If you’re going to live off the grid, you might as well do it right. Here’s a guy who’s done precisely that. His mantra: if you need something, you can either buy it from a corporation, or simply get it from nature; I prefer the latter.
What happens in the nacelle, that box-like thing shown here at the top of a wind turbine? In its simplicity, it’s where we convert mechanical into electrical energy, i.e., it’s the home of the generator. From there, however, things get a bit more complex, when one considers the trade-offs between various options for the nacelle’s guts, particularly, direct drive and geared systems. (more…)
That teenagers are far more involved politically may be more a matter of necessity than just the normal spirit of energy and enthusiasm we have always found in young folks. When people of any age feel backed into a corner, they fight back hard. Kids who lose whole classrooms of friends to mass shooters and see the future of environmental quality falling off a cliff rightfully feel compelled to take matters in their own hands. (more…)
As I wrote the other day (not that it’s a new idea): If you sincerely support our troops, you will elect leaders who will stop putting them in terrible positions around the world, defending American business interests. Instead of building better ways of killing one another (American soldiers included), perhaps those resources would be better invested in diplomacy, peace-making, and the avoidance of environmental catastrophe.
As shown at left, R. Buckminster Fuller beat me to the punch, a surprise to no one.
An engineer at GM in Detroit, Mr. Shashwat Sitesh, contacted me recently, asking if he could volunteer to perform some research and reporting on clean energy issues. Needless to say, the answer to requests like this is always yes. Welcome to the team! (more…)
There is a case to be made that autonomous driving will greatly reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Though many of us wish we were able to eliminate the fossil consumption, as opposed to the driver, we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. (more…)
I’m fairly sure this is the first mention of Libertarian Ron Paul, whose very worthwhile comment on our war-like nature is featured here. (more…)
Each Memorial Day, we Americans commemorate our fallen soldiers, and thank them posthumously for making the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Unfortunately, few of us take the opportunity to reflect on what the U.S. military actually means to us citizens. (more…)
Question: Any piece of plastic, thrown anywhere into an ocean, can be found literally anywhere in the world’s five oceans in as little as 25 years. But are there any points on Earth where plastic waste tends to collect more than others?
Also, where are the Cocos Islands, and what’s their story? (more…)
NBC News: LONDON — Russians who were linked to interference in the 2016 U.S. election discussed ambitious plans to stoke unrest and even violence inside the U.S. as recently as 2018, according to documents reviewed by NBC News. Full article here. (more…)
