It’s been a while since I wrote anything about my friends at EMcycle, whom I interviewed for one of our very first “2GreenEnergy Video Reports” back in 2011. Astonishingly, EMcycle never got the full commitment of support they needed: an investor with a few million dollars to take this concept into production, though they’re now in conversations that seem quite promising.
What is an EMcycle? (more…)
I’m happy and proud that many hundred 2GreenEnergy readers have relied on me over the past few years for my feedback on the validity of new concepts in clean energy vis-à-vis the laws of physics. Sadly, though, almost all of what I receive in this vein fails even the most basic tests of legitimacy; the ideas tend to come either from crackpots (who, by definition, believe their stories), or, more commonly, from frauds (who know they are lying, but do so in an effort to dupe gullible investors). (more…)
When I was first introduced to aeroponics and aquaponics many years ago, I remember scoffing at the guy on the phone who was pitching the idea that I make it one of my cleantech investment opportunities. “We have millions of square miles of dirt and all the free sunlight we could possibly want,” I sneered, “And you want to grow plants indoors? Sorry.”
But the more I read, the faster I realized how wrong I was. (more…)
Focusing on the proficient consumption and conservation of water, heat, electricity and building materials, The Green Homes are a part of the Affordable Green Housing that has minimal impact on the surroundings. Also known as Smart Homes, Smart Green Homes or simply, Green Homes are made up with non-conventional building materials.
I just got back from the annual Summer Solstice Festival in Santa Barbara, CA. Needless to say, the demographic make-up of these folks is distinctly left-of-center; it’s a fairly “Age of Aquarius” type of crowd—one in which Fox News fans are exceedingly scarce. In fact, I spoke with a guy whose organization expects a new dawn of cosmic consciousness and a new Teacher to spread the word; check out the link above if you’re interested; my words are not doing it justice. (more…)
Here’s an article that speaks to a few concepts that are near to my heart: using solar PV to bring computing to a schoolroom, made from a repurposed shipping container, located in rural Africa. Congratulations to Samsung for making this happen.
My only advice for improvement is to replace the entire front wall with some sort of transparent plastic (like the one shown here); studies show that kids learn better when they are not closed off in little rooms.
I suppose they could also (more…)
Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (pictured here) was born on this day in 1905. When I’m asked to define the subject, I say that existentialism is the doctrine that we live in a universe that has no meaning–one that is coldly indifferent to us and our happiness—and that it’s up to all of us to confer meaning onto our lives. We are born into a world where we are forced to do exactly that, i.e., to use our free will to make decisions to act in various ways, thereby defining who we are.
Ever since Sartre and his colleagues formalized this idea in the mid-20th Century, a great many people have commented that it is frightening, depressing and nihilistic, that it promotes apathy and amorality. I disagree completely. We all do things every day that bring great meaning with them.
Considering that you’re a 2GreenEnergy reader, it’s a good bet that a significant part of your life’s meaning is your dedication to making the world a better place via responsible stewardship of the natural environment. You actually care about the quality of life available to the other people on Earth—both now, and into the future–and your actions help to build that reality.
That’s not nothing, my friend.
Ironically, of all the renewable energy investment opportunities I like, the one that’s attracting the most interest over the last week or so is my collection of 20-or-so run-of-river hydrokinetics projects in Brazil—despite the World Cup. Apparently, the whole country’s attention is riveted on this event, and the place comes to an absolute standstill whenever Brazil takes the field; retail businesses close, and whole office buildings empty out. I hate to imagine what would happen if they lose.
Again, in spite of all this, I have several investor groups actively pursuing this deal. Perhaps some people understand that life will continue after the games are over.
The movie “DamNation” is screening tonight at a local church. Though I haven’t seen it, I know enough about it to summarize it as follows: Damming up our nation’s rivers has come at a vast environmental cost, and it’s time to consider tearing them down. I refrain from agreeing or disagreeing with propositions that I don’t fully understand, so I’ll be silent here, but I will tell you this: every watt-hour of dispatchable electricity that doesn’t come from hydro-electric dams has to come from somewhere else. There are going to be a whole bunch of anti-hydro people who leave that church tonight; I wonder how many of them advocate more nuclear plants, fracking, or coal mining.
What we really need is level-headed pragmatism, coupled with honest leadership that takes us on a rational, sure-footed path in the direction of energy efficiency and environmentally responsible renewables. Unfortunately, we’re no closer to that than we are to the moon.
Here’s a good example of an important phenomenon in today’s world: things change very quickly. Apparently, Morgan Stanley believes that Tesla Motors is now the world’s most important automaker. Could anyone have predicted this a few short years ago? Or, put another way, was there a single example of change in a behemoth industry like this in the 20th Century – or at any other time in human history? Nope. (more…)
