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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Energy Storage

Truth About BatteriesIt appears that 2GreenEnergy has taken on another eager and extremely bright intern, Audrey Cook, who lives close enough to me (Orange County, CA) that periodically meeting her in person won’t be too difficult.  Audrey’s background and interest lies in the subject of batteries, an area of extreme importance for a great number of reasons, largely facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles and the integration of more renewable energy into our grid-mix.

I was just writing an email for her, but I thought I’d make it a blog post: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biofuels

Yesterday, I attended the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo, in Long Beach, California. The show was dominated not by electric transportation (though EVs did enjoy a certain representation) but by natural gas.  There was also some representation of biofuels, in particular, biodiesel. Even its proponents, however, understand that it is at best a “bridge” fuel, and that, if there is any real hope for biofuels in the medium-term, it lies in algae. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Conversations on Natural Gas at the Alternative Clean Transportation ExpoI spent the day today at the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo, in Long Beach, California.  What I find most interesting about conferences like this is that they go out of their way to include the widest variety of potential technologies in terms of alternative transportation: battery electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane autogas, and biofuels — all coupled with a great number of exciting new advanced technologies. (more…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Six Tips for Adding Eco-Friendly Lighting to Your HomeThe most eco-friendly lighting you can have is natural light. The more daylight you let into your home and your life, the healthier you, your plants, your family and your pets will be. Daylight regulates your natural circadian rhythms, supplies you with vitamin D, and elevates your moods. Natural light is better for your eyes, your hormones and your immune system.

Supplementing daylight with energy-efficient lighting is the most sustainable way for you to keep your home bright and cozy. Eco-friendly lighting keeps both you and the environment healthy. Here are some easy ways to bring more daylight into your life. Try these eco-friendly solutions for natural and energy-efficient home lighting. (more…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Harnessing Solar Power for Your HomesEnergy bills are soaring and there seems to be very little you can do about it. Fossil fuels are our primary source of energy and are getting depleted really fast. It has become our responsibility and obligation to preserve and protect our natural resources to leave a better earth for our future generations.

Fortunately, people worldwide are opting to go solar in order to reduce the burden of enormous power bills. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Ikea Focuses its Attention on the Solar MarketIn an unprecedented move for a furniture retailer of the likes of Ikea, the company is now actively entering the solar market and stands to make a huge impact in the spread of solar energy in the UK. As the world’s largest furniture retailer, Ikea has store locations worldwide with a massive surface area to work with, a section of which will be allocated towards the retail sale of solar paneling.

This may have come as a surprise but a recent post on the Solar Contact blog defines the high potential of solar energy in the UK, stating that it is soon to become the 5th biggest solar market worldwide. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Plane Powered By Solar Photovoltaics

One of the cool features of living in a society that is built around the advancements of science is that we constantly see demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies in ways that, while they may not be terrifically practical, show how far we’ve come and what might be possible in the future.  In 1927, Charles Lindbergh (pictured) became the first person to make a solo flight across the Atlantic – not because such a voyage served a useful purpose, but to show that it could be done, and to celebrate the advancements that have been made since the Wright brothers did their thing 24 years earlier. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Energy, Water, and Food – Critical Shortages Are Headed Our WayHelping my children with their homework has always been a great joy to me.  Now they’re both in college, but the pleasure remains undiminished.  Of course, it’s important to refrain from actually doing their work for them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t provide assistance here and there.

My son is writing a paper for his Environmental Horticulture class, and he’s chosen the topic “Energy, Water, and Food – Critical Shortages Are Headed Our Way.”  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Smart Grid

Energy Efficiency Is Just One Aspect of a Smart HomeI had a magnificent lunch today at a French Cajun place in Santa Barbara with a new business contact.  This gentleman runs one of the units of the Nikola Tesla Foundation in Los Angeles, focusing on connected homes.

His main area of interest is not energy efficiency per se, but the medical aspects of “smartness,” e.g., monitors that detect strokes and heart attacks, facilitating telemedicine, and so forth.   I believe that some of the people I’ve connected with over the years may be beneficial to his projects, so I plan to make a few introductions.

The first contact who pops into my mind is Jesse Berst, the editor of the Smart Grid News.  I interviewed Jesse for our webinar on Smart Cities a while back; he did a great job, and he’s fabulously knowledgeable — as well as very connected — in the industry.

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Make Your Office Eco-FriendlyA safe working environment is effective and economical for your business. An office is the heart of any business organization, as all communication, whether business decisions concerning the organization or just gossip, have to pass through it. (more…)

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