Blog – Page 1479 – 2GreenEnergy.com

What Does It Mean To Say That We Have an “Inalienable Right To Energy?”

craigshieldsPosted on February 2, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

A reader comments:

I think the future of energy has two main components, one being the obvious move away from fossil fuels, and the advent of new technology in production. Energy generation has two models, one is proven and the technology already exists (but implementation is still immature) and the other is speculative notions of over unity or self-propelling energy generation. The proven new tech power generation models and implementation leads to my real point: many solid investment vehicles will be in this category. (more…)

Tagged with: energy investor and capitalist, energy recapturing and efficiency improving, Inalienable Right To Energy, move away from fossil fuels, over-unity energy generation

From a Guest Blogger: Reasons to Rent a UPS

craigshieldsPosted on February 2, 2015 Posted in Smart Grid

A UPS basically provides 3-Phase uninterrupted, conditioned Power during voltage sags and spikes, single phase conditions and total voltage outages. UPS rental systems can be very useful for those who have short-term or temporary needs. Renting a UPS can particularly be an excellent solution when future needs for power are not definite as well as during disaster recovery programs. As it does not involve any maintenance costs, it can help you save considerable money as well. (more…)

Tagged with: data centers, UPS

The Awesome Power of Our Minds: Another Good Reason To Help Civilization Find a Sustainable Way of Life

craigshieldsPosted on February 1, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

About five years ago I had some time to kill in Pasadena, out here in Southern California. I found a terrific bookstore, milled around, and ultimately pulled a book off the shelf devoted to the subject of human consciousness. I was roped in from the first paragraph, where the author speculated that modern humankind may be fairly close to wrapping our wits around the origin of the universe and its fundamental building blocks, but that, regardless of what happens in cosmology, we’re a very, very long way from understanding consciousness. (more…)

Tagged with: be kind to the people around us, Help Civilization Find a Sustainable Way of Life, human consciousness, notion of sustainability

From a Guest Blogger: How to Safeguard Your Data (Your Greatest Asset)

craigshieldsPosted on February 1, 2015 Posted in Efficiency

Yes, data centers are increasingly aware of the carbon footprint associated with their operations, and most of them are doing what they can to minimize it. But let’s look at the value they provide in the first place.

Data centers, computer rooms and network closets house the most critical information of a company. Any loss to them means losing not only important data but it also mean serious financial damage. (more…)

Tagged with: data centers carbon footprint

More on Sustainability and Political Philosophy

craigshieldsPosted on January 31, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

In response to my piece on Sustainability and Political Philosophy, a reader asked me if I’d comment on greed and where it comes from.

I would say that our society over the last 75 years or so has become increasingly tuned to promoting consumerism = you’re inadequate if you don’t have more stuff = you need more money to buy more stuff = there is no limit to how much stuff you need to have and enjoy = the real winners are the people who have unbelievably large quantities of stuff. (more…)

Tagged with: consumerism, greed, Gross National Happiness., political philosophy, sustainability

Shell Oil Has an Indefensible Position, But At Least (I Believe) It’s Trying

craigshieldsPosted on January 31, 2015 Posted in Fossil Fuels

If I were forced to choose an oil company that I resent less than its peers, it would probably be Royal Dutch Shell. I’ll admit that my reasoning is flimsy, but here goes:

1) A few years ago, a very large Shell shareholder from South Carolina called me from out of the blue and said, “You don’t know me, but I just had an interesting experience that I thought would interest you. Your name, Craig Shields, and your company, 2GreenEnergy came up prominently today on a conference call with the executive team at Shell and its top shareholders.” Unfortunately, he couldn’t remember the context or even the substance of the discussion. I recall thinking: This can’t be good. I don’t recall ever picking on Shell specifically, but I certainly don’t write particularly flattering things about the oil companies generally. Yet somehow I left that phone call with sanguine thoughts: d’ya know, it’s vaguely possible that they were praising one of my books, a talk I gave, a blog post, or something along these lines. One never knows. (more…)

Tagged with: climate change and the other environmental issues, extracting and burning fossil fuels, oil companies narrow and deep core competency, Royal Dutch Shell, Shell ex-CEO John Hofmeister, Why We Hate the Oil Companies

No Solar PV for Me

craigshieldsPosted on January 31, 2015 Posted in Photovoltaics

My friend and guest blogger Brian McGowan writes: Had a guy come out and survey my house for grid tied solar. He is part of the state’s solar ethics board. He said he wouldn’t put solar PV on my house because the trees behind my house are too close and I wouldn’t get full yield all the time. Everything else was perfect. Roof angle was right for best yield where I am located and the house is pointed in mostly the right direction. He was highly impressed with everything else I was doing and passed my website along to his boss. Kind of bummed though. (more…)

Tagged with: solar pv

Top Renewable Energy Author Available to Discuss Key Industry Trends, Climate Change, Sustainability

craigshieldsPosted on January 30, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

If you are looking for an expert to interpret news on energy and the environment, educate within a documentary, or add a sustainable point of view to media interviews, you may want to include Craig Shields in the discussion.

Craig is the editor of the popular blog-site 2GreenEnergy.com, and the author of four books on clean energy: Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies (2010), Is Renewable Really Doable? (2012), Renewable Energy – Following the Money (2013), and Bullish on Renewable Energy (2015).

Now, he stands ready to comment on a number of related issues, all revolving around one central issue: (more…)

Tagged with: 80% of the world’s energy is derived from burning hydrocarbons, Bullish on Renewable Energy, consumers and businesses can generate their own power with solar PV less expensively than they can buy it from their local power company, follow the money in the energy industry, geopolitical drivers in “new energy”, Is Renewable Really Doable, nail in the coffin of fossil fuels, public eco-sensibilities, Renewable Energy - Following the Money, Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies, trends in solar wind biomass hydro and geothermal

Centralized Vs. Distributed Energy Storage

craigshieldsPosted on January 30, 2015 Posted in Energy Storage

Here’s an article on energy storage that presents the pros and cons of massive centralized storage, e.g., pumped hydro (pictured) versus distributed solutions for microgrids; the author’s purpose is to present the data that might allow us to conclude which one’s better.

Isn’t it possible that they’re both wonderful, but for different reasons? (more…)

Tagged with: ancillary services waveform regulation, Centralized Vs. Distributed Energy Storage, distributed solutions for microgrids, grid-sale storage, peak load conditions, renewable sources

From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: How to Optimize Your Home Windows and Create Energy Efficiency

craigshieldsPosted on January 30, 2015 Posted in Sustainable Building

While many homeowners are concerned about potential “energy sinks” in their homes, like appliances and electronics, not all of them take passive energy sinks into account. Things like old, sagging insulation, leaking roofs, or poorly-insulated windows can end up making energy efficiency nearly impossible. Fortunately, there are ways you can optimize your windows to help keep them from putting a drain on your home. (more…)

Tagged with: energy efficiency, energy efficient windows