Posts Tagged Energy

Incandescent Light Bulb Hoarder Confesses the Error of His Ways

“I love this story, published over on the right-wing pollster Rasmussen’s editorial page. In it, a self-professed environmentalist confesses that he has been hoarding incandescent bulbs for months, in anticipation of the “light bulb ban” — before realizing the error, and utter ridiculousness, of his doing so.

See, as author Froma Harrop points out, there is no incandescent light bulb ban. We’ve been guilty of framing it as such here at TreeHugger, much to my chagrin, but the truth is that you’re still going to be able to get the exact same quality of light — even from incandescent bulbs! Those bulbs just have to be a lot more efficient, that’s all!”

Incandescent Light Bulb Hoarder Confesses the Error of His Ways via Brian Merchant – Treehugger

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BLOOMBERG SPENDS BIG AGAINST COAL

“These days, there isn’t much good news to report about the effort to combat climate change, so when some comes along, it’s worth taking note. Today’s is that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is donating $50 million to the Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” campaign. The campaign’s aim is to stop the construction of new coal-burning power plants and to shut down—or to use the more polite term “phase out”—up to a third of the coal plants now in operation. Coal produces more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than any other fuel, so any reduction in coal use means a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions. Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement is significant for several reasons, some of them obvious, some of them less so.”

BLOOMBERG SPENDS BIG AGAINST COAL via Elizabeth Kolbert – The New Yorker

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Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It

“In Hong Kong, as in much of the rest of the world right now, a debate is raging about how best to generate the additional electricity that is needed to power economic growth and development.

Do we use more oil and coal, which pollute and are ultimately finite? Or nuclear energy, which comes with safety concerns, and is being phased out entirely in Germany? Or renewable energies likesolar power, which many nations are promoting, but which make up only a small portion of the energy mix in most countries, and often have physical limitations?

Relatively little attention is being paid to what some analysts refer to as the “fifth fuel”: ways to consume less energy in the first place.”

Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It via Bettina Wassener – NY Times

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EPA, SEC Take the Lead on U.S. Environmental Progress

“While the EU charges ahead with carbon trading, stricter environmental laws and better enforcement, we here in America hang our heads in shame. Our Federal government is in environmental denial and the media cries Cassandra. Al Gore goes to a highly-publicized meeting with President Obama to lobby for climate change mitigation, while Obama has still not honored his promise to reinstall solar panels on the White House roof. Businesses beg for definitive rulings on issues such as carbon pricing and environmental social governance (ESG) reporting requirements, while the legislature clamors (successfully) “drill baby drill” and accuses environmentalists of favoring spotted owls over jobs. Our leaders’ attitude seems to be climate change has to wait until the economy has turned around.

But civil servants are having remarkable success. In living up to their duty to protect the health and wealth of U.S. citizens, the EPA and the SEC are remarkably focused, even strident, about green. In fact, the EPA has had a number of amazing wins.”

EPA, SEC Take the Lead on U.S. Environmental Progress via Carol Pierson Holding – Triple Pundit

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Coal-Fired Power Plants Targeted By Sierra Club In Washington, D.C.

“Commuters probably weren’t expecting this on their way to work in the morning. But beginning July 12th, theSierra Club took over all of the ad space inside Washington, D.C.’s Farragut North Station to share their message that air pollution from coal-fired power plants poses health risks.

80 metro cars have carried similar ads since April.”

Coal-Fired Power Plants Targeted By Sierra Club In Washington, D.C. via Huffington Post

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U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste

“WASHINGTON — The Energy Department plans to provide a $105 million loan guarantee for the expansion of an ethanol factory in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that intends to make motor fuel from corncobs, leaves and husks.

Experts say that the new factory, being built by POET, a major producer of ethanol derived from corn kernels, could be the first commercial-scale plant to make ethanol from a nonfood, or cellulosic, plant source. However, POET would first have to overcome technical hurdles in scaling up its production from the current pilot project, which processes one ton of plant matter per day, to a plant capable of processing 700 tons of biomass a day. High volume is necessary to make cellulosic ethanol competitive with the corn-based version.”

U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste via Matthew Wald – NY Times Environment

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Fracking forces recoil in New Jersey and France, and new rules in New York

“Natural gas drilling techniques have either advanced or deteriorated, depending on your viewpoint, with the increased use of hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking.

Fracking is being used to release gas from hard shale deposits in various hot spots across the U.S. and the world. It has allowed gas companies to access gas supplies that were not viable with traditional drilling methods, opening up a spigot that could supply the U.S. for years to come and launching a drumbeat for domestic natural gas to become the “bridge” fuel to the future, because it burns cleanly in combustion engines and because it has created thousands with much-needed jobs.

Critics, however, say fracking comes with a high environmental cost and even its promise of increased U.S. supplies could go unfulfilled if speculators sell the gas off on the global market. Gas companies, they say, are overly optimistic about natural gas production, withevidence emerging that fracked wells may run strongly for a few years, then diminish to a trickle, potentially hurting investors and landowner leasees.”

Fracking forces recoil in New Jersey and France, and new rules in New York via Barbara Kessler – Green Right Now

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Rooftop Solar Power Could Meet Half of New York City's Peak Energy Needs

“Solar power has been growing in New York City, but the installed capacity pales in comparison to the city’s potential. That’s at least according to a new study, illustrated by the map above, that found two-thirds of the city’s million-plus rooftops are suitable for solar panels—and collectively could meet half the city’s energy demand during peak hours, and 14 percent of the city’s total annual use. (And that’s accounting for typical weather conditions.)”

Rooftop Solar Power Could Meet Half of New York City’s Peak Energy Needs via Rachel Cernansky – Treehugger

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California city to get green prefab housing

“Zeta Communities broke ground yesterday on a net-zero housing development in Stockton, Calif., the company announced.

The housing community, which will consist of 22 units, is being developed by the nonprofit group Visionary Home Builders of California.”

California city to get green prefab housing via Candace LombardiCNET News

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The Safe Bet: Renewables

“We live in a world dominated by risk. Corporations obsess over it; governments are ruled by it. Those in power make decisions based on the likelihood of unforeseen events—sudden conflict, popular uprisings, disasters. As we enter the second decade of the twenty-first century, we’re beginning to see a new pattern, a new landscape of threat, emerging from the wreckage of Fukushima, Macondo and Misrata. A series of unexpected events have overthrown governments and brought huge companies to the point of collapse. It’s time for the decision-makers to realize that dirty energy is no longer the safe bet. Renewable energy is safer, smarter and more resilient.”

The Safe Bet: Renewables via Kumi Naidoo – The Nation

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