Making things that people want
Making things that people want I was thrilled this week to see Greentech Media publish a story about NRG’s CEO and his focus on consumer experiences and making great products (http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/clean-tech-needs-to-shift-focus-to-the-consumer/). Energy and environment folks have talked about educating consumers for 30+ years. People don’t want to be educated, lectured, or admonished. They want to […]
How to buy electricity…
How to buy electricity… What does it take to do a good electricity deal? There are a few, very manageable steps to take in order to do a good electricity deal. I will list them here:1) Make sure you have all of your utility account numbers.2) Understand your current electricity contract– when does your current […]
Natural gas, fuel oil, crude….
Natural gas, fuel oil, crude…. Who knows where market prices will go? Former colleagues like Matthew Hunter and Eric Plateis have schooled me well.. and have me convinced that anyone who thinks they can time commodities markets is taking too much risk. I was speaking to one former colleague about current energy markets and he […]
There’s nothing the matter with Kansas… or with changing the debate
There’s nothing the matter with Kansas… or with changing the debate There have been a number of articles in various publications that have resonated with me as we build a business that attempts to appeal to good common sense. Until recently, it seemed we’d gotten bogged down, as thinkers, consumers, policy and business people in […]
Why use TheMWh.com?
Why use TheMWh.com? Because you don’t trust anyone in the energy industry–not even yourself– and you need an unbiased source of information. Try this Because you have never been able to access your usage or cost. So you’ve always wondered, if you can’t see, feel or touch electricity, then how can you possibly control or understand your […]
“It’s like deja-vu, all over again.”
“It’s like deja-vu, all over again.” I thought of Yogi Berra as I was reading a recent article in The New York Times by Erica Gies titled “Doing More While Using Less Power” (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/business/global/02iht-rensave.html?scp=2&sq;=energy%20efficiency&st;=cse). When I started my energy career at The International Institute for Energy Conservation in 1990, we committed many resources to proving […]
Why care about building energy efficiency?
Why care about building energy efficiency? No matter what your political orientation, the information contained in the year-old report from the Center for American Progress is powerful and difficult to refute. The authors make a strong case for energy efficiency improvements in the building sector. One of the critical market failings, they say, is a […]
But what about the big guys? Behavior and energy efficiency
But what about the big guys? Behavior and energy efficiency In this field, there is quite a bit of buzz about “The Smart Grid” and clean technology. Both terms are ill-defined. No matter what the definition, there is no question that concern about climate change, energy prices, and even responses to the Gulf Oil Spill […]
It makes my head hurt…
It makes my head hurt… That’s what most people say when they talk about energy markets. They don’t like to think about the topic, especially if they’re in the business of buying electricity or trying to plan their energy budget. Electricity is a volatile commodity– and you can’t see it or touch it or feel […]