Persuasive Writing on SustainabilityA reader offers this suggestion:  (There is a) study which indicated that slamming opposing points of view is less effective than strongly supporting one’s own point of view.

On this matter, I tend to go both ways, so to speak.  I would say that 70% of the words I write favor the things for which I advocate: renewables, sustainability, kindness, etc.; with the other 30% I’m “calling out the bad guys.”

This may not be an optimum distribution, but, not to sound arrogant, I don’t care.  I believe that writing from the heart is more important than following a rule for effectiveness in the changing of viewpoints.

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Basing Environmental Decisions of Fact Vs. Hysteria My friend Cameron Atwood writes:  Curious to know your perspective on this article: Closure of Diablo Nuclear Plant Signals Dawn of Renewable Energy Era.

I have essentially the same take on this that I had on the other piece on nuclear energy, i.e., there is no doubt that most of the world is, unjustifiably IMO, terrified of nuclear energy.  But notice that every GW of nuclear that is decommissioned means a GW of something else that must replace it. (more…)

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Variable Energy Resources Vs. BaseloadHere’s a comment to which I’d like to respond.  A reader notes in connection with my post on wind energy:

All wind and solar are only good up to a point. When they power flexible demand, they have some benefit. But if their total capacity cuts into baseload demand, they do more harm than good and actually become a liability. (more…)

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Reduce, Reuse, RecycleGoing green is about finding sustainable ways to meet our needs while also considering the effects on the environment and future generations. What most people don’t understand is how easy it is to go green in their homes by making small changes that benefit Mother Earth, save them money, and improve their health. With that in mind, here are five ways to go green at home: (more…)

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Industrialisation Unfolded--The Impacts on the EnvironmentIndustrialisation has brought us many benefits in terms of a better standard of living and a higher quality of life. However, it has also had a serious impact on the environment and on our health and long-term wellbeing.

Two key areas which have affected the environment considerably are transportation and construction. Here we will examine what this means for us now and how it could play out unless we change how we live. (more…)

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Try as we might, living in a modern home has a significant—and often negative—impact on the environment. If trying to make “green” food purchases was not taxing enough, it is essential that we consider the health of the planet when buying other household products, too. (more…)

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ExxonMobil Has 73,100 Employees. What's Going Through Their Heads?I thought readers would enjoy the comments by an Instagram follower, as presented below.

Caption: That is Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, explaining how his company plans to extract every molecule of petroleum from the Earth and sell it as fuel, knowing with full certainty that this will destroy our civilization.  If you know of a more detestable human being, please let us know.  (more…)

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Climate Change and Its Death Toll

My colleague Gary Tulie writes from his home in Buckinghamshire, England (pictured left):  The point about air conditioning becoming essential with a warming climate is not an exaggeration. Wet Bulb temperature is the temperature a wet thermometer bulb in front of a fan cools to by evaporative cooling – the more humid the air, the closer together measured regular temperature and wet bulb temperature are.  Scientists and doctors have calculated that a wet bulb temperature above 35 centigrade can only be survived by humans for a few hours beyond which you die. IndiaThis summer in India, the hottest populated locations reached wet bulb 34 centigrade and a significant number of people died. This is right on the limit of survivability, any more, and people caught in the open even in the shade will not be able to survive. (more…)

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California’s DroughtQuestion: It’s no secret that climate change is in the process of creating severe droughts in many places around the globe, and, by extension, generating a significant increase in the number and intensity of wildfires.  Here’s an article that explores how California, the state in the U.S. most profoundly impacted by this phenomenon, is dealing with this in a productive manner.  But what exactly is California doing? (more…)

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Two of the Most Common Mistakes Made When Going GreenMaking the decision to live in a green home can create a large, positive impact on your life, as well as the environment. For years, the world’s population has become increasingly focused on green initiatives, and, as technology advances, there are a number of opportunities for families to enjoy the comfort of their home, while remaining environmentally friendly. (more…)

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