Here’s an article on energy storage that presents the pros and cons of massive centralized storage, e.g., pumped hydro (pictured) versus distributed solutions for microgrids; the author’s purpose is to present the data that might allow us to conclude which one’s better.
Isn’t it possible that they’re both wonderful, but for different reasons? (more…)
While many homeowners are concerned about potential “energy sinks” in their homes, like appliances and electronics, not all of them take passive energy sinks into account. Things like old, sagging insulation, leaking roofs, or poorly-insulated windows can end up making energy efficiency nearly impossible. Fortunately, there are ways you can optimize your windows to help keep them from putting a drain on your home. (more…)
Managing a fleet of vehicles is already a daunting task with all the requirements necessary to make it work. However, another thing that fleet management companies consider when they outfit their vehicles with the latest technology is how they can actually help lower the carbon footprint of their fleet. The environment is a hot-button topic and everyone is doing their bit to make the world a better place for future generations. (more…)
Eco laws are present under the environmental laws in most countries. These laws are concerned with environmental issues regarding businesses, governments and individuals. The laws include rules and regulations regarding:
• The protection of the environment prohibiting the discarding of toxic waste and hazardous materials in water, land and in the air
• The consequences on parties that violate eco/green statutes and how to reverse the damage caused to the environment.
• Protection of property owners from activities with an environmental impacts
A number of people asked about the Kindle version of my new book, Bullish on Renewable Energy, which just now became available.
It’s linked above.
Question: Since 2014 just wrapped up, it’s a good time to look at certain trends we see in renewable energy. By what percentage would you guess PV installations in 2014 grew vs. where they were in 2008? Also: How many Americans hold jobs in this space?
Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.
Relevance: Some consider 2008 an important year, as it marked the end of the last U.S. presidential administration and the beginning of Obama’s tenure in office. When you check out the report linked on the “answers” page, notice the graphic that breaks the 2014 figure down across CSP (concentrated solar power), utility scale PV, and consumer/distributed PV.
Here’s a blurb I just wrote for one of our interns, Louis de St. Phalle, for inclusion in his resume’. I never embellish, if that means saying something that isn’t true, but I try to choose words that communicate the truth in the most forceful way possible:
Content creation in renewable energy and cleantech more generally. Conducted penetrating research and used it to write numerous, detailed articles on the ever-evolving technologies, economic conditions, and political landscape that define our civilization’s appetite for clean energy and the phasing out of fossil fuels.
2GreenEnergy owner/editor Craig Shields credits this effort with both an increase in traffic to the website and an improved SEO ranking. Shields reports: “There is no doubt in my mind that Louis’ work has been effective in reaching a great number of readers. Since the inception of the website in 2009, we’ve had at least 10 or 12 interns, of whom Louis has proven to be far the most sophisticated to date. He’s bright and friendly, which facilitates our working relationship. But more to the point, he has a fantastic command of the language and a precise understanding of subtle points in this industry that are totally lost on most people.”
Here’s a video that reminds me of a few key points in the use of social media and the quest to make a certain piece of content go viral. First, it needs to be so appealing that it achieves “critical mass,” in the same sense as a nuclear reaction, i.e., one viewer spawns more than one viewer as a result. There is no formula for this, in the same way that there is no blueprint to coming up with a hit song, a best-selling book, or a breakthrough in science. (more…)
A friend of mine called a few days ago asking for advice on the following: what are the principal reasons that Myanmar might want renewable energy, especially energy that is produced from MSW (municipal solid waste)?
Apparently, he’ll soon have an opportunity to make a presentation on the subject to some high-level people in there, which sounds like an exciting opportunity. I started out by listing everything that came to mind: (more…)
At a very high level, there are only three main viewpoints that one can take re: our civilization’s approach to sustainability:
1) Do nothing. Make no changes in the status quo, based on the belief that there are no real pressing problems, or, if there are, that there is nothing effective we can do about them.
2) Embrace cleantech. Understand that (more…)
