New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time again…
My personal New Year’s resolutions are:
- Complete development of the current phase of FuelClinic.com by February, and have the training module framework completed by April 2009.
- Continue building out my other web-publishing channels
- Eat less carbs and more protein in an effort to manage my own blood-sugar more effectively.
- Take my wife out for a “date night” every two weeks, at least.
- Complete some home-improvement projects like a new closet for the spare bedroom, and shelves for the nook in the “den/office”.
- Train and run two races this year, a 5K in the spring and a 10K in the fall.
What are your resolutions?
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Fighting Forclosure: One Woman’s Goal to Avoid Forclosure
I use Google Alerts to help monitor the web to find new websites and blog postings for the search term ”FuelClinic” in an effort to understand how marketing and other promotional efforts are going. It’s a useful tool that will email you once or twice a day if Google spots any new pages matching your search term. (It’s a good way to keep an eye on the competition also!)
Usually the Alerts tell me something I already knew - like this new blog post will probably show up later today or tomorrow as an Alert in my email. It’s nice to know that Google notices my hard work.
But my favorite Alerts are those that are not expected, like this one from earlier this week from “Fighting Forclosure” - a blog by Dawn who journals her monthly fight to save (or as she says ”find”) an extra $900 each month in order to cover her mortgage payment after a recent divorce left her with the house.
Google Alerts found Dawn’s recent post when she wrote about using FuelClinic for the past six months, and says it’s helped her understand her fuel usage better. This makes me very happy to hear, and helps inspire me to continue to struggle to build the rest of FuelClinic so that it may be even more useful to her and others.
At a time where many people are in a similar struggle with their mortgage, Dawn’s honesty, ingenuity, and advice is very inspiring. If you are in a similar situation, I recommend you read her blog. While you are there, you can click on an advertisement or two as well.
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“Keep Your Receipt” Reminder Magnet
One of the comments that I hear from time to time by FuelClinic.com users is “I have a problem remembering to get my receipt!” We’re working on ways you can record your transactions remotely, right from the pump; using your mobile phone and a to-be-release mobile version of FuelClinic, send a “tweet” to us via Twitter, or just a text message.
But for those users not so interested in mobile technology, we’ve developed a decidedly low-tech (albeit good-lookin’) way to help remind you to grab your receipt before you leave the pump.
About a month ago I had a local sign-shop create a short-run of these magnets for family and friends, with the intention that they will help people to remember and get their receipt before leaving the pump.
It’s been suggested that I make these available to all users, to sell them on the website so everyone can display them on their gas tank hatch and use them to help remember the receipt. So I checked in to getting a commercial run of these created, and figured the price per magnet would be about $5/ea. after manufacturing, packaging, and mailing them.
If you’d like to have a magnet like this for your vehicle(s), and think $5 is something you could part with to get one, let me know by leaving a comment on this thread.
I’m just judging interest at this point - there is no obligation (they don’t even exist yet).
Citizens for Energy Freedom Founding Conference, January 2009 at Florida Atlantic University
Join me at the The Citizens for Energy Freedom Founding Conference this January at Florida Atlantic University for the founding meeting of this new grassroots energy-independence campaign.
The Citizens for Energy Freedom Founding Conference
January 17th & 18th, 2009
at Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida
Announced last month at the Energy Freedom Summit in Chicago, this two day convention will feature a series of talks and panels by leading experts on energy, economics, technology, national security, and politics.
Invited guests include:
- Sen. Mel Martinez
- Sen. Bill Nelson
- Sen. Hillary Clinton
- and Former Speaker Newt Gingrich
If tailored after the Energy Freedom Summit, this will be an intense two day collection of industry and government experts at panels, presentations, discussions, and workshops focused tightly on educating and motivating attendees to help organize to support a workable energy independence plan. Bring a notebook!
Sign up today at the bottom of this page to reserve your seat at this conference.
I’ve already reserved mine. :)
Will Improving Gas Mileage Now Help or Hurt the “Green” Movement in the Long Term?
I believe that improving energy efficiency is the “low hanging fruit” in this energy crisis - and obviously should be the first step in any reasonable plan to fix the way we power civilization.
I attended an Energy Freedom Conference last weekend in Chicago with the idea that energy conservation (esp. fuel conservation thru eco-driving techniques learned using websites like FuelClinic.com ) is a key component to helping solve our problems.
I was surprised by the several attendees I talked with who believe improved fuel efficiency was not to our long-term best interest, saying it may help to reduce prices but at the same time would reduce the public’s interest (and long-term investment) in actually fixing the problem with alternative fuels, etc…
I’m curious what others here think - does energy conservation work to our advantage, or does it actually hurt the green movement in the long term by reducing investment?
Comments are open, but moderated to reduce spam.
MapMPG - How Far will a Gallon of Gas Take You?
How far you can travel on a gallon of gas? What if you improved your mileage by 20%? What if you bought a new car - how does that compare to your existing car? This isn’t hard to figure out, and FuelClinic.com will do this for you, but what if you wanted to see what this looks like on a map?
Today I received an interesting note from Jay Hoffman at ESRI about a new website they are beta testing called MapMPG.com
ESRI has an interesting new web site called MapMPG.com that maps the distance two different cars can drive on one gallon of gas. This rather unique and useful application compares the mpg’s on your specific neighborhood streets.
I compared my 2001 Toyota Tacoma to a newer Toyota Prius to produce this map of my local area.
Select one vehicle as Vehicle 1, and another as Vehicle 2, enter a street address and zip code, and you’ll see a graphic representation of how far you can get on one gallon of gas, based on the roads in your area.
Right now the site uses EPA estimated MPG figures for each vehicle, but Mr. Hoffman indicated that his team is seeking comments and may be able to modify the interface to be more usable.
ESRI is a world-leader in digital mapping for large organizations and government agencies, and has been doing scientific GIS and mapping long before anyone else.
What do you think? Comments are open.
FORD TESTS SHOW ECO-DRIVING CAN IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY BY AN AVERAGE OF 24 PERCENT
PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug. 27, 2008 – Tests performed by Ford Motor Company show that motorists coached by eco-driving experts can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their cars, trucks or SUVs.
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Eco-driving refers to specific driving behaviors that can improve fuel economy, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote safe driving. Ford and Phoenix-based Pro Formance Group have teamed up to pilot an eco-driving program for fleet customers. The program would employ certified master trainers to deliver hands-on coaching to maximize mileage in everyday driving.
Over a four-day period, Ford and the Pro Formance drivers conducted validation tests using volunteers from Phoenix who were given individual coaching on specific driving behaviors. The Sports Car Club of America verified the results, which showed an average 24 percent improvement in fuel economy as a result of hands-on eco-driving training.
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AP: Prices Up, Gas Consumption Down
Gallup Poll: U.S. Congress, Gouging Blamed Equally for Gas Prices
Source: Gallup Today’s extremely high gas prices are causing many Americans financial hardship. Some of the explanations offered for the surge in prices seem to make sense, including an increase in global demand for oil, a lack of energy conservation by American consumers, and even a failure to increase domestic oil supplies. Still, it is hard to argue that global supply and demand alone changed so significantly during the first half of this year as to justify prices at the pump of $4 a gallon.
Given this basic lack of face validity associated with the argument that free-market forces are the most important reason for record gas prices, many Americans are looking to other places in order to place blame. Not surprisingly, the oil companies and the international oil cartel (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) tend to top the consumers’ list. However, it appears that the high gas price situation has persisted for so long that many Americans now believe Congress and the Bush administration also deserve a large part of the blame simply because they haven’t acted to ameliorate the gas price situation.
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Just found a great fuel-economy-related blog…
…it’s so good, in fact, I’m going to send you there right now - Ecomodder.com. I found it while doing some research for FuelClinic.com - and I am very impressed with the depth of information and amount of activity there.
For instance:
2008 marks the first time since 1979 that there has been a drop in miles travelled in over the month of March. This drop corresponds to 11 billion less miles traveled, according to FHWA. Over the first quarter of 2008, greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector have also dropped 9 million metric tons compared to past years, something that no amount of political posturing has yet to accomplish.
and:
As gas gets more and more expensive and drivers become more and more afraid of trips to the pumps, more people than ever have found themselves stranded on the side of the road with no gas in the tank. Trying to push it way past “E” is something I’m familiar with, but after hearing about this, perhaps I’ll be a little more careful.
The blog is on a website of the same name, which is a collection of forums for people interested in modifying their cars to improve their MPG. There are several impressive projects where individuals have altered their aerodynamics or engine to wring a few more miles per gallon.
I’ll be adding this site to my growing list of sources for ideas and information. If you are interested in pushing the fuel economy envelope, or would like to learn more about “ecomodding” or hypermiling, you could spend all day at this site just getting up to speed on the subjects.
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FuelClinic.com Launch
FuelClinic.com is getting pushed out the door today. I believe the mantra “Launch Early - Launch Often” for small web projects like this - and, although this isn’t really that “early” - it’s at least a start. This will also motivate me to make the website a priority among my various projects and finally finish the phase-1 functionality.
I’ve begun a small online advertising campaign, and will be writing a press release over the weekend. I’ll run it past a few people who understand press releases better than I do, and if it looks good - I’ll be pushing that out the door next week sometime.
I hope that the website will be useful to people. There is a core set of beta testers who continue to use the site, kicking the tires, and telling me what they think about the site. With additional exposure, and user feedback, I’ll continue to plan and develop the phase-2 requirements. There are some really great ideas floating around in the notes.
Let the adventure begin!
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2% Reduction in Demand = 10% Reduction in Fuel Price
Source: WCBSTV.com…Researchers say today’s cars are most fuel efficient at speeds between around 30 and 60 mph, and mileage drops sharply at speeds above 65 as engines work harder to overcome wind resistance that rises exponentially. If drivers were forced to slow down—and lower speed limits were enforced—the thirst for fuel could be significantly reduced, which could ease prices.
Recent surveys show that many drivers have changed their habits to cut fuel costs, but the changes tend to be ones that bring immediate gratification—such as using the Internet to find stations with the lowest prices and putting less gas in the tank instead of filling up, said Larry Compeau, executive officer of the Society for Consumer Psychology and an associate marketing professor at Clarkson University.
“If you buy a more fuel-efficient car or find cheaper gasoline, those things are right in front of you,” Compeau said. “Whether you do 65 or 55 is much more nebulous. There’s no way for you to immediately see the impact.”
Based on recent highway traffic volume trends, throttling back to 60 mph from 70 mph would likely reduce gasoline usage between 2 percent and 3 percent, which is about what happened when the 55-mph limit was imposed in the 1970s, said David Greene, a senior researcher at the U.S. Energy Department’s Oak Ridge National Lab.
“We’re talking about a 2-to-3 percent reduction in demand, which would mean a much larger percentage reduction in price, maybe 10 percent,” Greene said.
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