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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

One of my colleagues is speaking at the Breakthrough Energy Conference in The Netherlands in a couple of weeks.  When I spoke with him earlier today, I asked him what “breakthrough energy” means in this context, thinking that it must be similar to how I use the term, i.e., something that greatly improves the effectiveness and/or lowers the cost of clean energy, electric transportation, energy efficiency solutions, etc.  I use the term “breakthrough” here, even though these technologies are all totally proven; the advancements, though significant, are incremental.

The conference, however, is about some really far out things – concepts that appear, to me at least, to have little relationship to science.  Ever hear of Searl?  Check this out.

I have a suggestion for any conference-goers interested in Searl or some of the other similar concepts.  Don’t talk about it; demonstrate it.   Show the world, once and for all, that the first and second laws of thermodynamics have been somehow thrown out the window. Show us that some guy has developed a “free energy” “over unity” solution. As a reminder, I don’t want to hear it; I want to see it (as my daughter and I often say).  Beholding the end of physics as I know it would be more than worth a trip to The Netherlands; as pictured here, I’d row a kayak over there to see it.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

For those of you who might have missed it, here’s Nicholas Kristof’s op-ed on climate change in yesterday’s New York Times.  Referring to the take-away from Hurricane Sandy, the twice-Pulizer winning journalist calls it Will Climate Get Some Respect Now?

Personally, I’m not sure how to answer that question.  If Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney can gain political traction by saying of President Obama: “This has not been Mr. Oil or Mr. Gas or Mr. Coal,” it strikes me that we’re about a million miles from real leadership with respect to a progressive energy policy.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah doesn’t pull any punches in this impressive article, The Battle Against Big Energy’s Rush to Ruin Our Planet. It’s hard not to feel a profound sense of gratitude to people like her, who make huge personal sacrifices to stand up for their beliefs, even facing arrest to protest actions they perceive as abuses against humanity. 

Hannah points out that extreme weather is mobilizing people to act.  It’s sad that it’s come to this, but better late than never.   

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

I just got an email from a reader suggesting that I conduct an independent analysis on global warming.   I’ve actually received half a dozen suggestions to this effect over the years.    This gentleman writes:  “I think both you and I could be capable of determining the truth, whatever it is, if allowed free access.  Whatever the truth is, it is already there to be seen because of the logistical nature of the whole project.” 

I hate to sound self-deprecating, but I do not consider myself capable of independent analysis of things like this.  I wouldn’t begin to know a) how and where to get access to the right data, and b) how to make sense of it.  I trust science to get this right, and I feel that they have done exactly that; there’s really no reason to think otherwise.  The consensus on anthropogenic global warming is overwhelming, and that’s really all I need to hear.  This is why I believe the theory.  Also, I know some of these people personally which adds to the strength of my conviction. 

The credibility that the consensus of the mainstream scientific community is also why I believe in special relativity, quantum mechanics, the big bang, plate tectonics, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, etc.  I’m flattered by the reader’s remarks, but don’t have the training to do anything other than to read about these subjects and take what I see at face value.  

I’m also incapable of holding a thought in my mind seriously that flies in the teeth of what these people are telling me.  Some people believe the Earth is 6000 years old.  I simply do not. 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

I was helping my daughter study for her poli-sci midterm the other evening, and we came across the word “polarization.”  I hope you’ll take a moment and watch the videos mentioned below which, in my opinion, are both very well done but really couldn’t do a better job in defining the word. 

I present them in the context of a discussion I had with a reader, Jerry, who sent me this quite powerful piece attacking the concept of government involvement in energy. 

… to which I replied:

Thanks, Jerry:

Well if that’s what you believe, that is your business — and you’re certainly not alone.  But if you’re looking for another perspective (though it doesn’t appear you are), you may want to check out this piece on Romney and the effects we’re likely to experience from an administration with him as president.  It’s at 4.5 million views, so it’s getting some traction, though (obviously) that doesn’t prove anything.   

Having said all this, I suspect the truth is closer to the center.  We need to encourage talented people to work hard and succeed, and we need to protect our environment and provide certain social services.  Isn’t that true, all the demagoguery aside?  Can’t we talk calmly and try to muster our best thinking in an effort to work our way out of what is a very complicated and dangerous situation?  If you really think that Ayn Rand / unregulated capitalism is the big answer here, I encourage you to look further.  Just ask yourself: What caused the financial collapse of 2008?

Knowing 2GreenEnergy readers as I’ve come to, I have to think that you’ll get something out of both these short videos.  

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

With the Presidential elections just around the corner, a lot of people are still undecided between President Obama and Mitt Romney. But if one were to ask which factor would undoubtedly become the deciding factor, I feel that it is their energy policies that should be considered with utmost concern. It is a known fact that with the rapid decline of fossil fuels and the intrigue behind hydraulic fracking, everyone wants to know what these two individuals’ energy plans are should one of them be elected for the highest position in the United States government. Being a citizen of this great nation, I feel that everyone should be entitled to know what their individual policies are in relation to our nation’s energy crisis. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

The main consideration for an investment in solar power is the peace of mind that comes from an investment in a renewable energy source. By investing in solar power for the home, the individual is ensuring that they will be providing a long term power source that is both clean and sustainable for the lifetime of their home. This means that power hungry comforts like air conditioning and central heating and air cost a fraction of what they would if that power is drawn from a traditional source like coal burning power from an electric utility. It is worthwhile to examine the relationship the consumer has with utility company should they decide to install solar power into their homes. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Here is something I think is a sure loser: the driverless car. I hope you’ll check out this deadly serious article on the subject.  But ask yourself:  Is it conceivable that, by the time such technology could possibly be put into place that the biggest improvement in our transportation system will be the replacement of the driver? 

If you really want to replace something, how about gasoline?  It’s empowering terrorists, while causing climate change, ocean acidification, global hostility, tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer and literally millions of asthma attacks a year.  Aren’t we a lot closer to alternative fuels, and wouldn’t the benefits be far greater?

While you’re replacing stuff, how about the car itself?  Do you think that automating the motorways will happen before we realize that we don’t need 4000-pound chunks of steel that are parked 95% of the day, and contain only one passenger 75% of the time they’re operational? 

I’m pretty confident on this one.  Of course, I thought rap music would last about two weeks.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Though it’s categorically false, we hear constantly that clean energy and a vibrant economy are mutually exclusive.  Here’s a short but terrific video that clarifies this nicely.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s  a cool article on the extent to which the Internet is changing our lives by helping us increase the value of the things we use on a minute-to-minute basis.  It’s funny; we can have Internet-controlled junk drawers and driverless cars, but we can’t find a way to harvest 1/6000th of the sun’s energy to run our planet?  One could look at that and conclude that we’re not really trying our hardest.

 

 

 

 

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