ENEX-08 Energy Conference near Toronto, Ontario

Drove the 9 hours to Hamilton, Ontario from Naperville, Illinois last Tuesday to do a talk on Reliability, Maintenance, Energy and Environment (RME&E) and the US Department of Energy's Save Energy Now program. On the way up and across the Bridge to Canada in Windsor, Ontario, the border guard started a conversation concerning the Tahoe. He thought it was interesting as he was looking for a truck or SUV, but had been concerned about the gas mileage.

I stayed with my grandfather for the time I was there. His father, Henry Bulbrook, was involved in electric machines, rewinding large generators for Westinghouse from the early 1900's (he is second from left. This picture was taken in 1911). I did my presentation the following morning after listening to several discussions concerning buying and trading carbon credits between companies. There was no discussion on how to mitigate carbon emissions (the technical presentations were done the day before) and most of the presenters were EXTREMELY commercial. One carbon trading company, located in Ohio, attempted to tell everyone how US companies were voluntarily following the Kyoto Accord and named at least one company I am involved in. Of course they are not!

Basically, the way the program runs there is a limit to the greenhouse gas emissions to a specific company. You can purchase carbon credits and trade them between companies. A distinct recipe for companies to move to locations that are exempt!

The limits that were attempted to be imposed upon the USA would have put us in the dark ages.

The first statement I made when I got up to do my talk was that I do not believe in 'global warming,' just as I did not believe in 'global cooling' when that was the fad in the 1970's (I actually heard the term come up again recently due to a cooler August). This summer was interesting as, according to 'studies' on global warming, New York City should be under water as the North Pole was going to be fully melted in August, and everyone in the USA should have kidney stones that result from global warming... yes, these are both studies that were given credence! I grew up around environmental scientists for most of my life, and around science and engineering. I was alarmed when it was announced that there was a concensus by researchers, that survive off of research grants on the subject, that global warming exists. A consensus means that no scientific evidence was required!

I do believe, however, that we should reduce pollution and improve energy consumption for obvious reasons. The arena of reliability and maintenance has a significant impact on both, while improving the bottom line of an organization and allowing them to state how they are 'green.' So far as I am concerned, that puts my objectives and the objectives of the global warming crowd in line, in many instances.

So, my presentation focused on the use of tools, technology, programs, reliability, and maintenance to reduce energy consumption, how to calculate the improvements and then convert those numbers to carbon emission avoidance. The presentation was well received.

On my drive back, I stopped at a Tim Hortons for coffee and was approached by a gentleman who let me know that he had a fleet of vans he was planning on replacing. He wanted to show his customers that he was 'going green,' but needed a larger vehicle. I gave him a tour of the Tahoe and he is looking forward to purchasing up to 12 in 2009!

Stopped by a border guard on the way back into the USA who also wanted to talk about the truck. By the way, needed my passport to get back in (two forms of ID required), a change from even a few months ago.

I look forward to your comments (press the word comments, no sign in required, all blog posts will be reviewed for content before posting).