Discussion
Your Questions About Sustainable Energy
Maria asks…
What aspect of renewable or sustainable energy would you be interested in looking into?
What aspect of renewable or sustainable energy would you, personally, be interested in looking into as a possible way to achieve a sustainable future?
Not asking anyone to answer this for me, but I don’t really understand the question. Is it asking like what type of energy source? Or what? Thank you!
admin answers:
There are several kinds of renewable or sustainable energy sources and these are different.
Renewable energy is what is there on our planet, that you can use and there will be more tomorrow, without you having to do anything. Those types of energy are solar and wind energy. You can capture these sources of energy fairly “easily”. (There are also geothermal, tidal and hydro electricity but those are not available everywhere – but they are all still renewable energy)
Sustainable energy comes from sources that you can keep going without reducing the availability (if you replace them). This would include wood, for instance. You can cut and burn wood for energy and replace it by planting more trees.
These are all different from non-renewable and non-sustainable sources, such as coal, oil and gas which are non renewable and non sustainable.
My personal interests would lie in (a) solar energy and (b) wood. In the northern part of the UK, the sun doesn’t always shine as much as we would like but wood grows well, so you get the use of both in case of need.
Helen asks…
What aspect of renewable or sustainable energy would you be interested in looking into as a possible?
What aspect of renewable or sustainable energy would you, personally, be interested in looking into as a possible way to achieve a sustainable future?
Not asking anyone to answer this for me, but I don’t really understand the question. Is it asking like what type of energy source? Or what? Thank you!
admin answers:
Solar power; Geothermal power; Windmills; Wave power and Tidal power are all necessary if we are to reduce our reliance on coal, gas and uranium to a sustainable level.
I personally am also interested in powering a laptop from a stationary bicycle with a fly wheel and generator.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Companies
Lizzie asks…
What solar energy companies have been drawn to Arizona because of the tax incentives released in 2010?
I would like to know what companies came to Arizona BECAUSE of the tax incentives and tax credit programs implemented just for renewable energy companies. If you answer, I’ll answer your questions as well.
Please be very specific. I need to know what exact companies have done so to include stories for the causal analysis essay.
admin answers:
They all have as you can buy online now as well.
Mary asks…
what are some profitable and growing solar power companys looking to invest?
I am looking to invest in one and have around 1000 dollars also what are some other renewable Energy companies like wind, ocean, Power ,stuff like that
admin answers:
General Electric (GE) is one of the biggest manufacturers of wind turbines.
For solar power Claymore Mac Global Solar Energy ETF (TAN) is good.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Companies
Charles asks…
Can more be done to prevent the growth of local sustainable environmentally sensible economic growth?
besides giving billions of dollars to oil and energy companies?
admin answers:
Goodness yes. Obama tried hard to use his stimulus to create jobs in sustainable energy. Republicans, of course, fought that all the way. Reagan stripped Carter’s solar panels off the WH and nothing has changed since. If you care about clean stainable energy, always vote Democratic.
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Laura asks…
Would it not make sense to divert profits from oil companies, via tax, into sustainable energy resources?
Increasing oil prices may curb demand, but why does that have to translate into profits for oil companies?
admin answers:
It might. Maybe we should have done what Europe has been doing for years. Gas prices have been $4-$5 per gallon in Germany for many years … Not because of the price of oil, but because of higher taxes. In other words, Europe hasn’t diverted profits … They’ve taken it from tax payers.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy World
Sandra asks…
Who is doing renewable energy education? How are you accomplishing the task? What are you focused on?
I am researching the current energy and renewable energy issues facing the world. The task is very extensive and complicated. Each region has renewable energy opportunities that can be important to environmental issues, economic development, and social needs for all humans. Government agencies, industry, agriculture, educational and research organizations are focused upon massive research efforts. This seems to provide a way to share information, thoughts and ways to help people to improve our lives by conserving energy, find alternative energy resources and realize that fossil fuels are depleting and non-renewable. Can renewable energy be a way to produce additional energy? Networking can provide valuable information to further the advancement of changing habits about energy. I am a farmer with a background in sustainable energy and educational degrees in agriculture. A sustainable energy for industrial and developing countries can improve the quality of life of all human beings.
admin answers:
Wow – i’ve already done my college work… Sorry – i don’t feel like doing yours.
Lisa asks…
Instead of funding the Gulf Coast war to secure oil, should the US have focused on renewable energies?
Instead of provoking war with Iran and Iraq, causing thousands of deaths, to ensure control over the Gulf Region’s oil reserves (understandably because it holds an estimated 65% of all the world’s natural oil supply), we could have instead focused our funds on research into renewable energies, As the world moves toward renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydrogen, Saudi Arabia and the gulf region will have less influence over the world’s energy supply.
“If we really decided that we wanted a clean hydrogen economy, we could have it by 2010”
-US National Renewable Energy Laboratory Researcher, April 2001
@****: Yes, renewable energy is not yet sufficient for widespread use at present, but with more research, it could become a main energy source.
admin answers:
Yeah, we control the Middle East’s oil….someone better tell the Iraqis and the Saudis ……..
When did we “provoke war with Iran”? I must have missed it……..
Go over to the Environmental… Section and read something about ‘the hydrogen economy’….how it takes more energy to break hydrogen loose from water than it produce,how it is a remarkably low density fuel, and how, being the smallest molecule, it is a bear to store..it will leak right through normal steel tanks walls, as an example…..oh yeah, it explodes when it finds a spark or a heat source……the only people flogging hydrogen are those trying to sell “run your car on Water…The Secret Big Oil doesnt want you to know”….and they are, to a man/woman, scammers….
Some people’s world must be a sad place, filled with conspiracies and devoid of principles , courage, and honor……that they can not understand why we…and 45 other countries..went to liberate Kuwait in the first war, and then get rid of Iraq’s Hitler in the second
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Solutions
Lizzie 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:
Hey Brandon, I have to agree with Jeff on the Aeronautics, I have a degree in that now, and I’ve found beyond understanding angle of attack on a wind turbine blade, it isn’t very useful for renewable energy studies.
If it were me, I would get a degree in thermodynamics. It sounds out there, but if you look to the future of alternative energy, that is the most common science involved. We have wood and other biomass fired boilers now that heat homes and domestic hot water, vacuum based solar collectors that use alcohol as a medium to heat water or operate hydronic floor heating units, and so on. All these things are using some kind of thermocycle system and a liquid medium. The future of large scale solar electricity is heading the same direction. The reason is simple efficiency. Solar electric panels today, while very neat, or horribly inefficient because they use only the incoming photons to drive free electrons from silicone wafers. It is very cool, but at 10 to 15 watts per square foot, most of the energy is wasted heating up the panel.
The Germans are working on a wildly new way to harness solar energy to make electricity. They are putting trough collectors in the Sahara Desert that heat oil to hundreds of degrees Celsius. This hot oil is recirculated into large insulated tanks. Then a water to oil heat exchanger is used to boil the water using the superheated oil. There are several advantages to this system, not the least of which is now we can convert over 60% of the incoming energy to electricity instead of 15%, a four fold increase. It took thermodynamics to come up with a radical solution like this. If this experiment works as well as they hope, in 10 years we should see plants like this in the US Southwest.
Geothermal heating is another example of where heating technology is going, and again, it’s the thermodynamacist that can figure this stuff out. Take a closer look at it when you have time. I wish I had a chance to go back and learn some interesting stuff like this, but I’m pretty locked into my career now. We do power our home with the wind and sun by the way, been doing it for 12 years now, it’s a good hobby and great resource, we could sure use some improvements down the road. Good luck Brandon, and take care, Rudydoo
Mark asks…
Why do people want to disprove global warming? What do they have to gain?
I am not going to debate if global warming is happening or not, but shouldnt we be looking to save our environment and rainforest anyway?
Havnt we been in an evironmental crisis since the beginning of the industrial age.?
Ultimatley shouldnt we be looking to move toward more sustainable solutions that dont harm the environment anyway despite global warming….
Isn’t renewable energy our solution to dependency on foreign oil sources and fossil fuel?
How can anyone try to discredit the importance of sustainability, the environment and renewable energy in future societies?
admin answers:
All too true… I think people don’t want to have to “cop” to the results of our actions, change and “be hassled” by doing what might be better for our environment or really just be bothered with any of it.
It seems pretty obvious that we have been destroying our environment everywhere you turn. Regardless if we were causing global warming or not, we still need to stop the destruction of all of the natural habitats of so many other creatures existing on this planet, stop ravaging the lands and using up all of these limited resources that we have and find ways to live and use resources that are replenishable enough to consider nearly limitless.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Definition
Sandra asks…
Definitions of non-renewable and renewable energy sources?
I need good definitions for both
non-renewable energy source
and renewable energy source.
admin answers:
Non-renewable uses a source that consumes a natural resource in limited supply. (Oil, coal… We can’t make more so it depletes the existing supply.)
Renewable uses a source that can be taken or grown and therefore can be replenished (Sunlight, wood, corn… We can make or take more and it doesn’t deplete a limited supply.)
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David asks…
What would happen if we didn’t use renewable energy?
What do scientists fear if people didn’t use renewable energy?
admin answers:
By definition, non renewable energy can’t be renewed. It is finite and it will run out. We don’t have an accurate measure of how much fossil fuels we have left or how long that supply will last us. Many scientists believe we have passed the 1/2 way mark and we will see shortages in less than 25 years maybe sooner if we don’t learn to conserve what we have.
Renewable energy isn’t just about saving the environment, although most of them are much cleaner and produce far less pollution than fossil fuels. Renewable energy is also about ensuring our quality of life and for many it’s about energy independence.
I have solar panels which produce most of my electricity, when the city raised our rates by 20% it made little difference on my bill, if I hadn’t installed my solar system it would have been an additional $50 per month.
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy For All
Paul asks…
Is scalar energy killing the universe?
0 point fluctuation or cosmic energy exists everywhere, we also know that it’s part of our consciousnesses.
A device that takes advantage of the casimir effect to generate electricity can provide free and sustainable energy for Mr mankind without the need for capitalism. The energy however is not created out of nothing . The energy comes from the quantization of certain forces to create movement. Would “Absorbing” energy from the universe like this technically reduces the lifetime of the universe. I know that energy can never be destroyed only conserved but this is something else all together.
admin answers:
The amount of energy in empty space is enormous but there is some doubt if it could be affected by any retrieval means we could come up with. It’s estimated that empty space contains Zero Point energy that is equivalent to many trillions of Joules of energy per cubic centimeter
” Since space itself is thought to break up into a kind of quantum foam at a tiny distance scale called the Planck scale (10-33 cm), it is argued that the zero point fluctuations must cease at a corresponding Planck frequency (10-43 Hz). If that is the case, the zero-point energy density would be 110 orders of magnitude greater than the radiant energy at the center of the Sun. ”
http://www.calphysics.org/zpe.html
“According to NASA, “the concept of accessing a significant amount of useful energy from the ZPE gained much credibility when a major article on this topic was recently [March 1st, 2004] published in Aviation Week & Space Technology, a leading aerospace industry magazine”.[11]
The calculation that underlies the Casimir experiment, a calculation based on the formula predicting infinite vacuum energy, shows the zero-point energy of a system consisting of a vacuum between two plates will decrease at a finite rate as the two plates are drawn together. The vacuum energies are predicted to be infinite, but the changes are predicted to be finite. Casimir combined the projected rate of change in zero-point energy with the principle of conservation of energy to predict a force on the plates. The predicted force, which is very small and was experimentally measured to be within 5% of its predicted value, is finite.[12] Even though the zero-point energy is theoretically infinite, there is as yet no practical evidence to suggest that infinite amounts of zero-point energy are available for use, that zero-point energy can be withdrawn for free, or that zero-point energy can be used in violation of conservation of energy.[13]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-point_energy
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/zero_point_energy.html
Over-unity hydrosonic pump….
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=478A91FoBW4&feature=related
Mary asks…
Should we add nuclear power to the Waxman climate bill now being marked up by congress?
Nuclear means clean, sustainable energy but it comes with its own set of problems. However, if we are ever going to switch our transportation from oil to more electric (plug in electric or hydrogen for example) won’t we need a lot of electricity? As an aside, to make hydrogen, the process most readily available is to split H20 molecules via techniques which require electricity.
admin answers:
Waxman is an imbecile. When asked what was in his bill, he was clueless. When you have the government running industry, it will get politicized and shortages and cost will increase. Waxman is a political hack of the worst kind. We should add nuclear but people like Waxman, trial lawyers, Jane Fonda, and environmental wackos have ensured that won’t happen.
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy Content
James asks…
What is renewable energy content?
I live in Texas and am looking for a new energy provider. I was looking through the options and it can be filtered by “renewable energy content” ranging from 2% to 100%. What do I want here? I don’t know what it means.
So do I want one that is 100%? Or less? Or the least?
admin answers:
That’s the percentage of the energy you receive that comes from renewable sources and not fossil fuels.
For instance:
Company A provides energy to house B. Company A sends house B electricity that is 65% from coal-fired facilities, 25% from wind turbines, and 10% from solar panels. Company A has a renewable energy content of 35%.
Nancy asks…
Compare traditional methods of making electricity versus renewable energy sources. Is one method better & why?
I believe that renewable energy sources is a better method, but it is more expensive. If you could also provide statistics/facts I would appreciate it!
admin answers:
Wind power is actually very cheap, but the only problem is it can’t provide baseload power. It only provides power when the wind is blowing. However, it can provide power at 7-10 cents per kWh, competetive with coal.
Http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/17/wind-power-a-core-climate-solution/
Geothermal is also looking extremely promising, and can also potentially provide affordable power. It can provide power 24/7 as well (baseload power).
Http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2199/76/
http://climateprogress.org/2008/09/27/us-geothermal-is-hot/
Concentrated solar thermal is another great option, and can store energy to be used as baseload. It can be potentially as cheap as coal.
Http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2205/83/
http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/28/solar-baseload-update/
There are others like solar photovoltaic, tidal, etc.
There’s no question that renewable energy is preferable to traditional (mainly coal) energy, because it’s clean and the fuel source will never run out.
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