October 2011
1 post
Solar Bright Spot
With many of California oil fields in decline, they are requiring steam to extract the last parts of oil out of the rock.
Interestingly, solar thermal is turning out to be a very cost effective way to make that steam. In fact, steam produced by plants built by BrightSource Energy are making the steam 25% cheaper than a new natural gas fired generator. That is saying something because natural...
August 2011
1 post
Gold Bubble
Gold is near and dear to people’s hearts. My Grandmother was a “goldbug” and followed gold mining stocks daily. Gold even has “smart” investors like Glenn Beck promoting it.
There is a gold rush going on right here in front of us. This is a sure danger sign that we are in bubble territory.
Notice the commercials for buying gold? Notice how gold has been one of...
May 2011
2 posts
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Bike Commutes Make Time, Car Commutes Suck Time
It was no surprise when I read a Slate article on the problems with long, passive commutes. I thought these commutes merely caused some extra stress. It turns out that long commutes increase obesity, divorce rates, neck pain, insomnia and overall happiness levels.
There is certainly a cost to owning that “cheaper” home in the suburbs.
My own opinion is that the human body does...
Is the iPad a laptop killer?
I am sitting here making this post on my iPad. However, I am typing on a regular keyboard. I have the logitech/Zagg bluetouth keyboard and iPad case (www.zagg.com). I can pretty much do everything on here I can do on a laptop, but with the added convenience of a touchscreen.
If tablets kill the laptop category, it would be detrimental to Apple and everyone else in the laptop business.
...
April 2011
2 posts
China and Africa - Friends or Foes?
China’s influence and
reach around the world is astounding. In particular, China’s trade with Africa increased from a mere $2 billion in 2000 to $60 billion in 2010.
China loves Africa’s natural resources, low wages and easy exploitation of workers and the environment with little transparency. Since western democracies and the companies based there tend to shy away from...
How Green is Natural Gas?
A recent Cornell study concludes that electicity produced from natural gas fired turbines is far more carbon intensive than previously thought; even greater than coal. The study whose principal author is Robert Howarth uncovers some of the previously undistinguished leaks in the natural gas production system.
First energy is expended to begin producing energy. Geological surveys, geophysical...
March 2011
1 post
Nuclear? Non, Merci
While recent events in Japan have the world all twitterpated about nuclear power, the facts remain the same. Nuclear power is not economic in terms of return on investment.
While it is true that older plants create significant free cash flow, new plants are too expensive to build, resulting in negative returns on investment. That is why nobody has broken ground on a new plant in the US,...
February 2011
2 posts
Are Solar Companies Hoping to Double Panel Sales...
The solar industry is getting big, but will it double in 2011 over 2010? Solar companies are expected to double capacity to 36 gigawatts this year (the equivalent of 36 nuclear power plants!). Capacity is the key word there. Yes, they will likely double capacity as they have been generating 100% IRRs on new plant construction. More is better, right?
The problem is sales need to double in...
Massive Defense Budget in the US does not Increase... →
The roughly $1 trillion spent on defense is eight times the defense budget of the Chinese. Ultimately, the biggest threat to national security is our debt and global warming. So, if we spend more on the military, and increase our debt, we get a negative security return for every extra dollar we spend on the military. It is time to look at every program the Pentagon runs, and make some cuts. I...
January 2011
3 posts
Anonymous asked: Hi Brett. Amrit here. I just read this article in the New Yorker, which is saying basically that hybrid vehicles won't help our environment at all. In fact, they will do the opposite. That the more energy efficient we make things, the increase in demand will more than offset the energy savings. What do you think? http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/12/20/101220fa_fact_owen
December 2010
3 posts
Nissan Leaf Burning up Electrons at High Speeds
I just read a post by Oliver Chalouhi, the first person in the country to take ownership of a production Nissan Leaf. All is well, and he loves it. It is quiet, peppy and the electronics are really sophisticated.
His only issue is that when he drives on the highway at 75mph, his range goes down to 60 miles from the published 100 mile range. This makes sense, as air friction increases as the...
Nissan and GM Poor Online Electric Car Marketers
Electric vehicles are now ready for the masses. Top tier auto companies are now shipping production vehicles. Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt are now available in select markets.
Neither company is doing the best job building demand on-line.
Let’s take the Volt. The company is spending big bucks advertising the car on the TV and online. I just saw a display ad on techcrunch for...
The Pope Going Electric?
The Vatican is looking for a new Popemobile. Preferably one that runs on electricity.
Pope Benedict the 16th is big on clean energy, and the church even published a book showing what the Vatican has done to make itself sustainable. Apparently the main hurdle is the Pope’s security force, which expressed concerns about the ability of an electric vehicle to act as a speedy getaway car in an...
November 2010
2 posts
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October 2010
6 posts
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World Resources Institute →
“Working at the intersection of environment and human needs.”
Check out WRI’s Markets & Enterprise section.
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Field Report: Green Education in Ethiopia
I am now on a flight back from Ethiopia (located near the horn of East Africa, surrounded by Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Eritrea).
I lived for the last three weeks in the northern region of the country, in the high plateaus and mountains of Tigray. Due to elevations of around 7,000 feet, Tigray’s climate is ideal with “13 months of sunshine,” as locals happily tell you. Daytime...
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Watch
Tim Jackson’s Economic Reality-Check
(larger viewer)
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“Apple computers have emerged as the clear leader as far as green computers go.”
– According to Nikki Martin at Incrediblygreen.org, the newest Macbook is the greenest laptop for the following reasons.
made of recyclable polycarbonate
Apple will recycle your old machines
less product packaging is used
5-year / 1000-charge battery
no Arsenic, Mercury, Lead, PVC, and BFR
smart...
September 2010
19 posts
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Clean Tech: The Truly Conservative Choice
We need to move fast to clean tech and we need to start now.
I just finished watching Matt Damon in The Green Zone. The movie’s story was drawn from events surrounding the justification for the US invasion of Iraq.
Agitating a fear-frenzy after the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration “found” its evidence for huge stores of chemical and nuclear weapons held in Iraq (weapons of mass...
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Field Report: Conference in Manhattan
I just returned from the Rodman and Renshaw Investment Conference in New York City. I got to chat with former General Wesley Clark, a strong advocate of clean tech.
These military guys are pretty smart. They see first-hand the incredible toll that protection of oil supplies takes on the US military. Not only is economic security compromised by the debt generated by intensive military...
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richardmdry asked: Brett,
I love the new format. Congratulations on a great move. I will follow your blog.
I will also honor you by inviting you out for a day of fun in the surf on my 2 personal watercraft. I spent 10 hours last Saturday in a wetsuit on the water riding shore breaking waves from Channel Islands Marina to Santa Barbara and back. I did that day solo, but would like to invite you on a...
I love the new format. Congratulations on a great move. I will follow your blog.
I will also honor you by inviting you out for a day of fun in the surf on my 2 personal watercraft. I spent 10 hours last Saturday in a wetsuit on the water riding shore breaking waves from Channel Islands Marina to Santa Barbara and back. I did that day solo, but would like to invite you on a...
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“Plants are good at doing what scientists and engineers have been struggling to...”
– singularitarian
I have heard that an MIT solar project is a paint that can be applied to any metal surface, which converts it into a sun harvester, based on the way plants photosynthesize light. The above may be referring to that project.
WatchThis combines eco-farming, energy generation, and sequestering carbon (essentially scrubbing the environment of excess carbon)!
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Underwater Turbines Swim to Fast Currents →
“ … a swarm of underwater turbines that behave like schools of fish to capture the shifting current. These autonomous turbines wouldn’t need to be affixed to one spot on the seafloor. Instead, a set of them would be tethered, allowing them to move together. Sensors would let them communicate with each other.”
This sounds quite a bit like the MIT project called Sea Swarm (which was...
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“What two countries lead the world in energy consumption, energy production and...”
– The White House Blog
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Day 2 Day Green: eBay's Green Shipping Solution →
eBay is testing out new green boxes that can be reused from seller to buyer. The boxes are made of 100% recycled materials and printed with water-based inks. eBay is trying to encourage buyers to use these boxes to sell items themselves. It is projected that this program could save 2.4…
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WatchBrett Conrad’s introduction to the Blue Earth Blog
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WatchStatistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation’s success by its productivity - instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people.
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“When you compare the real costs of solar with the fully loaded real costs of...”
– Tom Rooney, CEO SPG Solar
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Leaf Ties: Poignant Plastic Eco-Meme →
The Leaf tie is easy to use. It is simply used in the same manner as the cable-tie. All you have to do is wrap the Leaf Tie around the loose cables. The design of the Leaf tie makes the cables look like wrapped twigs. For young children or people that live in the city that tire from the artificially modern environment, the Leaf tie can for a short while let them experience a hint of nature.
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$30 Energy Use Monitor - Stop Vampire Appliances! →
Belkin will soon be releasing their new Conserve Insite energy use monitor to compliment their full Conserve product line. Many of today’s devices use energy even when turned off which is costing you money. This device allows you to find out how much energy your appliances and…
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“Bright Greens” (environmentalists) →
August 2010
22 posts
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Anonymous asked: Brett,
Thanks for the announcement.
Should my wife and I buy a Nissan Leaf?
Why isn't Aptera selling cars?
I want electric, but still a bit nervous.
CL
Thanks for the announcement.
Should my wife and I buy a Nissan Leaf?
Why isn't Aptera selling cars?
I want electric, but still a bit nervous.
CL
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Is Your Airline Fuel Efficient?
Airlines with higher fuel efficiency are financially more stable by being less affected by oil price hikes. Also, the more fuel efficient they are, the less fuel they have to haul around, which further improves efficiency. We, the flying public, also benefit from lower pollution levels from these airlines.
The two best airlines are Alaska Air and JetBlue followed closely by Continental and...
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Anonymous asked: Brett, how soon do you think that countries will begin actually 'scrubbing' the air and water to remove pollution in an all-out effort to reverse global warming? ... Will it really take blackened skies and toxic oceans before this kind of proactive response begins?
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Device Fatigue Saps Creativity and Power
We all know those times where we are sitting in the checkout line at the grocery store and decide to get in a quick text or read an e-mail.
Well, it turns out that the brain has not adapted well to this continuous feed into the digital world. We need time to digest all this information we are bringing in.
Start turning off the cell phones, laptops and iPads during the day to give your brain a...
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Iran Nuclear Plant: Decades Behind Schedule and...
Finally, Iran is starting up the Bushehr Nuclear power plant, after beginning construction in 1975. Yes, indeed it has been 35 years of moving like a tortoise to the finish line. Although figures are not available on its budget, I would make an educated guess that the plant has ended up costing twenty times its original estimate.
All nuclear plants built in the last 20 years have run over...
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China Blocks a US Solar Supplier
In what appears to be no-win situation for the American company First Solar, a Mongolian order to provide panels for a giant solar plant has been squashed by the Chinese government.
The order was written in November of 2009 to great fanfare, coinciding with President Obama’s visit to China. Only, once the US delegation left and it became time to start construction, the Chinese reviewed that...
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