Posts Tagged by alternative energy
From Guest Blogger Brian McGowan: Solar Cooking — Because I Can
| May 13, 2012 | Posted by Brian McGowan under Solar Thermal |
For amusement only….
Today I cooked mashed potatoes in my solar oven. The oven is made of one of those shiny windshield shades, a rack from an old countertop oven, a very large clear plastic pretzel container and a 2lb 13oz Prego spagetti sauce jar which I painted black with high temperature paint except for a stripe I left so I could look at what was going on in there. I peeled and cut potatoes to fill the jar and added water and put the arrangement out in the sun around 12:30. About 6:30 I retrieved the arrangement and brought the jar in to see what I had.
From Guest Blogger Mary Alice Khatcherian: How to Utilize Green Energy In Your Life
| May 9, 2012 | Posted by MaryaliceKhatcherian772 under Photo-voltaics |
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When you are preparing to install a solar energy system, ensure that the power storing batteries are located nearby to the cells. This prevents power from getting lost in the cables. It also reduces shading of the solar shells. Shading reduces solar panel energy generation.
Replace any leaky windows with weather-sealed efficient ones. There are several benefits in using these windows, including a decrease in energy bills and less condensation on the windows. Read More
Getting Smarter About Renewable Energy
| May 4, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
A reader asked for my opinion on this article in RealClearScience, a well-written and innocuous primer on renewable energy.
The premise: “keep pushing, but push smarter” is hard to argue with. I’m reminded of people who caution “Be careful!” when someone trips or bumps his head. Read More
Is “Business As Usual” with Respect to the Natural Environment an Acceptable Strategy?
| April 22, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
I’m delighted to see real progress being made in the public discourse surrounding sustainability. While most people still have the idea that continuing with “business as usual” with respect to our environment is an acceptable strategy, more of us are questioning this concept with each passing month. Here’s an example: a PBS special called The Journey to Planet Earth, featuring one of my personal heroes, Lester R. Brown, environmental visionary and author of “Plan B.”
It also features Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman (oops – Mom’s not going to like this one), Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and former Governor and Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt.
I caught the first part of this incredible series last night; it’s beautifully done.
Basics of Renewable Energy
| April 12, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Ross Guthrie, one of 2GreenEnergy’s web-programming superstars, has just completed this page that offers a compilation of the Basics of Renewable Energy, the videos and infographics that my team and I have been putting together over the past few months. It looks sharp to me, but I’d be interested in your opinion.
I encourage you to send this to young people or newcomers to the subject who may be looking for an accessible starting point.
Frontline on PBS: Nuclear Aftershocks
| April 11, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Nuclear |
I hope everyone gets the opportunity to catch this episode of Frontline on PBS: Nuclear Aftershocks – one that essentially claims that nuclear energy is both unacceptably dangerous but completely necessary. I’m reminded of the way Amory Lovins begins his current-day presentations: “Which would you rather die from? Nuclear holocaust, drowning from rising sea levels, respiratory disease, or terrorist attacks and social chaos from the demand for increasingly scarce oil?” I have to admit; it’s a great way to capture an audience’s attention.
“Aftershocks” did a great deal to explore the dangers of nuclear energy Read More
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Hydrokinetics
| April 10, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Hydrokinetics |
Here’s a continuation in our series of videos made for young people and newcomers to the subject who may benefit from an introduction to certain of the renewable energy technologies. This piece, less than five minutes in length, is a primer on hydrokenetics, i.e., extracting energy from moving water.
Island Nations Are a Good Fit for Renewable Energy
| April 6, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
Don Harmon of LiFeBatt, a long-time 2GreenEnergy reader, writes in about my recent video on clean energy:
Good interview. We are currently working on a project in the Caribbean Islands for solar and wind generation. The islands are a very ripe opportunity now for implementing green energy because they are mostly dependent on buying diesel fuel from Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and the cost is atrocious. So, may we see these islands go green way before the U.S. does? Since there is virtually no infrastructure, we have a blank slate to work with, and of course battery storage backup will be a key ingredient.
Thanks, Don. Yes, I think we’ll absolutely see this, for the reasons you name and more. Read More
The Future of Transportation
| April 4, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Electric Vehicles |
Here’s a terrific article written by 2GreenEnergy associate Dan Sturges, who specializes in the future of transportation. I’m in the process of lining up consulting projects for Dan with forward-thinking municipalities who may want to be a beacon of leadership in terms of sustainable transportation.
As I told Dan on the phone yesterday, “I’m bullish on this, but I wouldn’t expect dozens of clients. Sadly, most cities don’t think this way. They’re not going to become leaders because they never have been in the past, and there is no reason to think they’re going to change magically in the year 2012. But that doesn’t matter. All the world really needs at this point is a few progressive, visionary mayors to stand up and say, ‘The average car on the road in this city weighs 4000 pounds and has 1.1 passengers in it, and that’s a level of waste we can no longer afford. We’re going to rethink the way we commute to work and the way we deliver packages; we’re going to reinvent every aspect of the way we move our bodies and our goods around.’ Once the world has a few of these in place, the case studies in terms of public health, safety, and happiness will speak for themselves.”
I have to think I’m right here.
From Guest Blogger Kelly Marsh: Top 5 Advantages of Using Green Energy Products
| March 31, 2012 | Posted by Kelly Marsh under Renewables - Business |
Renewable energy is becoming a catch word. Green is becoming trendier color. Every odd product is claiming greenness and energy efficiency. Why should we care about green energies? How they make our life worth living? Is it just another marketing gimmickry or does it make sense in life?
No doubt, there are controversies. Few people despise green energy products. They claim such products are ineffective and nonviable. However, others praise and try to adore anything with even a faintest relation to green energies. We will see 5 undeniable advantages any green energy product can offer. Read More
