This could be a real game changer. https://www.inverse.com/article/55820-a-key-solar-panel-defect-has-been-solved-and-that-may-mean-big-price-drops Solar Energy: Adding Selenium Can Increase Power and Cut Costs for Solar Panels Cadmium telluride could offer a cheaper alternative to silicon. By Mike Brown on May 14, 2019 Filed Under Energy Move over, silicon: an alternative solar panel material is making great strides in efficiency, which could mean thinner designs and prices so low … Continue reading Solar panels about to get much less expensive
Tag: energy
Yet more McKibben on how climate activists failed to make their case about the dangers of natural gas and fracking
A year old, but unfortunately not outdated. A major battle is taking place, as I write, about whether the Williams Pipeline, will make fracked fuel a major part of NYC's energy supply with a pipeline running thru NY Harbor. https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-climate-activists-failed-to-make-clear-the-problem-with-natural-gas-mckibben OPINION How Climate Activists Failed to Make Clear the Problem with Natural Gas The climate … Continue reading Yet more McKibben on how climate activists failed to make their case about the dangers of natural gas and fracking
5 best TED talks about renewable energy
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/5-best-ted-talks-about-renewable-energy? APRIL 12, 2019 | 10:49 AM 5 OF THE BEST TED TALKS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY Let’s be real: Renewable energy is super cool. Harnessing virtually limitless energy from the natural world? Check. Without releasing dangerous carbon pollution into our atmosphere? Double check.Around the world, cities, states, countries, and companies are making the switch to … Continue reading 5 best TED talks about renewable energy
Older buildings can be made more energy efficient — it only requires the interest and will
This article about two pre-World War II co-ops on the Upper West Side of NYC is definitely a bit technical, but it illustrates that it's worth making changes even to older buildings. The management of the two buildings contemplate a saving of 5-10% of their energy expenditures. That will occur year after year and will … Continue reading Older buildings can be made more energy efficient — it only requires the interest and will
Canadian coal-fired power plant transformed into solar farm
Unfortunately, when it comes to fossil fuels and Canada, my first thought is the concerted efforts by the miners of some of the dirtiest fuels on the planet to send them by pipeline thru pristine areas of the US. My view is, if you like the stuff so much, send it across your beautiful country to … Continue reading Canadian coal-fired power plant transformed into solar farm
Congestion pricing in NYC a big deal
The first reactions to the imposition of congestion pricing in Manhattan for travel below 50th street fit in three basic categories: (1) Can I get an exception? (2) Why impose a few on private vehicles when the problem is (fill in the blank -- Uber, Lyft, too many cabs, night-time trucks)? (3) how is it … Continue reading Congestion pricing in NYC a big deal
Natural gas IS a fossil fuel y’all
I live here in NYC where many apt buildings used to heat with the very dirtiest of crude oil. The boards of the buildings all crowed when they moved to "clean natural gas." Unfortunately, if you're trying to stop the rate of increase in global warming, ALL fossil fuel use needs to stop -- and … Continue reading Natural gas IS a fossil fuel y’all
Going green has benefits beyond the obvious
Stoves that use renewable energy sources rather than depleting the local forests that stabilize the agricultural land and water supply have far more benefits than those obvious "green" consequences. They also keep the cooks and their families from breathing toxic fumes, save the time spent foraging for fuel, and more. Unfortunately, the personal safety issue … Continue reading Going green has benefits beyond the obvious
About to get incredibly cold in NE US — watch out for frozen water pipes
6 steps you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing The Washington Post · by Daniel Bortz · January 22, 2019 (Andreas Gebert/Reuters) As the winter chill sets in, it’s time to think about protecting your home from the elements. For prudent homeowners, this entails taking steps to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during the cold-weather … Continue reading About to get incredibly cold in NE US — watch out for frozen water pipes
Your dishwasher cleans better if you do no more than scrape off the chunks
This is not the first time I've been told that I shouldn't rinse before putting items in the dishwasher, but the concept that I'm unnecessarily wasting 6,000 gallons of water a year matters to me enough to give this a serious try. Do you have any personal experience? http://mentalfloss.com/article/570520/why-you-shouldnt-rinse-dishes-putting-them-dishwasher
Another unforeseen effect of warming waters and a changing ocean
The synergy between ocean currents, wind patterns, and warmer ocean temperatures is fascinating -- if only it weren't going to produce so many problems for humans and other life. If the Gulf Stream current that warms Europe stops, as many feel it will soon, a lot of Europe will have an entirely different climate which … Continue reading Another unforeseen effect of warming waters and a changing ocean
What’s old becomes new — heating Bath Abbey from hot springs piped by the Romans
Didn't they use the hot springs in Bath three hundred or more years ago? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/08/bath-abbey-heated-water-hot-springs-roman-baths
Abycats' Thoughts 