Abstract: This application describes how a mutual company business methodology can quickly deliver electricity to individual homes and businesses in a manner that is profitable to all stake holders—consumers, producers, investors, society and the environment. The primary utility of this business method is to provide lower cost, sustainable electricity to small and impoverished consumers bypassing complex business and legal contractual agreements, financing, loans or traditional leasing arrangements. This allows rapid, turnkey sustainable energy for anyone who is able to pay their electric bill and has a suitable location.

Abstract: A piezo-electric actuator operable in a fluid. The actuator has a piezo-electric element having one or more layers of piezo-electric material and electrodes adjacent to the piezo-electric material, the electrodes being coupled to electrical leads. A conductive layer surrounds the piezo-electric element, serving as a Faraday cage for shielding the fluid from effects due to electric fields within the conductive layer. A seal substantially impermeable to the fluid surrounds the piezo-electric element.

Abstract: A device for raising and lowering sheets of building material utilizes a base support platform on which is attached a support bracket member and a pair of serially connected first and second parallelogram members pivotally joined by a right angle member with the other end of first parallelogram member pivotally connected to the base support platform and the other end of second parallelogram member pivotally connected to an object supporting platform. A spacer arm is pivotally connected to the support bracket and to one leg of the second parallelogram member proximately midway between pivotally connected ends to keep the object supporting platform on a long radius curve or generally straight vertical direction of movement. Hydraulic means are provided for actuating the spacer arm to raise and lower the object supporting platform.