Donna asks…
How do i get started in an alternative/sustainable energy (biomass/bioenergy) business/awarness?
I am a current college student (Junior) in Austin, Texas and i am presently study Petroleum engineering but i intend to swtitch to Sustainable energy developement for my Masters program. I need people or someone to partner with or who can help me/us get started. I will like to get started as soon as possible rather than wait untill i graduate? I am very into the alternative energy movement and i need peole like myself to work with. For anyone who just want to help by pitching me random ideas here on yahoo,i will send you $20 dollars via PayPal or else contact me direct to discuss the possibility of working together on the project. I am very open to relacting anywhere that will best suite the chance of success.
The Expert answers:
With a background in petroleum engineering I’d have thought a good place to start would be with the petro-chemical companies. Many of these are diversifying into alternative and renewable energy sources and as they expand into these areas it would seem likely that they’re going to need people with the relevant skills.
If you can secure a placement with one of these companies and learn something of their core business it would stand you in good stead for a subsequent career opening.
A possibility would be to gain a few years experience with a major company then look at establishing your own business, perhaps with your original employer outsourcing contracts to your new business.
Good luck, hope it all works out for you.
Steven asks…
Is Chemical or Mechanical Engineering in University of Houston Good?
My 1st choice was Petroleum in UT at Austin, but im in doubt about the petroleum business with all the alternative energy coming out these days, so i settled in for BSMe or BSChe here in Houston. Any other school suggestions? Currently at my Community College i have a 3.5 GPA is that good enough?
The Expert answers:
First of all, a disclaimer: I work at the University of Houston, and I work closely with the Cullen College of Engineering. So for transparency’s sake, know that I have a bias.
I would highly recommend you consider the petroleum engineering field. There is going to be massive demand for graduates with a B.S. In PE for years to come, given that most of the existing PE workforce is at or near retirement age. As those engineers retire, companies need to replenish their workforce. But U.S. Universities cannot keep up. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board estimates that each year some 400+ PE positions become open, yet Texas universities are only producing about 150 petroleum engineers. This means you would be in great demand when you graduate. For more info on this, Google “the Great Crew Change.”
While alternative energy sources are important, the United States and the world will continue to derive the majority of our energy from petroleum for decades. As wind, solar, geothermal, and other technologies come on line, we will still need oil and gas to propel the industries that produce those energy sources–not to mention our own transportation.
UH recently started a B.S. Program in petroleum engineering. It’s brand new, and it’s quite innovative. Technically, the emphasis is on traditional PE education complimented by geosciences, something that industry specifically told us they wanted. Also, there are elective options in finance, economics, project management, and entrepreneurship; again, a very unique characteristic. The degree plan is modular, meaning you can design your degree to focus on one specific area like reservoir management or petroleum geosciences.
I really think you should give petroleum engineering some more thought. Petroleum engineering graduates are going to be in great demand in the near-term. What’s more, PE graduates tend to make more money than graduates from the other engineering disciplines.
I’m posting a link to the UH PE page below. I encourage you to check it out, or even check out PE programs at other universities. We need as many petroleum engineers as we can educate.
Thomas asks…
THE REPUBLICAN DICTIONARY?
ACTIVIST JUDGE, n. A judge who attempts to protect the rights of
minorities–most especially homosexuals–against the tyranny of the
majority. (Contributed by Amy Mashberg, Austin, Texas)
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES, n. New locations to drill for oil and gas.
(Peter Scholz, Fort Collins, Colorado)
CIVIL LIBERTIES, n. Unnecessary privileges that you aren’t afraid of
losing unless you are a God-hating, baby-killing, elitist liberal who
loves Saddam Hussein more than your own safety. (Megan Ellis,
Bellingham, Washington)
CLIMATE CHANGE, n. Global warming, without that annoying suggestion that
something is wrong. (Robert Shanafelt, Statesboro, Georgia)
DEATH TAX, n. A term invented by anti-tax zealots and referring to a tax
used to prevent the very wealthy from establishing a dominating
aristocracy in this country. (David McNeely, Lutz, Florida)
DEMOCRATIC ALLY, n. Any democracy, monarchy, plutocracy, oligarchy or
dictatorship–no matter how ruthless–that verbally supports American
diplomatic and economic goals. (L.J. Klass, Concord, New Hampshire)
DEREGULATE, v. To pursue greed and exploitation. (Nathan Taylor, Long
Beach, California)
DETAIN, v. Hold in a secret place without recourse to law and treat in
any manner one wishes. (Jeannine Bettis, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
ECONOMIC PROGRESS, n. 1. Recession; 2. Rising unemployment; 3.
Minimum-wage freeze. (Terry McGarry, East Rockaway, New York)
FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE, n. Christian Right Payoff. (Michael Gendelman ,
Fair Haven, New Jersey)
FAMILY VALUES, n. Oppression of women. (Nancy Matsunaga, Brooklyn, New York)
FOX NEWS, n. White House Press Office. (Donnalyn Murphy, San Francisco,
California)
HARD WORK, n. What Republicans say when they can’t think of anything
better. (Brain McDowell), Durham, North Carolina)
INSURGENT, n. Armed or unarmed, violent or non-violent Iraqi on the
receiving end of an American rocket blast or bullet spray, regardless of
age, gender or political affiliation. (Joey Flores, Marina del Ray,
California)
MODERNIZE, v. To do away with, as in modernizing Social Security, labor
laws, etc. (Robert Sean Roarty, Atlanta, Georgia)
OBSTRUCTIONIST, n. Any elected representative who dares to question
Republican radicals on the issue of the day. (Terry Levine, Toronto,
Ontario)
OWNERSHIP SOCIETY, n. A society in which Republican donors own the rest
of us. (Adrianne Stevens, Seattle, Washington)
PRIVATIZE, v. To steal the resources of the national community and give
them to private business. (Susan Dyer, Ottsville, Pennsylvania)
REFORM, v. To eliminate, as in tort reform (to eliminate all lawsuits
against businesses and corporations) or Social Security and Medicare
reform (to eliminate these programs altogether). (Darren Staley, Millers
Creek, North Carolina)
STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST, n. A judge with extremely conservative beliefs,
who interprets laws in a manner that fits his/rarely-her own belief
systems, while maintaining that this was the original intent of the law.
(Floyd Doney, Athens, Ohio)
SUPPORT THE MILITARY, v. To praise Bush when he sends our young men and
women off to die for no reason and without proper body armor. (Marc
Goldberg, Vancouver, Washington)
TAX REFORM, n. The shifting of the tax burden from unearned income to
earned income, or rather, from the wealthy elite to the working class.
(Eric Evans, Gregory, Michigan)
TORT REFORM, n. Corporate immunity and impunity. (Sue Bazy,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
UNITER, n. A Leader who brings together his followers by fomenting
hatred for anyone who disagrees with him. (Larry Allred, Las Cruces, New
Mexico)
Do you guys have anything different to add to this? Do you think it is pretty much accurate?
The Expert answers:
Great! Spot On!
Is it OK if I use this in our Democratic club newsletter?
Mandy asks…
Can Obama Change THIS?
Wind/ Alternative energy program is an EPIC FAIL in Austin, Tx.
Say NO to Cap and Trade.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/07/12/0712greenchoice.html
The Expert answers:
All successes are preceded by failures.
Hope you’re enjoying your technology.
Link won’t work for me.
Joseph asks…
How would you like new building codes to enforce these?
solar panels
rainwater collection systems
geothermal pumps
pedestal squat toilets instead of conventional toilets
bidets instead of toilet paper
ramps instead of staircases
double-paned thermal windows
I figure they could just incorporate these into regular building codes so that all new buildings can have them. How about making new buildings that all commercial and industrial buildings have to have wind turbines and skylights to produce and save energy? I think big-box retail like shopping malls, outlet centers, and Wal-Marts, etc., should all have skylights so they won’t burn electricity during the day. They could even produce some for the grid with the wind generators. A lot of alternative energy isn’t taking place because the government isn’t enforcing it. If they put more teeth into it and put deadlines, I think that this would be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I know my hometown Austin, Texas, has an aggressive plan to make all new buildings go solar. How does this sound to?
I’ve read building codes. Now every building has to have indoor plumbing and a bathroom. They can’t have an outhouse by a house or building. I figure it would be awesome to enforce these, too. If anyone is interested in knowing about the squat toilets I mentioned, here is a website.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pedestal-squat-toilet.jpg
Thank you for introducing that idea of stone homes. That is fabulous. Have you heard of earthship houses? They’re houses that are made out of recycled tires, and beer bottles. They’re self-sustaining houses. Here is the website if you want to check it out.
www.earthship.org
The Expert answers:
This is a great topic you have brought and I think it is one that needs to be discussed more openly. Aside from any political affiliations, it is well known that our great nation needs reform in many areas including environmental practices. You did not include this in your list but I think it is something important that all Americans should consider, instead of homes cheaply, homes should be constructed from stone. If you think about the figures an average home-loan last for about 50 years and within 30 years or less the homes today begin to fall into disrepair. But if we can reform the government with stricter environmental standards, we can develop a greener future. If you incorporate all yours ideas into my stone house you would have an environmental friendly home! Since Stone homes will last forever you won’t have to worry about exterior deterioration.
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