ODO 4688 miles

A rolling stone gathers no moss. But what about stone that rolls back and forth, and back and forth again? The original proverb is credited to the ancient latin slave turned writer Publilius Syrus and generally means, to me, that we shouldn't live a static life. And now, Southern California Edison has officially declared that our electricity meter will be rolling back and forth and back and forth. Our meter will roll backwards as our solar panels generate electricity throughout the day and then forwards as we use that electricity when we get home in the evening.  The program is called Net Energy Metering. How will this work for My Net Zero EV? In a typical case where the solar panel system is designed to meet the electrical need of the customer, a single bill or check would be sent to the customer on an annual basis. But my solar system is sized for my EV, not my house, so it is quite possible that I will be getting a pretty large bill at the end of the year. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, my meter will roll back and forth while my wheels keep rollin' (cue the music).

ODO 4636 miles

Gamification. Is that even a real word? Wikipedia tells me it is the use of game thinking and game mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users in solving problems. I like that definition because it applies to the way Chevy has engages EV drivers to drive in a manner that reduces unnecessary acceleration and deceleration. How? See that little ball on the right. The goal is to keep it in the leaf target for as long as possible. When you do, a ring of spinning leaves verifies that you are doing a good job - a virtual pat on the back. Your reward? Maintaining a high miles per kWh ratio (similar to mpg). I have to say I wasn't much of a video game player so it doesn't work for me. But for my DH - boy, does it work on him. Chevy must know their target audience. According to a commentary posted on the Fuel Fix blog by a researcher at UC Davis (DH's alma mater), "carmakers are focusing their design on male preferences." Gamification may be one design decision with the male driver in mind.

ODO 4571 Miles

First things first - Thanks everyone for visiting this blog last week. Look at the spike in my blog stats = 75 views in three days. Keep spreading the word. 

The inspiration for this entry came from a quote I stumbled upon while researching alternative energy procurement for work. R. Buckminster Fuller's birthday was on Saturday.  He was quoted as saying "We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims." This is really at the core of My Net Zero EV, especially since it involves architectural elements. But more importantly, it is about leading by example, showing that electric cars and solar panels are not just for the eccentrics or wealthy. This project demonstrates the strategy of contributing to a sustainable future by powering your transportation with renewable energy. The goal is to broadcast, at least to our block in our little town, "look at how simple it can be (and give it a try)."

PS To follow up on my blog post from a couple of weeks ago, Yingli Green Energy (YGE) ended the World Cup down 3.69% on the US stock market. I hope they get a return of some kind on the $70 million they invested to put their name on the banner ad next to McDonald's.

ODO 4459 Miles

Ah, there they are. Those are 4 of the 9 solar panels that were installed at our house today. We have officially contributed 2 more kilowatts to California's photovoltaic (PV) capacity. Totally just a drop in the bucket but still proud. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the installed PV capacity in the US in 2013 was 4,751 MW, 2,621 MW of which is in California. So, if we are on track in 2014 (more than likely we will greatly surpass it), our 9 panels will add 0.00004% to the US installed capacity or 0.00008% to the CA installed capacity.

As an aside, take a look at SEIA's plot of solar installations on a quarterly basis. Since 2010, there has been an interesting growth pattern of installations doubling in the fourth quarter, most of which in the non-residential sector. Seems curious - maybe spending a bonus, trying to reach a sales quota, last ditch effort for the tax credit? Sounds like the beginning of a journal article to me.

ODO 4374 miles

Permits were signed today! Installation is next week! 

In the meantime, I have World Cup fever (it strikes me every four years). This year, the banner ads next to the field caught my eye. At one Brazilian stadium, Yingli Solar shares the space with McDonald's. So, I decided to do investigation (AKA surfing while sitting on the couch and watching the game off my DVR). Yingli made the following statement: "Our ties with the sport extend back to 2009, when we formed and sponsored a deaf and mute soccer team in Hebei, a rural province in China. With this partnership, we realized we could use soccer to positively impact disadvantaged societies and bring awareness to environmental causes." While I am suspicious of a chinese manufacturer's love for soccer and of soccer's ability to induce a concern for the environment, I am glad to learn that the world cup final will be played at a solar powered stadium AND that Yingli will be the first carbon neutral sponsor of the World Cup. Even better, the latter claim while be third party verified.

But, what has this meant for YGE, Yingli's equity traded on the NYSE. Here's a synopsis: June 12th, the first day of the World Cup, the price for YGE was $2.91. The price peaked on June 20th at $4.01 (> 30% gain). Today, the price is down to $3.54. What will it be on the day of the final match? Will all those eyes on the Yingli's banner ads subconsciously translate into increased interested in Yingli's US traded equity. We'll have to wait and see.