Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

You are here: Home / Archives for energy

energy

Rapid Response To Climate Change More Important Than Ever

By Leave a Comment

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a new report emphasizing the importance of taking rapid action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and examining the consequences of allowing temperatures to rise 2 degrees instead.

[Read more…] about Rapid Response To Climate Change More Important Than Ever

The Earliest Overshoot Day Ever

By Leave a Comment

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humankind’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what our planet can regenerate in that year.  The deficit for the remainder of the year means we are liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

[Read more…] about The Earliest Overshoot Day Ever

Pests And Crops In A Warming World

By Leave a Comment

By the year 2050, scientists predict that there will be two billion more people to feed in the world.  And climate change isn’t making that task any simpler.  From extreme weather events to rising global temperatures, climate change is expected to affect the types of food we grow, and to negatively affect the food production needed to feed the growing population.

[Read more…] about Pests And Crops In A Warming World

Energy Justice In California

By Leave a Comment

California put in place a cap-and-trade program in 2013.  In such a program, companies pay penalties if they exceed a cap in carbon emissions but can buy and sell allowances that permit them to emit a given amount. Trading gives companies a strong incentive to save money by cutting emissions.  Since taking effect, the California program has raised more than $6.5 billion and is the fourth largest in the world.

[Read more…] about Energy Justice In California

Accelerating Sugarcane Growth

By Leave a Comment

Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of ethanol fuel behind the United States.  More than that, it has the first sustainable biofuel economy, which is based on sugarcane ethanol, not corn ethanol.  It is sustainable because of Brazil’s advanced agri-industrial technology and its enormous amount of arable land.   Furthermore, producing sugarcane ethanol is far more energy-efficient than corn ethanol. It actually makes energy sense to produce it.

[Read more…] about Accelerating Sugarcane Growth

California vs. Fossil Fuels

By Leave a Comment

California has led the way in deploying and committing to clean energy for a long time.  In August its legislature strengthened that commitment by passing a bill to stop using fossil fuels entirely by 2045.   It is the second state to do so, following Hawaii.  The bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor.  Both actions are expected to occur.

[Read more…] about California vs. Fossil Fuels

Emissions From Electric Buses

By Leave a Comment

Municipalities and transit agencies are gradually replacing conventional diesel buses with cleaner alternatives such as natural-gas-powered, diesel-electric hybrid, or fully electric buses.  The goal is to reduce the substantial carbon emissions associated with buses as well as reducing unhealthy air pollution. Diesel buses on average get less than 5 miles per gallon as they transport passengers around, so there is plenty of motivation to find more efficient ways to power them.

[Read more…] about Emissions From Electric Buses

Bacteria-Powered Solar Cell

By 1 Comment

Commercially-available solar panels are composed of solar cells that are most often made from various forms of silicon.  Some panels use thin-film cells made from other semiconductor materials.  Solar cells utilize a property of semiconductors that allows them to convert light energy into electrical energy.

[Read more…] about Bacteria-Powered Solar Cell

A New Catalyst For Splitting Water

By Leave a Comment

Hydrogen is widely considered to be a desirable source of clean energy.  It can be used in fuel cells to power electric motors in cars or can be burned directly in internal combustion engines.   If it is compressed or converted to liquid, it can be efficiently stored and transported.  Most of all, when it is used as an energy source, the only emission it produces is water.

[Read more…] about A New Catalyst For Splitting Water

Air Pollution And Diabetes

By 3 Comments

Air pollution is deadly.  Studies have found that fine particulate matter, such as airborne pieces of dust, dirt, smoke, soot, and other microscopic particles can enter our lungs and bloodstream, contributing to major health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease.

[Read more…] about Air Pollution And Diabetes

Renewable Energy Jobs

By Leave a Comment

According to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, more than half a million new jobs were generated by the renewable energy industry last year, an increase of 5.3% when compared with 2016.  The total number of people working in the renewables sector – which includes large hydropower facilities – has now exceeded 10 million people worldwide.

[Read more…] about Renewable Energy Jobs

New Energy Goals For New York

By Leave a Comment

Since 2015, New York has had in place an energy plan aimed at building a clean, resilient and cost-effective energy system for the state.  A key part of that plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by the year 2030.  Another major goal is to have 50% of the state’s electricity produced from renewable sources by the same year.

[Read more…] about New Energy Goals For New York

Mandatory Solar In California

By Leave a Comment

In May, California became the first state in the U.S. to require solar panels on almost all new homes.  Under new standards adopted by the California Energy Commission, most new homes, condos and apartment buildings built after January 1, 2020 will be required to include solar systems.

[Read more…] about Mandatory Solar In California

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states (more...)