Early Failures Sour Future Efforts. Energy Efficiency. 3D Printing.

That early failures sour future efforts is almost self evident. Mentioned in piece about 3D printing that failures (or weak successes) often sour further exploration. Various are working on getting barriers to success lowered. Better tools. Better examples. Better materials. Here is a Greentech article with a similar sentiment, on how low hanging fruit in energy efficiency might actually poison worthwhile efforts.

Analytics for Manufacturing - MTConnect Insights.

Have been looking around for analytics applied to manufacturing processes. View to how to optimize business value of the manufacturing process (aka ROI, efficiency, etc.). [And optimization can be about consumables, parts, energy - usually uptime and reliability are key concerns.]
Found an approach with the following components:
Protocol or language: MTConnect. Wrote about MTConnect before.
Tools: Systems Insights VIMANA and their partners like Autodesk and Yamazaki Mazak.
Then apply model based analytics ala Analytika.

LED Holiday Lights

Relative merits of LED holiday lights by Katherine Tweed at Greentech.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/should-clark-griswold-switched-to-led-christmas-lights1

Comments:

Look for the warm white LED holiday lights sets - a bit less efficient, but they give a better feel.

Buy light sets for next year after the season is over. The post-holiday sales can beat year-to-year price drops by as much as three-to-one. But this is as valid for incandescent sets as for LED sets.

Probably should consider a life cycle analysis. A holiday light set (any type) recovered for reuse (craigslist?) might have better cradle-to-grave economics.

This brings up the “coffee cup life cycle analysis”
http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=28765
You can search for and see endless debate and nuances. But one good conceptual summation, after materials, washing, kilns and so forth, is…

If you reuse a mug (or whatever) which was headed for waste stream, conservation is served. It is not clear cut. Older cars and air conditioners may be better off recycled. And market economics may not be well served by reuse.

Saving Money - Then and Now.

Thinking about how saved money in childhood in semi-rural Nova Scotia.
- burned wood (from wood lot).
- raised chickens (fed bread and leftovers).
- drove old car.
- gardened (potatoes, peas, tomatoes, strawberries).
- harvested field mushrooms.
- made maple syrup.
- passive solar (window warmth).
- insulated (straw, fiberglass, fabric window coverings and wall hangings).
- used old machinery for snow removal and yard care.
- used library.
- frugal with clothes and entertainment.

But spent money on lights, TV and telephone without much worry.

Today many things still apply in suburban environment, but it is different...
Save money by:
- efficient lighting (like LEDs)
- [burning wood is frowned upon due to smoke and CO2].
- wind/solar self sufficiency.
- insulate.
- drive new car and get new appliances which are more efficient and take less maintenance.
- use Internet (and still library!).
- take train and boats (mass transit).
- garden.
- raise small livestock, if ordinances and neighbours allow.
- manually mow lawn and remove snow for exercise (or at least use electric).
- frugal with entertainment and clothes.

But spend money on lights, Internet, TV and telephone without much worry.

Property/school taxes, water/trash bills and mortgage are significant costs in suburban home life.

The Energy Guru – Arthur Rosenfeld

Saw an LA Times article in January 2010 about Arthur Rosenfeld.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/11/business/la-fi-rosenfeld11-2010jan11

One could do worse than Rosenfeld’s list of accomplishments in the energy field…

Having your own Wikipedia article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_H._Rosenfeld
Getting an effect named after you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenfeld_Effect
Being one of the last students of Enrico Fermi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi
Winning the Fermi Prize.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_Prize
Being involved with the development of compact fluorescents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp
Pushing the idea that it is cheaper to conserve than to build new power plants
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/11/energy-saving-much-cheaper-than-building-power-plants