The things in life we take for granted

Imagine living in Honduras. The streets are cluttered with uncollected garbage. Diseases like malaria run rampant. In fact, your next door neighbor just died of a mosquito bite. Every so often, you have to hike to a fresh water supply miles away. Electricity? Not a chance. Traffic accidents are solved by quick cash exchanges because the police couldn’t care less. Children can’t get to school because the only bridge out of the village just collapsed. And the storms! Lackluster government warnings result in thousands of people losing their homes on a semi-regular basis.

Now stop imagining.

 

Remember that you are you. You’re a citizen of the first world. You live in an apartment, house or condo. Trash day is every Thursday. If you get sick, you take a trip to your doctor, who writes you a prescription and that’s that. Your next door neighbor hasn’t returned your leaf blower in months. He might be a deadbeat, but he’s definitely not dead. Tap water? Ew. Gross. You only drink bottled, or water that’s been through a Britta filter. You complain when your Smartphone doesn’t keep its charge. The police seem to be lurking behind every blind spot along the highway, waiting to catch you going 5 mph over the speed limit. A big yellow bus picks your son or daughter up for school every morning. And storms usually knock out the cable, but not much else.

Oh, the things in life we in the developed world take for granted!

The Earth is a big, big place, and the sooner people come to this conclusion, the sooner we can begin to address global issues. 

More often than not, politics get tangled up in subcommittees. Narrow-mindedness and personal vendettas result in nothing getting done. Sure, everyone wants to pay lower taxes. Everyone wants better schools and smoother roads. But aren’t these issues trivial compared to spreading equality and ensuring basic human rights throughout the world? 

Liberals and conservatives have their philosophical differences, but surely there are some things everyone can agree upon. We want to protect our children and afford them every opportunity to succeed. We want to feel safe in our own homes. We want to watch our children grow up, and their children, and their children after that.

 

NRGLab hasn’t forgotten the little things in life. That’s why we want to bring sustainable clean energy to the developing world. We believe that if you were born in Honduras, you should have the same opportunities as if you had been born in the United States. With the SH-Box, a low-cost, zero-emissions generator, EVERYONE can have access to reliable power. And that’s only the beginning. 

We have the ability to make the world a better place. First, we need to appreciate the things in life we take for granted. Then, and only then, will our leaders feel truly compelled to put aside politics and work towards world peace.

Be happy, people. Be happy and good to one another. 

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!"

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.

Will China take the hint? Air pollution reaches dangerous levels

Mere days before China’s government is set to begin their annual legislative hearings, Beijing’s air pollution reaches a dangerous new high. Pollution is expected to be among the main topics to be addressed. Will China take the hint and get aggressive with their energy policy?

Increased air pollution means an increase of PM2.5 particles in the air. Prolonged exposure to these particles resulted in over 8,000 premature deaths in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi-an, and Guangzhou alone last year. According to the World Health Organization, a person should not expose themselves to PM2.5 levels of 25 or higher for more than 24-hours. In Beijing, levels are regularly recorded in the fifty range — nearly DOUBLE the recommended level.

On January 12th of this year, levels of PM2.5 in China rose to a mind-numbing 993. 993! People have been forced to wear masks to simply walk to the grocery store. Remember — the Earth only has one atmosphere. Their air will eventually become your air. That is why the issue of global warming cannot be confronted on a country-by-country basis. I requires inter-governmental cooperation to drastically reduce carbon emissions to ensure our air remains breathable, not just for another century, but for thousands of years to come.

And the problem isn’t just with our air, either. Pollution in the atmosphere makes its way to the ground in the form of rain, which seeps into our streams, and oceans. It pollutes our wells and drinking water. Like the first domino in a long chain of pollution, what we put into the air inevitably makes its way back into our bodies, one way or another.

This week, Chinese Newspapers protested the Environment Ministry’s refusal to make classified pollution information available to the public. The 21st Century Business Herald newspaper drew comparisons to the outbreak of SARS in 2003, which had also been kept secret from the public. It’s time for transparency in government. After all, isn’t government supposed to work FOR the people, not in spite of them? How can the public be expected to make informed decisions if the necessary information is kept from them? Change is never easy — let alone change in blind faith. It’s one thing to have to wear a mask to the grocery store. It’s another not to be allowed to know how many trips will kill you.

The chief pollutant responsible for China’s problem? Coal. Accounting for 19% of the total air pollution, the out-dated energy source continues to pump poison into our atmosphere. How little air has to be left before the world takes a serious look at our energy infrastructure? Sure, it may be China’s problem today. But tomorrow, it’s the USA’s. Next week, Europe’s. Air pollution spreads like cancer. What we need is an emergency procedure to remove the growth before it devours us from the inside, out.

Consider NRGLab’s SH-box the scalpel in this procedure. Without any grid modifications whatsoever, the SH-box is ready to start producing clean, natural energy from crystals. By converting environmental heat into electricity, these Boxes are capable of powering a community or a corporation. Because NRGLab thinks it’s about time we cleaned up our planet. Let’s start with our cities, and move on from there. Hopefully China takes the hint and the lead.

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. 

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?

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?

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