Blog – Page 1493 – 2GreenEnergy.com

Film Project: Energy and Ethics

craigshieldsPosted on September 23, 2012 Posted in Sustainability

2GreenEnergy co-founder George Alger and I are in the process of making a five-minute video on “Ethics and Energy” to be entered in a contest later in the year. As we currently contemplate the project, the video will feature me giving a talk on the subject, supported by various “B-roll” clips and stills.

I rate myself “decent though far from excellent” at this type of public speaking. I’m certainly not good enough to deliver it extemporaneously without a bunch of flubs and omissions. So I just wrote a script for myself that I thought I’d share.

I need a more powerful opening – and closing. But here are the guts: (more…)

Tagged with: agribusiness, Amazon rain forest, big energy, clean energy, climate refugees, depletion of natural resources, eco-friendly, Ethics and Energy, farm land desertification, fossil fuels, global climate change, global warming, global warming hoax, Heartland Institute, mass starvation, mega-corporations, oil companies, poisoning food with chemicals, polluting oceans skies, Renewable Energy, rising sea levels, skyrocketing rates of disease, sustainability, worlds population

Piezoelectric Generators

craigshieldsPosted on September 22, 2012 Posted in Renewables - Science

Nicholas writes:

I just wanted to put the idea forward of piezoelectric generators. As I read an article on them a little while ago about some Israeli engineers testing them on a stretch of highway. They spoke about storing some of the electricity generated from this system so electric cars can recharge on the side of the road, or maybe you could say recharging stations instead of petrol/fuel stations. I’m not sure on your views on this source of energy but from what I have read piezoelectric generators are not just limited to roadways they can be used on railway lines, airport runways and all high traffic areas even sidewalks, shopping malls, airport terminals, sporting arenas the list seems endless. Anyway I would really value your opinion on piezoelectric generators if you could find the time to reply.

Hi, Nicholas. I haven’t read too much about this, although I did see an article on the work in Israel (linked above). When you need a small amount of energy for a certain purpose, e.g., igniting a gas lighter for your fireplace or barbecue, piezoelectricity is marvelous. But it’s extremely expensive and inefficient, given the scale of the concepts at hand, for instance, recapturing a tiny percentage of the waste-energy that comes from driving (or walking, or whatever).

When we think about the magnitude of the impending energy crisis, one that comes from a population that is in the process of quintupling in size from 1950 – 2050, and, at the same time, is experiencing its energy consumption per capita going through the roof, we shouldn’t get too excited about concepts like these. I see huge expense and little potential to “move the needle” in terms of the world’s energy picture. In contrast, improving CAFE (fuel efficiency) standards or reducing VMT (vehicle miles traveled) even infinitesimally would have a far greater effect – and all without re-doing our roadways.

If we’re going to address this crisis, it will be through significant efforts to reduce consumption via efficiency and conservation, as well as renewable energy solutions on a major scale.

If anyone disagrees with me, please speak up.

From Guest Blogger Richard Miller: How to Start a Career in Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on September 22, 2012 Posted in Renewables - Business

In this economy, nothing seems settled anymore. If you are even the slightest bit unhappy in your current profession, or you haven’t yet settled on one yet, then never fear: there are options available to you. Set about putting your passion to work and start a career in renewable energy.

Defining the Renewable Energy Industry

Renewable energy is a wildly diverse field, with little agreement on how to define its boundaries and parameters. There is a subtle difference between “green” or “sustainable” industry and “renewable energy,” for example. The former two tend to include efficiency-increasing activities like the retrofitting and weatherization of old buildings, while the latter is defined more narrowly as the actual production of energy through renewable or sustainable means, like wind and solar power. (more…)

Tagged with: biofuels, clean energy, green, hydroelectric dams, Renewable Energy, retrofitting weatherization old buildings, solar energy, solar power, sustainability, sustainable, Wind Energy, wind power, wind turbine maintenance

From Guest-Blogger Lynne: How to Position Your Company as a Green Leader

craigshieldsPosted on September 22, 2012 Posted in Sustainable Building

Although green initiatives began back in the 1970s, few companies and individuals were motivated to take serious action to protect the environment and focus on sustainability. In recent years, however, the target of living green has taken hold, dominating the activities of industry and individuals alike.

Living green has become such a force that progressive companies use their sustainability actions as components in their branding efforts. Further, many talented employees now state they prefer to work for green employers. Savvy recruiters and hiring managers are using this attitude to find the best candidates for important personnel needs. (more…)

Tagged with: eco-design, fleet management, green building, How to Position Your Company as a Green Leader, lean manufacturing, LEED, Renewable Energy, sustainability, sustainable architecture, sustainable design

SAT Question Stimulates Thoughts on Oil Dependence

craigshieldsPosted on September 22, 2012 Posted in Electric Vehicles

When I signed my daughter up to take the SATs, the organization that administers the test asked if I wanted to receive, via email, the “SAT Question of the Day.” I eagerly agreed. I love little quizzes, and I look forward to checking this out each day as part of my morning routine.

Today’s challenge calls for choosing the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

To believe that social reforms can ——- evil altogether is to forget that evil is a protean creature, forever assuming a new ——- when deprived of an old one.

A.      rejuvenate . . allegiance

B.     eradicate . . shape

C.     mitigate . . providence

D.     sustain . . episode

E.     dissolve . . abstraction

The correct answer (more…)

Tagged with: clean energy, DG, distributed generation, Doty Windfuels, electric transportation, Electric Vehicles, eliminating our dependence on oil as transportation fuel, EVs, fossil fuels, Glenn Doty, oil companies, oil dependence, rare earth elements, Renewable Energy, scarce commodity

Eco-Capitalism Aims at Sustainability in Developing Countries

craigshieldsPosted on September 21, 2012 Posted in Sustainability

Here’s this month’s webinar, in which I interviewed my friend and colleague Andy Lower, Executive Director of The Eleos Foundation. I called the webinar “Eco-Capitalism,” as Eleos makes significant, carefully placed investments, focused on enabling entrepreneurs in developing countries to start companies aimed at some form of sustainability. As the fledgling companies in the Eleos portfolio take off, they employ an increasing number of local people, thus eradicating extreme poverty in certain target areas. I think you will agree that, thus far, their track-record has been quite impressive.

I’m quite proud of my association with Andy and his fine organization, and I hope you’ll enjoy the conversation.

(more…)

Tagged with: Andy Lower, burning hydrocarbons, Carbon Footprint, clean energy, educated women have fewer offspring, Electric Vehicles, eradicating extreme poverty, fossil fuel energy structure, fossil fuels, photovoltaics, Renewable Energy, renewables, social entrepreneurs, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, sustainability, technology leapfrog, The Eleos Foundation, Wind Energy, wind power, wind turbines

Bechtel Building Solar Thermal Plant

craigshieldsPosted on September 21, 2012 Posted in Solar Thermal

Bechtel was one of my favorite clients, back in the day when I was a marketing consultant for the large tech companies. That’s why I’m happy to see their participation in solar thermal; as discussed here, they’re building a $2.2 billion, 392 MW solar thermal (aka “concentrated solar power” or CSP) plant in the Mojave Desert.

True to form, almost half of the commenters on this post look at the $5.60 cost per Watt (based on the nameplate capacity) and write it off as a “renewable energy boondoggle.” I don’t see the relevance of the idea that, in its infancy, a certain clean energy technology costs more per Watt than fossil fuels. In fact, I can’t recall an historical example of an innovation in any industry beating the cost of the incumbent technology in its first few implementations. Was the first computer cost-competitive with the information technology of the day? Did the first car cost less than a horse?

These people’s argument really isn’t any better than this, and I think they know that; even the most simple-minded understand this intellectually. But that doesn’t seem to keep the fossil fuel boys from riling up the crowd.

Tagged with: 392 MW solar thermal plant, Bechtel, clean energy, concentrated solar power, costs per Watt, CSP, fossil fuels, Mojave Desert, Renewable Energy, renewable energy boondoggle, Solar Thermal

Webinar Reminder – Eco-Capitalism

craigshieldsPosted on September 20, 2012 Posted in Renewables - Business

Just a quick reminder about tomorrow’s webinar at 10:30 AM PDT (1 PM EDT).

Our September webinar, featuring my friend and colleague Andy Lower, Executive Director of The Eleos Foundation. Eleos is a dynamic non-profit, that, through its for-profit subsidiaries, invests in and partners with social entrepreneurs who effectively implement high impact, early stage, pioneering market based solutions in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty.

The relevance to 2Greenenergy’s participation in sustainability is obvious: creating jobs for the world’s poor is really the only way to make this huge segment of Earth’s population self-sufficient. The tie-in to renewable energy may be less apparent, but it’s nonetheless quite interesting. Eleos recognizes the importance of appropriate technology and its direct impact in dealing with poverty, and I’ve often pointed out the value of an investment in the manufacturing and deploying of clean energy products, e.g., solar panels, small wind turbines, electric vehicles, etc., that will: (more…)

Global Climate Change — Framing the Conversation

craigshieldsPosted on September 20, 2012 Posted in Climate Change

I had a chat with a friend the other day on the likely future for humankind vis-à-vis global climate change. He asked, “What do you think it will take, Craig, for us to muster the will to do something? If there were a fire burning in a building across the street, it would be apparent to everyone, and we’d do what we could to put it out. Here, we’re talking about a set of inexactly known consequences that are unfolding over a period of decades. What will it take?”

Wow, that’s a good question; I wish I had a good answer. All I can do is frame what I see as the big issues:

• Humankind applies a huge “discount rate” to situations like these; we place a much lower value on averting future pain than we do on enjoying current pleasure.

• It’s not in mankind’s DNA to be good at future planning, as my friend Tom Konrad points out. In the 100,000 years or so we have been here, if it worked last year, we do it again this year.

• Big Energy money is doing today what Big Tobacco did half a century ago, i.e., spending a fortune on misinforming voters and manipulating the political system in its favor. But eventually this will cease to work, as the lies become increasingly obvious. (more…)

Tagged with: AGW, anthropogenic climate change, big energy, Big Tobacco, California, clean energy, coal companies, COP meetings are a waste of time, disinformation, Energy conservation, energy efficiency, FedEx, fossil fuels, GHG emissions, global climate change, global warming, Greenland ice sheet, human nature and discount rate, mankind’s DNA and future planning, oil companies, propaganda, Renewable Energy, renewables

Sharing Our Beliefs on Global Warming, Environmentalism

craigshieldsPosted on September 20, 2012 Posted in Climate Change

I had a talk last night with a gentleman in Atlanta who claims to finance clean energy deals in a very straightforward fashion. We talked for about half an hour about the criteria he and his team use, the structure of the typical deal, etc. As usual, I’m wondering: Is this guy for real? Is there some element to this I’m not seeing? What’s a quick and painless way to find out? In any case, it was very much a “dog bites man” type of conversation; this is very much the daily grind for me.

Where it got interesting was when I happened to mention my take on the environmental picture as a whole, i.e., that our current consumption of energy resources, coupled with the growth of the urbanizing world population, is not sustainable.

Here, the caller jumped into a Cato Institute-like dismissal of the subject. (more…)

Tagged with: arctic ice sheet, Cato Institute, communists destroying capitalism, environment, environmentalism, global climate change, global warming, global warming hoax