Check out these charts and graphs. Looks like we're making some headway here in the U.S.A. Well done!

Some statistics from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Both bad news and good news in this quote, but I'm feeling positive about all of this. "Energy use tends to follow the level of economic activity, and that level declined last year. At the same time, higher efficiency appliances and vehicles reduced energy use even further," said A.J. Simon, an LLNL energy systems analyst who develops the energy flow charts using data provided by the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration.

That's what my father would scream at me every time I left a room. Enter General Electric and things get a bit more complicated. I commend them on this new innovation in saving energy within the home, but I wonder how many regular people will actually use the technology. Unless there's something else in it for them, I mean.

I recently got caught by a new traffic-light camera here in our town. I was turning left on the arrow and the light went quickly yellow to red while I was turning. Busted. They sent me the video and the $54 fine and I paid it. What can you do? At least I don't live in Cleveland, where the garbage pails can now rat you out. Check it out here. Recycle or else.

IKEA is one of the most eco-conscious companies on the planet (they'll redesign a carton to save a fraction of an inch), and now they're giving geothermal a go with their new store in Denver. Quite a project!

Once again, the Scandinavians are trying something that no one else in the world has ever tried. This time it's Finland stepping up and the project is a very special highway. Check it out here. Crazy times call for big ideas. This qualifies.

So we have the environmental groups, consumer groups, and trade organizations getting together to lobby against the nuclear power plants that the utilities want to keep up and running beyond their scheduled shut-down date 10 years from now. If they get their way, it should be real good for the appliance-replacement business (and boilers are appliances). Check it out here and stay tuned.

Within every problem there is a business. Read this article and think about where you might take it. Sure, it's from England, but I'll bet we have a similar situation here in the U.S. Who are the kids going to call when mom and dad aren't around anymore? Will they learn to do it themselves? Who will teach them? Will they call on those who do know? How will they find them? Look for the problems and you will find the opportunities.