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Even the Elites Can’t Escape the Global Community, Living As It Does on One Small Planet

craigshieldsPosted on July 31, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

In response to my post: One’s Concern About Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Depends on Which End of the Boat One Occupies, frequent commenter Cameron Atwood writes:

It’s a classic mindset among shortsighted humans to expect that what doesn’t harm them personally and directly in this moment isn’t their problem. More enlightened humans know that issues affecting one population have ripple effects, and that our planet is a single organic whole. People who haven’t yet, have now to learn that when they throw things away, there really is no “away.”

Excellent point. (more…)

Tagged with: elites do not live on an island, George Will, Global Community Lives on One Small Planet, issues affecting one population have ripple effects, planet is a single organic whole

Nothing’s Impossible In the Renewable Energy Business Space, But Here’s a Concept That’s Extremely Unlikely

craigshieldsPosted on July 31, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

I just got off a Skype call with a wonderfully intelligent and compassionate gentleman in Oman whose current mission in life is to bring solar and wind to his country. A few potential gotchas, however:

• Electricity costs, because of huge supplies of natural gas—and subsidies on top of that—are $15/MWh (a small fraction of what they are in the U.S.). (more…)

Tagged with: coal plants, Electricity costs, hot in Oman, huge supplies of natural gas and subsidies on top of that, Renewable Energy Business Space

Impetus for Super-Efficient Drivetrains: Government Regulation in Fuel Standards, Emissions Per Mile, Etc.

craigshieldsPosted on July 30, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

Regarding my post: New Discovery in Hybrid-Electric Drivetrains, long-time reader Arlene notes: I haven’t looked at the engineering of the EDI drivetrain, (but) I would also suggest that this particular market niche is nowhere near as price sensitive as consumer light vehicles.

That’s 100% true. I think the real “driver” here, pardon the pun, will be regulation, i.e., the OEMs’ and big fleets’ ability to conform to emissions regulations. As far as I can see, EDI is in a unique position here; there are few (if any) other ways for these entities to obey the laws that are coming swiftly into place.

Tagged with: conform to emissions regulations, Driver of Super-Efficient Drivetrains, Emissions Per Mile, Government Regulation in Fuel Standards, New Discovery in Hybrid-Electric Drivetrains

Key “Driver” of the EV Adoption Curve: Superior Performance

craigshieldsPosted on July 30, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

In response to my piece: New Discovery in Hybrid-Electric Drivetrains, a reader notes: A few days ago, looking at AOL’s news clips, I found one about someone putting what looked like a small block V-8 into a 1968 Mustang fastback, but it was an electric motor. The performance of the car was totally insane: 0 – 60 in under three seconds. American muscle cars with rear tires smoking kind of catches my attention. It will be interesting to see how long this evolution will take.

Well, that truly is part of the appeal of EVs: high torque at low RPMs. (more…)

Tagged with: American muscle cars, Americans aren’t big on making sacrifices, high torque at low RPMs, Key “Driver” of the EV Adoption Curve, New Discovery in Hybrid-Electric Drivetrains

One’s Concern About Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Depends on Which End of the Boat One Occupies

craigshieldsPosted on July 30, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

During a call with some old friends the other evening, one of them mentioned the cartoon shown here, and its allusion to our civilization’s approach to climate change. That’s the beauty of the art form: so much communicated so concisely, and using humor to drive home a lethally important point.

Countries with low elevations, e.g., the Netherlands and the Maldives, are rapidly finding themselves underwater, and, accordingly, are desperate to discover solutions to global warming and the consequent melting of the ice in Greenland and the Antarctic. All the while, the people in the rest of the world doesn’t see the urgency…as if they lived on a different planet and could afford to watch all this happening. A classic in the cartoon world….

Tagged with: Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, Counties with low elevations, solutions to global warming, the Netherlands and the Maldives

From Guest Blogger Roxana: Why Advanced Insulation Solutions Are Key In Achieving Energy Efficient Buildings

craigshieldsPosted on July 30, 2015 Posted in Sustainable Building

Apart from many other “smart” energy-saving solutions that target the way we live and work in energy efficient buildings, nothing is as effective as good old insulation. However, insulation has a brand new suit. Let’s introduce the most popular home insulation solutions.

Interior Insulation (more…)

Tagged with: Cool roof material that reflects more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof, energy efficient buildings, smart energy-saving solutions

A Democracy In Name Only

craigshieldsPosted on July 29, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Politics

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Of course, we Americans are reminded of this by our president’s historic trip this week to Africa and his excoriating various national leaders for their suppression of journalists who write articles that are critical of the government. “If you continue to do that, you will have a democracy in name only,” he scolded.

How true that is. (more…)

Tagged with: Democracy In Name Only, Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig, Nellis Air Force Base, president’s historic trip to Africa, study from Princeton University

Some People Want Renewable Energy To Fail (And They're Not All in the Oil Business)

craigshieldsPosted on July 29, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

I may have mentioned that I get daily emails that cc: a huge number of people, promoting nuclear energy and denigrating renewables. Tonight, one of these people writes about his ultimate fantasy: the implosion of renewable energy: (more…)

Tagged with: Credit Suisse, denigrating renewables, Energiewende, Goldman Sachs, promoting nuclear energy, the implosion of renewable energy

From a Guest Blogger: Climate Change Brings More Storms, Fires and Disasters–Here's How to Protect Your Family in Four Simple Steps

craigshieldsPosted on July 29, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

Natural disasters are a part of life. How you prepare for them could mean the difference between survival and death. At the same time, you might not have the time or money to put together an elaborate emergency plan. Fortunately, you don’t need to. Here’s how to protect your family in 4 simple steps.

Be Informed

What kind of emergencies can happen in your area? Know this, and the battle is half-won already. (more…)

Tagged with: Climate Change Brings More Disasters, Climate Change Brings More Fires, Climate Change Brings More Storms

From Guest Blogger James Timpson: How a "No" Vote Will Affect the Environment in the 2016 EU Referendum

craigshieldsPosted on July 29, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

In the lead up to the 2015 general election there was a great deal of debate about the United Kingdom’s place in the European Union. In line with this the Conservatives included in their election manifesto the promise that should they win at the polls they would hold a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU. On election the Prime Minister pledged that the referendum would be held before the end of 2017, although it is now widely anticipated that it will take place next year. (more…)

Tagged with: pollution waste management carbon emissions air quality climate change nature conservation, The ‘Dirty Man’ of Europe, United Kingdom’s place in the European Union