even talks of America raising the national gas tax, which has been stable at 18.4 cents per gallon for almost twenty years. 

It seems like everything costs more these days. From diapers to highways, as the costs of raw materials rises, so too will taxes. If history has proven one point: it's that citizens have rarely given into increased taxation without some sort of push back. Families are already struggling to survive and cannot afford to pay more for gasoline. IT'S TIME FOR AN ALTERNATIVE.

And not just a hypothetical one, either. We need real solutions, like the one offered by NRGLab. Their crystal technology produces natural electricity that's not only green and good for the environment, but good for the American wallet as well. Because times are tough. The government needs to stop offering temporary solutions to structural issues (like the gas tax hike), and repair the structure from the foundation up. 

1.5 degrees away from total meltdown

We now have a number. Scientists from Oxford University say an increase of merely 1.5C will be enough to send the world reeling into an Apocalyptic scenario.

This increase in temperature will begin to melt Siberia's permafrost. Covering roughly a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere's total land surface area, the melted permafrost could release hundreds of GIGATONNES of methane and carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.

Though scientists claim that this type of melting could take decades to reach, the fact remains: in the spectrum of billions of years, mankind's occupancy his been minimal, yet disastrous.

Compare our time on Earth to the stalactites and stalagmites studied in Siberia. They've formed over hundreds of thousands of years from melting permafrost dripping into the caves. Through ice ages and vast civilizations, warming periods and wars, they've grown and shrunk with the environment. Scientists can measure individual stalactites and stalagmites much like loggers can measure the age of trees -- by cutting into them. (Only scientists use radio-carbon dating instead of saws.) They're then able to examine growth and decay rates, which can be linked to specific periods in history.

Scientists discovered that Siberian stalactites experienced rapid growth during a period dating back 400,000 years, when temperatures were 1.5C higher than today. This finding indicates that permafrost will melt just as quickly again if temperatures rise to a similar level.

Presently, the global temperature is approximately 0.6C-0.7C above pre-industrial revolution levels.

Anton Vaks, of Oxford's Earth Sciences department and one of the chief scientists on the Siberian team, hinted that their findings could have an affect on energy infrastructure, including the laying of natural gas pipelines and future drilling operations. Oh, and one more thing: it could send the world into complete, and total chaos. "Although it wasn't the main focus of our research, our work also suggests that in a world 1.5C warmer – warm enough to melt the coldest permafrost – adjoining regions would see significant changes. Mongolia's Gobi Desert could become much wetter than it is today."

New oceans, drowning our deserts. Coastline cities under water. Sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie, though I assure you -- the threat is all too real. We need to gain an appreciation for consequences, and the domino-effect our every decisions, even the simple ones, have on the rest of the world. Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth. Leaving that extra light on when you're not even in the room. These things seem trivial, and yet they add to the overall problem of global warming and energy consumption.

Consumption has been taken off the table of debate, since democracies often equate consumption with personal freedom. So then, what can we do? We must re-evaluate our means of energy production and distribution. A good way to start? The SH-box by NRGLab -- a device designed as a cost-effective alternative to carbon emitting fuel sources.

We will decide the world we live in. Whether that's a good or bad thing remains to be seen. Every pipeline feeds our consumption habits, which warm the planet, making it harder to lay more pipelines, which makes gas more expensive, and people poorer and more stressed. The end of the world doesn't always lie at the bottom of an ocean. Sometimes, it lies at the bottom of ourselves.

Forward on Climate Rally -- Feb. 17th

On Februrary 17th, the Forward on Climate Rally will be held in Washington D.C. People are expected to gather to urge President Obama to address climate change; a promise he made during his inaugural speech when he first took office five years ago. The rally is being organized by the Sierra Club, 350.org, the Hip Hop Caucus and a few dedicated environmentalists.

The Rally’s message focuses on minimizing the environmental footprint the United States is currently leaving on the planet. If the President continues to support the nation’s outdated and obsolete infrastructure, and we continue to depend upon coal mines, oil pipelines, and hazardous fracking operations, the US will be left on the wrong side of history as the rest of the world moves towards renewable, clean energy. (Politicians like to use the term ‘clean coal’ but, lets face it, that’s like saying ‘jumbo shrimp’ — a bit bigger, and better, sure, but still coal at the core.)

It’s time congress puts aside their moral differences on social issues like gun control and abortion and focus on something we can all agree on: we need clean air to breathe, for instance. The U.S. energy policy must reflect what the rest of the world already knows — we need to decrease carbon emissions. Plain and simple. Legislation on tax breaks only rewards corporations with lawyers clever enough to find the loopholes. Climate change isn’t something that can be negotiated, or treated like a stock option. It has to be dealt with seriously; scrutinized from every angle. No bad ideas. All suggestions welcome.

I know what you might be asking: who cares if there’s a little more carbon in the air? I hear cows, and their methane gas emissions (farts) have also contributed to global warming.

The latter happens to be true, but that doesn’t mean that man-made carbon emissions haven’t already taken their toll. Just look at the super-storms that have ravaged the U.S. over the last several years. The droughts. The floods. Scientists have linked these so-called ‘natural’ disasters to elevated levels of carbon in our atmosphere.

How can we undo the damage? Only with time and by changing our energy habits. We need new sources of affordable and efficient energy — not more nuclear power plants, or drills. We don’t need to open more coal mines. What we need is the SH-box by NRGLab.

The SH-Box produces clean electricity from patented crystal technology for pennies per watt. What’s holding NRGLab back? A lack of global government response and cooperation. It’s time for America to take a stand, and the Forward on Climate Rally might just be that motivating voice, screaming, “Get up off your butt, already!”

If you live near Washington D.C., or have the ability to take off of work and make the commute, I encourage you to join the Sierra Club February 17th. Let your voice be heard. Tell President Obama you’re ready for the change you were promised. And while you’re at it, you might tell him to look into NRGLab, and the way we’re approaching energy reform.

Really, Super Bowl -- not enough power?

Who else's wings and nachos got cold during the 34-minute delay in this year's Super Bowl?
Apparently, the dazzling talent that is Beyoncé used too much power and overloaded the circuit breakers. Did you hear that? TOO MUCH POWER!? For America's biggest sporting event of the year? Was no one prepared for the amps, the lights, the hot dog venders, and the camera guys?
We shouldn't live in a world where power capacity is ever an issue, and soon we won't have to. As soon as NRGLab introduces the SH-box to the market and launches the age of affordable energy, things like power outages and power shortages will be distant memories. NFL teams will be able to power their stadiums for a fraction of current costs. Maybe then they'll start investing more in other elements of the game, like player safety, and concussion technology. That technology could save a life. That life could go on to do great things after the game. Change the game. Change the world.
Progress is achieved through ripples. One crazy idea. One good deed. One righteous voice. One shining vision of possibility. That's all it takes to cast a stone into the still waters of revolution.
Because ultimately, we live in the future we create. So maybe it's something as simple as a singer using too much power during a half-time performance to get people wondering; wondering why something like this still happens in a world where our cell phones can unlock our cars and houses. And why are my nachos getting cold?

My answer to an angry letter

Recently, I received an angry letter from an investor. He said NRGLab could cause a massive drop in the share price of one of Australia's most well-known gas companies, which he also happened to be invested in. This investor wanted us to sell him our shares at an outrageously low price in order to protect the gas company from future loss, in case our company were to grow too quickly. His fear was that gas prices would slip significantly once we introduced our SH-boxes to the market.  

Every gas company in the world is invested in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil products. These companies go out of their way to protect their market share and subdue competing technology. After all, no investor wants to lose their money. Really -- who does?

One way companies protect themselves is through the use of intellectual property rights. Intellectual properties yield profits, not only to the patents, but to the resource companies as well. This way, the average consumer allows these companies to develop new technology simply by purchasing food at the grocery store, music on the Internet, or leasing a car from a dealership.  All the proceeds, through a network of intellectual property patents, give companies a sense of security, which allows them to expand into NEW properties, and NEW relationships. 

During the recent economic crises, a drop in demand lead to significant losses in intellectual properties. Gas industry investors had been sensing this threat for some time.

Back to our angry investor, who is not longer certain of the security of his investment. Before the crises hit, people had easy access to “cheap” money: credit available at an ultra-low rate of interest. Typically, if the government wants to stimulate job creation, they lower the gold-reserve requirement for banks, who are then able to lend more money at lower interest rates to potential entrepreneurs. However, the well of cheap money ran dry after so many start-up businesses failed, and people could not repay their loans.  But since intellectual property investors got accustomed to “cheap” money and the influx of spending that was feeding into their web of patent rights, they aren't ready to give it up. Voluntarily, at least.  

In 2013, investors should expect serious competition. People will begin tapping all available resources in order to produce cheap energy and then distribute it, at a profit, to private markets. It will be incredibly hard for huge gas corporations to compete, in terms of price point, in the coming age of new technology. First, these large companies will resist; but sooner or later they will be forced to relinquish their monopoly privileges  and the web will finally become untangled. 

Similar situations will occur across other industries, including IT. Consumers will hold onto software longer.  They will use predominantly free services, and will have access to a growing range of services with the ever-expanding independent app market. National governments will support private competition, while motivating their own IT-manufacturers via budget spending.  One should expect national Internet segments and national payment systems to emerge within the coming years.

Let me reiterate: the modern intellectual property system only exists because of the access to “cheap money”. As soon as this resource is depleted, intellectual properties will long longer be able to be protected, or renewed. This angry investor -- his stake in the gas industry will be worthless, and fairly soon, I suspect.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to help him then, and I certainly have no intention of selling him my technology, or my know-how, for cheap.

Sustainable capitalism & new tech

The United States of America enjoys two great freedoms: democracy and capitalism. These systems are designed to distribute wealth, control supply and demand, and ensure every citizen's voice is heard. But what happens when those voices turn hostile? What happens when those very systems designed to keep people safe, do the opposite?
In the last American presidential election, there was a lot of talk about the 1% and the uneven distribution of power in the United States. With the economic crisis that swept the globe, that percentage continues to dwindle. When will it be enough? When the entire nation is poor and only one or two financial monarchs control all of the resources?
There is one resource that can never be stolen, or bought, from us: and that's innovative thinking. The human mind is capable of great things. History is proof of that. From understanding how big our universe is, to how small the building blocks of life are, innovative thinking drives progress.
Researchers at NRGLab live by this code. Working tirelessly day in and day out to perfect energy-producing technology, NRG is at the forefront of innovation. If their vision of the future comes true, electricity will not only affordable, but universally available. Sustainable energy is the key to sustaining other systems, like capitalism and democracy, for ourselves, and spreading it throughout the rest of the world. It levels the playing field. Keeps them safe. Creates new opportunities. Motives people to think, and test accept norms. Above all, new technology ensures equality.
Thanks to companies like NRG, the world is on the verge of experiencing shared freedom and peace for the first time in our planet's long history. The question remains: which side of history will you find yourself on?

The NRGLab Auction

 

Learn how you can have more of an impact on making energy affordable and available to all!

The SH Box in America?

For the United States of America, it's impossible to cut budget expenses, because this will automatically create a deficit in private demand. Private demand in the US is already subsidized from the budget, and any further decrease would cause the overall GDP to decline. Increasing budget revenue is also almost impossible, since the only source of said growth is the emission of the Federal Reserve System. This phenomenon, however, would be reflected in the budget right away, which could also result in a drop in America's credit rating. So what can be done? Only one thing: find a new source of budget revenue.

Special Federal Reserve loans can be issued to so called “banks agents” (like JP Morgan, Chase) in order to finance SH-box production. Manufacturing plants for SH-box production would become a new source of revenue. The program provides for the construction of 400 factories around the world. These factories will manufacture 23 million SH-boxes in three years. The boxes will generate $31.5 trillion worth of cost-efficient energy at $0.05kW/h. The contracts alone will be worth $1.65 trillion . Banks can match this amount 5-6 times. This way, America can experience growth in both GDP and overall rating.

The SH-boxes in question are already available. However, no American business has indicated any interest since they all seem sufficed with their energy providers, and stuck in the rut of their corporate routines. Most of these companies are cutting investment payments for 2013; the next step will be laying off staff, or introducing a hiring freeze. Unemployment will keep growing.

The irony is that the solution already exists! How bad do things have to get before American businesses will consider the SH-box technology as the cost-effective solution, and the way of the future, that it truly is?