spillwock

Mortenson Construction Big into Renewable Energy

2012-01-01T21:26:00.000-07:00

Minnesota-based General Contractor, Mortenson Construction, announced recently that they are getting 1/4 of their revenue from renewable projects--primarily wind power and solar power.

To read the full article, click HERE.

Black Silicon May Transform Solar PV Manufacturing Market

2011-12-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) announced a major feat in technological advancement. NREL, in partnership with NJ-based Natcore, have uncovered "Black Silicon" as an efficient alternative for the solar photovoltaic material of choice.

Read the full article HERE.

BP Solar Keeps Australian Venture

2011-12-26T23:18:00.001-07:00

In the wake of British Petroleum (BP) announcing their retrenchment in the global solar market, the company vows to maintain a venture in Australia.

See full article HERE.

Denver Receives High Marks on Energy Policy for National Green Cities Study

2011-07-04T15:04:00.001-06:00

A recent study of 27 US municipalities by Siemens, notes that the energy policy in Denver, Colorado is one of the best in the country.

Way to go, Denver!

Siemens' Study Acknowledges San Francisco as US City Leader in Sustainability

2011-07-01T20:17:00.002-06:00

International corporation, Siemens, conducted a survey of 27 cities to quantify and stratify green/sustainable cities. Among the 31 objective factors that the study reviewed, San Francisco has risen among the group as the official municipal green leader.

Metrics reviewed for the study included: CO2/capita, water consumption, recycling/capita, LEED-certified buildings, and other key objective measures.

The full study can be found here.

wireless electric vehicle (ev) charging?

2011-05-03T20:45:00.000-06:00

automobile innovators believe that the eventual future of electric vehicles (ev) will be a far cry from extension cords and finding an outlet. the vision is for wireless inductive charging. this method seems very plausible for market induction, as it would increase user convenience dramatically.

i would be curious to learn more of cost of the technology, implementation/construction of the infrastructure, and energy loss as a result of the technology operations.

chevy volt declared greenest car in 2011 by kelly blue book

2011-04-13T17:27:00.000-06:00

kelly blue book just announced their list of the top ten greenest cars in 2011. not surprising, the chevy volt, weighing in at 93 miles per gallon took the pole position over number two, toyota prius. nice work, chevy!

solar safety for firefighters--innovative workshop launched in denver by IECRM

2011-03-22T17:31:00.000-06:00

Denver,CO, March 22, 2011 – Today, the non-profit association, Independent Electrical Contractors-RockyMountain (IECRM) launched a very important piece of the training puzzle for thesolar photovoltaic (PV) industry: how tomake sure that firefighters stay safe on a fire call with a solar electric system. IECRM rolled out a Solar PV Safety for Firefighterscourse at the North Washington Fire District in Thornton this morning. The course was taught by PV expert, Andrew Truittof Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting.

Solar PVsystems on homes and businesses act like mini-power generating stations and operatevia Direct Current (DC), which poses a unique set of challenges over electricityfound in standard homes and businesses that have Alternating Current (AC) servicefrom the electric utility. DC creates potentialsafety risks to fire fighters that AC typically does not have. With the dramatic increase of adoption of solarelectric systems within the state of Colorado over the past few years and well intothe future, emergency responders need to be educated on these unique concerns inorder to ensure safety on fire calls.

“Thesolar overview provided us with a basic understanding on how the systemsoperate,” said North Washington Fire District Battalion Chief Stuart Sunderland,“and it provided us with the general information and safety concerns presentedwill definitely make us stop and think the next time we respond to a call to abuilding with a solar system.” IECRMwill be reaching out to other fire districts in the metro to make them aware ofthe cautions of PV systems and what their fire fighters should know abouthandling them.

IECRM isa 170-member strong non-profit association and Colorado’s largest electricalapprentice training school, educating hundreds of electrical and renewableenergy professionals each year. For more information, www.IECRM.org.

new green professional (gpro) job training program launched in colorado

2011-02-05T08:00:00.002-07:00

Green Job Training for Traditional Electricians

Denver, CO, February 2, 2011 – Over 180 traditional electrical students were some of the first in the country to receive a new green building training called GPRO. GPRO was developed over the last 3 years at an expense of over $750,000 by the Urban Green Council chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the leading organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. GPRO is a visionary job skill training that target those working in the building trades and will elevate the green building skills of the Colorado workers, keeping our workforce competitive in the emerging green marketplace.

Through a unique partnership between Independent Electrical Contractors-Rocky Mountain (IECRM) and USGBC Colorado Chapter, GPRO was launched through a SESP state grant in January 2011 to all 3rd and 4th year Electrical Apprenticeship students at IECRM. The students that received the training were ecstatic at the opportunity and hungry for more. “The GPRO Fundamentals of Green Building class was great! The course was very informative and really relevant on all of the jobs we work on these days,” said student, Luke Fletemeyer.

“The LEED® green building certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. LEED®, however, has largely focused on developers, architects, and engineers—not those that actually construct the buildings. GPRO is designed to educate trades people in the who, what, and why of green building. GPRO empowers the workforce with the skills necessary to compete in today’s changing construction industry,” said Spenser Villwock, IECRM Executive Director.

GPRO will be available to the public at the upcoming USGBC Colorado annual conference, Rocky Mountain Green, on April 19, 2011 in Denver, as well as through the IECRM Energy Academy later this spring.IECRM is a 170-member strong non-profit association and Colorado’s largest electrical apprentice training school, educating hundreds of electrical and renewable energy professionals each year.

For more information, visit www.IECRM.org.U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter (USGBC Colorado) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing and promoting sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy, advocacy, and information and resource sharing. To learn more, visit www.usgbccolorado.org.

renewable transmission...more visionary leadership needed

2011-02-01T17:30:00.001-07:00

as the renewable industry worldwide continues to grow, issues with the infrastructure of energy transmission will grow alongside the emerging markets. distributed energy and large-scale transmission will be hot-button topics that requires a wealth of visionary leadership from our governing agencies, utilities, and regulators.

europe is leading part of this charge and you can read more about the transmission issues and possible solutions in this forward-thinking article.

1,000 miles in 2011

2010-12-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

i have a goal of running 1,000 miles in 2011. i've created a peer challenge for those who are up for the friendly competition. here is the link to sign up!

new green news source for solar, energy efficiency, and expert opinions

2010-12-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

check out "the spenser villwock green news" for the latest information on solar photovoltaic, energy efficiency, green building, environmental issues, and, more importantly, solutions for creating sustainable businesses.

solar study identifies market penetration

2010-11-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

a boston consulting group released a recent study that identifies trajectory of solar market share to challenge conventional fossil fuel energy sources.

the study highlights a market equilibrium and economy of scale to hit the solar pv market in next 5-10 years in regions of pronounced solar resource.

with continued demand for solar products increasing along with advancements in the technology-- efficiency increase and resulting cost per unit decrease--the longterm outlook for the photovoltaic industry seems to be very promising.

nabcep and valium

2010-09-24T21:15:00.002-06:00

this is not creative trickery via photoshop, this was a real google search for "nabcep training facility" and the first hit is a nabcep site, but header that alludes to them pedaling valium...?

boulder, co fourmile canyon fire

2010-09-10T08:59:00.000-06:00

the fourmile fire erupted on monday, september 6, 2010 outside of boulder, colorado. after 4 days, the flames have spread to over 7,000 acres and engulfed 170 homes, displacing thousands of individuals. below is a current burn areas.

boulder county has up to date information available here. let's hope that this is contained very soon. many thanks to all those fighting the fire, your efforts are valiant.

us senate energy committee passes $3.6bn electric vehicle bill

2010-07-22T20:11:00.000-06:00

as part of a push from the administration to launch the widespread adoption of electric vehichles (ev), the bill will work to create infrastructure for charging stations at targeted cities across the us (wsj article). the goal of this infusion of capital is to support ev industry growth and market adoption to the tune of 50% of all domestic vehicles be electric by 2030. very interested to see how this rolls out and where the targeted cities will be.

how solar photovoltaic panels work

2010-07-17T18:42:00.002-06:00

quick video provides brief overview on solar pv.

smart trainer app

2010-06-28T07:08:00.000-06:00

i downloaded the freeware "smart trainer" app to my droid the other day. it utilizes enabled gps tracking to give you distance, speed, altitude, and stores the info on a google doc with corresponding g-map.
View Run 6 26 2010 in a larger mapi have to say that it is a pretty cool program and look forward to charting my runs throughout the future.

red rocks amphitheater

2010-06-26T23:18:00.000-06:00

we have the good fortune of being a mere 25 miles from one of the world's finest natural amphitheaters, red rocks in beautiful morrison, colorado.

each year, we try to get out for at least one concert in the 9,000 person venue. it is truly like being on mars--the geology is truly awesome and confounding to the mind. being a scuba-diver, i have no question in my mind that this place was once under a large body of water. we had a great time last night, seeing our old athens, ga band, widespread panic. i need to count up my ticket stubs for how many times i've seen wsp, but know that i am well into the 30s. love me some good southern, funky rock.

vegan italian food in japan?

2010-04-08T11:42:00.000-06:00

vegan food is quite easy to come by in japan. most basic language books have the cheat sheet on how to communicate your dietary desires. once you open up that door, the possibilities are virtually endless.

a fine establishment in kitakami city, iwate prefecture is la taverna. the wonderful folks there were very accommodating and thrilled to make a full on vegan meal. now, this place is not traditional japanese food, but a lilt on italian dining. excellent wine selection, fantastic salad, a mushroom pasta dish to keep you up at night with your stomach growling, and a thin crust pizza with house-made tofu-"cheese." all was absolutely delicious and wonderful. and then they brought out the dessert...vegan strawberry shortcake--gluten-free, too! the tofu-creme was a touch of magic.

many thanks to the fine folks at la taverna for a fantastic meal.

and to koji takusari and the takusari family for their wonderful hospitality! an amazing place to share with amazing people.

diplomatic adventures navigating renewable energy in japan

2010-04-01T09:15:00.000-06:00

meeting with iwate-ken governor and senior advisors to discuss renewable energy initiatives in northern japan.

getting further detail from industry development director for iwate-ken. a number of strong take-aways thus far:

city of morioka –green initiatives
iwate prefecture –dedication to advancing green technologies
kowai closed-loop biomass facility–creating energy from organic matter discards
city of ninohe –green initiatives and solar installations
iwate hospital –energy efficiency, green roof, and solar initiative
kashiwadai hydro-electric power station –in-line small hydro facility generating 13,100kw in the three stations, interesting to note: facility on national park land and strong efforts to keep visual impairment of facilities from public eye
green power kuzumaki –wind farm in kuzumaki, energy self-sufficient town of 8,000 people by renewables
kashiwadai kougen –biomass energy production for kougen facilities

design: mindful and simple

2010-03-31T07:37:00.000-06:00

there is something humbling, something enlightening, something troubling about being out of your mundane experience and being in someone(s) else's everyday life. one can find thrill and enjoyment in a thing so simple as a public wash basin.

closed-loop biomass energy generation (no, don't yawn--this is cool)

2010-03-30T17:24:00.000-06:00

a major player in the organic/natural foods industry in japan, koiwai farms, has developed a zero-waste, methane capture energy generation system on their main growing facility in northeastern japan. the biomass and composting facility is a closed-loop system--taking the organic debris from the agricultural production and integrating it into a fuel source--biomass for biofuel.

the biofuel is created using an active process of methane acceleration and capture. the methane is then utilized to generate electricity and heat for the farm operations. the residual bio-products following the methane capture process are nutrient-rich matter that can be further composted and, in a total closed-loop process, be directly applied back into the soil of the farm itself, as rich fertilizer.

the japanese are making some headway on a few model program installations such as this, in the biofuel realm. very interesting and could be raised to large scale to create larger impact.

photovoltaic performance in heavy japanese snow

2010-03-29T19:37:00.000-06:00

well, we toured a city facility with 50kW of solar pv in ninohe, japan on a day with 100% cloud cover and 1" snow accumulation per hour. needless to say, we experienced the painful example of the intermittence in generation that photovoltaics are subject to. fortunately, on such days the tendency of wind is in greater likelihood and, therefore, can serve as a secondary generation source.

there are a number of large wind generators in iwate prefecture that provide self-sufficiency for their demand area and surplus consumption. this surplus is sold back to conventional energy producers via the grid and is mandated by the japanese government to be paid to the renewable energy generator at 2x the going kilowatt hour rate. in this case, a typical japanese kwh goes for roughly .20cents. surplus renewable energy (re) generation is purchased by a utility company from the re owner at .40cents per kwh. not bad, eh? it incentivizes larger systems beyond self-sufficiency for a homeowner or business to install--helping to leverage a fledgling renewable energy tidal wave to the conventional power generation on the grid. we'll see what happens...

greening the city of baltimore, sustainably...

2010-03-29T16:15:00.000-06:00

featured as this week's expert essayist with an audacious idea, www.audaciousideas.org, to create a true model of green industry creation and sustainability in baltimore, maryland.

baltimore has a ripe opportunity to foster green industry growth that will not only be environmentally beneficial, but will also elevate the financial and physical health of the community through green job-creation and generating substantial profit. this triple-bottom line approach, i call green3.

jidohanbaiki

2010-03-28T11:09:00.000-06:00

convenience is everywhere in japan. one can find virtually everything one needs within a short walking distance. among these tools of convenience are the jidohanbaiki--a.k.a. vending machine. usually found in multiples with dangling signs to catch your eye, this gem was straight-away outside of my door in a recent hotel. so i could slip out of my room in robe and slippers, clink-clink a couple of coins, and relish the beverage of my election.

you can find a good number of other goods in such convenient machines on streets, alleys, and public corners. sure, you can find a necktie! or some pepperoni slices! or a flower bouquet! never fear, the judohanbaiki is here.

odango wa...anata o aishite imasu.

2010-03-27T20:42:00.000-06:00

is it possible to love a food? i mean, really love a food. if that is the case, i'd say that i've re-ignited my old love affair with a shapely japanese morsel called dango.

plump round balls of gooey rice flour, grilled to perfection whilst lined up snug on a bamboo skewer.
laden in a sweet-savory sauce of sugar-soy. it is light, it is joy, it is delicious. nice to see you, old friend dango.

ohayo gozamasu--good to meet you, renewable japan... (retrospective: week 1 of 5)

2010-03-27T10:14:00.002-06:00

the professional renewable exchange team from colorado team's first week in japan has been tightly packed with site visits, information exchange, meeting with dignitaries and elected officials, and various meetings.

upon arriving in sendai city, miagi prefecture, japan, our colorado team has been on the move, nonstop. our gracious and wonderful japanese hosts have set up a tight curriculum for our single focus exchange on renewable and sustainable industries, yet have orchestrated all the logistics to ensure that our travelling team is well-fed, rested, and able to be expedited to each location--so as we can remain focused on the goals of the exchange. domo arigato gozamasu!

our whirlwind exchange is nearing the end of the first intensive week. during this time we have gained a strong overview of:

city of morioka --green initiatives
iwate prefecture --dedication to advancing green technologies
kowai closed-loop biomass facility--creating energy from organic matter discards
city of ninohe --green initiatives and solar installations
iwate hospital --energy efficiency, green roof, and solar initiative
kashiwadai hydro-electric power station --in-line small hydro facility generating 13,100kW in the three stations, interesting to note: facility on national park land and strong efforts to keep visual impairment of facilities from public eye
green power kuzumaki --wind farm in kuzumaki
kashiwadai kougen --biomass energy production for kougen facilities

thus far, take-aways from this experience have illustrated that there are a number of advances in renewable energy that the government and businesses of northeastern japan have taken. a number of incentive programs for solar photovoltaic (pv) adoption, similar to those we have in the usa, have resulted in stimulating the purchase of systems for government buildings and beta model test applications. they have an expressed roadblock in achieving economy of scale and targeted packaged programming to drive the residential solar pv market.

the biomass operations that we have seen have been modest in scale and have had a closed-loop application. organic matter coming from the main farming facilities, being composted and digested for methane capture, transfer of methane to alternating current electricity, and reapplication of nutrient-rich soil amendment following the methane capture process.

the in-line hydro-electric facility was very impressive in it's attention to utilizing the kinesis of the river current and balancing the environmental degredation that can result from hydro facilities. a large majority of the in-line system was masked by facility design to blend in to the natural environment and conduit is largely underground and, therefore, unseen by the national park visitors the facilities are housed within.

our travelling colorado renewable energy team looks forward to continuing our intensive focus in the coming weeks.

30% of colorado's electricity from renewables by 2020

2010-03-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

colorado state legislature passed hb 1001 last friday, which sets the renewable portfolio standard at one of the highest in the nation, 30% of all energy production via renewable technology--and within the next decade. governor ritter will sign the bill into law later this month, as he noted in today's denver post. this legislation is expected to call for over 100,000 rooftop solar photovoltaic systems to be installed within the state in the coming years.

an exciting next step in the continued new energy economy within the great state of colorado.

renewable energy potential by u.s. state

2010-03-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

national renewable energy laboratories, nrel, released a study recently on the wind capacity for the entire united states. the study found that 10.5gw of harnessable wind is contained within the union. texas being the largest state and largest wind producer.

the new rules project expounded the nrel study to factor in solar photovoltaic, hydroelectric, geothermal, and off-shore wind. the below was devised as part of the new rules undertaking. very interesting and compelling conclusions from both nrel and nrp.

recycled plastic homes

2010-02-25T18:27:00.004-07:00

a wales-based company, swansea, has designed homes made of waste plastic. the structural material is called thermal poly rock and has high r-value and allows for prefabricated design.

it is also fire-retardant, water-proof, lighter than concrete, and does not rot.
at the end of its lifecycle, it can be recycled, too!
very innovative product!

vegan quiche

2010-02-11T21:34:00.001-07:00

sure it's possible! with a lil' innovation using no recipe and only intuition,

a deelish vegan quiche was fun to make and doubly fun to gobble up.

contained within the spelt crust with tofu base: crimini mushrooms, shallots, green pepper, red pepper, shredded carrot, and bits of broccoli.

ode to the sign wiggler

2010-02-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

o gentle sign wiggler.
how you wear your ipod with signature white ear buds and stare at the passing traffic.
holding at chest-height a large paperboard rectangle with words about "blowout sale" or "50% off!"
and then, you wiggle it.

you grab my attention with your odd placement on the side of the roadway.
your forlorn look, eyes gazing over the top of cars and trucks whizzing by.
again, you gently wiggle.

i wonder, as i bicycle--a bit too closely--by,
what brought it to this?
do we react to this type of personified advertisement?
or do we just keep going, much like i do, and mutter underbreath,
"poor s.o.b., wiggling that sign is the only thing keeping him/her from freezing."

at the very least, i hope you've got a good "wiggler on the go" mix on that ipod.
by the way, 50% off sale until friday, next left.

hand-wash vs. dishwasher--revealed!

2010-02-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

this debate circles around many households-- what saves more water: hand-washing dishes or using the dishwasher? the answer, based on a good deal of scientific anaysis, is resoundingly clear--dishwashers save water, money, and time.

the u.s. epa notes that an average energystar dishwasher saves over 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and up to 230 hours of your time, annually!

a european study gathered participants from 7 different countries illustrated similar results: hand-washing consumed 27 gallons per load, whereas a dishwasher utilized a scant 4 average gallons per load.

the answer to this debate? use a full dishwasher to do your dishes, and snuggle with your loved ones for the 230 hours each year you just earned back.

wearable renewable energy production

2010-01-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

charge your cell phone just by walking?!?

now, this is a concept that i've mused on for a good number of years.

i believe it stemmed from my first pair of corduroy pants back in college--the rubbing of the thighs together and thinking that there was not only contact and friction, but also kinetic movement which could create energized polarity--a.k.a. energy production potential.

it seems someone with much more capable electrical engineering skills has beat me to the punch: wearable electrical production.

awesome technology.

japan trip, visiting renewable and sustainable industries

2010-01-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

received award from rotary international to spend four weeks in japan. will be meeting with a number of individuals within the renewable industries. sharing information on technologies, programs, and regulatory from the u.s. and vice versa. below are the cities that we will be touring.
View Larger Map after the exchange, i'll be headed down to southern japan, where we used to live. spend some time catching up with old friends and do some scuba diving while down there.

electric vehicles--what policies do we need to stimulate the industry?

2010-01-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

new report released on policy needs and industry drivers (no pun intended) to build electric vehicle (ev) market in the us.

specifically looks at midwestern us states and makes direct recommendations to advancing the industries to foster this emerging market.

coal-fired power plant timelapse video

2010-01-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

brought to you by mid-america power, in council bluffs, iowa--green house gases...\

Coal Power Plant Timelapse from Jeff Grewe on Vimeo.

native american tribe in new mexico to produce and sell solar, wind, and geothermal energy

2010-01-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

the jemez pueblo is investing in infrastructure for green energy production.

the $22M project has an anticipated 20-year return on investment and will serve to generate power for self-sufficiency and export to surrounding areas.

the project will produce much needed revenues for the tribe and may be seen as a model for other groups to consider for positive income generation and sustainable power generation.

google not going to censor searches in china any longer

2010-01-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

google vp drummond (no, not from diff'rent strokes fame), announced on the google blog yesterday that the giant search engine would no longer be restricting and censoring google searches on google.cn, as previously mandated by the chinese government.

i feel that this is a bold step in the right direction for the california-based controller of information. a few years back, when google launched operations in china and announced they would be restricting search hit content to appease the country's government, i was quite troubled--morally and ethically. i believe that information is power and people should have access to virtually unbound information. to me, it is a basic human right.

i am pleased to see g. taking a stand and a turn back in the direction of the higher moral road of freedom of information. three cheers.

speyside scotch

2010-01-06T22:31:00.003-07:00

after scotch-touring around the isle of islay for the past year, i have ventured over to a fine 12-year single malt hailing from speyside: pebble beach, from lombard whisky.

a robust nose, rich caramel color, well-rounded flavor with rich, earthy, tobacco finish. an enjoyable dram.

cap and trade--the basics

2010-01-04T19:23:00.001-07:00

good video on basics of "cap and trade." made by same group who produced "the story of stuff."

happy new year

2010-01-01T20:38:00.002-07:00

spent new year's in a remote hut, tucked away near salida, co with some fantastic friends.

the weather was fine, snow playful and challenging, and the glowing full moon on the 31st was amazing.

happy 2010 to you and yours!

skyfire mobile browser

2009-12-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back, i downloaded skyfire to my motorola q9c digital compadre. i didn't like the features during my first few runs of the product, and reset preferences to go back to the limiting mobile internet explorer platform as default browser.

a couple weeks past by, and i ventured over to the dusty skyfire and gave it another whirl. a bit more persistent this time around, I was pleasantly surprized with the functionality & speed of the user-friendly product.

it is back on top shelf as the mobile go-to & it continues to please. another nudge in the skyfire direction was a response from their client services when i tweeted a lackluster review: http://www.twitter.com/spenservillwock

all-in-all, skyfire rises to a 7 of 10 review. ie mobile sits at a lowly 4 of 10, in my book.

(posted via skyfire vis-a-vis opposable thumbs)

solar collection from 22,000 miles above the surface

2009-12-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

solaren corp wants to collect solar energy from space, orbiting the earth.

interesting concept, but a number of concerns come to mind:

transport the technology to space, how?
physical space the system(s) require
maintenence
energy storage and transmission back to earth, how?
etc.

regardless, it would be a thrilling install project for a solar company.

clinton in copenhagen

2009-12-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

sec of state clinton speaking at copenhagen yesterday. the effort may have swayed the drifting interests of several countries back toward a place of common ground.

copenhagen online conversation

2009-12-07T20:08:00.001-07:00

the new york times is hosting an online conversation on the climate change debate and the international conference on global warming being held dec. 7-18 in copenhagen. you can participate here.

charlie brown christmas, full-length vid

2009-12-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

charles shultz's 1965 classic.
a charlie brown christmas

®ðßß¥ | MySpace Video

rudolph the red nosed reindeer, full length

2009-12-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

the 1964 classic with burl ives, in full puppet animation!

do-it-yourself energy efficiency

2009-12-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

a quick video, featuring tips from david snell from this year's annual national homebuilder and remodeler show.

is your facebook persona the real you?

2009-12-03T08:00:00.001-07:00

according to a university of texas study, facebook personalities are remarkably kindred to a person's real-life characteristics. from neurotic to extroverted, the study showed that your fb self is a strong reflection of the same. take a peek at the nyt article for a brief overview. honestly, the outcomes of this are a bit comforting--let the real you shine through, and post it on your wall.

metrics on sustainability measures and building performance

2009-12-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

the usgbc's greensource magazine featured a succinct argument on the growing need for metrics to determine outcomes of leed measures.

the country, and the world, are in desperate need for tracking and reporting this data to illustrate return on investment for individual measures.

sean has moved his blog

2009-12-01T19:51:00.001-07:00

fellow vegan, cyclist, and life-enthusiast sean has relocated his blog at http://porchbound.blogspot.com/.always an interesting and thought provoking (or laughter provoking) read from sean.i've reflected this location change in my blog roll sidebar for those of you who access from there.

using co2 to clean clothes

2009-12-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

let's face it, dry cleaning compounds are noxious, carcinogenic chemicals that should be banned. an innovative northeastern us company is using carbon dioxide for their green dry cleaning solvent. here's a brief story from time magazine.

$4b request in eecbg funds from doe

2009-11-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

conference of mayors ask for $4b energy efficiency block grant.

g.e. cracks into smart appliances market

2009-11-24T23:11:00.001-07:00

general electric has entered the market with smart technology appliances.

"my feelings regenerate at twice the speed of a normal man..."

2009-11-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

started following rainn wilson's blog. quite entertaining.

waste not, want not

2009-11-23T07:35:00.001-07:00

as americans, we are responsible for producing 4.5 pounds of waste per person each day, according to recent epa study.

33% is recovered via composting or recycling
13% is incinerated
55% is sent straight to the landfill

we have come a long way over the past half century and have an opportunity to continue further.
increased recycling and growth of the recycling industry:

curb emission of many greenhouse gases
curb water pollution
saves energy
supplies resourced raw materials to industry
creates green collar jobs
stimulates the development of green technology/industry
conserves resources
reduces the need for new landfills and trash incinerators

reduce, reuse, recycle.

track power plant emissions

2009-11-22T09:36:00.005-07:00

a new environmental protection agency (epa) website allows you to track quarterly emissions from coal-fired power plants.

the site also hosts a graphic representation of installed control technologies on coal plants.

awareness and tracking are steps in the right direction.

a fun, cheap, green project with the kids...

2009-11-20T07:05:00.013-07:00

for just a couple of bucks, you can make a small solar cooker--think easy-bake oven using the sun. a cool project to work on with your kids, fun for a green and do-it-yourself project. plus, you get to make some tasty cookies to enjoy afterwards!

The $5-$6 Solar Oven - More DIY How To Projects

i bike a good deal

2009-11-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

in the past 5 years, i have cycled over 23,000 miles.

a good portion of which is bike commuting to and from work, and to and from meetings.

my trusty steed, a '98 gary fischer mountain bike, is a chunky beast that can take the daily beatings and still maintain solid time in the finesse shifting needs.

a couple of weeks ago, i starting having some issues unlocking my kryptonite u-lock.

occasionally, this is due to a wee bit of precipitation getting into the tumbler and either freezing in the cold months or corroding the moving parts a tad--therefore needing a shot of oil.

so i oiled and the remedy did not take. humph.

by deductive reasoning, i started to think that the tumbler itself may be broken or dislodged, as i found that if the key were shimmied back and forth while attempting to turn the lock it would take on occasion. perhaps i dropped the lock and it hit the pavement, causing the dislocation of the tumbler, i thought.

i traced my memory and did not recall any such event that was out of the ordinary to cause such a malfunction.

so, i then started to think about the key itself. maybe it was the culprit to the dilemma.

i dunno, upon inspection, it still had teeth and the appearance of a key. it did have a bit of wear, but could this really be the problem?

i located the spare key for the lock and made a comparison...

eeigh! the key was indeed the problem-maker. and the whittling down of this steel served as a small feather of merit in my cycling cap. i love wearing out gear, due to use. a very satisfying feeling.

simple actions to save money and gain efficiency

2009-11-18T18:36:00.004-07:00

a solid article in the new york times on the small investments in energy efficiency to gain huge return on investment and cost savings. an arra stimulus program that works in many ways.

drop of water in slow-motion

2009-11-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

discovery channel video slowing down a droplet of water to reveal how the meniscus is like a trampoline for the water droplet. fascinating.

make cheap vodka into quality vodka at home

2009-11-17T20:09:00.001-07:00

entertaining and instructional video of how to take your cheap plastic-bottled vodka and raise it up a few shelves in quality...

awesome water-powered rocket

2009-11-15T13:06:00.001-07:00

you can make one of these at home by reusing plastic soda bottles. this video awakens the 8-year old inside...

what are your rebates and incentives for energy efficiency and renewables

2009-11-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

a comprehensive list of all currently available rebates and financial incentives, broken down by each state in an easy to navigate map.

a solid base of information to help you to the tipping point of how you are going to make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and save money.

reclaimed building materials interview

2009-11-12T22:20:00.002-07:00

interviewed in cooking light magazine about reusing building materials on home projects.

orchestrating program relocation

2009-11-10T18:33:00.005-07:00

migrating our resource program from the 12-year old temporary site to a new permanent facility in boulder. this $5.45m recycle row project is a huge victory for zero-waste programs and will serve as a beacon for other communities to model.

green energy investment

2009-11-08T17:39:00.001-07:00

happy to see that g. soros is taking a serious turn toward renewables. wish that he would have had a larger profile and investment when i was working for him at the open society institute.

article link: soros $1b to green energy.

islay scotches

2009-11-06T22:43:00.001-07:00

i enjoy the über peaty, tobacco, and leather goodness of single malt scotch.
in particular, i have found a great love for the fine crafts that hail from the aisle of islay.

i actually own two 1'x1' plots of land from laphroaig.
my new bottle of earthy pleasure is from the ardbeg distillery.
absolutely fantastic.

just a wee bit of water in a glass two-fingers full
sends me to a sensory heaven. deelish.

building with resource'd materials

2009-11-05T21:52:00.001-07:00

interviewed by jeff lee on green building with reclaimed materials.

us epa estimates 30% of our landfills are construction material discards.
of this, 92% of all construction debris are easily recycled and/or reused.

find a building material reuse store near you.
typically, these outlets are non-profits--of which you can receive a tax-deducatable
donation for dropping off items, and, on the resale side, you'll find materials at a
fraction of the cost of the big orange box store.

boulder county solar home tour and expo

2009-11-04T06:51:00.001-07:00

interviewed for recent solar and green home event, one of the country's largest solar events.
Solar Expo from BVMA on Vimeo.

haunted corn maze

2009-11-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

i've been in a huge kick for haunted this-and-thats this year.
in many ways it follows suit for my fascination with classic americana
and the enterprizes that our culture supports--bowling alleys, bingo parlors,
pancake breakfasts, minigolf...the list goes on.

on saturday, i went off the beaten path in rural colorado to take in
the fritzler corn maize (yes, maize). it was nothing less than fantastic.

scares, frights, cheeziness, and a good 2+ hour haunted corn maze
that from high above is patterned in a different configuration each year.

i will not hesitate to go back next year, and encourage everyone i know to join
in one of the iconic experiences of our halloween expressions, the corn maze.

how we communicate

2009-11-03T07:17:00.002-07:00

the dilemma of taking the plunge into social networking has ping-ponged through my head for awhile.

and now that i have taken the plunge on facebook, linkedin, and twitter, i have discovered the joy that they bring.

i would describe linkedin as a formal cocktail party,
facebook as an informal block party,
and twitter as the constantly mumbling homeless person who may or may not be a clairvoyant.

alas, we'll see you in one variety or another on the interwebs.

blow up a non-profit

2009-11-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

brief strategy path on how to drastically increase capacity of your non-profit (April 2, 2007)

where energy and water meet...shocking!

2009-10-31T12:13:00.000-06:00

49% of our nation's water supply is used by electrical power plants. this gross reality is largely overlooked. despite the consumption being half of all we use, i believe there are three basic, fundamental reasons for the lack of exposure to this issue:

1) lack of awareness: the public has no idea as to how power is generated, nor are we typically granted access to power plants--therefore, the out-of-sight-out-of-mind rule applies.

2) divergent from common logic: we know water and electricity is a fatal mix.

3) politics: there are deeply entrenched interests from both the water utility/water rights and the energy utility industries. long-standing subsidy of both industries helps to keep consumer cost down on the commodities, continuing to propagate the lack of attention to the energy-water nexus.

the usgs produces a report every five years on our national water consumption. the 2005 report was just released and the summary can be reviewed here.

this growing concern of water consumption in electrical production will only increase even further with population growth and increased energy demands. the time to bridge the gap between these two siloed industries is now.the solution is a multi-pronged approach, including, first and foremost, enforced regulation to create energy industry conservation standards. standards for efficiency are a necessary evil in creating a tipping point which does not currently exist through market drivers.

building a collaborative relationship between both industries to identify the overlap in goals and move forward together is another key approach. again, this may not come via voluntary motives and may need to come as directive from a public utilities commission--which would unfortunately be at the state level, hindering widespread adoption.there are several other strategies to employ for curbing this growing issue. some of which are highlighted in the department of energy (doe), national energy technology lab, los alamos national lab, and sandia national lab report to congress.

30% decline in cost of solar photovoltaics (pv) in past decade

2009-10-30T12:09:00.001-06:00

ten year trends in the solar photovoltaic (pv) sales have shown drastic decline in cost, making solar technologies much more affordable to you and i.the average cost of pv technologies was $12.30 per watt in 1998 compared to $8.50 per watt in 2008. over this period, the average annual reduction was $0.40 per watt. pretty astounding and encouraging.

2008-2009 events slideshow

2009-10-30T10:29:00.004-06:00

solar photovoltaic (pv) gis mapping project

2009-10-29T08:30:00.000-06:00

the national renewable energy laboratory (nrel) is hosting a very intriguing open source gis solar photovoltaic mapping collective.

the project goal is to collect, organize, and distributeknowledge of the location, size, cost and date of every photovoltaic installationin united states.

take a peek.

attack of the zombie daikon

2009-10-28T07:24:00.000-06:00

somewhat suddenly,
the simpleminded carrot top found its beta-carotinian self in a precarious situation...

...the vegan halloween horror ensued.

go green, save green

2009-10-27T20:01:00.001-06:00

the standard clothes dryer uses 15% of your household energy.
heating the water in your clothes washer consumes 90% of the energy needed for the cycle.

as with most cost and energy savings, immediate efficiencies can be found
by employing some simple modifications to your usual habits.

two easy tips to consider for saving both money and energy:
1) wash in cold water
         unless the wash load has oily stains, cold water usually does the trick
2) use a clothes line
           drying clothes on a clothes rack or clothes line saves energy, money, and helps your garments last
           longer, too.

here are a few more tips on these items, as outlined by the epa and us doe.

elephant journal article

2009-10-27T17:41:00.002-06:00

spenser villwock

interviewed recently in elephant journal for practical solutions for sustainability and finding a place in the green economy.

60% in favor of cap and trade, per cnn poll

2009-10-27T10:54:00.000-06:00

controversial cap and trade received a favorable 6 out of 10 in a poll sampling conducted by cnn.

google profile

2009-10-27T07:55:00.000-06:00

i have created a google profile for spenser villwock.

you can create your own here.

80s hair bands on pandora

2009-10-26T19:49:00.000-06:00

a while back, i mentioned the fuel and joy that pandora provides me with.

well, i've been rocking out on a journey, survivor, def leopard, poision, and other assorted 80s hair bands on my pandora station in recent months.

for all transparrency, i sported a fashionable mullet in the late 80s/early 90s, a la the guy below.

perhaps i still have a bit of residual phantom mullet that provokes my love for the poppy, cheese rock.

vegan green chile stew

2009-10-24T19:01:00.003-06:00

a lil' bag o' deelishious fresh roasted hatch chiles from the farmer's market inspired this one...
ad hoc vegan green chile stew.

2 cups of roasted green chiles (skins peeled)

1 1/2 cup of chopped tomato (skins peeled)

1 cup homemade seitan

3/4 cup pinto beans (soaked overnight)

1/2 cup iowa sweet corn

3/4 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup veg broth

salt

pepper

olive oil

soak pinto beans overnight, in a.m. put in crockpot and simmer on "low" 4 hours

saute onion and garlic in olive oil, salt, & pepper until translucent, add veg broth and bring to boil, then place in crockpot

(optional) make seitan w/ gluten & chickpea flour--boil in a bit of veg broth, liquid smoke, and soy sauce--then bake to preferred texture

deskin roasted chiles, dice and place in crockpot

flash boil tomatoes, deskin, dice, and place in crockpot

cut corn off of ear and place in crockpot

crank up crock to "high" and let 'er intermingle for 2 hours.

how do you say...deelish!

resourced and repurposed architecture

2009-10-19T08:28:00.000-06:00

some innovative and fantastic examples of creative homes.

vegan bbq tempeh sandwich

2009-10-14T22:08:00.002-06:00

from one of the finest sub shops in the world, the delicious foot long bbq tempeh with soy cheese sauteed onions and mushrooms on a wheat hoagie bun. this magical sandwich served as dinner last night and lunch again today. as far as messy vegan sandwiches go, this one is a 8.5 of 10.

steamboat brunch

2009-10-12T21:58:00.004-06:00

spent the weekend in steamboat springs the other weekend. among sleeping in, enjoying 9,000 feet, and soaking in the strawberry hot springs, we enjoyed a nice sunday brunch. pictured here is the vegan tofu scramble from a small restaurant called winona's, on the main drag. 7.2 out of 10 on the deelish-scale.

rat-a-tat-dat...

2009-10-11T19:04:00.000-06:00

a few years back, i noted a strong interest for the musical ar-teest, eminem.

while this tender spot for the motor city lyricist has ebbed and flowed through those turnings of the celestial bodies, so to has been a (somewhat more mild) intrigue in snoop dogg.

i find that it is more the tones, beat, and catchyness of snoop that catches my ear, more so than the entrancing lyrics of eminiem.

alas, there is a mood and place for all musicians, isn't there?

zombieland

2009-10-10T08:55:00.004-06:00

i laughed, i snorted, i was giddy and entertained by this silverscreen unlikely...zombieland! woody harrelson is at the apex of his career in this performance. a redneck with an urban edge and undercurrent of humanity, harrelson's presence, tenor, and delivery are spot-on throughout this rumpus delight.

the protagonist, jesse eisenbergis a fantastic balance to the gruff harrelson. emma stone, from superbad fame, and little miss sunshine, abigail breslin, play a sister duo that balances out the cast.

enough over the top gore to satisfy even the dark humorist inside of us all. don't hesitate, get thee to thy theatre today.

madmen

2009-09-27T20:04:00.003-06:00

a fantastic period television show, madmen. you feel like a fly on the wall during an era that is so philosophically and culturally different from the reality i know.
you can make your own character here/

to facebook or not to facebook

2009-09-24T08:06:00.002-06:00

the dilemma of joining facebook or continuing to refrain from the social networking vortex has been a barrier that i have continued to follow the opt-out category. largely, the decision to maintain the opt-out status has been congruent with some of my hesitations for not wanting to opt-in--lack of free time.

yes, yes, poor excuse, alas a reality. i continue to be intrigued by the virtual-realm social diorama, however.

drips of google juice on the subject of social psychologists reaction to online social portals tantalized my curiosities with intriguing reports of the cogitative effects of facebook vs. twitter.

the other reasons i echo in my head of why i refrain from diving into the seeming abyss of f.b. disturb me for their neo-luddite lilts. in someway to spite this, i believe it is inevitable that i make the migration in the near future--once i carve out the time.

36,000 degrees fahrenheit

2009-09-10T05:47:00.003-06:00

nearly 4,000 light years away, the butterfly nebula.

lakeside

2009-08-31T09:04:00.001-06:00

a joyous time at lakeside amusement park last weekend. this entertainment venue has been operating for over a century and once passing through the gates was like a throwback in time. a wonderful experience.

ethiopian

2009-08-23T21:39:00.002-06:00

in my humble opinion, ethiopian is one of the most delicious foods in all the land.kick it up with the spice, mushy comfort food with simple ingredients, and rolls of injera to tang the taste buds. mmmmm, mmmmm, good.

igoogle

2009-08-13T07:17:00.002-06:00

the nexus of information, google, has a number of new gadgets that you can include on your personal igoogle homepage.

the features include a number of social networking widgets that may or may not have strong purpose, but interesting nonetheless.

phish at red rocks

2009-08-01T21:27:00.003-06:00

live streaming.

super hike

2009-07-19T18:00:00.002-06:00

dave, jen, a, & i hiked mt. grays and mt. torreys.

we set foot on the trail at about 8:30am. the trailhead sits at right around 11,000 ft above sea level. meandering through a set of trees, right at the peak of treeline, then fields of shrubs, alpine flowers, babbling mountain streams, and up up up. around 13,000 feet life begins to peter out and the landscape turns to boulders and shards of different rocks.

the air becomes so thin and the steep climb warrents taking a breather about once every 10 minutes of climbing. the pit stops allowed for absorbing the breathtaking views. at about noon-thirty, we reached the summit of grays and soaked it in, munching on peanut butter and banana sandwiches before heading down the valley and starting up to peak torreys.

it took about another hour to get to the top of the second 14er of the day. torreys has a fantastic view as well. then comes the hike back down.

where the traverse up was a muscle and lung challenge, the walk back down is a bit of a controlled fall and you can feel it most in your joints.

the landscape gently erupts in a reverse order from which it had disappeared just a few hours before. tiny, ground-hugging mosses and small flowers get larger the further you go down. it as if they grow before your eyes and the groves get thicker and thicker, until they become fields of beauty amongst the rocks, then the streams got wider and the shrubs stood taller. into the thicket of trees and back to the trailhead, arriving back at about 4:30pm.

exhilarating, satisfying, joy.

sack-attack

2009-06-21T21:38:00.002-06:00