Posted by: Earl
on Mar 10, 2009
Fox News ran a story yesterday on where some of the stimulus money is headed. I am in favor of intelligent, "REAL" stimulus spending as I am in favor of a National Energy Policy. Our elected officials prove that they are either clueless or worse when they rush to spend our money on poorly thought out programs and try to muster support by calling it something it's not. I'm still waiting for some honest leadership. I'm not seeing it in either party.
Fox News Story
If you are going to spend so much or OUR money the least you can do is be honest about it and make some attempt to do the right thing in lieu of politics as usual. I'll not be holding my breath.
Posted by: Earl
on Feb 23, 2009
James Jao is a certified foreign expert so designated by the China State Council on Planning and Economic Development. In an op-ed piece in the China Daily newspaper Mr. Jao recommends that the Chinese government require mandatory adoption of green building technologies. Earl can’t agree more. He froze his “you know what” off in Beijing (because it was cold and snowing out) and in Shanghai (because if was chilly and few office buildings he was in had central heat) last week.
Mr. Jao pointed out that in 2004 green building comprised approximately 2 percent of the new US “nonresidential” construction market. Projections were cited that indicate that by 2010 between 5 and 10 percent of new non-residential construction starts will be based on principles of green buildings. He further notes that there is not currently a dominant “green” building product manufacturer in any building category. This, he suggest, is the biggest motivation for the market and a great business opportunity for China to seize. Read this to mean that China will be poised to dominate this market segment when the US ultimately adopts these standards.
I’ve previously suggested that there is tremendous opportunity for the US to lead the way in green building technology. We need to continue to provide that leadership because a giant economy is currently poised to get unleashed. The US has long been the country that fosters and develops new technologies. Mr. Jao is suggesting China learn from the US and become the leader in a whole new industry based on green building technology. The whole world benefits from the greening of China and their ability to produce low-cost products but I would rather that the US not miss out on an opportunity to continue to lead the way.
Posted by: Earl
on Feb 11, 2009
NPR ran a story this week about job creation in the renewable energy and energy conservation areas. Earl can embrace this element of the stimulus bill and I think a large number of the population that are footing the bill. Have a listen at
What Kind of Green Jobs Will Stimulus Spawn?. If you agree please call or email your congressman, tell them that you support this spending, then please politely tell them what they can do with the PORK!
