Consumers often consider disposal, rather than repair, when faced with a broken appliance. Many of these consumers are not considering the costly implications of disposing of appliances. Yes, eventually all appliances break and must be replaced. However, as consumers purchase more appliances, they spend more money and increasingly contribute to environmental destruction. (more…)
Here in the United States, we burn approximately 28 billion gallons of diesel per year, the equivalent of 42,000 Olympic-size swimming pools; this is 31% of the world’s total, and results in the emission of 311 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere (not to mention an array of different toxins). What if there were a quick and easy way to get rid of one-third of this horrific byproduct of trucking our cargo around? (more…)
This afternoon I was reminded of an important fact: the promotional work that authors of renewable energy books do isn’t always relaxing, fun, and productive. I (foolishly?) had agreed to do an hour-long ultra-right-wing talk radio show in Tucson, AZ. The conversation with the host, Charles Heller, was completely civil, though we really didn’t agree on too much.
It got more interesting when we took calls from listeners, who, as one can only imagine, are apparently all climate change denier zealots, and trust me, they didn’t cotton to me. One guy was so angry with me I could almost see his clenched fists trembling; in fact, he was so enraged he could barely speak, but eventually made a statement that he finished up by calling me a “cockroach.” (more…)
There are several species of bamboo in the world. They are used in furniture, construction, decorative purposes and some of them become breakfast, lunch and dinner to Pandas – yes, an adult Panda can easily devour 25 to 40 kgs of bamboo every single day to meet the energy demand of their fat bodies. Now bamboos are ready to suffice out energy needs as well. (more…)
Here, my colleague Harris Roen analyzes SolarCity as we approach the anniversary of the IPO of this company that is growing like a weed. While still not profitable, it certainly is cranking its top-line (78 megawatts of photovoltaics in the third quarter of 2013). Sounds a bit like “we lose money on every deal, but we make it up in volume.” Having said that, investors are still clamoring for the stock, and the future looks bright, if you’ll pardon the pun.
As I was telling my mother on the phone last night, a spate of conservative radio talk show hosts seem to have come across me as an interview subject, eager to grill me for the entertainment of the audiences. I don’t have a problem with this whatsoever; I don’t mind a lively discussion at all, even if it gets contentious.
Most opponents of clean energy erroneously claim that, because the levelized cost of renewable energy is above that of coal, a big, intrusive government forcing clean energy down our throats is the only way to make it happen. In truth, I support a free market approach to the selection of energy resources. (more…)
I’m not sure I made too many new friends on the talk radio show I did this morning on a politically conservative AM station in Arizona – a red state if there ever were one. I mentioned that the U.S. is mixed in terms of environmental sensibilities, but that many other places on Earth, e.g., Europe, really “get this.” (more…)
I was happy to be a guest on Rex Parry’s “Business To Business Radio” show this morning; it airs on KFNX 1100 AM in Phoenix. There were two 7.5-minute segments, that can be found here and here.
Rex demonstrated that he is a well-informed guy who asks good questions. I was impressed.
He says he wants to do this regularly; I’m in.
T. Boone Pickens says: “The Keystone XL oil pipeline would eliminate the United States’ dependence on OPEC. Canadians say they have 250 billion barrels [of tar sands, the dirtiest form of crude]. That’s exactly what the Saudis claim they have,” he told CNBC. “You’re sitting there with the same amount of oil available to the United States from Canada . . . as [from] Saudi Arabia.”
No offense, but I think we already knew this. (more…)
Here’s a terrific video on the pros and cons of self-driving cars. Astonishingly, it looks like we are indeed headed in that direction.
To me, this is an example of a sad fact about our civilization and our modes of technological innovation. (more…)
