Technology

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-23-13-Air-Travel-Carbon.mp3|titles=EW 04-23-13 Air Travel & Carbon]

The average American’s day-to-day activities generate about 19 tons of carbon dioxide a year—though some of us generate far more than this.  This quantity is called our carbon footprint. [Read more…] about Air travel and our carbon footprint

A lot of arguments in favor of hydraulic fracking for natural gas end up with the statement—you can’t be against everything. People will want to be warm with the lights on.  [Read more…] about There is an energy alternative

Getting 100% of our electricity from renewable sources is an aspiration many of us have – but is often thought to be little more than a pipe dream. For years, states and countries around the world have timidly established targets for integrating renewables into their grids. Numbers like 10% and 20% have been the rule. But things are changing. [Read more…] about Renewable energy aspirations

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-17-13-Traffic-Congestion.mp3|titles=EW 04-17-13 Traffic Congestion]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has been studying traffic patterns in the U.S. for more than thirty years.  They recently issued their annual Urban Mobility Report and the results are eye-opening. [Read more…] about The high cost of congestion

Ninety-five percent of all gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol.  This is the result of the Renewable Fuel Standard established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.   These laws require renewable fuel to be blended into transportation fuel in increasing amounts each year through 2022. [Read more…] about Corn ethanol and greenhouse gases

One of the key ways of mitigating climate change is to keep carbon away from the atmosphere where it is found as carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas. Carbon that is stored in trees and other woody plants, in soils, and in the oceans is said to be sequestered. [Read more…] about Hydroelectric dams and carbon sequestration

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EW-03-19-13-Problem-with-Coal.mp3|titles=EW 03-19-13 Problem with Coal]

Coal is by far the most plentiful and cheapest fossil fuel we have.  Burning coal generates more than 80% of the world’s electric power and its use is growing steadily. [Read more…] about The problem with coal

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EW-03-15-13-Fuel-from-the-Sun.mp3|titles=EW 03-15-13 Fuel from the Sun]

We’ve learned to harvest some of the sun’s energy with solar hot water heaters and photovoltaic panels.  These green technologies serve us well when the sun is shining.  But neither compares to the ability that plants have to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates – the process known as photosynthesis. [Read more…] about Fuel from the sun

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/EW-02-22-13-Light-Bulb.mp3|titles=EW 02-22-13 Light Bulb]

There have been heated debates about light bulbs ever since Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  This law imposed efficiency standards that spelled the end of the incandescent bulb. Since its passage, the law’s requirements have been under attack from many quarters. [Read more…] about How many dollars does it take to change a light bulb?