Say what?
You weren’t expecting that headline, were you?
For lack of a technical explanation, torrefaction is the roasting of biomass in the presence of a minimal amount of oxygen, with the aim of improving its energy-related properties. (more…)
The first atomic bomb was exploded in the deserts in central New Mexico 69 years ago today. Now, the radiation levels there are still 10 times greater than those occurring in nature.
Had the U.S. government not been interested in the military aspect of nuclear energy, it’s very likely that it would have chosen a different reaction than U238/Pu239, perhaps thorium (Th232/U233), and Albert Einstein wouldn’t have had to lament, “If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith.”
Here’s a video on thorium-based nuclear energy in which we come to learn that it’s not too late to develop this safe (low pressure), efficient (high temperature), non-threatening (very low weapons potential) solution with very little nuclear waste.
My colleague Dan Bates is CEO of publicly traded WindStream, one of the few players in microwind that offers its customers a reasonable value proposition in terms of payback period. Here’s a really well-made video that speaks to their new installation in Kingston, Jamaica, that will pay for itself in 3 – 4 years. I like the “Ken Burns effect.” (more…)
With ecotourism already gone ‘mainstream,’ both domestic and international tourists from almost every country have changed their taste for tourist destinations. One can frequently find visitors enquiring about green locations rather than routine sites and spots, regardless of which country or region they are in. (more…)
Because the climate here in Santa Ynez, CA is temperate, we don’t have air conditioning in our house – but we do have ceiling fans, which apparently require about 75 watts, according to this energy calculator.
But yikes! The calculator talks about watts per hour. That doesn’t inspire too much confidence, as “watts per hour” is meaningless; watts are a rate, like miles per hour. If I told you I was driving 60 miles per hour per hour, you’d think I didn’t know what I was talking about.
Here’s a quick post to thank Robert Stang, an extremely senior player in sustainable real estate development, for his longstanding support of 2GreenEnergy. I think readers will particularly resonate with his story “No Love, No Fish,” which speaks to the very heart of Robert’s approach to his craft, which I would paraphrase as follows: “If you treat the world around you with fondness and respect, you’re very likely to receive the same in return.”
Clean Energy Collective (CEC) was honored as one of the 2014 SHIFT Sustainability Award Winners for its contribution to a healthier ecosystem, healthier communities and reduced resource consumption. More than 600 organizations were evaluated, and the top 50 were chosen for their “effective, innovative conservation and sustainability initiatives.”
Dedication to Sustainability
From its inception, CEC has striven to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for everyone, and developed the nation’s first community-owned solar arrays. (more…)
With ecotourism already gone ‘mainstream,’ both domestic and international tourists from almost every country have changed their taste for tourist destinations. One can frequently find visitors enquiring about green locations rather than routine sites and spots, regardless of which country or region they are in.
When we hear rhetoric about meeting our nation’s energy needs in a sustainable way, most of us don’t often hear about water. Personally, I think it’s a shame that given the time I have spent in renewable energy circles, I can almost count on one hand the times I have gotten to talk about the role that water plays in energy.
The Department of Energy released a new report on the Water-Energy Nexus this week, which is the official term when one refers to the relationship between water and electricity generation or transmission .In light of this very comprehensive overview by the DOE and drawing from my research, I thought I’d take the time to share some basic points. Hopefully you will enjoy them. (more…)
Cars that run on electricity have been around for a while now, but the fact they are still too expensive for most consumers prevents them from becoming commonplace. That’s why those who want to preserve the environment by using alternative modes of transportation, that are less harmful than conventional cars, but at the same time, can’t afford to buy an electric car, choose to use the public transport system.
