Blogs

How We Know Global Warming Is Happening in One Graphic

image: Skeptical Science Skeptical Science has been really pulling out all the stops as 2010 comes to an end, first releasing a great PDF Guide to Global Warming Skepticism and now adding the above image summarizing all the different indicators that the world is indeed warming. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Friday,31 December, 2010 | Hits: 15

Smart Meter Protest Blocks Road, Forces PG&E Trucks To Retreat (Video)

Screen grab via YouTube video California residents are ramping up their efforts to stop, or at least slow down, the installation of smart meters. The state has already seen consumers incensed over smart meters, from central valley to the bay area, and there's even a bill introduced in the state that will allow consumers to opt out of wireless smart meter installations until health studies are completed. However, the latest action by Marin residents really takes the cake -- they created a road blockade that effectively turned around PG&E trucks re... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Friday,31 December, 2010 | Hits: 18

$1,260 Jacket, $980 Pants Prove Solar Fashion Has A Long Way To Go

Images via Silvr Lining Despite the fact that solar cell technology is constantly improving, there seems to be little indication that fashion incorporating those solar cells is improving at all. Example: Silvr Lining's GO Solar Power Collection. Their new line of jackets, vests and cargo pants sport solar panels for charging gadgets while on the go. However, they probably won't do you much good since you likely won't want to leave the house wearing them. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 14

Water Supplies Soaked Up By Oil Industry in California

Photo by CGP Grey via Flickr Creative Commons Extracting and refining oil is a water-costly process. California doesn't have much water to spare, yet it is pouring billions of gallons of this invaluable substance into its oil business. Right now, oil companies in Kern county use as much as 8 barrels of water for each barrel of oil produced. Oil companies consumed 83% of the district's water allocation last year. Is this really the wisest use of a resource that, in so many ways, is far more precious than oil? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 14

i-Tree Software Puts a Price Tag on Trees To Save Them

Photo by lrargerich via Flickr Creative Commons What are city trees really worth? Just how much of a contribution do they make to cityscapes, and how can we calculate the pricetag? A software program called i-Tree helps to save urban trees by pinpointing their value. Created by the US Forest Service, the program hammers out cost-benefit calculations to quantify the contribution trees make in urban environments.... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 15

2012 Ford Focus Will Have Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and Battery Electric Models

Photo: Ford All Coming from the Same Factory I guess now we know how former U.S. president George W. Bush spends his time: Driving cars for photoshoots! Kidding aside, this post is about the 2012 Focus. Ford has announced that thanks to a $550 million investment in their Michigan Assembly Plant (which used to make gas guzzling SUVs, and now has a 0.5-megawatt solar system and electric trucks that carry parts around), they will be able to make 4 different versions of the Focus: the regular gasoline-powered one, a gas-electric hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an all-electric version.... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 12

BRIMCS Countries Outspend Rich Countries in Energy Research & Development

Date: Kempener & al. BRIMCS = Brazil, Russia, Mexico, China, and South Africa A lot of very smart people have been saying for a very long time that rich countries (see the IEA members here), and especially the U.S., aren't investing enough in energy R&D. That's sad, because energy is so central to almost everything in modern society, including our environmental problems, that without some real acceleration ... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 10

The Future of Water Technology Highlighted By Finalists for Imagine H2O Competition

Image via ImagineH2O The Imagine H2O contest has announced finalists for this year's competition. These ten start-ups are competing for a $100,000 prize plus business and legal support to help get their idea off the ground and into the marketplace. The finalists focus on everything from water purification to generating energy from water. But the issues these start-ups focus on --often overlooked in other cleantech competitions -- shine a light on the future of water. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 17

Green Landlord Awards. Would You Nominate Yours?

Photo credit: Renew magazine What sets Renew magazine apart from the myriad other eco technology and green lifestyle publications on newstand shelves, is that it has no 'puff pieces', no light reading articles. Rather it's full of gritty, information rich articles about real people achieving real change in their lives. And the current issue just out is no exception. Take just one example, their Green Landlord Awards. An excellent way to encourage property owners to be water and energy smart, using a carrot rather than a stick. Would your landlord make the grade?... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 11

Desalination Plants To Hit $87.8 Billion in Investments Over Next 5 Years

Photo by prilfish via Flickr Creative Commons Desalination technology -- turning brackish or salt water into fresh water -- has been a hotly debated issue for years. The main problem is that the technology is incredibly energy intensive, and there for financially and environmentally expensive. However, as water supplies run short, desalination is looking more attractive. So, innovators are coming up with ways to make the process more energy efficient and reduce the environmental impact of plants. As desalination nears a boom phase, invest... Read the full story on TreeHugger read full article ...
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Saturday,25 December, 2010 | Hits: 11