Energy
How green is your commute?
According to New York City’s Earth Day website, the average American drives twenty-nine miles a day, spends fifty-five minutes behind the wheel, and uses nearly one-fifth of the household income on transportation. Can we change our commuting habits to save time, money, and the environment at the same time? [Read more…] about How green is your commute?
A biomass fuel cell
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-05-05-14-Biomass-Fuel-Cell-.mp3|titles=EW 05-05-14 Biomass Fuel Cell]
Fuel cells convert chemical energy from fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. The most common fuel cells run on hydrogen, but hydrocarbons like methanol are also used. Biomass has not been used in fuel cells because, until now, there has been no effective catalyst to break down complex organic materials. [Read more…] about A biomass fuel cell
Stack your solar panels
Solar panel use is growing exponentially, driven in part by the advent of several companies that install panels in private residences and businesses. We are putting solar panels on our cottage in Maine and hope to generate all of our electricity from them. [Read more…] about Stack your solar panels
Greener fracking
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, generates great controversy wherever it is being practiced and is vigorously opposed wherever it isn’t. Nonetheless, it is the basis for a booming industry that is not likely to disappear any time soon. It is encouraging that there are a number of efforts underway to make fracking cleaner, greener, and safer. [Read more…] about Greener fracking
Power from the moon
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-29-14-Lunar-Power.mp3|titles=EW 04-29-14 Lunar Power]
Almost all our energy ultimately derives from the Sun. There is of course solar power, but even hydroelectric, wind, and wave power are actually driven by the Sun’s energy. Fossil fuels originate from prehistoric plant matter created by photosynthesis. The only major non-solar sources are nuclear power and geothermal energy, which itself results from nuclear reactions in the Earth’s interior. [Read more…] about Power from the moon
Utility-scale solar power
Utility-scale solar power projects now provide nearly 5,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States. Another 27,000 megawatts is under development. This is enough to power more than 5 million homes. [Read more…] about Utility-scale solar power
Volcano power
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-21-14-Volcano-Power.mp3|titles=EW 04-21-14 Volcano Power]
For decades, geothermal wells have been used to power turbines to generate electricity. These wells utilize heat from the earth’s core by tapping into underground sources of hot water. Recently, scientists have made progress drilling directly into volcanoes and using molten rock – or magma – as a much more potent energy source. [Read more…] about Volcano power
Progress in ocean energy
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-18-14-Progress-in-Ocean-Energy.mp3|titles=EW 04-18-14 Progress in Ocean Energy]
For over a decade, the annual Ocean Energy International conference has followed the steady but creeping progress of technologies to extract energy from the world’s oceans. This year’s meeting in Providence, Rhode Island featured multiple announcements of major new projects. The pace of commercialization of ocean energy is definitely quickening. [Read more…] about Progress in ocean energy
Progress in artificial photosynthesis
Artificial photosynthesis, the technology of converting sunlight into liquid fuels, would be the greenest of green technology if it can be done economically and on a large scale. Plants store energy derived from the sun in the form of chemical bonds created by photosynthesis. We would like to do the same thing in the laboratory. [Read more…] about Progress in artificial photosynthesis
U.S. business goes solar
America’s largest companies are embracing solar technology in a big way. As of the middle of 2013, there were nearly 33,000 commercial buildings in the US deploying solar technology totaling more than 3 gigawatts of generating capacity. This represents an amazing 40% increase over last year. [Read more…] about U.S. business goes solar
Coping with a changing grid
California is on the cutting edge of a transformation in its electricity grid. Solar power in the state has grown tenfold since 2006 – presenting its power system with unprecedented challenges. [Read more…] about Coping with a changing grid
The U.S. is emitting less carbon
In 2012, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in the US reached the lowest level since 1994 and were 12% lower than their peak in 2007. This is certainly good news, but just how good? [Read more…] about The U.S. is emitting less carbon
Renewable energy sources in the Caribbean
A number of Caribbean islands are experimenting with the use of renewable energy and hope to provide a model for other nations. The effort is being led by the Carbon War Room, a nonprofit organization founded by billionaire Richard Branson to help fight climate change. [Read more…] about Renewable energy sources in the Caribbean
Allocating carbon emissions
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-19-14-Allocating-Carbon-Emissions.mp3|titles=EW 03-19-14 Allocating Carbon Emissions]
The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has adopted a different way of looking at reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Since carbon dioxide largely stays in the atmosphere for centuries, the emphasis needs to be on our cumulative emissions over time rather than on tracking yearly totals. [Read more…] about Allocating carbon emissions
Sea snakes, oysters, and magic carpets
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-12-14-Sea-Snakes-Oysters-and-Magic-Carpets.mp3|titles=EW 03-12-14 Sea Snakes, Oysters, and Magic Carpets]
Scotland is one of the best places in the world to make use of ocean-based energy. It has 25% of Europe’s tidal potential and 10% of its wave potential. Because of this, the Scottish Government has established a competition to reward ocean energy breakthroughs. [Read more…] about Sea snakes, oysters, and magic carpets
Trains and oil spills
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-11-14-Trains-and-Oil-Spills.mp3|titles=EW 03-11-14 Trains and Oil Spills]
During the past five years, U.S. domestic oil production has risen 50 percent. This surge has outpaced the pipeline infrastructure needed to move oil to consumers. [Read more…] about Trains and oil spills
Solar gardens
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-05-14-Solar-Gardens.mp3|titles=EW 03-05-14 Solar Gardens]
Solar power is growing by leaps and bounds, but there are still many people who can’t access it for their own homes. Renters, people who live in communities with obstructive building codes, and people whose roofs are shaded by trees or other tall structures don’t have the option of installing their own solar panels. [Read more…] about Solar gardens
Power from sewage
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-04-14-Power-from-Sewage.mp3|titles=EW 03-04-14 Power from Sewage]
Located on the banks of the Potomac River, the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant serves over two million people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It is also the largest consumer of electricity in the District of Columbia. [Read more…] about Power from sewage
Outsourced pollution
