renewable energy

Heather and Jeff Barrie have created a short video update to Kilowatt Ours, and posted it on YouTube. Since finishing the original film, this cute, caring couple has moved out of their basement apartment and now live above ground in a small home in East Nashville (a cool place to be). They brought their energy saving passion with them and in this video they show us how they have managed to keep their electricity usage at less than half that of the average home in their state of Tennessee.

You can view the YouTube video here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1GijpkvXNM

Please watch it and let them know what you think.

The complete, high res version of "Jeff and Heather's home energy saving tips" is included as an extra feature on the Kilowatt Ours DVD available at
http://www.KilowattOurs.org/donate.

As a bonus they provided a link to their new and improved version of How to Save $1000 Per Year on Your Electric Bill.
http://kilowattourscommunity.org/forum/uploads/98/KilowattOurs-TenSteps.pdf

Our thanks go to Jeff and Heather Barrie, who continue to inspire all of us.

Recently my boyfriend and I had the pleasure of visiting the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Although most of the buildings on the property were off limits to public visitors, we were able to do a self-guided tour within the visitor center. Several exhibits provided mini examples of how electricity is created, stored, and delivered, as well as examples of several generations of materials and their efficiency ratings. There were also videos showing product testing of solar panels and wind turbines, where they extensively test designs and materials prior to mass production and market introduction. It was quite impressive just how far we have come in terms of inventions and applications despite the uphill battle the industry and NREL have faced in terms of the lack of meaningful and sustained financial support.

Standing in front of these exhibits, I could not help but feel that a dark cloud is lifting, knowing that our new leaders understand fully the urgency of developing and implementing clean, renewable energy sources. Just think, we will soon no longer be facing roadblocks to accelerated progress toward clean, green energy solutions for the common good. Perhaps it is time that we take a moment to celebrate this pivotal change in course and speed, and then immediately jump in and participate in every way possible toward the creation of a newly transforming, sustainable economy and culture.

For more info about NREL, go to http://www.nrel.gov/