Get Energy Smart! NOW!

What are they waiting for? is an excellent question from the League of Conservation Voters and an excellent site.  As I’ve noted before, if we judge their views by the issues they raise with presidential candidates, global warming simply does not exist for TV pundits like Tim Russert, George Stephanopoulos, Wolf Blitzer, Bob Schieffer, and Chris Wallace.

LCV went backand looked at all the Sunday talk shows and debates … 126 occasions … 2275 questions. 

How often have Global Warming and Climate Change been mentioned?

Three times.

As LCV notes:

 There have nearly been more presidential candidates this year then questions about global warming.

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Swimming pools are not, generally, the most environmentally friendly item you’ll find.  Lots of chemicals to clean them, the electricity to keep the pumps running, all the energy to heat them, all the water used up to fill them … all in all, not the most climate friendly lifestyle choice.

But options are growing to cut your pool’s carbon footprint.  Solar pool heating systems have been around for awhile and pay for themselves quickly through reduced fuel use.  Now, another solar device is coming on the market, the Solar Breeze solar-powered pool robotic skimmer.

The Solar-Breeze provides pool filtering and chemical management. It eliminates the need for swimming pool pumps, which can mean a drop of perhaps two-thirds in annual operating costs through stopping that pull from the electrical grid and replacing it with free sunpower.  In addition, the manufacturer claims that chlorine usage can be cut by one-third using a Solar Breeze.

One of the signs of a changing weltaunschauung when it comes to Global Warming is the ever growing advertising and marketing agency focus on ‘green’ issues.  And, with this, ever more polling about consumer attitudes, providing information about what the “average Joe” thinks about ecology, energy, green, etc issues.  And, some of this is turning Frank Luntz on his head, scoping out strengths and weaknesses of specific words and phrases in ways that can help us move forward to a better energy future.

EcoAlign, launched just a month ago, issued their first report: The Green Gap: Communications and Language (pdf).   This work is of value and import for those, like me, who are seeking paths to communicate complicated energy issues to help foster a move toward a prosperous, climate-friendly society.

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Project Better Place is an initiative “to make scalable electric transportation a reality on a global scale and reduce the world’s dependency on oil.” That is a strategic concept that is truly meriting applause.  Shai Agassi, former executive at SAP AG, is the sparking energy behind PBP, who “has an audacious idea—some may call it foolhardy—to change they way electric cars are sold and maintained.” 

The basic concept:  his company will own the batteries and rent them out to car owners.  Driving on the road and need a recharge? Stop in at a charging center, take a few moments to exchange batteries (and take a pee), and get back on the road again.

Shai has some $200 million in investments that say that he can make this vision a reality.

The latest news: Project Better Place is targeting 100,000 electric vehicles in Israel, within the next two years.   The likely builder:  Renault.  A key benefit in the marketplace: Israel to make electric car production tax fee. (As to that last, considering that Israel charges an 84 percent purchase tax on gas cars and 30 percent on hybrids, that no-tax situation provides a real advantage.) 

Hat tip to AutoBlogGreen.

Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies.  Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times.  And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL.  

One of the most powerful images for a renewable energy future, a burning hot one we might suggest, is the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC), which is a grand vision for connecting solar power in North Africa, wind power from the Eastern Mediterranean to the North Sea, bio-mass, and hydropower with a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system of power lines to provide assured renewable electricity for the Mediterranean basin and Europe.

This concept, which has seemed ever so Renewable Energy COOL to me from the first time I encountered it, looks to be moving down a path from fantastic innovative concept to potential reality as Europe is heading toward an initial investment of $10 billion dollars in DESERTEC.

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According to IBM’s just released the results of a global poll that showed that not only do people say that they are willing to pay more for green energy, they actually are doing so in increasing numbers … voluntarily.  Where the option exists, some 25 percent of polled people, who have the option, are paying additional money to get “clean” power.

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Bait and switch … To an extent, many energy activists feel like they’ve been distracted with a shiny object (the “Energy Independence Security Act”) while dirty dealing has been going on behind our backs.

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We, as individuals, as a nation, as a globe, face massive challenges.In the Energy Smart world … Peak Oil … Peak Water … Global Warming … Efficient use of resources … and many other challenges.  Related to all of these: science and technology.  But, where are these in the debates moderated by journalists?  Mentioned anywhere amid the questioning about New Year’s resolutions?

It is time for a change.

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Today is the last day for placing questions and comments before the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC)  (comments) about two major issues from Dominion Virginia Power.

1. Wise County coal-fired power plant (application, 14 page pdf) PUE-2007-0066
2. A 500 kV transmission line to bring coal electricity to Northern Virginia from Ohio (application, 29 page pdf)  PUE-2007-00033

Green Miles posted, yesterday, Help Stop the Wise County Coal Power Plant.  Excellent discussion. Highly recommended.

Thus, let’s turn to the Power Line question.  Quite simply, there has been no efficiency focus in the power line debate, with too much NIMBYite focus.  Public officials, before rushing forward with approval of Dominion’s proposal, should ask the questions that follow and consider potential responses.

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Let me luxuriate in the feeling of feeling played, of feeling used.  The sullied feeling is just such a joyous thing to have.

Many excoriated me (in multiple venues, private and public) for not being ‘political’ enough since I was not joyously celebrating the Energy Bill that passed from the House and was tarnishing my praise for the political courage and strength of action by pointing to the Energy Bill’s flaws.

And, well, perhaps sadly, I watched my language a little bit and ‘pimped’ support for this bill that might have been ‘strong’ in political terms but was simply inadequate in face of the very real challenges before this nation and the globe (Peak Oil, Global Warming, Etc …)

Hmmm …

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