Last Saturday, at the Calabasas (CA) Farmer’s Market, a representative from California Green Design was offering information on home photovoltaic systems. The Los Angeles based design and installation firm offers a Free Evaluation for homeowners. The representative mentioned using satellite images to provide free estimates, much like the Northern California start-up Sungevity (mentioned in an earlier post). The melding of technologies – satellite imagery and online access – enables solar installers to serve a greater number of people, reduce their costs and pass them on to consumers in the form of low or no-cost estimates. In order for the expenses of these systems to decrease, installers must reach economies of scale. The time for solar power systems has arrived. With the incentives available, also mentioned in the February 10th post, these systems become economically viable after rebate.
Environmental vs. Sustainability Education: Shifting the Focus
The environmental education movement in this country has been around for quite some time. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and the first Earth Day 40 years ago were both important factors in bringing environmental education to the fore. My personal journey is not nearly as long. Nearly ten years ...
K-Fuel: The Answer to Dirty Coal?
Last year the website This Is Reality launched a commercial by the Coen brothers, directors of films such as Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and The Big Lebowski, about clean coal. The commercial, which can be seen below, paints a satirical picture of so-called clean coal ...
NatureMill’s Automated Food Composting System Brings the Compost to You
What happens when an MIT trained engineer comes back after vacation to find he forgot to empty the kitchen compost bin before he left? Aside from cleaning up the mess, getting rid of the flies, and getting rid of the smell, the light bulb clicks on: "While ...
Green and Socially Responsible Investment Funds
A few months ago we wrote about clean energy plays in the stock market. While we are not investment specialists and do not recommend investing in these companies, we provide the following information for your general knowledge. Please do your own research before investing in any company ...
Steamboat Ski Area Moves Toward Zero Waste
The prospect of climate change has several ski resorts reconsidering their use of natural resources. Last year we wrote about Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts and the steps they had taken to both minimize their consumption of non-renewable resources by installing a wind turbine as well as ...
EPA to Regulate Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The New York Times reported today that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), headed by Lisa Jackson, is expected to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. The article claimed that the potential regulation could have a “profound impact on transportation, manufacturing costs and how utilities generate power.” Regulation will likely increase the direct costs associated with fossil fuels, which could spur investment in alternative, renewable, clean energy. Legislation would primarily deal with carbon dioxide (CO2) as a pollutant. This leaves opportunities for wind, solar, geothermal and other sources of nonpolluting energy.
1BOG: Greening the Grid One Block at a Time
1BOG (1 Block Off the Grid) is an organization that promotes “solar power bulk purchasing for homes.” Started in San Francisco in 2008, it is a campaign designed to get people to make green home improvements together in large groups, thereby receiving bulk discount rates and lowering the cost of, say, installing solar panels for everyone in the group. It was recently acquired by Virgance, a not-for-profit company that “takes new activism ideas and uses the power of online social networks to scale each idea into a large-scale, citizen-powered global campaign to improve the world.”
Solar Powered Stimulus Bill
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 and southwest wings of the building. (Here is a diagram of the museum’s solar array.) The owner of Namaste Solar introduced President Obama stating that while his business had grown from 4 employees to 60, he had considered cutbacks before the stimulus bill. Now he plans to increase his staff by 20% next year and 40% overall as a result of the stimulus bill.
Salvation of the Auto Industry
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 by renewable, intermittent sources, could help supply the necessary energy needed to supplement the grid. Base load power remains a major concern, leading to support for coal, natural gas, petroleum and nuclear energy which supply a combined 92.5% of America’s electricity
