Long Term Overview

IER sees the importance of integrating the relationships between transportation energy and a) pollution, b) energy needed for electricity generation, c) industrial processes and home heating, d) fossil and renewable energy sources, e) waste build up and recycling to energy, and f) biomass to energy, with the importance of preserving a society's way of living. We particularly want to critique and discuss programs that put us at unknown levels of risk because they depend to heavily on unpredictable research, or exploration, or by trading one hostile energy supplier for another (for example, Saudi Arabia for Bolivia - as we shall explain later).

As a result we will briefly explore many sides of the energy supply, distribution and usage pictures. But since our chief purpose is to educate you to bring your talents to the problems and see solutions for yourself, we will open the world's information to you in as unbiased way as possible, and encourage you to read further.

Robert Falco's Vita

Dr. Robert Falco holds BS and MS Degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic University. At Princeton he earned a PhD in Aerospace and Applied Mechanics and went on to do 4.5 years of Post Doctoral research work at Cambridge University, then the world center for fluid turbulence. Robert joined the Mechanical Engineering Department of Michigan State University, where he became full professor and established the Turbulence Structure Laboratory, doing research and teaching for 19 years on energy transfer in fluids. Robert also has been a consultant for National Laboratories such as LANL, LLNL and NASA, as well as AFOSR, ONR, DOE, and some of the leading Aerospace Companies such as Boeing, and automobile companies such as Ford.

About Us

The Institute for Energy Resourcefulness (IER) is a not-for-profit group of specialists, that are either retired or are on leave of absence, who seek to educate the public about energy solutions in a non-biased manner, using their expertise, wisdom of age, and benefit of detachment from financial concerns.

Although many of us are scientists, engineers, designers, we also have businessmen and teachers. The driving force behind our excitement is that there are very positive solutions to our energy future. Our frustration, which further fuels the drive behind our movement, is that Americans are fed a steady dose of negative news about our energy usage, and about the impact our lifestyle is having on our local environment (pollution) and that of the whole world's (via greenhouse gases).

Key to our approach is that we see that both a near term approach and a long term vision is needed, and is possible. In addition the long term vision integrates the near term approach, so infrastructure build out and skills will be a down payment on our future.

Have a look at our Initiatives.

A personal statement from Robert Falco, Founder and Director of IER

I have established the Institute for Energy Resourcefulness, to help Americans determine a sensible path to a sustainable energy future, which can be accompanied by economic prosperity, much cleaner air, and at the same time slow down global warming, without major alternations in our lifestyle. My 19 years as professor of Mechanical Engineering (see sidebar) have taught me several things about the progress of science and the positions of businesses, lobbyists and governments. First, really new science proceeds slowly, and is accelerated little by crash programs. Second, breakthroughs require many years of development and engineering to make their mark on society. Third, American's are easily lulled into thinking and waiting for the next breakthrough to 'save the day' -- both businesses (with, of course, financial gain in mind), and governments (with politicians that need re-electing) will pander to such hopes. We must not be disillusioned by purist attitudes that, in reality, extent the problem into the future, preventing us from moving forward now, and making its ultimate solution much more difficult. However, we must move now. We must be pragmatic and realistic and learn to understand that small steps, which over the long term lead us out of the energy and environmental crisis, are really worth paying attention to, and initiating. They must be part of a Plan to see us into a clean, sustainable future.

Dr. Falco can be contacted at rfalco@energyresourcefulness.org.

A note about our LOGO

IER's LOGO depicts the never ending 'circle of flames' man creates from fuels derived from the Sun's energy to power his needs. It emphasizes IER's focus: to find ways to use this energy wisely by recycling it whenever possible, and always striving to increase the efficiency of its use.