From Austin to Boston on Natural Gas
Last summer, Castlen Kennedy went on a 10-day, 2,500 mile roadtrip from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts. Driving with her friend, Cheryl Dalton, Castlen drove through 13 states in this 10-day period, all in the comfort of a Chevy Tahoe that had been converted to run on natural gas, in addition to gasoline. Over the 2,500 miles, Castlen and Cheryl managed to drive exclusively on natural gas,... Read More
Energy Miracles: Innovating to Zero CO2
In February 2010, Bill Gates stood up and presented a TED talk on what we can do to improve the lives of the poorest 2 billion people on the planet. Perhaps surprisingly, this talk was not on vaccines or seeds, but instead was focused on how energy – and the carbon dioxide emitted by our energy systems – impacts this population. And how we need “energy miracles,” though innovation that... Read More
Turning the off Lights Won’t Save Oil
Today, more than 80% of the energy used in the United States comes from fossil fuels – specifically from petroleum, natural gas and coal. In the transportation sector, this number is even higher with fossil fuels (almost exclusively petroleum) supplying 97% of the total energy used. But, on the electric power side of the equation, while coal and natural gas still supply more than two-thirds... Read More
Texas Tribune: Texas Lawmakers Ordered to Study Drought, Wildfires
by Kate Galbraith, The Texas Tribune, 10/19/2011 The Texas Legislature doesn’t meet again until 2013, but state Senate committees will soon begin studying the impact of the record-breaking drought on power generation, agriculture and the economy, and also how to improve Texas’ response to wildfires, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced Tuesday. “The drought has had a devastating... Read More
Declining Energy Quality and Economic Recession
According to many, downturns in the U.S. and European markets are primarily the result of unsustainable behaviors in the financial industry. But, some critics are asking – was declining energy quality a major contributor to these negative turns? According to Dr. Carey King, a research associate at the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, the answer to this question... Read More
Guest Post: No, We’re Not There Yet – The Trouble With Hydrogen Cars
By Sheril Kirshenbaum One of the perks of being a Hill staffer is access to cool new technologies when lobbyists visit. And so in 2006, I looped around D and 2nd in a hydrogen car. When I asked the nice man who brought the vehicle about safety and the inherent ‘chicken and egg’ problem (cars and fueling stations – which comes first?), he provided a clearly scripted response intended to brush... Read More
The U.S. Now Uses More Corn For Fuel Than For Feed
For every 10 ears of corn that are grown in the United States today, only 2 are consumed directly by humans as food. The remaining 8 are used in almost equal shares for animal feed and for ethanol. And, for the 12 months from August 2011 to 2012, the U.S. biofuels industry used morecorn for fuel than domestic farmers did for livestock feed – a first for the industry. This significant milestone... Read More
Guest Post: LEED – Not just a pretty plaque, and certainly not perfect
By C. Sylvan A building revolution is happening right under our noses. And it looks like this (see left). You may have seen this plaque at the entrance to Office Depot, in the lobby of your office building, or at a multi-family housing development in your area. This plaque means that the building has achieved LEED certification. LEED has become the industry standard for commercial green building and... Read More
Guest Post: House Calls – Finding energy inefficiencies using residential energy audits
By, Brent Stephens and Joshua Rhodes Just like check-ups with your doctor can evaluate your health and spot early warning signs of future problems, energy audits can evaluate your home for inefficiencies and find ways to reduce ongoing energy waste. A detailed energy audit can find culprits responsible for very noticeable problems, such as high energy bills or uncomfortable rooms, and can also find... Read More
Solyndra – Illuminating Energy Funding Flaws?
Solyndra, once viewed as a sure winner in the solar industry, has closed its doors. Their technology works and they appear to have reached their goals for cost reductions. But, just 16 months after President Obama visited their manufacturing site and only 2 years after the Department of Energy approved $535 million in federal loan guarantees for Solyndra, this Fremont-based solar panel maker has given... Read More
