OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Does run-of-river hydro have the potential to make a contribution to our energy mix? Yes, in parts of the world that have incredible hydro resources that are hard to service with competitive technologies. By “incredible,” I mean strong, nearby rivers that lose elevation quickly, either by running down steep hills, or doubling back with hairpin turns.
Those wishing to gain a better understanding of Iceland’s unique geography and how it lends itself to the vast amount of geothermal energy just under its surface will be interested in the article linked here. It’s a reminder that the process by which we phase out fossil fuels in favor of renewables is informed largely by the relative abundance of the appropriate resources. A few places in the world are like Iceland with terrific heat energy resources within easy reach (Costa Rica is another), but there are also locations like: (more…)
When we look at current events, it may appear that there is literally no one even remotely connected with the Trump administration who isn’t completely insane. Though on closer inspection, there is clearly a method to the madness. (more…)
The meme here makes a great point in a wonderfully artistic and exuberant way. Yet, fortunately for the world, there are some people who “come alive” merely as the result of being given the opportunity to do some good in it. (more…)
Maybe there’s a lesson here. People don’t want environmentally friendly solutions that suck.
The Smart Car has done terribly in comparison to other high MGP cars, and is going away. It’s priced the same as the Nissan Sentra — a perfectly fine car with room for five people. (more…)
The quote at the bottom here is from the Book of Proverbs.
I’ll go on record and predict this: very few people who want to see Trump go away (in handcuffs or in a limousine at the end of his term) will fail to support the Democratic nominee, whoever that may be. (more…)
Here’s a great little story of biomimicry in action, i.e., imitating naturally evolved biological processes to improve the design of solutions that benefit human civilization. (more…)
While domestic coal consumption is at its lowest in the last 40 years, U.S. coal exports are at a record high. Yes, more than half of all coal plants in the U.S. have closed in the last ten years, but we are exporting 116 million tons of coal to 53 countries around the world (the top five of which are India, The Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil) resulting in a zero net gain.
Occasionally I’ll come across a photo so wonderful that I feel compelled to put it in a blog post, even though the relevance to environmental sustainability may be something of a stretch. This is one such instance. Obviously, I could write: “This is what we’re working to protect.” There. I like that.
(Bigger version below.) (more…)
Aristotle’s law of non-contradiction states that contradictory propositions cannot both be true. For example, it can’t be both raining and not raining in the same sense at the same time. (more…)
