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In Science turns sun, surf into green energy, The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that a University of New South Wales professor, Leigh Sheppard, believes he is developing a path for combining solar power systems with sea water to be able to make hydrogen on millions of Australian rooftops by 2020. [Read more →]

Hybrids are too often thought of simply in terms of personal vehicles. 

They are also penetrating the big vehicle market space.  Consider the average delivery truck and all its starts/stops. There is a lot of energy to capture there, which is why UPS is pursuing hybrids.  And, as per Walmart and its hybrid trucks, they are hitting the semi-trailer world.  The are also making to trash trucks and offer the opportunity to silence those squealing brakes at 5:45 am.  And, well, now they’re coming to a school system (maybe) near you. [Read more →]

I’m a self-described optimistic pessimist (or was it a pessimistic optimist, I simply can’t recall). I can see the dark clouds but believe that, somehow, we can figure out paths to a better situation. But, perhaps like the military, I like to have a clear understanding of the “worst case” (at least the reasonable worst case), seek to prepare for that, and feel relieved (and very well prepared) when that “worst” case doesn’t emerge.

So, when it comes to climate science, what is it about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?  Are they incredibly pessimistic doomsday kooks, as Senator Inhofe seems to want us to believe, or are they overly optimistic, not adequately describing plausible ‘worst case’ scenario environments? Scientific American has weighed into this discussion …

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When it comes to Global Warming, there should be at least one arena of full agreement: there is no excuse not to be pursuing a “no regrets” strategy. E.g, pursuit of policies, programs, and technologies that make sense no matter whether you accept the weight of scientific evidence or are hoping that the skeptics at the margins are right. (Actually, I hope that the skeptics are right — that Global Warming turns out to be Inhofe’s “hoax on the American people” — as that would mean a much better world for my future and my children …)  But, returning to ‘no regrets’, this would mean pursuing things that simply make economic and social sense.  For example, Walmart’s investment of $500 million per year in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability at a two-year payback period.  That is a pretty impressive ROI and one the rest of the economy would be well counseled to imitate. [Read more →]

Games … Oscar awards … and, well, The Sun covers and Page 3 … that is starting to get hot. Well, those images are perhaps a little too hot for a respectable blog … but, if you choose to send your mouse that way, we can’t blame you … [Read more →]

Japan is going back to the future, with a new approach to amusement park rides that might transition into the post Peak Oil world. Thanks to Treehugger for the tipper about Japan’s pedal-powered roller coaster.

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There are a lot of good games out there related to Global Warming and environmental issues. Both for communications purposes and, well, as a way to make some real money in face of growing public awareness, we can expect quite a few more to be heading our way. Coming soon, playing our way past the end of the oil era to a World Without Oil.
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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are typically associated with profligate use (and abuse) of fossil fuels — from major indoor ski slopes to air conditioning outdoor pavilions in the desert. The source of so much of the world’s oil has become great at burning itself.

But, bit by bit, there are signs that this might be on a path toward changing. [Read more →]

Refrigeration is a major user of electricity and, from time to time, gadgets come on the market offering major energy savings. Truth be told, new refrigerators have seen a roughly 2/3rds drop over the past 20 years. Yet, they can be more efficient. Well, we are being told that the eCube is the solution. [Read more →]

In January, Cherry Blossoms were starting to bloom in Washington, DC, people said “see, this is Global Warming”. And, well, a Denier reaction was “look at all the snow in Colorado”, that is total BS. Well, to be clear, both comments sets were wrong — wrong in the sense that Global Warming is about climate — not specific weather incidents. And wrong, since both weather patterns were absolutely within the parameters of what would to expect as Global Warming worsens.

Right now, the Eastern United States is suffering under a shockingly cold wave with some major snow just days after, for example, Washington, DC, was basking in 80 degree weather. This cold shock comes as it is reported that Dec 2006-February 2007 were the hottest global temperatures for this three-month period in the historical record.
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