Paula Tellez, Sr Manager Online Testing Dell.com Analytics and Testing: Dell's Formula For Testing Success

Paula Tellez, Sr Manager Online Testing Dell.com Analytics and Testing gave a wonderful eTail West presentation today called: Dell's Formula For Testing Success.
Paula's slides are below for reference.

ICT Sector Guidance Released for Second Open Comment Period (Deadline March 4)

Are you interested in providing feedback on the GHG Protocol ICT Sector Guidance for the Product Standard?

This sector guidance is a supplement to the GHG Protocol Product Standard and is being developed in partnership with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the Carbon Trust. All the chapters have been revised based on the feedback received during the first comment period in early 2012. Once the second public comment period is complete, additional revisions will be made and the final guidance will be released in mid-2013. ie. if you have expertise related to a specific chapter, then focus your comments on the chapters most relevant to you (e.g. if you provide cloud services you may choose to review the Cloud Computing and Data Center Services chapter only).

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change.

March 4, 2013 is the deadline to provide comments, and more information is here.

PODCAST: Food 4 Social Change Interviews Gratitude Gourmet's Mary Vincent

PODCAST: Food 4 Social Change Interviews Gratitude Gourmet's Mary Vincent.

Podcast Link Here.

Cities Invited to Pilot Test the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Want your City involved? More information and how to get involved is below.

The World Resources Institute (WRI), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) jointly launched the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GPC) (Pilot Version 1.0) that helps cities consistently track and report their GHG emissions. The GPC represents the first harmonized framework to support city performance tracking and low-carbon development. To test the practicality and relevance of the framework and develop case studies of best practices, cities from around the world are invited to pilot test the draft GPC. We are seeking cities that have already conducted inventories and can compare their experiences to our methods; or cities that have the capacity to undertake an inventory process this year. The pilot phase will begin in March 2013 and last until September 2013 . Feedback from the pilot test will be integrated into the final draft, due early 2014.

The Terms of Reference and Application Form for the pilot project, and other relevant documents about the GPC are available here . Please contact Wee Kean Fong (wkfong@wri.org) about participating in the pilot test. The deadline for application is March 15, 2013.

Energy Manager Today: Obama Talks Energy Efficiency, Fracking, Renewables in State of Union

Here's a detailed Energy Manager Today article discussing Obama's State of the Union Energy Plans.

Neul introduce witespace single chip solution

Neul, the spin off from Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR), today announced a single chip solution for whitespace use based on their weightless standard.

The ASIC known as Iceni works across the whole UHF band (470 – 790MHz) and is easy to interface to micro-controllers and CPUs such as the ARM M3 making it ideal for M2M solutions. The chip is also small, low power and low temperature.

It can operate using both 6 or 8 MHz channels and uses daptive digital modulation schemes and error correction methods can be selected according to the trade-off between data rate and range required for a given application as well as supporting over-the-air encryption. The chip also supports programmable IO allowing it to control external parts of the solution including the RF stage and thus the transmit power (which is essential to meet any local regulations).

Neul currently dominate the whitespace arena and the technology is well suited to M2M applications - probably more sure than cellular based systems using 2G or 3G. The Neul solution can support thousands (if not more) end points and support large distances between devices (the greater the distance, the lower the bandwidth, but this generally isn't an issue for M2M installations).

Neul are conducting trials in the UK as well as other countries, however although Ofcom has made whitespace devices license exempt, it mandates a central database that contains geo-information about locations, frequencies supported and power levels. Unfortunately Ofcom have not yet implemented the central database solution.

Cost of new wind farms in Brazil and Australia less than gas and coal

According to a New Scientist Article, the cost of new wind farms in Brazil and Australia are less than gas and coal. 

EXCELLENT News!

Institute of International European Affairs Infographic: 5 Scenerios to Reach Energy Roadmap 2050

Europe has a goal of reducing its emissions by 80-95% by 2050, which means near total decarbonisation of the energy system. 

In 2011, the European Commission published the Energy Roadmap 2050, which explores five key scenarios for decarbonisation by 2050.

An infographic by the Institute of International European Affairs examines these five scenarios and highlights conclusions that can be drawn about the future EU energy landscape.

1. High Energy Efficiency
2. Technologies Compete Openly
3. High Renewable Energy Sources
4. Delayed Carbon Captured Storage (CCS)
5. Low Nuclear

The Roadmap will be the subject of an important vote in the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee on 24 January 2013. The Parliament’s report, prepared by rapporteur Niki Tzavela (EFD, Greece) is supportive of the Commission’s Roadmap and its conclusions.

The data from the latest infographic is drawn from the European Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050 (COM 2011 885) and accompanying Impact Assessments (SEC(2011)1565/1 and SEC(2011)1565/2).

This content is part of the IIEA Environment Nexus, co-funded by the European Parliament.

Clean Tech and Green Business 35% Discount on Wiley Books

Good News!
Clean Tech and Green Business members receive a 35% discount on Wiley ebooks. Just use code DSUG35 when placing an order online at oreilly.com. 

Ofcom allows high power PMSE devices

Ofcom, the Super Regulator that deals with radio and broadcasting (amongst other things) has published a statement on the use of high power devices for Program making and special events (PMSE).

Before the digital switchover devices such as radio mikes and other PMSE devices could use channel 69 (which lies in 800MHz) and their licenses expired at the end of 2012. However Ofcom is continuing to allow their use until this spectrum is awarded to a new licensee after the current 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum auctions end (the award is expect by March 2013).

Ofcom allocated channel 38 for PMSE devices (606 - 614 MHz), but only for low power devices (under 50mW EIRP), now Ofcom is also allowing higher power devices (up 10 10W EIRP) to operate in the lower 2 channels (within channel 38), i.e. 606.7 MHz and 607 MHz.

Most PMSE is low power use (such as radio mikes), however outdoor events such as golf or other sporting activities can use higher power. Ofcom has performed a risk analysis and found that the possibility of interference with other low power devices (which can use another channel) or neighbouring services is minimal.

The statement is available here and stakeholders can respond on-line.

What Will You Do? Think - Eat - Save - World Environmental Day

Think.Eat.Save – Reduce your foodprint!
Did you know there is an extended environmental impact of Food Waste? 
Not only does discarded food produce harmful methane emissions when stashed in landfills, but it also wastes the resources used in food production and transport. 

The Theme for this year's United Nations Environmental Programme World World Environment Day is Think-Eat-Save. Read More Here.

Ofcom proposes new DTT multiplex in 600MHz

Ofcom the super regulator that covers many operations including broadcasting and spectrum allocations is proposing to open up the 600MHz band for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasts. The 600MHz band is actually made up of frequencies from 550-606 MHz in 8MHz channels (known as channels 31 to 37). This band was cleared when the analogue transmission services were switched off.

The new DTT service will utilise DVB-T2 and MPEG4 which allows more spectral efficiencies than older DVB-T technology and MPEG4 compresses video more efficiently than MPEG2 which current non-DS DTT services use. Program making and special events (PMSE) services will still be allowed to reside in the band as will whitespace technology (this uses localised unused spectrum to offer wireless broadband/communication services).

Ofcom is acting in accordance with EU spectrum policy, whereby the current DTT services which operate in 700MHz should move to the 600MHz band and 700MHz will be used for wireless broadband services, though migration will not happen before 2018.

Thopugh this is a proactive mode for Ofcom, many set-top boxes built for DTT will not operate in 600MHz and new systems will have to be purchased.

Ofcom is proposing to make the license available immediately at a cost of £180,000 with a minimum period until 2018 but with a 12 month notice period so Ofcom can migrate current services into this band.

The consultation is available here and interested stakeholders may respond on-line.

Steven Chu Time Interview & Innocent World Citizens

AAAS: Alaska

Today, Al Gore published a blog post featuring Steven Chu's Time interview quote:

“Ultimately we have a moral responsibility to the most innocent victims of adverse climate change. Those who will suffer the most are the people who are the most innocent: the world’s poorest citizens and those yet to be born. There is an ancient Native American saying: “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” A few short decades later, we don’t want our children to ask, “What were our parents thinking? Didn’t they care about us?”

This reminds me of many conferences, conversations with folks concerned about climate change, and people I know in countries who are severely impacted by climate change even though they did not have any significant part in emitting greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. Bhutan.

Even in the United States, innocent citizens and communities have been suffering.
While still at Sun Microsystems, I attended the 2007 AAAS San Francisco conference, and this AAAS Video featuring Alaskan Citizens already suffering, and seeing these Alaskan people sitting in front of me in the front row at the conference impacted me in such a way that I realized I needed to try to address this, and I left Sun in May 2008 to start Green Star Solution and Gratitude Gourmet, and here is the 1st Gratitude Gourmet Article discussing this AAAS Conference called Climate Change, Health, and Ethics.

Here's the 2007 AAAS Video Link which I recommend you watch and share:
http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/climate_change_2007a.ram

TODAY: Webcast on the Department of Energy’s Energy Literacy Initiative

I was honored to be a part of the San Francisco Stakeholder Team that helped develop these Energy Literacy Standards.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is sponsoring a Webcast today, February 6 called "An Energy Literate Citizenry from K-to-Gray: A Webcast on the Department of Energy’s Energy Literacy Initiative".

More information and registration is below.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/198384864

This webinar will detail the Energy Literacy Framework, which identifies concepts every citizen should know to be energy literate. With this document, Department of Energy (DOE) aims to empower energy educators to apply an interdisciplinary, systems-based approach to teaching the physical, natural and social sciences necessary for a comprehensive understanding of energy. The Energy Literacy Framework was developed through a series of workshops and an extensive review and comment process involving the 13 federal partner agencies which make up the U.S. Global Change Research Program and many other education partners. With the Energy Literacy Framework complete and in print, work continues involving education partners to advance energy education with audiences from K-Gray. Learn more about the Energy Literacy Framework (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/energy_literacy.html) and energy education resources now available.
Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST

Ofcom proposes to allow 4G on all 2G and 3G bands

Ofcom, the Super regulator, has opened a consultation to allow the liberalisation of all existing 2G and 3G bands so they can also be used for 4G (LTE) services.

This would mean O2 and Vodafone can refarm both their 900MHz 2G spectrum and their 2.1GHz 3G spectrum, EE (the combined entity of Orange and T-Mobile) have already started refarming of their 1800MHz spectrum, but they will be allowed to also refarm their 2.1GHz 3G spectrum. 3UK only have (currently) 2.1GHz 3G spectrum but will be able to refarm this and when EE transfer around 25% of their 1800MHz spectrum to 3UK they will also be allowed to use this for 4G (though this is not expected to happen until September 2013).

This is separate from any spectrum that is currently being auctioned (800MHz and 2.6GHz) though Ofcom has not yet announced who is bidding for what spectrum.

3UK have announced that when they launch 4G services, they will not differentiate on price between 4G and 3G services. The consultation is available here and interested stakeholders can respond on-line.