Solar Today, March-April 2008 (cover too -- see below)

I'm really excited about this issue of Solar Today. I set off to write an article about how rejoining the Kyoto Protocol process would be a huge benefit to US businesses; I wound up writing about why any carbon reduction mechanism based on the "biggest bang for the buck" is almost certain to result in bad investments.

China and the rest of the world(including the US) are building new coal power plants at an alarming rate, while much of our greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction investments are doing virtually nothing to reduce energy demand that lead to coal plants.

The editors at Solar Today were awesome in guiding me - and in making the cover look so beautiful.

Solar Today, November 2005

In this article, I explore how the use of wood-as-fuel is changing and may become mainstream in some places.

Austria uses wood for more than 20% of their entire energy supply!

Solar Today, January 2005

In this article, I describe some of the cool things going on in the Japanese new-energy market -- and why excitement and buzz matter!

While the US has been whining about debating the merits of climate change, the Japanese have embraced the idea and are having fun and making lots of money with cool, low-carbon products.

Communication Products...

Where Wood Works, May 2007

This is a 16-page booklet describes successful uses of wood-as-fuel for public buildings. I created this with Carla Harper on behalf of the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

There are lots of technical papers out there that don't get read. And there are lots of fluffy color brochures that don't have much to say.

This unique publication is both enjoyable to look through and full of solid technical information. And guess what? People like to have information presented in a way that respects their time and intelligence.

It was a lot of fun to create, and I hope you find it fun to read.

Wood Pellet Market Analysis for the Mountain Ute Tribe, November 2007

This 9-page report describes the regional pellet market for the Four Corner area that might be one day served by a tribal pellet mill. I created this with Carla Harper on behalf of the US Forest Service.

Projects and Programs...

Flexible Energy Communities Initiative (FLECI), 2006-2008

If your community is planning a new building and you the economics for on-site renewables like biomass and solar just don't work out, don't give up.

We've created a design assistance program to help you make your new building Wood Ready and Solar Ready (and a few other cool technologies).

Can't say Yes today? Well, say Yes tomorrow.

In other words, Just Don't Say No! Learn how here. <-- VERY COOL!!!

Mountain Studies Institute, Silverton, Colorado, 2005-2007

We created this project on a shoestring budget to create a successful example on how wood pellets from regional forest treatment can be used to economically replace propane in Colorado's mountain communities (and lots of other places).

U.S. Representative John Salazar was the guest of honor at the world's first pellet bag opening ceremony. To change the world, I believe you must tell an authentic and shareable story (I learned this from my favorite marketing guru Seth Godin).

Published Commercial Photography...

Solar Today, July-August 2008 cover

Solar Today was running an article on the merits of some types of biofuels - including algae. They had seen some of my CSU/Solix images, but said they weren't very good didn't quite work for a cover. They asked me to try "something with a lot of green and with that guy in the sunglasses." The rest is history.

Solar Today, March-April 2008 cover

I took this shot on a tour of our local wind farm in Medicine Bow, WY a couple of years ago. When I was laying on the dirt taking this, everyone thought I must be crazy a real photographer.

Solar Today won the 2008 APEX Awards for Publication Excellence for this cover (I feel like a proud dad).

Solar Today, January-February 2008 cover

I made this picture of the LED holiday lighting in downtown Fort Collins. It shows how efficiency can be beautiful and popular -- as save money.

Solar Today September 2006 cover

I made this picture of New Belgium's co-founders, Jeff and Kim's new-zero-energy home. It shows how PV can be a beautiful addition to a beautiful home.

Popular Science, June 2007

No, that isn't me in the new-age spacesuit my suit is blue, nor did I take this cover. But this is an interesting article about how Solix Biofuels (one of my clients) is developing biofuels from algae.

This article includes 4 of my photographs - and it's pretty cool story.

In the press...

New York Times 11/19 2007

You don't get quoted in the New York Times everyday -- which according some of my former friends is a good thing.

This is an excellent article by Kirk Johnson pointing out that as we move into a low-carbon economy, we will face some difficult trade-offs.

I strongly believe that nuclear power is not needed -- better choices are already here. But also believe we must have an open public dialog about this. I have a great deal of confidence that our fellow citizens are capable of understanding the issues and making the right choices.

Forestry Notes, October 2007

The Flexible Energy Community idea is gaining traction. I was interviewed by Forestry Notes -- I almost sound intelligent. Next time I plan to use verbs and things like that.

Patents...

US Patent 5,751,737 5/12/1998. Boundary Scan Testing Device

Ok, this doesn't have anything to do with new energy -- and it wasn't really a very good idea. But the corporate lawyers lawyers at Hewlett-Packard, where I was working at time, try to patent everything they can so that when another company sues them, they can counter-sue and then settle out-of-court. No, really!

US Patent 4,476,869 10/16/1984, Pacer Analyzer

This was a good idea. It is for a testing heart pacemakers and patients at the same time to verify the particular pacemaker is a good match and will work. I did this work in 1979 or so when I was 6-years old (ok, it's been a long while and I can't don't remember).

The cool thing is that I'm the sole inventor. As is usual, the company that paid for my time and all the legal fees (Intermedics Inc., now defunct) got all the rights -- probably worth a couple of beers, if you account for inflation.

US Patent 4,290,430 9/22/1981, Pacer Analyzer

This is just another part of the above idea. In fact, I'm not really sure what the difference is -- but I suspect it is insignificant very important.

I wish I could read the language of patents (not really).

Japan...

Japanese Language Proficiency Level One Certificate 2/19/1992

This is rather amazing -- something like a blackbelt in Japanese, which I really do speak. But the highest level of the Japanese Ministry of Education's test? Hmm... I don't know about that. There are two important things you should know:

• I got nearly the lowest possible passing score you could get: 287 out of 400 -- passing score was 280. Precision test-taking at its finest.
• While my Japanese has improved since 1992, the test has gotten a lot harder (so don't expect me to try this again!).

Nikkei Electronics 5/11/1992

I wrote the original article in English with some notes in Japanese. The editorial staff did an amazing job of writing this actual Japanese.

It is a short editorial written in a humorous (well, it made me laugh anyway) dialog style -- Galileo meets Spy vs. Spy sort of thing -- exploring and exploding the myth that Japanese Salary Men are not individualists and Americans are. Subtle, but true!

Community...

Be Local Coupon Book 2006

The Be Local movement encourages buying and reinvesting your money (and soul) locally.

I was the official volunteer "paparazzi" for the awesome work of Gailmarie Kimmel and her team.

Be Local Coupon Book 2007

Same as above, but even better!