Energy Solutions For Portland From Afar

No matter how much new energy sources are found, how many new kinds renewable energy, if we consume more than we produce, it will run out. The key to the energy crisis and economic crisis is understanding the finite nature of our resources. Someone, somewhere has to pay the cost. It may not be you, or your neighbors or your city or your state or your country. At the very least, someone, somewhere in the world will pay for your actions. So the best thing we can do with our resources is to be efficient with it. Not just finding new energy sources, but to do more with as little as possible.

1. Know what we're consuming and where it goes. There are now many devices that you plug in to the outlet you're using and tell you how much each device you're plugging in is using. This is useful in finding out which device you need to unplug when not in use. Audio/video systems, TV sets/computer monitors and chargers use a surprising amount of electricity when "off". One solution is to use a power strip for the things that you can turn off. Your computer systems, your TV, your chargers, for example.
Here's a device that can tell you how much a particular appliance is using:

http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html
Here's that same device built into a surge protector power strip: http://www.p3international.com/products/consumer/p4320.html

2. We all need to do our part in being efficient and save energy. This simple idea is so simple, I don't know why Portland hasn't done it yet. Prepaid electricity! Yes you heard me right, prepaid. This will require a new meter, one that allows you to put in a long PIN that you've purchased for a certain amount of money. Let's say you put in $30 into the meter. You're then responsible to make sure it lasts as long as you want it to be, when you run out you will need to put in more money. This doesn't prevent you from consuming more, but it definitely make you more aware of your consumption. You're already billed according to consumption. The less you use than average, you get a discount. If you use more than average, you get to pay more per kW/h.

3. Localize power production. Much of the electricity used come from far away power generation plants. Even Bonneville Power Administration buys from other far away sources including gas-fired power plants. So here is the idea, each smaller communities (studies need to be done on the size of the community most economically viable to do this) buy a small power generation station to cover a certain amount of their electricity if not all of it. Again, this determination will require some economic study for long term success. Any surplus will be sent back to the grid, and the grid will supply the extra energy not covered by the station. This way the local power station can be tailored to what is best for the area. If it's in a sunny area, it could be solar power. If it's windy, wind power. On the ocean, waves. Because the need is relatively small, the footprint of the power station can also be small. This does not require any change in the existing infrastructure. Only that the power generating station be allowed to be connected to the grid as well as the homes so it can sell the surplus power. What's the advantage? Several:
- less large power stations are required. The hydro power can come from micro-hydro dams in small streams. A lot less impact to the environment
- higher efficiency because each power stations are tailored for the local conditions for local consumptions
- personal stake of the users so they're more apt to be aware and to be efficient with their energy usage. Thus reducing power consumption by consumer behavior
- a lot less transmission losses, more of the power generated are used within a short geographical distance
- ability to use smaller, more efficient power generating technologies that are currently not feasible for large operation

The disadvantage? Initial cost to the local neighborhood involved. But the net cost to the large infrastructure should be much reduced. Especially if this can mean the reduction of large power plants.

4. Publish the top 1% with the lowest consumption and the top 1% most improved homes for each month. We do need to be careful with privacy concerns when publishing this information. However the point is to identify the best performers and maybe ask them how they're able to achieve it. A compilation of best practices, as it were. From the human emotion side, we might be more receptive to receive suggestion from someone who we think are "one of us" rather than a pamphlet from "the big evil power company".

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the issues and solutions plaguing the world in regards to energy. This is focused mostly on electricity consumption. There's still the issue with oil consumption, water, forest products and many others. The concept to me is still the same. Efficiency. Using less resource but getting more out of it. Overall efficiency, not just one aspect where it might actually hurt other areas. We should use recycle as the last thing to do. Focus on reducing and reusing.

As always, I'll add more when I have more ideas.

Be prepared to be deported

While most of the advice here was gleaned from the American deportation system, it applies to other countries also. If you're an illegal immigrant in any country, these tips should make your eventual deportation more pleasant and bearable.

You have to be prepared mentally, emotionally and logistically. We will deal with mental and emotional preparation in depth at a latter date. You must think that you will get deported some day. Every day may be your last day as a free person in this country. That fear is what will get you motivated to be prepared. When the time comes, the process will be less painful than if you hadn't.

Lets think about logistics. What happens when you're captured and detained, during your detention and if you're unlucky, deportation; what can you do to be ready?

Here's the short story of immigration detainment and deportation. They can and will detain you wherever they find you. At your workplace, at home, at your friend's, at a restaurant, at a gas station, basically wherever you happen to be when they decide to take you after they stake out the places where you are likely to be. The worst case scenario is if they come to your home.

This normally means they'll do some snooping while they're inside to "let you" bring a few things such as your wallet. They might not let you bring your bug out bag either. So try not to be home very much, they might know your address so that's the first place they will stake out. Spend as much time outside of your home as possible.

You will be taken to the closest processing center, often this is the immigration center building. You will be processed here and then within the same day you will be taken to the detention center. Most likely you will not know how long you will be in detention for. At best you will know the day before you are deported that you're leaving in 24 hours. At worst, you will be woken at 5am and by 10am you are at the airport awaiting your flight.

When you're detained, your personal belongings will be kept for you. Your friends and family cannot give you anything other than clothes and money to be added to your personal belongings. When you're deported, you'll be allowed to have what you came in with plus the clothes and money your friends and family might have brought you while in detention. In short, you'll be deported with whatever belongings you had on you when you were detained and little else.

I don't recommend a huge, humongous bug out bag. But that is up to you. There is a pretty good chance you won't be able to bring this with you to detention center. But you should have it anyway. At least, this lets your friends and family know what you think are important for you to have. You should have this bag on you at all times.

The only thing that might suck is if they come to your home to detain you. They might let you bring it with you, but probably not. So other than when you're at home, have this bag on your person at all times. This way when you're detained, this bag could be with you, then when you're deported you get to keep the bag and its contents.

I am going to split what you need into two lists. What you carry on your person and what you need to carry with you at all times in a BOB (Bug out bag; a bag you grab to be with you when you're detained).

What to have and what not to have on you:
- some cash. At least a couple of $100 bills and at least $50 in small bills
- no fake IDs on you, it's best that you never had them. But I know some of you do
- a list of phone numbers, email addresses and contact info for your friends and family
- a debit card and/or credit card that works internationally. Preferably from an international bank (HSBC, Chase, etc)
- do not bring more keys than what you need. Leave keys to your extra vehicles, storage, safe, etc at home

In your BOB (Bug Out Bag):
- your important documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, etc
- your important digital data such as pictures, documents, your resume, etc. If they're on a computer, back them up to an external hard drive and carry it. If they're on a laptop carry it
- extra clothes (rain jacket, coat, light blanket)
- your bag shouldn't be obnoxiously large so that they might let you take it as carry on in the the plane

Be prepared at home for your friends and family to have to sell/store your stuff:
- put your keys together, easily labeled and easily found
- organize paperwork for your vehicle(s) and belonging
- things you want to keep clearly labeled or organized well, so you can tell your friends and family exactly what to keep and what not to keep
- it is best to have a "will" as it were, instructions for the people who will have to take care of your stuff. A list of what to do and where to find the things you need them to take care of

Remember, this list is just the minimum. The most important thing is that you are already thinking ahead about "what if I'm detained then deported". You will have to add your own personal touches. Maybe you want to bring some of your pen collections, or a favorite book. Just be smart, and be afraid. That fear will help you prepare, don't let it paralyze you. You've chosen to stay in a country other than your own illegally, be ready for the consequences.