Nanotechnology: Green by Design IfEnergy

WASHINGTON - Today's engineers have developed cutting-edge tools and design techniques for making new, innovative products in more environmentally friendly ways. Can these tools and techniques be used to engineer nanotechnology products that are more energy efficient and nonpolluting than present-day materials and production methods? Can nanotechnology products be engineered to reduce their environmentalimpact throughout their life cycle? As part of its GreenNano initiative to advance the application of greenchemistry and [...] Read More


The History of Green Roof Technology IfEnergy

Green Roof Technology started in Babylon in the 7th century B.C. Back then it was known as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a majestic structure built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Amyitis. The King's wife was from a country that had abundant greens and moving to Babylon (now Iran) which made her miss her hometown. Don't you wish your partner could do a similarly grand gesture? In Scandinavia, [...] Read More


Green Roof Design Considerations IfEnergy

Before you start planting your roof with coconuts or oaks, you have to learn about the two types of green roofs. Remember, knowing which one can spell the difference between having a beautifully incorporated garden or no roof at all. Types of Green Roofs There is the Intensive Roof Garden first and foremost. This roof garden is developed for accessibility and intricate landscape requirements. Roofs for intensive gardens must be structurally capable [...] Read More


Will nanotechnology lead green technology revolution? Nanotechbuzz

Green technology is no longer on the virtuous fringes of the economy. It's big business, and moguls are seeing the potential for big profits. From radical pollution-free fuel cells to smog-eating nanocoatings, nanotech is making some startling advances on the green frontier. In my latest article at lime.com, I discuss the role of nanotechnology in the recent green technology boom. I hope you'll take a look at "Will Nanotechnology Lead Green [...] Read More


More Green than Red Business Computer Blog (UK)

Greene Wheeler's Appalachian Portraits* Are you planning to show a little more green than red for your company Christmas this year? Here's a list of some of the greatest green gadgets to come out in 2009, in case you need some holiday ideas. Make your gift one that keeps on giving; a cleaner, healthier technology. Dell G2210t: Looking for an energy conscious HDTV? This Dell model is 22 [...] Read More

© vaxomatic


The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a Ridgeline Protection Ordinance tonight that will probably prevent Dominion Power and BP from building a wind farm on East River Mountain, overlooking the city of Bluefield on the Virginia-West Virginia state line.

The wind farm issue has been around in the Virginia county for over a year now. The predictable forces have marshalled up against each other. On the one side property rights groups and business interests have pushed for the wind farm. On the other hand, environmental groups teamed up with home owners who fear their property values will drop because of the windmills.

I posted these comments to a local forum on why I was against this particular project:

• First, I don't think it will create many long term jobs. Ten to 15 long term jobs is about the same as getting a new Pizza Hut. That's not a huge economic impact.


• Second, I don't think the revenue will be that much. In other states the windmill industry has gone to the state capital and managed to get the law changed so that property tax on a windmill is greatly lower or eliminated. They haven't done that here yet, but they'll try. There is also reason to believe that surrounding home values will drop, and offset any gains in property tax revenue from the windmills.


• Third, I think windmills will soon be seen as an out of date approach to harvesting natural motion. I think harvesting ocean wave motion will eventually replace it.


• Fourth, there is some obvious environmental impact. Maybe if it weren't for my other concerns I'd be willing to consider tolerating that environment impact. Maybe.

I don't think of myself as a NIMBY person. IN any event, BP and Dominion are likely to head next door to Bland County. And if they're not well received there they'll move a little further down I-77 to Wythe County. Eventually, there'll probably be another Appalachian wind farm...

© Robert Thomson


NPR took a look this week at the dilemma many developed countries face over coal. It was a timely look because on February 1st many of the world's more developed countries will publish targets for limiting green house gas emissions.

Coal is the biggest single source of greenhouse gases. China and India are now huge consumers of coal, and their appetite is growing. "As long as economic development is a priority," says Morse, "I think climate takes a back seat, and in that situation, coal is going to win every time."

That's the conventional wisdom. But the deal made in Copenhagen may change all that. By Monday, as many as two dozen countries will have listed their emissions targets. China and the U.S. - the two biggest coal users - are leading the group. India is expected to join them, and so will South Africa - a major coal exporter.

I hadn't realized that part of China's interest in alternative energy is based on it's geography. China mines its coal in the southern and western regions of the country and then hauls it by train to be burned in the much more densely populated eastern part of the country. If China cold figure out how to generate significant amounts of wind or solar power near Beijing or Shanghai, it wouldn't have to haul coal from Xinjiang and Sichuan.

You can listen to the story at the NPR website. It's about four minutes long.

© Dominic's pics


I'm not a huge fan of TreeHugger. Interesting stuff... but a little too obsessed for me sometimes. But I like this piece from them on the on creating houses that are fossil fuel free.

I realized a while ago that change is difficult, not so much because of the price or the pain involved, but because of the vested interests involved.

Citing studies from the likes of Shell Oil and the German Economics Ministry, Leggett claims that contrary to what naysayers will tell you, it is perfectly possible to power the entire world with renewable energy technologies much sooner, and much cheaper, than most pundits would have you believe.

Okay, I'm a little skeptical. But it's interesting reading.

Why are you interested in alternative energy? Liberals are usually interested in alternative energy because they see renewable alternative as a way to reduce the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels and combat climate change. Conservatives generally see alternative energy as part of a policy leading to energy independence; wind energy, biodiesel, and solar power could potentially free us from or reliance on foreign oil.

The motives for each group's interest in alternative energy tend to color that group's approach. Liberals think that climate change - and, thus, alternative energy - is an urgent issue. So damn the cost. Conservatives think that alternative energy only makes sense in an economic context. It has to be marketable and affordable to make sense.

Factor in America's system of opposition politics. Liberals place dealing with climate change fairly high on their political agenda. That puts alternative energy high on their agenda. Conservatives often remain unconvinced that climate change is a real scientific phenomenon. So alternative energy ranks lower on their agenda. And because our system of opposition politics runs on, well, opposition, sometimes conservatives seem (in my opinion) to be against alternative energy initiatives mostly because liberals are in favor it those initiatives.

So, we just had a huge cold snap in much of the Northern Hemisphere. So much for global warming? Watch the video and then you decide...