A Marquette political science teacher is taking a year off to focus on a business that allows smart phone users to pool water, power and natural gas usage data so as to more effectively manage consumption. It’s interesting because the application does the job smart meters promise without waiting for their truncated deployment or relying on utilities to facilitate the process. “Meter Hero does for electricity and natural gas — as well as water — what H20Score has been able to accomplish. Instead of the often arcane language on a monthly bill, the platform can help users monitor energy and water use in real time.” [Journal Sentinel]

This editorial by former US Ambassador to Russia Michael A. McFaul proposes a strategy for dealing with Russia now that the post-Cold War Era has ended, as he puts it. “And, as before, the current regime must be isolated. The strategy of seeking to change Kremlin behavior through engagement, integration and rhetoric is over for now. No more membership in the Group of 8, accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or missile defense talks. Instead there must be sanctions, including against those people and entities — propagandists, state-owned enterprises, Kremlin-tied bankers — that act as instruments of Mr. Putin’s coercive power. Conversely, individuals and companies not connected to the government must be supported, including those seeking to take assets out of Russia or emigrate.” [New York Times]

This piece is a great refresher for anyone not following the US energy industry over the past few years. For those who have kept up with the domestic oil and gas production surge and export discussion, skip to the end for an interesting quote from Kay Smith, the EIA’s lead economist. [LA Times]