Juggling Dynamite

Technology that helps consumers make smarter choices while saving them money and helping the planet. “Good growth”.

Project Sunroof uses information that’s in Google Maps to figure out how much sun falls on a roof and takes into account stuff like the angle of the roof, the weather, and obstructions like trees and chimneys. Then it uses those measurements to figure out how many panels you’d probably need and how much you could save on your electric bill, including solar incentives in your area. You can see how buying or leasing panels affects your savings, and then send your estimate to installers in your area, instantly.

Visit google.com/sunroof and enter your address to find out how much solar energy could save you. Project Sunroof works in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Fresno. But anyone can sign up to find out when it expands to their neighborhood.

Here is a direct video link.

We have always had hot spells in summer, but a new report from the American Meteorological Society confirms that 2014 was the hottest in recorded history and the 10 hottest years on record have all now occurred since 1998. Weather trends are likely to continue getting warmer and drier in much of the developed world.

Personally I strongly dislike conventional air conditioning.  It cuts off dwellers from nature, masks the sounds of birds and breezes, makes it more comfortable for people to overeat, and burns energy like there is literally no tomorrow.

After several decades of making wasteful choices, today many people are getting smarter about energy once more.  New technology is taking leaps and bounds and cutting edge buildings are cooling their inhabitants without conventional AC systems, all while recycling water and producing more energy than they consume.  Not too mention being visually stunning, attracting progressive architects and engineers from around the world.  Smart ideas are contagious.  See:  How the greenest office building is handling Seattle’s hottest summer.

Built in 2012, the Bullitt Center has performed well in its short life. It recently earned the prestigious Living Building Certification from the International Living Future Institute, and last year the building “generated 60% more energy than it used,” exceeding expectations and providing tenants with free electricity. Some of its notable features include a 570 panel roof-top solar array, a rainwater capture and purification system, and composting toilets.

There is a new well-funded marketing campaign pounding the airwaves of late sponsored by Americans to Protect Family Security, which is a front for the life insurance and financial advisory industries. Their target is to undermine public support for the proposed new Department of Labor regulation that seeks to require the sellers of annuities, life insurance, and other such retirement products, to place their clients’ interest first.

If you have seen any of the adds and have even the slightest understanding of the very basic integrity trying to be implemented in this critical area where most people are highly vulnerable, the add campaign should sicken your guts and make you mad.  But the next thing we must all do, is refuse to accept investment advice from any firms that do not publicly subscribe to a fiduciary standard.  It’s just basic common sense.

For an excellent overview of the latest industry antics, see :  Retirement firms protecting their conflicts.