Interesting Twist on Hydrokinetics
Here’s a renewable energy concept that I’ve been seeing here and there over the past decade.
It’s a means by which a city can generate clean electricity from the water flowing under streets through pipes. (more…)
Wind Energy Concept
A reader asks, “What do you think of this idea?”
Let’s do some math, and call the length of the blades x. the swept area of this device is 4πx2. The radius of one big turbine, assuming the blade tips of the little ones almost touch, is π(4x)2 or 16πx2.
Thus replacing the four turbines with one big one would quadruple the swept area (and thus the output), and greatly reduce the costs, by removing three of the four nacelles and all the other superstructure, and chopping out a lot of maintenance.
Tagged with: Wind Energy Concept
Beef Production Is Not Sustainable
The meat industry’s PR team says, “U.S. beef ‘s carbon footprint is 10 to 50 times lower than other regions of the world, making it the leader in sustainable beef production.”
There is nothing sustainable whatsoever about beef production. (more…)
Tagged with: Beef Production Not Sustainable
Hydrogen Doesn’t Offer Energy Independence
This guy claims, “Hydrogen offers a potential for full energy independence.” No it doesn’t. Hydrogen is a carrier of energy, not a source. Put another way, the energy that hydrogen carries came either from reforming methane or electrolyzing water, and that energy had to have come from somewhere.
Tagged with: Hydrogen Doesn't Offers Energy Independence
U.S. Economy By Sector
It’s true that certain segments of the U.S. economy are flagging, like farming and manufacturing. Job growth seems to fluctuate unexpectedly. But, yo be fair, I need to acknowledge that other aspects are looking great, however.
There is no doubt that there has never been a better time to be a white collar criminal. The more loot you can donate, the more likely you’ll receive a presidential pardon or commutation.
Tagged with: U.S. Economy By Sector
No Need To Trade a Robust Economy for a High Quality of Life
My earlier post, Focusing on Citizens’ Well-Being lays out how many of the world’s developed countries are examining their priorities to ensure a high quality of life for their citizens. As good as this is, however, it rests on the false assumption that we face a trade-off between a robust economy and a high quality of life for our people; nothing could be further from the truth. A few things to consider along these lines are: (more…)
Focusing on Citizens’ Well-Being
There is an enormous quantity of good taking place around the globe that, sadly, is obscured by the president-day U.S. political circus and its criminal buffoon ring leader. In particular, many of the world’s developed countries are examining their priorities to ensure a high quality of life for their citizens. (more…)
Tagged with: 000 miners, cleantech destined to be the defining industry of the 21st Century, effects of climate change, false assumption trade-off between a robust economy and a high quality of life for our people, loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, prioritize sustainability, the solar industry employs 6.5 million people, U.S. coal industry employees about 50, world's developed countries are examining their priorities to ensure a high quality of life for their citizens
U.S. Navy Will Accept (Floating) Wind Farms Off California’s Central Coast
Anything that promotes offshore wind is a positive development, but I’m not sure how much practical import it carries. The reason the East Coast is getting into offshore wind (and the West Coast isn’t) is ocean depth. You can be 25 miles off the coast of New Jersey and still be in 80 feet off water, but just a few miles into the Pacific the ocean floor is thousands of feet below.
Thus we’re talking about floating (rather than moored) turbines, which , while they’re making some headway in Europe, are significantly more expensive to install.
Volvo’s Autonomous Electric Truck Concept
This is great; it’s perfect for short-haul and highly predictable routes. Who wouldn’t love to see this happen in the major ports around the globe?
Here in Southern California we have the Port of Los Angeles, transferring over $1 billion in cargo every day to trucks and trains that deliver products all over the United States; it’s the busiest port in the Western Hemisphere….but….the air pollution is generates is horrific.
Congrats to the U.K. on its Reduction in Carbon Emissions
The levels of carbon emissions generated from power consumption in the U.K. fell by almost two-thirds in the last decade – the fastest rate of decarbonisation in the world, according to a new report by researchers at the Imperial College of London. This derived from a 50% reduction in fossil fuel consumption, and a 860% increase in solar, wind, hydro and biomass. Huzzah!
