Solar Power Is Cool But Not The First Step
Don’t Get Caught Up In Solyndra
With more daily involvement in the energy management industry, the sexy draw of solar still dominates the news. And this is before Solyndra.
The idea that the sun can power your home or building is alluring. But what good is creating energy you allow to escape?
That’s the big problem.
So many buildings and homes are still massively deficient in sealing in energy, keeping it from leaking out.
There are a number of measures that can be taken to address the issue. It all begins with a proper assessment and diagnosis.
To simply say a home needs energy efficient windows is no better. Yes, a big industry. But anyone involved in energy efficiency knows that windows are rarely the most important energy waster.
Aesthetics are one thing but saving energy and money monthly is another.
And it’s more than better insulation or sealing. It’s making sure it gets applied properly, and in every spot that needs it.
That’s where a Home Energy Health Performance Assessment (HEHPA) comes in play. More might look at simply an energy audit, but fortunately more and more people are also concerned about health and comfort in their homes and building.
A HEHPA as delivered by a company like Energy Savers America pinpoints not only energy wasting issues, but also safety issues such as radon gas and carbon monoxide. And then it’s about eliminating hot and cold spots so families and office employees can enjoy all of the available space without wasting energy to heat and cool.
So don’t ignore solar, but certainly allow it to take its place in a process towards energy independence. By getting a thorough, scientific assessment and shoring up the identified weak spots – less solar panels will be needed to reach energy independence.
Extreme Country Makeover – How To Change An Entire Country’s Image
There’s only one way to change an entire country’s image….
It’s the same way any celebrity – let’s say Michael Vick – has to change their image.
Showing measurable change. Consistently. Over time.
The country I’m focusing on is Nicaragua. Why? Because I feel like it.
No, actually because I have a financial interest in it, and I found the country and people to be special. A undiscovered gem. So I’m invested financially and emotionally in their image change.
Now for some, that image is still the pre-1990 Contra-Sandinista image. Ancient. The past. But guess what? It doesn’t matter that Nicaragua has been through multiple democratic elections since then….It doesn’t matter that it’s considered one of the safest countries in all the America’s….It also doesn’t matter that Daniel Ortega, that old Sandinista dinosaur was re-elected President through Democratic elections (mainly because of a Ross Perot-George H. Bush splitting votes deal)….And it doesn’t matter that Ortega has actually done a stand up job overall in moving the country forward with progress and generally pro-business moves (more so than, eh-hem….).
None of that matters if you don’t know that, and more so if you don’t feel that.
For a younger generation, they don’t even remember the old Nicaragua. So it’s really about presenting the new Nicaragua, or the new you, to them. Right? It would be akin to a convict being released from jail, moving to a new part of the country or world where no one new him. As long as he showed a new, positive face – and no one dug up the past on him – the present is all they would know and go by.
So this Extreme Country Makeover can’t happen the way the tv show does it.
It’s not over night. It’s over many nights.
But it is happening in Nicaragua. It has been happening. It appears it will continue.
Why?
Well, once enough money and influence, enough skin gets in the game – that money and influence will do everything it can to keep the momentum going.
Beyond the Pacific Coastal Highway development in motion, the increasing number of businesses setting up shop near the modernized airport, major dollars have been pumped into tourism. The Pellas Group gobbled up huge tracks of land on the gorgeous Brito area of the Pacific Coast, and just announced their Master Plan, which includes $250 million in investment.
And here’s another key to the image change. The investment is for world class boutique hotels, residences, spa, and golf course by David McLay Kidd. When one major group raises the bar, the level of play, everyone else has to raise their game.
Nicaragua also has an ambitious goal of 90% renewable energy by 2017. That’s not a typo. Through a combination of geothermal and wind primarily, the master plan to achieve this has been set. What happens if they only reach 50% by 2017? Still way ahead of even developing countries.
The Survivor tv show has also opened some eyes up to the country. Call this great free publicity. Trust me. Countries, not just for the revenue and jobs created, court Survivor to film their show.
A little bit here. A little bit there.
Throw in a few home runs, and the image starts to take shape for an entire country.
Much like Michael Vick must stay the course – not getting caught in the wrong places with the wrong people (along with being seen in the right places with the right people), so must Nicaragua stay the course. But momentum and leverage are on its side. Not the case at the very beginning of the image makeover. Heck, I don’t think they even thought of it that way.
But there you have it. The slow, methodical process of changing an entire country’s image.
It’s not complex. It just takes time. It takes patience. It takes money. It takes people.
Thankfully for Nicaragua, they have all the pieces in motion.
The Undertaker Challenges Brock Lesnar – Fake or Real?
Anyone who cares knows Cain Velasquez TKO’d former WWE tough guy Brock Lesnar. All good.
What was really entertaining in a very intense, but low key way though was The Undertaker hanging out ringside. He did a post fight interview, and when Lesnar walked past him, he was ready.
No, he didn’t smash him over the head with a chair, but he crushed him with three simple words, “You wanna go?” Lesnar didn’t look like he wanted to go with anyone at that point. The Undertaker towering over Lesnar added to the dominance.
So my question is, “Is this another brilliant WWE set up for something bigger?”
Remember how they used to plant people in the arena, at or near the front row, so they could conveniently get into a confrontation with a wrestler. I think that’s how they brought in Hillbilly Jim. Anyway, it would be interesting.
The Undertaker definitely appears to love MMA. He said it was a little late in the game (his career) to get into it, but if it were 20-years ago, “I’d be all over it.”
Watch the video. Watch the glare between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar. What do you think?
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