Green renewable energy. It single handedly, if nurtured properly, could break the cycle of on again off again energy squeezes, the too familiar crisis, and much of our current, politically motivated mideast shenanigans.
Each time a potential presidential candidate has posted on Dkos, I have used that opportunity to express my view that it will be a huge issue in 2008, and that they should propose starting a scientific project with the best and brightest to spearhead breakthrough green energy innovations. They, being in a unique government role, could nurture the roll out of the most viable solutions. Businesses, new and existing, could help themselves while also helping us. There needs to be a national will to do this. During my research, I ran across this article in the MIT technology Review by David Talbot:
http://www.technologyreview.com/...
Between worries over climate change caused by fossil fuels and soaring gasoline prices, no one doubts that the world needs new sources of energy. Marty Hoffert, professor emeritus of physics at New York University -- who has been conducting research in atmospheric science and alternative energy technologies for three decades -- argues that only a radical and disruptive Manhattan Project- or Apollo Program-style approach will work.
(emphasis added)
snip
MH: Entirely new innovations -- potentially disruptive to existing industries -- are needed to wean us from oil and natural gas addiction and to zero out CO2 emissions by midcentury. But we can do it -- there are precedents. Little more than 60 years separate the Wright Flyer from Neil Armstrong's "giant step for mankind." Mere decades elapsed from Steve Jobs' and Steve Wozniak's Apple II to today's lightning-fast laptops, cell phones, and the Internet. John von Neumann, father of the modern computer, believed in the 1950s that only nation-states would be able to afford computers. He would be stunned by our reality.
Great points. When you think about how we have not changed substantially, on a mass scale, the ways in which we power our world since carbon based power became the norm, and then you compare it to the huge leaps in other industries, this screams out as an anomaly.
I wanted to see what other countries were doing in the green energy area because they seem more committed than us at the moment. I read this article about a Green building in the heart of Bejing that serves to help them rethink how they could derive their power for commercial building projects.
http://www.csmonitor.com/...
In a country both energy-starved and cash-conscious, the new ministry of science building is a small wonder. It uses 70 percent less energy than similar federal buildings, and saves 10,000 tons of water a year through rainwater collection. Wise use of quality materials inside a simple, plain design also make it far cheaper to build and maintain than comparable Beijing buildings.
snip
The new ministry of science building offers a checklist of green dreams: Roof-top solar panels provide 5 percent of the building's energy. Nine percent of the energy used is recyclable. Lighting is "intelligent," adjusting the level of artificial lighting to take into account the amount of natural light. Some 70 percent of rain that falls on the building is stored and used for watering and cooling. The building uses the energy needed for more than 200 people under the current Beijing standard, yet more than 400 work there.
Also, while federal buildings in Beijing cost $850 to $1,000 a square meter, the green building came in at $700 per square meter, largely by avoiding expensive marble.
In Australia
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/...
Joint recipients of a $1 million grant under the Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program, the Australian National University and Rheem Industries, have developed a solar concentrator system suitable for the generation of both electricity and hot water in urban regions. The system is called the combined heat and power solar (CHAPS) concentrator system. The system is based on sun-tracking glass mirrors that reflect light onto a receiver lined with solar cells. The solar cells are illuminated with approximately 35 times normal solar concentration and convert about 15 per cent of the sunlight into electricity. The balance of the solar energy is converted into heat, which is removed by water flowing in a channel behind the solar cells. The resulting hot water is collected for use in the building and is stored in a conventional solar hot water tank.
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Austrailia National University is installing this at a residence hall.
The new hall of residence will house around 100 students in 68 rooms with kitchenettes and ensuite bathrooms and is ideal for launching the commercialisation of CHAPS technology. It is estimated that the CHAPS system will generate 209kW of thermal energy providing about 80% of the hot water needs of the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry and about 30% of the winter heating requirement via a hydroponic floor heating system. The 56kW DC of electrical output will be converted to AC and put towards the building's load or sold to the grid.
As I searched, the sheer volume of projects being initiated, expanded, or explored became quite apparent. All over the globe this is being wrestled with, thought about, and in many cases tackled with great gusto. Here is a website that can help you comb through masses of information and projects by country and type of green energy source.
http://www.caddet.org/...
A few things were even startling to come across, like this recent breakthrough by a team of South African scientists that have been researching solar panel technology for 10 years. It was a February 11, 2006 article in the Weekend Argus in South Africa.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/...
In a scientific breakthrough that has stunned the world, a team of South African scientists has developed a revolutionary new, highly efficient solar power technology that will enable homes to obtain all their electricity from the sun.
International experts have stated that "nothing else comes close to the effectiveness of the SA invention" A special converter can feed the energy through
existing wiring. They have combined this with powerful new units that can store the energy for use in winter. This invention is now patented around the world. It is estimated this new technology will be available there in about 1 year. The kicker is, a German solar company is negotiating for rights to this. Why aren't we ?
The South African solar panels consist of a thin layer of a unique metal alloy that converts light into energy. The photo-responsive alloy can operate on virtually all flexible surfaces, which means it could in future find a host of other applications.
Alberts said the new panels are approximately five microns thick (a human hair is 20 microns thick) while the older silicon panels are 350 microns thick. the cost of the South African technology is a fraction of the less effective silicone solar panels.
The article is well worth the read. They have invented a substantially more effective solar panel
for a fraction of the cost. Sounds like a win-win to me.
There is hope, even in our country there are many projects that have been launched, for instance, Loveland Colorado Xcel homes to build the first net zero home.
http://www.lovelandfyi.com/...
Loveland-based Aspen Homes has its first net zero energy home under contract. The homes are designed and constructed to produce as much energy as they consume, said Jammie Sabin, Aspen Homes president.
"What net zero energy means is that sometimes during the year you're buying energy and sometimes you're selling it, but at the end your bill is zero," he said.
While there are many ways to build such a home, the company chose two technologies in particular, Sabin said. Crews will install photovoltaic solar panels that are connected to Xcel Energy's power grid. When the homeowners aren't depleting the energy supply, Xcel will pay the homeowners for the power that goes back into the system. A unique meter, called net-metering, tracks the energy for reimbursement.
We can thank California for passing a long term Solar Energy Plan:
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/...
In the U.S., even we have had recent breakthroughs. It is interesting to note though, that I found our happy news from the BBC. What does that tell you. BBC News- Natural Light to Reinvent Bulbs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
A light source that could put the traditional light bulb in the shade has been invented by US scientists.
The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) emits a brilliant white light when attached to an electricity supply.
The material, described in the journal Nature, can be printed in wafer thin sheets that could transform walls, ceilings or even furniture into lights.
Apparently the only sticking point is a way to seal the OLED's from moisture. The scientists think that eventually this could convert 100% of electricity to light without heat loss. Way to go USC.
Pennsylvania is going to have a renewable energy festival this September. I ran across this highly useful website that has links to many useful articles, some of which I have detailed here. It is really the best website I have come across, very comprehensive and informative, not only from a local perspective, but from a global perspective. Check it out.
http://www.paenergyfest.com/
I should mention a good article that finally put to bed some of the traditional excuses that have been used to avoid doing anything about renewable, and alternative energy for general consumption. Winnona Minnesota - correcting the record on renewable energy
http://www.winonadailynews.com/...
State Sen. Ellen Anderson had this to say:
For the past two years, we have been trying to pass a bill at the state Capitol that would create a Renewable Energy Standard for Minnesota, calling for at least 20 percent of our electricity to come from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass by 2020. During this time, more than 100 lobbyists have been fighting to stop the bill because every electric utility in the state opposes it. The utilities have been trying to convince Minnesotans the 2020 bill will cost ratepayers more, make our electric grid unreliable and be bad for business. They are wrong and we want to set the record straight
Renewable energy, especially wind, costs no more than fossil fuels and is a hedge against future coal and natural gas price hikes.
Wind is already competitively priced and is actually cheaper than building a new coal plant. All the utilities admit the renewable energy requirements we've passed since 1994 have not cost ratepayers an extra dime, and in some cases have gotten ratepayers cheaper electricity.
she goes on to make other important points such as these sources of energy are renewable, and that Germany and Denmark get about 25% of their energy from wind already.
What can possibly be stopping this country from making the leap to these abundant, renewable, green energy solutions. Inertia, a mind set rooted in the past, fear, a concerted effort by moneyed interests of interrupting their gravy train, lack of knowledge, lack of coordination, uncertainty. The most important thing, I think, is a lack of leadership on this issue. When I first started this diary, I was certain that new breakthroughs could lead us out of our misery. I still think that is true, but I have also come to the realization that many solutions already exist, and are waiting for the right set of circumstances and the will to set out on this path. In short, we need a leader at the national level that can coordinate for our country the myriad of solutions to help each area meet it's energy needs with the right fit of green technology. For instance, a coastline community could utilize wave off shore and wave on shore technology. Heavily farm or forested areas can make use of biomass solutions. Geothermal can be the solution near hot springs around the country. Reykjavik generates nearly it's entire city's energy needs using geothermal energy. In short, we can still pioneer breakthroughs, but we also need another team to help the states roll out solutions available now. This cause needs a champion. I can't even begin to support a presidential candidate that has not thought about energy solution for our country, or will commit to assembling a comprehensive guide out of our current troubles.
Why do I mention future presidential candidates when we have a president currently? See kos' diary on Nancy Pelosi's remarks yesterday. She is right, they are incapable of these types of solutions. They are oil men, they see only oil. They are nearly indistinguishable from their patrons. They are the members of the current flat earth society. Evidence clearly points to the earth being round, but through willful ignorance and blind compliance, they refuse to see what is clearly right in front of them. For the remainder of their term it will be up to the states, and willing members of congress to keep energy issues in front of the American people. I have high hopes for Al Gore's new movie "An Inconvenient Truth" to raise public awareness about the dangers we face should this country willfully remain ignorant. Here is an article on Bush that sums it all up. Palm Springs Desert Sun- critic rips Bush
http://www.thedesertsun.com/...
According to Robert Peltier, editor of Power Magazine, the Bush administration talks a good game on energy independence, but doesn't put its money where its mouth is. Peltier believes that the administration is committed to spending billions for major military contracts and the periodic termination penalties, but gives only lip service when it comes to meeting alternative energy development.
Peltier supports his thesis by comparing the multiple billions that have been squandered on undoable long-term military projects, while relatively few millions have been committed to the initiation or extension of alternative energy projects.
Finally... The Boston Globe had a great op-ed piece on how it can be profitable to be green.
http://www.boston.com/...
All are taking a hard look at General Motors and Ford, stumbling, in part, because they failed to keep up with consumer demands for smaller, efficient cars. In 2005 venture capitalists invested more than $44 billion in ''smart technologies" for the grid, hybrids, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and geothermal energy. It's becoming cool to be green, and the trick is to be clean, green, and profitable.
Here's a suggestion: While we're formulating plans, let's start with ''no-regrets" solutions, with multiple co-benefits, such as ''green buildings." Estimated health and performance savings for workers and students are in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Geothermal systems that tap into the heat of bedrock -- such as at Trinity Church and the new Audubon Center in Boston and the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge -- let buildings derive 80 percent of their heat free. Better insulation, lighting, and ventilation have immediate paybacks. Since 70 percent of Boston's greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, a change in new construction and retrofitting of old could make a significant difference in energy bills and security, and create jobs. How can we make this happen? Green, healthy, and affordable housing in Boston -- that resonates with Mayor Thomas E. Menino's chief concerns. Green, clean, high-end housing also sounds good.
Cities and states can donate land, provide tax abatements, and invest their pension plans. In the Bay State -- where renewable energy and energy-efficient initiatives have spawned 10,000 new jobs -- the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative can provide seed money. Insurance companies can alter building codes and reduce premiums to reward green developers. Banks and pension and mutual funds can help jump-start infant industries and help others make the shift to healthy practices. Guided by community development corporations, green buildings can use wood from sustainably nurtured forests, nontoxic materials, and biodegradable ''plastics."
Thanks for sticking with the diary all the way through. I know it was long, but hopefully inspirational. Maybe we can have more people write about their local initiatives along green energy lines to help jump start our collective mind set. Go green.