Should Government Subsidize CleanTech?Commenting on my post The Migration to Renewable Energy Isn’t All Smooth Sailing and its discussion of government subsidies, MarcoPolo writes: The danger is when governments stray from the path of economic management and pursue ideological .. agendas.

What’s wrong with a government promoting an ideology, as long as it’s one of peace, fairness and sustainability? Government should support the development of cleantech precisely because it’s part of an ideology that says something on which any sane and decent person would agree, i.e., it’s important that we become good stewards of the environment.

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How to Optimize your HVAC System for SummerA small amount of preparing will go a long ways in not only improving the life of your AC unit but also in helping you save money on your utility bill. When you ensure that your HVAC unit is working at maximum efficiency throughout the scorching summer month, you’ll be more comfortable and spend less money.

An HVAC professional should be called in to verify your system is in top shape. When the technician arrives, they will assess the following: (more…)

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France Set to Build its First Eco-Friendly Wooden TowerFrench architect Jean-Paul Viguier has been chosen to design the country’s first timber-framed tower, right in the heart of the French city of Bordeaux. To be started in 2017 and completed in 2020, the structure will count among some of the world’s tallest buildings made of wood. (more…)

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The Migration to Renewable Energy Isn’t All Smooth SailingA reader asks re: my post on the good news in renewablesLots of recent progress with solar but what about that setback in your California backyard that involved a fire in the big tower of power? What went wrong besides too many government subsidies for this project? Who stands to lose besides the taxpayers?

IMO, the answer is easy: All 7.3 billion of us stand to lose big if we interpret isolated points of failure in clean energy as proof that the migration away from fossil fuels can’t work.

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Renewable Energy Headed for "Global Domination"It’s the birthday of Ralph Waldo Emerson,  who reminded us that “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”  And who wouldn’t be enthusiastic about the prospects for a sustainable civilization, given progress like that covered in these three news items?

U.S. Tops List of Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index

Status of Renewables: Global Domination (a webinar—gotta like the sound of that title)

Clean Power Plan Will Halve U.S. Power Demand Growth, Spur Renewables

Not a bad start to the day…

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What Green Lessons Could be Learnt from Australians?

According to environmental scientists, our survival is threatened by population explosion and unbridled consumption of natural resources, and if we do not do something about it, soon it will be too late. But what is Australia’s role in all this? (more…)

Three Ways The IoT Can Help The EnvironmentWhen you hear about the Internet Of Things, or IoT as it’s commonly abbreviated, it’s usually with regard to convenience and knowledge. We’re using advanced exercise trackers to gain better understandings of our own fitness, integrating with cloud technologies to share data and communications, and exploiting all kinds of other ways in which interconnected devices can improve our lives. But one of the most remarkable things about the growing IoT goes beyond basic everyday benefits: the more connected our “things” become, the more we seem to find new ways to conserve energy and protect the environment. (more…)

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Note on Bob Dylan’s BirthdayOn the occasion of Bob Dylan’s 75th birthday, I offer this line from his iconic “Like a Rolling Stone”:  When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.

A parallel could be made to the state of environmental decay on this planet. We’re headed in the direction of certain disaster, and, insofar as that’s true, we have nothing to lose by taking any means in an attempt to revert this impending catastrophe.

Happy birthday to one of the great geniuses of our time.

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Solar Saves LivesMy old school chum Craig McManus, now a noted professional in the solar PV space, sent me this article, explaining how solar saves lives by polluting less. He points out: the article says nothing about the coal ash management issues, ground- and surface-water contamination, and methyl mercury emissions, as well as transportation impacts if ash has to be transported offsite. (more…)

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Communicating the Beauty of Sustainability and Environmental StewardshipReflecting on the pleasant hours I spent last night listening to music with friends, the most gratifying part of the whole moment was exploring some of today’s popular music in an attempt to understand what makes it, in fact, popular. The main takeaway: despite appearances, very little has changed over the years. Today’s top music superstars still have an uncanny way of tapping into the hearts of their audience and the spirit of the day, and interpreting the thrills and dreams of modern-day living, as well as its pressures and heartbreaks.  (more…)

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