Your iPhone uses as much energy as your fridge!

As hard as it may be to believe, a new study shows that your iPhone consumes as much energy in a year as your refrigerator!

The study is called “The Cloud Begins With Coal,” and in it, CEO of Digital Power Group Mark Mills claims that the average iPhone uses about 361 kWh per year. That includes data usage, charging the battery, and cloud connections. A mid-sized refrigerator only uses 322 KWh per year. Who would’ve thought?

You see, smartphones like the iPhone don’t require a huge amount of energy to charge, but playing games for an average of an hour a week for an entire year can consume more energy that TWO fridges (and let’s face it – everyone has a bit of an addiction to Angry Birds or Words With Friends). The biggest energy guzzlers are the background cloud connections like GPS tracking and Wi-Fi. So even if you don’t have a penchant for playing games, your iPhone is being drained faster than a bathtub.

Nowadays, computers are forced to run around the clock. They service our technical support needs. Our climate control needs. Our banking needs. Pretty much every need, really.

Mills’ study found that the global Information-Communications-Technologies system (or ICT, which encompasses all tech-based companies) consumes a total of 1,500 tWh of electricity per year. That’s equivalent to Germany and Japan’s electricity production COMBINED! In fact, the ICT uses about 10% of all the electricity generated on Earth. (That’s enough to power the planet since 1985…)

“As the world continues to electrify, migrating towards one refrigerator per household, it also evolves towards several smartphones and equivalent per person,” writes Mills. And what’s worse is that as devices become more powerful, they’ll require more energy. “Trends now promise faster, not slower, growth in ICT energy use.”

Cloud connections and mobile Internet require more energy than wired networks, and let’s be honest – the world is going wireless. All of this technological advancement is eating away at our planet like a virus.
And the source of that virus? Our dependency on dirty coal.

Coal remains the choice source of electricity production in developed countries like the U.S. Mills’ study, which was sponsored by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity and the National Mining Association, contends that coal is essential to powering the ICT system. Our phones will always need batteries, and our lights will always need plugs, after all.  

Innovations in green energy grids and higher efficiency standards have provided a good starting off point for change, but until the energy industry takes a long hard look in the mirror, the problem’s only going to get worse.

NRGLab thinks we can still expand cloud connections and smartphone capabilities without sacrificing the integrity of our environment with carbon-free, renewable sources of electricity like the SH-Box. The SH-Box turns geothermal heat into clean, read-to-use electricity. So forget about installing expensive solar panels. Forget about building an 18th Century windmill in your back yard. Forget everything you thought you knew about energy – and start thinking about the SH-Box.

For more information, visit nrglab.asia. See what we’re doing to protect the planet from mankind’s hubris.

Finally, the good kind of audit – home energy efficiency!

I talk a lot about energy efficiency and making home renovations that can help cut costs on your monthly utility bills. But say you’re still having trouble understanding. All this talk about ventilation ducts and star ratings and climate controls has your head in a tailspin, and you’re looking for someone to help level you out.

Fear not! You can have your home audited for energy efficiency!

Most of the time, when people hear the word “audit,” they think about the taxman coming to rifle through their boxes of receipts.  Not this time.

With a home energy audit, a professional helps you understand the nuisances of your home. Whether you’re looking to replace your windows or water heater, the first step to savings is often times the toughest.

A home energy audit can identify where energy is being wasted, and help you prioritize your renovations. Efficiency upgrades have the potential to save you 30% on your monthly utility bills.

So, what exactly takes place during an energy audit, you ask?

Well, first a licensed auditor sits down with you and reviews your energy bills. That way, the two of you can target high-expense areas to investigate. Next, the auditor conducts a visual inspection, and may even use special equipment like an infrared camera to detect sources of energy waste. Then, based on his or her assessment, you’ll be provided with a final report that shows exactly which efficiency upgrades are best for you, and how much money you could be saving.

When choosing an auditor, it’s crucial that you go with a person or company with experience and a background in energy. As a general rule of thumb - only hire people you trust. Let’s go with ten years of experience in the industry. That’s a nice round number. Your auditor should also be a Professional Engineer (PE) and/or a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). It certainly doesn't hurt to get an estimate or two before you sign a contract with an auditor either. That way, you know you’re getting a fair price (But remember, it can be expensive up front. Plumbers charge $100/hr after all!).

Most of all – know what you’re paying for! Ask for details. Set deadlines. Keep an open communication with your auditor. Learn from him or her. Remember that the most important step in any journey is the first one! So take that step. Open up your local directory, or search “energy audits” online.

It’s OK that you’re not an energy expert. Some people are.

India: economy up, but at what cost to the environment?

India’s economy has been steadily growing over the past decade, but at a significant cost to the environment. The population is now exposed to tainted water supplies. Polluted air. Depleting resources and unstable ecosystems. These problems are only exacerbated by a growing gap between the wealthy and poor. So, what exactly does the country plan on doing about it?

According to the World Banks’ most recent report, environmental degradation is costing India approximately $80 billion per year. That’s 5.7% of the country’s total economy! At that rate, how much longer can they continue to grow and remain competitive on a global level?

Not very long, is the answer you’re looking for.

India, a country known for being a cultural melting pot, needs to start swaying its policy makers of the importance of appreciating natural resources.

A recent survey ranked India 126th out of 132 countries in overall environmental quality, and dead last in the air category. The survey concluded that India has the worst air pollution in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, narrowly edging out China, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

A whopping 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities can be found in India, where poverty is both a cause and effect of environmental degradation. Under-producing crop yields. Deforestation. Disease and famine. They’re all linked to the Earth. In order to survive, the poor are reduced to mining and pillaging the natural resources available to them, creating a cycle of degradation and destitution.

Since 2000, India's economic growth has reduced unemployment, allowing millions to make better lives for themselves. The country is not expected to veer from its current growth trajectory, meaning environmental sustainability is going to become the next hot button issue.

The report begs an interesting question: "Does growth so essential for development - have to come at the price of worsened air quality and other environmental impacts? Green growth is necessary. With cost of environmental degradation at 5.7% of GDP, environment could become a major constraint in sustaining future economic growth. Further, it may be impossible or prohibitively expensive to clean up later."

Muthukumara Mani, a senior economist at the World Bank, claims that "while the overall policies focus should be on meeting basic needs and expanding opportunities for growth, they should not be at the expense of unsustainable environmental degradation.”

There has to be a better way.

That’s why NRGLab has invested years and millions of dollars into developing highly-efficiently, environmentally-conscious methods of converting agricultural waste, natural gas, and even recycled crude oil into useable fuel. For more information, visit nrglab.asia. Learn what you can do to prepare for the future of energy independence.

2012 – Top 10 hottest year in recorded history!

According to four different independent studies, last year was among the 10 hottest years on record. Two countries, Argentina and the United States, experienced their hottest years EVER!

And you thought we were making progress on the global warming front. Not enough progress, it appears.

Let’s take a look at some of 2012’s not-so-stellar highlights:

The ice caps continued to melt at a frightening rate, roughly twice that of lower latitudes. Why? Well, ocean heat, for starters. Heat contained in the upper 2,000 feet of the ocean remained near record highs in 2012. The biggest increases from last year occurred between depths of 2,300 and 6,600 feet.

After a 30-year stretch of increasing sea surface temperatures, the global average in 2012 was among the 11 warmest on record. This is due, in part, to the prevalence of superstorms plaguing the 21st century and disrupting ocean currents.

Meanwhile, the sea itself reached a record high level. Globally, levels have been steadily rising at an average rate of 3.2 ± 0.4 mm per year since 1990. So unless we take drastic action, 2013's sea levels will be higher still. A new record.

Continuing a trend that started back in 2004, ocean selenic concentrations were up in areas of high evaporation, including the central tropical North Pacific, suggesting that evaporation is escalating in drier environments. That's less and less drinking water that will be available in the future.

Greenhouse gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, continued to climb following a slight dip associated with 2011’s economic downturn. Increased efficiency standards have proven fruitless so far, so until we learn to curb overall consumption habits, government regulations will never succeed.

Last year, a total of 84 tropical cyclones ravaged various parts of planet Earth. Sound like a lot? It’s not. In fact, it’s just about average. But what the numbers don’t reflect is that these storms are growing more severe. They’re lasting longer. Traveling further. Causing more damage and ruining more lives.

Hopefully, by scrutinizing our environmental record, we can ensure 2013 doesn't negatively contribute to the history books!

Join NRGLab in the energy revolution.

The Evolution of Energy Consumption

Although little has changed for energy in terms of overall per capita consumption, the industry and our infrastructure have evolved significantly over the past several decades.

Improved insulation materials and instillation techniques, as well as an array of other efficiency upgrades, have made climate management considerably less intense. Homes are staying warmer in the winter. Cooler in the summer. At virtually no increased cost to the consumer!

People tend to think that cooling a house costs more than warming it, when in fact it’s the opposite! Heating actually uses MORE energy. 85% of American households feature either gas or electric-powered climate systems.

Energy consumption also varies by region. For example, in the United States, coastal cities consume much less energy (per capita) compared to the rest of the country. Electricity is now the “fuel of choice” in the South, a trend which is expected to continue as more of the population migrates that way.

This may not be the best solution when it comes time to pay your bills. Electric heating is a MAJOR energy guzzler. Electric dishwashers, water heaters, and clothes washers and dryers are just a few of the high wattage items responsible for your rising utility costs.

Unfortunately, wattage is a misleading standard by which to judge energy consumption. Some items you don’t use that often. Others require less electricity than low-wattage items you might leave on all day.

Plus, we can’t stop buying gizmos and gadgets! No matter how much we reduce our consumption by, our progress is canceled out by the new appliances we purchase. We have four different cell phones plugged into a single outlet. We have desktop computers. Laptops. Tablets.

Is there no end?!?

It's one thing to cut down on our personal energy consumption – it’s another to begin solving the problem at a fundamental level.

NRGLab is helping the world get a handle on energy consumption. For more information, visit nrglab.aisa.

Just how big is the energy industry? $6 trillion big!

Most people don’t realize how big the energy industry actually is. You might read about oil stocks in the newspaper. You might hear about some fantastic alternative energy project on the news. You might just pay your utility bills each month without giving it a second thought. But realize this – our current energy infrastructure is buttressed by a $6 trillion dollar economy!

So, think change is easy? Think again.

Such a vast industry consumes natural resources at a furious rate, and is dependent upon a global market to set supply, demand, and price. This complex system keeps the lights on. The warm water flowing. The music bumping.

It's this co-dependent relationship that makes energy such an interesting subject. Leaving lights on in an empty room sends a ripple across the globe. You’re not only contributing to global warming – you’re affecting nations of people, foreign markets, technical development, and fuel processes.

One such fuel process, one you might not be too familiar with, is gasification.

Gasification is quickly gaining ground on other renewable energy alternatives like wind, solar, and hydroelectric. The process uses a limited oxygen supply to convert a carbon-containing feedstock like coal, natural gas, or agriculture waste, into a synthetic gas and useable fuel.

In fact, gasification has been around for centuries! William Murdoch, a Scottish engineer, is credited with discovering the process back in the late 1790s. Using coal as his feedstock, Murdoch produced enough synthetic gas to light his home. Eventually, cities across Europe and America adopted his process to light their city streets and neighborhoods.

Today, as we find ourselves in the midst of a climate crisis, gasification is more important than ever. Power-starved nations are clamoring for the next breakthrough in alternative energy technology, and gasification – a blast from the past – may provide exactly that.  By 2015, the Gasification Technologies Council predicts that world gasification capacity will grow by more than 70%!

At the forefront of the transition is NRGLab. With our innovative gasification techniques, we’re hoping to clean up the $6 trillion energy industry, making it more dependable and sustainable in the process.

Want more information? Visit nrglab.asia and check out what we’re doing to ensure a better tomorrow for millions of lives around the world.

Another oil spill?! This time in Thailand

It’s cleanup Day 6 in Thailand, where one of the country’s largest oil and gas companies has yet to atone for ANOTHER oil spill.

I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record – every week, I’m writing about some new oil spill and the havoc it wreaks. When will the world learn?

This past Saturday, a rupture in a pipeline operated by PTT Global Chemical spilled roughly 13,000 gallons (or 50,000 liters) of crude oil into the Gulf of Thailand.

The spill washed up off Samet Island, a resort that draws a million tourists annually to its exotic beaches.

"This is a failure to solve a problem by a company that earns hundreds of billions [of dollars] every year, using the country's natural resources," says Sathit Pitutecha, a member of Thailand’s parliament. "I wouldn't criticize if this was the first time, but it's the fourth time already. Now the people of Rayong have to bear the burden of risk from the industrial sector."

That’s right – it’s the FOURTH spill the company has had to answer for. Back in 2009, a subsidiary of PTT was involved in the Montara oil spill, one of Australia's worst oil disasters.

Thursday, authorities claimed that oil slicks remained onshore. PTT Global Chemical flew oil spill management experts from Singapore to the site, but failed to stop the spill from spreading.

“We've worked day and night to clean up the bay," says Boworn Vongsinudom, President of PTTGC. "It was supposed to be finished, as we aimed, on the third day, but more oil came in from another spot, so we had to take care of it, too."

Stop Global Warming, an environmental advocacy group based out of Thailand, is accusing the company of being ill-informed and ill-prepared for the disaster.

"The transfer of crude oil through the pipeline takes place every day, but when an oil spill happens, PTTGC tackled it with unbelievably limited resources," claims Srisuwan Janya, head of SGW. "This shows their solutions are inefficient and not enough."

PTT is Thailand's largest energy supplier and one of the largest oil and gas conglomerates in Southeast-Asia.

When will the world learn? Fossil fuels are simply too dangerous to lead us into the future. Let’s stop reading about disasters and death, and let’s start reading about technological innovation.

To start, visit nrglab.asia, and check out our slate of alternative energy projects that are sure to take the world by storm. A good storm, that is.