Smart Energy Management Systems and Methods for Buildings and Industry

    Smart energy management has increased in importance with high energy and electricity prices. Using hardware and software to optimize energy use makes economic sense for buildings and industry. Smart energy management systems involve several different components to do this. Those different products and platforms are combined. This requires an understanding of their individual capabilities. As building electrification and industry electrification continue to grow, these systems are becoming standard for new buildings and facilities. They offer efficiency and optimization. As will be seen below, developers now have competing choices and some niche offerings for those needing them.

     According to Neil Sharp of the company Escatec, which works on design with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that make building automation control (BAC) systems:

“Smart energy management systems use sensors, controllers, software, and data analytics to optimise how buildings consume and conserve energy. These systems enhance building automation by dynamically adjusting lighting, HVAC, water usage, and electrical loads based on real-time data, user habits, and environmental factors.”

     Reducing energy waste and utility costs are immediate benefits. Other benefits include greater regulatory compliance, improved occupant comfort, and seamless integration of hardware and software with IoT and cloud platforms.

     Escatec’s article identifies 17 smart energy management systems for buildings and industry. These include different products and platforms considered to be effective. It provides a nice snapshot of the building energy management industry. I will summarize the 17 and mention one more.

 

1. Schneider Electric — EcoStruxure™ Building Operation (BEMS) – Schneider Electric’s building energy management system (BEMS) integrates HVAC, lighting, power, and security and has built-in analytics and energy KPI dashboards. It integrates easily with third-party devices.

“Notable features include centralised fault detection and diagnostics (FDD), a scalable app ecosystem, and lifecycle performance reporting.”

2. Siemens — Desigo CC (integrated building management) – this system involves energy, HVAC, fire, and security, and features integrated energy reporting. They note that it is suitable for complex facilities

3. Johnson Controls — Metasys® (BAS/BEMS) – this one is a widely deployed building automation system (BAS) that features lifecycle equipment analytics, submetering, and AI-assisted fault detection and diagnostics (FDD).

4. SkyFoundry — SkySpark (FDD & energy analytics) – this one is mainly an FDD and analytics platform that integrates third-party apps.

5. Honeywell — Forge Energy Management (cloud analytics) – this one is a cloud-based IoT analytics and energy management platform that provides “portfolio-level energy benchmarking, anomaly detection, and ESG/sustainability reporting outputs.”

6. BrainBox AI — Autonomous HVAC Optimisation (AI HVAC) – this one focuses on HVAC optimization. It is powered by AI and is used for predictive modeling. It has been shown to be capable of “continuous self-learning, peak demand shaving, and independently verified energy reductions of 10–25%.”

7. ABB — Ability Energy Manager (submetering and BEMS) – According to Escatec’s Sharp, this one is “an energy monitoring and management platform that provides granular submetering across electrical distribution systems, enabling load analysis, carbon tracking, and waste reduction at circuit level.” It integrates with ABB smart meters and third-party devices and provides energy consumption optimization.

8. Tridium — Niagara Framework (integration middleware) – he describes this one as “the industry's leading open software framework and IoT platform for connecting disparate building systems, including HVAC, lighting, power, and security, over a unified IP network.”

9. Eaton — Power Xpert Metering (power quality & submetering) – this one offers detailed power analysis and smart submetering. It also ties into billing. It can provide harmonic distortion analysis, peak demand alerting, and utility billing verification.

10. Danfoss — VLT HVAC Drive FC 102 (Variable Frequency Drive) – this one can optimize HVAC systems and reduce energy waste by dynamically matching motor speed to actual load demand. It can provide plug-and-play integration with most BMS controllers. It has been shown to offer a 50% reduction in the costs of fan and pump loads. It also has built-in safety functions.

11. Lutron — Quantum Lighting Control (smart lighting) – this one manages lighting. It offers daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing, and scene management across large facilities with granular zone control. One system can support over 10,000 devices. It also integrates with and interfaces with HVAC and BMS. It has documented energy reduction capabilities.

12. Signify — Interact Pro (occupancy analytics & lighting) – this one also focuses on lighting and occupancy analytics. It is cloud-based, wireless, easy to retrofit, and able to be integrated with BMS and HVAC.

13. Enel X — Demand Response Platform (load flexibility) – this one specializes in demand response and load flexibility, enabling it to provide grid services for better pricing and grid incentive payments. It works by cutting system and appliance loads where it can when needed.

14. Belimo — Energy Valve (waterside efficiency control) – Sharp describes this one as “an intelligent pressure-independent control valve with an integrated power meter that actively measures and limits hydronic coil energy consumption in real time, directly in the valve body.” This one can optimize the functions of chillers in HVAC systems, especially if there is a mismatch between actual temperatures and the chiller’s design temperatures.

15. SolarEdge — Commercial Energy Hub (solar PV + building EMS) – this one specializes in buildings powered partially by PV solar, functioning as an inverter and an energy management platform. It is equipped with “smart export control and self-consumption optimisation for large commercial and industrial installations.” It integrates with other systems and provides scalable architecture.

16. ChargePoint — EV Charging Management (EV + building load) – this one is focused on managing EV charging with building loads. It is a cloud-based network platform that features scheduling and energy cost controls. It can also support peak shaving and load balancing.

17. Optimum Energy — OptiCx® (HVAC system optimisation) – this one optimizes HVAC systems. It integrates with BMS and offers a user-friendly interface and powerful analytics.

     In the article’s conclusion, Sharp touts Escatec’s capabilities in supporting OEMs.

“Smart energy management has become a baseline market expectation for residential and commercial buildings globally. For OEMs developing BAC hardware and systems, understanding this landscape drives smarter design decisions, better integration choices, and stronger product positioning.”

“Those with strong, agile manufacturing partnerships will thrive. Whether you're producing a controller, a smart energy gateway, or an edge computing device for HVAC optimisation, the road from R&D to rollout is full of risks and complexities.”

“ESCATEC partners with BAC OEMs to bridge the gap between innovation and scalable, compliant manufacturing at every stage of the product lifecycle.”

     I came upon another company that provides energy monitoring systems. This company is Sanalife Energy, and its system is the E360, which provides power monitoring for commercial & industrial facilities. It touts its circuit-level monitoring capabilities, submetering, and alerting capabilities when there are changes in demand.

References:

 

17 smart energy management solutions you should know about. Neil Sharp. Escatec. June 18, 2026. 17 smart energy management solutions you should know about

See Every kWh & Stop Energy Waste In Real-Time. E360 by Sanalife Energy.  Electrical Power Monitoring & Submetering Solutions | E360 

EQT Buys Range for $13.7 Billion: Oil & Gas Consolidation Resumes After M&A Pause

 

     Consolidation in the natural gas sector just took a big leap again after relative calm. EQT will resume its status as the nation’s largest natural gas producer, retaking the crown from Expand Energy. Range’s very significant high-quality proven acreage will nicely complement EQT’s acreage. With combined natural gas production of 9 BCF per day, it will be a comfortable margin over Expand, which produces 7.5 BCF per day.

“This transaction brings together two of the highest-quality, longest-duration asset bases in North America and creates a company uniquely positioned for the next era of natural gas,” EQT CEO Toby Z. Rice said in a statement. “We believe this combination creates a must-own energy company capable of generating durable, through-cycle free cash flow while compounding value for shareholders for decades to come.”

     According to Salih Yilmaz, a senior oil analyst at the consultancy Bloomberg Intelligence:

“The bigger theme is consolidation: scale, concentration, and infrastructure control are becoming increasingly important in US gas, especially as LNG exports and power demand grow.”

     Below is a map showing how well Range’s acreage fits EQT’s acreage, in an analysis by Robert Polk for NOVI Labs.  

     As noted in the asset summary below, the combined company controls about 3 million acres throughout the better producing areas of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. EQT offers its strong Midstream value and vertically integrated position. The summary notes that Range has a higher percentage of natural gas liquids production in its portfolio than EQT, which previously was 93% dry gas weighted. This gives EQT more optionality. Another highlight is that the combined company now has 20 years of solid Marcellus inventory as well as a very significant deep Utica inventory.

     Polk further explains:

“EQT has also been THE Appalachian Basin consolidator. Including this deal, EQT has now executed major transactions in 5 out of the last 6 years: Range in 2026, Olympus in 2025, Tug Hill in 2023, Alta in 2021, and the Equitrans Midstream combination in 2024. The result is an unrivaled Appalachian Basin platform poised to execute on what the company describes as “secular power-driven natural gas demand growth.”

     The graph below shows other major natural gas producers as well as noting that “Expand still exceeds pro forma EQT on a gross operated basis.”

     RBN Energy’s Housley Carr notes that the value of the combined company exceeds $50 billion. He notes that EQT adds stellar Midstream value with 3,700 miles of infrastructure. He also notes that EQT shareholders will own about 73% of the combined company and Range shareholders will own 27%. The map below shows the core acreage of both companies along with the major pipelines.

     EQT has been pursuing natural gas power plant supply deals for hyper-scale AI data center projects and expects those projects to significantly increase local natural gas demand, which is very important for the pipeline-constrained basin assets. I noted this in a post at the end of July about EQT’s future plans.

     As noted in the graph below, EQT expects demand for Appalachian gas to skyrocket in the next four years. They recently even updated those numbers for more demand growth.

     Carr also stresses the importance of EQT’s Clarington Connector as a hub for Marcellus and Utica gas being exported out of the basin, and notes that Range’s main acreage position is nearby. EQT has also proposed the Pennsylvania Ohio West Virginia Energy Reliability Pipeline, or POWER Pipeline:

 “…which would run from an as-yet-unspecified location in southwestern Pennsylvania and/or West Virginia to the Clarington Hub. In a non-binding open season that ran from August 26 to October 26, EQT sought expression of interest for firm capacity on a pipeline with capacity of up to 1 Bcf/d that would come online by 2030.”

     Finally, Carr notes that the deal puts:

“…the combined company in an even better position to secure the long-term, large-volume gas-supply deals with power generators. And, as a bonus of sorts, these supply deals will provide EQT with an expanded opportunity to develop new gas pipelines to connect its supply either directly to new power plants or to takeaway pipelines at the Clarington Hub.”

 

 

 

References:

 

A natural gas megamerger creates America’s new No. 1 producer. Heatmap AM. October 27, 2026.

Open Range: EQT Corporation Acquires Range Resources for ~$13.7 B, Creating the US’ Largest Natural Gas Platform. Robeert Polk. NOVI Labs. October 27, 2026. Open Range: EQT Corporation Acquires Range Resources for ~$13.7 B, Creating the US’ Largest Natural Gas Platform

Roar – EQT’s Range Resources Deal to Supercharge Inventory and Boost Midstream Opportunities. Housely Carr. RBN Energy. October 27, 2026. Roar – EQT’s Range Resources Deal to Supercharge Inventory and Boost Midstream Opportunities | RBN Energy

Trump says “We’re Making a Freaking Fortune” from the Iran War’s Oil Spike, but Who is We? The Gas Pumps are Making Us Pay Them

    Here is more evidence that Trump is living in an alternate reality of sorts and making up alternate facts, or rather, in this case, an alternative interpretation of facts, referring to spiking oil company profits as somehow benefiting everyday Americans. According to reporting from Newsweek and 24/7 Wall St., Trump gave the following assessment at a rally recently.

“President Trump addressed a midterm rally at the Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 24, and said the US is "making a freaking fortune" on oil, according to Newsweek. He said the country is making "hundreds of billions" because buyers are coming to Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, that advisers warned him not to mention it because people pay more at the pump, and that he doesn't "give a damn" about the criticism.

     So yeah, Big Oil is making big profits, but little America is paying significantly more. If you are poor, that rise in gas prices hurts more. Europe sometimes has an overly harsh method to curb Big Oil profits every time there are geopolitical supply disruptions, by adding so-called windfall profit taxes to those big companies. Now, I’m glad our oil & gas companies are profitable, but when it is at the public’s expense. It is an unfortunate economic situation for many. Trump knows this:

“On Oct. 14 in Bullhead City, Arizona, he said "we're making a fortune," citing Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota, per Common Dreams. On Aug. 3, ABC7 reported, he said Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) "made too much money" and should give some back.”

     U.S. crude oil exports had hit records due to the global shortage but are now closer to normal.

“EIA data show US exports of crude oil and petroleum products hit a record 13,610 thousand barrels a day in April, about 13.6 million, up 15% from March's record. Crude exports reached about 5.6 million barrels a day, 21% above the prior record, per the EIA, as Strait of Hormuz disruptions sent buyers to US supply.”

     However, now those exports have dropped down to normal pre-war levels. As detailed below, the U.S. has suffered a much smaller loss of GDP than much of the rest of the world due to our productive oil industry.

“A June 23 Dallas Fed model found a 15% global oil supply disruption cuts annualized US real GDP growth by about 0.3 points. Its working paper puts fourth-quarter 2026 US output down about 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.3% for closures lasting one, two or three quarters, while rest-of-world output falls about 1.7 points annualized. Higher income for US producers partly offsets lost non-oil output. These are model estimates that leave producer gains and consumer spending unmeasured. The US has been a net oil exporter since late 2019, and oil spending fell from nearly 8% of GDP in 1980 to about 3% in 2024, per the Dallas Fed.”

“By a rough 24/7 Wall St. estimate, April's pace of about 13.6 million barrels a day annualizes to about 4.96 billion barrels. At $30 to $35 of added price per barrel, that implies about $149 billion to $174 billion a year in added export revenue. It reflects the peak month only: exports have since fallen, they mix products priced differently, and the US still imports crude.”

     Democrats in Congress are calling for a windfall profits tax for big companies. The big companies call that short-sighted. However, U.S. drivers know they are being scalped, so they are not sympathetic to the big companies nor to Trump. While I strongly agree with Trump that Iran should not have nuclear weapons and while I would love to see regime change in Iran, I think if we bomb again, we should focus on the nuclear sites as well as taking out their missile and drone capabilities as we are able.     

     Meanwhile, “we,” meaning most Americans, will continue to pay more at the pump, and oil companies will continue to profit from geopolitical disruptions as they often do. If the situation continues long enough, calls for windfall profit taxes will only increase.

 

 

References:

 

Trump says “we’re making a freaking fortune” from the Iran war’s oil spike. Here’s what the economic data actually show. AJ Tiarsmith. 24/7 Wall St. October 26, 2026. Trump says “we’re making a freaking fortune” from the Iran war’s oil spike. Here’s what the economic data actually show

Chemical Confidentiality Highest for Most Dangerous Chemicals, According to Chemical & Engineering News

        Companies that utilize chemicals and various chemical recipes often like to keep those chemicals and formulas confidential, citing proprietary commercial knowledge.  However, when those chemicals are dangerous or potentially dangerous if the public were to be exposed, then there is an argument to be made in favor of the public’s right to know. According to Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), companies withhold information more often for dangerous chemicals, which is somewhat problematic.

     C&EN explains:

“C&EN analyzed US chemical production and import data from 2012 to 2023 under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) program of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and looked at how often companies marked their yearly production volume as confidential business information (CBI). Compared with all chemicals reported under TSCA, companies withheld production volumes from the public between 6 and 21 percentage points more frequently for compounds that the EPA deemed the highest priority for safety evaluation when Congress overhauled the law in 2016.”

     The bottom line and the point of concern is that the public does not know how much of these dangerous chemicals a company is handling.

     According to Tosh Sagar, an attorney for the environmental group Earthjustice:

Routinely, companies will withhold how much of a chemical they’re using, their name, and where the plant is located as confidential information in their TSCA reporting data, Sagar says. “If you’re in one of these communities, you have no way of knowing that that stuff is about to come into your community and potentially poison you, your neighbors, your water, your air,” he says.

     Companies cite the importance of the protection of trade secrets from competitors. We saw that with fracking chemicals early on, but information became accessible later in disclosures, which have become routine.

     C&EN explains the situation further:

“This balance between the public’s right to know and industry’s right to preserve business interests has been a topic of debate since Congress overhauled TSCA, including its CBI rules, in 2016. Ten years later, some of the CBI permissions that the EPA granted to businesses are coming up for renewal. In addition, TSCA’s rule on charging companies fees for evaluating chemicals expires in September, which lawmakers see as an opportunity to rework the law again.”

“For most chemicals, companies must file CDR data if they use 11,340 kg or more per year. For chemicals that are highly toxic or have other special considerations under TSCA, this threshold drops to 1,134 kg. The TSCA top 10 list falls under the lower-threshold category. It includes chemicals such as perchloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, methylene chloride, and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), which have been linked to a variety of adverse health outcomes.”

     One observation that they made is that for four of the most dangerous chemicals for which there is full data: 1-bromopropane, 1,4-dioxane, methylene chloride, and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), the withheld amounts of the chemicals used exceeded the reported amounts.

      C&EN goes on to explain, citing Richard Engler, director of chemistry at Bergeson & Campbell, and Maria Doa, senior director of chemical policy at the Environmental Defense Fund:

“There’s some variability in the extent to which companies claim CBI for production volume, Engler says. Companies in highly competitive sectors tend to claim all production volume as CBI, while others are less concerned and tend to not claim CBI. He also says companies might claim CBI for production volume for the 10 prioritized TSCA chemicals more often because there’s a lot of visibility on these compounds.”

“But what companies are allowed to claim as CBI, what they’re not allowed to, and what they need to justify are subject to a lot of EPA rules. There are two “can claim” CBI buckets, Doa says. “Bucket 1 is information that is presumptive CBI.” That means a company can claim CBI without having to give the EPA a reason, she says. What goes in that bucket are things like production volume, the supplier of a chemical, and the physical form of a chemical a company is using.

“In the other bucket are categories for which CBI is not presumed. For these, a company must substantiate to the EPA why that information should be withheld from the public, Doa says. Information in this bucket includes company name, location, and even the name of the chemical.”

“If you do not want your company associated with the production of something that’s listed on the public portion of the inventory, you can claim your company name as CBI, but you have to explain to EPA why that is,” she says. For example, a company must make a case to the EPA that releasing the information to the public would cause it “substantial harm to the competitive position” of the company, according to CDR filing rules (PDF). The company must show the EPA that it is taking precautions to protect this confidentiality itself, she says. “They have to show they’re not making empty claims,” Doa says.

“The EPA doesn’t explicitly define what substantial harm to the competitive position means in its guidance for companies wishing to claim CBI. “The EPA is not an expert on competitive harm,” Mark Duvall of the law firm Beveridge & Diamond says. Instead, the agency says it’s up to the CBI claimant to show this harm, he says.

     Earthjustice’s Sagar argues that this approach allows companies to claim CBI when it is not really necessary. C&EN’s Leigh Krietsch Boerner refers to the public’s right to chemical information as a balancing act. Below, she explains the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and how they relate to the CDR and CBI and how they differ.

“Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), companies storing or handling hazardous chemicals must provide safety information to local emergency responders and report any toxic chemical releases. The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), meant to inform the public about toxic chemical releases either as waste or pollution, falls under EPCRA.”

“The information in the TRI is related to what’s in the CDR but doesn’t give the same level of insight, Engler says. The TRI has some information about what a company is storing on-site, but unlike the CDR, it doesn’t tell you how much the company is using, he says. “The TRI is telling you what comes out of a facility, but it doesn’t tell you what went in.”

     Sagar also takes issue with confidentiality being allowed for the volume of a chemical being produced, since that can have a huge impact on public safety risks. The public can possibly get information by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to the EPA, but the EPA would have to approve it.

     The last time the TSCA rules were revamped was in 2016 and companies are typically given CBI exemptions from reporting for a ten-year period. Thus, many of these exemptions are expiring in 2026 as explained below. Some CBI claims can be renewed if approved by the EPA.

“According to data on CBI claims from the EPA, the agency fully approved about 58% of CBI requests between June 22, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2026. It denied 28% of requests and partially approved 14%.”

“If a CBI claim is granted, it comes with an expiration date, often 10 years after the company applies for CBI protection. The 2016 TSCA overhaul brought companies claiming new CBI protections, and many of them are about to expire.”

“So far, the EPA has released two lists of expiring CBI claims—one made up of claims set to run out between June 22 and July 31, and one with claims expiring by Aug. 31. Companies whose CBI claims are up for renewal have 30 days to submit new justifications to keep their CBI status.”

     If a company loses its CBI claim status, it can file an appeal, which presumably can keep the chemicals and volumes confidential for a longer period. Some members of Congress are seeking changes to TSCA, and these may affect how CBI claims are handled.

 

 

References:

 

Companies withhold info more often for dangerous chemicals, C&EN finds: Analysis of EPA data highlights difficult balance between a company’s right to confidentiality and the public’s right to know about toxic chemicals. Leigh Krietsch Boerner. July 1, 2026. Companies withhold info more often for dangerous chemicals, C&EN finds

Bridgmanite Deformation in the Earth’s Mid-Mantle is Likely Responsible for Seismically Defined Discontinuities, According to Study

    The main mineralogical phase in the Earth’s lower mantle is in the form of bridgmanite, which is intrinsically anisotropic and generates seismic anisotropy in actively deforming regions, including subduction zones. Structures observed at mid-mantle depths have unclear origins. According to a recent paper published in Nature Communications, a new model of these discontinuities is emerging:

“By coupling thermo-mechanical subduction models with pressure-dependent fabric calculations, we show that gradual slip transitions in bridgmanite with depth can manifest anisotropic discontinuities near 1000 km, which can deepen depending on the extent of accumulated deformation.”

“These results suggest that mid-mantle reflectors near subduction zones may be strain-induced, providing an additional mechanism that links mantle flow, mineral physics, and seismic observations.”

     Seismic anisotropy from crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of intrinsically anisotropic mantle minerals has long been recognized. This also occurs through deformation deep in the mantle. Slabs of rock subducting deep into the mantle are thought to be the source of the deformation and the anisotropic discontinuities.

     The figure below shows an anisotropic discontinuity due to the bridgmanite phase around a subducting slab. The anisotropy is due to the deformation resulting from the subducting slab. The yellow represents isotropic parts of the mantle.

 

References:

 

Mid-mantle discontinuities beneath subduction zones linked to depth-dependent deformation of bridgmanite. John Keith Magali, Sébastien Merkel, Angelo Pisconti, Jeffrey Gay, James Wookey & Christine Thomas. Nature Communications volume 17, Article number: 10494 (October 5, 2026). Mid-mantle discontinuities beneath subduction zones linked to depth-dependent deformation of bridgmanite | Nature Communications

Indian Institute of Technology Madras is Testing a Titanium Coating That Can Break Down Air Pollutants

     According to India Today, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is testing a titanium coating in the laboratory that breaks down air pollutants. In testing so far, it has broken down 30-70% of gaseous pollutants, with glass surfaces performing best. The coating does not break down particulate matter, which is the main pollutant of concern, only gaseous pollutants, but it has the ability to significantly improve overall air quality and lower the air quality index (AQI) number.

     Delhi’s air pollution is the worst in the fall and winter. Burning crop residues in late fall is a huge air quality problem.

“…the capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) stays above 300 on most days, climbing up to 800 and even higher on some days.”

     Temperature inversions often make the problem worse, concentrating pollutants lower to the ground where humans breathe.

“Somnath Chanda Roy of the IIT Madras' department of physics, who is working on the smog project, said the coating is a photocatalyst: when titanium dioxide absorbs light, it drives reactions on its surface that break down pollutant molecules coming into contact with it.”

“Applied to roads, building walls and glass facades, it would turn surfaces a city already has into ones that treat the air around them.”

     The gaseous pollutants that the titanium coating addresses include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, organic compounds such as aldehydes and alcohols, and nitric and nitrous oxides.

     Three surfaces that have been chosen to be coated are road tar, building paint, and glass. Many of the city’s office buildings are glazed with glass surfaces. As noted, it works best on these glass surfaces. The experiments include varying the catalyst thickness and pollutant concentrations.

     In the winter, the gaseous pollutants mix with particulates and make up a significant share of pollutants. The titanium coating technology does have limitations. One previous study showed that it works better in the lab than in real-world settings, cutting only a small amount of NOx pollutants.

"The technology can only be a complement to existing pollution controls and ideally lab tests should be followed by field tests," said an epidemiologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi who studies pollution's health related impact.

“Meanwhile, Roy said a preliminary report had gone to the Delhi government in August, and testing continues. Officials will review the data first, after which a comprehensive report will lay out what works and what does not, Roy said.

  

 

References:

 

Delhi air crisis: Can IIT Madras' new surface coating offer a breath of relief?  India Today Health Desk. October 23, 2026. Delhi air crisis: Can IIT Madras' new surface coating offer a breath of relief?

All Lives Matter vs. Moral Progress is Illusory: Francis Fukuyama vs. John Gray on the Philosophy of Moral Progress

     In September, Jonny Thompson of Big Think interviewed two philosophers with differing views about human progress, specifically moral progress. I had come across the idea before that progress was a myth in the version put forth by modern-day Druid John Michael Greer, who argued that after fossil fuels run out (he was a big fan of peak oil theory), humans would revert to the days before they were used, presumably knocking us back into the 19^th century. It seemed like a stupid idea then and it still does now.

     Apparently, philosopher John Gray also thinks the idea of progress is an overblown myth. He said this to Thompson:

“If you go back to Greek drama or Shakespeare, or Hinduism or Buddhism, none of these assumptions are made about the future of mankind being potentially better than it’s ever been in the past. It’s a modern Western myth, and I would say it’s a kind of neo-Christian myth, because it comes about by secularizing certain Christian assumptions about sacred time, about human history being meaningful.”

     Now, I might agree that we are not automatically better off in terms of our morality, but as societies we have indeed become more compassionate in general, and we have come to tolerate less brutality and mistreatment of other humans and even of animals. To me, that is progress.

     Thompson summarizes Gray’s views on progress as follows:

1)        Progress is not the same as improvement. Progress means a cumulative advance that does not unwind over generations or centuries.

2)        In technology, we do make progress. The gains are cumulative and retained over millennia.

3)        In ethics and politics, though, gains are not cumulative — they unwind depressingly often.

Therefore: There is no such thing as progress in ethics and politics.

     Of course, I would not disagree that technological progress is the same as moral progress and also that moral progress can be less enduring and reversible. However, the data show that, in terms of full societies, the trajectory of moral progress has been steadily forward, with only occasional backslides. However, I disagree strongly with the last statement that there is no progress in ethics and politics. Simple observations like the abolition of slavery in most of the world without backsliding are clear examples. Gray stresses that moral progress is not permanent. Greer went further than Gray by suggesting that even technological progress is not permanent. While I concede that moral progress is not permanent, I would hedge my bets that backsliding will remain minimal and temporary.

     Thompson also mentions Hegel’s ideas about progress and those of Karl Marx as well:

“Marx argued that we can see a movement from something like despotism to feudalism to capitalism to socialism. Each was different from the one before, each a step better, and there was no “unwinding,” as Gray put it.”

     While Marx may have seen moral progress as always improving, his ideas of what is better than before are very wrong, in my opinion. Socialism is certainly neither the natural heir of nor an improvement over capitalism, although more equal distribution of wealth in general can be seen as an improvement. This is especially true for people in poverty. If we can get to the point where everyone has enough, even if for some it is just enough, it is a big improvement. Thompson says he agrees with Gray that moral progress is very precarious and traumatic events could easily revert us back to widespread immoral behavior. I don’t think that is the case. I think we are a bit stronger in our moral attitudes than that.

     In contrast, Francis Fukuyama argues that we are better than our ancestors, morally speaking. Thompson notes that people in the past, even in the 19^th century, once relished executions as perfectly natural and even sources of entertainment. We saw a potential backslide recently when Pete Hegseth tried to stage a public execution. The backlash against such a disgusting idea was swift and resulted in the idea being abandoned.

     Fukuyama argues that societies in the past accepted violence as necessary and in the public’s interest, and unfortunately a few today do as well (Russia, Iran, and North Korea come to mind). Those societies became desensitized to violence, which was normal. Fukuyama says that those societies saw the criminal and other outsiders as “below compassion” or somehow not deserving of it. They were not seen as moral subjects, he says.

     Fukuyama simply argues that our societal norms have changed. We no longer accept that some are not worthy of basic human compassion, even if they have done bad things. Thompson writes:

“Most people, in most of the world, think that other human beings are at least worth some moral consideration. 73% of people think human rights exist. Most of the countries in the world have abolished the death penalty. Four out of five people think that torture is wrong, no matter what. Today, it’s widely accepted that no one is valueless. And that, for Fukuyama, is progress.”

     Thompson asked Fukuyama whether we have the same moral responsibility to those further away from us. He responded that we don’t, not because those further are not deserving of it, but simply because, as a practicality, it’s psychologically implausible. We have stronger connections to the people closer to us, and we have tendencies to want to protect our loved ones more than those we don’t know.

     Fukuyama says the nation-state is a necessary institution that supports our societal moral progress. He talks about nation-states:

“They empower police forces and armies to protect the community, and those forms of power have to be territorially limited. If you have a police force that can arrest anybody anywhere in the world for a crime you deem to be a crime, you’re going to be living in a very, very chaotic world.”

     Thompson further explains Fukuyama’s position:

“In other words, we need jurisdiction. We need a workable political boundary we can defend and within which we can enforce the laws that society wants. To create a universal law or universal responsibility undermines the most functional unit of operation we have: the nation-state.”

     Of course, if we could somehow develop a world government acceptable to the vast majority, which is highly unlikely, that universal law and responsibility could work in theory.

     Thompson finishes with the following:

“But maybe Fukuyama is right to argue that moral progress is possible. The move from “some people matter” to “all people matter” is an important one. And even if that move goes up and down, forward and backward, it’s still a noticeable trend toward progress. Few people you speak to will say other humans don’t matter. Few people will write diaries about abusing other people.”

     Here, I am clearly in the Fukuyama camp. Fukuyama acknowledges Gray’s idea that moral progress is not more or less permanent like technological progress is, but also shows that moral progress is not only possible but has demonstrably occurred as the data show. There are fewer wars, less crime, fewer people left to die in disasters, fewer executions, less slavery, etc., on a more or less continual trajectory. Although all those horrible things still occur, they have diminished steadily.

     There is a practice in Buddhism known as Ton Len where one wishes, along with visualization, for all beings to be happy and free from suffering, beginning with those one is close to and extending further out to those one is not close to, and eventually to one’s enemies and those who may be dangerous to society. One might compare it distantly to Christian ideals to love one’s neighbor or enemy. Thus, in some of our religious and spiritual practices we extend compassion to (in the Buddhist version) ‘all sentient beings throughout space without exception.’ In other words: All Lives Matter.  

     

 

 

References:

 

Francis Fukuyama on why we’re better than our ancestors: Everyone matters. If you believe that, it’s a good sign. Jonny Thomson. Big Think. September 30, 2026. Francis Fukuyama on why we're better than our ancestors - Big Think

John Gray on why "progress" in politics is an illusion: In technology, we make cumulative advances that withstand time. Not so in politics and ethics, argues philosopher John Gray. Jonny Thomson and Big Think. Big Think. September 11, 2026. History shows that human progress is a myth

 

Angola’s Refinery Buildout, Fuel Subsidies, High Fuel Prices, and Economy Diversification

    This post is based on reporting by Intellinews. Significantly higher international fuel prices, complements of (depends on who you ask) Iran and Russia (I say), have led to estimates of a doubling of the cost of fuel subsidies in Angola to $4.16 billion in 2026. Angola imports over 80% of its refined fuels. It is a major producer of crude oil, producing about 1.05 MM barrels per day. They report that Angola’s newest refinery to come online has produced mainly naphtha and fuel oil for export rather than diesel. Output of diesel was only 14% of total output.

“Angola’s efforts to expand domestic refining have yet to substantially reduce its import dependence. The new Cabinda refinery exported about 86% of the refined products covered by its disclosed early sales data, mainly naphtha and heavy fuel oil, while supplying relatively little diesel domestically, as IntelliNews reported in September.”

     The next phase of the Cabinda refinery development is expected to add hydrocracking capacity and increase production of diesel and jet fuel. The Cabinda refinery is 90% owned by London-based emerging-markets investment group Gemcorp and 10% by state oil company Sonangol. It currently has the capacity to process 30,000 barrels of crude per day but is only processing about half of that. In future phases, it is expected to process 60,000 barrels per day.

     Another refinery under construction is the larger Lobito refinery. It is working on financing from China and Europe, with Sonangol taking some, and the nearby country of Botswana was in talks in March to take a stake of about 30% in the project. It is expected to be completed in July 2027 for phase one operations. It is expected to process 200,000 barrels per day. Plans for an associated petrochemical complex to produce fertilizer for domestic needs are in the works as well.

     As a major oil exporter, Angola is benefiting from higher oil prices, but its fuel subsidies are growing as well since it imports so much of its refined fuels.

     As in many places, once fuel subsidies are commonplace, people tend to fight to keep them.

“Angola began gradually withdrawing fuel subsidies in 2023, when a petrol price rise triggered deadly protests, and further increases remain politically sensitive. Unrest that followed a one-third rise in the diesel price to AOA400 per litre in July 2025 left 22 people dead, 197 injured and 1,214 arrested, according to the presidency.”

     Below, the country’s Secretary of State for Finance and the Treasury, Ottoniel dos Santos, stresses the need to keep fuel subsidy cuts gradual and to diversify its economy away from oil. Oil and gas derivatives like fertilizer, which could really help the country’s agricultural sector, are one means of diversification.

“We need to move not only with the subsidies removal, but also with the diversification of our economy,” dos Santos told Reuters. He said further price increases would remain gradual, given the risk of economic and social fallout. The government is also examining more targeted social assistance as an alternative to broad subsidies.

 

 

 

References:

 

Angola’s 2026 fuel subsidy bill could hit $4.16bn, more than twice budgeted amount. IntelliNews. October 19, 2025. Angola’s 2026 fuel subsidy bill could hit $4.16bn, more than twice budgeted amount

Angola's Cabinda refinery exports 86% of early sales as throughput ramps up. Brian Kennety. September 9, 2026. bne IntelliNews - Angola's Cabinda refinery exports 86% of early sales as throughput ramps up

Angola’s Lobito refinery 23% complete. Intellinews. January 15, 2026. bne IntelliNews - Angola’s Lobito refinery 23% complete