INL team recognized by DOE for energy saving work

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman has recognized a five-person team from Idaho National Laboratory with a DOE Sustainability Award for its work to save taxpayers money and reduce energy consumption at laboratory buildings.

The team -- Stephanie Austad, Kimberly Frerichs, Matthew Hammond, Christopher Ischay and Tad Pearson -- was recognized for the following work:

• Coordinating the installation of energy-efficient white roofs on several INL facilities.
• Securing INL's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certification.
• Revising two building design and planning standards to include sustainability concepts.
• Moving from fuel oil to electricity for steam heating at the Materials and Fuels Complex.
• Increasing the availability and use of alternative fuels by more than 62 percent.

These and other activities resulted in annual cost and energy savings at INL of more than $1.6 million, more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity, nearly 600,000 gallons of fuel oil and about 190,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

President Obama in 2009 signed an executive order calling on the federal government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and implement aggressive energy and water efficiency programs. In response, DOE established its Sustainability Performance Office to implement the goals. In all, DOE Sustainability Awards have been given to 31 teams and individuals for outstanding contributions in managing pollution, waste, energy, water and vehicle fleets.

Sitting tight until word comes from Costco

Before Christmas we reported that Costco is looking at locations in the Idaho Falls area. That sort of news is BizMojo Idaho's stock in trade, the stuff that keeps people coming back and the kind of story we'd like to break every day.

With January nearly half over, we figured it was time to check in with Brent Wilson of Pentad Properties and ask whether he had any news that might cause mass Pavlovian salivation.

No such luck, but it doesn't mean nothing is happening. Bound by non-disclosure agreeements, Wilson was limited in what he could say except that there are a number of restaurant chains looking at the T.G.I.Friday's location on Hitt Road.

The big question remains Costco, however. Now that the news is out, any company that might be considering a location in Idaho Falls or Ammon is waiting to see what direction the membership warehouse chain makes first. Some sites that might be out of the question now could become very appealing if Costco decides to plop down in the neighborhood.

Such is the psychology of developers. We have no commitment from Costco, true, but the Magic 8 Ball is answering, "Signs point to yes," and that's good enough for them.

Idaho foreclosure numbers down

As we've come to expect, there's good news and bad news. Yes, foreclosure filings are down, but it's because the brakes were put on robo-signing. The number could climb this year, but isn't expected to be as high as 2010.

Idaho foreclosure filings fell sharply in 2011 Idaho Economy Idaho Statesman

INL scientist receives international award

Donald M. McEligot

Donald M. McEligot, a longtime researcher at the Idaho National Laboratory, received an international leadership award at the recent International Conference on Engineering Education in Belfast, Ireland.

McEligot, a Ph.D. thermal scientist at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, also a Nuclear Science and Technology Division Fellow at INL, received the International Network for Engineering Education and Research's Leadership Award. He was cited "for visionary leadership in innovative research, consistent scholarship through international collaborations and pioneering contributions to engineering."

McEligot's current research for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science studies fundamental fluid physics and how they relate to energy efficiency and sustainability. Previously he received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Heat Transfer Memorial Award, the highest honor given for heat transfer work by that organization. He is the author of more than 60 archival publications and has completed research projects at institutes of higher education in the United States and Europe.

You should not be blogging if ...

If you're a small business person, at some point you've probably entertained the thought of starting a blog. There can be any number of reasons. You want your customers to be up to date on your latest services and products. You want to boost your online profile. You have interesting things to say.

Fair enough, but I can't tell you how many blogs I've been to where the latest entries are three or six months old. Blogs die because people lose interest, or because people discover how much work they are.

Here is an article that caught my attention this morning, by Jeff Haden of MoneyWatch. If you are a onetime blogger who groans at the thought of how your blog has died and now just sits there, you have my sympathy. If you are blogging only because you've been sold on the idea, here's what Haden has to say.


You should not be blogging if:

• You cringe at the thought of writing another post.
• Your page views are flat.
• You can't quantify a return.
• You don't even feel like trying to quantify a return.
• Your readers are not customers or potential customers.
• Your goal is to provide valuable resources to customers (high-value content should go on your Web site).
  

For the full article, click on this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57349641/should-you-stop-blogging/?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea