AWESome EarthKind

Andy Kruse was a cowboy living off the grid on a cattle ranch when he started building small wind turbines out of car alternators. Southwest Windpower went on to sell 175,000 of windmills around the world until they were overrun by the tidal wave of cheap solar. Now Andy runs Underwriter Laboratories’ HOMER Energy, the world leader in optimization software for microgrids that transforms energy CONsumers into PROsumers where our homes & buildings create energy, eliminate blackouts, and move us all to true energy independence.

SuperNova #1. We need to optimize energy technologies for each location and different times. Solar, Storage, Wind, Geothermal, Fuel Cells, & Grid Power.

SuperNova #2. Microgrids can lead to the end of blackouts. We are close to the day when every house will have a battery and solar generator, and where we can be producing energy for an indefinite period of time. When the grid goes down, you won’t even know it, and the house will think about what to turn off (ice defroster, wait for the laundry, etc…)

Ah-Ha:  Around 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession, everyday people started to say “I want to reduce my energy bill and produce my own energy."

Best Advice he’s ever received: Always be learning. Think in a 3-dimensional way – look at every idea from different angles.

Personal Success: Write down everything.

Internet Resources: https://microgridknowledge.com/

Book Recommendation: The Wind Power Story: A Century of Innovation that Reshaped the Global Energy Landscape by Brandon N. Owens 

One thing that Energizes today. Evolution of the home. End of blackouts. Energy independence like we’ve never seen before. 

Magic Wand. Equal access to science-based education

Parting Advice. Never Stop Learning– The world is evolving so fast. Write everything down. Always be connecting and develop the relationship– how they benefit from you and how you gain from them. We are all in this together. We have this one planet. There is only one race– the human race.

For a 15% discount toward your UVC purchase, visit https://www.awesomeearthkind.com/post/commercial-uv-lighting-disinfectant

View the FSG COVID case study and brochure at https://awesomeearthkind.com/fsg

The Energy “Big 3” – Electricity, Heat & Transportation – are responsible for ~90% of our Greenhouse Gas emissions.

AWESome = A.W.E.S. = A (Air) W (Water) E (Earth) & S (Sun) + M.E. (you and me)

Previous Episodes: 

1. Earth Day’s Denis Hayes – Organized the 1st Earth Day & the Earth Day Network that made Earth Day the largest non-religious holiday in the world. 

• “The impossible” has already been done – with buildings that create more energy than they use 
• “Never give up” - there is always hope.

2. Clean Energy Pioneer Scott Sklar. Ridiculed for 40 years, Scott has now –

• Built clean energy projects on every continent– including Antarctica. 
• Pays $39 a month for electricity, heat & hot water in his VA suburban home– and the same amount for his 2 story VA office building. 
• Solar & Wind are now the cheapest sources of energy on the planet.
• Renewables are now the primary source of new electric generation everywhere

3. “How to choose LED lighting” with Bernie Erickson, who installed LEDs in the $4 Billion Oculus center next to the 911 memorial in NYC.

4. Fighting Covid with UV Lighting & Ionized Air. Bernie Erickson and Jeff Barat, an energy and ventilation expert, share:

• How UV lighting and Ionized Air can eliminate 99.999% of the virus in 30 minutes.
• You can get the technology for your home, workplace or school.

Click HERE to let us know what YOU want to hear in future episodes. You automatically be entered to win an LED Light Fixture. Your response will determine the future episodes of AWESome EarthKind.

For a 15% discount code toward your UVC purchase, visit https://www.awesomeearthkind.com/post/commercial-uv-lighting-disinfectant

View the FSG COVID case study and brochure at https://awesomeearthkind.com/fsg

SuperNova #1. UltraViolet (UVC) kills COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria when people are not in the space. Portable units are relatively inexpensive and are being used by schools, offices and other buildings.

SuperNova #2. Needle Point BiPolar Ionization creates ion molecules that kill covid-19, other viruses, bacteria, mold & mildew in the air (and even removes animal & cigarette odors)  while people are present.  It goes into your Ventilation (HVAC) system and a unit for the average house costs about $1,000 installed. Many local supply houses carry the units. Ask your air conditioning maintenance company for a price to purchase & install a GPS Needlepoint BiPolar Ionization system.

SuperNova #3. Change the filters and maintain your air ventilation system. You’ll save energy and money, improve air quality – and keep your internal AC coils from freezing and breaking.

SuperNova #4. Some utilities will pay incentives to commercial installations of NeedlePoint BiPolar Ionization since you lower energy consumption and reduce outdoor air requirements.

SuperNova #5. FEMA will fund 75%- 100% of ANY type of disinfection equipment for public entities (schools, governments, etc…) – including UVC Lighting and GPS Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization units. Click here for FEMA fact sheet.

SuperNova #6. A commercial “Performance Contract” can provide new, energy efficient equipment - without a capital investment by the building owner. The energy savings pays off the equipment over time, and the savings are guaranteed.

Bernie Erickson: see Bernie’s background in the August 10th Episode: “The Least Expensive Energy #1: LED Lighting”.

Jeff Barat: In HVAC industry for 40 years & still loves his job.  

Best Advice he’s ever received: Don’t take no for an answer– and don’t piss people off when you’re not accepting no.

Personal Habit that contributes to Jeff’s success: Perseverance. Win-Win-Win

Internet Resources: UVWebinars.com; DisinfectionLighting.com

One thing Energized about today – Keeping people safe with Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization.

Parting Advice – Be safe, wear a mask, social distance, and clean, clean, clean.

For a 15% discount code toward your UVC purchase, visit https://awesomeearthkind.com/resources/uvc

View the FSG COVID case study and brochure at awesomeearthkind.com/fsg

The least expensive energy is that which we don’t use.

SuperNova #1 –  LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are the most efficient lighting today. Choose the right color temperature for your application and aesthetics.  In a bathroom or living room, you may prefer a “warm” color light. Outside or in other areas, you may prefer a white or “cool” temperature lamp.

SuperNova #2 – Look at the rated life, and choose a quality manufacturer like Phillips, Sylvania, GE, Home Depot’s “Commercial Electric”, or Feit Electric. Different lamps are for inside or outside, for an enclosed fixture or can, on dimmers on not.

SuperNova #3. Be All In, All the Time. Most people are doing things because they have to do it, or were told to do it. Would you rather deal with someone like that? Or someone who passionately believes in what they’re doing?

Quantum Quote: “If you find a job that you’re passionate about, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”.

Worst Clean Energy Moment – On a multi-billion US Hospital Ship changing out indicator lights with LEDs. The panel was not de-energized as the ship’s engineer said – and a whole deck was flooded. Lesson Learned: Believe – but verify!

“Ah HA!” moment. Idea to relight the $4 Billion World Trade Center Oculus with controllable LED lights that could save energy & get everyone united around the additional color-changing capabilities.

Internet Resource: Informational webinars – www.uvwebinars.com 

Best Advice he’s ever received:  Always plan ahead 5 years. Look at what the next thing is going to be.

Personal Habit that contributes to his success: Whatever you’re doing – do it for yourself with excellence. Always do the best you can, no matter what anyone is doing.

WTF or F: Weather Time Fudge (extreme weather experience) – Surviving the Anthem of the Seas in a hurricane in 2016 during the SuperBowl.

One thing that Energizes today – providing disinfectant lighting and air ionization technology to take care of people.

For a 15% discount code toward your UVC purchase, visit https://www.awesomeearthkind.com/post/commercial-uv-lighting-disinfectant

View the FSG COVID case study and brochure at https://awesomeearthkind.com/fsg

Quantum Quote: "The extraction, conversion and use of energy is the single largest cause of air & water pollution, single largest consumer of clean water, single largest funnel of resources supporting terrorism, and the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases ---- time for that to stop." –Scott Sklar

1st SuperNova.  With wireless Cellular & Internet, if one tower or data center fails, the rest of the system picks up the pieces and keeps everything going. The electric system is following the same path– smaller, more distributed, integrated & self-sustaining.

SuperNova #2. Technology always morphs & evolves. With music, we advanced from vinyl records to cassettes to 8 tracks to cds to dvds to mp3s. Energy is following a similar evolution.

SuperNova #3. Always get several estimates. Check referrals. Were the contractors on time and on cost. Was the customer happy? What would they change? Look for contractors in your state or regional Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) or Renewable Energy Association.

Worst Clean Energy Moment –Many. Scott was ridiculed most of his career. Example: the US Senate Chief of Staff of Appropriations & Energy Committees during the Arab Oil Embargo– “there will never be solar or wind farms."

“Ah HA!” moment. Solar was originally most cost effective in developing countries & remote areas where people don’t have good access to electricity.

Best Advice: Don’t take things personally. Be thoughtful about what the other person is looking for, and do your best to meet their concerns.

Personal Habit that contributes to success:  Extreme stubbornness & perseverance. “There is nothing like a Fine 'Whine' to get what you want.”

Internet Resources:  State & Regional Chapters of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) for contractors who operate under ethic guidelines. American Solar Energy Society (ASES) for technologies. World Resources Institute (WRI).

Books: Any Amory Lovins book. Lovin’s quote: "Electricity without fire." (quote: “The Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of rocks”). Thomas Friedman: “Hot, Flat & Crowded” & “Lexus & the Olive Trees.” 

WTF or F: Arlington, VA– 5 minutes from DC. Lots of trees, but storms knock down wires. Scott installed solar & batteries– first to run his sump pump to keep his basement dry during storm outages, then for his whole house. Neighbors come to Scotts to drink his scotch & bourbon during power failures. He makes the neighbors who hate solar say why they don’t like it– and admit that it’s cool to have power when everyone else doesn’t. 

What energizes Scott today: New emerging technologies. New Sensors & Apps. Material science renaissance– great for off-shore wind, tidal, wave, & ocean thermal power. Most people live next to rivers & the shoreline – they can now gain 24 hour access to clean power.

Last Advice:“Take a small step and do something. Screw in an LED lightbulb. Get a smart thermostat. Get a small solar system for your garage or garden shed, or some power to run your refrigerator, wifi, & lights so you can ride out power outages. And, you’ll save money every day. The step you take will make the world a better place for your kids. And if you do it, others will too!

Visit us at www.AWESomeEarthKind.com

Denis Hayes dropped out of Harvard in 1970 to become the national coordinator of the first Earth Day– and expanded Earth Day to 180 nations where it is now the most-widely-observed non-religious holiday in the world.  

SuperNovas:

1. “If it has been done, it must be possible.” While everyone said it was impossible, Denis developed the first 6 story 52,000 sq ft building to be Net Energy Positive– it creates more energy than it uses. 
2. Most of the things we need to do are simple– become super-efficient and let the forces of nature provide our power.
3. We live in a SEA OF ENERGY. If it wasn’t for the sun, it would be hundreds of degrees below zero. The furnace just tops it up.
4. Utility scale “Solar On Demand” (Solar with batteries) is now the lowest cost power in the US.

Worst Clean Energy Moment. During the Arab Oil Embargo, Denis promoted that we do for solar electricity  what Nasa & the defense department did for computer chips– buy in bulk and drive down prices.  There was Good & Bad News.

“Ah HA!” moment. “Energy is the capacity to do work.” Drying clothes outside takes as much energy as in the dryer. But we don’t pay for the sun and air to dry our clothes. 

Best Advice Ever.  When you hit the wall with a complex problem– take a break. Go into nature, do something else. When you come back– you’ll have the answer.

Personal Success Habit. Pessimism provides no survival advantage– it only leads to giving up. There is always hope– even in the face of incredible challenges (like Churchill in England during WWII).

Internet Resources. Grist.org, The New Yorker cartoon page,  & the Borowitz Report satire

WTF or F. Siberia in winter without a coat. 

What Energizes Today. The Green New Deal. The Cares Act $3 Trillion was passed with only a few weeks debate to avoid economic catastrophe. If we can come together and decide that we are going to make the transition to a super efficient renewable energy powered civilization. 

Last Advice. Even when everything is stacked against you–never give up.

Sponsors. Entrepreneurs on Fire.  AWESomeEarthKind.com/eofire

Welcome to the AWESome EarthKind Podcast!

Almost every day, we stand in AWE of extreme weather events that demonstrate the incredible power of the Air, Water, Earth, and Sun (AWES).  

The GOOD News is that these same Forces of Nature offer us a thousand times more energy than we use.

The BETTER News is that human ingenuity and innovation have created the technologies that are harnessing these 4 Elements. We can now use this AWESome Energy for all our electricity, heating, cooling, and transportation.

And the BEST News is… we can save money doing it!

If you believe that humanity is at the tipping point – that either we make the transition to clean energy, or we will suffer the catastrophic consequences – then this podcast & the AWESome EarthKind community may be for you.

What’s stopping you from making your transition to clean energy? What’s holding you back? What is your biggest concern with moving to clean energy for your electricity, heat, and transportation in your home, workplace, and community?

YOU, me, and all humanity are now an AWESome Force of Nature. We, the 5th Element, are “EarthKind”.

AWESome EarthKind is a community of people who want to move to clean energy – but don’t quite know-how. And, to be truly sustainable - we need to save money doing it. 

Join us every Monday for thought-providing conversations with Climate Activists, Clean Energy Entrepreneurs, and average families who are figuring out how to make the clean energy transition. 

Find out more at www.AWESomeEarthKind.com.