A little over four years ago, I attended WIREC, the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. Even though I had been involved in my own renewable energy work for years, it was one of my first "big time" conferences. Two big topics were bounced around quite a bit: carbon credits and the Fifth Fuel. I was just starting to get my head around carbon credits. Quite frankly, I'm much too much of a boots on the ground kind of guy to get all whipped into a frenzy over stuff that only exists on paper. But, the Fifth Fuel intrigued me.
Folks at the conference were talking about how energy efficiency is the Fifth Fuel. OK, I can get that. But I hated to expose my ignorance to what "they" considered were the first four. I did a Google search and found the first four fuels are: coal, petroleum, nuclear and alternative energy. Glad that's settled.
I admit it, I'm an energy efficiency nut. Back during the gas crunch of the late '70s I was a college student driving a Ford van with a fairly thirsty V-8. Nowadays we have truck and diesel magazines but back then, we had magazines dedicated to custom vans. They were all the rage and I read all of the magazines cover to cover. The magazines were filled with ads touting how these aftermarket engine components could increase fuel economy but 5%, 10% and more. I knew better than to believe everything I read but even with conservative fuel economy increases, would these modifications be worth it.
I remember running the numbers every way in the world to see if I could justify hopping up my V-8 engine. Remember, this was before the days of computers. No such thing as spreadsheets back then. I did it all longhand based on projected fuel prices. My thought was simple: if a modification could pay for itself in three years or less, it was worth it.
I ended up adding an intake manifold, four barrel carb and headers to my van. Oh, and a vacuum gauge to watch my engine economy. Sure enough, I saw fuel mileage increases and as projected, the mods took about three years to pay for themselves.
A few years later as a business owner, I attacked my monthly utility bills with the same fervor, applying the same 36 month payback approach. By this time I learned to call it ROI: Return On Investment.
Over twenty years, I added a few energy efficiency measures along the way. Investing a dollar here and a dollar there, I was able to shave my overall utilities by two thirds!
Here's where I part company with a lot of folks in the "green community". They get all whipped into a frenzy over solar and wind. I love the idea of energy independence but who can afford to invest a ton of money for something that won't see a payback for a dozen or more years? It just doesn't make sense. Sure, rich folks can afford it and I'm thankful for them because they help get the sales volume up which brings the price down. But, I can't play in that league.
Or, how about the new Porsche 918 Hybrid. Imagine a sports car that gets 78mpg! Wow... that's impressive. But, it costs $845,000. Let's see, how long would it take for the fuel savings to make up the difference in cost?
Now, I'm not in the high end sports car market so these are wild guess numbers, but let's use round figures. I'd figure you could get a pretty neat car for $100,000. I understand Vettes and other high end sports cars coming out of Detroit get over 20 miles to the gallon but let's be conservative and expect to get 15mpg. At $4 a gallon, you'd need to drive just under 3.5 million miles. OK, what if the fuel prices double? That whittles the payback to just under 1.74 million miles.
Now, these cars aren't "everyday drivers" by any means. I doubt folks would put ten thousand miles a year. But, for argument's sake, let's say someone drove a car like this all the time. Average American drivers put on 15,000 miles a year. Let's double that. Hey, getting 78 miles to the gallon in a fine sports car, I'd want to drive it a lot. Nah... doubling it isn't enough. I'd want to drive that car cross country all the time! Let's triple the average American mileage and work with 45,000 miles a year. How many years would you need to own that car to break even the big bucks to go hybrid? Just 38 years!!!! What a deal!!!
My friends know me as being about as green as anyone. I even recycle my recycled stuff! I run my entire small business on renewable energy... no light bill and I make my own fuel. But, everything I invest in has a three year payback or less. Sometimes the payback on upgrades are measured in months.
Here's the kicker- a lot of these "cool ideas" don't cost a lot. The average consumer won't hear about them because no one stands to make a ton of money off of it. Sadly, we only hear about products that have high profit potential. If it isn't major market, it is practically invisible. And if it is public domain information based on old science and common sense, the average person will never hear at all.
I'm all about energy independence both personally and as a nation. But, it has to make sense with my checkbook. I'm finding lots and lots of ideas that work. Sure the headlines spotlight cool and sexy ideas such as solar, wind or algae. And I truly hope those technologies become viable. But, they aren't here now.
In the meantime, I'll keep scouring the internet and local workshops for neat ideas that work... and that will pay for themselves in months, not decades.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
My Idea of a Non-Profit Conglomerate
A friend and I were talking over lunch today about how there are a lot of folks who haven't gotten very far in life not because they aren't willing to work hard but because they just need a break. Well, one thing led to another and we ended up brainstorming about what I feel would be the ideal "non-profit conglomerate".
One of the biggest obstacles holding back a lot of folks from getting full-time work is transportation. What do you do in a town without public transportation? Meanwhile, a lot of folks have old "junker" cars that aren't worth fixing up as a trade in but not in that bad shape. They may not look like much, but with a little wrenching here and there, they could be dependable transportation. Here's my plan:
Folks could donate their older cars to the ministry and get a write off for the donation. Most of these cars will need some general maintenance. What a great opportunity for an auto mechanics school. The idea isn't to train them to be full out auto mechanics but for sure the basics. OK, while we're at it, why not have a body shop so they can learn a few basic skills such as paint and body work?
This would be great for guys in a halfway house or better yet, a way to invest some sweat equity for those wanting a car. My dream is to have a Habitat for Humanity for cars.
Until someone can afford a car, how about using a church van to tote them to and from work? Of course, we'd run it on biodiesel made from the used cooking oil from the church's fish fries.
Along these lines, I've been studying community gardens. How about collecting the food and other scraps from the church kitchens and creating a big compost pile. Then, do what we call vermiculture growing worms in all that compost so folks can go fishing! Then, use that fantastic soil to grow some produce! What a better way to feed the hungry?
Speaking of fishing, how many times do folks catch more than they can eat? Same is true for hunting. And how many folks have gardens and end up with more vegetables than they can use? Nothing should go to waste.
Another work training program could be for winterizing the homes the poor and elderly. The folks who can afford it the least typically have the worst insulated homes. They face sky high electric and gas bills during the summer and winter. When the utility rates go up, they are stuck. There are a few things that will help that doesn't cost a lot but could really help reduce the light bills. If nothing else, how about recycling the old AC units from when homeowners upgrade to a newer or larger unit? They may not be the most efficient but they are still probably better than what's in use right now. Some folks have heating and air units that are 25 or 30 years old! One that is only ten or fifteen isn't efficient at all compared to the newer units but it's better than what they've got! Unless you get into swapping windows and changing out heating and air conditioning systems, the biggest expense on energy efficiency type work is labor. And again, it can be a great worker training opportunity.
I have been accumulating some training material for worker training. Not the specifics of how to change the oil or repair a fender, but the basics required for any job. Stuff like... show up. Pull up your pants. Look me in the eye. That's the real job training I see most guys need. I've also been thinking about how to train the employer to work with the "under employed". What I've found is, it's not a question of "if" they're going to screw up but "when". What they need is a balance of grace and accountability. Help them but don't enable them. Give them structure and healthy boundaries so they can grow.
As a business owner who has used temp labor for years, I'd use guys working in a program like this for jobs on a regular basis. I'd probably go out and sell more if I knew I could find workers. Too often, guys in a halfway house are still under the control of law enforcement and can't go out of town for days at a time. But, guys just trying to rebuild their lives could.
Of course, my dream set up would be to find an old school, hotel or even an old church that could be turned into a boarding house of sorts. I'm a strong believer in community. For years I've worked with guys who for whatever reason are trying to clean up their act. They go away to rehab and in 28 days they come back only to slide back down into the ditch once again. With a boarding house scenario, they could be surrounded by others struggling in the same direction. Think "halfway house" but more.
Some folks don't need drug or alcohol rehab, they just need a break. By living in a community setting, they would share expenses while hopefully getting some budget training. Showing a guy how he can cut his expenses by $50 a week is better than giving him a $1.25 an hour raise. Again, those who have the least money are typically the least prepared to use what little they have.
There was a big hotel in downtown Monroe that was my dream building. Start out renovating the building. That's job training for basic carpentry. Fix up rooms that will become the dorm rooms for the same guys. Fix up small apartments for families needing a break. Well, before long, I see a need for a pretty large kitchen. That sounds like an ideal setting for a "school of cullinary arts". Again, tying in our immediate need with job training.
Along these lines, I'd love to have an ongoing garage sale. Cleaning out Mother's house, I've run across tons of stuff that we don't need but frankly isn't worth selling at a garage sale. Sure, Goodwill can use a lot of it. But I've seen a lot of stuff get dumped at the landfill that was perfectly good. Why not take the Goodwill store model and let recipients of various ministries work there as part of their sweat equity?
How many times have we seen a family recovering from seeing everything they owned go up in a house fire? They are starting from scratch. The same is true for folks getting out of prison or leaving abusive relationships. They don't need fine china. They just need the basics from flatware to mops and brooms.
It just irks me to see good or easily repairable stuff being thrown out at the landfill. We bury a lot of stuff that could be really useful for a lot of folks. Talk about waste!
Shoot, I'd set up a car wash and detail shop so folks could drop off their cars for hand washing and shining up like a brand new penny. Of course, the we'd be able to take them to work and pick them back up again using one of our "habitat" cars.
Well, these are just a few ideas bounced around a good hamburger and onion rings at the Missle Mart on Hwy 82 West. Any other suggestions?
Yeah, I know, this is kind of odd talk for guys at lunch. But, my co-worker Terry and I neither hunt nor fish. He's happily married and I ain't looking... so we only notice pretty girls in passing. They don't dominate the conversation. But, we've both needed help and both feel for those who need a hand as well. To me, this is real ministry. This is the "in as much as you've done this to the least of these, you've done it to Me" type stuff.
One of the biggest obstacles holding back a lot of folks from getting full-time work is transportation. What do you do in a town without public transportation? Meanwhile, a lot of folks have old "junker" cars that aren't worth fixing up as a trade in but not in that bad shape. They may not look like much, but with a little wrenching here and there, they could be dependable transportation. Here's my plan:
Folks could donate their older cars to the ministry and get a write off for the donation. Most of these cars will need some general maintenance. What a great opportunity for an auto mechanics school. The idea isn't to train them to be full out auto mechanics but for sure the basics. OK, while we're at it, why not have a body shop so they can learn a few basic skills such as paint and body work?
This would be great for guys in a halfway house or better yet, a way to invest some sweat equity for those wanting a car. My dream is to have a Habitat for Humanity for cars.
Until someone can afford a car, how about using a church van to tote them to and from work? Of course, we'd run it on biodiesel made from the used cooking oil from the church's fish fries.
Along these lines, I've been studying community gardens. How about collecting the food and other scraps from the church kitchens and creating a big compost pile. Then, do what we call vermiculture growing worms in all that compost so folks can go fishing! Then, use that fantastic soil to grow some produce! What a better way to feed the hungry?
Speaking of fishing, how many times do folks catch more than they can eat? Same is true for hunting. And how many folks have gardens and end up with more vegetables than they can use? Nothing should go to waste.
Another work training program could be for winterizing the homes the poor and elderly. The folks who can afford it the least typically have the worst insulated homes. They face sky high electric and gas bills during the summer and winter. When the utility rates go up, they are stuck. There are a few things that will help that doesn't cost a lot but could really help reduce the light bills. If nothing else, how about recycling the old AC units from when homeowners upgrade to a newer or larger unit? They may not be the most efficient but they are still probably better than what's in use right now. Some folks have heating and air units that are 25 or 30 years old! One that is only ten or fifteen isn't efficient at all compared to the newer units but it's better than what they've got! Unless you get into swapping windows and changing out heating and air conditioning systems, the biggest expense on energy efficiency type work is labor. And again, it can be a great worker training opportunity.
I have been accumulating some training material for worker training. Not the specifics of how to change the oil or repair a fender, but the basics required for any job. Stuff like... show up. Pull up your pants. Look me in the eye. That's the real job training I see most guys need. I've also been thinking about how to train the employer to work with the "under employed". What I've found is, it's not a question of "if" they're going to screw up but "when". What they need is a balance of grace and accountability. Help them but don't enable them. Give them structure and healthy boundaries so they can grow.
As a business owner who has used temp labor for years, I'd use guys working in a program like this for jobs on a regular basis. I'd probably go out and sell more if I knew I could find workers. Too often, guys in a halfway house are still under the control of law enforcement and can't go out of town for days at a time. But, guys just trying to rebuild their lives could.
Of course, my dream set up would be to find an old school, hotel or even an old church that could be turned into a boarding house of sorts. I'm a strong believer in community. For years I've worked with guys who for whatever reason are trying to clean up their act. They go away to rehab and in 28 days they come back only to slide back down into the ditch once again. With a boarding house scenario, they could be surrounded by others struggling in the same direction. Think "halfway house" but more.
Some folks don't need drug or alcohol rehab, they just need a break. By living in a community setting, they would share expenses while hopefully getting some budget training. Showing a guy how he can cut his expenses by $50 a week is better than giving him a $1.25 an hour raise. Again, those who have the least money are typically the least prepared to use what little they have.
There was a big hotel in downtown Monroe that was my dream building. Start out renovating the building. That's job training for basic carpentry. Fix up rooms that will become the dorm rooms for the same guys. Fix up small apartments for families needing a break. Well, before long, I see a need for a pretty large kitchen. That sounds like an ideal setting for a "school of cullinary arts". Again, tying in our immediate need with job training.
Along these lines, I'd love to have an ongoing garage sale. Cleaning out Mother's house, I've run across tons of stuff that we don't need but frankly isn't worth selling at a garage sale. Sure, Goodwill can use a lot of it. But I've seen a lot of stuff get dumped at the landfill that was perfectly good. Why not take the Goodwill store model and let recipients of various ministries work there as part of their sweat equity?
How many times have we seen a family recovering from seeing everything they owned go up in a house fire? They are starting from scratch. The same is true for folks getting out of prison or leaving abusive relationships. They don't need fine china. They just need the basics from flatware to mops and brooms.
It just irks me to see good or easily repairable stuff being thrown out at the landfill. We bury a lot of stuff that could be really useful for a lot of folks. Talk about waste!
Shoot, I'd set up a car wash and detail shop so folks could drop off their cars for hand washing and shining up like a brand new penny. Of course, the we'd be able to take them to work and pick them back up again using one of our "habitat" cars.
Well, these are just a few ideas bounced around a good hamburger and onion rings at the Missle Mart on Hwy 82 West. Any other suggestions?
Yeah, I know, this is kind of odd talk for guys at lunch. But, my co-worker Terry and I neither hunt nor fish. He's happily married and I ain't looking... so we only notice pretty girls in passing. They don't dominate the conversation. But, we've both needed help and both feel for those who need a hand as well. To me, this is real ministry. This is the "in as much as you've done this to the least of these, you've done it to Me" type stuff.
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