The Solar Economy Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future
March 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Solar Economy Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future
The global economy and our way of life are based on the exploitation of fossil fuels, which not only threaten massive environmental and social disruption through global warming but, at present rates of consumption, will run out within decades, causing huge industrial dislocation and economic collapse. Even before then, the conflicts it causes in the Middle East and elsewhere will be frighteningly exacerbated.
The alternate exists: renewable energy from renewable sources – above all, solar. Substituting renewable for fossil resources will take a new industrial revolution to avert the worst of the damage and establish a new international order.
It can be done, and it can be done in time. The Solar Economy, by one of the world’s most effective analysts and advocates, lays out the blueprints, showing how the political, economic and technological challenges can be met using indigenous, renewable and universally available resources, and the enormous opportunities and benefits that will flow from doing so.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent look at the energy industry as a WHOLE.
As another reviewer has pointed out this book will not be easy going for everyone. A lot of it written in rather a dry style and is dense with good points. i.e. it is not written in the style of a popular science book. On the other hand this is what makes it so interesting and convincing in its arguments.
The other thing I liked about it was that it takes a very broad view of different energy sources and considers their implications at every level. One of the main points is that when considering the efficiency of an energy source one should account for the energy wasted at every stage of the supply chain rather than the amount of energy going into and coming out of the generation plant. For example the supply chain for coal is Mining - Refining - Shipping - Coal-fired power station - National grid (high voltage) - NG (medium voltage) - Distribution (low voltage). Many of these are energy intensive processes. The supply chain for nuclear is even worse. Compare that to the on-site generation solar supply chain: PV installation - Distribution (indefinitely at no further cost). Many of the true costs of the fossil fuel supply chain is not paid by the consumer or even by the companies involved in supply. The author also considers the social costs involved, which many people seem to be willing to ignore.
There are also some good insights into the oil industry. The most interesting one that comes to mind is how the oil using industries are dependent on each other for the cheap prices of oil. When crude oil is refined the proportions of different products cannot be varied to a great degree. A certain proportion will be kerosene for plane fuel, a certain proportion will be for automobile fuel, a certain proportion usable by the chemicals industry and so on. If the demand for automobile fuel decreases due to efficient engines and the demand from other industries stays the same then the other industries oil prices will go up to cover the cost. This gives the reason for the chemicals industry’s opposal to fuel duty. This gives all oil using industries an incentive to keep their demand in line with everybody else’s i.e. steadily increasing.
An inspiring book that doesn’t rely on its writing style. It gets by purely on its ideas.
4 Stars Throw away society is flushing our planet down the pan
I liked this book, it gets a bit heavey and technical at times and I indeed had to have a breather once or twice, but it is one of the few books I wanted to read again and had too. I was already a convert to living off grid in Spain with solar and wind energy and this book a surprise Xmas gift from my son only strenghed my renewable off grid living decision. Im no eco warrior or green fanatic Im just ahead of the game, this book lets you know how little of everything we have left not just oil and coal and gas but every metal and mineral we take for granted. Our throw away society is flushing this planet down the pan. Our response till its too late is like the drunk i the pub, mines a pint please, goodbye leave the light on it will turn its self off !
4 Stars Current trends indicate the world wide burning of fossil fuels is likely to flare by 50 percent between 1990 and 2010
All economic activity relies on the physical and chemical conversion of materials from one form into another, and the conversion of fuels into the energy need to distribute and consume the resultant products.
Energy and raw materials are the fundament of our economies.
World energy consumption show that 32 per cent is generated by burning crude oil, 25 per cent by burning coal, and 17 per cent by burning natural gas. Five per cent comes from nuclear fuels, and another 14 per cent from combustion of biomass, and hydroelectricity accounts for 6 per cent of all energy consumption.
Current trends indicate the world wide burning of fossil fuels is likely to flare by 50 percent between 1990 and 2010.
Is Nuclear energy life threatening? No. New pebble reactors will provide safe energy and safeguard against the possibility a critical chain reaction. France is building a new experimental fusion reactor and if successful could move the world into a hydrogen society. Long-term the world has infinite energy.
Scheer wants an immediate shift away from “life threatening fossil fuel resource trap” Solar=Hydrogen=electrical, “Only with the transition to renewable resources, and thus to a solar global economy can economic logic and with it the future path of economic development be radically altered.”
Fallacy #1: Sheer says, increases in productivity and efficiency must stabilize resource consumption at its current level. Energy stabilize needs to be replaced with energy expansion. Life gets better as more energy becomes available. Energy consumption will only increase, increasing many fold over the next decade. Allocative efficiency favors big business and restricts competition.
Fallacy #2: Sheer says, “as reserves of crude oil, natural gas and certain strategically important minerals approach exhaustion, resource crisis are becoming more intense.” Who has economic control? Who sets the prices for crude? And in the end Who will pay for them? It takes time to migrate from one energy source to another. Large capital investment is required to build infrastructure. The point of no return begins as banks and corporations begin building the new energy future. Energy shortages are short term crisis that push innovation and adoption of newer and cheaper fuels. Capitalist use their profits from a crisis to build the new infrastructure and world keeps on running.
Fallacy #3. Sheer says, “Energy and mineral resources are found in relatively few locations around the globe”. Wow, amazing fear factor. In the 70s and 80s the US reduced dependancy on foreign oil by 50% before oil became cheap again. Today, the US and Canada represent a vast empty quarter of oil in the form of shale and tar. Canada is becoming an important source of oil. Wyoming will be developed as a new Texas oil source. Cheaper oil extraction system will become popular and make accessible oil in the western hemisphere.
Sheer is the realist. Sheer responses “but which the modern techno-pundits now imbue with bright promise) has been dazzled by partial, faddishly exaggerated and overgeneralized reports of the actual developments”. Change requires risk. Innovation surges and falls before maturing.
3 Stars Tough read, but interesting
The first time I tried to read this book, it confused me so much I had to put it down for a year. The author mixes a paragraph or two of insight and vision within pages of example and data. On, this my second, read I am doing better by skimming past the long lists of examples.
I would love to see this book boiled down to about 20 pages, with another 20 of optional documentation.
What the author does for the reader is lay out the foundation of the modern energy system, and its hidden costs. In great detail. Then he addresses the technical aspect of several different forms of “solar” or renewable energy technologies, and their potential.
I am learning quite a bit, even if I have to take it in small doses
2 Stars A warning…
Scheer’s previous work on this matter was entitled “A Solar Manifesto”. That should give you a pretty accurate idea as to his opinions on the matter. If you looking for a somewhat-balanced view of the coming renewable energy economy, look elsewhere (for example, Hawken’s “Natural Capitalism”). If you looking for a neo-Luddite environmentalist rant, this book is exactly what you are looking for.
There are numerous flaws in Scheer’s reasoning. For example,
1: He repeatedly calls lack of taxes a “subsidy”.
2: He ignores that the most promising photovoltaic technologies are based on things like titanium and ruthenium, which are not renewable and by his own data are in short supply. Even in the best case they are a complex technology that requires big, centralized plants to product (reasonably) cheaply.
3: He a priori dismisses anything big or centralized.
4: He considers a system that uses more human labor a GOOD thing.
5: In 325 pages, he never mentions the cost of PV in $$/kwh, because it would undermine his point.
6: He repeatedly insults everyone who isn’t in his camp. The word “blind” must appear a hundred times in this work.
I think the greatest example of Scheer’s muddled thinking is the final sentence of the book.
“Renewable resources will bring a new era of wealth-creating economic development - initiated not by bureaucratic fiat, but by the free choices of individuals”.
I think many people would agree with this. Now, if Scheer hadn’t spent the previous two chapters describing in detail the many bureaucratic fiats he wanted in order to enforce his ends upon free people, he may actually finished his book with a coherent point.
From a little earlier…
“Instead [eco-taxation proposals] must be founded on a clearly articulated strategy to drive nuclear and fossil fuel out of the market…
At least he is honest.
Green Living For Dummies For Dummies Home and Garden
March 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Green Living For Dummies For Dummies Home and Garden
Want to do your part to reduce energy consumption, waste, and pollution; clean up the environment, and save the planet? Green Living For Dummies is packed with practical suggestions you can follow to make your lifestyle greener by doing as little damage as possible to the planet and the animal and plant life that depend on it.
This practical guide delivers an array of realistic practices and changes you can undertake to help the environment and create a better home for yourself and your loved ones. You’ll discover easy and innovative ways to make a difference by reducing energy use and waste, scaling back reliance on your car, and even making minor adjustments to your diet. You’ll also find how to live green at work and in your community, and you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how these changes benefit both the environment and your own health and well-being! Discover how to:
- Go green gradually
- Make eco-friendly home improvements
- Work greener transportation into your lifestyle
- Save money by going green
- Eat locally and organically
- Raise your children’s environmental awareness
- Reduce waste by repairing, restoring, and reusing
- Become a green consumer
- Invest in green companies for fun and profit
Complete with handy lists of things you can do to make a difference right away and down the road Green Living For Dummies is the resource you need to start taking steps toward shrinking your footprint.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star This is one of the most absurd books I have read!
The ridiculousness of this book can be seen by a few quotes from chapter 7: Getting Green in the Yard.
“… in addition to chemicals for killing weed and pests, you’re likely to find gas-powered lawn mowers and electric tools. Gasp!”
How do you remedy this deplorable situation?
“Replace This… [an] electric drill, With This… [a] Drill with rechargeable batteries”
What, pray tell, do you use to recharge the batteries?!
“Replace This… [an] electric or gas chainsaw With This… Manual pocket chainsaw”
Are you serious?! This is a backing tool for cutting up branches for firewood. If you had to do some yard clean-up, a hand saw, for the most part would be more practical. For anything mildly heavy duty, this would not replace a chainsaw by any means.
“…sell or give away the electrical and gas-powered tools so that they’re reused.”
Shouldn’t you throw them away so they don’t continue to pollute? Or does that just produce more garbage? Well, then why not just keep using your filthy power mower until it gives up the ghost?
Just a further comment on recharging batteries with solar panels: The only reason this may be remotely affordable for the average household is because the production of these units is heavily subsidized by the government (which means, of course, our tax dollars). It is very similar to the bio fuel situation where it is absolutely unsustainable without huge tax breaks and government cash. This is simply the way things are folks! I could say more, but if you’re really curious about this book, check it out of the library. Spend your money on authors more deserving of your hard-earned cash.
1 Star A Disappointment and a Waste
Some of the advice was simply absurd and without logic. Wanted a practical resource, but this wasn’t it. This is the first Dummies book that I’ve ever been disappointed in. There needs to be a practical green living book, for real people.
5 Stars green living for dummies
A must for parents and grandparents , who want to leave a clean living place for their children and grandbabys . I try to live green , but even I, have learned much more I can do to help planet earth,. Written in an easy to read format ,;; reccomended. From growing your own vegetables ,to renewable energy sources.
5 Stars Soup to Nuts Guide
This book covers a vast amount of information in the typical Dummy fashion. If you know nothing about living a green lifestyle, Green Living for Dummies will teach you the basics and lots more. Because of the breadth of this book, virtually everyone will learn from it.
The book begins like most green living books do, with an overview of the importance of being green for our deeply troubled Earth.
However, unlike most eco-friendly books I’ve read, this one covers the gamut:
Green at Home: includes a section on detecting and banishing health hazards like asbestos and lead.Basics on green remodeling and building and on green cleaning.
Chapter on garbage. This was great, as part of the problem is the proper disposal of unwanted stuff. Includes how and what to recycle, including what to do with the problematic computers and cell phones.
Chapter on growing your own food.
The chapter on how to purchase the best green and ethical food was excellent.
Subsequent chapters included green clothing, ethical investments, donations and banking.
Transportation, green travel…
Even working in a green environment was covered.
Like I said, a green soup to nuts books. Lots of good, current information. Highly recommended.
Author of award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet
The Clean Tech Revolution The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity
March 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Clean Tech Revolution The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity
When industry giants such as GE, Toyota, and Sharp and investment firms such as Goldman Sachs are making multibillion-dollar investments in clean technology, the message is clear. Developing clean technologies is no longer a social issue championed by environmentalists; it’s a moneymaking enterprise moving solidly into the business mainstream. In fact, as the economy faces unprecedented challenges from high energy prices, resource shortages, and global environmental and security threats, clean tech—technologies designed to provide superior performance at a lower cost while creating significantly less waste than conventional offerings—promises to be the next engine of economic growth.
In The Clean Tech Revolution, authors Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder identify the major forces that have pushed clean tech from back-to-the-earth utopian dream to its current revolution among the inner circles of corporate boardrooms, on Wall Street trading floors, and in government offices around the globe. By highlighting eight major clean-tech sectors—solar energy, wind power, biofuels and biomaterials, green buildings, personal transportation, the smart grid, mobile applications, and water filtration—they uncover how investors, entrepreneurs, and individuals can profit from this next wave of technological innovation. Pernick and Wilder shine the spotlight on the winners among technologies, companies, and regions that are likely to reap the greatest benefits from clean tech—and they show you why the time to act is now.
Groundbreaking and authoritative, The Clean Tech Revolution is the must-read book to understand and profit from the clean technologies that are reshaping our fast-changing world.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Clean Tech to the Rescue
I believe that a sustainable, domestic energy supply is critically important to the economic vitality and security of the United States, or any country for that matter. Another looming crisis in the southwestern United States, and many other parts of the world, is a shortage of fresh water. This well-researched book documents numerous new and emerging technologies to address these problems, and identifies the companies developing them.
“Clean tech refers to any product, service, or process that delivers value using limited or zero nonrenewable resources and/or creates significantly less waste than conventional offerings… Clean tech covers four main sectors: energy, transportation, water, and materials.”
The authors make a couple of macro level points. Power generation will be more distributed in the future. Solar, wind, and biofuels will enable greater predictability of energy costs, compared to the price volatility of fossil fuels.
Here’s a synopsis.
SOLAR ENERGY
“Within a decade, solar will reach price parity with other energy sources,” according to Bill Gross, CEO of high-tech incubator Idealab.
An interesting factoid from this chapter: “Solar modules are actually less efficient at very high temperatures, so a rooftop system on a clear 70-degree day in Seattle produces more power than the same-size system broiling under 110 degrees n Phoenix.” Of course, this begs the question, how many clear 70-degree days are there in Seattle?
Another interesting point is that solar is selling well in the urban area of Bangalore, India, simply because the electrical grid is so unreliable.
“Because of the nature of the solar business, it is likely the electronics giants in the solar industry, such as Sharp, Sanyo, and SunPower, that are likely to be the big winners, rather than the energy giants such as Shell and BP.”
WIND POWER
“Of all widely available renewable sources of electricity, utility-scale wind power is the most cost-competitive with conventional coal, natural gas, or nuclear generation today. And that’s a key reason why wind energy… is and will continue to be the domain of large, global players worldwide.”
“Germany and Denmark get upward of 15% of their electricity from wind.”
One interesting product is the Variblade, which extends in low wind, and retracts in high wind. “Conventional turbines actually have to be shut off when the wind is too strong, to prevent damage.”
BIOFUELS AND BIOMATERIALS
The catchphrase of this chapter is “carbohydrate-based economy” as opposed to a hydrocarbon economy. In Brazil, “the price for 100% ethanol [is] less than half that of petrol gasoline.” Biofuels can be made from such crops, given flexibility to produce whatever crop is most productive in a given region: in Brazil they use sugar cane; in Europe they use rapeseed; in the U.S., biodiesel is made from soybeans.
Ethanol in the U.S. comes mostly from corn, but the trend to watch is nonfood sources such as switchgrass, agricultural waste such as corn husks, and forestry waste. The industry jargon for this is “cellulosic ethanol.”
Because biofuels can be produced from locally produced crops, there is less need to transport materials from far away, as we do with tankers of oil from the Middle East.
One downside of E85 ethanol is that it “gets about 80% of the mileage performance of gasoline in today’s vehicles. This lower energy content must be calculated into the cost of ethanol at the pump.”
The authors point out that “diesel cars are more efficient, going about 30% farther than a gasoline engine on a gallon of fuel, and they can run on biodiesel.”
Green Technologies of Cambridge, MA is taking a different approach by harvesting algae from sewage and other waste.
The chapter also covers bioplastics. Walmart is switching to bioplastics in its packaging to achieve better price stability compared with the price volatility of petroleum-based plastics.
GREEN BUILDINGS
“Today’s green buildings use some 30% less energy… and they are generally brighter, healthier, and more aesthetically pleasing. Often built with little of no additional up-front cost, green offices, for instance, pay back not only in energy savings but also in greater employee retention, attendance, and productivity.”
The U.S. Dept. of Energy estimates that buildings are responsible for 48% of all U.S. energy usage and 76% of electricity demand.
“In Austria, efficient housing advocates predict that one quarter of new homes by 2010 will be so-called passive houses, which use up to 75% less energy.”
Lighting burns about 22% of electricity produced worldwide. “LED lights are up to 10 times more efficient than standard incandescent lights (which waste up to 90% of their energy as heat) and use 10% to 30% less electricity than compact fluorescent bulbs.” LED lights also last 10 to 15 years. The authors point out that the cleanest power source of all is efficiency, also known as a “negawatt” - a unit of conserved energy.
PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION
On the topic of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) the authors note, “not all hybrids are created equal. Many, notably the Lexus models, use the electric motor more for its power boost to the gasoline engine than to run as often as possible in emission-free electric mode.”
I liked this quote from Martin Eberhard, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors: “As an entrepreneur I’ve learned that the right time to enter a market is when your product is just barely possible. .. If it’s really easy, then you’re too late.”
Honda’s Home Energy Station is a device that refuels a compressed natural gas (CNG) powered Honda Civic, by hooking up to the residential natural gas line.
This chapter also includes a section on electric scooters, also called Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).
SMART GRID
“The North American grid wastes, or loses, up to 20% of the energy transmitted and distributed through its arteries.” It’s inefficient and antiquated.
“A smart grid will look very different from today’s system–enabling utilities to more efficiently deploy both centralized and distributed energy, and for consumers to more efficiently and economically monitor ad manage their energy usage, adjust consumption and behavior, and more easily feed electrons from solar PV, fuel cells, and other distributed clean-energy sources into the grid.”
“EPRI’s IntelliGrid Consortium… is working to establish an open standard for smart-grid interoperability.”
MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES
This chapter is primarily about battery chargers and portable fuel cells (hydrogen and butane) for electronic devices. The U.S. military is investing in this sector. One particularly interesting emerging technology is the ultracapacitor (also called a supercapacitor) — “basically turning a capacitor into a battery.”
WATER FILTRATION
While most of the book focuses on energy topics, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it includes water technologies. I think water scarcity is an impending crisis, so I was interested to learn more about this sector.
Purification technologies include desalination, reserve osmosis, nano-based membranes, and ultraviolet light. A recurring theme in this book, this chapter discussed distributed generation as opposed to centralized plants.
Reducing waste is also a huge opportunity. “Some 30% of the water supply leaks out on its journey to the household tap or factory pipe, no unlike the loss of electricity in grid transmission and distribution. Many Americans get their water from pipes that were laid when Lincoln was president.” Leak detectors help the Las Vegas Water District save “more than 575 million gallons of water, enough to supply 3200 homes, in 2 years.”
Submetering is a technology for apartment buildings with a single water meter, so landlords can hold tenants accountable for water consumption.
CLEAN TECH MARKETING
There are five key points in this chapter:
1. “Clean tech cannot go mainstream if it’s viewed as a premium item.”
2. “Being clean is not enough–these have to be better products.”
3. “Language is critical to the success of marketing clean tech.” The words green, renewable, alternative, and clean all evoke different perceptions among consumers.
4. “It has to be easy, accessible, and convenient.”
5. “Remember the cool factor.”
5 Stars Clean Tech Hubs
The chapter on “Create your won Silicon Valley” is exceptional and a must read for any city seeking to create a local clean tech center. The authors bring extensive experience and provide examples of cities that have been successful in germinating clean tech firms.
3 Stars Decent book surveying current major players
This is a decent book with a useful catalog of the major activities and the major players in the clean-tech space. However, I was less than satsified with the quality of the research and the writing. I am willing to believe that the author’s premise (when they introduce the potential of various technologies that they talk about) is true. But, because the premise is backed by little or no “solid” research that clearly draws out a defendable cause-and-effect relationship, I am not willing to believe that the authors’ premise is true.
3 Stars Turns Green into Greed
I hope we do not attempt to abandon altruistic appeals and implement sin taxes as this book recommends. Sin taxes will cause backlash. Cap and trade - yes, carbon taxes - maybe, but sin taxes - no way.
On the other hand Pernick and Wilder have compiled a nice reference for green investors.
5 Stars Excelente atención y Buen libro
Excelente atención de parte de Amazon y el libro se observa bastante interesante. Hasta la lectura que llevo lo recomiendo ampliamente. Saludos
José
Clean Money Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom
March 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Clean Money Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom
In Clean Money, John Rubino, Editor of GreenStockInvesting.com, introduces you to the world of clean tech (also known as green tech) and its wealth creation potential. Throughout the book, he explores a variety of clean energy sources–from solar power to biofuels–and shows how these renewable resources will spawn successful companies and rising share prices. Page by page, you’ll discover the technologies that will drive this boom and become familiar with the state of their markets, their growth prospects, and the companies that are best positioned to become tomorrow’s success stories.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A must read for the novice investor
John’s book provides the beginning investor in clean technology an excellent overview of this complex and ever moving market. His writing style is clear and jargon free. If you’re looking to get into clean tech investing then this is a great place to start.
5 Stars One of only two books I’d recommend right now..
The other would be The Coming Collapse of the Dollar, also by John Rubino.
Rubino does an awesome job in Clean Money to do what he did in Collapse, he gives you a strategy for investing in an emerging market.
When I read Collapse, I was blown away. His recommendations were WAY ahead of their time and 100% accurate.
He earned my trust with his first book, and I’m a big fan of this book. I highly recommend it to not just environmentally conscious investors, but for anyone wanting SOMETHING to invest in with this dismal economy.
5 Stars Excellent Investing Book
I read a lot of investing book and found “Clean Money” to be one of the best I’ve read in the past year. Not only is it clear and concise, but it gives you many specific investing ideas in that it lists specific stocks to consider at the end of every chapter. A job well done.
5 Stars Good Primer
Following several economic disaster books (which, I hasten to add, proved to be prescient), John appears to be climbing out of his bunker and looking at the bright side of coming energy crises. This book is niche play. The book does not profess to aim at techies nor does it offer high-powered investors specific alternative energy investments. (Some companies are mentioned emblematically, but these are not prominent.) What the book provides is an excellent point for those starting to think about this topic. There were some funny parts that underscore the limitations of writing a book about a fast-moving area. The mention of $140-per-barrel oil seems quaint (painfully so to energy investors), and certainly the mention of Iceland’s booming economy based on energy brought out a chuckle given the recent collapse of their entire banking system, but you cannot blame John for these.
Overall, as in any technological revolution, progress will be explosive, focused and somewhat difficult to predict. Alternative energy companies may go through bubble territory at some point and transition to a legitimate, central part of our economy, provided the numbnut bankers haven’t completely screwed up the the economy. Serious investors should start thinking about these topics; Clean Money is a good starting point.
4 Stars Green and Clean is big business and this book is a great review.
Here is a great book very well written and researched right on the green money by being highly informative besides unbiased. Hats off to the author. The book has no biases or agenda and with easy reading informs us on all aspects of this huge industry in the making now*.
As one example, did you know that China’s meet consumption doubles every 10 years and India consumes twice as much poultry currently then it did at the turn of the century, just 8 years ago. While global population is growing in the very low single digits, meat consumption is likely to grow far faster or by 25%, by year 2020. Producing meat is a huge user/abuser of water and so clean water will likely be a huge business -and problem- in the future.
There are many such real examples across the whole spectrum on why the green tech boom will present enormous opportunities, not just challenges. At the end of each chapter the author lists some companies which are part of the industry/tropic he reviewed.
One thing which was incomplete is the section on investing in international stocks, this was the only feeble part. As many of the most interesting green companies reside outside the US and so besides offer the investor geographical, national as well as currency diversification.
Investing in non-US country shares, in the US, is always more expensive commission wise. And its very important to get all the dividends and rights offerings, i.e. the shareholder benefits. In the past, regardless of what they say to you, US foreign specialist brokers on this have been less then good. And all are more expensive to deal with. Also, repatriation of funds and gains/dividends is rarely an issue of concern. The section on how to trade foreign stocks could/should be expanded on.
There should be a good follow-up on that, as many US residents/citizens want to get going internationally but are understandably naive on this and should not rely on US brokers for trade executions besides research on which companies to consider for investment.
What the author should state, as one example, is that true believers in foreign markets, (which lets face it more USA savers should be now, post US crisis/fallback), should consider opening a brokerage account directly in that country…even visit that country if they want, as it would be US tax deductible. That way they will save much on regular brokerage commissions which is a continued expense for the life of the investment. Depending on how much they plan investing, they can tax deduct a trip/holiday, and besides then get the local broker company research…and perhaps find an independent objective local source of information.
Paul A. Renaud.
www.thaistocks.com
* “There will be hundreds of billions of dollars worth of alternative energy investments made around the world over the next two decades, creating millions of new jobs.” Change For America A progressive blueprint for the 44th President. Edited by Mark Green and Michele Jolin Just Published, 2009.
Photovoltaics Guidebook for Decision Makers Technological Status and Potential Role in Energy Economy and Industrial Development Physics and Astronomy Online Library
March 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The book analyses all important aspects that have to be considered when evaluating photovoltaics as a potential option in the power-supply industry and industrial development. Since such an analysis is quite complex and requires know-how from several scientific disciplines, the book draws upon the expertise of about 40 invited experts. Consensus statements on some of the controversial items such as cost development or energy pay-back time are given. In addition, the book is completed by an evaluation of the technological status of photovoltaics. It enables the reader to form his or her own opinion, particularly on the genuine potential of photovoltaics in energy policy, the power-supply industry and industrial development.
