Care for the Planet? Care For Your Car!
August 31, 2009
The U.S.’ “Cash for Clunkers” program has ended, effectively paying people who had the most offensive vehicles somewhere between $3500-$4500 USD to buy a new vehicle. (How nice for them, to have We The People buy so large a chunk of their car for them, while those of us who have been ecologically minded all along pay for our own…) So that momentary boost to car sales has passed… but the polluting of the planet remains.
We came across this ad from a mechanic in Denver, Colorado, which sparked considerable thought:
Care for the Planet? Care for your car. CarCareDenver.com
A brief look at some of the ways that statement is true yields that a car which leaks oil is putting the nasty stuff on top of the earth, where it runs into waterways, seeps back into our water table, and poisons other living things. A car that isn’t tuned properly or has mechanical problems is at LEAST using more fuel than it needs to, often spewing the unburned fuel out the tailpipe. Cars that are out of adjustment put out a lot more pollution as well, adding to the global climate and pollution problem. These are just a few of the more obvious aspects.
Until we have electric cars run off of wind, hydro, solar and tide energy sources, we owe it to ourselves and our planet to keep them running as well as possible, as efficiently as possible. This doesn’t even cost money. In fact, it saves! If you lose 3-4 mpg because the car isn’t running well, you’re polluting, but you’re also tossing a pretty good chunk of change out the tailpipe every time you drive! So we join the mechanic in saying it:
Care for the planet? Care for your car!
Green Engineering, What Is It?
July 31, 2009
by Jody Singleton
Clean Energy Act, RoHS & WEEE
WEEE As of August 13, 2005, producers have been required to finance the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of all Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment
RoHS As of July 1 2006 Electrical & Electronic Equipment may no longer be sold in the European Union if it contains any of six banned substance Restriction of Hazardous Substances On March 1 2007 the first phase of Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products came into effect.
The Climate Control Bill introduced by Representatives Edward Markey (D-Mass.) & Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) in May of 2009 introduced the most recent version of the American Clean Energy & Security Act and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by the year 2020. It would distribute up to 85 percent of pollution permits in a proposed cap-and-trade program.
The Carrot & Stick
Cash & Energy Savings Using Wireless Sensor Networks
Industries everywhere are finding ways to save not only on energy and it’s costs but through the use of wireless networks, in numerous other ways too.
According to Oak Ridge National Laboratories, through the use of wireless sensor networks, savings on energy for motors used in industrial processes could improve efficiency by 20%, resulting in significant cost savings. Wayne Manges said: “With electric motor-driven systems accounting for nearly one-fourth of all electricity consumption in the United States, the potential for savings is huge.”
The Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program works with US industry to improve environmental performance and energy efficiency. The ITP is distributing 15 million to support R&D specifically to improve energy efficiency in industrial processes. Already a number of new wireless sensor products are being developed together with the Department of Energy.
Cost savings with wireless systems are recognized in multiple areas including materials and labor where the cost of running wire in plants ranges between $155 and $3,700 per foot. The typical payback for wired systems is 24 months and less than a quarter of that for a wireless equivalent, only six months. Add in the on-going energy savings and the return on investment decision is very clear.
In a large number of industries, companies are recasting their product lines to implement wireless technologies. “We can’t think of any segment of the industry that isn’t going to be impacted by this,” states Honeywell’s CTO Dan Shiflin.
Wireless sensor networks of all varieties are exploding into our world. There is a massive amount of research & development, from academia to start-ups, pushing to create proverbial “better-faster-cheaper” products. A growing number of products are based on an emerging specification “ZigBee”. A majority of utility companies that have settled on a standard have identified ZigBee as their preference due in main to its inherent security capabilities. Real-time data from wireless sensors networks will enable companies to achieve greater productivity and efficiency by continually improving their processes.
Named BP International’s first Director of Technology & Sensory Networks, for the oil company’s Technology Office, Ken Douglas said “You don’t ask people ‘How would you use ZigBee?’ Because they don’t know, but if you ask them: ‘How would you use information that you can now access for the first time?’ They have to think about it for a bit, but then the ideas just starting pouring out.”
In addition to the benefits of ZigBee’s security layers, the mesh network is highly reliable, flexible and can connect a variety of sensors simultaneously including protocols such as OPC, Modbus and HART.
Companies whose product objectives include reducing costs or waste, more reliable equipment management; improved physical asset control or greater situational awareness should investigate the variety of capabilities wireless sensor systems can provide. In addition to the potential savings in energy, there are likely many additional cash benefits to be found.
The technologies for green engineering are not only cost effective, if done right, they are cash positive. When it comes to the design and development of products that are energy efficient and eco-friendly, as well as cost effective, wireless sensor networks make “better faster cheaper” energy saving products. Electronic designs using Zigbee products are making home sensors and energy saving devices a reality. It is less expensive when you get smarter, simpler products with better resource utilization while conserving precious resources.
Engineering…great profession…
“Engineering … it is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes to men. Then it elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of life. That is the engineer’s high privilege.”
– Herbert Hoover, Civil Engineer, 1929. 31st President
Biofuel Bilking, Old Adages & New Technologies
July 17, 2009
It was only a matter of time. In many ways, the charlatans have been coming out of the woodwork for a while already, selling snake oil to the Alternative Energy movement and industry. What makes this one so surprising is that it wasn’t a false claim about the products’ ability — no water-burning car, this. Far more typical, in ways, a former state ethics committee chairman, Jack Boykin (of Alabama) was selling the vapors — an investment in fuel that never was. What? A politician perpetrating a lie, a sham, a scam? Say it isn’t so!
Yet none other than Vinod Khosla, the Silicon valley mogul who has been involved with and supportive of alternative energy vehicles) was one of the victims. How much was he played for? How about more than $12 MILLION dollars. That’s two million dollars more than the judgement against Cello. You don’t have to have invented the abacus to wonder where the other $2 million is going to.
Testimony given during the hearings stated that Boykin talked Khosla into investing without “due dilligence.” One would think someone with $10 million to invest would know better. Let’s just say that Khosla’s sincere interest in moving alternative energy forward got the best of him and leave it at that.
Should this give us all cause to be concerned? To be sure, there will be other cons perpetrated, and products and technologies that don’t pass muster. We’ve heard about a guy who wants to build a mag-lev train system in an evacuated tube (think Artificial Space) and run it east to west across Florida. My hand never even twitched in the direction of my wallet on that one.
As we move into a new age, we’re doing to need open minds and new ways of thinking. But let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let’ s just hold on to some good old fashioned common sense, too. That and the old adage “The proof is in the pudding” should serve us well as we make our way in this new Going Green century.
America Bringing Up the Rear — Alternative Energy Thoughts for the 4th of July
July 3, 2009
As the U.S. Congress hashes out Green Energy legislation at the prompting of the Obama administration, Americans may feel a certain sense of pride and accomplishment. Don’t be too quick to pat yourselves on the back. It happens that the U.S. is behind the curve on this one, has been for years. The sort of legislation that might come out of this session of Congress might equal the sort of rules, incentives and investments that China has had in place for over two years now. If we’re really lucky, it might even begin to look something like what smaller European countries have been doing for years, now. There’s no question, though, that the U.S. is bringing up the rear when it comes to alternative energy.
You may balk at this notion, citing that China is just now becoming a larger buyer of wind turbines than the U.S. But China has been doubling their wind power capacity each of the past four years, and is already heavily invested in solar farms and burning waste to generate electricity. Moreover, they’ve got six huge projects under way in their deserts — each with a greater capacity than 16 coal-powered plants. Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Energy is blocking the building of more coal-burning energy plants. Coal may still be their primary fuel for electricity, but that still puts them heads and shoulders above us.
Perhaps more telling is this: Across the U.S., the “not in my back yard” complaint arises any time a wind farm is suggested. “It just won’t look the same,” life-long residents complain, if they hear of a wind farm being proposed for a ridgeline. We here in the States still haven’t quite figured out what the European Union (EU), which is also dependant upon other nations for their oil and gas, has long understood. Last winter’s gas outage while Russia squabbled with the Ukraine was not the first time they have been without heating fuel during Europe’s harsh winters. This quote sums it up well:
“‘The Europeans see offshore wind turbines as sentinels,’ Mandelstam told me, ‘protecting them from energy domination by foreign powers. When you put that against a few winter days of seeing turbines on the beach as you walk your dog, I think that’s a very easy trade-off.’”
Another adage suggests that if we can’t change something then we should change the way we look at it.
Perhaps it’s time we got serious about alternative energy and started adopting that perspective, seeing wind turbines as sentinels guarding our independence, instead of seeking out more oil and gas so we won’t have to look at those “ugly” wind turbines.
GOP: Drill, baby, drill. DEM: Burn, baby, Burn. What’s the difference?
May 13, 2009
Colorado’s Senator, Michael Bennet, was appointed to fill the vacancy made when Ken Salizar was appointed to be Secretary of the Interior. Mr. Salizar is also receiving less than glowing grades from us. (See other recent posts.) Bennet, who was formerly a Denver Public School superintendent, graduated from the Yale School of Law. Senator Bennet’s recent statements indicate that he’s very much in favor of using natural gas as the new oil alternative. Allow me to retort:
The new motto is clearly “Burn, baby, burn!” These “representatives” aren’t looking for non-combustion solutions. They’re not leading us towards energy technologies that are renewable or free. They’re moving us from oil to natural gas, and not terribly quickly either. They claim that natural gas is less expensive… but for how long? When vehicles start increasing the demand, of course, then THAT commodity’s prices will rise. (Propane and CNG already go up with winter heating fuel’s demands.) In the final analysis, we’ll be no better off than we were before, except that we’ll be slaves to a gas supplier instead.
Natural gas may burn clean(er). Perhaps there’s more gas left than oil (though it may not have started that way 100 years ago.) But we’re still talking apples and oranges. Cars use a lot more natural gas than gasoline to get a mile down the road, so we don’t really know what the practical comparison may end up being.
What we DO know is that solar, wind and tide generation of electricty does not pollute, is entirely inexhaustible, and can cost a fraction of what pulling gas out of the ground costs, in the long run. So why aren’t our elected representatives rallying behind these ecologically sound energy sources? In a word, MONEY. Gas comes out of the ground cheaply once found, and is sold for huge profits. Meanwhile, alternative energy technologies require larger up-front investments, and provide slower returns on that investment. Perhaps even more importantly, alternative energy resources hold potential for the everyman to be producing his own energy, sans tax or profit. Government officials and energy sellers are both against that idea.
First we had the Republicans crying out “Drill, baby, drill,” as their mantra. Now we’ve traded them in for pseudo-ecologist Democrats who suggest “Burn, baby, burn!” is a good thing. Both are twin sons of different mothers, and neither has any intention of leading us to true energy independence. Meanwhile, concerns like “Energy Tomorrow” and the Pickens Plan keep on telling us about the virtues of (burning) natural gas in our combustion engines, and doing a lot of flag-waving about the economy. Long-term investments in alternative energy can yield us energy for a fraction of what we’re paying now, and provide us with greater prosperity, but that wouldn’t please the power brokers, now would it?
The reign of oil mogul George W. Bush, is over; Now is the time of the Democrats. The King is dead — Long live the King! Trading “Drill, baby, drill” for “Burn, baby, burn!” doesn’t seem like much of an improvement. The supposed advantage is that we’re not sending money overseas, but other countries supply us with natural gas too. From this writer’s perspective, the difference that makes no difference is no difference. Is this is the change we voted for?
Wrong Tool, Dull Tool, or No Tool?
May 8, 2009
The Obama administration, which promised to be the most outspoken defender of wildlife and wild spaces since Teddy Roosevelt, seems to be falling far short of the mark at the hands of Secretary Salizar. Though they started off strong by rescinding the last-minute oil leases the Bush administration had rubber-stamped, the track record since then hasn’t been terribly favorable. In fact, it could be said to be unconcerned.
The latest in this trend is Salizar’s statement that the Endangered Species Act’s protections are the wrong tools to be using against global warming. He said this in response to concerns about the polar bears. The problem, Mr. Salizar, is that the bears themselves need something done NOW, not when you get around to curing global warming. In fact, they’re one of the reasons we care about global warming. So get a tool, any tool, and get at doing SOMEthing. I’ll take the ESA as one. Or are you too dull a tool yourself?
If that seems overly harsh, realize that Mr. Salizar’s administration has also actively thwarted the efforts of several falconers to propagate species of eagles nad falcons. These well-intended raptor enthusiasts want to spend their own money to import and breed the birds in captivity, ensuring their genetic survival. But the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s CITES office prefers to respond by harassing them, burying them in paperwork for well over 6 months, when that same CITES paperwork is routinely completed by other countries in a matter of minutes. That’s just one of the many flaws and holes emerging in the Salizar story.
They say “The buck stops here.” In Mr. Salizar’s case, we’re left to wonder if he knows what the buck is, or even where it starts… and this writer begins to worry that perhaps we didn’t get the change we voted for after all.
Green Festivals A Hit!
May 4, 2009
Across America this summer, you’ll be seeing Green Festivals. Seattle’s was March 28th and 29th. We just had one in Denver on May 2nd and 3rd, and another is scheduled in Chicago for May 16th and 17th. DC has theirs October 10th and 11th, San Francisco’s is November 13-15. It’s an exciting concept that is taking hold!
What exactly is a Green Festival? A convention of sorts, where people can share ideas and products that make the world a greener place to be. Everything from bicycles (and e-bikes) to energy-efficient gizmos and kitchen gadgets, to the latest in solar, hydro and wind generators, insulation, etc. — it’s all there, and it’s all about going Green(er)!
Is some of this just about selling you stuff? You betcha, it is! And some of it may seem pretty overpriced. Then again, riding a bike instead of driving, using a manual can-opener instead of an electric one, things like this actually SAVE you money — a LOT of money, if you think about it!
By the way, you don’t need to wait and drive to attend one of those Green Festivals. This is grass-roots. There’s nothing wrong with having your own Green Festival right there in your home town. Talk about recycling (which starts at home, by reusing the containers, for example.) Talk about more energy-efficient vehicles, electronics, construction techniques. Talk about generating your own electricity passively, with non-combustion means. Talk about bringing your own reuseable bags rather than taking them home from the grocery store so they can become a mess in the land fills, lakes, streams and oceans of the world. Think local and global, but act locally. These are changes you can make, and you can make a very real difference!
We’re very pleased to see Green Festivals. They show us that the message is taking hold, that people really are taking Going Green seriously, that changes are in the works and we’re learning, walking the talk! Let’s keep on rolling towards a Green country and planet!
For More visit www.greenfestivals.org
UK’s First Carbon Budget
April 23, 2009
UK’s first ‘Carbon Budget’ - Investment in renewables, energy efficiency & green jobs
UK Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled a series of ‘green’ initiatives in the UK’s first ever ‘carbon budget’ this week, with around £1 billion pounds set aside to encourage alternative and efficient energy use and deliver ‘green jobs’. The budget promised carbon emission cuts of 34 per cent by 2020. Darling called the move a “landmark step”. The increased target is well ahead of the 20 per cent promised at EU level and sets UK targets well above those in the US. Greenpeace dismissed the energy saving initiatives, expected to save around 380,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, as “woeful”. “The emissions saved per year represent about two weeks’ emissions from Radcliffe-on-Soar coal-powered station” said the environment group’s spokesperson. Lord Turner, chairman of the Climate Change Committee and one of the central figures behind the budget, commented “The carbon budgets provide the UK with the most ambitious climate change legislation in the world. We need to start reducing our emissions now, and we need tough policies and strong leadership from government.”
Offshore Wind Development - Offshore wind is one of the big winners from latest budget, Darling adding that Britain needed cleaner energy investment, talking of a new “North Sea energy hub”, built around offshore wind and including gas storage and carbon capture. “The credit squeeze is holding back major offshore wind projects. I want to lift the barriers — through £525 million pounds of new financial support over the next two years for offshore wind, funded through the renewables obligation. The potential is enormous,” he said. “I am confident that this will lead to major projects getting the go-ahead quickly, providing enough electricity to meet the needs of up to 3 million households.” This is still someway short however, of the £2 billion pounds asked for by the wind industry but should be enough to benefit a number proposed projects that are under threat including the London Array, the world’s largest. Paul Golby, chief executive of Eon UK, which holds a 30 per cent stake in the London Array, said he was “certain” the move “would help transform wind power in the UK”.
Green Buildings - An additional £435 million pounds of extra support will be provided “to deliver energy efficiency measures — for homes, businesses and public buildings” such as weatherproofing. The government also announced that from a £500 million pounds package designed to kick-start the building industry it would spend £100 million pounds helping local authorities to build low-carbon homes.
Car Scrappage & Green Cars - In an attempt to boost sales within the struggling automotive industry and encourage people to switch to greener, more efficient vehicles, Darling confirmed that the government will launch a scrappage scheme worth £2,000 per car. The scheme covers the 10 million cars in the UK currently older than 10 years. The scheme kicks in next month and is likely to run until next March or until the money runs out, whichever is soonest. The Chancellor also announced a major reform to vehicle excise duty next year “to encourage manufacturers to produce cleaner cars” new bands will be introduced offering an “incentive to encourage drivers to choose the least polluting car”.
Green-collar Jobs - The Governments green jobs strategy was key to this carbon budget. Darling claimed government spending on environmental initiatives in the fight against climate change would create large numbers of “green-collar jobs”. He claimed that there “could be over a million jobs in our environmental industries within the next two decades” providing “huge opportunities” for business. “These budgets give industry the certainty needed to develop and use low-carbon technology - cutting emissions, creating new businesses and jobs.” Funding for skills development and training also increased, with £260 million pounds focused on “sectors with strong future demand” which should benefit those in green industry sectors.
Other Energy Investment - The Chancellor confirmed plans for a further two CCS demonstration plants maintaining an option to build a further two in the future, how these projects will be funded was not confirmed. Darling also announced that highly efficient CHP plants are to be exempted from the climate change levy from 2013 which he predicts will bring forward £2.5 billion pounds of investment from the private sector.
Submitted by Sam Newell at Renewable Energy Jobs
Green Power 2009 - International Renewable Energy Congress
March 30, 2009
Poznan, Poland - On the 19th-20th May the International Renewable Energy Congress “Green Power 2009″ shall be held in Poznan. It is to be the biggest international event of the renewable energy sector organized in 2009 in Poland. The Congress shall host high representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, European Union Council, the European and world RES organizations, representatives of the Polish Government and the Parliament, representatives of local authorities, representatives of the European research institutions and above all the representatives of the most significant Polish, European and world companies which operate in the sector.
Prestigious Sponsorship The event shall be organized under the patronage of the: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy - Mr. Waldemar Pawlak, Minister of Environment - Professor Maciej Nowicki, Minister of Agriculture - Mr. Marek Sawicki and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).
Scope and objectives Congress shall be divided into two parts. The first, entitled “POLITICS and ECONOMY - Perspectives for the world development of renewable energy in Europe and Poland till 2030 and later in the perspective of the world economical crisis” and the second: “FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Modern technologies and financing of the RES investment projects in the times of the economical slowdown”.
It is the main goal of the Congress to discuss the possibilities for the RES sector growth in Poland and European Union in the light of the current economic situation. Moreover, the significance of investments in the renewable energy to stimulate economics, challenges connected with the introduction of a new RES directive and possibilities for the growth of the sector until 2030 are to be discussed.
Organizers: Polish Economic Chamber of Renewable Energy (PIGEO) is an organization of economic self-government, appointed on the 12th of October 2004, bringing together around 70 national and foreign members. This is a group of businessmen who have expressed their will to work together to develop a market for renewable energy sources (RES). It represents companies involved in energy production, preparation and execution of investments and as well advisory and consulting on the use of wind, water, biomass, biogas, geotherm and solar energy, as well as heat pumps. PIGEO is a member of the National Chamber of Commerce (KIG), the European Wind Energy Association (EA), the European Renewable Energy Federation (EREF), the World Alliance for Distributed Energy (WADE) and the Coordinating Council of Polish renewable energy sources (RES PRK).
The Poznan International Fair is the leader of the Polish trade fair. It holds nearly 50% shares of the fair market in Poland and is the second fair organizer in Central and Eastern Europe. As the only city in Poland, Poznan has been included in the global ranking of fair cities AUMA (33 in 2008). Every year, more than 13 200 exhibitors including about 3,000 foreign companies from 70 countries of the world participate in 80 trade fair events organized on the grounds of the Poznan fair. Last year, the shows and exhibitions were also visited by 360,000 attendees, including visitors from abroad. All trade shows, congresses and conferences organized on the MTP grounds are annually visited by over half a million attendees, which makes MTP the leading centre of business tourism in Poland.MTP belongs to an organization bringing together trade fair leaders from all over the world (UFI - Global Association of Exhibition Industry and Centrex - International Association of Statistics fair).
The Congress shall answer following questions: ” What are the prospects for development of RES in Europe? ” What conditions for the development of the RES must be met so that the renewable sources of energy are a realistic answer to the problems related to the energy safety and global warming? ” What technologies have the best development opportunities? ” How the world financial crisis shall affect the development of RES in Poland and Europe?
Business Prospects During this Congress the issue of finance and investment support schemes for RES in the times of the economic slowdown shall be discussed, furthermore, the Congress shall provide analysis of the major barriers to RES market development and current legislative undertakings aimed at improvement of connected with RES environment. During the second day a special theme conference shall take place, which is to be organized along with the Association of Polish Banks and entitled “Financing investment projects in the renewable sector”. Speakers of the conference are experts from public institutions, banks and other financial institutions as well as consulting companies.
“Renewable Energy Sector (RES) has the greatest potential for growth in times of economic downturn and will be the main driver for future growth. Congress will show how to use it in the most efficient way”- believes Mr. Wies?aw Wójcik, President of PIGEO.
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS The Congress shall be accompanied by: International Renewable Energy Trade Fairs (19-21 of May), the adjudication of the National Competition for Young People for the most interesting essay on “Why the world needs energy from renewable sources?” Which is a part of the RES National Promotional Campaign, and the 2nd Forum on Solar Energy Industry and the European Sun Day. Organizers expect several hundred participants to attend.
For Complete Event Details Visit www.kongresoze.eu
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Obama’s E.P.A. To Re-examine Bush’s Coal Policies
March 3, 2009
As most people know, in his final hours, ex-President GW Bush’s administration threw a few extra wrenches in the protecting of the natural resources of the nation. From unlikely oil leases near some of the most pristine parts of the nation, to carte blanche for coal mining operations and extremely suspect orders that give the USFWS nearly unlimited and broad-reaching power over what to deem safe to molest.
Recent orders from President Obama’s administration put these last minute actions on hold, while they’re examined and appraised. If it is determined that they were not acting in the best interest of the People of the United States, it’s likely they’ll be countermanded altogether. That President Obama would make such an order demonstrates that the U.S. is clearly in much safer, more responsible hands.
What’s at risk? Polar bears, land near National Parks, and now this latest examination of Bush’s instructions that the E.P.A. should NOT consider the effects of pollution when deciding on regulations regarding coal-generated power plants. Go ahead and blink along with the rest of us as we reread it. Bush did that? Yes, he did.
The past eight years have been hell on the environment. The previous President clearly held the extremely unscientific view that it doesn’t matter what we do. Lisa Smith, the incoming E.P.A. Administrator, is a breath of fresh air, in that she will have the government looking at the facts and realities, rather than rubber-stamping anything that stands to make money. Obviously, we’re glad to see this. The toll of using carbon-based fuels is clearly unacceptable as well as unnecessary. Some say that the coal and oil industries will take a hit in such circumstances. It’s hard to imagine any other result, but that changes nothing. Plantation owners took a hit, per se, as well, when their ability to own other human beings was revoked as well.
Investing in Green energy sources will make this issue all the more obsolete. It is important that Green energy supporters continue to be outspoken. So long as President Obama continues to have support for this change of direction, he is able to continue to carry us into a new energy age.
