Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint
How to Turn Your Living Space Into An Environmentally Friendly and “Green” Home
The best way to find out whether you are doing your part by living in an energy efficient home is to have your home examined by a certified company to determine three things:
- Is your home conserving as much energy that is economically possible?
- Are you purchasing the energy that you need for your home from the sources that utilize “renewable” energy sources?
- Are you recycling your waste and/or reducing the consumption of throw away products?
We are able to reduce your Green Guilt by reducing your carbon footprint by providing services that not only conserve energy but also create energy from our most renewable energy source, the sun.
Sourse: Reduce Your Home’s Carbon Footprint
Helping the World’s Oceans Begins At Home With Solar Energy
Bella Energy, a Boulder based solar energy company that installs and maintains solar energy systems in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region, has installed a 22.8 kilowatt solar system on Oceanic Preservation Society’s Boulder film production studio.
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is a non-profit organization that makes films about the declining state of the oceans, founded by Boulder residents Louie Psihoyos, a career National Geographic photographer, and his retired-ballerina wife Viki Psihoyos. Louie was the main contributor to the “Material World Project,” a U.N. sponsored show of family portraits depicting 40 families from different countries with their material possessions.
Louie Psihoyos knows that renewable energy production is the best way for an individual citizen to reduce the country’s dependency on polluting coal plants. He has made a personal commitment to use solar electricity to lower his carbon footprint not only for his studio but also his car, a Zenn electric car. “We are doing what we can here,” says Louis Psihoyos. “Our OPS film team uses a dozen monitors, editing machines and tons of RAD for data storage. The place literally throbs with electricity.”
Scientists are studying a connection between increasing CO2 levels and mercury content in the oceans and in our seafood, which can cause neurological and heart problems. The highest concentrations of mercury are found in larger predator fish, so high that experts warn women who are pregnant or breast-feeding and children not to eat such fish as fresh tuna, Chilean sea bass, swordfish, shark or grouper. Alarmingly, seafood provides 70 percent of the planet’s protein.
“Since our upcoming film points out the connection between increasing levels of CO2 in the air and mercury levels rising 2% a year in the oceans, we tried to lower our own personal carbon footprint and set an example to others,” says Viki Psihoyos. “We are practicing what we preach.”
It was an honor for Bella Energy to work with such an organization. The world will be a better place for their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and because of the effects of their powerful film!” said John Shaw of Bella Energy.
OPS is also designing a new energy efficient home with a similar sized solar system where they can charge their electric Zenn car. “I never want to pay for electricity again and plan to install as big a solar system as needed to make that happen,” says Louis Psihoyos. “We will be our own Conoco station, and the sun’s going to run it.”
SERIOUS MONDAY: WWF AGAINST UK NUCLEAR POWER PLAN
The World Wildlife Fund is questioning the UK government’s plan for 10 new nuclear power stations.
WWF says the UK can meet its future energy needs and combat climate change without resorting to nuclear power.
Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF says: “The government can’t hide behind the argument that new nuclear power is essential to meet the UK’s climate change targets and energy needs. Nuclear power is being presented as an environmental saviour, when it is unnecessary, unsustainable and unsafe.”
He says WWF has produced its own credible reports to show that Britain can make deep cuts in carbon emissions by other means.
WWF says alternative solutions could lie in energy efficiency and renewable energy, potentially combined with fossil fuel stations equipped with working carbon capture and storage - and it believes this could be achieved far more quickly.
“Renewables have the potential to start producing clean energy right now, while the nuclear industry won’t be able to build the first power station until 2020 at the earliest,” said Mr Allott. “Renewables could be producing up to 20% of all UK energy and 40% of UK electricity before the first nuclear power station is even functional.”
Sourse: SERIOUS MONDAY: WWF AGAINST UK NUCLEAR POWER PLAN
GREEN ENERGY INDUSTRY TAKES ROOT IN CALIFORNIA
IN RECENT MONTHS, THE INDUSTRY HAS ADDED SEVERAL THOUSAND JOBS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SOLAR ENERGY CELLS AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS ON ROOFS
As of this writing, three-quarters of the nations demand for solar comes from residents and companies in California. This is not all that surprising considering that California has among the most sunny days of any of the continental United States.
But will it continue a grow to be a mainstream industry, or will it be doomed to fall by the wayside the way it did during the last solar boom in the 1970’s, during the administration of then governor, Jerry Brown?
To be successful and more than a passing fad, solar energy needs to pass through to the mainstream and not be limited to the elite fringes of California society, as it is today.
In the posting linked below, MATT RICHTEL and JOHN MARKOFF of the New York Times take a closer look at this and other questions facing this fledging industry as it attempts to transition into the go-to employer for the twenty -first century.
Sourse: GREEN ENERGY INDUSTRY TAKES ROOT IN CALIFORNIA
Are Renewable Energy Stocks offering a buying opportunity?
Some of the best names in the world have been hit hard by the recent selloff, so investors who have been on the sidelines during the runup may want to consider initiating a dollar-cost averaging program to begin buying in over the next 3 to 12 months.
Renewable Power Stocks down 50% from 52-week highs as of 24JAN08: SPWR, SOLF, FSLR, REC, WFR
SPWR: SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) said revenue tripled to $224 million from $75 million in the year-ago quarter.
Alternative Energy companies down 25% from 52-week highs as of 24JAN08: ORA, QCLSF, SUZL, STP
There will be some big winners among these names …
Sourse: Are Renewable Energy Stocks offering a buying opportunity?
Renewable energy in the news
There was a good write-up in Saturday’s Rocky Mountain News Business section about Colorado’s advantages and disadvantages in the developing renewable energy sector. Among the advantages: great location for solar, very good location for wind. It rightly recognizes Gov. Bill Ritter’s leadership on this issue by conveying his vision for possibilities in our state. More big positives: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and all the research universities in the area (Mines, CSU, CU).
Instead of just blindly moving forward without taking into account potential stumbling blocks, the article also details some disadvantages Colorado faces: financial incentives that are unable to compete with Texas, Ohio, or Michigan and cheap labor. The labor part, as first mentioned in the article, fails to acknowledge the underlying issue: lack of qualified laborers. It does go into some detail on this later in the article. The article does go into detail about an advantage areas on the coasts enjoy: large collections of big cities. Denver isn’t all that big and there’s not any big cities within hundreds of miles of it. That’s puts us at a disadvantage compared to Southern California, the Carolinas, Portland to Seattle, or Texas.
Perhaps the biggest gear in this fairly nascent machine is the political will. I don’t think the article did this part justice. Without a populace demanding investment in research and infrastructure, Colorado wouldn’t be as far along the path we’re currently on.
One quick number to demonstrate what’s at stake: Spanish companies plan to spend between $7 and $10 billion in the U.S. during the next few years. That’s just one country. I would argue that Colorado sure could use part of that kind of investment, mostly because I imagine it would act as seed money. The renewable energy sector of our economy is poised for substantial long-term growth. Money spent and invested in developing technologies and bringing them to the market will only benefit us more as time goes on.
Can Colorado make itself look attractive enough for companies to bring their resources? This sector of the economy will be built, there’s no doubt about that. It would benefit the state if we can be nearer the top of that sector than the bottom. Thank goodness we have folks like Gov. Ritter and thousands of hard-working citizens who recognize this.
Sourse: Renewable energy in the news
Intel Purchases a Huge Amount of Renewable Energy Certificates
Intel announced today that it has purchased the equivalent of “1.3 billion kilowatt hours of energy a year. The EPA estimates this has the equivalent effect of eliminating CO2 emissions for more than 185,000 automobiles or the electricity needed to power more than 130,000 average American homes annually.” Although this is …
Sourse: Intel Purchases a Huge Amount of Renewable Energy Certificates
Abu Dhabi to invest $15 billion in renewable energy
Abu Dhabi announced the most ambitious sustainability program ever launched by a government — an initial investment of US$15 billion in projects targeting solar, wind and hydrogen power; carbon reduction and management; sustainable development; education; manufacturing; and research and development. The investment will be channelled through the Masdar Initiative, a company that aims to explore, […]
Sourse: Abu Dhabi to invest $15 billion in renewable energy
We are seeing the death of nuclear power’s precious myth
Folks who want to build more nuclear power plants love to deride greener tech like wind or solar. Those aren’t dependable they love to point out. The sun may not shine. The air may be still for hours, or days on end. We allnow about becalmed sailing ships before the days […]
Sourse: We are seeing the death of nuclear power’s precious myth
Renewable Energy News
Google News Alert for: Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Association response to Environmental Audit …
eGov monitor - London,UK
That is what we in the UK have done, and that is what we have asked the EU to do in the forthcoming Renewable Energy Directive. Doing nothing is simply not …
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Abu Dhabi pushes to be leader in renewable energy
Financial Times - London,England,UK
… to become the world’s leader in renewable energy, initially exploiting the United Arab Emirates’ plentiful sunshine for solar power, writes Simeon Kerr. …
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EU seeking greener energy but nuclear option fuels dissent
Economic Times - Gurgaon,Haryana,India
Nuclear power is certainly not among the EU’s key list of clean, renewable energy sources central to Wednesday’s package. Last year EU leaders agreed to cut …
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Stirling Energy takes on the solar power challenge
USA Today - USA
States and nations want renewable sources of energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to pollute less. Solar, the most expensive renewable energy, …
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One energy answer lies beneath the Cascades, advocates say
TheNewsTribune.com (subscription) - Tacoma,WA,USA
In Washington state, most of the attention on renewable energy has focused on wind, with large wind farms springing up east of the Cascades in the Columbia …
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Labour’s claim that nuclear energy is a zero-carbon option is …
Scotsman - United Kingdom
In 2002, the pro-nuclear lobby launched a scathing attack on the then Scottish Executive’s proposals to increase the use of renewable energy, …
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No New Transmission Means Little Renewable Energy
Alternative Energy Stocks - Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Unfortunately, the need for new transmission can put renewable energy advocates at odds with more traditional environmentalists, who are concerned about the …
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Uduaghan laments energy crisis
Vanguard - Apapa,Lagos,Nigeria
“So it is a big problem and I am happy that from today’s lectures, we are being told of renewable energy apart from oil and gas. There is no doubt that oil …
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Need Fuels Algae to Biodiesel Revival
Environment News Service - USA
Chevron Corporation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced in October that they have entered into a collaborative research and development …
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American Samoa Energy Diversification Bill Signed
pacific - Honolulu,HI,USA
… of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 authorizes $50 million for research and development of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy …
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Sourse: Renewable Energy News
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