A Stimulus Package for Renewable Energy Would Benefit Economy and Climate, Says German Study

Via Renewable Energy World:

by Jane Burgermeister, European Correspondent

Berlin, Germany [RenewableEnergyWorld.com
24 November 2008

The solution to the world's two biggest crisis -- the economic and the global warming crisis -- is exactly the same: a huge government investment plan in renewable energy will not only help kick start economies, but it will also help fight global warming, according to a report by Deutsche Bank

Faced with the worst economic crisis since 1931, governments in Germany and the UK as well as the US and China are planning to use deficit spending to avert a dramatic economic slowdown.

The study by Deutsche Asset Management (DeAM), a member of the Deutsche Bank group, argues that directing any stimulus package towards the renewable energy would benefit not just the economy by boosting jobs and growth but also accelerate the creation of a booming new clean tech industry, so helping to slash greenhouse gases.

Massive investment in renewable energy would also have the advantage of establishing energy independence for countries such as US, China, Germany and the UK from oil and gas imports from crisis-hit regions.

"The current crisis is making the necessity of tackling climate change an opportunity to stimulate growth through investment opportunities," said Mark Fulton, DeAM's Global Head of Climate Change Investment Research.

Investments in new improved energy efficiency technologies are especially likely to benefit recession-hit economies by reducing the burden of high fuel costs, the study argues.

Additional measures to stimulate investment in "green" infrastructure and industry, such as smart electricity grids, solar thermal and geothermal power plants, could pay dividends by creating jobs in long-term growth industries.

Investment in renewable energy would also help accelerate "grid parity," the point when electricity generated by solar, wind and other sources becomes cost competitive with power from conventional fossil fuels.

Though wind power in some locations is already cost competitive, government investment in renewable energy as part of a stimulus package would provide much needed funds to bring down the cost of all types of renewable energy.

Also, the Deutsche Bank experts are urging governments to change laws to help steer private investment into the clean energy.

Moreover, a recent report by Greenpeace in Germany and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) argues that investment in renewable energy would not represent an additional cost, but would pay for itself out of savings to be made on oil, coal and gas expenditures.

Furthermore, investment in clean energy would reduce the huge bill that the world is likely to have to face from damage caused by global warming in the future, which could be as high as 20 percent of the world's GDP a year, according to Greenpeace.

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Environment Minister, recently affirmed the government's commitment to the renewable energy sector, saying that 500,000 new jobs could be generated in the green sector by 2020 in Germany.

In spite of the government's pledge to support the green energy sector, few additional funds, however, were made available in this month's stimulus package from Berlin, which amounted to €50 billion [US $63.1 billion].

To succeed in the new energy revolution, analysts say the German government will have to reverse years of low investment in new renewable energy technology and energy efficiency research.

For example, the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany's leading universities with 22,000 students and 6,500 employees, spends only €10-15 million [US $12.6 to 19 million] out of a total budget of €769 million [US $971 million] on renewable energy research, which is furthermore, splintered over several institutes.

The German government's role in financing renewable energy projects is set to become all the more critical as banks are less likely to lend funds in the financial crisis.

The economic uncertainty is already clouding a series of renewable energy projects in Germany.

Doubts have grown over the Blackstone-financed project announced in July this year to build an offshore wind park of 80 wind turbines generating 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity off Helgoland by 2012, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. RenewableEnergyWorld.com's Eize de Vries alluded to that project last week in his story, 5-MW BARD Near-shore Wind Turbine Erected in Germany.

Capital from the private sector will be needed if the German government is to meet its ambitious target of building 10,000 MW of offshore wind power by 2020.

Building wind parks 20, 30 or even 40 kilometers off the north German coast and anchoring turbines 20 to 30 meters below the sea surface will require substantially more money than constructing equivalent wind parks on land. Without additional government funding, experts think the country's wind power plans could now have to be scaled back.

More crucially, Germany could fall behind in the race to create a thriving, strong new clean tech economy and an export world leader by the government's failure to include green energy funds in its stimulus package to revive the economy this month.

"Major investment in renewable power and energy efficiency could create an industry a 360 billion-dollar industry, provide half of the world's electricity, and reduce the hefty 18 trillion-dollar bill expected to for future fossil fuel costs, according to Oliver Schäfer from the EREC.

"Currently, the renewable energy market is worth US $70 billion and doubling in size every three years," he said. "The global market for renewable energy can grow at double digit rates until 2050, and overtake the size of today's fossil fuel industry.

Governments that include green energy incentives into their stimulus package will not only create jobs, stabilize the economy and protect the environment, but they will also help ensure that their country is well placed to come out of the recession as a world leader in green technology, which is set to dominate the energy market of the future.

With countries such as Germany and the UK so far having failed to seize the opportunities hidden in the current economic crisis, all eyes are on the US to see whether the new Obama administration grasps the chance to invest in green energy to revive the recession-hit economy and catapult America to the front of the world energy leaders.

Thinning glaciers 'endangering South Asian water supply

24 November 200

[NEW DELHI] New evidence that Himalayan glaciers are shrinking has added weight to concerns that there could be severe water shortages in the region by 2030.

Researchers drilling an ice core in the 6,050 metre-high Naimona'nyi glacier near Tibet were expecting to find radioactivity left by atomic tests carried out 50 years ago. Instead they found little more than background levels of radioactivity.

The scientists, from the Institute for Tibetan Plateau Research, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the US-based Ohio State University, say that this is a sign that the glacier is thinning, with no accumulation of new ice since 1944.

Seasonal runoff from glaciers such as Naimona'nyi feeds the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in that part of the Asian subcontinent. The rivers are already severely depleted in places for months each year, say the researchers, writing in Geophysical Research Letters this month (November). The lack of new ice accumulating on the glaciers can only decrease river levels, they add.

Current models predicting river flow in the region have taken recent glacial retreat into account, say the researchers. But they have not considered that some glaciers are also thinning.

"If the thinning isn't included, then whatever strategies people adopt in their efforts to adapt to reductions in river flow simply won't work," says Natalie Kehrwald, a doctoral student at Ohio State University and lead author on the paper.

The news comes in the same month that a major report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted the role of 'atmospheric brown clouds' in melting the Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Tibetan glaciers, amongst other effects.

The vast brown clouds, caused by the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, are now thought to be warming these elevated regions with a strength equal to that of greenhouse gases, says the report. The clouds could also be depositing black carbon on the snow and ice, causing them to absorb, rather than reflect, solar radiation — and thus warm up.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences estimates that glaciers in the region have shrunk by five per cent since the 1950s.

Link to abstract in Geophysical Research Letters

Link to UNEP report

Investing in Renewable Technologies

Via EE Times:

It was a good line, and it also happens to be true: "Moore's Law never mentioned anything about power efficiency," said Brian Halla, CEO of National Semiconductor during the Electronica exhibition. Halla was referring to the inherent power efficiency of analog technology over digital, hence its desirability as a basis for new energy-saving technologies.

Halla's contention may well turn out to be true, but semiconductor and related industries like LED manufacturers are now seeking to convert all the talk about "green" engineering into another kind of green. With much of the rest of their business going in the tank (National Semiconductor announced job cuts later in the week after Halla's appearance at the exhibit), chipmakers are looking for ways to build a sustainable business model around renewable technologies like power management components and systems as well as energy-harvesting modules.

A key concern for energy technology startups is the current credit squeeze. Some of the seed money and tax incentives will have to come from government to stimulate market growth, Carlo Bozotti, CEO of STMicroelectronics, asserted during what has become the French-Italian chip maker's standard pitch for green energy. "It's a matter of investment," Bozotti said.

Indeed, investment bankers prowled the halls at Electronica looking for companies with viable green technologies. John McManus, senior director of Chicago-based Lincoln International, a global investment bank that focuses on mid-sized acquisition and mergers, said his firm has already invested in green manufacturers like Power-One, a developer of power conversion and power management systems. McManus said his firm is preparing to launch a new energy practice, largely because business is booming.

Asked whether green investment would slow as oil prices decline steadily, perhaps eroding the fervor for renewable energy technologies, McManus was unequivocal. "Investment in green technologies is here to stay," he said, adding that declining oil prices are "not going to stop the installation of new solar farms" like the massive installations in Spain and new ones in the southwest United States.

Nevertheless, other market watchers see trouble ahead, especially for the solar market. "With the credit market crunch, who can get a loan to build solar plants?" concludes a new report released Nov. 18 by the Information Network.

The report noted that the thin-film solar panel market and the related equipment market soared earlier this year due to a shortage of polysilicon used to make solar-grade silicon wafers. With polysilicon again plentiful, spot prices for 6-inch solar wafers has declined $3.50 since September to $9. The price drop means manufacturers will likely switch from lower efficiency thin-film panels to silicon alternatives with conversion efficiency rates of more than 16 percent.

Robert Castellano, president of the market researcher added: "The surge in thin-film panels [earlier this year] was a result of a severe shortage of polysilicon wafers used to make high-efficiency solar panels. This factor, combined with macroeconomic factors will redirect the revenue stream for the industry in the near term, but its impact will last longer."

Nevertheless, semiconductor industry executives here said chip technology also could be leveraged to add intelligence to new components like sensors and LEDs along with the power grid, resulting in energy savings of as much as 25 percent, they claimed, while helping to reduce greenhouse emissions. A hot topic here was the emergence of LEDs as an energy-efficient lighting alternative. Applications range from architectural lighting to automobile daytime "running" lights.

Ruediger Mueller, CEO of Osram Optical Semiconductors, predicted that prices for chip-based LEDs will begin to drop as semiconductor economies of scale kick in. Lowering unit costs could help make LEDs and other applications like energy-harvesting wireless sensor networks ubiquitous, developers of the technologies predict.

Chip executives like Freescale's Rich Beyer contended at Electronica that analog chip technologies will allow system designers to integrate more functionality that can be leveraged to save energy and reduce CO₂ emissions. Predictably, Beyer and other chip executives dismissed the notion that added functionality will ultimately end up increasing power consumption.

Still, Mueller conceded that the constant addition of bells and whistles like car entertainment systems and the recharging of consumer electronic devices, not to mention power-hogging systems like large-screen displays, must be rethought.

"Is all the energy we consume really needed?" Mueller asked during a CEO roundtable.

Despite the enthusiasm, Lincoln International, which tracks the energy components market through its "Power Electronics Index," said the industry underperformed relative to the Standard & Poor's Index during Q3 08. The index declined 19.8 percent from the previous quarter, the firm said.

According to the index, Taiwan's Delta Electronics Inc. was the top performer among large companies based on its quarterly share price performance. New York-based Eaton Corp. registered the worst quarterly performance, Lincoln said.

- George Leopold, 20 November 2008

Duke Study Looks Into Green Job Growth in US

Via Renewable Energy World:

21 November 2008

North Carolina, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

Green collar present the next frontier for U.S. manufacturing, says a new report from Duke University. Highlighting the direct linkages between low-carbon technologies and U.S. jobs, Duke researchers say U.S. manufacturing is poised to grow in a low-carbon economy. Their report, "Manufacturing Climate Solutions," provides a detailed look at the manufacturing jobs that already exist and would be created when the U.S. takes action to limit global-warming pollution.

"Until now, there was no tangible evidence of what the jobs are, how they are created and what it means for U.S. workers. We are providing that here," said Gary Gereffi, a Duke professor of sociology and lead author of the report. "We don't guess where the jobs are; we name them. Our report uses value chains to show that clean technology jobs are also real economy jobs."

Researchers from Duke's Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness (CGGC) looked at five carbon-reducing technologies with potential for future green job creation:

• concentrating solar power
• LED lighting
• high-performance windows
• auxiliary power units for long-haul trucks
• Super Soil Systems (a new method for treating hog wastes)

According to the report's finding there are hidden economic opportunities that exist within the supply chains that provide parts and labor for these five industries. The report includes a detailed breakdown of the supply chains and maps highlighting the location of companies positioned to support green jobs. States that stand to benefit most from jobs in these sectors include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

"This report shows that each climate solution creates significant positive ripple effects throughout the economy in the labor and materials needed to supply low carbon technologies and products," said Abraham Breehey, director of legislative affairs for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. "It demonstrates the real economic opportunity in the solutions to the climate crisis."

A copy of the study can be downloaded from Duke University.

Israeli cleantech companies prove natural fit in California

Via Israel21c:

By Karin Kloosterman
November 19, 2008

The American economy has been flipped on its head, yet companies, authorities and investors in California know that the current financial woes can't stop the advancement of clean technology. The future of the world depends on it. And Israel, they realize, may be a part of the solution.

As a recognized leader in the industry, California's green business movers and shakers invited a dozen of Israel's most promising clean technology startups to the United States last week. The mission was to familiarize the Californians with the opportunities presented by a handpicked group of Israelis, and to help the Israelis position themselves and polish their business plans.

Organized by the California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) and the Cleantech Group, the participants in the "CICC Israel Cleantech Company Showcase" were selected by a steering committee that included some of the industry's most prominent organizations - including PG&E, the California Public Utilities Commission and Israel Cleantech Ventures - who chose from a range of Israeli companies that could help fulfill California's desire for energy independence, and an environmentally friendlier future.

The Israeli companies chosen from over 40 applicants included: 3G Solar, BotanoCap, Canarius, Cequesta Water, Coriolis Wind, CellEra, CES - Computerized Electricity Systems, Emefcy - Bio Energy Systems, HCL Clean Tech, Metrolight, SOVNA, and Tigo Energy.

The companies were chosen based on needs in California. "Ultimately, the top 12 were floating to the top in terms of the number of points they got during the steering company selection process," says Shuly Galili, the executive director of the CICC, a US-based NGO. "We made sure there was a good selection: solar, water or wind; energy efficiency or renewable energy, water technologies etc."

Positive feedback, continued dialogue

From November 11 through the 14th, the participants met prominent Californian bodies including the California Public Utilities Commission, General Electric, Google, Applied Materials and venture capital funds including VantagePoint Venture Partners, US Venture Partners, Virgin Green Fund, and Greylock Partners. Although it's too early to assess what partnerships, investments or joint ventures will come from the meet, Galili and the Israeli executives who participated are very optimistic about the future.

"I can tell you that there were a number of places where the companies received positive feedback from potential partners and interest in continued dialogue," Galili tells ISRAEL21c. "This is the first time that a lot of these companies [in America] were exposed to Israeli cleantech. I think that these [participants] will be back for additional meetings based on this trip, which allowed for a first encounter. I have no doubt that these companies will have a lot of follow-up.

"Despite the financial meltdown in the US we saw very positive interest from investors, who wanted to do follow up. There is a potential, and this particular space in California is not experiencing a meltdown. As a side note, some of these [Israeli] companies are very early stage companies. I think the point here was to allow them to have a very wide perspective to position their companies - to help them be smart business-wise."

Californians head to Israel in June

According to the CICC, California and Israel are a natural clean tech fit. And this recent showcase meeting allowed California-based investors and companies to have a first taste of what Israel does, adds Galili, noting that Californian reps will be expected to come to Israel next June.

One of Israel's "clean dozen" to visit California, included Cequesta Water, an Israeli company that has developed innovative new solutions for sludge dewatering and wastewater treatment for small production plants.

David Waimann, the president of Cequesta Water tells ISRAEL21c: "The trip was magnificently organized and the most impressively organized sales trip I have ever been on. California will always be the center for cleantech investment in the world, particularly northern California, Silicon Valley.

"We met all kinds of very interesting people from the financial and project world. Two particular funds want to receive more information," concludes Waimann.

###

Technology Links:

Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Israel Science and Technology

Globes - Israel's Business Arena

The Marker

Standard and Poor's Israel

Israel High Tech TV

American Technion Society

Israel High-Tech and Investment Report

Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD)

Israel-U.S. Binational Science Foundation (BSF)

Israeli Research Institute for R&D (MATIMOP)

The US Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF)

Israel Association of Electronic and Information Industries

Innovation Israel program: Creative summer for American high school students

American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

Ben Gurion University

Israel and Korea to Boost Environmental Cooperation

Via Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection:

Israel Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra and his Korean counterpart Environment Minister Lee Maanee signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral environmental cooperation on November 12, 2008.

Under the agreement, the two countries will enhance cooperation on air pollution, climate change, biological diversity and sewage disposal and will promote exchanges between environmental experts.

Among the subjects discussed by the two ministries during Minister Lee Maanee’s visit to Israel were renewable energies and efficient use of water resources. The ministers called on professionals in their respective ministries to review possibilities for joint projects and continue coordination in international environmental forums.

Foreign[er]s' Information Service Centres in Seoul

Via: Joongang Daily

Seoul Opens its Arms to Foreigners
12 November 2008

A Belgian native living in southern Seoul’s Seocho District recently wanted cable TV to be installed at home, but didn't have the first clue how to go about getting it. As a newcomer here, Isabelle Chenqui’s Korean was also rudimentary.

Unsure of where to turn, she visited the nearby Global Village Center in Seorae Village on the recommendation of a friend. The center staff called a cable TV company, got all the necessary details such as contract term and prices and helped her get connected.

This is just one example of a number of free helpful services that are available these days to foreigners living in Korea.

There are six Global Village Centers around Seoul, including the Seoul Global Center, which is the city's largest. As part of efforts to make the capital a foreigner-friendly city, the local government established the help centers this year in areas with high numbers of foreigners.

The centers provide a range of services, from business advice to information about daily living and cultural exchanges, as well as support for migrant workers.

The centers can also help with administrative services involving confusing paperwork such as foreigner registration and local tax payments. They also provide useful information about facilities, employment and health care.

“We are trying our best to help foreigners adjust to the new environment in Seoul,” said Lim Hyeon-ok, who works at the Seorae Village center.

“We look forward to all visits.”

The staff also provide information on electricity, gas, water, waste disposal, safety, security, emergency clinics, pharmacies, restaurants, traffic, job seeking and employment, medical counseling, investment and visas.

Books, newspapers and magazines are available. The centers also provide Korean language classes.

City officials plan to open more such help centers around Seoul.

Other foreign-language services such as the 120 Dasan Call Center, a city-run one-stop call center, are also available.

If you are looking for a hospital, the nearest subway station or the latest tourist attraction in Seoul, dial 120 ( or 02 120 from a cell phone or a land line outside of Seoul) and then press “9” for foreign language services.

Operators who are in fluent in English, Japanese, and Chinese have been offering general information to international residents since September 2007.

The 120 line provides information about tourist attractions, restaurants, transportation, international schools, legal consulting and other daily living issues in Seoul.

The line is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Before Babel Brigade, commonly known as bbb, is a voluntary network that provides free interpreting services to people.

Established in 2002 to celebrate the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, the voluntary group provides translation services in 17 languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Bahasa Malaysian.

Anyone who has problems communicating with Koreans can call 1588-5644 (no area code is necessary) and then press the number assigned to each language.

The caller will be automatically connected to a bbb volunteer interpreters.

The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you don't have a cell phone, just show a bbb card to any Korean, so that they can help you with their phone.

These bbb cards are available at airports, subway stations and tourist information centers.

By Park Sang-woo Staff Reporter [spark@joongang.co.kr]

Sensata Technologies Provides Portfolio of 'Green' Sensors that Help Protect Health and Benefit the Environment

Sensata Technologies. Klixon. Sensors & Controls Precision Products Business Unit

Release date: November 13, 2008

ATTLEBORO, Mass., Nov. 13 -- Sensata Technologies B.V. is producing a portfolio of sensors that help solve some of the world's toughest environmental problems.

This is not new for this engineering and manufacturing firm based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. In fact, this 92-year-old global company has been producing devices that aid the environment for three decades.

What is new are several key products it recently developed that help to combat troublesome air pollutants and global warming, and boost energy efficiency.

In June 2008, Sensata's Doug Strott presented a paper about these environmentally friendly products at Sensors Expo, one of the sensors industry's largest annual conferences. Strott and colleagues Michael Blaney and Dave Field teamed to write that paper entitled "Robust Design Enables Pressure Sensors for 'Greener' Technologies." Blaney is a marketing representative and Field is a design engineer.

Blaney said recently, "At Sensors Expo, we discussed how higher energy costs will impact companies' products. We explained that we have low-cost sensor technologies that companies need to help them deal with rising fuel costs and the greenhouse effect of their products."

Strott, an engineering manager, outlined environmental challenges that several industries face. One is stricter emissions standards scheduled to phase in between 2010 and 2014 for diesel vehicles. Another is the need to reduce fuel consumption by boosting efficiency and reliability. Additionally, appliance makers face a continually tougher mandate to produce more energy-efficient equipment.

Strott described several Sensata products that address these challenges.

They include:

o Differential Pressure Sensor (DPS), which signals a vehicle's computer when to trigger a regeneration cycle that destroys pollutants captured in a diesel-exhaust particle filter.

o Monocrystal strain gauge and capacitive sensors that measure compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank pressures, respectively.

In alternative-fuel vehicles, these measurements enable better monitoring of fuel levels.

o Capacitive pressure + temperature sensors for CNG and LNG fuel rails that improve performance and fuel economy, and reduce emissions.

o Cylinder Pressure Sensor (CPS), which provides combustion-pressure feedback in real time to optimize combustion control and reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) and PM2.5 emissions from diesel engines. PM2.5 is particulate matter created during combustion that is 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. These microscopic particles pass into the lungs and bloodstream where they can trigger health problems.

o Case-isolated, hermetic, capacitive pressure sensors that improve energy efficiency in advanced air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Piezo-resistive pressure + temperature (PPT) sensors for environmentally friendlier R744 automotive air-conditioning systems that automakers will start installing in 2011 to help slow global warming.

Sensata sensors help improve efficiency, meet new requirements

According to Blaney, "Our sensors for diesel common-rail (fuel-injection) systems provide the exciting bonus of helping to improve fuel efficiency by two to five percent.

"Normally, cutting pollutants reduces mileage, but newer common-rail systems are pressurizing fuel at levels approaching 30,000 pounds per square inch. This greater pressure enables advanced fuel-injection strategies that optimize the combustion process to reduce emissions while improving overall energy efficiency," he explained.

Sensata sensors are also built to withstand harsh conditions. This includes temperature extremes of -40 degrees Celsius to +135 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit to +275 degrees Fahrenheit), salt sprays, shock and vibration, and electrical power surges. They also operate in dusty, sandy, wet and acidic environments and perform accurately for at least 10 years. Traditionally such high-performance sensors have been costly. Sensata's sensors are designed for both high performance and low cost, two factors that enable their use in advanced systems.

They also help manufacturers meet new requirements. Since 1987, the U.S. Department of Energy has periodically tightened efficiency standards for refrigeration equipment. "Going forward, appliance makers will need low-cost, highly reliable sensors to meet these ever-stricter standards," Strott said.

"For manufacturers of refrigerators, Sensata sensors provide information about what is happening during the refrigeration cycle," Blaney explained. "This information enables manufacturers to control this cycle far more precisely so they can make equipment more energy efficient. Sensata sensors also improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial HVAC (heating, ventilating & air-conditioning) systems," he concluded.

About Sensata Technologies B.V.

Sensata Technologies is one of the world's leading suppliers of sensing, electrical protection, control and power management solutions across a broad array of industries and markets. Our products improve safety, efficiency and comfort for millions of people every day in automotive, appliance, aircraft, industrial, military, heavy vehicle, heating, air conditioning, data, telecommunications, recreational vehicle and marine applications. For more information, please visit our web site at http://www.sensata.com/.

Contacts For More Info Sensata Technologies Michael Blaney 1-508-236-3212 mblaney@sensata.com www.sensata.com

For News Media Sensata Technologies Linda Megathlin 1-508-236-1761 lmegathlin@sensata.com www.sensata.com

Source: Sensata Technologies B.V.

Web site: http://www.sensata.com/

---

Company Information:
Name: Sensata Technologies. Klixon. Sensors & Controls Precision Products Business Unit
Address: 529 Pleasant St.
City: Attleboro
State: MA
ZIP: 02703
Country: USA
Phone: 508-236-3287
FAX: 508-236-1598
http://www.sensata.com/

---

"Smart" Energy Management for China's Transmission Grid

Via Renewable Energy World:

November 13, 2008

by Lou Schwartz and Ryan Hodum

Beijing, China [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

On November 9th the Chinese government approved a US $586 billion stimulus plan focused on large-scale investment in low-income housing, water, rural infrastructure and electricity in China. Though the primary purpose of this initiative is to spur economic growth at a time when exports are falling, as the Chinese stock market is in the doldrums and GDP growth is flagging, a secondary effect of this stimulus plan may be increased investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency in China.

This effort would include accelerating efforts to achieve the goal of reducing China's energy consumption per unit of GDP by a cumulative 20% by 2010. One very promising approach for China to build energy conservation into its infrastructure is the construction of a "smart grid."

The "smart grid" is the merging of electricity infrastructure with information technology. The purpose is to add monitoring, analysis, control and communication capabilities to any national electrical delivery system to maximize efficiency while reducing energy consumption. Creating a unified power grid and upgrading aging power systems will increase productivity, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase national security.

The Need for a "Smart Grid" in China

In 2002, China established five independent electricity generating companies and several transmission companies. The five generators have an equal share of the assets — China Huaneng, China Datang, China Huadian, Guodian Power, China Power Investment — and compete to sell electricity.

The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the Southern Power Grid Corporation and the Eastern China Grid Corporation are among China's transmission companies. The largest utility in the world, SGCC serves 26 provinces and 1.08 billion people with a peak load of 343 gigawatts (GW) and total investment in grid construction valued at US $31.8 billion in 2007. China's second largest utility, China Southern Power Grid, is ranked 226th in Fortune Magazine's Global 500 listing with revenues exceeding US $30 billion.

Throughout China, the existing regional grids have weak interconnections between provinces and largely non-existent interconnections between grids. In order to solve this deficiency, the Chinese government has plans to create a unified national power grid network by 2020.

The plans include what is known as the "West-East Electricity Transfer Project," which requires the construction of three major west-east transmission corridors: North, Central and South. The transmission capacity of each corridor is expected to reach 20 GW by 2020. While planning for such major infrastructure investments, the government would be well-positioned to lay the foundation for "smart grid" capacity across the country.

The Eastern China Grid Corporation initiated a feasibility study of "smart grid" technology in October 2007. Shi Junqing, the General Manager of Eastern China Grid Corp. described the findings earlier this year. In terms of the large load on its grid, the assets that it has built into its system, the necessity of continuing to build out the network and the increasing environmental, safety, reliability and efficiency pressures that it faces, Eastern China Grid Corp. believes that the conditions are now ripe for it to put in place a smart grid system; to that end the company has established a goal of gradually putting in place the elements of a "smart grid" over the coming years.

International Collaboration on "Smart Grid"

Efforts to develop and deploy "smart grid" technology are underway across the globe, supported by industry coalitions such as the Energy Future Coalition and the GridWise Alliance in the United States, Smart Grid Europe, and Smart Grid Australia.

In the United States, for example, although the transmission grid is 99.97% reliable, brief power interruptions have cost the country nearly US $100 billion each year; apart from enhanced reliability, smart grids promise to increase efficiency of power distribution and usage, with corresponding savings in power and power consumption.

With respect to China, international cooperation that focuses on energy efficiency includes the efforts of the philanthropic arm of Google, which has awarded a grant of US $250,000 to the U.S. National Academies and the Chinese Academies of Sciences and Engineering to develop recommendations for U.S.-Chinese cooperation on renewable electricity - central to which is a focus on grid connectivity and energy storage.

The Joint US-China Cooperation on Clean Energy (JUCCCE), a non-profit organization that brings together international experts to accelerate the use of clean and efficient energy in China, has been selected by the Clinton Global Initiative to organize The China Smart Grid Cooperative. JUCCCE is positioned to raise US $770,000 to run this initiative in 2009 and has plans to partner with international companies such as Duke Energy and GridPoint to accelerate "smart grid" development in China.

This week (Nov. 10-11), JUCCCE is convening the JUCCCE Energy Forum in cooperation with the Energy Foundation and the National Development and Reform Commission. The JUCCCE Energy Forum will include a presentation on smart grids by IBM and will surely afford the opportunity to further the efforts of JUCCCE to engage the leadership in Beijing to urge the development of a plan to develop a smart grid in China.

Business Opportunities for Foreign Companies

Opportunities exist for foreign corporations to benefit from "smart grid" investments in China. In March, American-owned Composite Technology Corporation announced an order valued at approximately US $3.1 million for high efficiency conductors. In June, ABB Ltd., a Swiss-owned manufacturer of power-generation equipment, won a US $70 million order for power equipment from the State Grid Corporation for a high voltage DC (HVDC) transmission link in northeastern China to transmit 3,000 megawatts (MW) from Inner Mongolia to Liaoning Province.

Siemens recently announced an order from China Southern Power Grid Corporation to build the first 800-kV ultra high voltage DC system able to transfer 5000 MW of power to load centers on the southeast coast. In addition, IBM has developed products to implement smart grids that it is promoting throughout the world, including in China.

"Smart Grid" Accommodates Breakthrough Technology

The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has plans to create a nation-wide electric-vehicle charging network with charging stations currently installed in Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin to name a few. It was recently announced that General Motors is collaborating with the SGCC to meet Chinese market demand for the Chevy Volt.

However, without aggressive investment in "smart grid" technology, this initiative may stumble as it attempts to expand across the country. The plug-in electric vehicle will depend on network improvements as much as today's car depends on petrol stations, which will require sophisticated appliances to communicate oscillations in energy supply and demand.

Exporting Smart Grid Technology to Other Asian Countries

In addition to creating a "smart grid" infrastructure, China also has the opportunity to export "smart grid" best practices. Recently it was reported that the State Grid Corporation of China won a US $3.95 billion bid for a 25-year contract to manage the Philippines' electricity grid (arguably the largest privatization deal in Philippines' history). A significant opportunity exists for China to collaborate with the rest of the world on investing in the grid of the future.

China is in a unique position to develop the world's most advanced power distribution network by adopting smart grid technologies as it further develops and enhances its power grid. The question is whether China is willing to take the lead and be at the forefront of the "smart grid" revolution that is surely the future of worldwide power distribution.

Lou Schwartz is president of China Strategies LLC, and publisher of the China Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Report and the China Aluminum Industry Report. He has degrees in East Asian Studies from the University of Michigan and Harvard University where he studied Chinese language and literature, economics and law, among other disciplines. Lou also earned a J.D. from George Washington University Law School.

Ryan Hodum is an environmental and renewable energy professional who recently earned a Master of Arts in Global Environmental Policy from American University in Washington, D.C. with a focus on renewable energy utilization in China. He now works for David Gardiner & Associates LLC, a strategic consulting firm focused on climate and energy solutions. Ryan spearheaded the development of China Strategies' China Renewable Energy Interactive Map and the China Solar Map, which can be found on China Strategies' website.

50 Ways to Leave Your Cell Phone

Via VoIP News

Got a new VoIP-ready mobile phone? Tossing your old phone supports civil war in Africa, endangers gorillas and generates huge amounts of e-trash. Do one of these things instead.
by Paul D. Kretkowski

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering a new way to get VoIP on your cell phone — and that means upgrading to a VoIP-capable phone. But did you know that throwing your old cell phone in the garbage helps support civil war in central Africa, driving endangered gorillas closer to extinction in the process?

A little explanation: A used cell phone’s value lies mainly in small amounts of minerals in its circuits — gold, nickel and especially tantalum, a high-melting-point metal sometimes referred to as coltan. Like something from a Clive Cussler thriller, tantalum is vital to manufacturing cell phones and many other electronic devices, but 80 percent of the world’s reserves are in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). There, it is mined under frequently appalling conditions and fought over during the DRC’s ongoing civil and international wars. Tantalum-mining revenues help fuel these wars, along with the associated destruction of human lives and gorilla habitat.

Tantalum and other minerals command a premium, so cell-phone manufacturers have turned to recycling because it’s easier (and more ethical) than dealing with warlords — or commodities brokers who buy from them. An entire tantalum-recycling economy has sprung up, and now accounts for 20 to 25 percent of manufacturing input per year.

In addition, cell phones and their electronic cousins may also contain potentially toxic compounds of lead and arsenic, so it behooves us to keep them from winding up in landfills and afterward, the water supply.

Here are some of the ways that you can keep your old phone’s minerals and plastics in circulation while easing your conscience about making calls using the equivalent of a conflict diamond.

Help Yourself

1. Betterbuyback.com specializes in Sprint and Nextel phones but will buy back other manufacturers’ devices as well.

2. CellForCash returns money for cell phones, ranging up to about $100 for late-model devices.

3. CollectiveGood collects phones and donates the proceeds to groups like the Humane Society of the Unite States, CARE, The Center for Domestic Violence Prevention and, not incidentally, Congo Global Action.

4. Foneclub is the fundraising arm of U.K.-based Corporate Mobile Recycling Ltd., and it will set your school or other program up with cell-phone-donation programs that raise an average of 250 pounds (about $490). You can also donate funds raised to charities like the Spanish Red Cross or Oxfam International.

5. GRC Wireless Recycling helps organize NGO (nongovernmental organization) and school fundraising via cell-phone recycling and also directs funds from donated cell phones to charity partners.

6. iRethink exchanges donated cell phones and ink-jet and toner cartridges for rewards points convertible to cash or new imaging supplies.

7. Phone Fund helps organize old-cell-phone drives and pays your group for the phones (and other gadgets) it collects, then refurbishes or recycles them.

8. ReCellular Inc. buys old phones and phone chargers to refurbish and resell.

9. Recycle My Cell Phone recycles cell phones, PDAs and pagers and conducts education on behalf of mineral-development watchdog Earthworks.

10. Recycling for Charities donates proceeds from cell phones, PDAs, Palm devices, digital cameras and iPods to the charity of your choice.

11. RIPMobile collects cell phones and some PDAs and gives you RIPMobile Points good for various items — from Circuit City goodies to Red Cross donations.

12. SellYourCell.com will buy your cell phone based on its make and model. (Caution: SellYourCell.com generally only buys phones that are less than two years old, meaning that a four-year-old phone is essentially worthless in cash terms.)

13. TechMedics recycles cell phones and gives you a percentage of what it earns as EnviroRebates, which can be expressed as either a check to you or a donation to a wide range of charities.

14. Wireless ... The New Recyclable is wireless-industry lobbyist CTIA’s (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association) recycling initiative. Despite the goofy name, its site still leads to several ways to sell, recycle or donate your phone via eBay Inc.

Help Others

15. Cell Phones for Soldiers recycles your phone and donates a percentage as phone cards for U.S. service members, who can always use a low-cost way to dial the home front.

16. March of Dimes Foundation works to prevent premature births and aid babies who are born prematurely; cell phone donations aid this cause.

17. Shelter Alliance is a program of GRC Wireless Recycling (see above) that explicitly turns over funds from donated phones to one of 2,500 Shelter Alliance participants (including the charity of your choice if you register it).

18. Support Network for Battered Women accepts cell phones that can be reprogrammed to help domestic-violence victims call police. It also gets proceeds from phones donated via Wireless Fundraiser.com.

19. The Wireless Foundation donations help CALL TO PROTECT, which aids victims of domestic violence, and also fund The Wireless Foundation's operations. The Wireless Foundation uses wireless technology for philanthropic purposes; some phones are refurbished and given to women as an emergency lifeline. See the CTIA’s state-by-state listing of CALL TO PROTECT drop-off points.

Drop off or Mail in

20. Call2Protect is not to be confused with the domestic-violence group above; it is Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp.’s battery/cell-phone initiative, with some 30,000 drop-off sites nationwide.

21. e-cycle St. Louis accepts cell phones at 10 sites in the city and suburbs and lists several Missouri county resources as well.

22. The Freecycle Network is a clearinghouse for everything related to keeping junk out of landfills. Find the neares of its 4,218 groups for local ideas about cell-phone recycling.

23. Goodwill Industries International will sometimes take cell phones for recycling, depending on the store, then either recycle them or donate them to local law enforcement, who use them to give people an emergency 911 capacity. Locate the nearest Goodwill facility to you via the store locator, http://locator.goodwill.org/ then call to find out whether the store accepts cell-phone donations. Also, calling 800-664-6577 connects you with your nearest Goodwill store.

24. GreenCitizen Inc. accepts all kinds of electronic junk. Just walk into their San Francisco or Los Altos, Calif. facilities.

25. RECONNECT is a partnership between Goodwill Industries International and Dell; drop off unwanted electronics at participating Goodwill stores in California, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Help the Planet

26. The Basel Action Network works to raise awareness of international trade in toxic materials, such as those found in e-waste, and recommends e-Stewards, which can recycle your electronics responsibly.

27. ECO-CELL turns your cell phone into money that benefits The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

28. Toronto Zoo sends dropped-off and mailed cell phones to ECO-CELL, which donates 45 cents to $15 to the zoo’s Endangered Species Recovery Fund to support African gorilla conservation.

Manufacturer/Retailer Programs

29. Apple Inc. will recycle your iPod or cell phone (regardless of make or model). Just drop devices off at an Apple retail store or mail them in.

30. AT&T recycles its own and other manufacturers' cell phones, batteries, PDAs and accessories; see the company's dealer locator for a location near you.

31. Best Buy has recycling kiosks for cell phones, ink cartridges and rechargeable batteries inside every U.S. store.

32. Motorola Inc.'s Race to Recycle channels a portion of cell-phone proceeds to schools participating in this program.

33. Nokia provides postage-paid shipping for recycling old cell phones.

34. Office Depot Inc. accepts both cell phones and rechargeable batteries (as well as toner cartridges) at its stores .The company aslo accepts other e-waste although you may need to buy a box for shipping it to Office Depot’s recycler, Intechra LLC.

35. Sony Corp. has partnered with Waste Management to accept Sony-branded products, including Sony Ericsson phones, at locations worldwide, including North America, Asia and Europe.

36. Sprint will either buy back eligible Sprint PCS or Nextel phones, or recycle them and use the proceeds to promote kids’ Internet safety.

37. Staples Inc. stores offer free cell-phone recycling or refurbishment and donate proceeds and/or phones to charities like CollectiveGood.

38. T-Mobile USA Inc. accepts your old phone at any retail store, then donates the proceeds to T-Mobile Huddle Up, http://www.t-mobile.com/huddleup a program that helps high-risk urban kids have positive new experiences.

39. Toshiba’s Trade-In and Recycling Program will either buy back working Toshiba electronics or recycle them for the cost of shipping.

40. Verizon Wireless’s HopeLine collects all types of wireless phones and related equipment; refurbishes or recycles them; and donates phones, airtime and/or funding to domestic-violence victims, centers and programs.

Miscellaneous

41. Make sells kits for inflatable, light- and cell signal-sensitive Blubber Bots. Make a call, and the Blubber Bot somewhat spookily starts floating your way, unnerving cats and humans alike.

42. Electronics Exchange System is a free listing service for buying, selling and swapping used electronic equipment, including cell phones.

43. ElectronicsRecycling.com links to more than 1,400 firms, agencies and NGOs concerned with e-waste, and it operates the National Center for Electronics Recycling.

44. eRecycle is California’s electronics-recycling initiative. If you bought your electronic device in California, you already paid a mandatory fee to have it recycled. It's time to get your money’s worth: See this locator to find California drop-off locations for cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices.

45. exPhone is an excellent starting point for the ins and outs of cell-phone donation, and the site walks you through terminating service, wiping the phone's memory, pulling the SIM card for possible future use and choosing a worthy charity.

46. Federal Electronics Challenge is a U.S. interagency initiative encouraging greener federal purchasing and disposal of electronics. It provides agencies and facilities with resources and technical assistance to help them achieve set goals.

47. Help make art isn’t really something you can do with your phone, but check out Chris Jordan’s exhibit "Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait," which includes a representation of 426,000 discarded cell phones — the number of phones that Americans “retire” every day — among other graphic looks at U.S. consumerism.

48. Montgomery County, Md. notes that even cell phones with discontinued service can still dial 911 and suggests several donation avenues.

49. Resource Recycling's advertisers include those searching for electronic scrap.

50. TechSoup offers a lengthy list of U.S. and international electronics recyclers, refurbishers and related programs.

Britain, Abu Dhabi sign clean energy agreement

Via New Energy World Network:

Britain, Abu Dhabi Sign Clean Energy Agreement 6th November 2008

Britain has teamed with the Gulf state of Abu Dhabi to secure a mix of reliable and green energy supplies for the UK and which could see hundreds of millions of pounds pumped into the green energy revolution.

The announcements were made during a visit to the Gulf by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband.

They include a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Masdar (the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) to develop renewable energy and low carbon technology such as wind, carbon capture and storage, as well as solar and marine energy.

The agreements form part of the UK’s efforts to diversify its energy supplies and tackle climate change by promoting a global move towards renewable and low carbon technology.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, ‘I applaud the vision and leadership which Masdar has shown in investing in the development and deployment of low carbon energy technologies. The UK looks forward to collaborating with Masdar through this agreement, bringing together the best of British and Abu Dhabi expertise for the benefit not only of our two peoples but for the world as a whole.’

Miliband added, ‘As every country tackles the twin challenges of energy security and climate change, both oil producing and oil consuming nations need to diversify our energy economies. Low carbon sources - from wind and solar through wave and tidal to carbon capture and storage - can provide a new engine of global economic growth. So this partnership represents a significant contribution to our sustainable prosperity.’

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, said, ‘Securing a sustainable energy future is a challenge that requires the collaboration of governments, NGOs and corporations from around the world. This collaboration with the UK Government is very much in line with our leadership’s vision of cooperating with other governments and organizations from around the world.’

In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it would invest $15bn in Masdar, to work with a range renewable energy companies and utilities.

The deal included a £250m cleantech partnership between Qatar and the UK, to be run by the Carbon Trust.

6 November 2008
Copyright © 2008 newnet

China's GM ambition raises biosafety concerns

Source: Nature

6 November 2008

China's recent roll-out of a a US$3.7 billion research programme to develop genetically modified (GM) crops, particularly rice, has been hailed by supporters as the means to feed the country's swelling population.

But opposition remains strong due to concerns ranging from the health and environmental risks to regulation loopholes, writes Jane Qiu in Nature.

GM rice developers have shown that introducing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or other anti-insect genes can cut pesticide use, labour costs and yield losses caused by pests.

But ecologists such as David Andow, an entomologist at the University of Minnesota, say other pests have overtaken those targeted by Bt, and gene outflow through cross-pollination might be unavoidable.

Others warn that GM technology safeguards could be undermined by the monoculture of rice and lack of adjacent refuges, which would encourage resistant pests; the absence of effective labelling of GM seeds; and the illegal release of GM varieties from laboratories.

Worryingly, many stakeholders are being excluded from the agriculture ministry's biosafety evaluation process.

However, the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development warned in April that a narrow focus developing GM crops is misguided. "Without a concerted global effort to restore soil fertility, genetic modification would be futile," its president, Hans Herren, says.

Link to full article in Nature

Attributes of An Effective Leader

What I have learned over the years ... leadership at its best

Canton, Georgia - Oct 27, 2008

What I have learned over the years ... leadership at its best

What does it take to be a leader? Is everyone meant to be a leader? Can anyone be a leader? These can be tough questions to ask and to get answers to. Some say that the great leaders are born; some say that the great leaders are taught, I believe that the leader is within and it takes you to be that leader. Leadership is not necessarily a formal designation within a group, rather a leader is one that is influential in others lives particularly influential in the areas of behaviors, decisions, opinions, or attitudes. Leadership requires more than a leader personality. Who is the best leader - authoritarian leaders grow others dependant on them showing a high degree of internal solidarity; democratic leaders grow ‘group minded' individuals who are friendlier and look to peers for mutual approval; while laissez-faire leaders grow individuals who are notably lacking achievement making fewer decisions overall. With that said, it is important to note that, however, depending on the situation, different leadership types, styles, and characteristics are required to accommodate varying situations, making good and bad leaders in every situation. Anyone can become a leader, but it takes a little effort to be an effective leader. How do you become an effective leader, what are the "steps" you take to become an effective leader? Let's leave the steps to becoming a leader for another discussion, rather let's focus on the words of wisdom that can guide you through the process of becoming an effective leader. Becoming a leader is a never ending process, a lifelong journey.

Ok, so are you ready for some good words of wisdom? Let me give you a few minutes to grab your cup of coffee, or your hot chocolate, my personal favorite, turn off your phone, grab a comfy chair, and sit down, relax, and enjoy the next few moments as you think about the pieces of advice I am going to pass along to you. These are just a few of the words of wisdom I have taken with me through my journey and hope they will also be useful to you in your journey.

• Take a risk and get out of your comfort zone
• Have an open heart and an open mind
• Share rather than compare
• Become a doer and help others to become doers as well
• Take the effort to encourage rather than to criticize
• Become a great follower - the greatest leader is the greatest follower
• Understand that you are going to have to sacrifice and you are going to give up some privileges
• A great leader is never satisfied, they are always looking for more, always looking for what else they can do
• Great leaders do not quit, they always have a plan and a constant course of direction. Your plan and direction may take a few side courses throughout the years and a great leader is able to proactively accommodate those changes.
• It takes courage to succeed, courage to be different, courage to be a hard worker - do not give into the pressure, do not give up
• Never stop learning, never stop growing
• What you put into being a leader is what you will get out of it
• Always seek out the opportunities and challenges in life - be an adventure seeker
• Put your heart in it, give it what you've got
• In order to leader others you have to be able to lead yourself
• Take the time to listen - mouth closed, ears and eyes open
• You are only worth what you give away and you can only give away what you have
• Being a great leader you have to understand that you have to be proactive rather than reactive
• Positive leaders encourage the learning process while negative leaders hinder it
• A leader that is focused on me's and I's is ego driven, a leader that is focused on we's and us's is mission driven
• Only lead others where you yourself will be willing to go
• Your actions speak much louder than your words
• Every day is a new day, yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a new day, however has not come yet - focus on today and make today the best day you can make it
• Be able to use what you know - build upon your strengths
• Repetition improves everything and rehearse better than you want to perform
• Take opportunities to acknowledge others around you
• Give it a try, you would be amazed at the things you can do - remember to also encourage others to do the same
• Be willing to fail, but remember to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try it again - use failure as a key to success and do not worry about failing rather think about the chances you may miss when you do not even try
• If it is something you believe in, be willing to take the heat for unpopular decisions
• Are you willing to be the best
• Understand that you are not perfect and the best at everything - leaders tend not to make the best performers
• Do not waste another minute, take action
• Be a servant - always be willing to give to and help others
• Focus on the solution not the problem
• If you want others to follow you have to make your followers feel important, you have to explain to them exactly what you want, you have to communicate with them (don't assume that they know what you want), and when something goes wrong take the blame
• Have faith in others
• Understand that change is not instant, change takes time
• No how badly you want it, it is the extra effort that is going to get you there
• If you want to become a great leader, become a great role model
• When setting goals ensure that they are not only achievable but they are also stretchable
• Understand that conflict makes for resistance where resistance is supplied by either positive or negative energy - make sure you are running with positive energy and not negative energy
• Leaders are all about RACE - Risk (it takes good and bad risks to be a leader, are you up for the challenge), Acknowledgement (to be successful, leaders have to acknowledge those around them), Commitment (a leader is one that is committed, total commitment), and Excellence (a leader performs with excellence, all the time)
• A great leader never stops the self development process
• A great leader is always willing to help others
• A great leader recognizes the need for self-discipline in that gratification is always delayed
• A great leader has a total commitment and not a convenient commitment
• A great leader leads with honesty and good judgment
• A good leader understands that they make mistakes, a great leader learns from those mistakes
• A good leader will make sure things get done, a great leader will make sure things get done while making others look good
• A good leader sets the rules, a great leader knows when the rules can be broken to build unity
• A good leader has good communication skills, a great leader has effective communication skills where they are able to communicate in a variety of ways and at a variety of levels

And to add to those few (ok, maybe a little more than a few) words of wisdom, a couple key characteristics of an effective leader you should keep in mind as you continue your journey.

• Effective leaders are an inspiration to others
• Effective leaders take the time to coach others
• Effective leaders take the time to show others how it is done
• Effective leaders genuinely care for others
• Effective leaders are initiators
• Effective leaders are able to anticipate problems and issues
• Effective leaders are integrity-driven
• Effective leaders are built on trust
• Effective leaders facilitate high standards
• Effective leaders are always willing
• Effective leaders are achievers
• Effective leaders are visionaries
• Effective leaders are receptive

To great success as you continue your journey ...

Author Name:	Melany Goulding
Author Email:	melany@eodresources.net
Company Name:	EOD Resources