I have to admit that with each passing day, my addiction to Treehugger becomes stronger. How else could it be when I am a renewable energy nut and the guys there keep collecting and putting out some incredible information with a dedication that can only come from the truly committed? Well, here's a part of the reason why - what would warm someone's heart more than the knowledge that an advanced European nation has managed to generate a little less than half of its electricity demand from wind energy: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/spainish-wind-power-record-43-percent-electric-demand.php
Now that Spain's Iberdrola are active in planning projects in the USA, I hope they would use this information to convince the many skeptics who are out there about wind energy and what it could do. Granted that the USA's power needs per capita may be higher than Spain's, there is still no reason why wind energy should not support vastly more homes and businesses than it already does.
Thanks, Treehugger for showing that this is being done. And thanks, Spain, for leading by example!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Los Angeles Announces the World's Biggest Solar Plan
Hate some of the silly Commiefornia laws as much as I do, Los Angeles is a city that I love, some of its suburbs being my favorite places on earth. Pasadena is, in my personal opinion, as close to a paradise as any place gets on earth. Yes, it is polluted but it is also a city that is trying its best to overcome this. Ecogeek has an entry on its blog about this proposal: http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2327/83/ Once this plan is achieved, the city would get 10% of its electricity from the sun.
Hat's off to Mayor Villaigrosa (I hope I spelled his name right) and here's to hoping that mayors everywhere follow his superb example!
Hat's off to Mayor Villaigrosa (I hope I spelled his name right) and here's to hoping that mayors everywhere follow his superb example!
Some Bad News from The New York Times - and Some Good
Today's New York Times speaks about some bad, possibly dire news - the slump in coal and oil prices may mean that countries that were poised to go on the offensive to clean up their air and water may not do so because of prevailing economic conditions: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/world/25climate.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
It is this blog's argument that that would be a grievous mistake. When the prices of coal and oil are down, so are the prices of other commodities. And that is why, this is the right time to focus on clean energy.
On a more positive note, there is a new trend towards Green Nightclubs - a positive idea in every way: http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/green-nightclub-trend-comes-to-new-york/
Cheers!
It is this blog's argument that that would be a grievous mistake. When the prices of coal and oil are down, so are the prices of other commodities. And that is why, this is the right time to focus on clean energy.
On a more positive note, there is a new trend towards Green Nightclubs - a positive idea in every way: http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/green-nightclub-trend-comes-to-new-york/
Cheers!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Autocar Reviews the Think Electric Car and Likes It
It is always interesting when a mainstream magazine reviews an alternative energy product. You never know what the results will be, though, if the magazine is a reputable one, the results will be fair. And that is exactly what has happened here: http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Think-City-30Kw/231721/
Yes, the Think is expensive and the running costs are likely to be high as well because of the fact that you have to lease the batteries. But it is a remarkable achievement and I do think that those who wish to make a statement would do well to buy this instead of a gas guzzling and polluting Ferrari. Yes, a number of Hollywood and Wall Street types have done this with Priuses - the Think pollutes even less and I hope that they launch them soon. The publicity that these cars receive would make the development of electric vehicles race ahead and show fossil fuel the fist.
Cheers!
Yes, the Think is expensive and the running costs are likely to be high as well because of the fact that you have to lease the batteries. But it is a remarkable achievement and I do think that those who wish to make a statement would do well to buy this instead of a gas guzzling and polluting Ferrari. Yes, a number of Hollywood and Wall Street types have done this with Priuses - the Think pollutes even less and I hope that they launch them soon. The publicity that these cars receive would make the development of electric vehicles race ahead and show fossil fuel the fist.
Cheers!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Piracy and the Danger to Fossil Fuel Supplies
Over the past few weeks the dangers that the world faces from piracy have been more and more apparent. At first, a Ukrainian ship carrying a number of Main Battle Tanks was taken by Somali pirates. Then came one successful engagement by the Indian navy with the pirates where they drove some of these thugs off, immediately followed by the taking of a ship with mainly Indian crew who seem to have been released following the payment of a substantial ransom. In fact, over 70 ships seem to have been taken in recent weeks by the same thieves who seem to operate with impunity in the region.
Now comes the most audacious act of these pirates, the taking of the Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star owned by the huge Saudi Aramco business. The tanker is reputed to be carrying crude oil worth $ 100 million at today's low prices, still an enormous amount of money by any standards you may want to use. From the raison d'etre of this blog, there is an argument to be made against fossil fuels using the hijacking of this tanker as an example. If frustrated, the pirates could do what Saddam Hussein did when he set the Kuwaiti oilfields ablaze - set this tanker ablaze. Or, they could damage the vessel and dump crude in the sea causing a major ecological disaster like Saddam did, again, when his army was driven from Kuwait and he wanted to render the Kuwaiti water desalination facilities unusable. These are all pointers to the risks that arise solely from using fossil fuels in an increasingly dangerous world. The situation in Somalia, therefore, is one more reason why this filthy fuel, oil, and its family in coal need to be done away with the world over.
There is too much at stake to continue to use this trash anymore.
Now comes the most audacious act of these pirates, the taking of the Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star owned by the huge Saudi Aramco business. The tanker is reputed to be carrying crude oil worth $ 100 million at today's low prices, still an enormous amount of money by any standards you may want to use. From the raison d'etre of this blog, there is an argument to be made against fossil fuels using the hijacking of this tanker as an example. If frustrated, the pirates could do what Saddam Hussein did when he set the Kuwaiti oilfields ablaze - set this tanker ablaze. Or, they could damage the vessel and dump crude in the sea causing a major ecological disaster like Saddam did, again, when his army was driven from Kuwait and he wanted to render the Kuwaiti water desalination facilities unusable. These are all pointers to the risks that arise solely from using fossil fuels in an increasingly dangerous world. The situation in Somalia, therefore, is one more reason why this filthy fuel, oil, and its family in coal need to be done away with the world over.
There is too much at stake to continue to use this trash anymore.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Shame on India!
It is a shame that a farmer who protested the dumping of waste on his property was murdered by the owners of a sugar mill in India. The Government of India needs to investigate this case and throw the book at the criminals concerned. The sad news comes courtesy of Treehugger: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/organic-farmer-murdered-killed-india.php
Challa Krishnamurthy is a martyr. My hat's of to him.
Challa Krishnamurthy is a martyr. My hat's of to him.
Free Green Building E-Book
Green Daily has this post which would make for interesting reading for everyone interested in Green Building: http://www.greendaily.com/2008/11/13/free-green-building-e-book/ Go ahead and download the book if you;re interested. The company offering this book are called Treehugger Consulting. Not sure if this is anything to do with another of my favorite Green News websites, Treehugger. In any case, if you're here, then you're a treehugger and you want the book from these guys.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)