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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Tips for Arranging a Greener HomeWhen it comes to living a greener life… it all starts at home.  Literally every room in your home can be modified so that it is more energy efficient. This not only produces less Co2 emissions and is much better for the environment, but it also is cost-effective, saving you money on your energy bills each year. When it comes to making these modifications they don’t have to cost you a fortune, many of the modifications you can make will cost a very small amount and will pay for themselves in energy savings, quite quickly.
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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

Comment on Ocean Energy ConversionIn response to my piece What Will Become of Most Renewable Energy Concepts? a reader notes:  Ocean energy conversion is fascinating and is doable.

Yes, ocean energy conversion, in each of its many forms (ocean current, tidal, wave, ocean thermal, etc.) is cool, but it’s currently expensive.  The point I was trying to make here was essentially: Who will win the race for a technology based on renewable resources that is the lowest cost, most scalable way to convert a given resource of energy into something useful?  For better or worse, it’s going to be hard for anything to catch up to the maturity (and thus levelized cost of the energy) represented by solar PV and wind.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Why Can’t We Have an Energy Policy?Frequent contributor Cameron Atwood writes: (The ever-growing affordability of renewable energy) is one reason why Obama’s “all of the above” (energy policy) is a failure in my estimation. If it were “all of the above ground” it would make more sense. The only government help fossil energy needs is out the door.

I certainly agree with the basic intent here, but because replacing fossil fuels takes careful deliberation, I would but this slightly differently, starting with this:  The most egregious aspect to our energy policy is that we actually don’t have one.

What’s the problem with telling the world: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Saudi Arabia, Oil, and Renewable EnergyA colleague writes: Kent Moors might be an interesting person to interview at some point–especially in light of global energy developments, both renewable and fossil-based.

Sounds like an astute guy indeed.  And he’s onto a very important theme in energy, i.e., Saudi Arabia’s implementation of renewables, enabling them to sell more oil to the rest of the world.  It’s rather like the heroin addict/dealer who is strong enough to kick the habit himself, but remains in the super-lucrative business, selling to those who can’t get clean.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Most Renewable Energy ConceptsA reader responds to my piece “What Will Become of Most Renewable Energy Concepts?” as follows:

I sell energy every day and I would say watch more closely those you scoff at, as once the tax incentives go away so will solar become a side show…unfortunately.  It will require a new energy that defies current thinking and the need for tax incentives. It will not be solar and wind as they are too dependent, I see how businesses make their decisions around these products.

I hear you, but from where I sit I don’t believe you’re correct.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Turbine & Towers With an increased awareness of the importance of green living, sustainable building has reached new heights – 301 metres to be precise! We’re talking about the recent sustainability changes to Paris’ famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower.

In 2014, the first floor of the tower was redeveloped, improving accessibility with a reception and conference rooms, visitor centre, restaurants, museum, pavilions, shops and even a glass floor. As part of this, solar panels, rainwater catchment, LED lighting and other sustainable technology was being incorporated into the Parisian tourist attraction. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Seven Tips to Save Money While Saving the EnvironmentGoing green takes imagination and ingenuity, but it doesn’t always require a lot of extra money. Contrary to popular belief, many green technologies are affordable to consumers with budgets of any size. If protecting natural resources for future generations is important to you, try some of these simple tips to reduce your carbon footprint.

Diaper in Cloth

Parents who use cloth diapers can save money and the environment at the same time. Americans throw away over 16 billion diapers each year, but cloth diapers have come a long way. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Oil Companies  MisbehavingIn terms of decency, it hasn’t been a good day for the oil companies. First it was the ExxonMobil CEO’s mocking renewable energy, and now it’s more news on Chevron’s refusal to clean up its mess in Ecuador.

For those not following the story: Chevron deliberately dumped 18 million gallons of toxic waste into the Ecuadorian Amazon, resulting in the large-scale disease and death of the indigenous people.  They’ve been ordered to pay $9.8 billion in damages, a judgement that was upheld at an appellate court, but they’re not handing over a dime.  Please see the incredible video linked above.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Sour Grapes from ExxonMobil’s CEO“Any fool can despise what he can’t have” is the moral of the most famous of the Aesop’s fables (“The Fox and the Grapes“).

Sadly, Big Oil is incapable of participating in the rapid migration to renewable energy; oil and gas exploration is an extremely specific core competency, one that is extremely expensive to develop—and one whose capabilities don’t carry over into solar, wind, and the rest. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

A Lesson from Linus Pauling I was just telling my daughter’s best friend (pictured here facing my camera, perhaps seven years ago) about Linus Pauling, how remarkable he was, and what we can all learn from his incredible life. One important lesson is that we shouldn’t rule out the validity and importance of an idea, simply on the basis that it didn’t come from an expert in the field. (more…)

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