Posts Tagged by green energy
Predicting the Future in Energy Policy — Thanks to Survey Respondents
| May 21, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Politics |
My thanks to everyone who has participated in the recent 2GreenEnergy survey. I note that Dr. David Doty, one of the greatest intellects I’ve ever run across, boldly predicted the following for the coming five years:
Oil, coal, and gas will steadily become more expensive at a mean rate of ~20%/year. EVs will have negligible impact on oil usage – for decades.
Global economic growth will still continue at a rate of ~2%/yr, and inflation in the U.S. will remain low.
The gap between the rich and the poor will continue to widen. It will take 10-12 more years of this before something close to revolution (major rioting) comes to the U.S. We will not see another period of sustained strong growth in the U.S. until several years after that happens.
We will not see serious and effective commitment to reduced CO2 emissions until after we’ve seen several years of strong economic growth.
Much of what you’ve written here is so counter to most people’s thinking — not to say that this means it’s wrong. 20% CAGR? Read More
Solar Photovoltaics in Small Model House
| May 19, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Photo-voltaics |
Tomorrow my daughter and I will spend the afternoon on a project for her science class at school: building a model house whose electrical power is delivered with solar photovoltaics. I have a small solar panel that (I believe) will put out about 5 Watts in the full sun, and a couple of flashlight batteries of different types. I think I’m going to have to experiment with series vs. parallel circuits, different bulbs, etc., before I get this right. Should be fun.
Survey: Given Our Energy Policies, How Likely Is It…..?
| May 19, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Politics |
I’d like to ask a favor, if I may. We have a quick survey up on the 2GreenEnergy website – one that, interestingly enough, calls for you to predict the future. Given our current energy policies and the rate at which they’re changing, what do you think the world will be like five years from now? What events do you believe are likely to occur between now and the year 2017? Which do you think are improbable?
As usual, we’ll tabulate the results and offer you a free copy of the report that comes as a result.
And as always, we appreciate your help.
Here’s the link:
http://2greenenergy.com/survey-what-will-happen-in-the-next-five-years/
Does Our Society Value Its Scientists?
| May 18, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Rogelio writes:
I think that anybody contemplating a career in clean energy has always to take a look at the engineering and scientific aspects of the field to find a very demanding and yet rewarding career, why because we live in a technical field….There will always be better ways to extract energy from the sun, the wind, earth and the water…. Lawyers, accountants as well as marketers cannot lead the way; they lack the tools and the vision to understand and unleash the forces of nature in our benefit. Cheers, Mate.
Rogelio, thanks very much for this great insight. It reminds me of Read More
Video: The Migration to Renewable Energy
| May 17, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Here’s another episode of the television show “Our Ventura” in which host George Alger interviews me with respect to the adoption of renewable energy. I tried to answer as many questions as the 15-minute time-slot would allow. How far have we come? How far do we have to go? What are the consequences of success? Failure? What are the imperatives? The challenges? Who are the supporters? The detractors?
I’ll be interested in your feedback.
From Guest Blogger Mary Alice Khatcherian: What Does It Mean To Use Green Energy Sources?
| May 16, 2012 | Posted by MaryaliceKhatcherian772 under Efficiency |
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Swap your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. Energy Star appliances are guaranteed to use less energy than those made previously. For refrigerators and freezers, the rating promises 20% less energy used, for dishwashers 40% less energy used, and for washing machines at least 50% less energy used!
Those looking to reduce their energy consumption would be wise to make their own ice. Though automatic ice makers may seem convenient, they often break a lot and waste a lot of energy. Additionally, seals that leak are another common complaint with these devices, and this can lead to a general rise in temperature within the freezer. If you make your own ice, you won’t have these problems. Read More
From Guest Blogger Douglas Santos: Finding Renewable Energy Sources Promotes a Greener Environment
| May 15, 2012 | Posted by AmyWiltbank under Renewables - Science |
Traditional methods of generating energy are giving way to new environmentally-friendly ideas. Instead of stripping the land for coal mining and clearing miles of land for oil fields or natural gas pipelines, the concept of renewable energy is evolving. The term “renewable energy” is an often-used buzzword, but how does using green energy affect animals in their native habitat?
Saying “No” to Fossil Fuels
Global warming is the biggest threat facing the planet today but sustainable energy is a cleaner and safer way to generate needed power. Everyone has seen the sad images of birds living near the ocean with their feathers matted with slick black oil after an oil spill, or thousands of dead fish washed up on the shore because of water pollution. The use of renewable energy from the sun and wind gives animals a second chance at life. Read More
From Guest Blogger Mary Alice Khatcherian: Interested In Green Energy Technology? Check This Information Out!
| May 14, 2012 | Posted by MaryaliceKhatcherian772 under Sustainability |
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Adjust the settings on the thermostat to reflect the various seasonal temperatures. Keep the house at a slightly lower temperature in winter and raise the temperature slightly in the summer. In addition to doing this, try wearing less or more clothing (depending on the weather), and reduce energy usage in your home and keep your temperature reasonable.
Decorate with brighter wall colors to save electricity. If your walls feature darker colors, you’ll need more electricity to make your space as bright as you want it. With lighter colors in place, you will find the need for illumination is decreased. The house will have a lighter feel and look, as you save money. Read More
A Career in Clean Energy? Here’s Some Advice
| May 14, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
Each week I receive several emails requesting my advice on career paths within the clean energy space. I thought I’d take a few minutes and jot down a few of the ideas that I normally try to express in response.
First, I congratulate people who want to work in this industry, especially if their interest is rooted in a love of the natural environment and perhaps a sense of duty, or at least a wish, to do something good for mankind and the other 8.7 million species of life forms here on our home planet. But regardless of motive, clean energy is one of few arenas in which there exists a beautiful confluence of the profitable and the philanthropic; we’re helping mankind whether that’s our aim or not. Read More
China’s Investing in Renewables — But Why?
| May 13, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Politics |
Frequent commenter Duke Brooks writes in:
Americans who rail against U.S. polluters should probably spend a few days in the world’s most polluted city, Beijing. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, as they say. But the lack of outrage from the American left over China’s mass particulate output would tend to expose them for what they are: A political, not ecological, movement.
I don’t think anyone argues that China’s building coal-fired power plants at the rate of one a week is anything other than an abomination; there isn’t too much controversy there — regardless of where one stands politically. Yet China is the world’s leading investor in renewable energy, and they face a far larger challenge than we do in terms of supplying energy to a skyrocketing number of energy-hungry consumers; it’s one that dwarfs ours here in the U.S.
I don’t know whether you saw this report I wrote a few months back in an attempt to make sense of this paradox: China Is Investing in Renewable Energy — But Why?
