conservation of energy Archives

Sep 15

Black Box Technology – Rarely Real; More Often Hocus Pocus

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant No Comments

Readers of this blog may think I’m a cynical, frumpy coot because I’m frequently noting the negative aspects of approaches, programs, technologies, and evaluation. I feel obligated to do it because I’m a licensed professional engineer in half a dozen, or so, states. Professional engineers, like doctors, are sworn to go about their profession in the best interest for the general well-being, health, and welfare of the public and those they serve (e.g. clients). Well-being and welfare include not getting screwed over or caught by surprise – by revealing the whole story; the whole truth. Recently, E Source published a…

Nov 09

Love0

Playing with Fire

By Jeff Ihnen Energy Efficiency, Energy Rant, Stimulus, Tax Stuff 3 Comments

I was pretty much like every other 12 year old boy. I liked fire, explosions, and crashes. If you think I’m crazy, why are movies sometimes beginning to end filled with the same? Enough said. Growing up on the farm there were always plenty of things to burn. One time I asked my dad if I could burn an old cattle feeder that we no longer used. No problem. You never see these things anymore but they were wood structures, like a weekend cabin that could withstand an F4 tornado, except it was all wood, nails and fasteners – solid…