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Entries from December 2007

Driving renewable power through Building Code: German Style

December 12th, 2007 · Comments Off on Driving renewable power through Building Code: German Style

Physical infrastructure (buildings) is, in short-hand, responsible for about one-third of global energy use and one-third of global warming (rough-hand guide way to think).  There are many ways to change this equation, strengthening building codes is one clear arena.  In my community, for example, 20 years ago, the ceiling “R” (insulation level) requirement was R-13, […]

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Tags: energy efficiency · environmental · EU · renewable energy · solar

“Is Global Warming Overblown?

December 11th, 2007 · 5 Comments

When it comes to the Presidential campaign and global warming, there seems to have been a virtual blackout in the broadcast media. Search for the questions on this issue on that stalwart Meet The Press. If you find anything meaningful, let me know. And, well, that is about the level of coverage that is throughout […]

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Tags: barack obama · environmental · Global Warming · global warming deniers · government energy policy · politics

What is “cost” for renewable energy standards?

December 10th, 2007 · Comments Off on What is “cost” for renewable energy standards?

 The Bloomberg article on industry lobbying against renewable power standards  contains, in addition to details related to Carbon on the City, an interesting item. force them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That’s up from less than 2 percent today, and […]

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Tags: Energy · environmental · Global Warming · politics · renewable electricity standards · renewable energy

Rudy’s “Carbon on the City”

December 10th, 2007 · Comments Off on Rudy’s “Carbon on the City”

Well, unless you are a Washington Post reader with its blackout of coverage of Rudy’s sex scandal, Sex on the City truly provides a revealing window on a top Republican Presidential contender.  Well, perhaps we should be wondering whether the new scandal that all (except, again, Washington Post readers) should be discussing might be called […]

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Tags: alternative energy · politics · renewable energy

Key Dynamics to consider Lieberman-Warner and D yes votes from Senate EPW

December 10th, 2007 · Comments Off on Key Dynamics to consider Lieberman-Warner and D yes votes from Senate EPW

On a 12-8 vote, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee passed out the Lieberman-Warner “American Climate Security Act”. Such stalwarts of environmental issues as Senators Barbara Boxer and Bernie Sanders voted for sending this bill out of committee and praised it (even strongly).   Yet, there are those, including this author, who have serious issues […]

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Tags: Congress · Energy · Global Warming · lieberman-warner

Energy NOT COOL: Oy vey iz mir! MIT Focused on BAU, not BTB

December 10th, 2007 · Comments Off on Energy NOT COOL: Oy vey iz mir! MIT Focused on BAU, not BTB

Amid all of the fascinating things out there on energy issues, there are many that will increase energy illiteracy, that don’t merit the kilobytes wasted on them, that are, well, truly Energy NOT COOL.  Tonight inaugurates a new series that will, occasionally, draw attention to one of these contributions to hindering meaningful debate on energy […]

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Tags: automobiles

Thoughts on ASCA’s compromises

December 7th, 2007 · Comments Off on Thoughts on ASCA’s compromises

There are many good people who, with real passion and sincerity, support the Lieberman-Warner American CSA even while, in most cases, agreeing that it has serious problems, such as the 40% or so of pollution permits that will be given away over the next 25 years. They have made, in essence, a political calculation that […]

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Tags: Congress · Global Warming · lieberman-warner · politics · pollution

SolarAid … for the developing world launches

December 6th, 2007 · Comments Off on SolarAid … for the developing world launches

A new NGO just launched into higher-gear with a gala presentation from Ken Livingston, Mayor of London, in London’s City Hall Reading Room. SolarAid seeks to help developing communities leapfrog through polluting energy toward a renewable (solar) energy future. It has real backing, including a commitment of five percent of solar century‘s profits.   Its core […]

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Tags: solar · Solar Energy

Maryland: a step closer to another state taking a lead

December 6th, 2007 · Comments Off on Maryland: a step closer to another state taking a lead

The Maryland Commission on Climate Change reported out this Tuesday. The main recommendation:  reduce Maryland global warming pollution 90% by 2050.  “The climate crisis is real, and while it threatens our shorelines today, its causes and symptoms threaten life on our planet in the generations ahead unless we act,” Governor Martin O’Malley Note that O’Malley […]

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Tags: Global Warming

Another proof of Bush Admin out of touch?

December 6th, 2007 · Comments Off on Another proof of Bush Admin out of touch?

Well, of course, providing evidence of the Bush Administration being disconnected from reality is sort of like piling on 20 minutes after someone’s been tackled, but we’ll go ahead anyway.  When asked about the implications of the Lieberman-Warner CSA (with all its problems), the lead US representative at Bali, Harlan Watson showed he was on top of […]

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Tags: climate change · Global Warming · government energy policy · politics