October 8, 2007

Top technology officers have arrived. Today, most chief information officers are now considered a part of the strategic "think tank" and management structures of their organizations. Some are wondering if making the climb was such a good idea.

Never before has the utility industry been inundated with so many problems. And, many of the other executives sitting in those boardrooms increasingly are looking to the tech experts for solutions that they needed "last week." Modern tech didn't create most of the problems, but it is certainly expected to come up with answers, and quickly. Now chief information officers (CIO's) are integral to ensuring the organizations are insulated against politics, economics, demographics, regulation, terrorism and war.

Hello,

I'm proud to say that over here at Industrial Woodworking/Knu LLC in Zeeland, Michigan we have just completed our first video project to inform consumers about our efforts toward becoming a fully sustainable furniture manufacturing company.  Please check it out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/getknu

October 5, 2007

Canada is changing course when it comes to dealing with climate change. Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it will quit participating in the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012 and will join the Asia-Pacific partnership.

The two treaties both attempt to curb greenhouse gases that cause climate change. But the Kyoto Protocol is mandatory with definite timetables whereas the Asia-Pacific Partnership does not set any rigid requirements. The Canadian prime minister, a long time skeptic of Kyoto, made his announcement last week at a United Nations conference to extend and redefine Kyoto's requirement beyond 2012.

October 3, 2007

Sweltering temperatures and rolling brownouts have pushed a novel idea to the front burner: demand response, which advances technology so that consumers are able to curtail their energy usage during peak periods.

With the demand for electricity moving upward, utilities, regulators and customers alike are beginning to grasp the power of conservation. A couple types of demand response are now used. One is market-based and maximizes reliability through the use of dynamic pricing, or the idea that customers pay more for power during the hottest or coldest days. The second is technology driven and permits customers or grid operators to simply adjust electricity usage when supplies are tight or when system reliability is of concern.

September 28, 2007

The natural gas sector has lost its stride. A decade and a half ago, the industry was hot. Now, its product is considered expensive and untenable. The fix is easy, say producers. They want more access to deep waters offshore and in the Rocky Mountains.