Sustainable Practices and Technology's topics - tribe.net

Best retrofit-home sites you've found?

2009-11-05T15:52:04Z

Much as I support alternative design/construction and continued experimentation along this line, the simple fact is that a HUGE portion of the North American population lives in wood-frame houses, duplexes, apartments, etc. We're talking construction that goes back 30, 50, 75 years - sometimes more. A lot of it is 2x4 frame... and even when it was insulated with fibreglass (or later had loose-fill insulation blown into empty "dead-air" wall cavities, these buildings are often still not great for holding heat. Sure sealing cracks and obvious air leaks around doors, windows and electrical outlests, and double and triple-pane window retro-fits - but what else?

So this is my question: What are the best Web sites you know of for up-to-date info on upgrading and retro-fitting older homes - not from the standpoint of adding decks or interior design and esthetics ("home makeover") but energy practicality? Thanks goes out to anyone who responds.

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desalination

2009-11-05T01:58:45Z

desalination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination

Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove excess salt and other minerals from water. More generally,desalination may also refer to the removal of salts and minerals,[1] as in soil desalination.[2][3]

Water is desalinated in order to be converted to fresh water suitable for human consumption or irrigation. Sometimes the process produces table salt as a by-product. It is used on many seagoing ships and submarines. Most of the modern interest in desalination is focused on developing cost-effective ways of providing fresh water for human use in regions where the availability of fresh water is limited.

Large-scale desalination typically uses extremely large amounts of energy as well as specialized, expensive infrastructure, making it very costly compared to the use of fresh water from rivers or groundwater. The large energy reserves of many Middle Eastern countries, along with their relative water scarcity, have led to extensive construction of desalination in this region. By mid-2007, Middle Eastern desalination accounted for close to 75% of total world capacity.[4]

The world's largest desalination plant is the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant (Phase 2) in the United Arab Emirates. It is a dual-purpose facility that uses multi-stage flash distillation and is capable of producing 300 million cubic meters of water per year.

The largest desalination plant in the United States is the one at Tampa Bay, Florida, which began desalinating 25 million gallons (US Gal.) (95000 m³) of water per day in December 2007.[5] The Tampa Bay plant runs at around 12% the output of the Jebel Ali Desalination Plants. A January 17, 2008, article in the Wall Street Journal states, "World-wide, 13,080 desalination plants produce more than 12 billion gallons of water a day, according to the International Desalination Association."[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination

Seawater Desalination in California

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/desalrpt/dchap1.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 9 replies

almost mainstream coverage

2009-11-05T01:53:32Z

It's been really hard for sustainable practices to receive any significant coverage in the so-called mainstream media. One thing I've always liked about PBS is their willingness to delve a little more deeply toward the front edge of issues. Tonight (Jim Lehrer News Hour) they had a good piece on some off-grid sustainable housing developments utilizing old tires, recycled cans and other items that would all too often wind up being wasted (so to speak) in a landfill somewhere. Many of the homes shown were pretty damned cool to look at, too.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/science/earthships/slideshow/index.html?type=flash

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 3 replies

New on-line rural-living site

2009-09-22T14:50:32Z

There’s a new rural living (“homestead” living) forum that I ran across, and that looks pretty good – and seems to be evolving steadily. The Rural Independent. Focus is on land & land use, alternative building, food supply & gardening, energy sources, maintenance, food storage & preparation, information sources, personal stories, etc.

There is a “magazine’-type site at:
http://www.theruralindependent.com/

And an active discussion forum at:
http://www.theruralindependent.com/forum/index.php

If you’re ito living rurally, check these out.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

international climate change in Copenhagen

2009-09-21T17:12:02Z

http://www.newsweek.com/id/215699

Copenhagen or Bust
The time is now for an international deal on climate change.

By Gordon Brown | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 21, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Sep 28, 2009

In just 11 weeks, the world will convene in Copenhagen, under the auspices of the United Nations, to forge a new international agreement on climate change. It is a historic moment: the ultimate test of global cooperation. Yet the negotiations are proceeding so slowly that a deal is in grave danger.

If we miss this opportunity, there will be no second chance sometime in the future, no later way to undo the catastrophic damage to the environment we will cause. So when world leaders gather this week, first at the United Nations in New York and then at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, it is essential that we move toward resolving the issues that still divide our nations. As scientists spell out the mounting evidence both of the climate change already occurring and of the threat it poses in the future, we cannot allow the negotiations to run out of time simply for lack of attention. Failure would be unforgivable.

Some argue that, amid demanding economic conditions, our resolve to meet environmental commitments should weaken, that the costs are too high. In fact, the opposite is true; a strong agreement in Copenhagen is essential for global economic recovery. For that recovery depends on the investment that an agreement will unleash. The economies that embrace the green revolution earliest will reap the greatest rewards.

Initially, more-efficient consumption of energy will bring greater overall productivity, as resources once directed to meet fuel bills are released for investment. Meanwhile the need for low-carbon energy production and infrastructure, in both the developed world and the rapidly growing emerging economies, will require up to $33 trillion of investment by 2030, according to estimates from the International Energy Agency. By 2015, the global environmental sector could be worth $7 trillion and sustain tens of millions of jobs.

But perhaps the most important element of this low-carbon future is the wave of innovation that will accompany the decarbonization drive. Some of the technologies required are fairly mature, such as onshore wind and household insulation—though even there, significant improvements are still to be made. But many others will see dramatic improvements and breakthroughs, both in performance and in cost.

This is beginning to happen already in areas such as large-scale battery design, stimulated by the acceleration of research into electric vehicles by the automotive industry. It is happening in sustainable building technologies, in new lightweight materials, in solar power, in carbon capture and storage, and in various lean manufacturing technologies. As innovations in one area feed into others, the economic potential and benefits will ripple out across the global economy.

So just as the revolution in information technologies provided a major motor of growth over the past 30 years, the transformation to low-carbon technologies will do so over the next. But it can be sustained only if governments back it—not just on a national scale, but globally. They need to act to create sufficient economic incentives and to ensure investor certainty and confidence.

This means sending clear and long-term signals about the direction of policy and shape of future demand, and market-based implementation methods to enable the private sector to respond innovatively. This has to be a genuine partnership of the public and private sectors.

That's why global agreement on a new climate-change regime in Copenhagen this December is so important. A strong deal that establishes legally binding commitments to reduce emissions will provide the confidence and certainty needed to underpin low-carbon investment. The U.N. talks are therefore not only about safeguarding the environment but also about stimulating economic demand and investment.

The U.K. government has set out our proposals for an agreement that is ambitious, effective, and fair. Ambitious in that it must put the world on a path to limiting the average global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius; effective by establishing market mechanisms to reduce emissions efficiently alongside a strong regime of monitoring and verification; and fair in providing help to allow developing countries to tackle climate change. In June I suggested a working figure of $100 billion per year from public and private sources by 2020.

I have been gratified by the response of many countries, both in public and in private. But we need to move now toward securing an agreement in Copenhagen. I believe it can be done. And if it is necessary to clinch the deal, I will personally go to Copenhagen to achieve it—and will be urging my fellow leaders to do so too.

Brown is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/215699

more@ http://www.newsweek.com

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bridge to brighter?

2009-09-21T00:29:03Z

so the question that's playing in my head is, are CFL's just a bridge to LEDs? In light of the Salon Article below, as technology continues to accelerate, it makes me wonder if we may well be nearing a new plateau. Would like to know the comparative 'toxicity' between the two technologies, since we've been hearing so much about the mercury from CFLs.
http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2009/09/16/bring_on_the_led_future/index.html

<<<<HOW THE WORLD WORKS

BY ANDREW LEONARD
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 15:19 PDT
A future so bright, I don't need to change lightbulbs
I know I'm not the only person who would just as soon skip right past the compact fluorescent interregnum and move straight into the promised land of LED lighting. Yes, my CFLs last much longer than incandescents and use far less power, and I'm not nearly as put off by their unique glow as are other other critics. But LEDs use even less power and last even longer. So let's get on with it, already! I want my solid-state, semiconductor, mercury-free LEDs!
Could it be? Alok Jha, a science and environment reporter at The Guardian, has tested some new LED lightbulbs from Philips, and is waxing seriously enthusiastic. He has "seen the light."
I was skeptical that they'd be any better than the several I had tried already but, well, something has definitely changed in this technology. The 3W Econic spotlight is a direct replacement for the ubiquitous 35W halogen bulb and claims to have the same light output. When I tried it out, I found that Philips wasn't exaggerating. This is brighter than any other LED I've come across. Putting two in our small shower room, after a while I forgot that the bulbs were not halogens.
The new bulbs -- some of which can be screwed directly into incandescent sockets -- promise 80 to 90 percent electricity savings over comparable incandescents and are reputed to last 15-25 years. There's just one catch: they cost around forty dollars a pop (if you can find 'em -- they don't appear to be for sale in the U.S. yet and are out-of-stock at Amazon UK.) That's a serious up-front commitment for a bulb that is only equivalent to a 30 or 40 watt incandescent.
I'm not quite ready to take the plunge. But like Jha, I'm fully confident that the price will continue to come down and the technology will continue to improve. When my former colleague Farhad Manjoo wrote about LEDS for Salon five years ago, no one could tell him exactly when white, natural-light LEDS would be available for household use. Now they are here, raising the very real possibility that in just a few years, no one will be telling "How many [fill-in-the-blank]s does it take to change a lightbulb?" jokes... because none of us will be changing lightbulbs, period.>>>>>>>>>>>

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hybrid car rentals

2009-09-18T03:29:32Z

does anyone know of any good green car rental companies? i know about zipcar.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Looking for people for our homestead 'eden' in France !

2009-09-10T10:14:47Z

We are looking for people to help our communal dream become reality...

French Manoir / farm in Normandy with organic kitchen garden, 2 fields of 2 hectares, chickens etc..We now want to create Biosphere/Geodesic dome, full organic self sufficiency aiming towards being carbon neutral and using renewable energy. We are looking for people interested in the technological side of self sufficiency as well as running a small organic kitchen garden. Creative people welcomed, We are both musicians, non smokers, not drinkers. The house contains a studio and we work developing and recording bands and artists..,Ideally we would want to feed ourselves and our clients with vegetables and food from the farmstead. Over the years we have had quite a few WWOOFERS (world organic farming volunteers) which has proved successful but unfortunately most people are only available for a few weeks or months as this organisation is more geared for shorter stays, we are looking for someone, or a couple who would like to become a more permanent part of our team.

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straw bale design architecture specialist wanting to relocate in Portland

2009-09-04T15:01:50Z

Anyone know anyone doing straw bale construction in Portland?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

Recommend a good focussed-beam LED trail lantern?

2009-08-26T22:29:55Z

I live in a fairly remote area, but am going to the big city and will do some shopping in about a week. I want to find an LED focussed-beam lantern that will be similar to the old, standard 6-volt incandescent-bulb reflector lanterns that were carried by car campers, fishermen, homeowners and others for at least a generation or two. You know, the chunky strong-beam lantern you could park on a rock or on the ground if you needed to - to give yourself and others lots of light on a trail or in an emergency situation.

In other words, NOT an ambient-light camp lantern (that spreads light all around like an old Coleman), not a tubular "flashlight", not a headlamp on a velcro-ed band, etc. I'm hoping to find one that can be bright when needed (may have multiple beam functions) and give lots of service on a single charge or single load of batteries - AND hopefully cost under $125.

If I can find an example on-line, I van print it out and take it with me to show sales people in the outdoor stores, and save time while shopping.

Can you help me? If you don't have a Web address I can look at, just describe what you bought and where you remember buying it, okay?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 3 replies

Clean Energy economy to Improve National Security

2009-08-23T17:37:01Z

Improving National Security with a clean energy economy

Energy Bill Progress (podcast)
http://bingaman.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100041391.118297.8&gen=1&mailing_linkid=81978

Energy Bill PolicyCast Part 1: Energy and Water
http://bingaman.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100041391.118297.8&gen=1&mailing_linkid=81979

Energy Bill PolicyCast Part 2: CEDA
http://bingaman.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100041391.118297.8&gen=1&mailing_linkid=81980

Energy Bill PolicyCast Part 3: RES
http://bingaman.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100041391.118297.8&gen=1&mailing_linkid=81981

2009 Energy Bill Summary
http://bingaman.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100041391.118297.8&gen=1&mailing_linkid=81982

>>>
reposted from mail

The Senate is in the process of writing a new bipartisan energy bill, building on recently enacted energy policies that have begun to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and shift us to cleaner, homegrown energy.

Just this week the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee—which I am fortunate to chair—approved a bill that will lead to dramatic increases in the number of large-scale wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal projects, improve our energy efficiency, and reduce the amount of water used in energy production. The legislation aims to diversify the nation’s energy sources, create clean energy jobs and help transition into a low carbon economy. And in doing so, the bill also enhances our national security.

Right now, we rely heavily on foreign countries - many of them hostile to us - to meet our energy needs. Shifting to homegrown, renewable energy will give us a chance to develop our own energy sources while creating American jobs and spurring local economies.

The energy bill I helped write over the past 12 weeks contains several major provisions that will increase our energy security, such as:

· Establishing a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would require large utilities to produce a gradually increasing portion of their electricity through renewable sources over time. New Mexico already has an RES, and electric utilities in our state are moving ahead with plans for large-scale solar power initiatives. But because of our state’s abundance of natural resources, we are poised to be a major exporter of clean energy to help other state’s meet the RES. An RES is a great opportunity for job creation in New Mexico.

· Improving building efficiency standards to require new buildings and additions to use energy 30 percent more efficiently after 2010 and 50 percent after 2016 in order to reduce energy waste. Making sure that buildings meet strict energy use standards will not only save energy and improve our energy security, it will save businesses and consumers billions of dollars on energy costs associated with heating and cooling.

· Streamlining new electricity transmission line siting. New Mexico is ideally positioned to provide renewable power to the rest of the nation, but our current national transmission grid is near capacity and cannot efficiently use renewable power. Current rules make siting new transmission to carry this power is very difficult, so we provide a streamlined process to site new lines, while ensuring significant public input and environmental protection.

· Protecting the cybersecurity of our electric infrastructure from threats that could disrupt the operation of electronic devices or communications. As we restructure our nation’s electrical grid, we must identify potential vulnerabilities and prevent them from being exploited. The legislation charges the Secretary of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to improve our protections and provides them with the authority to respond to threats and attacks that might emerge.

· Better protecting our nation’s oil and gas reserves by creating and maintaining a comprehensive petroleum reserve. While the U.S. already has crude petroleum reserves, this bill ensures that we have a sufficient supply of refined oil and gas in our reserves to prevent sudden fuel shortfalls and price spikes caused by refinery shutdowns, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. The energy bill we just approved in the Energy Committeecreates a 30-million barrel reserve to this end.
In the coming months, the full Senate will debate the energy bill we’ve begun developing in the Energy Committee. As we make the shift from a fossil fuels-based economy to a clean energy, low-carbon economy, I will continue pressing for an energy policy that meets our current needs and moves swiftly toward a future that focuses heavily on renewable sources. I believe New Mexico has a lot to gain from such a move.

Sincerely,
Jeff Bingaman
United States Senator
mailto:jeff.bingaman@bingaman.enews.senate.gov

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

magniwork

2009-08-11T19:30:55Z

http://www.magniwork-review.net/index2.php?gclid=CJXEs4b37ZsCFYoVzAodLlbQ-A

saw this ad on the side panel here,- anyone heard of this?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 12 replies

Join Us

2009-08-08T01:23:44Z

Become A Part Of Reality - See:
http://intentionalone.com/essence/presentlreality.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

any info on Farm loans?

2009-08-05T19:25:56Z

specifically for creating a working permaculture demonstration farm
but any information would be much appreciated

tnx

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Clean River Action

2009-08-05T18:48:14Z

http://act.americanrivers.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=17801.0&dlv_id=28621

Dear River Advocate,

A recent Supreme Court decision that upheld a Bush-era decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could have significant national implications. The decision (Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council) permits the discharge of more than 200,000 gallons of toxic wastewater a day from a gold ore processing mill directly into Lower Slate Lake in Alaska. This could set a precedent that would allow toxic wastes to be dumped into streams and rivers across the country. Please take action today to help reverse this decision.

The Court decision relied on a Bush administration policy that redefined this toxic wastewater as "fill material," which is exempt from Clean Water Act pollution standards, creating a loophole for industrial pollution and other wastes. This destructive result is entirely unnecessary as an alternative waste disposal option supported by the Environmental Protection Agency would eliminate discharges of the pollution into any stream or lake.

Our rivers, streams, and lakes should not be polluted with mining waste. Take action now -- tell the Corps that using our waterways as a waste dump threatens our clean water, public health, and fish and wildlife. The deadline for comments is August 3, 2009 so please act today!

Sincerely

Katherine Baer
Senior Director, Clean Water Program

http://act.americanrivers.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=17801.0&dlv_id=28621

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Energy Action Alert

2009-07-30T19:55:58Z

http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/climate_0709/w3ksbxk9a77bkike?

Congress is in the midst of an historic attempt to spur a transition to a clean energy economy and away from our over-reliance on fossil fuels—creating jobs and fighting global warming at the same time. Now that the House has passed a climate bill it is up to the Senate to act.

Your senator is hearing daily from opposing voices, among them far-right bloggers and talk radio hosts, who do not believe global warming is real and want to keep our nation hooked on dirty fossil fuels. It is time for us to demand that the Senate act swiftly to combat global warming and usher in an era of clean renewable energy. The world cannot wait.

The Senate must craft a bill that sets science-based caps on carbon emissions. Furthermore, senators must make some important changes from the House's approach. One of the most important is to not allow old dirty coal plants most responsible for carbon emissions to continue business as usual. It is past time for these facilities to clean up or shut down so that emission-free alternatives can compete.

Shifting away from the fossil fuels that cause global warming will create good new jobs for millions of Americans. The U.S. can either be a leader in the clean technology revolution that will follow or miss the boat as other countries act more swiftly, secure the jobs and dominate the markets.

As President Obama has said, the time for delay has passed. We are now at a crossroads with a choice between responsibly addressing the problem now or dealing with severe consequences later.
We must act quickly on energy legislation that will create millions of jobs and protect our environment. Tell your senator there is not a moment to waste. Take action today! http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/climate_0709/w3ksbxk9a77bkike?

— Earthjustice
Because the earth needs a good lawyer
more@> http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/climate_0709/w3ksbxk9a77bkike?

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Meet Up Aug 8th Alabama Intentional Community

2009-07-30T02:15:41Z

Meet Up August 8th Alabama Intentional Community

Meet Up - Alabama Intentional Community Get Together Aug 8th. Details: http://bit.ly/CJQ7w or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theedenproject Members & Potential Members Only. Those interested in joining our intentional community/eco-village/co-housing/commune [now forming], please see links for more information, and get involved. We plan to move this project ahead immediately to come together as friends and family to do a wonderful thing together. RSVP after you get the details so we can plan this accordingly. Those coming from out of town can find out about camping or local motels.

We are listed in the directory at IC.ORG

Thanks,

The Eden Project
The Eden Experiment
The Essence Of Eden

http://intentone.ning.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theedenproject
knightsintention@yahoo.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Center for Biological Diversity

2009-07-27T21:02:01Z

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

The Center for Biological Diversity works through science, law, and creative media to secure a future for all species, great or small, hovering on the brink of extinction.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

Salazar Protects Grand Canyon Watersheds From New Uranium Claims and Exploration

Order Temporarily Bans New Uranium Claims and Exploration Across 1 Million Acres of
Public Land Surrounding Grand Canyon National Park

GRAND CANYON, Ariz.— Conservationists are applauding a notice issued today by the Obama administration to temporarily place 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon off limits to new mining claims and exploration or development of existing, unpatented claims. The order complies with a June 2008 resolution by the House Committee on Natural Resources enacting the same protections across the same area. The protections do not affect three existing mines in the area slated for reopening or the exploration of existing patented claims.

Uranium prices have caused sharp increases in new uranium mining claims, exploration, and permitting to reopen old mines on public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. Uranium development threatens to damage wildlife habitat, industrialize iconic wildlands, and contaminate surface water and groundwater feeding regional water wells, seeps, springs and the Colorado River — prompting concerns from former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Kaibab Paiute tribes, Coconino County officials, and independent geologists.

“Secretary Salazar’s decision secures a much-needed, but temporary respite from thousands of new uranium claims around the Grand Canyon,” said Grand Canyon Trust spokesman Roger Clark. “For permanent protection, Congress now needs to pass the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act.”

Contact: Taylor McKinnon
tmckinnon@biologicaldiversity.org

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Special Events!!!

2009-07-23T16:35:02Z

Does any one know of upcomming events in the North West and West coast during Aug. and Sept.? I am really looking to become apart of this community and help out any way I can.

Please respond to this post or email me at phil.rish@gmail.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

New "Energy Team" to Save America?

2009-07-19T16:06:36Z

New "Energy Team" to Save America?

"Could the new "Energy Team" in Washington mean real energy policy for America for the first time in over 30 years? This "Green Dream Team" will need to be truly outstanding to confront the tasks at hand and to face probable resistance from industry and Congress."

http://solargreenenergy.blogspot.com

;

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

how to build a wind turbine

2009-07-19T16:02:16Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai27dyyuplA&eurl=http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=163378673&blogID=458717047&Mytoken=7F3FC19F-E2&feature=player_embedded

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

Green-washing in the name of saving the planet

2009-07-16T18:28:01Z

Getting real tired of our elected officials promoting environmental genocide in the name of saving the Earth, Click on this link if you want to see what Salazar is encouraging: www.basinandrangewatch.org/Ivan....html

In the meantime we have Southern California Edison and Nevada Energy opposing tax breaks for the roof top solar industry. Mr. Obama is failing on his environmental promises.

Energy chief launches $305 million plan on energy frontier

By KEITH ROGERS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ken Salazar
Interior Department secretary
Photo by Marlene Karas/Review-Journal

With Red Rock Canyon as a backdrop, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Saturday announces a plan that will provide $26.4 million in stimulus funds this year for more than 40 Nevada projects.
Photo by Marlene Karas/Review-Journal

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar launched a plan Saturday to spend $305 million for creating jobs on what he called the public lands' "renewable energy frontier" to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil while at the same time restoring landscapes and wildlife habitat.

Standing in a sun-drenched parking lot at Red Rock Canyon's fire station with a solar panel behind him, Salazar said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "really believes that Nevada is going to be at the point of the spear in terms of moving this country forward with a whole new renewable energy agenda."

"That work we will do here on solar and geothermal and wind energy is going to be exemplary for the rest of the nation as we take the moonshot on the new energy frontier and tackle the realities of climate change," Salazar said.

The Interior Department will manage $3 billion in investments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Barack Obama. The president's goal is to invest $150 billion over the next decade to speed up renewable energy development.

Bureau of Land Management stimulus funding in Nevada this year will provide $26.4 million for more than 40 projects, including renewable energy, habitat restoration, and building and restoring roads, bridges and trails.

Salazar said the monies are "going to create jobs to get our economy out of the ditch. And second of all, we're going to invest in projects that are going to bring out long-term sustainability to these assets of America and to the initiatives we have."

The Obama administration aims to have 10 percent of the nation's electricity generated from renewable resources by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025.

In all, $41 million authorized under the stimulus act will be spent on 65 BLM projects to spur large-scale production of solar, wind and geothermal energy, in addition to siting transmission lines on public lands to support renewable energy development.

After his announcement to a gathering of BLM employees, conservationists, some local officials and members of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Salazar said he met early Saturday with representatives from more than a dozen solar companies.

He said they have financing for many projects in Nevada, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, "and they want to get moving on those projects" but the BLM has a backlog for processing applications.

There are 241 applications for wind projects and 199 for solar projects that are in various stages of processing.

Salazar said the BLM plans to open special offices in Nevada and other Western states to accelerate processing renewable energy permit applications.

Groundbreaking on some of those projects will occur next year, he said.

"So we are putting the pedal to the metal to get it done," he said.

Salazar said BLM stimulus funding will translate to more private sector jobs including those for contractors to install solar panels at BLM facilities, including the fire station for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

"I think there are literally millions of jobs that can be created around the country with respect to renewable energy," he said.

"Overall what we expect from the Department of Interior is somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 jobs around the country with the total investment we're making," he said.

As part of the $305 million for BLM recovery investments, 650 projects across the nation will restore landscapes and watersheds, protect wildlife habitat, spur renewable energy development, and clean up abandoned mining sites.

Contact Review-Journal reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.

www.lvrj.com/news/442562...blogcomments

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 9 replies

Mozarrella Cuisinart

2009-07-11T18:20:14Z

Mozarrella Cuisinart

While I was working at Fort Collins (Colorado State University) as the Instrument Maker for the Superconducting Super Collider I lived in university housing for married students.

One afternoon, I noticed from the balcony an Asian man squatting in the playground sand, working and pounding with small tools and a block of wood.

I listened carefully, as a machinist should, and decided to walk down and ask about his project.

He explained in a thick accent that his wife was a graduate student and that he was making a vegetable peeler for her.

He had a block of wood (a small length of 2*4 I think), and the laid out flat side that had been removed from a steel can of vegetables.

With a large nail, sharpened on one side of the head and the other side of the perimeter as a striking anvil, he pounded a pattern of slots into the side of the steel can.

Laying the steel flat (while the rolled edges remained on the sides) he held the nail laid flat on the steel, and then created a small slot by iteratively tapping the anvil side of the nail head.

Using the round body of the nail, he then formed the steel into louvers.

Vegetable skins, he explained, are nutritious and also more delicious, when prepared with this technology.

I appreciated his work, and made a quick trip back to my rented apartment. I returned and gave him quietly a small flat file. He accepted gracefully and I hope wherever he is, that he believes my gift was as valuable as I hoped.

Good Exchange for Good Information.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 3 replies

Chinese focus on renewables

2009-07-08T19:43:31Z

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-01-voa34.cfm

China to Focus on Renewable Energy
By Kari Cameron Beijing 01 May 2009

China is battling air pollution and high costs for imported energy with an aggressive focus on renewable energy.

China's government says it will have 100 gigawatts of wind-power capacity by 2020 - enough to power more than 60 million homes. That figure is more than three times the target the government laid out just 18 months ago.

Steve Lyons is the director of CWE Renewables, a wind energy company based in Hong Kong. His company is setting up wind farms in Inner Mongolia, funded mainly by Chinese investors. Despite the global economic crisis, the company has seen continued interest from investors and from provinces.

"There are provinces that have good wind resources, no wind capacity, and have asked us to help them put in place what needs to be put in place for a wind developer to come in," he said.

China's government has vowed to increase the use of alternatives to oil and coal for energy, such as wind, solar and nuclear power. The goal is to reduce the thick air pollution that blankets its cities and to reduce expensive imports of oil.

Companies from start-ups to well established businesses such as General Electric, see China's drive to clear the air as an opportunity. They are tapping the market hoping to capitalize on Beijing's push to for cleaner energy sources.

Renewable energy could play significant role

Adrian Ho is the director of CWE Renewables. He thinks China's use of renewable energy will increase in coming years to play a significant role in meeting the nation's energy needs.

"There is a high chance that I believe China will go to 25 percent some day and that 25 percent will keep expanding," he said.

Today, renewable sources produce just eight percent of China's total energy. But Beijing aims to increase that to 15 percent by 2020. In comparison, the United States hopes to generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2012.

The roots of China's push for renewable energy are in a 2005 law that gives incentives such as fixed rate tariffs and carbon credits to renewable-energy companies. The law also makes clear that provinces are expected to meet new clean energy guidelines.

Chris Flavin is the president of the Worldwatch Institute, a U.S. environmental group. He says the law works thanks to China's entrepreneurs and a government that is making the move to clean energy a priority.

"The Chinese government, I guess in part of the fact that it does not have some of the kind of democratic complexities that Western countries do, is able to do things quicker and without the kind of resistance from narrow economic interests that might make it more difficult," said Flavin.

China's wind energy capacity has doubled

The World Wind Energy Association says China's wind energy capacity has doubled every year since the law was put in place, to 12 gigawatts. Wind is the fastest growing renewable energy in China, with 60 percent more capacity since 2005.

But pollution takes much longer to clean up than it does to create. China is failing to hit targets for bringing pollution and carbon emissions under control.

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton has said she will push developing nations such as China and India to commit to reducing carbon emissions as part of a new international treaty on fighting climate change. Emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are thought to contribute to global warming.

Flavin says that it is not that China does not want to reduce emissions - the problem is their lack of a better option.

"The main driving force is that China is not rich in any fossil fuel except for coal and coal is a heck of a lousy way to fuel an economy," he said.

Stimulus plan is helping

Things are changing. Wind and nuclear power are getting a boost from China's almost $600 billion economic stimulus plan, which promises to help with grid infrastructure and nuclear development.

"If you look at where we are today and compare with what anybody might have expected or even hoped for five years ago, I think it's really extraordinarily encouraging what they've accomplished," Flavin added.

As China continues to build its renewable energy capacity, the world's most populous nation is emphasizing that clean energy is not a luxury but a necessity for its survival. Renewables will help reduce pollution in the long term, quelling Beijing's concerns about social unrest over pollution-related illness. China also needs clean energy to increase its role on the global stage - a lack of natural resources make clean energy the only possibility for China to achieve energy independence.

more@ http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-01-voa34.cfm

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Clean Energy Action Call

2009-07-01T13:40:31Z

http://act.repoweramerica.org/us/declaration
http://act.repoweramerica.org/us/declaration

Support Clean Energy Legislation currently before the Senate

(requires email address)

http://act.repoweramerica.org/us/declaration
http://act.repoweramerica.org/us/declaration

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Electric Motors for cars

2009-06-30T03:48:29Z

Can someone tell me where I can find information on electric drive motors for automotive purposes? I'm interested in notors that would mount to each wheel making the vehicle 4-wheel drive.

Thanks,
MP & BB
John
))0((

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 12 replies

Tesla sedan

2009-06-23T19:10:46Z

X-posted from>>
http://tranzpo.tribe.net/thread/8f75cf1f-c9e4-4af2-9459-fa257c2d632f#56ac6547-cb62-465c-bd19-79dcc8ccc93d

Tesla rolls out new sedan

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/26/tesla.new.sedan/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

From Carey Bodenheimer
CNN

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- While automakers lay off staff and shut down plants in response to the economic downturn, one automaker announced Thursday that it will open a manufacturing plant in the United States, potentially creating hundreds of jobs in the area eventually chosen.

Tesla Motors, maker of a high-end electric sports car, says it will build an all-electric sedan in Southern California.

Thursday's announcement was made in Hawthorne, California, where Tesla unveiled the Model S sedan at a base price of $49,900, after a federal tax credit of $7,500.

That's less than half the price of its first model, the Roadster.

Started in 2003 and bankrolled by PayPal millionaire Elon Musk, Tesla has attracted investments from the Silicon Valley elite, among them Google founder Larry Page.

It is widely believed that the Model S sedan will be built near the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation facility in Hawthorne. That aerospace company, more commonly known as SpaceX, was founded by Musk in 2002.

SpaceX recently won a NASA contract to deliver cargo to the international space station when the space shuttle program is retired next year. That contract, worth $1.6 billion, was won over such industry mainstays as Boeing and Lockheed.

The promise of a high-performance, all-electric vehicle became a reality with the startup's first model, the Tesla Roadster, a car with the look, speed and price tag -- a steep $109,000 and up -- that rivals other high-end, high-performance vehicles.

Recently though, the economic downturn has forced Tesla to delay production of their would-be flagship Model S until 2011. They've also had to lay off more than 80 workers, which is about 25 percent of the company's staff.

Nonetheless, Tesla predicts it will manufacture 20,000 Model S vehicles a year. That would make it more of a mass-market vehicle than the Roadster; only 1,200 of which are produced yearly.

The company faces many challenges, the foremost of which is convincing consumers to pay almost $50,000 for an all-electric sedan when they could pay thousands less for another brand of upmarket sedan or a gas-electric hybrid.

Don't Miss

The fate of four GM brands
>> http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/25/aa.fate.of.gm.brands/index.html?iref=newssearch
FBI breaks up 'car cloning' ring
>> http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/24/cloned.cars/index.html?iref=newssearch
Classic cars in Cuba
>> http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/03/24/havana.cars/index.html?iref=newssearch
Cops help dream up high-tech police car
>> http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/23/high.tech.cop.car/index.html?iref=newssearch

more @>>-- http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/26/tesla.new.sedan/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Prevent viruses developing by regulating mass animal farming

2009-06-23T15:37:31Z

The source of swine flu is most likely an idustrial meat farm in new mexico.

Help revent viruses like swine flu developing by signing the petition. read on:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic/?cl=225284900&v=3271

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 20 replies

Cathedral of Junk

2009-06-16T04:33:10Z

Vince Hannemann didn't have any grand plans of becoming one of Austin's favorite "weird" spots when he began the cathedral of junk back in 1988; he just thought it would be fun and cool to do it. He's worked on it steadily ever since and it's estimated to contain over 60 tons of junk. Featuring a hollow frame with which he's wrapped everything from old children's toys to bicycle parts, the cathedral is surprisingly structurally sound: it's been given the okay by several city engineers as safe for the public.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photomajik/3187548567/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryhayesaustin/2320526288/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurasejud/3032561336/

Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/at-austin/the-cathedral-of-junk-austin--087157

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Smart Grid?

2009-06-11T14:39:18Z

Just saw this article on Yahoo!, the smart grid. Technology that will change my settings for my appliances, etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090606/ap_on_bi_ge/us_smart_grid_abridged

Not sure I like that idea. Switching my electricity intake from coal-burning plant to neighbor's solar array, etc., that's ok. What do you folks think.

MP & BB
John
))0((

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

High Voltage & Free Energy Devices Handbook

2009-06-09T17:49:51Z

This wonderfully informative ebook provides many simple experiments you can do, including hydrogen generation and electrostatic repulsion as well as the keys to EV Gray's Fuelless Engine.

One of the most comprehensive compilations of information yet detailing the effects of high voltage repulsion as a driving force.

Ed Gray's engine produced in excess of 300HP and he claimed to be able to 'split the positive' energy of electricity to produce a self-running motor/generator for use as an engine.

Schematics and tons of photos of the original machines and more!
Excellent gift for your technical friends or for that budding scientist!

If you are an experimenter or know someone who investigates such matters, this would make an excellent addition to your library or as an unforgettable gift.

The downloadable HVFE eBook pdf file is almost 11MB in size
and contains many experiments, photos, diagrams and technical details.

Buy a copy and learn all about hydrogen generation, its uses and how to produce electrostatic repulsion.
- 121 pages - $15.00

Go to:
http://www.vanguardsciences.biz/ebooks/hvfe.html

.
. .

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Perimeter Fencing : Closure of Golden Gate Park by Outside Lands

2009-06-06T15:19:15Z

Perimeter Fencing : Closure of Golden Gate Park by Outside Lands

Like last year, Another Planet Entertainment plans to displace San Franciscans and visitors from Golden Gate Park. For about two weeks San Franciscans and visitors are getting kicked out of huge portion of GGP by a private entity so that it can make a profit. Chunks of time and space like this are going to add up quickly. Say good bye to the artists, musicians, athletes, fauna, and so in Speedway Meadows and hello to the Walmart greeter ....

When
21 AUG -- 3 SEPT 2009 (and in 2010--2013)

Where
21st Ave -- 44th Ave: Most of the West End of GGP: Polo Fields, Speedway, Lindley, Marx, Little Speedway Meadows, and the connective areas

Whom
All unauthorized users

How
Chain--link fencing

What to Do
Spread the word about our loss of access to GGP, the displacement of fauna, and the destruction of flora by letter, word of mouth, phone, email, text, etc.

Call your supervisor: 554-5184; 554-5163 (fax); 554-5227 (TTY)

Call SF Rec and Park: 831-2700

Attend the Public Meetings
8 June, 7pm, Zephyr Coffee House
11 June, 7pm, Taraval Police Station
15 June, 6pm, Grace Luthern Church
18 July, 10am, Sunset Rec Center

[keywords: Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, Golden Gate Park, Chain link fencing, public property, privatization, SF Rec and Park, Disaster Capitalism, open space, public domain, public funds, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Another Planet Entertainment, Polo Fields, Speedway, Lindley, Marx, Little Speedway Meadows]

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Don't this just chap yer ass

2009-06-06T03:32:58Z

Home crafters under govt regs.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/133228.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 6 replies

Good rural-life practicalities discussions on Web?

2009-06-02T22:00:46Z

Hello, all. I’m posting this to ask about homestead and small-farm (forum-type) Web sites. The real practicalities that arise when you actually live in the country, through the months and years - because you're then a gardener, arborist, carpenter, cook, electrician, road-tender, plumber, metal-working handyperson, and possibly an animal-raiser.

I've got a site to share: One of the ones I’ve found that has some good discussion about practicalities is the GardenWeb “Homesteading” forum. I’ve seen threads there sharing info about keeping chickens, buying land, buying tractors, making the transition to rural life, homesteading technology (tools & equipment sources), small engines, keeping kids focused & happy, and MANY other topics. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/homest/

I don't need "basics" and superficial sites, cuz I have over 25 years’ experience living in a mountain valley. But I’d definitely like to find some more good Web sites on the day-to-day practicalities.

Know of some good homestead or small-farm sites that are pretty active? Thanks.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Sustainable Energy without the hot air - free eBook

2009-04-29T19:05:00Z

Just like to recommend an excellently written free eBook "Sustainable Energy without the hot air" - apologies if it's been posted/mentioned here before, can be found at: http://www.withouthotair.com ... Easy to read and while it's UK focused, has relevance for folks in different countries.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Walking through the solution

2009-04-27T07:59:03Z

Hey group,
A bit of shameless back patting about to happen...

3 years ago I chose to take a stand and be responsible for creating a strong solution to climate change that anyone could follow.Also to demystify the web of green options each person has in front of them.

It became a software application that took every known source on going green I could find and summarize it into one place. During this research I also did the math needed, so every action has a specific savings in $ and CO2.
Knowing that the average person does not have the same amount of time to educate themselves...I created an online assessment that would give the program clarity into each persons unique options and give a day by day coaching plan on how to green their lifestyle.
No matter where you are starting from...skinny or huge footprint.
I have just finished and launched yesterday.
I am going to market the complete program for $29 and give $15 of that to a non-profit also needing money to further their own Global Warming solutions. It took some time to build those partnerships but they are good and solid programs.
Here is a bit more information and the URL
Please support this effort and spread it out to your connections( if you find it useful)
This has been a labor of love and I hope you find it useful.

PS. I have a certain number of "free" memberships I can give if you need it just email me through the website or here on Tribe.
PPS . WE DO NOT SELL ANY PRODUCTS

Going Green Today is an in-depth online program that looks at your lifestyle and creates simple green living options just for you. We give you an easy-to-follow action plan that walks you through reducing your carbon footprint by at least 35% and helping you to save $2000 this year.
visit us at
www.goinggreentoday.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 5 replies

Wilderness Society

2009-04-23T23:43:32Z

link 2

http://wilderness.org/

Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the conservation movement in wilderness protection, writing and passing the landmark Wilderness Act and winning lasting protection for 107 million acres of Wilderness, including 56 million acres of spectacular lands in Alaska, eight million acres of fragile desert lands in California and millions more throughout the nation.

It is our calling and our passion to protect America’s wilderness, not as a relic of our nation’s past, but as a thriving ecological community that is central to life itself.

To meet our goals, we use science and collaboration with communities and conservation groups to bring about sensible policies and positive change in land conservation.

Above all, we work to achieve our mission: to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places.

Our issues:

Wilderness
Global Warming
Energy
Roadless forests
Stewardship
Committed to Collaboration and Stewardship

We provide scientific, economic, legal and policy guidance to land managers, communities, local conservation groups and state and federal decision-makers. In doing so, we ensure the best management of our lands – national forests, parks and refuges, as well as public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Integrity Rooted in Science

Science is the foundation of all we do. We never bend the facts to suit our purposes. In fact, our very founders were scientists and policy experts, many of them public servants:

Robert Marshall, among the first to suggest that large tracts of Alaska be preserved.

Aldo Leopold,world-renowned for his ground-breaking work on an ethical treatment of the land.

Benton MacKaye, the “father” of the Appalachian Trail.

The Wilderness Society remains true to our founders’ principles and dedicated to the concept that careful, credible science, bold advocacy and unswerving vision are essential underpinnings of conservation policy.

more @
http://wilderness.org/
http://wilderness.org/about-us

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

Food for thought...

2009-04-22T18:37:25Z

Have you seen Eric deCarbonnel's prediction of catastrophic declines in 2009 global food production?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=12252

Hmm. Drought stress is grim.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 12 replies

homegrown activist wanted

2009-04-21T22:13:40Z

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/21/First-homegrown-activist-lands-on-FBI-list/UPI-24651240341875/

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- Animal rights activist Daniel Andreas San Diego became the first U.S. terror suspect on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list, the bureau said Tuesday.

"San Diego's criminal acts of violence were domestic acts of terror planned out and possibly intended to take lives, destroy property and create economic hardship for the companies involved," said Michael Heimbach, FBI assistant director. "The FBI is announcing today a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of Daniel Andreas San Diego."

San Diego, indicted for two bombing incidents in California, was charged with destroying property and possessing materials to further a crime of violence, the FBI said.

"San Diego is the first domestic terrorist to be included on the Most Wanted Terrorist list,"

more @

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/21/First-homegrown-activist-lands-on-FBI-list/UPI-24651240341875/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

DIY Solar Dehydrators

2009-04-21T18:07:43Z

I've been researching DIY plans online for building solar dehydrators and found a lot of plans, but not a whole lot of (legible) reviews. For anyone who has ever built one, do you have a plan that you prefer? I am primarily looking to dry fruits, herbs and mushrooms.
~Kaytee

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Clean Energy links

2009-04-18T15:36:31Z

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/

Clean Energy

No single solution can meet our society's future energy needs. The answer lies instead in a family of diverse energy technologies that share a common thread: they do not deplete our natural resources or destroy our environment. Renewable energy technologies tap into natural cycles and systems, turning the ever-present energy around us into usable forms.

Features
National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Campaign
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/renewable_energy_solutions/national-renewable-electricity-campaign.html
Updates, resources, and how you can help ensure clean, renewable energy for America.

Importing Pollution: Coal's Threat to Climate Policy in the U.S. Northeast
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/importing-pollution.html
Examining the links between coal power and climate policy in the Northeast this report suggests options to ensure the success of the Northeast's important efforts to address global warming pollution.

Faces of Renewable Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/faces/faces.html
The renewable energy industry is growing and so too is the demand for skilled "green collar" workers in manufacturing, shipping, academia, sales, finance, and more. Meet some of the people building our clean energy economy.

Coal Power in a Warming World
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/coal-power-in-a-warming-world.html
This report examines the pros and cons of a proposed technology that would capture coal plant carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground.

Clean Energy, Green Jobs
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/renewable_energy_solutions/clean-energy-green-jobs.html
Clean energy sources can help stabilize energy prices, stimulate the development of innovative new technology, and create high-quality jobs and other economic benefits.

more @ http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/

Clean Energy 101

No single solution can meet our society's future energy needs. The answer lies instead in a family of diverse energy technologies that share a common thread: they do not deplete our natural resources or destroy our environment.

Renewable energy technologies tap into natural cycles and systems, turning the ever-present energy around us into usable forms. The movement of wind and water, the heat and light of the sun, heat in the ground, the carbohydrates in plants-all are natural energy sources that can supply our needs in a sustainable way. Because they are homegrown, renewables can also increase our energy security and create local jobs.

Our experts work to analyze the technologies and policies to build a cost effective, sustainable energy future. We aim to enact federal and state policies that support renewable energy, reduce barriers to the adoption of renewable technologies, and encourage all energy purchasers to use renewables. We also work to support improving energy efficiency, an important strategy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, provide significant reductions in electricity use, and save consumers money. And while we transition toward clean energy sources, we advocate for technologies, fuels, and policies that reduce air and global warming pollution from fossil fuels.

Learn more . . .

How Hydrokinetic Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-hydrokinetic-energy-works.html

How Solar Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-solar-energy-works.html

The Costs of Coal
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/the-costs-of-coal.html

Buy Green Power
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/what_you_can_do/buy-green-power.html

A Short History of Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/a-short-history-of-energy.html

How Wind Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-wind-energy-works.html

How Geothermal Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-geothermal-energy-works.html

How Biomass Energy Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-biomass-energy-works.html

Benefits of Renewable Energy Use
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/public-benefits-of-renewable.html

Real Energy Solutions: The Renewable Electricity Standard
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/renewable_energy_solutions/real-energy-solutions-the.html

Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Natural Fit
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/renewable-energy-and.html

Measuring Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/measuring-energy.html

How Natural Gas Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-natural-gas-works.html

The Sources of Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/the-sources-of-energy.html

How Coal Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-coal-works.html

How Oil Works
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-oil-works.html

7 Ways to Switch America to Renewable Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/7-ways-to-switch-america-to.html

The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/the-hidden-cost-of-fossil.html

Renewable Energy Checklist for Homebuilders
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/what_you_can_do/renewable-energy-checklist.html

Environmental Benefits of Renewable Energy
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/environmental-benefits-of.html

Putting Green Customer Demand to Work
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/what_you_can_do/putting-green-customer-demand.html

Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/environmental-benefits-of.html

Energy 101: Take a tour
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/energy-101-take-a-tour.html

Energy Star Label Saves Energy and Money
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/energy_efficiency/energy-star-label-saves.html

more @ http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Algae: The Biofuel Revolution

2009-04-01T00:45:21Z

Algae: The Biofuel Revolution

"The sustainable energy age has begun. It was recently announced that a company in Florida called Green Flight International (GFI) has plans to construct a $100-million, algae biofuel plant aimed at making fuel for the aviation industry as well as for ground-based transportation

GFI has also completed the world's first jet-aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel. GFI president and CEO Douglas Rodante says that "algae-based biofuel would be able to replace petroleum without alterations to engines or infrastructure, and could be used for all sorts of transportation."

The potential of algae biofuel for both vehicles and air travel is so promising that it will play a large role in helping America finally become energy independent. Biofuel from algae completely eliminates the food vs. fuel concerns of other biofuels, and CO2 will be significantly reduced. Algae are the fastest growing plants in the world, and that fact translates into 20,000 gallons of biofuel per acre! Soybean, corn, switchgrass and other biofuels cannot even compete......."

Read the full blog:

http://solargreenenergy.blogspot.com/2008/11/algae-biofuel-revolution.html

http://solargreenenergy.blogspot.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 34 replies

Alabama Intentional Community Forming

2009-03-31T23:00:49Z

Alabama Intentional Community Forming

Intentional Community In Central Alabama Now Forming. Get In On The Process If Your In Alabama or Have A Desire To Relocate Once Formed. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theedenproject and http://intentone.com http://intentone.ning.com [network] For On-Going Discussions. Sustainable Living, Self-Sufficiency, Gardening, Friends Becoming Family, etc.

The Eden Project
The Essence Of Eden

Be A Founding Member

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

The Future of Food

2009-03-31T15:52:26Z

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3764995188693165078&hl=pt-BR

Collect the heirloom seeds, friends, and protect them as best you are able.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

Pickens Plan Action Alert

2009-03-31T00:39:00Z

Pickens Plan Action Alert

"Contact Congress about The American Renewal and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) One version of H.R. 1 has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now another has passed the Senate. Critical elements of the wind piece of the Pickens Plan are in one or both versions of the bill, which now goes to Conference to create a final version.

We need to make one final push on the stimulus package to ensure our pieces are included. Please fill in the following form to send your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives an email asking them to support the Pickens Plan components of the Stimulus Package. Even if you already emailed your Senators last week, please send an email again today to ensure your U.S. Representative also receives the message."

http://capwiz.com/pickensplan/issues/alert/?alertid=12648356&type=CO

;

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

India 3 top consumer and recycler of plastic

2009-03-27T20:06:16Z

Check out the story:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/25/indias_plastic_plague/

"In the U.S., towns squabble over who will have to absorb all this plastic. But in India they want the stuff. Dealers here buy plastic from all over the world, especially Europe and the U.S. Then guys like Vinod sort it out by color and quality and resell it to factories, who restyle it into new plastic stuff. So this market is the heart of India's recycling industry. In the U.S., only about 10 percent of plastic gets recycled. But in India more than half is reused.

And here's the thing: There's no government recycling program in India. This is all ad-hoc small businessmen."
"ANITA AHUJA: 'I mean, we are the third, now, the biggest manufacturers and consumers of plastic. First is America, second is China, third is India. And our middle-class population is increasing so there's going to be much more consumption of plastic
It's really sad — I mean, for the drains, for the river. I mean, the world has produced enough plastic, and now we should not produce anymore. And we should recycle, because the plastic cannot be destroyed. "
crazy..
we really should demand that these companies stop producing plastic and reuse what is already there. theres moreeeeeeee than enough plastic to meet anyones needs.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

not the cheapest car

2009-03-27T01:23:41Z

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090326/ts_afp/usautoteslaelectriclead_20090326224034
It will be interesting to see how the price curve bends with increased production / demand as this new puppy starts bounding down American roadways.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

world's cheapest car

2009-03-26T03:30:58Z

http://sustainability.tribe.net/photos/eadcb108-5851-48d5-97ce-b8e58ed2d399

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/tata-launches-worlds-cheapest-car-2009-03-23

By: Irma Venter
23rd March 2009

Updated 40 minutes ago

India's Tata Motors on Monday launched the world's cheapest car, the so-called 100 000 rupee (roughly R20 000) people's car, the Nano – effectively redefining the term entry-level vehicle.

Tata Group chairperson Ratan Tata first noted his ambition to build an affordable car-for-all in 2003.

“The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers,” he said at Monday's Mumbai launch.

“From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and production of the car has overcome several challenges.

“It is to the credit of the team at Tata Motors that a car once thought impossible by the world is now a reality,” noted Tata.

“I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car.”

Indian consumers will have a choice between three versions of the small five-seater – it is 3,1 m in length, and 1,5 m wide – namely the basic version, which will cost 100 000 rupees, and two higher-end vehicles, which will feature air-conditioning and electric windows.

All the Nano models make use of a two-cylinder, 624 cc engine, situated at the rear of the car, coupled with a four-speed gear-box.

The engine is BS-III compliant, which the Indian manufacturer says is roughly equal to the Euro III emission standard.

According to Tata, the Nano's maximum speed is around 105 km/h, with fuel efficiency noted as 23,6 km/litre.

The vehicle is available with a 18-month or 24 000-km warranty.

The Nano is currently being manufactured at the company’s Pantnagar plant, in Uttarakhand, producing around 50 000 units a year.

The new dedicated plant, at Sanand, in Gujarat, will only be ready in 2010, growing annual capacity to 350 000 cars.

Fears are that demand will outstrip supply.

This means that bookings for the car in India will start in April, and that a ballot will then have to select the first 100 000 people to get their hands on a Nano.

The Nano is aimed specifically at India's motorcycle users – in other words, those people who want to trade up from two wheels to four.

In 2007, India's motorcycle market reached around seven-million units.

Tata announced earlier this year that it intends to take the Nano to Europe in 2011, although this version of the vehicle will be slightly more expensive, as it has to adhere to the more-strict European safety and emission standards.

Europe is, for example, already moving to Euro V and VI emission standards.

Tata has not escaped the current global financial crisis, last quarter reporting its first loss in seven years.

The BBC notes that the Indian car maker is also struggling to refinance the remaining £2-billion of the £3-billion loan it took out to buy the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford in June of last year.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/tata-launches-worlds-cheapest-car-2009-03-23

http://sustainability.tribe.net/photos/eadcb108-5851-48d5-97ce-b8e58ed2d399

>>>

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090323/CARREVIEWS/903239997

http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/technology/cheapest_car-world_record_set_by_the_Tata_Nano_90179.htm

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 14 replies

EU moves to secure Ukrainian gas

2009-03-23T15:38:49Z

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7959429.stm

EU moves to secure Ukrainian gas

By Oana Lungescu
BBC News, Brussels

Ukraine has signed a deal with the EU in Brussels paving the way for $3.4bn (£2.4bn) of Western investment to upgrade Ukraine's gas pipelines.

The agreement comes after a price dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January led to a shutdown of gas supplies to much of Europe for weeks.

Ukraine has now promised to root out corruption from its gas sector and ensure reliable supplies.

Despite their rivalry, Ukraine's president and PM were both in Brussels.

They took part in an international conference with the European Commission, the World Bank and other key lenders.

The EU gets 80% of its gas supplies from Russia via a network of more than 13,000km (8,060 miles) of Ukrainian pipelines, some of which are 40 years old.

See map of countries hit by gas dispute
Key among Ukraine's promised reforms is the independence of the authority in charge of the pipelines from the state-owned energy company Naftogaz, which one Western banker described as a big black box where money just disappears.

President Viktor Yushchenko said Ukraine was determined to root out all kinds of corruption.

Observers say his rivalry with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko worsened January's energy crisis.

Without naming names, the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, asked all political leaders to unite to restore the reliability and transparency of Ukraine's gas transit system.

But Mrs Tymoshenko insisted the network was reliable and told investors that its capacity could be substantially increased for just over $7bn - a fraction, she said, of the price needed for new pipeline projects that would bypass Ukraine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7959429.stm

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

From AC to DC: Going green with supergrids

2009-03-16T16:12:20Z

From AC to DC: Going green with supergrids

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126990.500-from-ac-to-dc-going-green-with-supergrids.html?full=true

http://tribes.tribe.net/altenergy/thread/e8592548-e098-4724-927d-ceee93c7d215#ee89bade-6f60-4003-9f56-caa0f2e3dd10

From AC to DC: Going green with supergrids

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

bioluminescence

2009-03-10T03:51:38Z

Bioluminescence

A typical natural phenomenon, probably a unique mating signal by the "firefly", also exists in other living species, namely bacteria, protazoa, fungi, and worms, in forms that emit visible light. In most cases, the nature of the luminescent light varies in color and intensity; but chemical pathways are to a great extent, common. The chemical products responsible for giving out different colors are different and are not yet fully known.

A heat-labile simple protein enzyme luciferase (MW 10^5) makes a complex (luciferyl adenylate E) which reduces luceferin, in the presence of ATP (Mg(2+)), which subsequently breaks down into different products in the presence of molecular oxygen. This results in the excitation of luciferin to a high-energy state. On return of the same to the ground state, emission of visible light produces bioluminescence.

L(H2) + ATP(MG(2+)) + E --> L(H2) - AMP - E + PPi

L(H2) - AMP - E + (O2) --> Products + Light

The phenomenon appears to be insignificant but a substantial supply of luciferin, ATP (Mg(2+)), and a little enzyme can deliver an appreciable luminescence of practical use. Whether luciferin, luciferase, and ATP may also be harvested from animal resources, or chemical components may be synthesized economically and the enzyme can be procured from flies, remains a matter of investigation and development. Like bee-keeping, culture of fireflies is very likely to become a profitable art. The dream of producing high voltage by animal tissues, imitating the electric eel, may come true in the near future; the fundamentals are known, but economic viability is not assured, and hence not further discussed. [..]

K.B. De / Ahindra Nag ed

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

The Freeconomy Community

2009-03-08T15:29:16Z

http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/

Helping each other not for profit, just for the love of it ...

Welcome to the world's fastest growing alternative economy!

*Save money, reduce your carbon footprint and make great new friends!

*Get jobs done for free while you learn new skills.

*Share skills, tools, spaces and land.

*Share tips, information or ask freeconomic questions in our new forum!

The aim of the Freeconomy Community is to get people together locally through the simple act of sharing.
It's obviously completely FREE to join and there's no boring administration - so get sharing!

If you want to find out more, read the freeconomy philosofree.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 9 replies

alternative gas for cars

2009-03-06T17:55:42Z

hello. i watched a video a year or 2 ago about a woman who put veggie oil into her jetta with no engine converter. does anyone in here have any info about putting veggie into a car like a honda civic. the woman said in the video, veggie cleans ur car out and it doesnt hurt the car. i dont have a car but when i do, i want to put veggie oil into the car. ive heard time and time again that u dont need an engine converter for veggie oil being put into ur car. what is true about this? i heard different things from different ppl yet i dont see anything factual about putting veggie oil into a car with an engine converter.

i was wondering does anyone know? can someone give me some links?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 7 replies

Yardsharing and Seed Angels - We need you!

2009-03-05T23:11:53Z

We have a couple projects going that don't need funding - just participants!

The first is hyperlocavore.com. Hyperlocavore is a yardsharing community - built to support people in the practice of creating 'yardsharing' arrangements to grow food together.

Many people want to grow food but they lack one or two of these four things:
-time
-space
-skills
- physical strength

Forming a yardsharing group with your friends, neighbors, family or with your religious communities is easy - and free! You can set up a 'seeking yardshare' group for your area (like Chicago, South Side) or a private group for your own yardshare "Grandma's Backyard Garden"

CSAs are filling up fast. Community gardens have waiting lists. Food is getting more and more expensive.
Find some people and start growing together!

The other project we've started is The Great Let's Get Growing Seed Share.
We are asking experienced gardeners to become 'seed angels,' to adopt a newbie gardener and send them some garden seeds! I have sent four newbie gardeners enough seed that each of them will have huge beautiful edible gardens this summer. It's easy - it cost me less than 4 dollars to get four gardens going!

If you are an experienced gardener we need you to become a seed angel!
If you are a newbie food grower - sign up!

It's FREE
http://hyperlocavore.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/the-great-lets-get-growing-seed-share/

If you think these are good ideas please help us get the word out to your communities! Blog it, tweet it, share it!

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Bioneers comes to Nevada City CA Sat 3/28/09 Miner's Foundry

2009-03-04T05:28:29Z

Sat Mar 28, 2009 10 AM - 8 PM
6th Annual Environmental Conference Featuring Bioneers
Location: Miner's Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA
Contact: margekaiser@att.net
Phone: 530-265-6649
Email: info@sndei.org
Website: http://www.sndei.org

Sixth Annual Environmental Conference Featuring Bioneers* on Film

On Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, Calif.

Opening Keynote Speaker: Reinette Senum, Nevada City Councilwoman and Environmental Explorer, speaking on “Going Green Locally” followed by Speakers from the Recent Bioneers conference on the big screen.

Morning:
Reinette Senum: Going Green Locally
Paul Stamets, “the mushroom guy” Using Fungi to Help Save the World
Erica Fernandez, youth activist, Saving Oxnard from a Liguid Natural Gas Plant

Afternoon
Jenine Benyus, biomimicry spcialist, Nature’s Top Biomimicry Solutions to Environmental Crises
Dune Lankard, Alaskan Native American, Sustainable Solutions Over Centuries: A New Business Model
Rebecca Moore, CEO of Google Earth, Google Earth: Visualizing Change, Mapping the Future.

Day opens with Native American ceremony and prayer presented by our local Tsi Akim tribe, followed by speakers, films, Breakaway Discussion Groups, Silent Auction, Raffle, over 25 Green exhibits and vendors, Food, Eco-social begiining at 6:00 p.m. with no-host bar, and live music.

Tickets will be available in advance at the usual outlets and over the phone by callling 530-265-6649 to put it on your credit card. Advance tickets are 10% off. Cost: $25 for whole day, $15.00 for half day and $15.00 for students. We still have a few volunteer positions. call or email to volunteer.

* Bioneers are scientists and artists, gardeners and economists, activists and public servants, architects and ecologists, farmers and journalists, priests and shamans, policymakers and citizens. They are everyday people committed to preserving and supporting the future of life on Earth. They herald a dawning Age of Restoration founded in natural principles of kinship, interdependence, cooperation, and reciprocity. to check out their website see www.bioneers.org. Kenny Ausubel, co-founder of the Bioneers (aka Collective Heritage Institute) is on the advisory board of SNDEI.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Science Research for Green Energy

2009-03-04T00:05:28Z

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3059444

Chu: U.S. Needs More Science Research for Green Energy
Sunday, February 22, 2009

(Source: Chicago Tribune)WASHINGTON _ When Steven Chu talks about how Americans can break their addiction to oil and coal, he starts with his hi-fi amplifier. It's so old the on-off light burned out long ago, but inside lies a technology that _ in its day _ was as revolutionary as the changes needed to solve the nation's energy problems.

Radios, telephones and other electronics once depended on fragile vacuum tubes the size of small light bulbs. Then scientists pioneered a smaller, cheaper and more durable replacement called the transistor, opening the way to trans-Atlantic phone calls and a host of other marvels, including Chu's stereo.

Chu, the Nobel-Prize-winner turned Energy secretary, and other experts say similar scientific breakthroughs are what is needed to make such power sources as wind, solar and bio-fuels as cheap and easy to use as the costly, environmentally damaging oil and coal we depend on. Toward that end, President Obama's stimulus package contains $8 billion for energy research, including $400 million specifically targeted for game-changing technology.

The problem is that during the last three decades, the U.S. has spent many times that much on energy R&D _ with nothing like a transistor to show for it.

"It's very easy to say we should spend more" on research, said Jeffrey Wadsworth, president and CEO of the Battelle Memorial Institute, which manages several Energy Department laboratories. "What really needs to happen is more effective use of the money."

As Wadsworth is quick to acknowledge, that's easier said than done. A recent Energy Department task force report details the sort of breakthroughs that are crucial to fulfilling Obama's vision of a "clean energy economy," which could slash dependence on foreign oil, combat climate change and ignite the next great domestic job boom.

The wish list includes cells that convert sunlight to electricity with double or triple the efficiency of today's solar panels; batteries that store 10 times more energy than current models; a process for capturing and storing the carbon dioxide emissions from coal; and advanced materials that allow coal and nuclear power plants to operate at hotter temperatures and higher efficiency.

Researchers are working on all of them. But what's required is more than incremental advances in technology. It's advances in understanding basic physics and chemistry that are "beyond our present reach," the report says.

As task force co-chair George Crabtree, a senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago put it: "Everything you can think of that is a renewable _ or somewhat more renewable _ energy option has roadblocks to it, and it needs a science solution."

There are also roadblocks within the federal government, the Energy Department report and two other new studies suggest. Experts from the Brookings Institution said this month the way federal energy research is managed is "holding back innovation and rapid deployment of clean energy technology."

And Harvard researchers said the government "has fallen short in what it can do to promote the development and deployment of advanced energy technology."

All three reports call for more research funding, and they suggest institutional changes to spend research dollars smarter.

The Energy Department task force urges a sharper focus on basic science research, including the creation of dream teams of exceptionally talented scientists, equipped with the best tools, and focused on the most pressing challenges so as "to increase the rate of discovery."

Harvard's Energy Technology Innovation Policy Group suggests a comprehensive federal energy-innovation strategy, the absence of which "has too often meant that different parts of the U.S. government have supported different energy technologies at different times, with inadequate coordination and follow-through."

The most detailed and aggressive recommendations come from Brookings, which calls the Energy Department's current research efforts "fragmented and insular."

Although much of the federal government's energy research is handled by the network of big national laboratories such as Sandia and Lawrence Livermore, Brookings proposes the creation of a national network of "energy discovery-innovation institutes" that would link federal researchers with universities and the private sector.

The academic and business leaders behind the plan say it would boost the chances for scientific breakthroughs but also help solve a second critical issue for renewable energy: how to get new technology from the lab to consumers.

The transistor could be a model. After Bell Laboratories scientists developed it using principles of quantum mechanics, it still took nearly a decade to ramp up mass production, even with the force of a major corporation behind it. Ground-breaking work in renewable energy today is coming to market through start-ups and small businesses that need help raising the hundreds of millions of dollars it will take to build factories for their products.

"Low-cost manufacturing and rapid deployment out into the marketplace is really where we need to make progress," said Robert McGrath, a co-author of the Brookings report and deputy lab director for science and technology at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado.

Energy entrepreneurs agree. The government needs to help build demonstration plants for promising technologies, said Howard Berke, co-founder of the advanced solar firm Konarka in Lowell, Mass.

"The real issue is, can you make a million" of your product, said Scott Faris, the CEO of Orlando-based Planar Energy Devices, which is developing super-storage batteries. "Can you make 20 million? And can you do it cost-effectively?"

Chu says he is keenly interested in the questions of how to encourage energy breakthroughs and how to spin new technology into consumer gold. In a recent interview, he pledged to assemble the sort of research "dream teams" that the Energy Department task force recommended. He said he would like department researchers "to create the technology and to do the science that industry would like to pick up."

And too much government subsidy for existing renewable energy technologies could impede future breakthroughs, he said, because they can become "incentive to make lots of money without too much improvement."

Energy research needs more stable funding, he said, but added, "Research doesn't cost that much. It's when you scale up, is where the real costs come."

In recent days, Chu and other administration officials have touted the energy spending in the stimulus plan. The $8 billion in direct research spending includes $1.5 billion for carbon-capture research for coal, $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and $2 billion for DOE's Office of Science _ featuring the $400 million tagged for breakthrough research.

It's a start, said Mark Muro, a Brookings fellow who co-authored the Institution's energy report. But, he said "It doesn't yet answer our challenge ..... to do things very differently."

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3059444

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 14 replies

Global Intelligent Utility Network

2009-02-11T20:42:33Z

http://www-03.ibm.com/industries/utilities/us/detail/news/D400854Q47092I49.html

IBM expands global intelligent utility network coalition to accelerate smart grid development on two more continents
Date:24 Sep 2008 Location:Washington, D.C. Today at GridWeek 2008 IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced five new members have joined the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, a group of utility companies working with IBM to accelerate the adoption of smart grid technologies and business solutions throughout the world.

New members include DONG Energy of Denmark, North Delhi Power Limited of India, Progress Energy of the Carolinas and Florida, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co. They join existing members CenterPoint Energy of Houston, Pepco Holdings, Inc. of Washington, D.C. and Australia's Country Energy, bringing the total number of consumers served by coalition members to more than 50 million worldwide.

An Intelligent Utility Network fundamentally transforms the way power is generated, distributed and used, adding intelligence throughout the grid to dramatically reduce outages and faults, improve responsiveness, handle current and future demand, increase efficiency and manage costs. Consumers can interact with the utility network in multiple, convenient ways; select customized services and pricing options; and gain near real-time visibility into their usage and costs. The Intelligent Utility Network also helps consumers actively participate in solving critical energy problems by making "smart" homes and energy-conscious choices possible.

"With the addition of these five new members, the coalition has expanded beyond the United States and Australia to include utilities from Europe and India," said Guido Bartels, general manager, IBM Energy & Utilities Industry. "This not only strengthens the coalition's global scope, but also brings new perspectives, competencies, technology and management strategies that may work in the varied situations and market models across the world."

The expansion of the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition into an emerging market like India is significant. By 2010, nearly 60 "mega-cities" worldwide – most of these in emerging markets — will have populations of five million or more, up nearly 50 percent since 2001. Governments, regulators and utility companies need to ensure that these mega-cities will survive under the crush of demand for access to the power grid.

Building analog utility grids is not the answer in most cases. Countries cannot afford the waste and unpredictability that characterizes energy in so many countries. By contrast, smart grids improve energy system performance, reduce energy loss and enhance customer service. The infusion of digital intelligence will also enable horizontal integration of traditional and new sources of power – wind, plug-in hybrid electric cars, solar, etc. – providing end-to-end insight across all forms of energy. In the process, it will make possible greater levels of repeatability, reliability and security.

"India's energy demand is growing rapidly and it is imperative to ensure a robust distribution network by adopting the latest technologies to sustain this," said Sunil Wadhwa, CEO and Executive Director, NDPL. "By being a part of this global coalition, NDPL will be engaging in a strategic effort to develop smart grid solutions to enhance the efficiency and reliability of utility operations. We are also confident that the coalition will contribute actively in energy conservation through technological intervention and strategy thereby powering India's growth efforts."

The coalition is devoted to finding ways to develop markets, identify cost savings and operating efficiencies, and spread knowledge through lessons learned and best practices. Accomplishments to date include the development of the Smart Grid Maturity Model, a framework for industry use to guide utilities in planning their smart grid transformation. IBM has just named industry veteran Karen Caldwell as executive coordinator to foster better collaboration among coalition members.

"We are the first European utility to join the IUN Coalition, but all member companies face similar challenges," said Jens Jakobsson, Vice President, Distribution, DONG Energy. "In a world with increased focus on CO2 emissions and with 20 percent wind energy in Denmark - increasing in the coming years, DONG Energy have to modernize and transform the utility infrastructure in the best way. We want to improve energy efficiency and reliability of supply; and make smart grid investments while ensuring low cost. Membership in the IUN Coalition gives us the opportunity to share experiences and collaborate with the best worldwide."

"Progress Energy is pleased to join this broad based group of utilities and IBM in a coordinated world-wide effort to move forward the emergence, capabilities and full utilization of the Smart Grid," said Jeff Corbett, Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery at Progress Energy. "Advancing innovation and technology like this is an essential part of pursuing a balanced solution to our energy future that includes conservation, renewables, and state of the art plants. New business alliances such as this that drive shared learning and collaboration are good for the industry and will be critical to meeting the increasing complexity and challenges facing today's energy providers."

About DONG Energy

DONG Energy is one of the leading energy companies in the Nordics. An integrated energy company, it maintains business at all points on the energy value chain. From exploration and production, to generation, distribution, and both wholesale and retail sales, DONG Energy truly spans "from seabed to doorstep." It is the largest generator of power in Denmark and the market leader in offshore wind power generation.

DONG is also committed to research and development on ways to improve current production technologies, integrate additional forms of alternative energy, and aiming to cut CO2 emissions from the transport sector through an electric car recharging project. For more information visit www.dongenergy.com (link resides outside of ibm.com).

About North Delhi Power Limited

NDPL, a public/private venture between TATA Power and the government of Delhi, distributes power to North and Northwest Delhi. In less than six years since its inception, NDPL has been credited with introducing several pioneering consumer service and technological initiatives and has achieved a landmark reduction in AT&C losses of over 65 percent. NDPL is the first power distribution utility from India to win the prestigious Edison Award in the international category. For additional information, please visit www.ndpl.com

About Progress Energy

Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major utilities that serve 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. The company also is the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. Progress Energy serves two growing areas of the country, and the company is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at www.progress-energy.com (link resides outside of ibm.com).

About San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co.

San Diego Gas & Electric is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Southern California Gas Co. is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 20.3 million consumers through 5.7 million meters. Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric are subsidiaries of Sempra Energy. Based in San Diego, Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2007 revenues of more than $11 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 13,500 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide. For more information visit www.sempra.com (link resides outside of ibm.com).

About the Intelligent Utility Network Coalition

The Intelligent Utility Network Coalition was created by IBM in 2007 to help accelerate the adoption of smart grid technologies and solutions globally. This effort includes: facilitating an industry community for collaboration, knowledge sharing, education and innovation; working with energy industry and standards groups, and the development and deployment of Intelligent Utility Network strategic solutions and technologies.

IBM's ability to help develop the intelligent utility network underscores the future of IBM's services business. The services model of the future includes analytical software coupled with high-value consulting services and world-class research underpinning it. The future of services is about providing high value services through the application of intellectual property assets in an efficient, consistent and repeatable fashion. Software plays an increasingly important role in the provision of consulting services, and the company's involvement with the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition supports IBM's strategy to provide high value services for energy and utilities clients in an efficient and consistently effective manner.

For more information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com/energy.

http://www-03.ibm.com/industries/utilities/us/detail/news/D400854Q47092I49.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Solar Stove

2009-02-09T00:26:08Z

Some time ago, someone posted a reply that had a link to a website that showed a solar-powered stove. The "burners" were tubes that were shaped like the coils of an electric stove. The hot oil was pushed/moved through the system by micropumps (?). This is something that I've long been interested in and, like the dummy I can be, I didn't bookmark the website. I've been considering this post for awhile,. but couldn't remember for certain if it was posted in this tribe or one of the other "energy" tribes to which I belong. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or am I babbling? Hope you/someone can help. Thanks

MP & BB
John
))0((

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

Channel G

2009-02-03T03:54:33Z

Come check out the Ginormous Love on Channel G .
We promote non-profit organizations that are implementing sustainable solutions around the world!
Join our Tribe! And help spread the Good word!

http://tribes.tribe.net/channelg

http://www.channelg.tv
http://www.youtube.com/channelgteam

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

solar collectors

2009-02-01T21:22:10Z

Has anyone here made a solar collector to supplement their home heating?

I've started a project that is basically shallow wooden box with plexiglass on top and inside the box is aluminum spray painted black. I've been measuring the temperature difference in heat coming out the top versus the ambient outside air temp.

My goal is to make app. 50 square feet of solar collection area and vent it into the house (a series of 2 foot by 8 foot boxes linked together), and be able to pump in 3000 btu's when it is sunny out.

I'm still working out the boring details of how to mount to the house so that I can remove it during the warmer months and also which material painted black gets the hottest.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 7 replies

Careers In Sustainable development

2009-02-01T18:49:27Z

I graduate next Feb, are there good career paths with this sort of hting?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Help Bring Wind Power to Nebraska!!

2009-01-30T17:18:36Z

"At a time when renewable energy is all the rage, one of the windiest states in the nation seems unlikely to spur new projects because of a tight budget with little wiggle room.

State senators introduced measures Tuesday to provide tax credits, teachers, a task force and other ways to promote alternative energy such as wind power, solar power and natural gas.

Gov. Dave Heineman has told lawmakers that state government must tighten its belt as the stock market plummets and tax revenue falls."

-January 20,2009 ANNA JO BRATTON / The Associated Press

According to the American Wind Energy Association, Nebraska is ranked sixth in the nation with the greatest energy potential from wind power. In 2007, more than 200 million kilowatthours were generated by wind energy in Nebraska.

We need renewable energy to be a priority!! It will help bring clean and renewable energy into a state that has the ability to create it!

Help this become a priority by sending a letter to Nebraska State Governor Dave Heineman and by signing this petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Help-Push-Renewable-Energy

Thanks!!

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

hydroponics

2009-01-30T16:48:41Z

I've been pondering the notion and doing some research on hydroponic vegetable gardening. I live in a cold climate area, but in the summer am able to grow enough fresh veggies for my husband and myself plus some extra that I usually turn into delicious concoctions and can. I love the idea of being able to grow vegetables in my apartment year round, but I am questioning the fundamental basis of hydroponics itself. With the high energy needs and relatively artifical source of plant feed, can you really call it a sustainable technology? Has anyone done any comparison calculations on the energy use + plant food generation compared with farm to freezer or grocery store?

One alternative that I can think of off the top of my head is aquaponics. I'm not not hugely thrilled by it, but I also haven't done that much (any) research either.

Insight? Thoughts? Do you think hydroponic gardening is ultimately sustainable?
~Kaytee

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 32 replies

U.S. infrastructure nasty grades

2009-01-28T21:59:46Z

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE50R0UL20090128

Engineers give U.S. infrastructure poor grades
Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:20am EST
By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. roads, airports, schools, levees, dams, and other infrastructure are in overall poor shape and require a $2.2 trillion investment to bring them up to par, an engineering group said on Wednesday.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave infrastructure a grade of "D" as U.S. President Barack Obama seeks $825 billion in extra government spending and tax cuts to ease the economic crisis.

Infrastructure earned the same dismal grade in 2005, but the group's estimated five-year price tag to fix it rose by $600 billion to $2.2 trillion.

Earlier this month, the engineers estimated that the president's stimulus package contained some $90 billion in infrastructure spending. It called that amount a down payment that was long overdue.

The group, which represents 146,000 engineers, assesses the nation's infrastructure every four years. It has helped draw attention to what many experts say is the United States' haphazard approach to building and repairing the economy's backbone.

"Crumbling infrastructure has a direct impact on our personal and economic health, and the nation's infrastructure crisis is endangering our future prosperity," the group's president, D. Wayne Klotz, said in a statement.

"Our leaders are looking for solutions to the nation's current economic crisis. Not only could investment in these critical foundations have a positive impact, but if done responsibly, it would also provide tangible benefits to the American people, such as reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, clean and abundant water supplies and protection against natural hazards," Klotz said.

NOTHING HIGHER THAN 'C-PLUS'

The group assigned grades in 15 categories, based on the traditional scale of "A" to "F" for failure.

* Aviation and public transit systems received a "D," down from "D-plus" in 2005, and the nation's roads got a "D-minus," down from "D." Americans spend 4.2 billion hours stuck in traffic a year at a cost of $78.2 billion, or $710 for each motorist, the study said.

* Rail transportation got a "C-minus," with $200 billion in investment needed through 2035.

* Bridges got a "C," with one in four rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Levees, most of them older than their designed lifespan and privately owned, got a "D-minus," with repair costs put at $100 billion.

* Drinking water facilities, wastewater treatment, and waterways received a "D-minus." It will cost $526 billion to repair leaking pipes, rebuild facilities, stop sewage discharges and replace 122 aged river locks, the study said.

* Dams got a "D," with 4,000 dams deemed deficient and half of those considered to have "high hazard potential."

* School buildings got a "D." An estimated $322 billion is needed to repair them.

* Parks, beaches and other recreation got a "C-minus," with a $7 billion maintenance backlog at national parks.

* Solid waste earned a "C-plus." One-third of the 254 million metric tons of garbage Americans produced was recycled or recovered, a 7 percent jump since 2000. But an increase in trashed electronics posed a hazardous threat in landfills, the engineers said.

* Energy infrastructure got a "D-plus" -- the only category to improve, up from a "D" in 2005 due to greater investment. But $1.5 trillion was needed by 2030.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE50R0UL20090128
http://www.reuters.com/assets/siteindex
http://www.reuters.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

Natural Living/ sustainable practices books

2009-01-28T21:20:38Z

I am intrested in learning to live on my own, just growing my food- like what grows where etc.., being healthy, living sustainably, consciously in all aspects
any ones you would reccomend i would appreciate and pass on to others
thank you
Peace

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 5 replies

Cork for flooring

2009-01-28T21:20:35Z

Hi, I'm OHM ( old hip Mom) and I'm new to this tribe. I'm in the process of Greening my home.
I bought this place as a hunting camp and have added on and on and finally gotten to the point where I can now start
all over again fixing everything ( 25 years later).
In this process I'm trying to do as much greening on a budget as my Social Security will allow.
I live on a concrete slab and I just about convinced myself to rip up everything in the house and
lay cork 1/2" every where. I'm a retired carpenter and I've laid a lot of flooring. To save $$ I would use unfinished cork, glue it down and seal it myself. Any suggestions about what to seal it with? Living on a slab in upstate NY sometimes presents
moisture issues.
Thanks for ANY suggestions OHM

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 21 replies

Space to promote your green project

2009-01-26T00:05:28Z

Hi All,

I've set up a blog at http://www.ideaplants.org. The goal of this blog is to promote green ideas. So if there's any green project you are working on, contact me (http://ideaplants.org/grow-the-site/) and tell me about your project!

Some things I'd be interested to know from you :
> What is your project about and in what way is it green/sustainable?
> Who's involved/how big is the team?
> How is it financed/organized?
> Do you have a website?
> How did the idea evolve & what are the next steps?
> What motivates you to develop the idea?

I look forward to hearing from you :)

Best wishes,

Mira
--
www.ideaplants.org

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Fedex hates trees

2009-01-23T03:20:30Z

I was in what was once kinkos. I asked where the recycle bin was. I was told that not only does Fedex no longer recycle paper and card board, but they also no longer reuse printer toners.

What happened. Kinkos was in the news for going green. Now Fedex has turned it into a tree hating machine.

I think people need to stop using them. Kinkos is dead.

Fedex is such a bad company. I just read that even though there profits where up last year they are forcing people to take pay cuts to keep there jobs. Fred Smith is a jerk anyway. He loves Bush. Fedex Ground sponsor Michael Jackson during his trial.

I guess what I trying to say is for now on I will only use small local printers.

-Sean
www.wagginggreen.com

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 43 replies

Financial permaculture

2009-01-22T01:07:47Z

http://www.financialpermaculture.org/

Localizing economies. Creating local resilience.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

carbon footprint

2009-01-20T22:45:59Z

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/01/13/funny-pictures-eliminate-ur-carbon-footprint/

Okay, I know it's not a discussion topic, but it's somewhat relevant :)

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Eco Couture – Buy Local, Save the Economy and The Planet

2009-01-20T21:38:09Z

Wear Your Values

Coco Chanel once said “Fashion is not something that exists only in dresses. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

At the end of its journey clothing and fabric scrap takes up a huge amount of landfill. Add to that the environmental costs of packaging, transport, color dying, printing, and laundry and it creates a dangerous and enormous carbon footprint. This is the reason fashion designed with recycled materials comes as a welcome new fashion trend. There are countless ways to reduce your fashion carbon footprint and rebuild the economy. The choice is ours to support local designers and in turn save the planet and create jobs.

“Several studies have shown that buying from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community and creating jobs. Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our communities, provide the most jobs to residents.“ Source: sconnect.org

RecycledForDancing.com designs by Deborah Paulino are collectable works of art that show the nature of transformation, and draw attention to the human connection to one another and the environment. Combined are an array of fabrics from different eras and areas of the world that are either surplus, recycled or vintage.

The reconstruction process starts with hand washing the fabrics in oxygen bleach, then looking at the fabric, shape, color, then sketching out a design. Often several pieces are used to make one piece of clothing and it can take time, sometimes weeks searching through thrift shops, to find the right elements that compliment each other. Once all the elements are in place the construction takes place, then fittings and finishing touches - sometimes tailoring alterations, other times embellishments such as beading, appliqué, or distressing. When the garment is finished and ready for retail, it is then steam cleaned for any leftover dust and allergens and de-wrinkle and refresh the fabric. The results are one of a kind sincere works of art that are well-made, timeless, and fun to wear. For more info please visit http://www.recycledfordancing.com and check out the latest Winter 08/09 Collection

Retail Store Locations for Recycled for Dancing

Recycled for Dancing
Studio By Appointment:
Haight Ashbury, San Francisco, 94117
Phone 9 am to 6 pm: 415 420 5871
http://www.recycledfordancing.com

Distractions
1552 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Walking - Upper Haight, Between Ashbury and Clayton
Open 11 am to 7 pm - 7 Days a week.
Phone: 415 252 8751

Trunk
554 Haight St.
San Francisco, California
Walking - Lower Haight, Between Steiner and Filmore
Open 11 am to 8 pm Wednesday to Monday
Phone: 415 861 5310
http://www.pandorastrunk.com

Jalina's
19 E Blithdale Road
Mill Valley, California
Phone: 415 388 4682

Arara
665 San Jose Ave.
San Francisco, California
Walking - between 28th and 29th / Bernal Heights -Noe Valley
Phone: 415 756 5826
http://www.ararasf.com

“On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.” Thomas Jefferson

For more info please visit http://www.recycledfordancing.com and check out the latest Winter 08/09 Collection.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Channel G!

2009-01-11T15:15:17Z

Please check out Channel G.
Join our tribe,
and help spread the Good word.
Thanks!

http://tribes.tribe.net/channelg
http://www.channelg.tv
http://www.myspace.com/channelg

video: http://www.channelg.tv/video.php

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Biofuel for the Airways?

2009-01-08T00:46:56Z

At least one airline, Continental, is experimenting with biofuel for its planes. This Yahoo! story tells about it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_bi_ge/continental_biofuel

MP & BB
John
))0((

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Venture Capital and Green Technology

2009-01-02T00:23:12Z

Nice segment from PBS Jim Lehrer News Hour on investing going on that may help stimulate a green boom (including algae).
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june08/green_05-29.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Super Adobe

2008-12-31T12:53:32Z

I know this house is basically sustainable. How expensive are these homes?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 3 replies

Cool blog i found...lots of pictures

2008-12-30T05:26:23Z

thought some people on tribe might be interested. This blog is all about superadobe, which is actually quite interesting, and appears easier than cob to build. Looks pretty cool when it's done too. I kinda get the feel of Star Wars (Luke's/Annikans home planet), when looking at the completed homes

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/sustainable-village-provides-innovative-shelter-and-safe-haven/uncategorized

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 5 replies

Ecological Impacts of Big Solar Energy

2008-12-24T22:57:01Z

While I support solar energy, I support it on rooftops and in disturbed areas. If we go with the Al Gore economy, we will be giving up hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands. Big solar farms will end up scraping up many square miles of ecosystems and destroy much of the biodiversity of this planet. Most solar power will be wet cooled parabloic trough systems which require 6 acre feet of water per megawatt. This will dry up springs and destroy many dry adapted species like the desert tortoise. Don't be fooled by the "green" economy. The green economy means massive development in the southwest. If it were really green, it would not destroy so much habitat. Check out this web site I found: www.basinandrangewatch.org/Sola...html. It really talks about the ecological impacts of green energy. You can also comment to the Obama Administration at : change.gov/page/s/energyenviro. Tell them not to ruin our public lands with green energy.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 7 replies

Where to buy Wind Turbine for home?

2008-12-23T07:56:45Z

Where to buy Wind Turbine for home?

I've seen all kinds of websites discussing all kinds of renewable energy etc but where in the hell is one suppose to go to purchase a wind turbine for ones own home? And can one buy a "do it yourself kit"? to save some money? I just want to put an order in for what I need & be done with it.

What are the storage cell options? Do they freeze in winter - what's the deal there? And what does the maintenance consist of? Can I do that myself too?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

X-posting about recycled coffee as fuel

2008-12-21T20:36:19Z

this thread about coffee beans as a fuel source is cross linked from another tribe, alternative fuel

http://tranzpo.tribe.net/thread/4d9f22af-d75f-47c3-8d7c-bbb595d896d3#bcd9b6b8-a5e8-44b4-9917-a753417cb87d

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Some Geothermal Resources

2008-12-21T20:28:59Z

Geothermal energy spans a range of technologies and temperatures. Most places, ground source heat pumps can be used for heating an cooling. Just about any city has installers. If you have the land to dig a trench of the right size and you use anything like a furnace/ air conditioner, there is no excuse for not doing a ground source heat pump. Slightly deeper, but requiring less land, but still based on the same principle of roughly 50F soil, similar in temperature to a cave, are http://www.indieenergy.com/.

The next step up is very interesting. It works with drilled wells where the temperature is greater than 160F. It's the UTC PureCycle system. http://www.utcpower.com/fs/com/bin/fs_com_Page/0,11491,0167,00.html . The company is a former military contractor similar to GE that is essentially running an air conditioner in reverse. Most geothermal power plants require water above boiling 220F. A Utah company has options on thousands of square miles of land in the West for geothermal exploration and preorders for a large number of generators. http://www.rasertech.com/geothermal_projects.html . The California requirement for 20% renewable electricity by 2010 and 33% by 2020 is driving renewable-sourced electricity in the West.

Google has invested in a drilling company based on MIT research allowing lower drilling costs. http://www.potterdrilling.com/ They have also taken this map of geothermal potential http://smu.edu/geothermal/heatflow/ThermalGradientmap.gif and mapped it to Google Earth ongoing http://www.google.org/egs/downloads/GeothermalResource.kmz (needs Google Earth installed)

As has been mentioned, the industrial scale systems are just that, they are not efficient and need to cool the working fluid back down with cool water or cooling towers. In exchange they connect to the existing electrical grid, which needs to get smarter. There are some legal issues which will need to be resolved for wide scale geothermal too, especially liability and groundwater law. Geothermal is cheap, but not a substitute for conservation and smart energy use. Generally it lags large scale solar, but leads tidal. Wind is far ahead.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

I believe that

2008-12-18T20:58:58Z

I believe that environmental protection starts with land management, I always wondered why people are allowed to live or want to live in homesteads that really pollute the land without management.
I also am a firm believer that our large city populations are just a fact that is not going away and the automobile is necessary or at least a luxury for most American cities that can still be viable.
I put together a thesis one day about a year ago on the ideal metropolis. I would like all the experts to let me know if this is even viable as far as percentages etc...
http://people.tribe.net/faa6a46c-4b0b-4d3d-8e3c-000e44ad1b2a/blog/5ba6e0f0-cfba-49ad-8e8c-a42fb52871a6#comments

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

EPA Browner and Nobel Laureat Chu

2008-12-13T05:46:21Z

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122904040307499791.html

By NEIL KING JR. and STEPHEN POWER
WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama and his energy team could face the most inauspicious climate in years for pushing ahead with their plans to remake U.S. energy strategy.

Mr. Obama plans soon to introduce his energy and environment team, which will include Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu as energy secretary and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner as White House energy adviser.

The team's makeup shows that Mr. Obama plans to put a heavy emphasis on combating climate change and promoting technologies to wean the U.S. off imported oil. He is packaging such priorities as a way to boost employment and help the economy by pouring money into efficiency projects.

But the next administration will face a range of obstacles on the energy front, from plummeting oil prices and a declining economy to potential rifts among Mr. Obama's own advisers.

In a sign of one major internal difference, Mr. Chu has called for gradually ramping up gasoline taxes over 15 years to coax consumers into buying more-efficient cars and living in neighborhoods closer to work.

"Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe," Mr. Chu, who directs the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in September.

But Mr. Obama has dismissed the idea of boosting the federal gasoline tax, a move energy experts say could be the single most effective step to promote alternative energies and temper demand. Mr. Obama said Sunday that a heightened gas tax would be a "mistake" because it would put "additional burdens on American families right now."

No U.S. president has made significant headway altering America's energy habits during a period of falling oil prices. After hitting an all-time peak this summer, U.S. gasoline prices have sunk to their lowest level in years. Experts predict prices will remain weak until the world economy begins to revive.

Falling prices and scarce credit already are putting the lid on hundreds of alternative-energy projects across the country, from wind farms to biofuel refineries. Reviving those projects, even with significant government incentives, won't be easy.

"There's no way we can create a better future without the price of [fossil-fuel-based] energy going up," said Jay Hakes, who headed the Energy Information Administration under President Bill Clinton. "But it's tough for a politician to get up and say 'Your prices are going to have to go up.' "

Few members of Congress support increasing the federal gasoline tax, and the last effort to impose a new energy tax -- under Mr. Clinton in 1993 -- fell apart in Congress.

Mr. Chu, who couldn't be reached Thursday for comment, said in the September interview that the federal government should impose higher efficiency standards for buildings and electronics. He added that the biggest misconception about energy policy is that "if you went to an energy-efficient economy, you will kill the economy. That is just demonstrably not true."

But there are differences among Mr. Obama's advisers over what constitutes sound energy policy.

Ms. Browner has been a critic of proposals to loosen restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling in the outer continental shelf, arguing that such moves would do little to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and risk damaging U.S. coastlines. Her views on that issue put her sharply to the left of Mr. Obama's nominee for national-security adviser, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, who supports expanded offshore drilling.

Ms. Browner's background and public comments also indicate she will push energy policy in ways that stir opposition from auto makers, coal-fired utilities and other industries. She has called publicly for letting the EPA reconsider whether greenhouse gases "endanger" health or welfare -- the legal trigger for regulating them under the Clean Air Act -- and for completing rules that would attempt to measure the greenhouse-gas emissions of renewable fuels like corn ethanol. Major business groups are already trying to persuade the EPA not to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, warning it will lead to a cascade of costly mandates covering bakeries, breweries, schools and many other relatively small emitters.

The next administration also will have to wrestle with the government's unwieldy energy bureaucracy, which critics say has stymied effective policies. Mr. Chu is poised to take over an agency that, despite its name, has little power to set energy strategy, and whose budget for research and development has become increasingly balkanized.

Most of the Energy Department's budget goes toward funding atomic-energy-defense activities, such as cleaning up nuclear and chemical waste at old weapons plants. The agency's budget for research in renewable, fossil and nuclear energy has fallen sharply over the years, and much of its R&D funding is tied up in projects earmarked by members of Congress for their home states, according to a report published in September by Securing America's Future Energy, a Washington nonprofit.

"Contrary to what everyone thinks, there's very little the Department of Energy can do to affect the types of fuel the country uses or the amounts they use," said Paul Portney, former president of Resources for the Future, a Washington think tank.

—Ian Talley contributed to this article.
Write to Neil King Jr. at neil.king@wsj.com and Stephen Power at stephen.power@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122904040307499791.html

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

Bamboo

2008-12-08T14:28:24Z

I rea dthat bamboo griows faster than any land based plant. Could a decent fuel be made from it and will it ever made a decent building Material? Please forgive the multiple posting of these question?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 6 replies

Greenhouse gas emissions increase in U.S.

2008-12-04T13:05:39Z

he amount of U.S. greenhouse gases flowing into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, increased last year by 1.4 percent after a decline in 2006, the Energy Department reported Wednesday.

The report said carbon dioxide, the leading pollution linked to global warming, rose by 1.3 percent in 2007 as people used more coal, oil and natural gas because of a colder winter and more electricity during a warmer summer. Half of the country's electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants.

A shortage of hydropower also contributed to an increase in the demand for fossil fuels, said the department's Energy Information Administration.

The EIA said that in 2007 the United States produced 8 billion tons of greenhouse gases, compared to 7.9 billion in 2006. The tonnage, presented in terms of "carbon dioxide equivalent" also includes methane, nitrous oxides and a number of lesser greenhouse gases, although carbon dioxide accounted for nearly 83 percent of the releases.

Increases seen worldwide
Despite a growing concern about the accumulation of heat-trapping pollution that scientists say is changing the world's climate, the flow of greenhouse gases continue to increase not only in the United States, but worldwide.

U.S. greenhouse gases have increased 16.7 percent since 1990, or an average of 0.9 percent a year, the EIA report. Carbon dioxide emissions have increased an average of 1.1 percent a year since 1990.

Globally the increases have been even more dramatic, according to separate findings by scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. They showed carbon dioxide output worldwide increased by 3 percent from 2006 to 2007 with a 7.5 percent increase in China, according to data released earlier this year.

"We have not been able to turn our emissions around. We still are increasing our emissions overall," said Brenda Ekwurzel, a climate scientists at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Last year, President Bush touted the 2006 reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions as evidence that his largely voluntary efforts to address climate change was making headway as carbon dioxide releases dropped 1.3 percent between 2005 and 2006. And Bush also noted the continued drop in "carbon intensity" — carbon dioxide emission increases as related to economic growth — which has declined steadily since 1990.

Warmer winter reflected in '06 decline
But the EIA noted the reductions in 2006 simply reflected the year's warmer than normal winter which cut demand for fuel oil and natural gas, and a moderate summer that reduced demand for coal-generated electricity for air conditioners.

Likewise, said the EIA, the 2007 increase in emissions "resulted primarily from two factors: unfavorable weather conditions, which increase demand for heating and cooling in buildings, and a drop in hydropower availability that led to greater reliance on fossil energy sources (coal and natural gas) for electricity generation."

U.S. carbon intensity barely declined in 2007, falling by a meager 0.6 percent, compared to an annual average decline of 1.9 percent since 1990 and 2.1 percent since 2002, said the report.

In addition to the 6.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, there were emissions in 2007 of 772 million tons of methane and 422 tons of nitrous oxides, both increasing about 2 percent, and 195 million tons of other greenhouse gases, an increase of 3 percent. All numbers are carbon equivalent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28039737/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply

how's this for doing it?

2008-12-02T11:49:15Z

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081123/ap_on_re_eu/eu_spain_solar_cemetery

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 17 replies

geothermal energy

2008-12-01T19:05:44Z

why not? why is this not happening more?
is it fully renewable energy?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 10 replies

COMPOSTING FOR HOT WATER

2008-11-30T01:06:29Z

does anyone have any plans or drawings showing how one goes about making a compost heap capable of heating water for the house ...

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

improvised and surplus tools

2008-11-26T16:46:18Z

improvised and surplus tools

Fort Collins, Colorado at CSU is where I worked on the BES vertex chamber remanufacture, (the original equipment was from SLAC MARK III.)

While I was there and living in married housing apartments (now in divorced housing), there were several couples using student Visas to get degrees from the University. A truly valuable personal experience to have met so many very intelligent couples. CSU was originally an A&M subsidy, and there were many phD students earning them in agriculture technology with the intent to return to their own countries and support their communities.

One afternoon, I was very surprised to see a small Asian man, squatting carefully in the sandpit of the childrens playground. It happened to be directly adjacent to _my_ upstairs corner apartment. I went out and spoke to him, but noticed immediately that his English was very broken and incomplete. I assumed his wife must be the active student.

I looked carefully at what he was pounding on with a small mallet and a board. He was using the sand in the pit as a buck counter-mass over a small piece of wood.

He had unrolled the side of a steel metal can, and was pounding slots into it as louvers, breaking through on the side of the head of a surplus nail.

I questioned him about it, and we managed to understand eachother that in fact he was making a vegetable peeler for his wife.

I worked as a machinist at the University and had many tools of my own, kept in my apartment. I ran upstairs and recovered a small rectangular file (the kind used in locksmithing.) I walked back out to him, where he was still working. Without a word from either of us I offered him the file, he accepted and pocketed the file. He continued working in the sandpit, and I returned home.

A very diplomatic exchange among toolmakers. I think I should never forget.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

keeping a greenhouse warm in the winter

2008-11-25T17:58:10Z

So my wife and I just built a greenhouse up in northern michigan to continue our mushroom cultivation business through the winter. We don't need all that much light so we put foil insulation on the entire north side up to the peak. We have foam insulation on both the east and west ends, and a 4ft high row of foam on the south side. We have a wood stove with a blower and 8 110 gallon tanks of water to hold thermal mass and keep the humidity up.

It has been pretty warm so far, but the temperatures haven't been dropping much below 20f yet and I'm worried we will have a much harder time keeping it warm in the dead of winter.

When the sun is shining we get up to a 50-70 degree differential between the inside and out, and without the sun with just the woodstove up to a 30 degree differential.

We both care deeply about sustainability, we have been working on organic farms both out west and here in Michigan over the past 4 years. But I can't lie, we are about as concerned right now with just saving money as we have put everything into this business and had some family investment as well.

Any tips on how we might be able to keep this thing warmer?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 8 replies

Auto bailout - Revenge of the Electric Car

2008-11-24T21:49:29Z

Auto bailout - Revenge of the Electric Car

Revenge of the Electric Car
http://solargreenenergy.blogspot.com/2008/11/revenge-of-electric-car.html

http://solargreenenergy.blogspot.com

There are some great video clips in the link above - check 'em out. One of which is a recent press conference demanding General Motors apologize to the American people for destroying the automaker’s EV1 plug-in electric vehicle.

As a reminder of the stubbornness of the US car industry & Congress over the last 30 years - watch the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 14 replies

SUPERADOBE IN BELIZE

2008-11-24T08:36:35Z

We are building six (6) schools in Belize ... using superadobe as a base model ... one unit will be a 31' dome ... should be interesting ... will post pics when they start up ...

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Solar thermal

2008-11-22T09:35:26Z

Why is it never talked about? I think it is more viable than panels for large scale energy production.

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 10 replies

solar power rocks!

2008-11-22T01:09:06Z

i like this site.

you can look up info on State Solar Power Rebates, Incentives, and Tax Credits :)

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Landgrants

2008-11-21T20:33:21Z

Anyone know where to start about getting a landgrant/small business loan for a fish/hydro farm?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 3 replies

change you can help make... please pass along

2008-11-20T16:07:34Z

Kim,

American automakers are begging for a bailout. And they have a significant amount of money headed their way. A $25 billion loan was approved by Congress in September.

This money was designed to help the auto companies retool for the manufacture of fuel-efficient vehicles. These are vehicles that Americans want and need now more than ever.

Now the automakers are asking to use that money for short-term cash flow needs. In other words, at the brink of bankruptcy, the automakers are still resisting technological change and wishing for business as usual. GM CEO Rick Wagoner admits his company is burning through "$5 billion each month." How does GM expect to repay taxpayers, and compete in tomorrow's showrooms, without undergoing change?

Congress is back in session today, Thursday. They may retain the existing fuel-efficiency provisions, or could decide to give the automakers the $25 billion with no strings attached.

Congress doesn't want to risk being blamed for "letting the carmakers go under", and so may drop the fuel-efficiency requirements. They need to hear from us that we support keeping the requirements in place. They need to understand we want our American automakers to gear up for the cars of the future.

Visit our "No Bailout Without Strings" page and enter your ZIP. You will get a form that makes it easy to send an immediate message to your local representatives. Please act now.
------>>> http://action.pluginamerica.org/t/5960/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=337

Thank you for your continued support,

Jay Friedland
Legislative Director
Plug In America

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 0 replies

Penn and Teller's Bull5#!+

2008-11-18T04:39:13Z

On their cable network show, who's name I'm not allowed to use on Tribe, Penn and Teller make and extensive and fairly convincing argument AGAINST recycling. The points they bring up jive with other information I've picked up over the years. Has anyone else heard of this kind of thing?

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 36 replies

Berkey Water Filters...?

2008-11-17T00:07:21Z

hi

anyone know of how effective they are ?
http://www.berkeyfilters.com/

thanks!

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 2 replies

Solar Ovens

2008-11-11T14:44:30Z

Thinking about investing in one. Anyone out there ever used one? If so, comments pro and con please.

I live in Southern Florida (it's 86 degrees right now) and will be heading even further south next spring.

http://www.solarovens.org/

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 5 replies

Global Resource Corp. (OTCBB:GBRC)- Tires to Oil

2008-11-02T14:38:30Z

wow this is cool and can help make oil a little more renewable if it really works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tO5_viu3eU

discuss!

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 4 replies

water lillies research

2008-10-24T21:44:17Z

I have an opportunity to study pond lillies with a botanist friend who has agreed to supervise my experiments.

In a small pond with a recirculating pump I hope to study the effects of available light and nutrition of at least two lilly strains.

I myself do not have cross-pollination or grafting experience with these kinds of plants, and hope to learn.

In particular I would like to be able to be able to scale the project to effuse managment and so am searching for appropriate genes.

If you have any available plant material or good information, I would appreciate it. Posts, links, or even a personal message would be fine.

I will plan to show my work here when it is appropriate.

Thank You

Jon

posted in Sustainable Practices and Technology - 1 reply