Lori Kelley

President Obama Announces 75000 Job Solar Initiative for Military Veterans

April 4, 2015 By Lori Kelley 1 Comment

President Obama announces Solar Ready Vets initiative to put military veterans to work in solar energy

There’s some good news for veterans wanting good quality jobs when they leave the military. President Obama announced a new initiative to drive growth in solar energy by training 75,000 military veterans for jobs in the clean-energy sector. The initiative will train the veterans in such skills as how to install solar panels, how to connect solar installations to the power grid, and how to make sure solar projects are in compliance with building codes. The training for the program will be conducted at 10 military bases across the US.

The initiative is one aspect of the President’s initiative to combat climate change under a program called Solar Ready Vets. The program will be run through the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy by giving training to former military personnel to gain skills needed to work in the clean-energy industry. It hopes to train the 75,000 veterans by 2020 to help combat climate change.

There is a current boom in the US solar industry. The industry has added more than 30,000 new jobs over the last two years, with an additional 36,000 jobs expected to be created in 2015. Much of this has been precipitated by the costs of solar falling with technological advances and wider acceptance of solar as an energy source.

Last week, the Obama administration announced its hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% below those of 2005 within the next 10 years. To achieve this goal, the Solar Ready Vets initiative will play a major role by ensuring there are enough highly qualified workers to supply the workforce needed to achieve the emission reduction goals.

This is not the first initiative to increase the workforce in the solar industry. The administration previously announced an initiative to train 50,000 new solar workers by 2020 with the help of 400 community colleges across the US. The program is run through the Department of Energy and called the SunShot Initiative. The White House says this program has already trained more than 30,000 workers.

The initiative also comes at a time when there is a growing skills gap for the solar industry. Part of the issue is many skilled laborers who found jobs in solar energy when the housing bubble burst are now heading back there as housing begins to rebound. This has squeezed the available talent for the solar industry workforce, making it difficult for the industry to continue to grow due to the lack of qualified applicants. The Solar Ready Vets initiative should help to lessen this skills gap in the years to come.

The White House and the military see this a win-win situation for all. It should provide work for military veterans who often have a difficult time finding jobs in the civilian workforce when they leave the military, while also providing clean-energy a skilled workforce so it can continue to grow. It also makes sense since the skill sets the military teaches compliments what is needed in the solar industry.

(Photo courtesy of Activ Solar)

The Single Best Way to Save Money Shopping Online

March 12, 2015 By Lori Kelley 4 Comments

It amazes me the number of people who decide to pay more money for something they are purchasing online when all it takes is an extra five minutes to find a better deal. When you shop online and go through the check-out process, chances are you’ve seen a box that says “coupon code” during the process. If you don’t have a coupon code, you likely pass over it and continue with your check-out. What most people fail to realize is that “coupon code” box is really screaming, “You can probably purchase the items in your cart for less.” Any site which accepts coupon codes is saying that there are savings to be had if you’re willing to spend a few minutes finding the code.

If you ever see the “coupon code” or “promo code” field upon check-out, chances are you stumbled on a way to save money on your purchase. What you want to do is do is open up a new window and search for the store’s name plus coupon or promo code. Foe example, you you were shopping at Macy’s, you would search for “Macy’s coupon code” or “Macy’s promo code” to see what deals are available. You may also need to add the year and month if the results you get are old. For example, “Macy’s coupon code March 2015” may help bring up better results.

While using a search engine will often get you a code, there are times when the results that come back aren’t helpful. Another way to do this is to go directly to a website that offers coupon codes. For example you could go to Groupon coupons and search the store you’re shopping at there. You would then get a page listing all the coupon codes which are available at the time you are making your purchase, and you can claim the one which will save you the most money on your purchase.

Once you realize how much money you can save over time by consistently using coupon codes, you will get into the habit of finding the codes even before you begin shopping. Instead of going through the check-out process where you will be reminded there might be a coupon code, you’ll begin your shopping by going to a site which offers the codes and begin the shopping experience there. Taking the simple step of making sure to search and use coupon codes when available for all your online shopping could put hundreds of dollars back into your pocket over the course of a year.

3 Ways to Save On Your Vices in 2015

February 12, 2015 By Lori Kelley Leave a Comment

While eliminating our vices altogether would certainly benefit our budgets, for many of us the downsides of giving up things we love (or are simply addicted to) outweigh the benefits of bidding them farewell. There are certain things that are a nearly universal expense for most of you reading this, including shelter, utilities, food, and medical care, among others. And then there are the myriad ‘other’ things we spend money on, which can vary quite a bit from person to person. These would include clothing, furniture, entertainment, travel, and countless other things, including what can collectively fall under the category of vices.

What Do I Define as Vices?

To me, a vice is something that we engage in even though it carries some negative aspects, be they physical, emotional, financial, or any combination of the 3. So why do we continue to serve these vices? Usually, it’s because the pleasure they bring is more important to us than the downsides, because we have made these things an integral aspect of our daily lives, or are potentially even addicted to them. Vices can include everything from a toxic relationship to gambling, but I think the ‘big 3’ most common vices in America are likely cigarettes, alcohol, and coffee. And as luck would have it, all 3 of these things can easily sabotage your budget. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of more cost-effective alternatives for those of you who aren’t ready to abandon these vices entirely, but are ready to try something new in the name of savings.

To give an example of what you’ll get for your money, I checked out 21stCenturySmoke.com. They offer a wide variety of e cigarette products, so I chose the one that looked like what I imagine most people would start with – the Electronic Cigarette Super Kit Box. This is currently on sale for $11.99, and includes a wall charger, 2 rechargeable batteries, and 6 e cig cartridges, with each cartridge equating to about 2 packs of regular cigarettes. If we consider those 6 cartridges to be 12 packs of cigarettes, the cost for each pack would break down to $1 per pack. With regular cigarette prices per pack being higher than $10 in many locations across the country, this certainly offers a more cost-effective alternative.

The Vice: Cigarettes
The Budget-Friendlier Alternative: E Cigs

I’m not a smoker myself, and I’m not an expert on e cigs, but what I do have an increasingly firmer grasp on is smart budgeting. And with that in mind, and a little research, I can say with reasonable certainty that electronic cigarettes make for a much cheaper vice than traditional cigarettes. Would I encourage anyone to use them who isn’t already a smoker? Absolutely not! But if you are a smoker, and are looking for a way to satisfy your nicotine cravings for less cash, you might want to consider e cigs.

The Vice: Beer and Wine
The Budget Friendlier Alternatives: Home Brews and Boxed Wines

Thinking back on my childhood, it seemed there were only a few brands of beer. When we had parties at our house, the options included Genesee and Pabst Blue Ribbon. The adults who wanted a beer chose between the two, and very little was said about it. As far as I could tell back then, beer was beer, plain and simple. As for today? I’ve witnessed people spend entire parties talking about nothing but the beer they were drinking! Who knew there were so many subtle nuances to consider?

You will still find plenty of people who are open to drinking whatever beer is available without issue or complaint. But for true beer aficionados, even a very occasional beer drinking habit can prove costly. While wine was always considered the more expensive drink when I was younger, on the drink menus of today it is increasingly more common to see specialty brews whose price per glass far surpasses many of the wines. If you are among those beer drinkers whose palate has been refined and a simple PBR will never satisfy again, consider trying your hand at brewing your own beer. Not only will you save money and get to tinker with the flavor until it’s just right, but it can also be a fun, budget-friendly activity you share with your friends or significant other.

More interested in wine than beer? If you haven’t already given up the bottle in favor of the box, do yourself a favor and give it a try! There is a certain stigma attached to boxed wine that at least in my experience is undeserved. In fact, I find most boxed wines I’ve tried to be quite enjoyable. In addition to being cheaper than most bottled wines, boxed wines can keep fresh in the refrigerator for a much longer time, making them a smart choice for those who might only want one glass at a time.

The Vice: Coffee House Coffee
The Budget-Friendlier Alternative: Invest in a French Press

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about coffee over the years, it is that you truly do often get what you pay for. Are most coffee house coffees way too expensive? They sure are! But usually they are also very tasty, which keeps people coming back time and again. So what are you to do if you simply aren’t willing to sacrifice rich, fresh flavor in the name of your budget? My top recommendation is that you invest in a French press.

A quality French press coffee maker can range quite a bit in price, but generally speaking you can find a nice-sized option for about $20. If you aren’t familiar with a French press, their operation is quite simple. Start with a clean carafe, add the desired amount of coffee grounds, fill with hot water and gently stir, allow it to steep for at least 4 minutes, and slowly lower the plunger, forcing the grounds to the bottom of the press. All that’s left to do after that is carefully pour one of the best cups of coffee you’ve ever enjoyed!

Do any of you have experience with e cigs, home-brewed beer, boxed wine, or French press coffee? I’d love to hear your take in the comments.

Bacteria That’s Remained the Same for 2 Billion Years Actually Confirms Evolution

February 5, 2015 By Lori Kelley 19 Comments

Deep sea bacteria 2 billion years old is the same as bacteria today

If you heard that an organism has remained the same for the last 2 billion years without changing, you might believe you’ve found the smoking gun to show the theory of evolution had been disproved. What at first seems to be a deathblow, however, actually is some of the strongest evidence showing the theory of evolution is, in fact, correct. Why are scientists saying bateria that’s remained the same for a couple of billion years confirms evolution?

The bacteria in question was collected by researchers in in a deep-sea location off the coast of Australia. That fossilized bacteria was 1.8 billion years old, and it was compared with with other fossilized bacteria present in the same region 2.3 billion years ago. The two ancient bacteria were identical.

The researchers then compared these two samples to living, modern-day sulfur bacteria found off the South American coast near Chile. After examining the ancient bacteria with the modern bacteria, the conclusion was that the bacteria living today is indistinguishable from the bacteria which lived 2 billion years ago.

This posed a problem. As J. William Schopf, the leader of the study noted, if something has lived on this earth for half of the entire planet’s history without changing, the lack of evolution needs to have an explanation for evolution to remain a fact. He explains the answer is actually quite simple.

While Darwin’s theory says organisms will evolve through natural selection in order to better survive and reproduce, they do so in order to better survive the environmental changes around them. The reason the bacteria haven’t evolved is because the environment they are found in today is essentially the exact same environment they lived in 2 billion years ago. Schopf says this is exactly what scientists would expect according to evolution in an environment that has remained the same.

The study and findings were published in the February 2 issue in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

(Photo courtesy of noaa.gov)

Pink Sea Slugs Invade Northern California Coast as Ocean Waters Warm

February 3, 2015 By Lori Kelley 2 Comments

Pink sea slugs are being found in northern California waters

When people visit tidepools in northern California, they aren’t used to seeing a lot of pink. That’s usually reserved for people down south, but something strange has been taking place over the last few weeks. The Hopkins’ rose nudibranch sea slug, whose range typically is south of San Luis Obispo, has been showing up as far north as Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and Bodega Bay.

Scientists have noted the pink slugs’ appearance so far noth isn’t normal, and are hypothesizing it could have to do with warming ocean temperatures over the past year. The pink creatures aren’t the only ones which have been found outside their normal habitat, as there have recently been a number of ocean going creatures who have turned up in northern California where they aren’t normally found. This includes sea turtles, usually found along the coast of Mexico or in the Galapagos Islands, being caught by a fisherman in San Francisco. There have also been Humpback whales and dolphins spotted in Monterey Bay, an area where they are rarely seen.

One hypothesis on why these sea creatures are finding their way north is due to a lack of wind in the area over the last few months. The San Jose Mercury News reported a National Weather Service reporter believes the lack of wind may be making the water warmer than usual. Logan Johnson suggested the lack of northwesterly winds, which usually blows warmer water on the surface of the ocean south, hasn’t materialized, therefore leaving the northern waters warmer than usual. This has allowed the sea creatures who wouldn’t normally be found in the area due to the cold to migrate north.

The pink slugs’ appearance wasn’t completely unexpected. While it’s been about a decade since they have last been seen in the northern California waters, they have appeared before. In fact, there was a paper published in 2011 which actually predicted the current oceanographic conditions would cause the pink nudibranchs to make their way north as they currently are doing.

While the pink visitors may be beautiful to look at, they also bring an ominous reality for other species with their return to the area. The higher ocean water temperatures, which come with their return, also mean the oceans will be less productive than they are when they are colder. The result will be less plankton and less robust kelp forests, which in turn will affect the number of animals living in the kelp forests and those living off the plankton. This continues all the way up to the sea birds which feed on the fish.

(Photo courtesy of Jeff Goddard of the UCSB Marine Science Institute)

Tips to Get the Best Car Insurance Quote

January 26, 2015 By Lori Kelley 1 Comment

Are you thinking about getting new car insurance? Before you do, it will be well worth your time to find out how you can get the best quote. Whether you’re looking for basic insurance or seeking high risk SR-22 auto insurance you should get several quotes before committing. Any insurance company can give you car insurance quotes, but in order to ensure that your quotes are as accurate as possible, you will want to keep the following tips in mind:

Be As Accurate As Possible With Your Information

In order to get an accurate quote for your car insurance, the information you give must be accurate, too. For instance, information such as your address, the type of car you drive and even your credit score can affect the amount you pay. You will also find that past accidents and tickets may have an effect on your quote. Not mentioning these things, for instance, in order to get a better quote might seem like a good idea. However, when you get your first invoice, you might find it is a lot more than you were expecting. Avoid this by being as accurate as possible when you apply for your quote.

Know What To Expect Before Getting A Quote

Another thing that you will want to do before getting a quote for car insurance is to do research on average quotes in your state and area. Someone living in an urban area who often parks their car on the street will pay more than those who park their cars in a garage located in a rural area. Average car insurance costs are available on the Internet and can be found with just a bit of research. Once you have this information, you will know if the quote you receive is fair or not.

Know What You Need And What You Don’t

Finally, you should know what you need from your car insurance and what you don’t. For instance, if you have a car that is 20 years old that will not last for more than a couple of years, you probably don’t want to spend the money on a top of the line insurance policy. However, if you just spent $40,000 on a brand new car, you likely won’t want state minimum coverage.

Know What Deductible You Can Afford

When it come to the deductible on your insurance, you should know how much you can afford. The higher the deductible (the amount you have to pay before insurance kicks in if there is an accident), the lower your insurance cost will be. It’s important to know you’ll be responsible for this amount if you do get into an accident, so if you don’t have an emergency fund, a high deductible, although it saves you on the insurance costs, can put you in a financial bind if you do have an accident. You want your deductible to be as high as you can comfortably afford in case there is an accident.

Ask What You Can Do to Lower Your Insurance

Once you get an insurance quote, don’t simply accept it. Talk with the agent and ask what steps you can take to lower the cost over time. There may be a number of easy steps you can take which can lower the cost of your insurance. Even if it isn’t an immediate reduction in the cost, taking those steps will reduce the amount you pay over the long-term. This can put you in a position to get a better rate rather than staying with your original quote for years and years.

As you can see, it is best to keep these tips in mind before you get a quote. This way, you will save time and most likely, money.

(Photo courtesy of Tony Alter)