Sustainable Living
A new relationship with energy
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The demand for clean energy is accelerating and its use is increasing steadily. Last year, 49% of all new power plant investment in the U.S. was for renewables, in part because the costs of solar energy and wind energy have been dropping dramatically over the past five years. [Read more…] about A new relationship with energy
What color is your water?
When most of us turn on the tap, we find clean, flowing water. In fact, we’ve come to expect that across this country, and the alternative is both annoying and newsworthy. [Read more…] about What color is your water?
Energy efficient cities
Energy efficiency is the most affordable way to lower our carbon footprint and reduce our consumption of non-renewable energy resources. While the federal government continues to struggle with developing any kind of energy efficiency policy, at the local level, there is plenty going on. [Read more…] about Energy efficient cities
Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
I’m a bird-watcher and an advocate of bird conservation. But often, my friends ask me if birds really make a difference. Normally, I point out the large amount of money spent by birdwatchers in travel and for tour guides to their latest bird “hot spot.” But, that income doesn’t always filter down to locals. [Read more…] about Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
Farming crops and sunlight
In many places around the world, using farmland for solar generation has become a profitable enterprise. Farmers have found that they can often make more money producing electricity instead of food crops. In Japan, where farmland is relatively scarce, this practice was actually prohibited by law. [Read more…] about Farming crops and sunlight
Storing energy in volcanic rock
The Pacific Northwest has abundant renewable energy resources, being the home to one of the largest networks of hydroelectric dams in the U.S. But state mandates for renewables on the grid have driven a boom in wind installations, which has actually led to a problem. The Bonneville Power Administration has forced wind farm owners to curtail their output of power at times of limited demand on the grid. [Read more…] about Storing energy in volcanic rock
It’s in the air you breathe
Medical evidence continues to pour in showing a strong link between air pollution and increased human mortality. The big players are ozone and small particles, known as PM2.5, in the atmosphere. Both have been under scrutiny by the EPA for years. [Read more…] about It’s in the air you breathe
Crowdfunding for environmental science
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Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with people, share information, and raise awareness. This has led to new forms of fundraising, among them crowdfunding. [Read more…] about Crowdfunding for environmental science
Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
One of the best places for birdwatching in Africa is the village of Bonko in Ghana. A huge number of bird species nest in a nearby government-owned forest, including the rare white-necked rock-fowl. [Read more…] about Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
Carbon-free shipping
There is lots of interest these days in buying local. There is of course the desire to bolster local economies and support the businesses of the people who live in our community. But there is also an energy conservation issue because importing products over vast distances uses large amounts of energy and adds to greenhouse emissions. [Read more…] about Carbon-free shipping
Solar power at night
Recently, the Solana solar power plant in Gila Bend, Arizona began commercial operation. At 280 megawatts capacity, it is the largest concentrating solar power or CSP plant in the world, using parabolic trough mirrors to focus the rays of the sun. But it has another notable feature as well: it keeps generating electricity long after the sun goes down. [Read more…] about Solar power at night
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
Rising Sea Level 101
One of the most significant impacts of rising global temperatures will be melting of the polar ice on Greenland and Antarctica. These are known as continental ice packs, since the ice rests on underlying land. Their melt-water contributes to sea level rise, the same way adding another cube of ice to a full glass of soda will cause it to overflow. [Read more…] about Rising Sea Level 101
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
Eating natural food
More and more of us are interested in eating healthier foods and “natural” food is especially popular. Food companies have eagerly embraced this concept in their labeling. All sorts of food products are labeled “natural” or even “all-natural.” [Read more…] about Eating natural food
A tree deformity that’s in demand
To most people, a tree burl wouldn’t look like anything special – in fact, these rounded growths found on tree trunks and branches are actually minor deformities. [Read more…] about A tree deformity that’s in demand
Giving women equal footing in science
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A recent pair of articles in The New York Times and Scientific American looked at the under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math. Why, at a time when women are alleged to have equal opportunities, are their numbers so limited? [Read more…] about Giving women equal footing in science
Methane: It’s a gas
Methane, also known as natural gas, is found at a concentration of nearly 2 parts per million in Earth’s atmosphere. It comes from a wide range of natural sources, including decay in swamps and seepage from the Earth’s crust. [Read more…] about Methane: It’s a gas
Climate change, oysters, and super-sized crabs
