Blog – Page 1424 – 2GreenEnergy.com

Using Advanced DNA Testing To Understand Our Earth’s Changing Climate Conditions

craigshieldsPosted on August 18, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

Ever wonder exactly what happened after the last ice age? What whacked all those woolly mammoths, and gave rise to our modern-day large herbivores?

In particular, what were the consequences of a warming planet, and what can we learn that may be relevant to our current situation here today? From last month’s edition of Science Magazine: Now, ancient DNA data have entered the fray, most recently in the form of molecules scooped directly from samples of soil or ice. By sequencing whatever DNA emerges from even a thimbleful of ancient soil, researchers are reconstructing ancient ecosystems as far back as 700,000 years ago with astonishing clarity.

Tagged with: Advanced DNA Testing, consequences of a warming planet, Earth’s Changing Climate Conditions, Science Magazine

From Guest Blogger Izzie: Environmentally Friendly Weddings

craigshieldsPosted on August 18, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

There are many things to consider when planning your ‘big day’. Which dress should I choose? Should I hire a band or play pre- recorded music? How to organise a reception? Those are just a few of many more questions people ask themselves. In this post we wanted to talk about one more thing, people sometimes forget, environment. Not only can weddings be expensive for your bank balance, they also take their toll on the environment. Think about the amount of waste that could pile up after the wedding is over; decorations, invitations and left over food. (more…)

Take a COOL Guess – the Fun Quiz on Clean Energy. Today’s Topic: McDonald’s French Fries

craigshieldsPosted on August 17, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

Question: We’re all familiar with the child obesity issue associated with fast food in the U.S. But what about the effects of the chemical pesticides that are in such heavy use to keep McDonald’s supplied with the 3.5 billion pounds of the Russet Burbank it needs annually, their potato of choice for their world-famous French fries? How often do farmers spray? How much of that spray drifts to other areas?

Answers: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.

Relevance: According to this article: (more…)

Tagged with: Fun Quiz on Clean Energy, McDonald’s French Fries, pesticide drift, take a cool guess

A Couple of Bad Ideas in Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on August 17, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

My good friend Henry asked me to check out these two companies: SolarWindow and LiquidSolar.

Henry: Thanks for thinking of me.

Companies like Solar Window make me nervous. (more…)

Tagged with: bad ideas in renewable energy, building integrated solar photovoltaics, charlatan, generative breaking, levelized cost of energy, MotionPower (extracting energy from speed bumps), Solar Window, WattShocks

Electric Commuter Vehicle: Cool Design, But Iffy Sales Proposition

craigshieldsPosted on August 16, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

John McMillian writes:

At Shockwave Motors, we make electric cars cool by providing a high performance electric roadster (pictured) that’s economical, pollution free, and just plain fun to drive!

Our three-passenger roadster has a range of 80 to 100 miles and then plugs into any standard 120-volt outlet for about 8 or 9 hours for a complete recharge. Then the commuter is ready to drive another 80 to 100 miles home. This gives us an effective range of up to 200 miles per day. The top speed is about 75 MPH. (more…)

Tagged with: advanced safety features, Electric Commuter Vehicle, high performance electric roadster, Nissan Leaf, Shockwave Motors, support of a top-tier automaker

Will Solar Eat Its Own Lunch?

craigshieldsPosted on August 15, 2015 Posted in Photovoltaics

Here’s an article that explores what happens when the penetration of solar PV into the grid mix is so large that it begins to create an over-supply, thus driving the price down for incremental amounts of energy generated from this source. Kathryn Alexander, 2GreenEnergy “associate” in the corporate sustainability space and I will be talking about this subject on the phone this week, after which I’ll create a podcast of the conversation for anyone who may be interested.

Tagged with: corporate sustainability, incremental amounts of solar energy, Kathryn Alexander, penetration of solar PV into the grid mix, Solar Eat Its Own Lunch

From Guest Blogger "SustainaFreak": Effective Ways to Live More Sustainably in 2015

craigshieldsPosted on August 15, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

With Obama unavailing his Clean Power Plan aiming to reduce emissions from America’s power sector 32% by 2013, it seems that global warming has again become a heavily debated topic. However, sustainable living is not just an issue to be debated by those in positions of authority. There are many methods which if utilised, can help an individual to live in a much greener way and when combined, has the potential to make a huge difference to the environment. (more…)

Tagged with: recycling, reuse, sustainability, sustainable living

Innovation in Dealing with Drought

craigshieldsPosted on August 14, 2015 Posted in Efficiency

The idea of “shade balls,” i.e., black plastic balls that float on a body of water to minimize evaporation, is all over the news nowadays, especially as California comes up with increasingly innovative solutions to deal with its drought. But why black? I would think we would want the incident sunlight to be reflected rather than absorbed. What am I missing here?

Tagged with: Innovation Drought, innovation solutions, shade balls

From Guest Blogger Brooke Chaplan: Six Steps to Add More Natural Light in Your Home

craigshieldsPosted on August 14, 2015 Posted in Sustainable Building

When you understand how to enhance your home with as much natural light as possible, you reduce the need for artificial light during daylight hours and a major benefit will be how much it saves on your electric bill. In addition, natural light is softer than what lamps produce, which means it offers its own special ambiance to a room. Giving your home a bit more natural light is great for making your home more sustainable and healthy, and here are some tips for helping you get started. (more…)