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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Poverty in the UK and the Rapid Growth of the FoodCycle MovementSupermarkets and other food retailers have historically been renowned to throw away food that is perfectly edible. The charity FoodCycle are attempting to solve this widespread problem, to benefit the environment and people at risk of food poverty and social isolation. In true ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ style, volunteers of this charity whip up surplus ingredients into a three-course meal.

Inspired by the Campus Kitchens Project (a US food-waste initiative), a ragtag group of London University students came together with a shared vision – that everyone should have access to a nutritious meal and no good food should go to waste. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Ocean Thermal

Do We Need a Coral Ark?(Note:  I’m always happy to see my colleague Gary Tulie involve himself in our discussions, and I hope readers will find his words here on the subject of coral reefs to be valuable. – Ed.)

In this recent post, we talked about the threat posed to coral reefs by climate change, and as was rightly pointed out by frequent 2GreenEnergy commenter Glenn Doty, the associated risk posed by ocean acidification.

Coral is a vitally important and hugely biodiverse habitat with great value to humanity as a source of food, protection from storm surges, sheltered anchorage, and the inherent value of a beautiful and diverse ecosystem. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Pope Francis: A Breath of Fresh AirFrom the Writer’s Almanac:

It was on this day in 1633 that Galileo Galilei was put on trial by the Inquisition, for supporting the theory that the Earth revolves around the sun. In late April 1633, Galileo agreed to plead guilty and was sentenced to an unlimited period of house arrest in his home in Florence. He gradually went blind and died in 1641. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Catholic Church formally admitted that Galileo’s views on the solar system are correct.

Had the church not retracted its position 23 years ago, it would have taken the current pope about 15 seconds to make that happen. Francis is a friend of science, honesty, reason, truth, and humanism. His presence in the world is one of the most progressive things that’s happened in the last 1600 years.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Clean Electricity Generator?A reader offers this message and video linked here:

I am using the same water again and again.   my technology water is flowing not falling, tail discharge is used again and again. All independent turbine-generators erected in series are rotated with equal RPM.  Please see how much water is in each bottle. The first bottle is having head and rest have just tail discharge to rotate the turbine. A humble request. 

I complied with your humble request.  🙂  Re-using the water doesn’t challenge your credibility.  But trying to convince me that this apparatus generates more energy than it consumes does–in a big way.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Good Ideas in Clean Energy Are Actually Quite RareA reader commented on my post “The Hedge Connection” – Bringing Together Investors (“Allocators”) with Hedge Fund Managers:  “ideas are a dime a dozen.”

It is true that ideas are a dime a dozen.  The same can’t be said about “good ideas,” however–and especially in the clean energy space.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

The Health of Our Coral ReefsQuestion:  What percentage of our planet’s coral reefs have died over the last 30 years due to the warming of the oceans?  What percentage of ocean species live on these reefs?

Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.

Relevance:  According to New Scientist:  These reefs create a microcosm story: they are a metaphor for where the world is going, and one of the strongest signs of an impact of climate change on ecosystems.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

New Concept in Ocean Current Hydrokinetics

A colleague sent me this piece on a Dutch company’s introduction of a floating apparatus that generates electricity from tidal currents (pictured), and asked for my opinion. Here goes:

I admit that this device offers an advantage over those that are anchored into or tethered to the seabed, i.e., ease of maintenance. Having said that, there is obviously an unavoidably huge BoM (bill of materials) associated with this device, and I seriously doubt that the cost of all this stuff will be justified by that advantage.

I’m still a fan of these guys, in terms of over all cost-effectiveness in ocean current hydrokinetics, which is why I consider them a good clean energy investment opportunity.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Tesla Motors: A “Different” Car Company In So Many WaysWhen Thomas Edison introduced electric lighting to Americans in the late 19th Century, he went out of his way to minimize the psychological impact on the customer.  For instance, though he knew he could illuminate a room better with a lamp on the ceiling, he declined to do that, and offered only wall sconces (and fed the wires through the gas lines that were now of no use).  Why?  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

How to Ensure Your Home is Circulating Clean Air During the Hot Summer MonthsWhen temperatures reach an all-time high during the summer months, most people prefer to stay indoors and leave the air conditioning running just to stay cool. Instead of suffering outside in the sun, it’s much more enjoyable to feel comfortable in a colder climate. With the air running throughout the day, it’s common that dirt and dust is circulating. To ensure that you’re breathing in clean air, there are a few steps to take before the summer season arrives. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Green Seam -- How to Make Home Renovations Eco-Friendly(The woman pictured here is using organic paint, which presumably explains her broad smile. – Ed.)  

When attempting to renovate your home, it is best to do so in as eco-friendly of a way as possible. It is also important to have good builders on board with your project who understand how to maximize your eco-friendly renovation efforts and make their efforts more sustainable. In most situations, green home renovations in Edmonton will save you and others a lot of money while having far less of an impact on the environment. The following are a few green renovation tips that will help you carry out your home renovation project.

(more…)

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