Monthly Archives: December 2017
Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Solutions
George asks…
What are some challenges the world will face with the increase in global populations?
What are some challenges the Earth’s population must face as we begin the 21st century?
We have increasing populations, but eventually we will reach carrying capacity where these people are no longer sustainable on Earth. (Think, China, Africa, etc). I already have lack of healthcare, and resource depletion (water, soil, etc).
What are some ways we can take responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future for the planet? What actions can we take?
Thanks in Advance!
admin answers:
Effects: hunger, lack of water, wars for the water, new diseases.
Solutions:
-Alternative energy sources affordables.
-Less weapons and more food technology
-More walking less driving
-Prepare each one a more balanced life…
-Doing more sport
-Watch less tv and internet addiction.
-Share the things that we dont use with someone who needs them.
Thomas asks…
How can wealthy people claim they’re environmentally friendly when they consume so much?
It puzzles me how celebrities and wealthy people can claim they’re environmentally friensdly simply by driving hybrids or wearing organic clothing, when they live in big houses which require energy to build and maintain them, take lots of flights, own lots of clothes they don’t need, and own several cars instead of just one. Isn’t being wealthy and conspicuous consumption inherantly environmentally unfriendly?
admin answers:
I must agree that for many of the Celebs it is more of a marketing ploy than a real lifestyle choice. However, there is an increasing number of people with money who are willing to really make a difference.
Larry Hagman, (from I dream of Jeannie and Dallas fame) has a very eco friendly home, he has a huge solar array which feeds enough back into the grid to supply energy for a couple other homes, he has worked it out with the utility company to give the extra to low income families.
That is just one example, many others are doing the right thing. I think we need to learn how to consume less energy and other resources without giving up our lifestyle. If a person becomes aware of how their spending impacts the environment they are more likely to reduce their impact by purchasing less and when they do buy, they will look for a sustainable solution. For those that are doing it for PR, who cares they were going to buy things any way, at least they are buying sustainable things this time.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Certificates
Chris asks…
Are there any government polices concerning wind energy?
I’m writing an essay for my college English class about wind energy and I’m required to include information about a government policy concerning wind, but I cannot seem to find anything. Any websites or helpful information would be greatly appreciated.
admin answers:
I assume you’re from the UK or US?
In the US: Look up wind’s ‘Production Tax Credit’ or ‘PTC’. This isn’t a US gov’t site but it might give you an idea where to look:
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/production-tax-credit-for.html
In the UK: Look up the ‘Renewables Obligation Certificate’ or ‘ROC’.
Http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/renewables-obligation/page15630.html
James asks…
How do you sell electricity back to the National Grid?
It’s already been on the news that some people have used their excess energy (from solar cells, for example) to sell electricity back to their energy supplier.
Does anyone know how you’d go about setting something like that up. I mean, do you need planning permission to start with? Can you really just fire up a generator, hook it up to the Grid and expect to get paid instead of receiving a bill?
admin answers:
You must have:
•Your electricity supply with the company to which you wish to sell back electricity (in most cases).
•A renewable generator installed with annual generation greater than 500kWh (a 1.4kW domestic wind turbine could have an annual output of 2000kWh) and accredited by OFGEM to receive ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) See www.ofgem.gov.uk
•Compliance from your local distribution company for connection of the renewable generator to the national grid.
•An OFGEM approved gross generation meter that measures all the output of your system,
•An export meter to register the amount of electricity you feed into the electricity network. (£75 plus VAT)
•A special inverter (called a Windy Boy) to synchronise the varying voltage from your wind turbine to the stable grid supply. This is individually programmed on-site to optimise power exported to the grid and to ensure network safety by disconnecting if the grid fails.
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