There has been a lot of hype lately concerning the 3D printing technology with many technology environmentalists hailing it as a great way of eliminating manufacturing waste. While there is some truth in what you can do through this technology to lower waste in manufacturing, there is no doubt that this technology has a dark side as far as energy consumption is concerned. (more…)
All sources of renewable energy, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass, provide not only substantial benefits for our climate and environment, but for our economy and health as well. A recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that is we start making smart investments now; the US could be getting 80% of its energy from renewable resources by 2050. Below are some of the reasons of why we want that to happen, as well as some comparisons between the impacts of fossil fuels and renewable energy. (more…)
Those of us who believe that a rapid migration to renewable energy is underway often point to the raw power of technology advancements. We cite the numerous improvements in the efficiency of solar, wind, hydro, etc., while noting the downward cascade of costs, as economies of scale are beginning to be achieved worldwide.
But guess what: “the dark side” is doing more than buying congressmen in a desperate ploy to stave off irrelevance; the oil companies are investing heavily in R&D, improving their ability to perform hydrocarbon extraction that would have been impossible a decade ago. Of course, all this comes with increasing ecological damage, insofar as all the easily accessed crude and gas is long gone, and only the dirtiest and toughest-to-reach stuff remains. But hey, you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
Readers who subscribe to dictionary.com’s “word of the day” know that today’s offering is “realpolitik,” meaning “political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.” Apparently, “The word comes directly from the German word of the same spelling which means ‘politics of realism.’ It emerged in English in the 1910s.”
This, of course, raises the question: Are environmental causes idealistic, or are they examples of “realpolitik?” (more…)
2015 will be here before we know it, and with the new year comes new rules for the renewable energy industry: from spring 2015, all of the biomass fuel used within houses, businesses and any other organisations that are claiming RenewabIe Heat Incentive (RHI) incentive payments must meet stringent emissions targets. (more…)
A part of the Canary Islands, 1000 kilometers out into the Atlantic off the coast of Northern Africa, El Hierro is literally never front-page news, or even back-page news. In fact, with a landmass of 107 square miles and a population of about 10,000, it’s hard to imagine what the folks on this small but intensely beautiful piece of rock could possibly do to attract the least bit of attention in a world dominated by Ebola and beheadings by religious extremists. (more…)
Walking the dogs with my wife last night, I happened to mention Arthur C. Clark’s “goodbye” video that he made on his 90th birthday, when he knew he’d soon be leaving his loved ones and his many millions of fans. In it, he told us:
“I have great faith in optimism as a guiding principle, if only because it offers us the opportunity of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. So I hope we’ve learnt something from the most barbaric century in history — the 20th. I would like to see us overcome our tribal divisions and begin to think and act as if we were one family. That would be real globalization …” (more…)
Propelled forward by the economically prosperous and populous Southeastern states of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, rapid economic growth in Brazil has elevated the nation to the 10th largest energy producer in the world and 8th largest energy consumer. The country’s focus on rural access to electricity (99% electrification rate), the public-private hybrid electric market system and general economic conditions are few in a long list of factors that explain why Brazil is one of the few countries where a great number of large renewable energy job and project opportunities is located. If that weren’t enough, the country constantly updates its long-term energy plans and boasts innovation as well as effectiveness in many of its renewable policies. (more…)
Are you committed to going green? Many companies today have corporate responsibility initiatives designed to promote greener activities. But not all green programs are effective. Here are some of the ways that you can improve.
Create a Ride Sharing Program
A ride sharing program among colleagues is a fantastic way to reduce emissions. (more…)
Less than a year ago, CBS aired a “60 Minutes” segment hosted by Leslie Stahl, whose mission was to convince tens of millions of credulous, uninformed viewers that cleantech was a failure, and they, as taxpayers, had been fleeced. Now she’s telling a different story, but why? (more…)
