Blog – Page 1370 – 2GreenEnergy.com

From Guest Blogger Jordan: BMW Introduces Traffic Light-Timing App “Enlighten”

craigshieldsPosted on November 19, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

Driver inattention is one of the most common causes of car accidents at intersections. Speeding while trying to cross an intersection before the light turns red increases the risk of crashes, presenting a serious threat to road safety. Improving intersection safety is one of the goals that German car maker BMW is trying to achieve by releasing an app that offers a countdown timer for traffic lights, that can help drivers anticipate traffic light changes, making it easier for them to determine whether there is enough time for them to beat a red light by accelerating or they need to start slowing down and stop. (more…)

Tagged with: BMW, EnLighten

We’re Luckier Than We Think

craigshieldsPosted on November 19, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

Though it’s hardly a new idea, I’d like to take a moment and point out how incredibly unlikely it is that we’re having this “conversation” right now. We’re all aware that we live on a “Goldilocks” planet, i.e., one that’s just the right distance from the sun such that the temperature ranges support liquid water; that its rotation allows its surface to cool off nicely at night; that it has lots of carbon on board (an atom that can form more molecules necessary to life than all other elements combined); that it has large planets in its solar system that protect it from comets; (more…)

Tagged with: large planets protect Earth from comets; atmosphere absorbs cosmic rays, magnetic field diverts solar flares, ozone layer absorbs UV light, radioactive materials, subducting excess CO2, “Goldilocks” planet

Breakthrough in Solar Energy? Nope.

craigshieldsPosted on November 19, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

A reader wants to raise many millions of dollars to develop the technology described in this presentation, claiming that it’s a breakthrough in generating energy from the sun without using PV or CSP. I respond:

Sorry, but this makes no sense. Will it generate a large force/pressure? Yes. Will it generate large amounts of energy? No. Energy is the integral of force over a distance, and this device will do very little of that. (more…)

Tagged with: Breakthrough in Solar Energy, CSP, energy is the integral of force over a distance, force/pressure, generating energy from the sun, solar pv

The Science of Climate Change for Non-Scientists

craigshieldsPosted on November 19, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

Over the years here at 2GreenEnergy, I’ve pointed our readers to several explanations of climate change that I thought were particularly on point. But it wasn’t until yesterday that I came across this masterpiece: “13 Misconceptions About Climate Change,” which, as its title suggests, refutes each of a baker’s dozen arguments commonly propounded by climate deniers, in the form of a discussion between a man of science and his alter-ego. Not only is this clever beyond belief, it’s incredibly accessible to a non-scientific audience. (more…)

Tagged with: 13 Misconceptions About Climate Change, arguments commonly propounded by climate deniers, climate change destined to become the defining issue of the 21st Century, explanations of climate change, The Science of Climate Change for Non-Scientists, Veritasium

From 2GreenEnergy Intern Fabio Porcu: Energy Diversification Around the World

craigshieldsPosted on November 19, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

What will our energy future look like? What guidelines should be given to the production and distribution of energy tomorrow? These questions are the source of numerous heated debates in society and politics. The task of an energy company is to ensure energy supply and to bring new ideas to meet the different needs. (Note: unfortunately, energy companies, at least here in the US, are not tasked to bring new ideas. –ed) (more…)

Tagged with: Energy Diversification Around the World, renewable energy vs fossil fuels, renewables by country

Does Waste-to-Energy Work? A Simple Question with a Complicated Answer

craigshieldsPosted on November 18, 2015 Posted in Biomass

This article on waste-to-energy is a reminder that there are areas of technology that seem to attract people who have no compunction about exaggerating their claims, among which is WTE. Of course, this is easily understood, as this discipline has so many moving parts. Unlike, e.g., solar, wind, hydro and geothermal, WTE is not a black and white subject. (more…)

Tagged with: due diligence, feedstocks optimized, hydro and geothermal, solar, waste-to-energy, wind, WTE is not a black and white subject

Today’s Culture Is Changing Rapidly. Is That Good or Bad?

craigshieldsPosted on November 18, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

It’s the birthday of W.S. Gilbert (pictured), who, with musical partner Sullivan, wrote some wonderful comic operas of the late 19th Century, including H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and The Mikado (1885).

I bring this up to show how greatly our society has changed (fallen?). To gauge this, I ask you listen to my very favorite piece of theirs, and ask yourself how this would be regarded by our pop culture today.

Not only have we changed in so many important ways, but the rate of change continues to increase; more of our world has changed in the last 10 years than it had in the previous 50. It’s scary stuff, insofar as it appears that our civilization is in chaos, spinning wildly out of control. But perhaps this is part of a progression towards higher goals, like a sustainable approach to life on this planet. Could be.

Tagged with: progression towards higher goals, society has changed, sustainable approach to life on this planet, Today’s Culture

Making a Point about Climate Change and Its Deniers in a Way We Can All Appreciate

craigshieldsPosted on November 18, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

For some reason I’ve been running across a spate of humorous and terrifically well done pieces that make important points. Here’s one on climate change deniers that got me laughing so loudly that I’m sure the people outside my office here thought I must be having some sort of mental breakdown.

We think that our scientists take an attitude to all this that is, well, scientific. Here’s what happens when frustration builds up and one of them has a guitar.

Enjoy.

Tagged with: Climate Change, climate change deniers, global warming, Making a Point about Climate Change

From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: Understanding the Sudden Decline in Gas Prices

craigshieldsPosted on November 18, 2015 Posted in Fossil Fuels

Driving is not as expensive as it has traditionally been in recent years, largely because gas prices– one of the largest day-to-day expenses with driving– have been low. While over 200,000 oil workers have lost their jobs, many consumers have been celebrating the cut in price.

For simplicity, gas prices are usually measured by the price of a barrel of oil. To put the situation into perspective, by October 2015, the price of a barrel of oil had been cut by about half since June 2014. This represented price levels not seen since the 2009 recession. (more…)

Tagged with: gas price decline, gas prices, oil drilling

From Guest Blogger Christopher Austin: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Supercar – Eco-friendly and Luxurious

craigshieldsPosted on November 18, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

(Note: Calling a car with a 608 HP 8-cylinder engine “eco-friendly” is REALLY misusing the phrase, but whatever; I let guest bloggers say pretty much what they want. -ed)

Luxury cars are in trend right now, and it looks like major car manufacturers have already started focusing more on eco-friendly engines. From Rolls Royce to BMW, every famous brand seems to have thought of a hybrid for their line of exclusive vehicles. Porsche has recently joined the group, too. The company’s latest 918 Spyder is a hybrid supercar.

(more…)

Tagged with: hybrids