Alec Baldwin Schools Us on Nuclear Power
March 2, 2010
Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Alternative Energy
Could Alec Baldwin play Al Gore? Photo: Dario Cantatore, Getty Images
You know who I think of when I think of nuclear ability experts? Just about anyone besides Alec Baldwin.
foolish me! It turns out that Jack Doneghy’s real life alter-ego is something of an expert on that controversial energy source.
Baldwin has been involved with anti-nuclear citizen groups since 1996, and he’s using his bully pulpit on the Huffington Post to air his educated and grave doubts about the safety, protection and viability of nuclear.
Actually, he doesn’t have any doubts — he’s gravely certain that nuclear potential is a filthy mistake that can only end badly. With descriptions of mismanaged plants, environment destroying by-products, and the costly, energy-intensive process due to assemble nuclear ability, Baldwin invents a compelling argument that nuclear ability is anything but Green or eco-friendly.
In the posts, Baldwin additionally make…
Clean Coal Runs Manipulative Ads During the Olympics
February 16, 2010
Filed under: Activism, Alternative Energy, Climate Change Coal miner Elmer Lloyd speaks against Mountain Top Removal
Watching the Olympics on Sunday night, I was shocked, amazed and dismayed to see a “clean coal” ad, apparently part of a new campaign to capitalize on recent political gains. Even more outrageous? The star of the ad, a personable young coal worker, made a connection amidst working in the coal industry and his brother serving overseas.
What does his brother, who is a soldier, have to do with clean coal? Oh, nothing. That was just another dirty emotional blackmail trick to try to compose you think it’s patriotic to support strip mining, black lung and air pollution.
It’s poor abundant that they are flat-out lying about clean coal. The Technology does not exist, and whether they can even figure out how to burn coal without the toxic emissions, there is still the problem of how destructive it is to get it out of the ground. To drag our troops into it too? That’s just dis…
Obama pursues up Clean Energy Talk with Action
January 29, 2010
Filed under: Polit-eco, Alternative Energy
On Wednesday, President Obama committed a significant section of his State of the Union address to a pitch for clean energy, encouraging the Senate to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill.
Today he backed up his words with a pledge to reduce the federal government’s Greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020. The move will save the country $8 to 11 billion dollars. That’s the way to lead by example!
It’s a strong political gesture, for two reasons:
1. it’s says the U.S. is serious about creating an industry — both production and market — for clean energy, and
2. it demonstrates on a large scale what eco-people know from our day to day lives: going Green is smart considering it saves money!
Everyone is wondering what other clean energy changes were signaled by Obama’s State of the Union speech.
One of the high points (for me) included a jab at climate change deniers (it’s petty, but I enjoyed and probably you did, too, wheth…
Geothermal ability: Use the Earth as Your Furnace
January 15, 2010
Filed under: Home, Alternative Energy
You know those movies where scientists tunnel to the center of the Earth, and they have to use magic Technology to survive the heat coming from the molten lava core?
That’s not real. But there is some pretty amazing — yet simple — Technology that allows us to use the naturally consistent temperature of Earth just below the frost line to heat and cool homes. It’s plus very eco-friendly: you don’t burn anything, nothing is emitted, and you don’t produce any waste.
Geothermal capability is one of the Greenest ways to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Even better? It’s additionally one of the most cost-effective sources of energy!
A geothermal home HVAC unit basically has three parts. There is a pump in your home, probably in the basement like a traditional furnace. But instead of burning some kind of fuel, it’s attached to an open or closed-loop system of pipes, which are buried under or near your home, and filled with a…
It’s Not Waste, it’s Energy!
January 13, 2010
Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy
It’s practically a post-holiday tradition: averting your eco-eyes as you drive past piles of non-recyclable, non-compostable, non-reusable trash crowding the curb, waiting for a ride to the Landfill of Non-biodegradeable Limbo.
Don’t look away! Things can be different. We can use that trash for good!
Waste to energy plants take solid trash like non-recyclable plastic, and incinerate it, capturing the energy produced by the burn and sending it into the grid to heat homes and supply electric potential.
But burning plastic, that’s about as Carbon terrible as you can get, right?
Wrong. We’re not talking about setting fire to a bunch of 2 liter soda bottles in an oil drum in the backyard — that is an egregious act of pollution. And probably additionally deadly for everyone on the block.
Thanks to sophisticated Technology, the emissions of your average waste to energy plant are generally lower than coal or gas powered energy plants. C…
Times Square Ball Goes Green With Pedal-Power
December 31, 2009
Filed under: Celebrities, Health, Alternative Energy
30 Rock’s Katrina Bowden and Judah Friedlander, Photo: Rob Loud, Getty Images
that New Year’s Eve, the world famous dropping ball (I’ll do my best not to prepare puberty jokes) in Times Square will be powered by society who can’t afford a gym membership … as well as a few celebrities who stopped by for a photo-op.
That’s considering, according to our friends at Holidash, Duracell has set up a fleet of six fancy stationary bikes (dubbed “power rovers”) that feed their pedal-powered electricity directly into the giant copper-tops that will illuminate up the iconic 2010 numerals at the stroke of midnight.
Anyone who wants to donate a few additional calories is welcome to drop by the Smart potential Lab, located at 1540 Broadway from now until 3PM on New Year’s Eve. Think of it as a free spin class.
According to Duracell’s calculations, they’ll need about 32,000 Watts to potential the numerals for 30 minutes on New Year’s Eve. w…
Do ‘Small’ Wind Turbines produce Good Christmas Gifts?
December 11, 2009
Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy
100KW Blue Sky turbine, Photo: Planetturbine.com
by the last few years, wind and solar proponents have been battling it out to take the top spot in the clean energy discussion. However, when it comes down making a purchase on a smaller scale, solar is king. Solar panels are smaller, more discreet and, most importantly, they’re a proven commodity.
Still, that doesn’t mean they’re always the best option. According to Earth2Tech, the “small” wind turbine market is expected to double by 2013. By the way, I put “small” in quotes considering were talking small in terms of output (100KW or less), not size. Look at the 100KW turbine in the picture and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
A small wind system might not be as suitable as solar panels for your condo, but it might be better for you condo complex. Likewise, small wind’s not ideal for your house in the burbs, but it might out-compete solar at your warehouse, or your farm, or what…