Energy
An algal biorefinery
Oil production from the tar sands of Alberta is a charged topic, and the impetus for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project. But while that debate rages on, the Canadian government is investing in various ways to mitigate the effects of oil production in the region. [Read more…] about An algal biorefinery
Bird-friendly wind farms
Alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, are key to a better environment. In order to move away from fossil fuels that cause climate change and contribute to human health problems, we need these alternatives. [Read more…] about Bird-friendly wind farms
Fuel from landfills
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EW-11-13-13-Fuel-from-Landfills.mp3|titles=EW 11-13-13 Fuel from Landfills]
Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States. About 18% of the human sources of this potent greenhouse gas comes from the decomposition of solid waste. [Read more…] about Fuel from landfills
Fracking waters contaminate river sediments
Wastewater is produced during oil and gas production, from both conventional and non-conventional wells, including fracking. In the exploitation of the Marcellus shale formation for natural gas, some of the flowback water is derived from the fracking fluids used to release the gas at depth. Some is derived from the shale itself. [Read more…] about Fracking waters contaminate river sediments
Crowdfunding energy
Crowdfunding has become very popular for musicians, artists, and even inventors. Recently, 1,700 Dutch households set a crowdfunding record by raising $1.8 million in just 13 hours. What did they get for their money? A 2-megawatt wind turbine. [Read more…] about Crowdfunding energy
Testing the value of storage
As the electrical grid comes to depend more and more on intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, it is becoming important to be able to store electricity for later use. [Read more…] about Testing the value of storage
A debate over trash
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There is no shortage of trash in the world. Figuring out what to do with it is a challenge that grows larger all the time. [Read more…] about A debate over trash
Old car or new car?
So, you want to do something good for the environment. Should you replace your old car with a fuel efficient model or keep it because you know it takes a lot of energy to produce a new car? A clear answer to this question has been elusive. [Read more…] about Old car or new car?
Green power for the U.S. military
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Due to a combination of economics and national security, the U.S. military has become one of the biggest investors in green energy over the past five years. [Read more…] about Green power for the U.S. military
Hydrogen fueled cars
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-07-13-Hydrogen-Fueled-Cars.mp3|titles=EW 10-07-13 Hydrogen Fueled Cars]
We are starting see some real momentum in the adoption of electric cars. There are more models to choose from, and public charging stations are starting to show up in our neighborhoods. [Read more…] about Hydrogen fueled cars
Easing private investment in renewable energy
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Energy is essential to a robust economy. At least until the 1980s, fossil fuels were the only game in town. Over the years, the US government has designed a number of marketplace incentives to encourage investment in the energy sector. [Read more…] about Easing private investment in renewable energy
Virtual net metering for apartment dwellers
Homeowners across the country are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits of solar power, either by leasing or purchasing photovoltaic systems for their rooftops. Unfortunately, apartment dwellers have not had much opportunity to use on-site solar electricity because it would require installation of separate PV systems for each tenant, which is complicated and expensive, even if building owners were agreeable. [Read more…] about Virtual net metering for apartment dwellers
Solar philanthropy
About 20% of the Earth’s population – roughly 1.5 billion people – live without electricity. Mostly, these people are in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, along with some in Latin America and the Middle East. [Read more…] about Solar philanthropy
Mapping renewable energy
Developing and emerging nations face serious energy challenges and renewable energy sources represent key resources that they need to exploit. Many of these countries have abundant renewable resources but at the same time have substantial portions of their population without any access to electricity. [Read more…] about Mapping renewable energy
Lots of fuel from pond scum
Algae contain lots of oil – or lipids – and these can be used to produce biodiesel. There are other biofuels that can be derived from algae as well. There is enough promise in this technology that researchers in academia and industry are investigating ways to improve it by growing algae that contain more oil, that live longer, and that live in a wider range of environments. [Read more…] about Lots of fuel from pond scum
There’s a whole lot of shaking going on
One of the side-effects of the extraction of natural gas by hydraulic fracture, widely known as fracking, is the possibility that the injection of water into gas-bearing rocks will cause earthquakes. There is no doubt that this can happen, but as summarized in a recent paper by William Ellsworth of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earthquake Science Center, the earthquakes from these oil and gas wells are too small to pose a significant hazard. Most are below magnitude 2.0, which can barely be sensed by humans. [Read more…] about There’s a whole lot of shaking going on
Sharing is caring
One of the best and least expensive ways to reduce the amount of energy we use is by using it more efficiently. Efficiency measures can have as big an overall impact as the use of newer energy technologies such as wind and solar power. [Read more…] about Sharing is caring
The U.S. carbon bank account
Carbon dioxide emissions in most nations are dominated by the use of fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas. In the tropics, however, deforestation is also a major source of CO2 to the atmosphere. [Read more…] about The U.S. carbon bank account
What do we mean by peak oil?
