Anyone looking for a quick, easy, and understandable representation of the cause of global warming should check this out, a graphical depiction of each of the supposed contributors to climate change, based on data collected by NASA.
I wish I had a dollar for every written and verbal mention of the phrase “level playing field for renewable energy” I’ve made over the last six years (i.e., since the inception of 2GreenEnergy.com). Here’s another fellow who is firmly ensconced on that bandwagon: Dale Vince, who (quoting the article linked above) in 1995 founded the British green energy company Ecotricity, which supplies almost 170,000 customers in the UK with wind and solar power. He is challenging the government to scrap its subsidies for nuclear power and fossil fuels in order to “create a level playing field” after it cut support for renewable energy. (more…)
The other day I had a cup of coffee with a venture capitalist who echoed something we’ve all heard repeatedly through the years: the most important ingredient in the success of a start-up is market timing. Yes, good ideas, seasoned teams, and adequate funding are significant as well, but the most critical part is hitting the market at a point that is neither too early (when no one really cares about the subject) or too late (after dozens of competitors have entered the fray).
I was reminded of this just now, as my colleague Brian McGowan sent me the photo above, with the note: I got this quite a while ago. Copyright 1983. Thanks, Brian. I’m betting this wasn’t exactly flying off the shelves 32 years ago.
I had to laugh at a news item this morning. According to this report, delivered by a well-dressed woman with a completely straight face, “(As a result of VW’s criminality) its 2016 cars won’t be able to pass the EPA’s emissions requirements, and this could hamper new car sales.”
Seriously? Yes, that could be a factor. But it’s hardly in the same ballpark as this one: the world thoroughly detests Volkswagen. There will be people lining the streets cheering as a whole bunch of these people are led off to prison. The company doesn’t have a customer base; it has a base of infuriated ex-customers who, like me, wouldn’t take home another VW if it were given to us free, and are going to be suing the living crap out of the company. Just a guess, but I’d say this is going to act as a significant obstacle to new car sales.
More here.
The main reason why Ford decided to use aluminum for the body of the F-150 was to improve the pickup truck’s fuel efficiency, and it really succeeded in it, since its fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, making it the most efficient vehicle in its class. But, even though building an aluminum-bodied pickup truck was considered a somewhat revolutionary move, Ford doesn’t seem to intend on stopping there when it comes to making its best-selling vehicles as fuel-efficient as possible. (more…)
Virtually every company, large or small, is keen to reduce its energy use and its carbon footprint if possible. Of course, this desire doesn’t necessarily override other considerations such as profit-making or the pursuit of growth but it is there and most companies at least have some awareness of the need to reduce energy use. (more…)
We live in a world today where life and technology are moving fast. While we have all learned to pace ourselves with how the world revolves these days, it comes with a price. You see, as much as many of us yearn for improvement – in the convenience and processes of our daily routines – the safety of the environment and Mother Nature is put on the line. (more…)
Here’s more from our new contributor Darek Letkiewicz on microgrids and their growing importance in today’s world. I continue to make a big deal over this subject, as it’s critical to the electrification of the developing world, which is a requirement for education, productivity, affluence, and family planning.
City leaders are turning their attention to community microgrids with their priorities of infrastructure, finance, and economic development kept in mind. Here is a breakdown of the four good reasons for cities and towns to pursue Microgrids from the Microgrid Knowledge and the International District Energy Association, “Community Microgrids: A Guide for Mayors and City Leaders Seeking Clean, Reliable and Locally Controlled Energy.”
Given all the writing I do on a daily basis, it may seem strange that I long to do more. In particular, virtually everything I do is “expository,” providing facts about this or opinions about that. Until I saw this earlier today, I had forgotten what fun it is to do the irony thing. Hope you enjoy. (more…)
Darek Letkiewicz writes:
I really enjoyed reading your blog post, ‘These People Can Make a Commitment to Solar—And We Can’t?‘ Keep up the great work. My name is Darek and I lead the Energy services program at O’Brien & Gere (OBG), a national engineering company providing comprehensive, integrated solutions. (more…)
