In the second episode of the Science Channel’s Ecopolis, host Dan Kammen reviewed four proposals to deal with the issue of transportation. For a brief background of the program, please see the previous post on Ecopolis. In the transportation episode, Kammen considered the following carbon dioxide reducing concepts: 1) a blended wing plane 2) oil [...]
Archive for the ‘Eric Wilson’ Category
Ecopolis Part 2: Transportation
February 23rd, 2009 
Eric Wilson 
Posted in Clean Technology, Eric Wilson, Renewable Energy, Transportation 
Tags: Biomass, Diesel, Ecopolis, Electric Vehicles, Mass Transit 
No Comments »Science Channel’s Ecopolis Part 1: Food and Water
February 22nd, 2009 Eric Wilson Last month, Science Channel’s 6-part series “Ecopolis” came to a close. Dan Kammen, a professor in the Energy and Resources Group and Director of Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab (RAEL) in Berkeley, California, hosted the thought-provoking series. For each of the first five episodes, Kammen focused on a different concern facing future cites; Food and Water, [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Local Energy/Food, Sustainable Development Tags: Ecopolis, Food, Water No Comments »Aspiring to Build Green
February 21st, 2009 Eric Wilson “Building Green” suggests the use of energy efficient materials such as insulation, Energy Star appliances, renewable and sustainable materials such as bamboo flooring, recycled glass counter tops and low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint. However, many builders that offer “Green Built” homes do not take into account smart growth. Some developers construct so-called green residences [...]
Bike Sharing on the Rise
February 20th, 2009 Eric Wilson Bicycle sharing programs have existed in one form or another for several decades, but recently a renewed interest has led to an increase in these public offerings. Originating in Europe, the United States has seen an influx in so-called “Community Bicycles”. From the biggest US city to mid-size college towns, universities and cities are embracing [...]
Solar Powered Stimulus Bill
February 17th, 2009 Eric Wilson Today President Obama signed the stimulus bill at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. According to an NPR article, the site was chosen because of the recent installation of solar panels on the roof of the century old structure. Namaste Solar, based out of Boulder, Colorado, installed the 465 panel system on the southeast [...]
Posted in Clean Technology, Eric Wilson, President Obama, Renewable Energy Tags: Colorado, Photovoltaic, Solar Energy, Stimulus Bill No Comments »Salvation of the Auto Industry
February 17th, 2009 Eric Wilson Marc Spitzer, head of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), is quoted in a New York Times article today as saying that “Vehicle-to-grid is . . . the salvation of the automotive industry in the United States”. While this statement represents Commissioner Spitzer’s opinion, the opportunity for electric cars to store excess electricity, potentially generated [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Smart Grid, Transportation Tags: Coal, Electric Vehicles, Electricity Generation, Renewable Energy No Comments »Book Review: Cradle to Cradle
February 14th, 2009 Eric Wilson Architect William McDounough and partner, Chemist Michael Braungart, have collaborated on what they term “Cradle to Cradle” design, which is also the name of the book they have published (from North Point Press). Their argument is that the materials people currently recycle were never intended, or designed, to be recycled. This leads to what they [...]
LA Times Reviews the Honda Clarity
February 13th, 2009 Eric Wilson Dan Neil, car reviewer for the Los Angeles Times, wrote an article about the Honda FCX Clarity which landed on the front page of today’s Business section. Titled, “Honda FCX Clarity has everything but a future”, Neil proceeds to praise the styling, innovation and feel of the car, while claiming that the energy and capital [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Transportation Tags: Electric Vehicles, Honda Clarity, Hydrogen Economy, Plug-in Hybrid, Tesla No Comments »Dual and Low-flush Toilets
February 12th, 2009 Eric Wilson Water is perhaps the single most precious resource upon which humans depend. The rule of three dictates that an individual can survive up to 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water in harsh conditions. This begs the question, why do we flush water down the toilet? Caroma USA, the US subsidiary of [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Green Products Tags: Toilet, USGBC, Water, Water Conservation, Zero Waste No Comments »Make Earth Day Everyday
February 11th, 2009 Eric Wilson Last year, the website MakeEarthDayEveryday.com debuted. The site was marketed on oval shaped stickers that said “WIND” with a wind turbine for the “I”. Today, however, the URL appears to be invalid. The company behind the site, Renewable Choice Energy, offers carbon offsets through wind farm projects. Last week I included a post that touched [...]
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Eric Wilson, Renewable Energy, Smart Grid Tags: Colorado, Earth Day, Offsets, Renewable Energy, Smart Meter No Comments »
