The Future of the UK’s Energy Security
The future prospects for the UK’s gas supply do not look great. What is the scale of the problem and what does it mean for the consumer?
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Archive for The Politics
Environmental Action and the Durban Climate Talks
The latest round of climate change talks is due to get underway later this month in Durban, and there seems to be a general air of pessimism surrounding the issue. This is for a couple of reasons: one is that the attention of many large countries is currently on global economic issues rather than environmental ones, and another is that levels of climate skepticism from countries such as the US make it harder for action to be taken. Read the rest of this entry »
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5 Organizations Providing Clean Water to the People
The global water crisis is a matter of life and death for millions of people around the world. Statistics fail to capture the severity of the crisis, but their relevance cannot be gainsaid. More than 1 billion people live every day without clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people live without proper water sanitation, all of which result in an estimated 1.8 million deaths a year. The death toll is expected to rise as the world’s population continues to grow, and urbanization and industrialization absorb even more of the world’s natural resources.
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Energy Used to Be Cheap
Energy used to be cheap so overall most people became wasteful of energy even to the point of energy hogs. Whether it was that electric power bills were minor or that you could drive from Winnipeg to Minneapolis return on $ 13 of gas conserving, saving and not wasting fuel and energy was essentially a non-issue. At least in North America most commercial buildings and even homes were built in these pre-1973 oil crisis times of the 1960’s and 50’s when cheap energy ruled the roost and there was power and gas to “burn”. Yet no doubt times have changed, not only in terms of prices and pricing but also in addition in terms of our values and norms when it comes to the using of excess energy and energy conservation.
Don't Be an ENERGY HOG !!
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Its Easy to Accept An Alternative Renewal Energy Plan & Mindset
Wherever you and your family reside you can start easing yours, theirs and family members as well into the “natural energy “picture right away. If you look through recommendations from solar , wind and governmental energy saving agencies you will notice that most of what is being done in this area of “alternate energy” and energies is for the most part completely new , complex and complicated and certainly not outside the boundaries of good old fashioned common sense. For the most part we are returning to good old proven and sustainable ways and means. The sun has been there for a long time – billions and billions of years. People have burned wood for heat since the dawn of man.
Add in the potential for heat from hot springs and geysers.
Read the rest of this entry »
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5 HOW TO: Brand Yourself as a Green Expert
Green business consulting is a multi-billion dollar industry, and it’s just one division of the field created by the earth-friendly movements of the last several years. It’s hardly a wonder. After all, the innovations created by the movement aren’t just capable of saving the world – they’re capable of saving businesses and families a few dollars, too. Due to the booming success of green solutions, being branded as a “green expert” is more than a little advantageous.
Here are five ways you can get yourself out there as just such an expert.
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BioMass Heating – The Benefits and Different Types
With the world’s fossil fuel and natural gas reserves becoming ever more scarce, the price of energy derived from these sources is likely to continue to climb. In mid 2011, UK energy companies all raised prices across the board, some by as much as 25%. This was blamed on the price of wholesale oil and gas rising and fluctuating, combined with political uncertainties and civil unrest in many production countries. The energy companies claimed they could no longer absorb the increase in prices, so had to pass it on.
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Could Lower Oil Prices Provide Economic Stimulus?
On Thursday, June 23, 2011 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve of the United States released approximately 30 million barrels of oil, coordinating with the International Energy Agency, which released another 30 million barrels. This had the impact of pushing the price of oil futures down by more than 4 percent to $91.57 per barrel. The low point reached was $89.69 per barrel, but the price quickly recovered to its current level.
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How To Find An Environmentally Responsible Internet Service Provider
The Internet industry has a dirty little secret: there’s a huge environmental cost to pay for running all of those server farms, data centers and communications nodes that we all take for granted. Every web search, email and YouTube video must be supported by an immense electrical infrastructure that isn’t always sourced from the cleanest of sources. The question then becomes one of how to make the most ecologically ethical choices when selecting an Internet service provider. Is there a way for you to peek behind the curtain and get a full appraisal of how a company runs its business from a green perspective?
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The Growth of Sustainability Conferences
The June 2011 National Sustainability Summit, a national conference on sustainability issues aimed at green business leaders, was held this year in Detroit, Michigan. Not surprisingly, the featured speakers included VPs of Productions and Environmental Design and Sustainability managers from Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, but the event included presentations from sources as diverse as the Environmental Protection Agency, owners of small sustainability consulting firms, and students. The conference featured a variety of interesting and compelling speakers, a wealth of new ideas and techniques for promoting sustainability, and plenty of networking, but one thing seemed to be crystal-clear to everyone involved: that environmental sustainability has become a huge business, worth billions of dollars, and the consultants and executives in attendance wanted to learn how they could get a part of it.
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Liquid salt reduces the inconvenience of road salt lation
The cold winters in Denmark is synonymous with salt lation. Up to 500,000 tonnes is spread out on the roads, and it all ends up in ditches and on cars. The environmental consequences are large, and rust and wear on the cars cost millions of dollars. A new solution combining ryddning by spraying a liquid saline solution can reduce consumption by 80 percent and provide citizens with accurate information on the amount of salt used on each route. Read the rest of this entry »
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I will buy a Hummer
I am in the market for a new car. To my surprise there is no alternatives in Denmark to gasoline and diesel cars. It is possible to order a Prius, but no dealers has a model home I can test. It is also possible to import a hybrid, electric or plantoil/biodiesel ready car but theres is not one single place in this country I can go and see and have a spin in such a car.
Importing a car is a difficult task, there will be doubt about the tax until the car is imported and I would prefer to have a local salesman to address for service and if something goes wrong.
I do not understand why this is. All major car manufacturers have electric cars, hybrid and plant oil ready cars and they are on the market in several countries, why not here? Why do they not test the Danish market – they would find me and possible a lot of others potential buyers.
Some months ago the tax on new cars were differentiated, so it makes environment friendly cars a lot cheaper. This is said to have increased the sale of small gasoline cars – but so far no new products have been introduced. Thats a shame, now I’ll buy a Hummer instead…
Stricter rules for organic farming i EU
The European Parliament has adopted a report, which seeks to strengthen proposed new regulation on organic production and the labelling of organic products. The parliament has called for stricter rules for importations and certification bodies, better labelling with the possibility to keep national organic logos, integration of non-food products and extension of the scope of the legislation to catering and restaurants.Following the vote, Vice-President Marie-Helene Aubert from (Greens) said: “The EP has today voted for much stronger rules for organic production and product labelling in the EU. Following the active role of the Parliament on this regulation some of the changes proposed in the EP report have already been accepted by the Council. These include: a better framework for controls, inspections and certification of imports of organic products from third Countries, which did not have similar legislation and controls in place; clearer rules for processing, certifying and labelling of organic products, while preserving the existing specific national and regional labels of the private organic organisations. We also welcome that regular consultation of the stakeholders in organic farming is now agreed,” writes www.neurope.eu.
New Toyota Prius for 5.500 euro less
Taxes on new cars here in Denmark was readjusted last week. The new idea is that kilometer pr. liter gasolin/diesel directs the tax. Popular gas guzzlers like Porsche Cayenne and Hummer H2 will from now on cost about 25.000 euro more while a new Toyota Prius will cost 5.500 euro less. Thanks!
Why saving power won’t cut down CO2 emissions
One of the major problems with the Koyoto agreement is that CO2-pollution now can be traded between power companies and countries. A direct consequence for me as a consumer who wants lower my households emissions is that my spared emissions is a product that my regional coal based power supplier owns!
In the old days before Koyoto I could save CO2 by remembering to turn the lights off and buy low power consuming products. But not anymore. Every time I save a bit CO2, that amount goes into the calculations that shows how much CO2 Danish companies can sell on the world market. The more CO2 -quotas that are available on the market the cheaper it is for power plants to buy the right to keep on burning coal.
At the moment the Danish Minister of Environment is running a campaign to make people take a personal responsibility. Again and again it is mentioned that we should be concerned about our use of power and turn off stand by devices etc. but the fact is that it has absolutely no influence on the CO2-emisisons. Instead we are making the (coal burning power companies) richer and fulfilling our ministers political project of lowering Denmark’s total emissions. But what does it really matter if the quotas just are sold to Germany?
Actually we would be better off with a greater individual approach and no Koyoto protocol at all. Koyoto is a mistake because it eliminates the personal responsibility and makes environmentalism and passion for the wellbeing of the planet a good that can bought and sold on a market place.
One more wind generator here means more CO2 emitted somewhere else.
Australia bans the light bulb
Just change your light bulbs, says Australian Prime Minister John Howard. In an effort to reduce his country’s carbon emissions (and to simplify his party’s environmental policy) Howard’s government will outlaw the antiquated incandescent light bulb by 2010. Australians will have to use more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, which are about five times more energy efficient and last much longer than standard bulbs.
Similar ideas have recently been suggested in California. Link
North Korea to quit the nukes and go green
The third round of six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear program should end later today with the parties expected to reach a general agreement on all controversial issues. What is interesting is that massive aid in forms of establishing and alternative energy sector in North Korea seems to play a lead role in the negotiations.
The five countries negotiating with North Korea to end its nuclear program have agreed to provide Pyongyang with alternative energy equivalent to one million tons of heavy fuel oil each year if it “disables” its nuclear facilities within the next two months, writes the South Korean newspaper Yonhap News.
The head of the Russian delegation said to the Russian Ria Novosti that Russia stands for destroying the Yongbyon nuclear reactor rather than simply closing it down because the facility would not seriously affect North Korea’s energy security:
“We support the suspension of activities [at the Yongbyon Nuclear center] as a first step, but it would be even better to dismantle it and provide North Korea with alternative energy sources instead,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said. Link.
What kind of alternative energy sources the parties have in mind is still an uanswered question.
EU Bows to Car Lobby on Pollution Limits
priceofoil.org writes: “No surprises here really. The European Commission has missed a vital chance to impose tough curbs on CO2 emissions from cars after fierce lobbying from the car lobby, especially German manufacturers. Instead the Commission will opt today for a blueprint on emission limits that avoids placing the maximum burden on car-makers. The decision comes after months of lobbying by the car lobby, and the intervention of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. It has seen an open feud between the Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and his counterpart with responsibility for industry. More here: Link
Easier for Danes to go green
The government will cut the use of fossil fuels by making it easier for Danes to go green. Whether by issuing credits for energy efficiency, cutting registration fees on hydrogen-powered cars or increasing expenditures on clean fuel research, the government will make it easer for people to contribute to the national goal of 30 percent renewable energy by 2025.
The plan, presented Friday, would require a doubling of the amount of renewable energy currently used in Denmark. At the same time, fossil fuel use would be reduced by 15 percent.
The plan has critizised for not beeing ambitious enough since the targets will be more than met if continuing the path allready chosen.
Sweden totally green by 2020 – and did Norway invent the cheesecutter?
I heard it mentioned that in Norway it is common knowledge that Norway is world-famous for having invented the cheese knife. I don’t know if it is so or even if they did invent the cheese cutter, but I know that I have never heard anyone say: ” Hey did you know that a Norwegian genius invented this?”
The story is good to remember when politicians use the the trick of comparing our own state of things with other countries.
Very often in the energy debates in Denmark it is noted that Denmark is in the absolute front when it comes to research, biofuels, windpower etc. But when digging through the international mediascape for news about cutting edge green technologies, how come the genius in the class never speaks out?
Right now we are having a fierce debate about how not to meet the EU-Commissions regulations on biofuel. Politicians can´t agree on wether we should invest taxpayers money in first- or second generation ethanol plants while the americans and are building new high tech plants with help from our experts today. We thought that windmill business belonged to Denmark, and it has due to historical reasons, but the huge US-companies, Siemens and others are also in the business now. I am afraid the truth is that we are dreaming.
Today´s top energy story from NBC was that Sweden now has reached consensus that the country should outphase fossil fuel by 2020. Link.
