Wireless thermostat from Honeywell

I like to stay up on HVAC technology, and I'm going to be starting an HVAC/ Energy/ Control company in a few months, so I thought it would be a good idea to buy and install the new FocusPro Wireless system from Honeywell.

The system I bought comes complete in the box with wiring and installation instructions. Sometimes it is a little tough for me to gauge how hard or easy something is to install since I'm a bit of a geek and i do this stuff for a living, but I think a DIY'er could do this with a little bit of knowledge about low-voltage wiring.
It only took me a couple hours to install, and it seems to be running like a spinning top. First I disconnected the power to the air handler- even though I was only working with low voltage, its always better to be safe than sorry. Next, I mounted the main control unit to my air handler, and wired up the connections. I have to admit, I got a little nervous when I cut the wire coming from the thermostat!

Next, I mounted the return air sensor, I mounted it high because it is important to make sure it is upstream from any humidifiers or other accessories. I wired up the sensor, and checked all my connections.

Next I returned power to the system and then synchronized all the wireless devices. Once I verified that everything was synced, I mounted the outdoor sensor.

Next, I took the new thermostat and mounted it where the old thermostat was. (since I took a honeywell t-stat out, I could use the old mounting holes) and mounted the new wireless stat. I gotta admit it was nice not having to "wire" the 'stat.

Finally, I programmed the thermostat, and then put the wireless comfort station on the coffee table. I like this thing, because I'm thinking that Mel can take it up to the baby's room and let the system run off of it, so that the baby's room doesn't get cold.

I like the outdoor sensor and the fact that the system can switch whether it reads between the thermostat and the remote. A few things I'd like to see from honeywell is a web interface and a few more "wired" inputs in the main box- like an air pressure switch to tell us when the filter is too dirty, or inputs from other honeywell accessories, like an economizer or one of their ventilation systems.At any rate, it is a good start.

5 technologies that Rock and why things will change

Recessions suck- but they give smaller, more nimble companies the ability to shine when they might have been absorbed by a larger company in better times. For example, the recession in the early 90's gave companies like Yahoo, Google, etc. the opportunity to leapfrog ahead of companies like AOL and Compuserve.

So here's my predictions for the next big winners:
1. wireless technology- wireless application developers, network providers, and mesh networking will revolutionize the communications- meaning entertainment, information, web and communications all rolled into one on one or many connected devices. We'll no longer think of a device as a connection to a system, but of a device as part of a system.


2. embedded technology- smaller chips and embedded software will allow more and more mundane everyday objects to convey more information. Shoes will warn of friction-related blisters before they occur, shirts will measure heart rate, etc. Chances are, if its an important measurement, someone right now is figuring out a way to get it with embedded tech.


3. 3D Printers- Three dimensional printers, already in development and production will allow companies to roll-out with prototypes quickly, but longer term use of the systems will eventually blur the lines between what is a prototype and what is simply a useful one-off device.


4. Nanotech- not just new fibers and new materials, but new mini-machines with gears, and pistons, and tiny nano-devices created to build tiny devices. These tiny devices will give us the ability to eventually use the technology itself the capability to to make things smaller


5. The development kit. technology already builds on technology- but soon we'll no longer need to start at square one to get to the end result. Think of kids using lego mindstorms to build "robots" or this year's college students using the research from last year's class to move a project forward. Eventually people will think it is totally natural to create software without knowing a program language, or to build a car without knowing everything about aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, etc. They will use tools produced by others, to produce tools and products for others to use.


Although each of these things seem isolated, I see them as part of a system that will revolutionize the way things are done. No longer will chips be designed by techs in a sterile building wearing white suits, but in a rented warehouse by a couple of weekend hacks. For a brief moment in time, the little development shops, and hacker groups will be able to produce high-level tech while keeping costs down.

So if you are involved in one of these technologies, get to work, stop waiting for the gov to bail you out, build something and give your neighbor a job.

Enercient Countdown

I'm getting a little nervous/anxious/excited about the Enercient project, so I decided I'd add to the hype by getting a countdown clock and posting it on my blog.

Enercient progress report

Well, last week was a stellar week for us and for Enercient. We met with our web development team early in the week, and the "junto" page seems like its going to be very cool. Thursday we attended our first meetup, a social rockstar event at RFD. Finally on Friday we locked in our relationship with the hardware provider for Enercient!

For those of you who don't know, Mel and I arrived at the idea to start Enercient after researching social platforms, online applications, etc. and tried to think about how these things would relate to the facilities management industry- one thing led to another, sending us down yet another slightly different path, and we arrived at the idea to create a fully integrated, web-enabled wireless building management system.

This has been a really cool experience for me, I've done other ventures and been involved in some pretty big things in the past, but nothing has been quite like this. Mel and I started out with the idea that if it got too wierd, or stressed us out too much, took too much time from the family, or just didn't seem like it would work- we would stop, and so far everything has been going according to our plan.

So, here we are now, and (I guess becasue of being a little older and wiser) things have progressed relatively smoothly. I have been thankful for the network of friends that I have, but we have just been able to plod along, follow our plan, and move Enercient along little by little. I am fully confident that when we "officially" launch in January, we'll be ready to go.

Check back here, and as things progress, I'll provide updates!

Go Skins!

Not a big deal

I know that in the world of Technorati, Twitter, Socialmedian, etc. ad infinitum I am pretty much small potatoes, but I have been working on a couple of projects that I happen to think are very exciting. Enercient Systems Technologies was a little idea I got to provide wireless HVAC controls to commercial buildings.

It turns out that it has become a full-blown business venture, and as we draw nearer to the official launch of the company, some very cool things have been happening:
1. Microsoft has been VERY helpful. I attended their heroes launch this year, I actually have an ACCOUNT REP, and we just recently signed up as a Microsoft Registered Partner. (depsite the fact that I've told them that we'll ALSO feature the penguin on some of our equipment.
2. We have a pending Energy Star rating in the works
3. We will hopefully have a contract with our supplier on the table in a few weeks.

I know that in the grand scheme of things, none of this is a very big deal to anyone and I try to keep it all in perspective- but for now, at least I'm excited about it!

Its official

Well, Melanie and I are starting down the "startup trail" with a new company designed to provide wireless building and controls solutions to commercial and residential homes and facilities throughout the US. The company is called Enercient Systems Technologies, and will soon be providing wireless HVAC, energy management, security, remote monitoring, and keyless entry for commercial and residential customers.

Although I have been involved in several startups and various ventures throughout my life, I feel like this is "the one." I get excited about this every time I think about it (which is quite often) and its one of those things that I feel like is actually a culmination of my life's work, and that a success with this startup will give me the sense that "we did it"

Why?
1. Its is a product that I am passionate about being sold to a market that I know very well. I have had an interest in tech ever since I first saw two robots crash land on a desert planet looking for a way to save the galaxy. Tech is my passion, and I have spent more time and effort staying up with the latest technology than normal. I know the market because I have been involved in HVAC all of my life. Ever since I climbed into my dad's service truck and rode with him to climb onto the roofs of Washington DC I have known that I was born for this stuff. (Despite the fact that sometimes I was dragged kicking and screaming)

2. It is a green product that I can offer without looking like a sellout, and without wearing flowers in my hair. The bottom line is that I care about the environment, and I have the knowledge and the ability to actually do something about it, but I don't have to hug any trees, and I don't have to wear compressed cardboard sandals to do it. I have been offering energy efficient solutions for years- who knew what I do would become such a fad?

3. It is a product that has staying power. Yes, I'm talking about legacy. I feel that this is a company that my son and daughter would someday be proud to someday work for (and eventually own) and I feel that this is something that will carry me through to retirement.

It is true that depite all of the piss and vinegar I had in my 20's I was clueless when it came to discovering what really matters. I thought I understood business, I thought I knew what it meant to change the world, and I thought I knew what role I would eventually play in this world.

Now I am 37 years old, and despite the fact that most baby boomers I know are kicking and screaming their way into retirement age, I want to use this company as the opportunity to move gracefully into middle-age, and spend the time from my mid-forties to retirement investing in the generation behind me, and leave them a world that sucks a little less than the one I have encountered this far.

I see a world where wireless products can monitor energy use and provide real-time data and energy saving solutions. I see a world where people can send and receive updates about their home on their iphones and windows mobile devices. I see a world where your heat pump can call your hvac contractor, and provide efficiency data so that your contractor can make repairs to your system proactively before catastrophic breakdowns occur. I see a world where building systems technologies provide a node for seamless integration with a larger, global wireless network that revolutionizes communications, interoperability, and information sharing.

Check back frequentlty to the Enercient website, and watch for opportunities to invest, network with us, partner with our company and help us bring this exciting product to market.

a little late but...

So I took this picture back in August, and put it on Evernote, but I just got around to actually doing anything with it. I just thought it was a little eerie up on the roof of a local mega-mall. I think I'll call it "rooftop unit wasteland"

Make a Stand

So its been over a year since I took that blacksmithing class, but I bought a cheap 55 lb anvil last week, and I though I would work on getting my back yard foundry together.

So today, rather than watch the Redskins lose- I decided I'd work on my backyard foundry. I thought about going up to HD and buying a pressure treated 8x8, but I remembered I had a bunch of lumber left over from my trash bin project.

I measured to where my arm would feel comfortable (at the bottom of my swing) and cut a bunch of scrap 25 1/2 long, and just started nailing it together. Maybe I'll wrap it with some steel straps later to add a little strength- but i has a little heft to it, and seems to be doing a good job.



It stands pretty firm, but I think I might get some sand to put under it anyway. Now I can begin working on my foundry.

new glossary search engine

I stumbled upon a new search engine, called MetaGlossary, and I think its going to be a good one. Although it is in beta, it has a plugin for the Firefox search bar, and actually returns some pretty good definitions.

I tried searching "firefox" and returned the following. http://www.metaglossary.com/results/?query=firefox Searching "soccer mom returned http://www.metaglossary.com/results/?query=soccer+mom

There isn't much info about the site on the site, but an Alexa search reveals that it is owned by a company in New York.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Amazon MP3 Downloader for Linux

Amazon has packaged their download software for Linux. I think this is pretty cool, because it is DRM Free mp3 format music, so you can play it on anything. Linux users can now use the download tool legitimately!

Download the tool, download the player. Support DRM Free Music.

Free Software Day

I'm a member of the Ubuntu Maryland Local Community Team. I'm relatively new to Ubuntu, but I recently bought a laptop from Dell that came preloaded with Ubuntu, and I'm actually learning to get around quite well- downloading packages, configuring software,and yes- even occasionally getting into a little command line.
Anyway, Software Freedom Day is on September 20, and we've got the meeting room booked at Howard County Library- Miller Road.
Come on out and find out more about Ubuntu Linux!

Learn Something online

Several schools and institutions are putting their classes and lectures online for free, and you can podcast, stream, and download the course informmation. Although I haven't spent as much time as I would like podcasting, I have taken a few opportunities to learn something new. You don't get credit for the classes, but its free and its knowledge- and I happen to think that the knowledge is the most important part anyway.
UC Berkeley Biology, Chemistry, Business courses and many others are available on the site to download, and if you feel so inclined- donate money.
MIT Opencourseware MIT has an extensive amount of their courses online, and is one of the institutions that has been doing it the longest. I'm a little partial to their Mechanical Engineering section, myself.
Stanford University is on itunes, I downloaded a business management class and listened to in on the way back and forth to work.
Carnegie Mellon has some free online coursework, I haven't used it yet but I've been wanting to check it out.
TED gets an honorable mention here, because although it isn't a college, it is a great place to listen to some of our brightest minds talk about things that are relevant and important today.

This is web 2.0 getting it right

Does anyone else think its funny that youtube has been in the news so much lately with copyright issues, but somehow I can still do this:


I just think its time that we figured out how to update our thinking a little bit.

a visual guide to social media

I couldn't have said it better myself!

the internets helped me fix my lawnmower

My lawnmower took a crap a few weeks ago and I couldn't get it to start. I'm no engine mechanic, but I know a few things about combustion, and I used to fix my lawnmower when I was a kid- how much could have changed?

Well, the first thing was that the model number has rubbed off of the mower over the years, and I have no idea where the manuals are. So I went on the internets and used that google thingie to find the Murray website. Here's where it gets fun. Briggs& Stratton (who makes the engine) bought the brand, and you can't look up parts breakdowns or manuals without having the MODEL NUMBER!

So I had to get creative with the searches, and fiddle with the mower a bit.
A secret about internal combustion engines (or a log campfire for that matter) need three things to work right. They need air, fuel, and a source of ignition. There are other things that can go wrong, but chances are if your lawnmower isn't working, starting here is a big thing.
I changed the spark plug because the one in there looked pretty foul, I checked the air filter and replaced it, and tried to fire it up. Nothing. So I did a trick I learned somewhere and I soaked the air filter in gas, pulled the rope and WHA! I got it to start, so i had a diagnosis. No fuel. (I also managed to half-ass cutting the grass this way as well)

It turns out that a 4.5 hp Briggs and Stratton from 2004 is a pretty common motor and it also turns out that a clogged carb is a common problem as well for this motor. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_a_Briggs_and_Stratton_4.5_HP_lawn_mower_engine_stop_one_minute_after_it_starts

So I went to the Ebay, and bought a new carb.

I got the carb in the mail yesterday, put it in, and after a little priming, the mower fired right up! So i just want to say, thank you Wiki Answers, Thank you to the Google, and to the Ebay, and to the internets for helping me fix my lawnmower!

Townhouse for sale in Columbia, Maryland!

We have a lovely townhouse for sale in Columbia, Maryland. This is a great starter home in a convenient location.

Here's the listing information:

Adorable end unit set in established neighborhood located in a quiet, no-outlet street that backs up to woods.Three finished levels. Freshly painted and some new carpet. New stainless steel appliances and tile Kitchen floor.Lower Level with large Family Rm.leading to Privacy fencd back yard including storage shed.Fiber Optic Verizon Fios. No CPRA $5,000 closing help to buyer WFPO!

If you have any questions, or are interested in seeing the house, contact me and I'll be happy to accomodate you!

twits, blogs, plurks, and 2.0

I have been playing in the web 2.0 world- plurking, twitting, posting, etc. Joining various social networks, trying to stay up with the times. The funny thing I realized after spending a bunch of time on plurk last night- that web 2.0 reminded me of something, and it took me a while to come to it.

Web 2.0 reminds me of AOL 2.0. Sitting there waiting for the chats to update. talking to people, joining the new exciting online community! Yes, there were corporate sites, and yes web pages were static- but if you wanted to be where the action was, you stayed up on all the latest "keywords."

I was a johntindale come lately to AOL. My friends all got part-time jobs as telemarketers for AOL when it first started, and they all got free lifetime AOL accounts with 800# dial-up access. I got a regular package, upgraded it to unlimited for $19.95/ mo, http://web.archive.org/web/19961220154856/http://www.aol.com/and signed up for DSL years later when it became available.

I don't want to be a pundit or a curmudgeon, but it seems that we are getting pretty excited about intefaces and communities that have already been done? Oh well, what goes around comes around. Pardon me, I can feel my karma dropping even as I finish typing this sentence.

Wanna join my buddy list? Now If we could only get our computers to say "you've got plurks/twits" when we sign in.

nah nah nah nah hey hey goodbye

I bet she finds a way to keep her joker face on TV for another few months. I remember the days years ago when I was working on a major remodel of a residence on capital hill. In 1991-92, many republicans were moving out of town after llving there over 10 years. They were moving out with their blue blazers and red ties, and the brown blazers and jeans were moving in. The striking thing I remember was that they were moving out gracefully. They were admitting defeat, packing up their personal belongings, and going home to their home states.
The thing that really bothers me is that these people just won't go away. They won't move on. They are still wearing their hippy beads, their clogs, and the flowers in their hair, and they WON'T go away! Despite the fact that Hillary looks like she's been an unfortunate victim of this guy...






















just go away. admit defeat. buy a nioe home in Arkansas and leave us all alone. buh-bye, hasta la vista, adios, have a nice life. We don't care what you want. Just GO AWAY! We broke up with you. Its over. We've moved on...

futurist

When I close my eyes and picture the future, this is what I see.