True that. Maybe the rising awareness leads to new solutions. Read the Reuters article "U.S. denies delaying global climate deal" here
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The ten greenest companies
Climate Counts, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing "consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change," has released their latest corporate rankings. In general, the scores show improvement. Average scores have increased by 54 percent since 2007 and by 10 percent since 2010, according to a press release.
read more about this Huffington Post article here
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
read more about this Huffington Post article here
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
How big is it really?
Since I am still very enthusiastic about the potential of Solar Systems to electrify the planet the green way, I am asking myself: how big is it really? With China and India on the rise, and the US potentially becoming the world leader in Solar installations in 2013, which other regions out there would profit from going solar asap? Many countries in Europe showed us how it is done (also read my earlier blog post in Feed-In-Tariffs)
Well, take a look at Africa for example to find more countries, or lets say a whole continent, that couldn't get enough independent energy systems, if possible by tomorrow.
According to information provided by the Organization for One World of Solidarity (OEW), only 26% of the population located south of the Sahara Desert has direct access to electricity – making the region one of the least electrified in the world. And furthermore, the number of Africans who still have to live without access to electrical energy is on the rise.
This situation will not change without outside help. The reason is obvious: expanding the overland network is not a lucrative endeavour for energy providers. There are long distances to cover before all the villages ‘in the bush’ can be reached and, as far as the distribution companies are concerned, the installation costs for electricity networks would be far greater than whatever the rural households would be able to pay.
Without electricity, it is not possible to create added value in the local environment, which is in turn the basic prerequisite for any type of sustainable development. After all, energy supply plays a key role, not only in the economy, but also in virtually every area of day-to-day life – regardless of whether in private households, schools, the skilled trades or hospitals.
Since my wife is founder of a non profit organisation that cares for children in Senegal whose life is affected by lepracy (ASB Foundation), we were planning to go there in 2012 and see what we can do to improve our efforts.
I am really motivated to find out whether my contacts to the industry can help to supply some households with energy. Any advice, help, support highly appreciated!
I am thinking about small off grid plants, maybe financed by local microcredits, installed by local inhabitants or electricians. Way to go if this vision shall became reality. Lotta potential!
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Well, take a look at Africa for example to find more countries, or lets say a whole continent, that couldn't get enough independent energy systems, if possible by tomorrow.
According to information provided by the Organization for One World of Solidarity (OEW), only 26% of the population located south of the Sahara Desert has direct access to electricity – making the region one of the least electrified in the world. And furthermore, the number of Africans who still have to live without access to electrical energy is on the rise.
This situation will not change without outside help. The reason is obvious: expanding the overland network is not a lucrative endeavour for energy providers. There are long distances to cover before all the villages ‘in the bush’ can be reached and, as far as the distribution companies are concerned, the installation costs for electricity networks would be far greater than whatever the rural households would be able to pay.
Without electricity, it is not possible to create added value in the local environment, which is in turn the basic prerequisite for any type of sustainable development. After all, energy supply plays a key role, not only in the economy, but also in virtually every area of day-to-day life – regardless of whether in private households, schools, the skilled trades or hospitals.
Since my wife is founder of a non profit organisation that cares for children in Senegal whose life is affected by lepracy (ASB Foundation), we were planning to go there in 2012 and see what we can do to improve our efforts.
I am really motivated to find out whether my contacts to the industry can help to supply some households with energy. Any advice, help, support highly appreciated!
I am thinking about small off grid plants, maybe financed by local microcredits, installed by local inhabitants or electricians. Way to go if this vision shall became reality. Lotta potential!
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
most creative solar plant ever?
In Switzerland, a utility company is planning to build a solar plant onto a stone quarry. After it's lifetime of 25-30 years it will have helped to renaturate the quarry since the solar panels shadow will keep temperatures low and avoid evaporation on the stones.
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Book Tip "The Agile City"
Christmas Time is coming, so let me read a little for you
Excerpt from "The Agile City" by James S. Russell
"As global warming effects become more evident, and the debate over what to do about it becomes more difficult, it's important to know that buildings can get to zero emission. After all, they are responsible for almost 40 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. (...) The Agile City shows that change undertaken at the building and community levels can reach carbon-reduction goals rapidly, perhaps much quicker and at lower cost than shoving the economy into carbon submission with a disruptive range of carbon taxes (...). Buildings tend to use the dirtiest energy: electricity generated from coal. (...) A wide variety of tested tactics exist today to dramatically reduce the impacts of buildings on the environment, from old-fashioned awnings to new ways to light buildings with the sund and ventilate them with breezes. We're just leaving them on the table."
Amazon Link
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Excerpt from "The Agile City" by James S. Russell
"As global warming effects become more evident, and the debate over what to do about it becomes more difficult, it's important to know that buildings can get to zero emission. After all, they are responsible for almost 40 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. (...) The Agile City shows that change undertaken at the building and community levels can reach carbon-reduction goals rapidly, perhaps much quicker and at lower cost than shoving the economy into carbon submission with a disruptive range of carbon taxes (...). Buildings tend to use the dirtiest energy: electricity generated from coal. (...) A wide variety of tested tactics exist today to dramatically reduce the impacts of buildings on the environment, from old-fashioned awnings to new ways to light buildings with the sund and ventilate them with breezes. We're just leaving them on the table."
Amazon Link
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Why we (should) demand FIT's
America needs to introduce a nationwide feed-in tariff (FIT) to kick-start the renewable industry, restore America's leadership role, and accelerate the expansion of the renewable industry worldwide.
The FIT concept is proven, as it has worked far above expectations in Germany for the past 10 years. Germany set a 2010 target of 12.5 percent share of renewable energy in electric generation in 2000. They surpassed that goal in late 2007 with 15.1 percent share. That exceeded their schedule by two years and 20 percent — and Germany receives half the amount of sunlight as the U.S. on average.
The FIT has proven superior to any other program currently in use around the world, such as subsidies with public money, tendering models and quota models. In fact, since the German’s have launched their FIT program, approximately 35 to 40 counties have followed suit and implemented their own.
more infos about FIT's, what they are and much more here
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
The FIT concept is proven, as it has worked far above expectations in Germany for the past 10 years. Germany set a 2010 target of 12.5 percent share of renewable energy in electric generation in 2000. They surpassed that goal in late 2007 with 15.1 percent share. That exceeded their schedule by two years and 20 percent — and Germany receives half the amount of sunlight as the U.S. on average.
The FIT has proven superior to any other program currently in use around the world, such as subsidies with public money, tendering models and quota models. In fact, since the German’s have launched their FIT program, approximately 35 to 40 counties have followed suit and implemented their own.
more infos about FIT's, what they are and much more here
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
been there, done that??
I found myself going through this article enjoying memories, as well as making notes of places to go. Where have you been? Did you fully enjoy it, see the beauty, or did you dislike it? Here are some opinions about public spaces by authors like John King, Inga Saffron, Anthony Flint and James Russell.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/51748
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/51748
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Sun provides the amount of remaining fossil fuels every 4 weeks!
The current world energy usage is approximately 16 trillion terawatts (TW) per year. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2008, the amount of direct solar energy that arrives on Earth during an average four-week period is roughly 1,853 TW/yrs., which is greater than the total remaining reserves (1,755TW/yrs.) of all fossil fuels. The numbers speak for themselves and the technically feasible long-term solution is Renewables.
Not a doubt: we should accelerate the worldwide development of renewables as quickly as possible
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Not a doubt: we should accelerate the worldwide development of renewables as quickly as possible
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Good news for you - the customer
The cost of solar cells and microchips has nowhere to go but down because of a supply glut for the commodity they’re made from, a brittle charcoal-colored semiconductor baked in ovens at 600 degrees centigrade.
Polysilicon has plunged 93 percent to $33 a kilogram from $475 three years ago as the top five producers more than doubled output, data compiled by Bloomberg shows. The industry next year will produce 28 percent more of the raw material than will be consumed, up from 20 percent this year, said Robert Schramm- Fuchs and Shai Hill, analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd.
While Solar manufacturers maybe not so happy about this, it certainly is good news for your pocket. And not to be forgotten: for the world of tomorrow. Free Energy, I still love that idea.
(source: Marginal Revolution)
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Polysilicon has plunged 93 percent to $33 a kilogram from $475 three years ago as the top five producers more than doubled output, data compiled by Bloomberg shows. The industry next year will produce 28 percent more of the raw material than will be consumed, up from 20 percent this year, said Robert Schramm- Fuchs and Shai Hill, analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd.
While Solar manufacturers maybe not so happy about this, it certainly is good news for your pocket. And not to be forgotten: for the world of tomorrow. Free Energy, I still love that idea.
(source: Marginal Revolution)
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Trade War news: SolarWorld lost many friends
SolarWorld's trade action has been largely unpopular in the U.S. solar industry, given its potential to hurt thousands of jobs throughout the solar value chain. In a survey conducted by PV Magazine, 76.4 percent of respondents opposed the petition with only 20 percent expressing support.
more here in PR Newswire
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
more here in PR Newswire
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Don't miss the Incentive Finder for Renewables and Energy Efficiency
Trying to get an overview over 2772 Incentives is a nightmare, no question. If you are interested in finding out how you can take advantage of all the incentives that can be obtained for a solar energy system, REW Solar will gladly assist you on that journey.
If you want to go further to make your home even more energy efficient, you might want to use this Incentive Finder, powered by the US Department of Energy, IREC and others to gain an overview of the possibilities. Enjoy your savings!
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
If you want to go further to make your home even more energy efficient, you might want to use this Incentive Finder, powered by the US Department of Energy, IREC and others to gain an overview of the possibilities. Enjoy your savings!
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Occupy Rooftops
Love the idea of encouraging the people to get their forces together and go green, even if they don't have the rooftop space.
"Community solar projects are taking the first steps toward a future where people can move their money out of low-yield savings accounts and into safe and high-yield solar investments that lower carbon emissions and create green jobs and local prosperity."
more here
The Facebook Group
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
"Community solar projects are taking the first steps toward a future where people can move their money out of low-yield savings accounts and into safe and high-yield solar investments that lower carbon emissions and create green jobs and local prosperity."
more here
The Facebook Group
What do you think? Looking forward to read your comments.
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