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Posted by Jarrod M on March 11, 2011 at 3:54 PM under
• 0 commentsThe development of alternative energy has to go hand in hand with a reinforcement of the electrical grid, otherwise the latter will eventually become so busy and will cap the production to its capacity. Such is the case with Germany’s grid, which is an example of an imbalanced structure of solar and wind energy harvesters on one hand and the outdated grid, on the other.
Following a report from published in the NY Times, we find out the opinion of Oxford University economist Dieter Helm, who stated that “basically, governments have allowed the buildup of wind without thinking through the grid consequences. There are two responses: Stop wasting so much on the rapid development of wind and its questionable economics.
In most cases, the proliferation of alternative energy is done by government subsidies, but these are made without taking into consideration that it’s also necessary to invest in the grid. Up to 100 billion euros ($138 billion) are necessary to upgrade the grid over the next decade.
The projected production capacity, the one that’s been heavily invested in, is not always working at maximum parameters, but when that happens, the companies managing the grid need to put a hold on everything, because there’s too much energy to cope with. For example, when wind blew harder in Germany recently, their usual 5 GW reached 20 GW, and cross-border connection with grids in neighboring countries had to be shut down because they couldn’t handle the spike.
Read more: http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2011/03/03/european-supergrid/#ixzz1FbDvcWkm
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Posted by Jeanette M on March 10, 2011 at 3:51 PM under
• 0 comments
Here is a cheap, environmentally friendly way to help get your washing clean:
Baking Soda is an inexpensive way to boost detergent and bleach performance, soften clothes, clean irons and control suds. It is one of the best things to green your laundry by reducing your dependence on chemicals.
Odors in our laundry are caused by bacteria. They can usually be removed as the detergent molecules break up the bacteria cells. In certain types of water and with some bacteria, the detergent needs a boost to work more effectively.
Baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in the washer water by keeping it from being too acidic or alkaline. By adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each laundry load, detergents can work more effectively and reduce bacteria.
As a natural mineral, baking soda is less harsh on the environment than synthetic perfumes that mask odors. This also makes it a good choice for those with sensitive skin and allergies.
Once your washing is done use a clothesline rather than the dryer. This saves energy and your laundry will smell fresher.
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Posted by Geoff M on March 9, 2011 at 3:22 PM under
• 0 comments
This is an interesting and rather worrying article that I have just read - definitely food for thought...
The amount of water used to produce food and goods imported to developed countries is worsening water shortages in the developing world, a report says.
The report, focusing on the UK, says two-thirds of the water used to make UK imports is used outside its borders. The Engineering the Future alliance of professional engineering bodies says this is unsustainable, given population growth and climate change.
It says countries such as the UK must help poorer nations curb water use.
"We must take account of how our water footprint is impacting on the rest of the world," said Professor Roger Falconer, director of the Hydro-Environmental Research Centre at Cardiff University and a member of the report's steering committee. "If we are to prevent the 'perfect storm', urgent action is necessary." The term perfect storm was used last year by the UK government's chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, to describe future shortages of energy, food and water.
Forecasts suggest that when the world's population soars beyond 8billion in 20 years time, the global demand for food and energy will jump by 50%, with the need for fresh water rising by 30%.
But developing countries are already using significant proportions of their water to grow food and produce goods for consumption in the West, the report says.
"The burgeoning demand from developed countries is putting severe pressure on areas that are already short of water," said Professor Peter Guthrie, head of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Cambridge University, who chaired the steering group.
Embedded in a pint of beer, for example, is about 130 pints (74 litres) of water - the total amount needed to grow the ingredients and run all the processes that make the pint of beer.
A cup of coffee embeds about 140 litres (246 pints) of water, a cotton T-shirt about 2,000 litres, and a kilogram of steak 15,000 litres. Using this methodology, UK consumers see only about 3% of the water usage they are responsible for.
The average UK consumer uses about 150 litres per day, the size of a large bath.
Ten times as much is embedded in the British-made goods bought by the average UK consumer; but that represents only about one-third of the total water embedded in all the average consumer's food and goods, with the remainder coming from imports.
The UK is not unique in this - the same pattern is seen in most developed countries.
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Posted by Chris H on March 3, 2011 at 12:19 AM under
• 0 commentsIt's a pity that this recycling iniative seems to have been overturned because of politics!
Polystyrene makes comeback in US Congress building after Republicans reverse green initiatives brought in by Democrats
A bit like the Republican party, they are white, seemingly indestructible and bad for the environment. But after an absence of four years, foam plastic coffee cups have made a comeback in the basement coffee shop of the United States Congress building after Republicans began reversing a series of in-house green initiatives undertaken by Democrats.
The about-turn was announced by a press aide to John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, who tweeted on Monday morning: "The new majority – plasticware is back".
When the Democrats held the house, the former speaker Nancy Pelosi put the cafeterias at the centre of a plan to hugely reduce the carbon footprint of Congress.
The ancient power plant in Washington DC a few blocks from the Capitol building, which provides heating and cooling for Congress and the supreme court, was converted from coal to natural gas. Compact fluorescent lighting and energy-efficient vending machines were introduced.
In the cafeterias, polystyrene packaging was replaced with trays and utensils made of biodegradable corn starch. Four separate stations were installed for recycling and sorting. A healthier menu was also introduced in 2008, offering cage-free eggs and antibiotic-free beef.
Items deemed compostable waste, such as coffee cups, were sent to a pulper in a lower basement, which squeezed out all the liquid before dispatching the material by truck to a commercial composting site in the suburbs of Washington DC.
To read the full article go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/28/republicans-foam-coffee-cup-environmentally-bad
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Posted by Gavin S on February 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM under
• 0 comments
Here are some really useful ideas to help reduce waste.
- Recycling Bins – Always have recycling bins available and labeled with the appropriate recycling stickers
- No More Plastic Grocery Bags – A reusable canvas shopping bag is a great alternative to plastic shopping bags that fill up the landfills.
- Reusable Water Bottles – Invest in a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Save money while reducing waste in the landfills.
- Paperless Reading – Read books, magazines and newspapers on an iPad, Kindle or PC. Save the trees with eBooks and eReading Devices.
- Rechargeable Batteries – Save money and reduce waste buy using rechargeable batteries.
- Buy Recycled – Buy products made from recycled materials help you to save the planet while shopping
- Donate Clothing – Never throw out clothing! Donate old clothes to your local thrift stores.
- Bed Sheets – Use old sheets for drop clothes when painting
- Crafts – Recycle egg cartons, old Christmas cards and Kleenex boxes for craft supplies.
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Posted by Paul M on February 23, 2011 at 6:33 PM under
• 0 commentsThis looks like a promising move towards less reliance on fossil fuels:
President Barack Obama proposed on Monday increasing funds for renewable energy research by 2012 and also reducing subsidies for fossil fuels.
The Department of Energy has $29.5 billion available for the fiscal year 2012. About $8 billion would be invested in solar, wind and advanced batteries. “Whomever leads in the global, clean energy economy will also take the lead in creating high-paying, highly skilled jobs for its people,” the administration said about the budget.
Novel small-sized nuclear energy technologies, such as modular reactors, will also be funded $853 mln from this budget. To raise funds for clean energy, the White House asked the Congress to withdraw $3.6 billion in oil industry, coal and natural gas subsidies, a move that will lead to the loss of $46.2 billion by these industries over ten years.
Many Republicans are opposed cutting subsidies for fossil fuels, claiming that it would affect industries that offer jobs at a time when the economy is still fragile.
“Given the broad difference in priorities between House Republicans and the White House on energy issues, we believe that few of the proposed cuts and expansions … will become law,” Whitney Stanco, an energy policy analyst at MF Global, said in a research note
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Posted by Craig P on February 22, 2011 at 8:35 PM under
• 0 comments
A team of researchers at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have recently set up a new laboratory (the first in Asia) that will be used to convert water into hydrogen fuel.
As the scientists said, the development of this technology may reduce the cost of using to the same price as using conventional energy sources. The laboratory will use what is known as “artificial leaf” technology. It is inspired by the way leaves use sunlight to generate electricity.This technique will make possible the separation of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Large quantities of hydrogen can be produced in a clean and sustainable manner.
Conventional technologies are not so efficient because they require huge amounts of energy to extract only small amounts of hydrogen from water. The researchers want to test in the lab if cheap substances like titanium dioxide and rust can efficiently capture solar energy to split water. Currently, such extraction technologies are available, but the team wants to find cheaper ways.
“We can do this reaction right now. It’s no problem. We can use platinum, or we can use very expensive semi-conductor materials. The challenge is to devise a technology which is cheap, and is robust,” said professor James Barber, a leading expert in this field.
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Posted by Paul M on February 21, 2011 at 8:31 PM under
• 0 commentsYou just can’t mess with Homeland Security and their radars, even if you’re a state-of-the-art renewable energy entrepreneur who builds huge wind turbine fields for a living. It looks like national security can be affected by badly-posted wind turbines, since they can interfere with radars through the doppler effect they create.
But because every issue has its solutions, Analytic Graphics Inc. (AGI), software designer for space, defense and intelligence systems, is teaming with Raytheon Network Centric Systems and Remcom, performing electromagnetic simulations, will approach this one and create improved wind turbine fields.
"We are pleased that Raytheon has selected AGI’s precision geometry engine to aid the important mission of allowing our wind farms and radar systems to coexist without hindering national security,” says Peter Sardella, AGI vice president of Services.
“Raytheon’s 60-year legacy in the design and manufacture of radar systems strongly qualifies us to provide an innovative solution to the problem,” said Andy Zogg, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Command and Control Systems. “With the introduction of our highly reliable tool, (Homeland Security) will be able to better manage approvals of wind farm applications, allowing for clean and renewable wind energy resources.”
All of the new applicants who will want to place their wind turbine field one place or another will have to pass this kind of approval in the future, so their plan does not interfere with the U.S. national security standards.
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Posted by Jeanette M on February 20, 2011 at 8:25 PM under
• 0 comments
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Posted by Nicholas G on February 19, 2011 at 8:13 PM under
• 0 comments
 - If you are having trouble drying your laundry why not try a fold down clothesline? Once your clothes are dry simply fold it down and use the space for other activities. Out of sight out of mind!
- Click on the link to find the one that's best for you. Drying this way is easy and just think of the savings when you stop using the clothes dryer all the time.
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Posted by Graeme D on February 18, 2011 at 7:23 PM under
• 0 comments
A system that converts the energy of sunlight directly into hydrogen has been discovered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Scientists there have managed to design what they call a “biohybrid photoconversion system,” which consists in the interaction of plant proteins responsible with photosynthesis and a synthetic polymer they created.
The Light Harvesting Complex II proteins (LHC-II) in a spinach plant have been determined of being able to self-assemble with polymers in a synthetic membrane structure which can produce hydrogen from water in the presence of sunlight. The researchers used a technique called “small angle neutron scattering” at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor.
"Making a self-repairing msynthetic photoconversion syste is a pretty tall order. The ability to control structure and order in these materials for self-repair is of interest because, as the system degrades, it loses its effectiveness,” ORNL researcher Hugh O’Neill, of the lab’s Center for Structural Molecular Biology, said.
The discovery is not new – ORNL researchers had previously determined the light conversion properties of platinized photosystem I complexes and based their present achievements on this data. “We’re building on the photosynthesis research to explore the development of self-assembly in biohybrid systems. The neutron studies give us direct evidence that this is occurring,” O’Neill said.
Eventually, hydrogen will get transformed into electricity through fuel cells and used to power electric motors. This is yet another points where energy is lost through inefficiency, but I tend to think it’s better to directly generate the gas than generate electricity through solar cells, then turn it into hydrogen and then into electricity again. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
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Posted by Jean S on February 17, 2011 at 6:38 PM under
• 0 commentsHere are some great ideas to save you time and money.
Wait until you have a machine full of clothes before you wash a load. Don't wash a load of clothes just because you want to wear the same pair of pants the next day! When washing your clothes be sure to use the economy mode and this will save you both water and electricity! This goes for dishwashers, too. Load the dishwasher but don't overload it.
Once your clothes are washed consider drying them on a clothesline either outdoors or indoors if it is too wet. This will save electricity and your laundry will smell fresh.
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Posted by Nicholas G on February 16, 2011 at 6:19 PM under
• 0 commentsThere are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
- Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
- When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
- Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
- Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
- Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.
- Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
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Posted by Nigel M on February 15, 2011 at 8:17 PM under
• 0 comments
This may be the way of the future for fuel.
Researchers at the University of Illinois claim that the Agave plant (used in making tequila) could be a great source of biofuel.
According to some articles published in the journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy, two Agave species greatly exceeded the yields of other biofuel feedstocks such as sorghum, corn, soybean and wheat.
"We need bioenergy crops that have a low risk of unintended land use change. Biomass from Agave can be harvested as a co-product of tequila production without additional land demands,” said Sarah Davis, a bioenergy analyst.
In different locations from Mexico and Africa there are a few abandoned Agave plantations (that had been used to support the natural fiber market) that could be reclaimed as bioenergy croplands.
“More research on Agave species is warranted to determine the tolerance ranges of the highest yielding varieties that would be most viable for bioenergy production in semi-arid regions of the world,” she added.
As the scientists said, Agace is the perfect source of biofuel, having the possibility to be cultivated in Australia, Mexico and Africa.
Read more: http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2011/02/04/agave-plant-biofuel/#ixzz1DK81oARH
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Posted by Victor M on February 13, 2011 at 7:42 PM under
• 0 comments
It will be interesting to see what happens with this. Will the large oil companies block this initiative?
Eight years ago, President George W. Bush proposed a $1.2 billion program to help develop fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen storage systems. Now, in 2011, the U.S. still has no hydrogen fuel cell cars in commercial production.
At the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama stated that his goal is to make the United States the first country with one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.
According to Michael Omotoso, director of global powertrain forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates in Troy, Mich., the limited market for short-range compact cars and the high cost of batteries could be real obstacles to reaching Obama’s goal.
The first vehicles planned to be on the road will be the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. General Motors wants to expand its production to 120,000 Volt units by 2012. So far, a total of 19 Leafs and 326 Volts have been sold in the U.S.
As the Energy Information Administration claims, automakers will sell about 281,000 light trucks and electric vehicles from 2011 through 2015.
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Posted by Gary Nickless on February 9, 2011 at 5:26 PM under
• 0 comments
STAY SAFE IN THE BIG FREEZE!
Tips for Staying Warm
•Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.
•Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth.
•Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
•Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
For Motorists:
If you must drive a vehicle, monitor weather and traffic reports for the latest road conditions.
- Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible as these roadways will be cleared first.
- Drive slowly. Vehicles, including those with 4-wheel drive, take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
- Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in the snow.
- If you get stuck on the road stay with your car and contact a towing company.
For Pedestrians:
- Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces.
- Wear layers including a hat, gloves and scarf to stay protected from the cold. And, keep clothes and shoes dry.
- Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
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Posted by Gary H on January 30, 2011 at 6:44 PM under
• 0 commentsHere is an interesting article about electric cars...
A transition to electric cars isn’t just a matter of the cars, but also of the infrastructure that goes with them, including public charging stations. The Electric Power Research Institute and the Tennessee Valley Authority plan to cut the ribbon on Tuesday on a prototype of a new kind of charging station, one that uses solar cells and batteries. But they do not work together in quite the way the public might expect.
The initial installation has six parking stalls, one of them extra wide for handicapped drivers, with carport roofs covered with solar panels. There are three refrigerator-size battery packs in a building that is heated and air-conditioned.
Read more on: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/if-you-build-it-will-they-charge/
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Posted by Gary H on January 29, 2011 at 6:37 PM under
• 0 commentsHere are some really useful safety hints for your home this Winter:
Fireplaces
- Make sure that chimneys are properly cleaned - to ensure this, have them inspected at the beginning of each cold season.
- Use a protective fireplace screen to protect people and animals from getting too close to the fire/heat source.
- Do not use flammable liquids in the fireplace.
- Do not burn paper in the fireplace - lit pieces of paper can float out of chimneys and land on neighboring buildings. Only use dry wood - not wood/boughs from live-cut trees as these lit particles can also float out of the chimney.
- Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace -- toxic smoke is released when it is burned.
- Make sure the fire is completely out before you go to sleep.
- Never close the damper when there are hot ashes in the fireplace.
For more safety tips go to:
http://www.hacla.org/en/cms/4435/
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Posted by Toby J on January 28, 2011 at 6:21 PM under
• 0 commentsI read this interesting article about the recent cold snaps in the USA and Europe;
For two winters running, an Arctic chill has descended on Europe, burying that continent in snow and ice. Last year in the United States, historic blizzards afflicted the mid-Atlantic region. This winter the Deep South has endured unusual snowstorms and severe cold, and a frigid Northeast is bracing for what could shape into another major snowstorm this week.
Yet while people in Atlanta learn to shovel snow, the weather 2,000 miles to the north has been freakishly warm the past two winters. Throughout northeastern Canada and Greenland, temperatures in December ran as much as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Bays and lakes have been slow to freeze; ice fishing, hunting and trade routes have been disrupted.
To learn more go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/science/earth/25cold.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
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Posted by Gary H on January 27, 2011 at 6:11 PM under
• 0 comments
This is a great use for materials which would otherwise go to land fill.
The Big Dig House, a recycled house - was designed by SsD Architects, located in Lexington, and Massachusetts. This house constructed using industrial waste with steel and concrete rejects, which are throw-outs of elevated part of dismantle I-93 highway.It is 600,000 lbs throw outs are used to construct Boston’s Big Dig House. This recycled house features great room, kitchen, home office, 3 bedrooms, and 3 baths. This prototype house was built to demonstrate how infrastructural refuse can be salvaged and reused.
To read more go to:
http://www.neathome.net/recycled-house-at-massachusetts-big-dig-house
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Posted by John K. on January 26, 2011 at 6:06 PM under
• 0 comments
South Korea plans huge off-shore wind farm 
Wind energy currently meets a mere 1.5% of global electricity generation. However, scientists foresee a lot of potential in this alternative energy source. Asian countries are also trying to embrace clean and green energy. South Korea is going for an ambitious off-shore wind farm amounting to $8.3 billion. This project will be executed at the western coast of the Korean peninsula taking a time period of ten years.
To read whole story go to:
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/south-korea-off-shore-wind-farm/
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Posted by Gary H on January 20, 2011 at 7:57 PM under
• 0 comments
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