Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Blogging for a sustainable energy future.

Get Energy Smart!  NOW! header image 4

Entries from November 2008

Energy COOL: Combined Solar Thermal / PhotoVoltaiic Power (CSTP/CPV)

November 30th, 2008 · 2 Comments

One of the exciting things nowadays is that there are so many exciting developments in the energy arena, many of them suggesting the promise of a breakthrough that could help change the world to something better. Sweden’s Global Sun Engineering is pursuing just such an opportunity. Their Matarenki Light is a tracking system, with mirrors […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Energy · energy cool · solar · Solar Energy

Coal indispensable vs Indispensible to end Coal?

November 30th, 2008 · Comments Off on Coal indispensable vs Indispensible to end Coal?

Certain words and phrases seem to roll off the toungue. For some, when it comes to energy, “coal is indispensable” seems to be one of those terms. On 11 November, a Brookings Institution team released a “letter” to President-Elect Barack Obama and had a panel presentation in which these words just rolled from the keypad […]

[Read more →]

Tags: coal · Energy

From the “what were they thinking?” catalog: greenwashing the Chevy Tahoe

November 26th, 2008 · Comments Off on From the “what were they thinking?” catalog: greenwashing the Chevy Tahoe

There are many greenwashing efforts for gas guzzling McSUVs, seeking to put a green shine on polluting behemoths. Normally, these come from well-paid hacks and company publicity machines. Sometimes, however, you have to ask yourself, “What were they thinking?” This is truly the case with the naming of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid as the Green […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Energy

Investing in Energy Smart Solutions

November 25th, 2008 · Comments Off on Investing in Energy Smart Solutions

Another guest post from Energize America board member DoLittle SooThere. Nov. 4th was a great day for progressives as well as community-based energy solutions. Little-noticed ballot Issue 1A in Boulder County, CO, passed by nearly 2:1, marking an historic milestone in our country’s quest for energy independence/security. Ballot 1A approved $40M in local EE/RE bonds […]

[Read more →]

Tags: electricity · Energy · government energy policy

Lovley Display of Scientific Ignorance

November 25th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Politico published a science story by Erika Lovley so bad that, well, there is no legitimate reason to post directly to it directly as opposed to Joe Romm with New media same as the old media. Politico pimps global cooling for Hill deniers, David Roberts with Politico’s journalist malpractice, The Way Things Break with “Scientists” […]

[Read more →]

Tags: climate change · climate delayers · Energy · environmental · global cooling · Global Warming · global warming deniers · James Inhofe · journalism

Feedback systems … a key to a better energy future?

November 25th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Having a readout on miles per gallon gets most drivers to drive better, in ways that increase safety and reduce fuel usage. With minimal additional cost, these feedback systems can help to improve fleet fuel efficiency through fostering changed behavior by the users (the drivers). This is an impact that better car design, hybrid technologies, […]

[Read more →]

Tags: conservation · electricity · Energy · energy cool · energy efficiency

OH NO!!!! Americans using less electricity!!!!

November 24th, 2008 · 2 Comments

That might as well be the title of the Wall Street Journal article Surprise Drop in Power Use Delivers Jolt to Utilities. An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn’t a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping […]

[Read more →]

Tags: electricity · Energy

Warming Summers …

November 24th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Larry Summers is now officially part of the senior Obama Administration team on economic issues. Let us be clear, energy and global warming are cross-cutting issues, so cross-cutting that stances on views on these issues should be examined against essentially all appointees. While Summers has the shadow of a controversial early 1990s World Bank memo […]

[Read more →]

Tags: cap and trade · carbon tax · climate change · environmental · Global Warming · government energy policy

The US Chamber of Commerce and “21st Century Energy” — a glance with thoughts

November 24th, 2008 · 4 Comments

For much of this year, the US Chamber of Commerce has been engaged in a public campaign related to energy issues.   Early in the year, the Chamber aligned themselves with the National Association of Manufacturing in battling against any meaningful action on global warming, including running ads against action strongly reminiscent of the infamous […]

[Read more →]

Tags: analysis · business practice · Energy · government energy policy

LEEDing the way…to a Green Collar job (w/poll)

November 22nd, 2008 · 1 Comment

A guest post from a fellow Energize America board member, DooLittle SoThere, who actually manages to do much, actually.   Welcome to my journey.  I am pursuing LEED PA certified to increase my sustainability knowledge base, to help guide my restoration of an historic opera house, and to improve my chances of landing a green collar job after […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Energize America · Energy · energy efficiency