Bill.Melendez's blog

The race for the home space has just begun with Google launching its disruptive PowerMeter platform for home energy management. Google plans to offer this service for free, though we all know that somewhere, someone will eventually pay. It’s an idea that has come of age and is timely in its debut. The masses will now be able to track electricity use within their homes by merely logging onto the Google website. Google’s next step is to move the platform towards cellular mobility.

I applaud the decision of Google since it gives entrepreneurs, such as me, another avenue for expanding our startup product offering. Imagine the potential that Google unleashes via their new platform. And imagine the potential revenue generation this exposure creates for anyone who can capitalize on Google’s global reach. Our national goal of empowering homeowners everywhere with energy conservation tools may very well hinge on the newly launched PowerMeter effort. The future of home automation and energy conservation now has a powerful ally in combating the high prices normally associated with home control systems. The market is looking for low cost, practical solutions that anyone can easily implement with minimal technical skills or financial outlay. Google’s PowerMeter is an incentive in the right direction and which many entrepreneurs and systems innovators need to follow.

Nowadays everyone seems focused on corn and its use as biofuel at the possibly expense of limiting food for the population. Along comes JVC and develops a rice based DVD case. Yes, I said "rice." Well, why not? After all, oil is "plant" in an other form. The story, released by Greenbang, tells about the Victor Company of Japan having developed DVD cases made partially from rice and being environmentally friendly. What a concept! Now if only we can get that in oats or bran.

The significance of this is that using rice plant material reduces the dependency on petroleum -- something the rest of the world aught to heed. The possibilities are limitless if this process catches on to become our number one solution for plastics.

An article in the CleanTech newsletter states that "India plans to create the world's first market for trading credits for energy savings."

What does actions like these signify to the world of energy and sustainment?

It is my opinion that there will eventually be an Energy Credit Market (like the stock exchange) where one can buy and trade/sell energy credits globally. This creates a new business model and revenue opportunity for energy conservation service companies and potentially, utilities.

Right now they trade back to the utilities by getting reimbursements from the utilities to the customers. A service company that corners energy credits and has that as a resource for trade can stand to gain financially not only here in the USA but also in other countries and industries.

As the market develops, I expect to see more of this type activity. It would create some interesting situations for those companies that can collect the most credits since that is a bargaining position and therefore equates to financial leverage. Continue Reading...

I just finished watching the Astronaut Farmer starring Billy Bob Thornton. Yes, I am kind of behind times here, but nevertheless I did watch it on my computer. In a way I feel like Farmer as he battled the many obstacles and mishaps that plagued his one man space program. What a story of triumph over impossible odds! Sure, this is just a movie, yet it is also inspirational to entrepreneurs such as me. In a way, we all embark on an unexplainable journey with ourselves and our dreams; some complete it while others fall by a wayside called discouragement. I cannot imagine any enterprise that started without the many impossibilities associated with my company. Yet, here we are.

The journey has worn me down some (I needed my corners trimmed anyways) and has shown me strength I never imagined before. The challenge of seeing a dream come to fruition is what entrepreneurship is all about. Let me say that the journey isn’t over yet, the task at hand will just get larger, as will the challenges we have yet to face. One thing is certain and that is basic to all ventures – the size of one’s dream will determine the distance of one's journey.

I have discover that starting a company with very little network support, having no industry peers to rub shoulder with, lacking impressive credentials of multiple successful startups, and having a resume that looks more like someone scraping the bottom of a barrel doesn’t trump a vision or dream or passion of an individual. It is still possible in today’s world with all its ideas of success and money for one lone person to start a company and see it succeed. It just takes passion and a never dying vision of the future. Farmer had it right. Failure is but one step closer to success. Continue Reading...

My wife expressed her frustration over the way our leadership is handling the financial crisis – based on buying more stuff and then buying more stuff, as a means of reviving our economy. What ever happened to buying just what one really needs and saving the rest?

I can equate this to the Green and CleanTech Bubbles. It seems that venture capital is spending a ton of money in this industry with the idea that sometime in the future we will overcome the global warming issue. It is typical human thinking; throw money at a problem and it may go away. If that doesn’t work, throw more money.

Money does solve a lot of problems, but not all. CleanTech and its implications, its costs, its failures are here for the long haul. That is why we need a more responsive (read – less hype) and responsible approach to global warming and the going “green” fever now gripping this nation. Green is good. Saving our planet is better. Managing our perspectives and expectations is even better and may be the only area where we are doing poorly.

Within the CleanTech and Green industries there is a mad frenzy converging on an idea that technology and clever management will change simple human behavior. We talk about reducing the carbon footprint globally but instead bargain and swap carbon credits. It is almost like a stock exchange where we acquire ever increasing profit by the mere act of buying and selling. What ever happen to being socially responsible and just reduce the amount of carbon being dumped into our atmosphere? Will we create a carbon “credit” market that is more profitable then the mere act of reducing carbon emissions? Continue Reading...