Discussion
Your Questions About Renewable Energy World
Sandy asks…
Renewable energy and our place in the world?
Will renewable energy help or hinder with our relations with other countries around the world?
admin answers:
Clearly help.
The US is the country most in denial of global warming.
And the worst offender.
Anything we do in that direction cannot help but bee seen as a good thing.
Even better, the less oil we use, the more prices come down, making them have to pay less.
We get to win twice.
Daniel asks…
Integration of conventional and energy plants for the utilization of renewable energy sources?
I need to write project on this topic “Integration of conventional and energy plants for the utilization of renewable energy sources”. Any web sites or literature will help me! Any help is appreciated…
admin answers:
Do web searches on “co-fuels” or “cofuel” fired steam plants. A number of cities around the world use them for steam production for their central steam heat facilities and for electricity generation. Many utilize windfall and dead fall trees.
All it really means is that things like shredded tires and coal for example, or trash and coal, or trash and natural gas.
Many things moss peat can be burned along with coal or instead of coal to produce heat.
Anyone who supports nuclear is mal informed about nuclear and those companies promoting it. It leaves a legacy that will last longer than the sun, and it is an energy source that the global society has outgrown as it has matured, just as you outgrew your doctor dentons as you matured. Nuclear drinking water is a real possibility because so much is stored along rivers that supply or feed into rivers that supply drinking water to over half the US population. And they will be contaminated because dry cask storage was a short term fix that has become long term- they leak or now, or soon will.
Nuclear gives new meaning to “…a beaming smile…”
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Development
Ruth asks…
What is Canada’s role in sustainable development projects?
I need to study for my Biology test (grade 12) and I can’t seem to find this information anywhere.
If someone could give me a link or something helpful, that would be great.
Thank you!
admin answers:
You would have to be more specific, sustainable development of what? In an energy sense, Canada pursues many alternative energy techniques (for example wind farms and solar energy). The best way would probably be to talk about government incentives on sustainable projects. You would have to research them, but the Canadian government provides subsidies and tax breaks on sustainable powered homes, cars, business, etc.
Hope this helps.
William asks…
How are renewable and non-renewable energy sources diffrent?List two examples of each of these types of energy?
How are renewable and non-renewable energy sources diffrent?List two examples of each of these types of energy
admin answers:
I am glad you are interested in this question because it is important that we should reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources. Future generations will not thank us for wasting such resources.
Coal and oil are examples of non-renewable energy sources. They are fossil fuels obtained from the ground and were created millions of years ago during a phase in the earth’s development that is over. So as we use these resources less is available for the future. Furthermore burning fossil fuels creates pollution.
Solar panels and wind mills are examples of renewable resources because collecting such energy has little or no impact on its availability for the future.
But it may be worth pointing out that the term “renewable” is confusing. What we really mean is “sustainable”.
Best wishes for a more sustainable future.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy For Kids
Robert asks…
What do YOU think about limiting the amount of kids a family can have?
I’m writing a persuasive essay on this topic. I believe in global warming and that a major cause of it is over population. Maybe if we limit 2-3 kids per family it will help the environment. I want YOUR opinion. Is this a good idea? Bad idea? Would it work? Anything helps =]
admin answers:
Population isn’t the problem, it’s the prevalent waste of resources and lack of renewable energy use.
Sharon asks…
Anyone else feel a car czar is kind of a slap in the face of the already strapped American taxpayer?
And while our government is at creating more beauracracy and entities …What about a trade deficit czar? or a jobs going overseas czar?..Jobs over the border czar? …Illegal immigration czar?…Wall street corruption czar?..renewable energy czar?
The press stated that the appointment of the car czar would ease tensions and allow passage of the bail out money.
admin answers:
Exceptionally good point, Big Bro.
I suppose car czar is to inflict accountability on the big 3. Which is a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has gone.
But if the loan has already had monies sitting there (for how many years?) for developing green cars, making them account for every single penny would be a refreshing change. Hopefully, such a person could keep the UAW in check.
Maybe we could get the other czars nominated retroactively!
Incidentally, speaking of unions — how about this one in Chicago where the workers have taken over the company and are “sitting in” because they weren’t given 60 days notice before being laid off? Who cares if the company is simply unable to get a loan to pay their wages? They’d better get out and sell their first born kids or something.
We need a union czar.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy For All
Sandra asks…
Governments and industries are really concerned to work towards sustainability ?
.
It is not enough that we merely switch energy sources or technologies, while maintaining an economic structure based on growth. Industrial mass production and global monoculture , no matter the system of government managing them, are antithetical to sustainability.
Overall, a sustainable economy requires that we drastically downscale and relocalize production, consumption and trade to the human level.
They make a lot of propaganda about new sustainable energy projects but how far does this environmental concern ?
.
admin answers:
Good luck with that, you’ll need it.
If all economies drastically down scaled, all governments lose all their taxes. Won’t ever happen, governments exist in order to create more bloated government.
Helen asks…
Should we have listened to Jimmy Carter and tried to lessen our dependence of oil and move toward more?
sustainable energy sources in the 1970’s?
Carter started and ethanol program which Reagan promptly stopped after Carter’s defeat. Reagan, to make a statement about which direction we would go, removed the solar panels from the White House roof when elected.
More intelligent societies like German who refuse to be lead my the nose by their corporate masters are light years ahead of us in solar technology.
If we don’t wake up, we will be using solar and wind technology purchased from the Chinese.
Most Americans aren’t smart enough to realize that we are sacrificing our future, our economy and our environment for the sake of oil companies.
admin answers:
Ethanol costs more than twice what gasoline does and causes food prices to rise because there being depleted for fuel. What we should do is tap our own vast resources of oil which is several times that of the middle east. Solar panels are a joke at best they are a supplemental energy source.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy
Daniel asks…
How could I get an insight into renewable energy, with possibly a summer internship?
I’m 16, and will be 17 by the summer, I’m still in Secondary school and I would really like to get some sort of insight into renewable energy over the summer, as I would like to persue a career in that field. I live in Ayr in Scotland, so it would have to be near there possibly out to glasgow. I’ve no idea how to go about it, and I don’t know what company I could go to either. The company I could think of is EDF Energy. I thought of maybe writing an email and asking if I could come in and maybe help out, getting coffee etc. Any help would be great!
admin answers:
Hi Alice. Not being from Scotland, or the UK, I would offer two suggestions. First, get a subscription to a magazine called, “Home Power.” We started reading it 13 years ago, and 12 years ago we went to one of the energy fairs listed in the magazine. Today our home is powered by the wind and sun, and we teach solar power seminars at the local schools, and host field trips to our home for the kids regularly. You interest is a bit deeper than just setting up some panels, and that’s great. Any possibility of finding your way into an internship would pretty much require you have some expertise in the area, not schooling, just better than basic understanding. Starting with that magazine is a great first step. In the back is a calander section that lists happenings, such as fairs.
There is a really big fair each year in Aberdeen each May, I don’t know if you can work out a trip there, but the great thing about a fair is you can learn a lot quickly, and meet just about anyone worth meeting if you want to get involved somehow. The fair we went to had the entire editing staff for that magazine in one booth, and since then I’ve contributed a couple articles for them they have published. There might be other fairs closer to your home, but I’ve clipped the website to the group hosting the Aberdeen one below for you. Try googling, “Energy Fairs in Scotland.”
Any up and coming technology or business is always looking for someone like yourself, who is interested in the technology or work, has energy and some knowledge, and wants to help. The job facing you is just connecting with the right people. An energy fair is the best place to go if you can get to one and have an interest in working in renewable energy. The second link is for a listing service that have some energy fairs listed in Scotland, worth looking into in your case. It’s a great field Alice, and I encourage you to get involved any way you can. Start by learning all you can about the technology. Take care, Rudydoo
David asks…
What are the effects of renewable energy used in 3rd world business?
For a graduate project in Asia, I am looking at renewable energy and its effects on growing businesses. I want to look at developed and developing businesses that use renewable energy. Can anyone point me in the right direction with regards to finding areas in Asia to research? I wanted to stick with 3rd world.
admin answers:
The best renewable energy is oil & gas. Our plants recycle Co2 into oil & gas.So we will never run out of oil.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Certificates
William asks…
I have a lot of inventive ideas but no money to build a prototype, is there any company/person that can help?
I have all these inventive ideas from renewable energy to engine modifications, but my down fall is finding the right people to work with to bring this ideas to fruition. I don’t have the money to paten it let alone building a prototype. I need a reputable company or an honest individual that wouldn’t take my ideas and dump me. I have attained certificates in Electrical Engineering and Automotive Engineering and in merging these acquired knowledge I ‘ve come up with a lot of ways to make waves in the engineering department. With a couple of belts, gears and shafts a lot of modifications can be made to change the operational features of an engine. So if there is any company that you know of or any individual that would like to get into partnership with me, please contact me via email.
admin answers:
Darlin’, please be careful, there are a lot of sharks in those waters.
Write your idea down send it off in a certified letter to yourself and then hang on to it in case you ever need to prove it in court.
Same for if you do find a partner, send all info in a cert letter and then to a safety deposit box.
People will beat you unconscious for $10 .
Careful when they seem to eager to hear your ideas and give nothing in return
George asks…
Will Renewable Energy Certificates still be around after July 1 2011?
Who generates these certificates?
What do they do? Who receives the benefits of them?
Have the NSW state govt policy changes made them redundant?
Thank you.
admin answers:
You can still study Renewable Energy At my TAFE in Melbourne so i don’t see why it shouldn’t be the same in NSW
sorry that it doesn’t really answer your question.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies
Mary asks…
What are the significant roles of energy in the economic and social progress of a country?
what i mean in the “energy” is the energy like electricity… not the one that is the ability to do work..
thanks.. ^_^
admin answers:
The historical role of energy use in the social and economic progress of mankind is reviewed and related to current energy policy issues.
The conflicting aims of energy conservation and of economic growth are analyzed in some detail with particular reference to the developments following the 1973-74 oil embargo and precipitous increase in world oil prices.
The growing importance of natural gas in the world energy balance is considered in the light of difficulties encountered when supply can no longer meet growing demand and decisions have to be made on alternate means of supplementation.
In this regard, the issue of the relative economics of electric energy supply and the direct use of hydrocarbon fuels from either petroleum or synthetic sources will be considered
Energy is essential to economic and social development and improved quality of life. However, sustainable patterns of production, distribution and use of energy are crucial. Fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) will continue to dominate the energy supply situation for many years to come in most developed and developing countries. What is required then is to reduce the environmental impact of their continued development, and to reduce local health hazards and environmental pollution through enhanced international cooperation notably in the provision of concessional finance for capacity development and transfer of the relevant technology, and through appropriatenational action.
In developing countries sharp increases in energy services are required to improve the standard of living of their growing populations. The increase in the level of energy services would have a beneficial impact on poverty eradication by increasing employment opportunities and improving transportation, health and education. Many developing countries, inparticular the least developed, face the urgent need to provide adequate modern energy services, especially to billions of people in rural areas. This requires significant financial, human and technical resources and a broad-based mix of energy sources.
The objectives envisaged in this section should reflect the need for equity, adequate energy supplies and increasing energy consumption in developing countries and should take into account the situation of countries that are highly dependent on income generated from the production, processing and export, and/or consumption of fossil fuels and that have serious difficulties in switching to alternative sources of energy, and the situation of countries highly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change.
Advances towards sustainable energy use are taking place and all partiescan benefit from progress made in other countries. It is also necessary to ensure international cooperation for promoting energy conservation and improvement of energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and research,and the development and dissemination of innovative energy-related technology.
David asks…
I WANTED TO KNOW WHICH UNIVERSITY IS BETTER TU DELFT NETHERLANDS OR KTH SWEDEN?
I HAVE RECEIVED ADMISSION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AT TU DELFT AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AT KTH.
I WANNA KNOW WHICH IS BETTER.
admin answers:
Havotf Univerdity
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Jobs
Richard asks…
What kind of degree should I get to become a wind energy researcher?
I want to major in a field that will pretty much guarantee me a research and development job in wind energy. I am not interested in any other forms of alternative energy, so a general renewable energy bachelor’s won’t do. Any help?
admin answers:
But you will still have to include renewable energy in your searches because it is part of the whole gamut of a still wider and unfolding field … And so you will have to include in your searches solar energy and natural resources as well because, after all, the whole purpose of harnessing wind energy is to produce electricity and to support engineering involved in designing and manufacturing wind-availing technologies.
Look to those schools located in the Mid-west and west coast — where the greatest wind forces are located — Kansas, Oklahoma, for example, and California — and find what degree programs they are founding and that are underway.
Thomas asks…
Which candidate has a better plan for renewable energy?
I think this is incredibly important and I am trying to figure out who has a better plan regarding renewable energy.
It seems Obama is more specific about his goals in this area. All I hear from McCain and Palin is about offshore drilling.
What do you think?
admin answers:
McCain is definitely gonna drill, and Palin strengthens that orientation. Given that drilling will not impact our market prices for 10 years and then by negligible amounts. He has paid lip service to a few alternatives, with a small list of solar, geothermal and wind, because those are on every one’s lipsafter thee competitions speeches.
Obama is quite clear that drilling can be considered nothing more than a brief stop gap solution and that we need to turn to as many alternate techniques to answer our energy appetites as we can find. He stresses doing the research to come up with new energy frontiers, and following up on ones that have the least negative impact on theenvironmentt. He is also confident that this line of industry will create many jobs, and will encourage ourpopulationn to be more aware of the consequences of our energy intensive lifestyles.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Companies
Carol asks…
can u give me some new ways of saving energy for future use?
i have to make a board on ”save energy for a secure future” and i need some new points not the old solar energy, turn off the light and all. i have that much of basic info but i need some new ways.
admin answers:
Hi
Here’s a fun but innovative product concept. Sculptures/furniture that illuminate with daylight charge using new more aesthetic material. Http://www.body-luma-lighting.com/
I think if you take a look at companies focusing on sustainable design, you will find some great ideas and information
Hope this inspires
Daniel asks…
What projects have the greatest potential for positive impact for humanity and the planet?
Towards the goal of a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world that works for all people and all life, what are the most important projects to embark on next? Which projects have the ability to do the greatest total good with the resource invested? Which should be done first from a strategic perspective? Which are most critical? Please refer to implementable strategies rather than general concepts as much as possible. Thank you.
admin answers:
The most implementable stragegy that I can think of lies in the field of education. Much has been done through the media and the schools already; however, much of the effort does not seem to be as effective as the people who initiated theses projects maybe wish it were. The strategies that are implemented need to be realistic and not for profit or exploitation on the part of individuals or companies. Businesses trying to profiteer out of the environmental issues appear to present a problem at some level, and the business approach might end up being a counterproductive force. Education requires relatively low amounts of tangible resource material and money for investment.
Separation of waste material is an issue that needs to be addressed. For example, people seem to dispose of their garbage in one place rather than to be bothered to separate the materials. They throw out plastic and styrofoam materials along with the ones that are biodegradable.
Composting can cost a lot of money when the purchase and maintenance of compost bins becomes a major part of the practice. I am sure that a hole in the ground in an inconspicous place would work just as well as a bin and be less revolting, at least in many places.
People need to be encouraged to rely more on their own energy than on vehicles that run on carbon fuel. Houses would be more energy-efficient if they were designed differently, without regard to solar heating. The media itself makes people want superficial things, and it often entices them into pursuing lifestyles that are not in harmony with the long-term wellbeing of the environment. It often portrays people looking cool while engaging in some gestures and activities that are ecologically damaging in terms of their potential in the long run. Unfortunately, the media is integrally connected with the sector of big business.
The recycling of computer parts seems to make a lot of sense. It costs money to manufacture new parts and it consumes a lot of energy. Nothing is wrong with rebuilding engines rather than investing money in new cars, which are costly in terms of investment on the part of the owner and also in regard to the potential for environmental damge in the manufacturing process. Small steps on the part of individuals can make a lot of difference. Even the purchase of reusable cups for beverages can make a positive difference. Motivating people to carry them is where the challenge lies. People also need to find new and constructive ways of earning a living.
Education about the use of natural products rather than synthetically manufactured ones and about the effectiveness of some home remedies for certain conditions has the potential do do a lot of good. However, the public should first be educated about what is wrong with the manufactured chemical alternatives. People need to be told in a direct manner and in comprehensible terms about the deliberate nature of much of the damage on the part of the system. Honesty is the key.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Companies
Jenny asks…
How do Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) work?
Is it an incentive to use renewable energy?
admin answers:
The basic idea that people who feel bad about something can buy them to get rid of the guilt.
The way that they work is that a very small amount (much less than the subsidies and tax breaks given to politically correct energy) of money goes to those who operate a wind turbine or solar panel (or even methane gas recovery systems at landfills, sometimes things that would have to be built regardless of whether any carbon credits were sold), the amount of money that the carbon offset actually provides is really too small to actually encourage use of politically correct energy, especially when you consider how much bigger the subsidies are (and they really are over-subsidised compared to how much energy they produce).
Of course there are renewable energy credit systems that do actually help, just that they cost so much more that the frauds out compete them (and governments don’t seem too interested in keeping that sector honest, some such schemes are actually run by the government, including some that sell more renewable energy than they actually generate (in other areas of the economy the word used for that is fraud)).
The main purposes that renewable energy credits serve are to act as indulgences and to help fool people into believing that fossil fuels can be replaced without using nuclear power (which thereby prevents fossil fuels from actually being replaced and keeps the coal and oil companies in business).
James asks…
University major in renewable energy social marketing?
I am looking for a university that has something to do with communication, marketing, and basically just telling companies to use renewable energy and which is suitable.
NOTE: I am NOT looking for anything related to engineering and such
What I need:
1. The majors surrounding the renewable energy in social marketing, etc.
2. The best universities in that major on renewable energy
Thank you so much, my future depends on the information!
admin answers:
Information is below.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy For All
Donna asks…
Any suggestions for building an eco-friendly house?
I am planning to build a house (about 1400 square feet) that will hopefully be mostly off the power grid. What sorts of non-toxic building materials and (or) viable forms of sustainable energy generating sources for heating, cooling, and lighting a house can you recommend? I already have a cabin in the woods with kerosene lanterns, a fire place, and a wood burning stove.
Why is that ‘incredible’?
admin answers:
I think it’s incredible that you’re going to build a green home!
My main suggestion is to do your research before beginning.
Rather than listing off a bunch of suggestions, I think it would serve you better to give you a list of resources that you could use as you’re researching ways to make your new home green.
1. Dwell home–the website of the magazine of the same name, which focuses a great deal on green design. Http://www.dwell.com
2. HGTV–the website of Home and Garden Television. This year, they started an annual Green Home Giveaway. You can go to their website and read all about the finishes and materials that they used to make the home earth-friendly. Http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/green_home_2008/article/0,,HGTV_30916_5816498,00.html
3. I will also refer you to a particular post on my own blog, Addicted 2 Decorating. The post is about the new Chamber of Commerce building in my city, which is the first green Chamber of Commerce building in the United States. There are several great ideas you can incorporate into your new home. Http://blog.addicted2decorating.com/2008/06/momentous-occasion-in-my-city.html
Linda asks…
What Major should I pursue if I want to work with Green Technology?
I want to make new, more efficient, solar panels and develop green or sustainable energy sources in the future. In addition to that, I hope to make it more applicable for commercial use, such as designing a unit based for airplanes. I figure that might require an aeronautics engineering degree, but what degree would you guys recommend for studying green energy technology? Any colleges too? Not just community colleges. THANKS GUYYYYSSS
admin answers:
Engineering, but avoid “Environmental Engineering.”
Go for one of the traditional Engineering disciplines. For solar (photovoltaic) this would be Electrical Engineering or Electronics Engineering Technology.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Content
William asks…
Instead of suspending the gas tax for the summer, what if the FEDs give a tax break for renewable energy?
And take the fed gas tax and put the entire amount toward research for alternative fuels sources. That way there would be funding for research for renewable energy, and rebates for folks who actually save the environment and use less gas. Currently we have no incentive to save gas, other than the pocket book, and as soon as the price of gas goes below $3 everyone will be buying Hummers again.
When demand goes down, so will the price….
admin answers:
Demand for gas is down in the U.S.A. By 17% compared to the same time last year.
In 2006 I carried a petition for just 3 cents of every dollar of the oil producers profit to go to “alternative energy development” and it was defeated by the Oil Producers advertising campaign warning that the cost of gas would jump dramatically if it passed. Well-I knew that it was going to anyways. Without funds to produce alternative energy the Oil Producers are safe to gouge us to their hearts content.
Our tax dollars are in part going to “subsidize” those poor Oil Producers still regardless of their record breaking profits. That money could be better used towards alternative energy. But then Bush doesn’t want to hurt his rich supporters.
Donna asks…
I want to know more about renewable energy in Singapore.?
I am researching on renewable energy.
So far I know Singapore has implemented biomass, solar energy and fuel cells.
The problem that I am facing is that when I search the net for renewable energy, all the information given are not within Singapore region. I need someone to tell me where can I find more information on renewable energy in Singapore.
Do anyone know which companies uses renewable energy? Who can I find to know more about the topic?
Is there any other students doing major project on renewable energy? If yes, email me. I hope to work together to produce good results.
Thanks a Lot!
admin answers:
Not sure if this will help but you can do a search on the Singapore Yahoo search engine: http://sg.yahoo.com/ , Type in ‘renewable energy Singapore’ click on ‘Singapore’ and it should turn up a few websites for you. You can go to the National Environmental Agency (NEA) at http://app.nea.gov.sg/ or visit the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) at: http://www.seas.org.sg/
Other sites you may wish to check out:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Singapore/Background.html
http://www.serayaenergy.com.sg/energy/generated/SEContent/content/energyinformation/energyeducation.html
http://www.rsi.sg/english/ecowatch/view/20050203215113/1/.html
http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/MEM/dissertation/4.%20Ong%20Hwee%20Fang%20Amanda.pdf
http://www.nccc.gov.sg/renewables/renewables.shtm
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy
Donna asks…
what does it mean to have sustainable energy and how can we achieve it?
Also Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Energy, and Sustainable Water Resources can it be achieved through recycling or is that not enough ? i understand that we have to use energy resources that are renewable but what about countries that can’t afford green energy what should they do ?
admin answers:
In order for something to be called sustainable, its present actions or uses cannot negatively impact its future integrity. The concept of sustainability can be applied in many contexts: the environment, resources, business, development etc.. To use energy as an example, the present use of fossil fuels is unsustainable since it is a limited resource that will not be available in the future. In contrasts, sources of energy like wind and solar power can be seen as more sustainable because that energy source is unlimited.
So to answer your question, although recycling is great, simply recycling is not enough to achieve environmental sustainability, also because the recycling process actually consumes a lot of energy itself.
Your next question is a tough one, because people are really divided on this subject. Some say that developing countries should be held to the same emission standards as the developed world, some say that the developed world should subsidize the development of sustainable energy sources in the developing world, some say that the developing would should be allowed to use whatever energy source is cheaply available to them and it is only the developed worlds responsibility to address the problems of high CO2 emission and climate change etc..
Personally I think it is unfair to require a country with limited means to invest in expensive forms of renewable energy rather then use the forms they have cheaply available to them in order to spur their development. However, I believe that as countries develop, it is crucial for environmental sustainability to become increasingly kept in mind during policy making.
Richard asks…
In your opinion,what issues must be considered if a country is to develop a sustainable energy policy?IMPORTAN?
In your opinion,what issues must be considered if a country is to develop a sustainable energy policy?
admin answers:
So Slobovia is considering ways to use only energy that doesn’t just go away in the future? Good for Slobovia. They should consider:
Where do we get energy now?
Can it run out in 10 or 50 years? Are we scared? If yes, then:
What sustainable sources are available?
Wind? How much wind do we get, and where? How will we deal with no-wind days?
How much would it cost to build wind turbines? How will we distribute the power to homes and businesses? How will we raise funds for that project? How do we get the politicians to agree? Will they get re-elected if they raise taxes?
Do we believe that the climate is warming due to burning fossil fuels? Is the ocean rising drowning Slobovia, or is Slobovia traped in an endless drought? Or maybe not, so we don’t care?
Ask similar questions about solar (sun) sources of power.
And the list goes on and on …
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Group
William asks…
how do I approach companies , to fund my carbon offset projects in southern africa. Our charity is reg in UK?
we want to set up projects in rural areas that use renewable energy
admin answers:
You need a web site that shows your letters of endorsement from existing organizations saying this program is needed, data that demonstrates your target group is in need whatever service it is that you want to provide and that they are not served otherwise, and a draft of what your first year’s budget would look like (what expenses you expect to incur, what you expect to pay staff, etc.). Your web site should also have a profile of those staffing your nonprofit and showing their qualifications for engaging in these type of projects. Once you have all of this, you can let representatives from international NGOs, international corporations, universities and others in the immediate area of where you are located know about this web site and your plans, and ask to meet with them about possible partnerships. Potential donors are best cultivated if you can meet with them face-to-face, and show them transparent accounting and credible data about what you are proposing and why it’s a good investment option for them. And that means looking for donors who are nearest to you geographically-speaking.
Paul asks…
What do you think is the biggest problem in our world?
For me its the fact that most countries are not getting along and there is war. Also I think that the non renewable energy resources are also a big problem.
admin answers:
Humans are animals in a constant state of denial.
Our biggest problem is our xenophobic instinct. It came in very handy when we were living as small bands of apes which competed for food. Killing strangers increased our food supply and also helped us pass on our own genes. Dead apes don’t bear children.
Sadly, our culture has become far more sophisticated than our biology has. Religion is an attempt to force us to live unnatrually as peaceful strangers, but it is just an imperfect fix. Even sadder is how humans use their intellect to pervert this stopgap into just another excuse to kill.
Perhaps it will be our culture which eventually saves us, but at a rather frightening cost. I believe we are now standing on the threshold of a new era where humans will physically begin to merge with their own technology. Genetic engineering and bio physics will probably be the forces which allows humans to live peacefully together, but we will no longer be human.
Those of us who still are will probably be on display in some future zoo. Groups of humans will wander in separate enclosures. Every now and then groups will be allowed to view one another and I suppose the visitors will enjoy watching these apes verbally assalt one another with racial hatred. Male chimpansees have to “go ape” every now and then to maintain their sanity, and I suppose humans are no different.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Development
Ruth asks…
why is it important to increase the efficient use of energy?
in terms of sustainable development
plz help
admin answers:
Even if it initially cost more, the investment in sustainable energy sources, may eventually pay off financially. But whatever demand we can take off fossil fuels will allow those resources to last longer.
George asks…
How is Obama’s absurd policy of less, but more expensive energy helping us?
Energy is the Raw Material of Prosperity…you cannot have one without the other. Why is that fact so hard for Obama to understand?
admin answers:
He does understand it. He is a globalist. He believes the US should have no more than any other country. Remember his insistence on being “fair”. Look up UN Agenda 21/Sustainable Development. You’ll get it.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Definition
Robert asks…
What are some difficulties in achieving sustainable development?
Definition: Sustainable development is a pattern of economic growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.
Why is it difficult for humans to achieve sustainable development?
And why?
admin answers:
You clearly haven’t bothered thinking about this at all:
– we don’t recycle 100% of all metals, so any metals you use will not be available for future generations to use. So, by your own definition, you can’t use any metals.
– once coal, oil, or natural gas is burned, it can’t be recycled, so any coal, oil, or natural gas you use to make anything, to transport what you make, or to transport the materials will not be available for future generations. So, by your own definition, you can’t use energy that comes from coal, oil, or natural gas.
You can argue that energy comes from the sun, from wind, or from water is O.K., but you still have to build the power plants to use those energy sources and that isn’t O.K.
Etc.
– there are resources that are theoretically renewable, but we are already cutting down trees faster than they grow back, so wood, lumber, etc. May be theoretically sustainable, but in practice, using them is not sustainable.
The bottom line is that we have too many people using any and all resources at far too great a rate to be sustainable, so anything additional you do is by your own definition, not sustainable.
Http://dieoff.org/page110.htm
http://home.windstream.net/bsundquist1/
http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/agriculture-and-food-systems-unsustainable/
Now you can cheat in many ways: change the definition of sustainable so that it becomes feasible; pretend that advancing technology means that in the future people will be able to do anything with whatever they happen to have left over (isn’t magic wonderful?) so it doesn’t matter what we leave for future generations; etc. Or you can admit that sustainable development is an oxymoron and work toward other goals.
Sandy asks…
What is the definition of Visual Pollution and give some examples on how to prevent it…..?
I’ve been looking for a definition of this for hours!
thank you.
admin answers:
As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Visual pollution is going to have different meanings to different people. Most people would agree that excessive billboards are unattractive, but some may see skyscrapers as ‘visual pollution’ (spoiling the once natural landscape), while others may love viewing their architecture. Wind Farms (large areas covered by many wind mills) would be another example of visual pollution to most people. But then we are faced with the question ‘is it worth it for the renewable energy?’
How to prevent it? Stop building. But that’s just my opinion; some people may not like the looks of trees and fields and prefer building and signs.
Here’s some info. From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_pollution
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Systems
Mandy asks…
How much would it cost to build a very sustainable home?
so i was just thinking of what kind of home i’d like when i grow up and i obviously want one that gets energy through renewable resources such as solar power, wind, and geothermal maybe. my question is how much it would be to build a new house with all this installed and also with good insulation and also the house be a passive solar system. and if someone could answer this too, is it possible to build a house anywhere you want? and also grow food by yourself?
admin answers:
Yes, you can build a house almost anywhere you want and you can grow food by yourself; but, this all depends on your level of dedication to those particular tasks as they will require a great deal of time and fortitude. As far as the green house goes, you can do some research on people who have built green houses. From what I have seen you’ll spend about 30% – 50% more on a green house versus a regular one.
George asks…
What are the most counterproductive doings of our society?
I am trying to write a thesis and look for inspirations. Here are a couple I have:
1. Manicured lawns instead native wild flowers – responsible for huge enviromental damages and sustaining large amounts of illegals.
2. Cars and Suv’s with Motor technology from 1930, instead modern motors with high mileage – huge enviromental impact, sustains arab terror, uses non renewable resources, makes Detroit incapable of world wide competition.
3. Clear cutting instead of selective cutting – not sustainable, huge enviromental damages
Can you add one? Thanks!
admin answers:
Runaway consumerism, Chinese imports of everything from US flags to rubber monster toys, rampant energy dependency while firing up hair dryers and moving to hotter climates to increase air-conditioner / comfort dependency, ‘out-sourcing’ of consumer products, RV and other gas guzzling automobiles, distributing free commodities and providing cradle-to-grave dental and health care benefits to Native American reservations where they frequently are merely supplements to personal wealth because of tribal casinos, encouraging tribal members to stay on reservations by and assuming responsibility for themselves by providing financial incentives through reservation grants [while the tribes claim ‘sovereignty’ on those reservations]
Placing our resources into building prisons, proliferating court personnel, and attorney welfare systems, more police, equipment and violation of property by pursuing a War on Drugs and prosecuting victimless crimes that’s only assured higher prices and more drugs on the streets while corrupting the criminal justice system.
ICC discouraging rail transport by setting uncompetitive freight-hauling rates, while encouraging long-haul trucking [to pay for the Interstate Highway system, initially, and later to pay for the damage trucks do to the highways].
Ad infinitum
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Group
Maria asks…
What are the different viewpoints on the use of fossil fuels?
Hello, I am struggling to find viewpoints of the following people:
– Environmentalist
– MEDC (More Economically Developed Countries) Governments
– LEDC (Less Economically Developed Countries) Governments
– Energy Companies
– Consumers
– Oil Producing Countries
– TNC’s Shell? BP?
Can you please give me a few websites which:
-explains why different groups have opinions on the consumption of fossil fuels
– says whether they think fossil fuels should be used in the future and given reasons why
(considers advantages and disadvantages of using fossil fuels vs renewable energy sources)
admin answers:
Smart: They’re useful, effective and can be used responsibly.
Hypocrisy: You shouldn’t use fossil fuels. I’d like to talk more, but I have to put my family on two different private jets to fly to Hawaii for a 17 mllion dollar taxpayer funded vacation. (You Americans have just gotten soft and lazy.) Electricity prices are going to skyrocket to when I drive coal out of business.
Idiot: We should all ride bicycles and not use any oil at all. (Oh… You mean my clothes, computer and bike tires are made of oil…. Oh.)
Sharon asks…
What is a good Current Event to give a speech on?
So my partner and I are assigned to create a collaborative speech on a current event/ issue. The speech needs to have some kind of debate within to allow group discussion after. For example We were thinking of doing Renewable Energy Sources but we couldnt find anything to argue against it or something,
Thanks for the help!!
admin answers:
With renewable energy source here are so cons: Cost is to high, not enough technology available to make it worthwhile, how long will it take for it to be profitable, and not enough big business is behind to make research worth the effort.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Without The Hot Air
Ken asks…
Where is harder to survive..?
Northern Canada/Russia (with lots of cold and snow) or a desert in Nevada?
Assume that there is no countries or cities around, you are the only human in the world and you have to survive by yourself. I am talking about lifetime sustained survival. Not just survive until you get out kind of thing.
PS: I didn’t use a desert in Africa like sahara because obviously there is absolutely 0 chance of sustainable human life.
admin answers:
The Sahara desert has been home to thousands of people for thousands of years. So has the Namib desert and the Kalahari desert where the bushmen have hunted very skillfully for many generations and they eat well.
The Nevada desert can feed you too if you find the skills to get the food it harbours.
Learn some biology. Then you can eat. Learn geology and you can find water. And oil.
The driest desert in the world is the Atacama. It’s beautiful. I’ve been twice. It’s got places where no rain has fallen for more than four hundred years.
But it hasn’t got the driest air in the world.
That’s in Antarctica where water is frozen out of the air and where scientific instruments, especially for infra red measurements which get ruined by water vapour in the air absorbing infra red, are stationed in the scientific research stations at Ross Island and around the South Pole.
It’s easy to look it up. ..Antarctic Research Stations.
The driest air in the world lays over a huge sheet of ice and snow…frozen water.
Cold places give you water but more importantly they demand more in supplies than hot places. It takes more energy and more materials to heat things than to cool them.
Without enough heat you’re soon dead. Providing it and keeping it is costly in materials and clothing..
Deserts get cold at night, even the Sahara. You get a break from the heat and bright Sun.
You can burn camel dung or other dung and dried grasses to get enough heat for cooking. That’s all the heat you need.
Move when it’s cooler in the morning and evening and get shade under a high tent or in the shadow of rocks during the hottest part of the day.
You can cross the Sahara with a lighter load than for crossing Siberia.
Both places you need wildlife to live on or take your own animals. Move to where they can eat so you can keep them alive.
The reindeer herders in the far north of Finland do that, where a warm night in winter is -20C.
Reindeer provide milk and meat, furs for clothing and shoes, tents and sleeping mats, and bone for knives and ornaments.
Sami people have been living in the far north for more than two thousand years
http://norskfolke.museum.no/en/Stories/Set-1/Sami-baptismal-boots/ .. .
Http://www.suite101.com/content/the-sami-of-the-north-a222034 . . . .
In the Sahara camels and goats and sometimes sheep provide the milk and meat, and give wool for cloth to make clothing and tents and bedding rolls, and leather for shoes.
Nomads move to where the grazing is best, in the Gobi desert, and in the Sahara and Namib deserts.
In both cold and hot places you can trap birds and small animals.
Hares and arctic foxes in the far north…or lizards and snakes and the few small mammals that live in the desert..
Many cold places have rivers with fish, and by the coast the sea provides food as well….seaweeds, molluscs, fish and seals.
Desert or frozen tundra…you can live in both and thousands do.
In desert you can still get water.
Hang a fine net to collect the dew. Some plants do that.
Dew collects on the hairy leaves and stems overnight in desert air and provides water for birds and small animals. Be up early enough or it’s gone down animals throats or into the plant or back up into the sky.
That’s where the net idea came from….hairy plants that collect water from dew.
Nets are also used to collect water from fog in remote mountains,and in deserts eg in Chile.
Http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/11/1101_TVdesertbeetle.html . . . . . .
You can dig condensation pits or condense water from plants.
Http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Water-in-the-Desert . . .. ..
You can dig into the desert where the signs tell you water lays underneath. When it’s close enough to the surface wind-blown seeds take root and you get an oasis.
Thousands of people have lived in deserts and frozen tundra for thousands of years, long before modern equipment existed like expensive water reservoirs for backpacks instead of far more useful and versatile water bottles which keep Arabian nomads alive in the fierce desert heat but are too simple for ‘must have the latest’ techy walkers.
Learn to live where you are and then you can live. Generations long past past did that quite well enough for the current populations to be there……
Have fun
Desert walks….
Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100704125838AAOUFkW . . . . . . .
Mandy asks…
So why isn’t nuclear power being developed if global warming is such a threat?
Sustainable Development Commission statement on nuclear power: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/presslist.php/51/nuclear-power-wont-fix-it
Further to my question on Nuclear Power (yes or no) many AGW proponents pointed out that they were in favour of it, or at least had no serious objections.
But if that’s at all representative, and if AGW is such a threat, why isn’t nuclear power being actively pursued? Take the UK, pretty much all ‘Green’ groups vehemently oppose it. The government is being advised on it’s energy policy by a commission which it set up and appointed Jonathan Porritt to head (ex-Greenpeace anti-nuclear campaigner).
It’s obvious that – for the short and even medium term – renewables and energy saving won’t cut it. See the calculations at www.withouthotair.com
I ask because it seems that both warmists and sceptics seem to agree on nuclear. If that’s at all representative of the views of most people then why aren’t we actually doing something rather than planning another massive conference in some far-flung location?
admin answers:
Because a lot of the people who are in charge of solving global warming are either:
a. Completely ignorant of the fact that wind and solar can’t solve global warming.
B. Heavily influenced by fossil fuel interests that would be hurt if nuclear power took away their market in the process of solving global warming.
B(2). Influenced by the fossil fuel unions who don’t want to lose their power (the workers don’t have much to worry about though, the time it’ll take to switch to nuclear will be more than enough for retraining and a lot of them would probably end up working at a vastly safer nuclear plant anyway).
C. See global warming as a means to force people to use less energy and return to ‘simpler’ times whether the population wants it or not (never mind that most people would choose global warming over what the greens want).
D. Are afraid of losing the votes of the anti-nuclear kooks.
The green groups should not be thought of as environmentalists, for the most part they are urban trendoids who don’t really have a clue about the environment but want to feel good about doing something. There’s also a big focus on appearance for the greens and probably a bit of residual Christian morality making a virtue of sacrifice.
The views you get here probably aren’t representative of the majority of the population although the anti-nuclear movement is in decline, they should be almost gone within the decade.
The scientific community probably hasn’t done enough to tell the public and politicians what the scientific consensus on nuclear power is and why renewable energy isn’t going to be able to do what we need it to.
As for _Sustainable energy without the hot air_, that is probably a bit (or maybe a lot) optimistic for renewables although it covers the UK which has a relatively high population density, other countries might be able to get all their energy from renewables assuming that enough decent energy storage systems could be built (we don’t really have that though, pumped hydro is the best we’ve got but we don’t have enough suitable sites for it).
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Content
Helen asks…
Is the carbon tax really for preventing climate change?
So here’s what currently baffles me; if climate change is being used as an excuse to implant a new taxation on carbon, why oh why did the Bush administration try to deny its existence for so long?
Surely big oil, which has substantial influence in world governance, would be afraid of carbon taxing, and indeed the ensuing encouragement of renewable energy, over which they would have much less control (read; money). Or will they simply make sure to take over the emerging “renewables” sector too?
admin answers:
No it is not for preventing climate change. 1. We cannot prevent climate change. 2. It is to punish industrial nations and to lower the standard of living around the globe.
Here is a good article that discusses the science behind point 1.
Http://www.nationscrier.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63%3Aclimate-change-natural-or-man-made&Itemid=62
John asks…
Do business leaders in renewable energy lack vision?
I the panel session at a conference yesterday I asked the chairman of a new bio-diesel plant how he saw the industry developing over the next 30-40 years to take the market share of renewable transport fuels from insignificant to 95%+ to replace fossil fuels when they run out. The response showed no interest at all in expanding beyond a small regional market. Is this a common attribute, or are there visionary business leaders that are thinking big picture and have plans to replace fossil fuels?
admin answers:
30-40 years is to far ahead.
Peak oil will come within this decade.
When that happens, the energy industry will be turned on it’s head.
It’s not impossible that in 20 years, hydrogen fusion will become available.
That would completely upset the apple cart.
In a good way, mind you.
Any alternative source today needs to focus on making a profit in order to not go under.
Once they’ve reached that, then they can look farther ahead.
Also, i’m just not sure about bio-fuel.
I have seen estimates that would indicate that it would be possible to be a significant part of our energy.
But it just doesn’t seem to me that we’d be able to get that energy content from plants, in a reasonable acreage, and still produce the food that we’ll need.
Jet planes will likely need something like that.
Long haul trucks would as well.
Maybe trains in sparsely populated areas of the country.
But i’m not sure about most other transportation.
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