http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/opinions/cop21-facebook-chat/index.html
This has been some of the clearest points about renewable energy, and why it is so important.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Great answers on climate and solutions.
Monday, December 7, 2015
No food to waste
Chef Massimo Bottura on Why the Future of Food is in Our Trash http://www.wsj.com/articles/chef-massimo-bottura-on-why-the-future-of-food-is-in-our-trash-1449506020
We throw away about $700 worth of food each year in the USA. That's per person, last I saw, which was probably about 10 years ago.
Think of the products taken from the shelf because they are past the due date.
Capturing most of this food can go a long way toward feeding a hungry planet.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Climate Leadership | Climate Leadership Plan | Alberta.ca
Climate Leadership | Climate Leadership Plan | Alberta.ca:
WOW.
On the eve of the humongous climate meetings in Paris next week (week after Thanksgiving in USA), Canada has stepped up to the plate on addressing climate changes.
Alberta is the home of Coal and Oil Sands: two of the great game changers in addressing pollution in general and Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG).
There are several reports, but one is to simply charge a tax per metric tonne (yes, I know that's the colourful way to spell ton) of CO2. The price will move up from $15 to $30 per ton of CO2 by 2019.
In electric generation, the big game changer is to switch away from coal in general.
By 2030 in Alberta, "There will be no pollution from coal-fired
electricity generation." The focus will be on reduce electrical needs and switching to NatGas and Renewables.
But for Alberta, capping and steadily reversing the oil sands is a very big game changer.
With the oil glut keeping oil prices down below $50 per barrel for the foreseeable future, Alberta should be ramping down oil production anyway. (I think oil sands requires $70 to $80 to be profitable.).
The Carbon Taxes will be used: to offset increased living costs for poorer people, to assist with transition to renewables and other research.
For those still skeptical about Global Warming: Look at the pix of Athabasca Glacier over 100 years (well 98 really). Or look at any pictures over 40 years related to Glacier Bay in Alaska. Or, just a little south from Alberta, give a look at Glacier National Park in Montana (soon to be renamed Glacier-Less National Park).
'via Blog this'
WOW.
On the eve of the humongous climate meetings in Paris next week (week after Thanksgiving in USA), Canada has stepped up to the plate on addressing climate changes.
Alberta is the home of Coal and Oil Sands: two of the great game changers in addressing pollution in general and Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG).
There are several reports, but one is to simply charge a tax per metric tonne (yes, I know that's the colourful way to spell ton) of CO2. The price will move up from $15 to $30 per ton of CO2 by 2019.
In electric generation, the big game changer is to switch away from coal in general.
By 2030 in Alberta, "There will be no pollution from coal-fired
electricity generation." The focus will be on reduce electrical needs and switching to NatGas and Renewables.
But for Alberta, capping and steadily reversing the oil sands is a very big game changer.
With the oil glut keeping oil prices down below $50 per barrel for the foreseeable future, Alberta should be ramping down oil production anyway. (I think oil sands requires $70 to $80 to be profitable.).
The Carbon Taxes will be used: to offset increased living costs for poorer people, to assist with transition to renewables and other research.
For those still skeptical about Global Warming: Look at the pix of Athabasca Glacier over 100 years (well 98 really). Or look at any pictures over 40 years related to Glacier Bay in Alaska. Or, just a little south from Alberta, give a look at Glacier National Park in Montana (soon to be renamed Glacier-Less National Park).
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Why are so many Americans skeptical about climate change? A study offers a surprising answer. - The Washington Post
Why are so many Americans skeptical about climate change? A study offers a surprising answer. - The Washington Post:
So lots of money used to confuse and misinform can go a long way if you want to make sure that no one knows the truth and no meaningful action is taken.
That brings us to Super PACs. They mostly lie, and always obfuscate the issues. Since there's no one responsible, they are free to throw mud and tar at will and at random.
Don't see how anything could go wrong with the political engines. Do you?
Misinform and misdirection works.
We all need to realize that and start propagating truths, not lies. The tools are at our fingertips (and keyboards).
'via Blog this'
So lots of money used to confuse and misinform can go a long way if you want to make sure that no one knows the truth and no meaningful action is taken.
That brings us to Super PACs. They mostly lie, and always obfuscate the issues. Since there's no one responsible, they are free to throw mud and tar at will and at random.
Don't see how anything could go wrong with the political engines. Do you?
Misinform and misdirection works.
We all need to realize that and start propagating truths, not lies. The tools are at our fingertips (and keyboards).
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Power Struggle: How the Energy Market Could Shift in 2016 - Bloomberg Business
Power Struggle: How the Energy Market Could Shift in 2016 - Bloomberg Business:
Wow. Absolutely perfect assessment of the energy world, past and future.
With pretty graphics to go along with the trends in energy.
So what will be the energy source(s) of the future.
The one thing for sure, is that it won't be coal. As the rest of the world gets out of coal, so will the 2.3B people in China and India. They simply can't afford the pollution and health costs that come free with cheap coal.
The assessment seems puts energy into perspective, and indicates how a clear transition from one form to another (wood to coal, and coal to oil) might not be what we can expect to look forward to in the future.
Don't want to ruin the ending, you will have to watch all 3 minutes of the video to find out what to expect in the energy world.
'via Blog this'
Wow. Absolutely perfect assessment of the energy world, past and future.
With pretty graphics to go along with the trends in energy.
So what will be the energy source(s) of the future.
The one thing for sure, is that it won't be coal. As the rest of the world gets out of coal, so will the 2.3B people in China and India. They simply can't afford the pollution and health costs that come free with cheap coal.
The assessment seems puts energy into perspective, and indicates how a clear transition from one form to another (wood to coal, and coal to oil) might not be what we can expect to look forward to in the future.
Don't want to ruin the ending, you will have to watch all 3 minutes of the video to find out what to expect in the energy world.
'via Blog this'
Friday, October 23, 2015
More than three in four Americans believe in global warming - UPI.com
More than three in four Americans believe in global warming - UPI.com:
Finally. Even republicans have shifted to a majority accepting climate change. This is not a party thing; this is a human thing.
Once people start to realize that the earth is warming. And that people are generally responsible.
There tends to be a some obvious actions that we all must do, soon or later.
Sustainability is a law of nature that it is hard to break. Ignore it at your own risk, and everyone else's risk at well.
We promote doing smarter things now to bend the curve on the human impact on the earth. It is a compounding (geometric or exponential) kind of thing. Small(er) changes now make a BIG difference over time. Business as usual (BAS) simply compounds the issues and the problems.
Currently, this is a year of El Nino, so the record temperatures for 2015 are on path to exceed last year's record "by a mile".
Related to global warming and El Nino, check out Hurricane Patricia, the strongest hurricane ever recorded. Ouch!..
So lest start a call to action doing those actions that will save consumers, businesses, governments money while simultaneously making us all more sustainable.
'via Blog this'
Finally. Even republicans have shifted to a majority accepting climate change. This is not a party thing; this is a human thing.
Once people start to realize that the earth is warming. And that people are generally responsible.
There tends to be a some obvious actions that we all must do, soon or later.
Sustainability is a law of nature that it is hard to break. Ignore it at your own risk, and everyone else's risk at well.
We promote doing smarter things now to bend the curve on the human impact on the earth. It is a compounding (geometric or exponential) kind of thing. Small(er) changes now make a BIG difference over time. Business as usual (BAS) simply compounds the issues and the problems.
Currently, this is a year of El Nino, so the record temperatures for 2015 are on path to exceed last year's record "by a mile".
Related to global warming and El Nino, check out Hurricane Patricia, the strongest hurricane ever recorded. Ouch!..
So lest start a call to action doing those actions that will save consumers, businesses, governments money while simultaneously making us all more sustainable.
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Elon Musk and SolarCity Unveil ‘world’s Most Efficient’ Solar Panel
Elon Musk and SolarCity Unveil ‘world’s Most Efficient’ Solar Panel:
Wow. Greater than 22% efficient from solar panels. Far better than the lonely plant with about 5% efficiency from photosynthesis.
This is impressive.
Combine very efficient and affordable power generation with some great battery storage technology and suddenly the solar starts to become an irrefusable option: gotta do it because it is the best available option where the sun shines regularly!
Maybe the batteries should be portable. In your car(s) even!:-)
'via Blog this'
Wow. Greater than 22% efficient from solar panels. Far better than the lonely plant with about 5% efficiency from photosynthesis.
This is impressive.
Combine very efficient and affordable power generation with some great battery storage technology and suddenly the solar starts to become an irrefusable option: gotta do it because it is the best available option where the sun shines regularly!
Maybe the batteries should be portable. In your car(s) even!:-)
'via Blog this'
Solar and wind just passed another big turning point, Cheaper n Better
Solar and wind just passed another big turning point:
So solar and wind power generation is reaching a threshold where renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuel-based power in Germany and UK. That is before counting the subsidies for renewables, and ignoring the massive externality costs of our historically favorite dirty black fuel.
Note the discussion of the virtuous cycle of renewable fuels. As base load power moves up from 5% renewables the costs of traditional power plants becomes more expensive, essentially they become more peak-power generators and less base-load power.
Solar has the added advantage of offing more distributed power generation, usually at the point of use. So solar starts to really cut down on the massive loss of power over distribution channels.
In the US, really cheap NatGas is a no-brainer decision for converting coal plants. It is so much cleaner in all respects. But new fossil fuel power plants will be harder and harder to justify to shareholders and to the PSC.
In the meanwhile, nuclear sits on the sidelines, leaving fission and fusion as a non option in the foreseeable future.
If momentum builds for homeowners and businesses to move to at-source power generation (say Solar City), the building momentum could be a real game-changer.
'via Blog this'
So solar and wind power generation is reaching a threshold where renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuel-based power in Germany and UK. That is before counting the subsidies for renewables, and ignoring the massive externality costs of our historically favorite dirty black fuel.
Note the discussion of the virtuous cycle of renewable fuels. As base load power moves up from 5% renewables the costs of traditional power plants becomes more expensive, essentially they become more peak-power generators and less base-load power.
Solar has the added advantage of offing more distributed power generation, usually at the point of use. So solar starts to really cut down on the massive loss of power over distribution channels.
In the US, really cheap NatGas is a no-brainer decision for converting coal plants. It is so much cleaner in all respects. But new fossil fuel power plants will be harder and harder to justify to shareholders and to the PSC.
In the meanwhile, nuclear sits on the sidelines, leaving fission and fusion as a non option in the foreseeable future.
If momentum builds for homeowners and businesses to move to at-source power generation (say Solar City), the building momentum could be a real game-changer.
'via Blog this'
Monday, September 28, 2015
Is 2015 The Year Soil Becomes Climate Change's Hottest Topic? | ThinkProgress
Is 2015 The Year Soil Becomes Climate Change's Hottest Topic? | ThinkProgress:
Global Soil Week was last week.
It slipped by without even a stain on the knees for most of us.
Give a look at this recount of the week's activities and the progress to address the issues we are generating for out soil, our top soil and the planet in general.
This is really ugly. One estimate is that we could deplete all top soil within 60 years. (Gotta question this one a little bit, but the concept is valid.)
And new studies show that the problem gets worse and worse as the temperatures of the planet rise.
Really ugly.
Smarter ag management and no-till farming is a great place to start on the critical, really CRITICAL, environmental issue.
'via Blog this'
Global Soil Week was last week.
It slipped by without even a stain on the knees for most of us.
Give a look at this recount of the week's activities and the progress to address the issues we are generating for out soil, our top soil and the planet in general.
This is really ugly. One estimate is that we could deplete all top soil within 60 years. (Gotta question this one a little bit, but the concept is valid.)
And new studies show that the problem gets worse and worse as the temperatures of the planet rise.
Really ugly.
Smarter ag management and no-till farming is a great place to start on the critical, really CRITICAL, environmental issue.
'via Blog this'
No PTA For Divisional Application ... 20 years +/-
No PTA For Divisional Application | PharmaPatents:
When does a 20 year patent turn out to be more than a 20 year patent... Patent Term Adjustments.
Okay, so under certain situations, an extension can be requested to the 20 years that the US has for patent applications after 1995. The idea is that for such applications as pharma the long lead time in all approvals through the PTO and the FDA and more... can significantly reduce the useful life of the patent. So Patent Term Adjustments, PTA, (not to be confused with when your parents got together with teachers and the principal), are sometimes allowed. This is the reason that your friendly Patent Attorney will usually say "a patent is the arrangement with the government to offer a monopoly on your invention for about 20 years when you disclose the invention in the formal patent process".
Okay, so PTAs are sometimes allowed, but the extensions can be very qwerty. In this case, you would think that the term adjustments to the main, parent, application would be afforded to the patent applications associated with dividing that original application. Not so, it would seem.
Very interesting, and a very well written article on the whole issue (POSTED BY COURTENAY C. BRINCKERHOFF)
'via Blog this'
When does a 20 year patent turn out to be more than a 20 year patent... Patent Term Adjustments.
Okay, so under certain situations, an extension can be requested to the 20 years that the US has for patent applications after 1995. The idea is that for such applications as pharma the long lead time in all approvals through the PTO and the FDA and more... can significantly reduce the useful life of the patent. So Patent Term Adjustments, PTA, (not to be confused with when your parents got together with teachers and the principal), are sometimes allowed. This is the reason that your friendly Patent Attorney will usually say "a patent is the arrangement with the government to offer a monopoly on your invention for about 20 years when you disclose the invention in the formal patent process".
Okay, so PTAs are sometimes allowed, but the extensions can be very qwerty. In this case, you would think that the term adjustments to the main, parent, application would be afforded to the patent applications associated with dividing that original application. Not so, it would seem.
Very interesting, and a very well written article on the whole issue (POSTED BY COURTENAY C. BRINCKERHOFF)
'via Blog this'
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