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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Tesla Keeps Getting New Competitors from China

Given the obvious and imminent shift of the auto industry from gasoline-powered vehicles toward electric cars, it’s no wonder that there are many new companies entering the electric car market, trying to compete with the established global automakers.

The fact that most of those emerging companies want to challenge Tesla Motors – the world’s leader in electric vehicle technology – is also understandable, and the latest Tesla rival comes from China. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

From 2GreenEnergy: Thanks, Gracias, Arigato, Danke, Merci, Etc. As shown in the graphic below, which I copied from the annual report that WordPress sent us on our yearly stats, we had visitors from 185 different countries in 2015.  Thanks to all our bloggers, commenters, advertisers, clients, and certainly the core team here for their interest, continued support and hard work.

We all look forward to continued expansion in the new year.    (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

The Economic Validity of Solar and Wind PowerA reader asked me to comment on this article by Andrew Follett, “Top 11 Problems Plaguing Solar and Wind Power,” in which the author makes his assertions and I respond to each.  Here goes:

1: Power Storage Is Incredibly Expensive On a Large Scale

This is true, at least at this point, but it’s not a huge impediment to the adoption of solar and wind.  The fact that the resources are variable doesn’t mean that they’re worthless.  Wind is about 5% of the U.S. grid mix today, and growing steadily.   (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Needless To Say, a Sustainable Course To Energy Is Not the World’s Only ProblemAt 2GreenEnergy.com, we often tackle the subject of sustainability in a way that goes far beyond the borders of the energy industry.  For example, it’s a good bet that most of our readers want to know the cause and likely disposition of ISIS and other forces for violence, repression and brutality in the world.

Here’s the answer in 8 minutes.

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Energy-efficient homes are more popular than ever, but buyers should expect to pay more if they aren’t careful. In some markets, green homes are sold for as much as nine percent more than the average home. For those that are just now looking at the green housing market, here is a guide to help you make the most out of your investment. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Sustainable EatingOne of the most gratifying aspects of functioning as the editor of this website is the opportunity to make friends with folks around the world, many of whom work in disciplines that lie outside of clean energy per se.

Longtime 2GreenEnergy supporter and deeply-committed humanitarian Leo Schwaiger wrote just now to suggest that our readers check out this book on human health, which contains the indisputable line: The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Rajendra Pachauri, chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and overseer of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), was good enough to grant me an interview for my third book (Renewable Energy–Following the Money).  Here is a fabulous picture-book that walks the viewer through some of the most inspirational achievements of 2015 from an environmental perspective.

And there have been a truckload of them.  Enjoy.

Let’s celebrate.  And then get back to work.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Sustainability Starts with EnergyA reader notes: In 20 years or so, literally 1% of the land will be covered by PV. 

I respond:

Even if we powered the whole world with solar, we wouldn’t need 1% of the Earth’s landmass to do it (though you’re at the right order of magnitude). 1% of the Earth’s surface is 1% (4 pi 4000^2) square miles ~ 2*10^6 square miles.  The landmass is ~30% of that, or ~ 6*10^5 square miles ~ 1.5*10^13 square feet.  At 20 watts/square foot and a 15% capacity factor, that’s ~ 4.5*10^13 watts = 45 TW which is ~ 3 times more than we’re using now globally.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

More on the Path To Clean EnergyRegarding my post: The Path to Clean Energy, a university professor in Arizona notes:  Craig, I agree with everything, save one thing: why can’t we lead a worldwide effort to spaced-based solar, with huge energy fields in China and India to proliferate clean solar. It is too expensive for us to do it alone, but a pooled effort might be a spectacular cooperative effort. And now Space-X can lead the way with reusable launch vehicles. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Plants Sequester Our CO2 EmissionsContrary to popular belief, plants represent a net zero in terms of capturing CO2. While they’re alive, they convert carbon dioxide to sugar, but after they die, those more complex, higher-energy molecules break down and that carbon is re-released into the atmosphere.

If our civilization is to avoid catastrophic climate change, it has two basic choices: (more…)

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