Musings Blog Posts

By Leslie Martel Baer

Changes to Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards program earlier this year left many consumers and installers wondering whether residential solar installations still made sense in Colorado. While the final installation cost per Watt of system has increased slightly due to these changes, market factors and the new incentive structure still make solar PV a sound investment for some consumers. And, new options are opening access to solar generation to a wider market of customers. Read More »

By Leslie Martel Baer

Vice President Biden made the case for the Obama administration that the U.S. will lead the clean energy charge—again. If the administration says it enough times, will it come true? Sure! George Bush did the same the with the economy in 2000, and it worked. Only this time, the strategy is founded on something much, much more real. Read More »

By Leslie Martel Baer

Is meal planning comparable to a business strategy? Yes! Find out how, and pass the dinner rolls… Read More »

By Matthew Arnold

Smart grid is an essential part of getting large amounts of distributed generation (DG) on the electricity grid. The grid as it is doesn’t have unlimited capacity to have distributed generation added to it. If the grid is upgraded, which … Read More »

By Matthew Arnold

Grid Week is this week. One of the big conferences for all things about the grid. Smart grid is a big topic this year with every company that is in the $22 billion market sponsoring the conference this year. Most … Read More »

By Matthew Arnold

The “Smart Grid” is a much needed upgrade to the electricity grid. In the US, this upgrade has become a multi-billion dollar space that many companies are jumping into with both feet, both old (like Schneider electric, Cisco, IBM to … Read More »

By Matthew Arnold

“Information management (IM) is the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences. This sometimes involves those who have a stake in, or a right to that … Read More »

By Leslie Martel Baer

For sustainable and local businesses, an authentic approach to communications are a must. Here are a few basic tips and a workshop you can attend to learn how to get the job done without having this aspect of your business take over. Read More »

By Leslie Martel Baer

MotherJones.com Econumdrum blogger Kiera Butler suggests the solution to our out-moded floppies is to turn them into wall art. I suggest we turn them over to competent recyclers who can harvest materials to go back into the manufacturing stream. What do you think is the answer for you, as a consumer or business professional? What is the message that you want to send as you manage your e-waste? Read More »

By Leslie Martel Baer

As Carolyn Parrs of of Mind Over Markets points out, the solar industry needs to get real in its messaging. But, truth be told, all sustainability spaces need to get real and tough in their messaging. Which means disproving the ultimate American myth: that peace, justice, and respect are for wimps. Read More »