BluClimate blog has a very good analysis of the columnists like Robert Novak stand in the light of global warming and energy policies. For years they had a easy run because the political climate in the United States of America. But since last elections, even with faulty voting machines, Democrats have won. Now I hope things will start changing as ties to energy companies and congress will be seriously different. As the mentioned article states, hope United States will be united with rest of the world in saving our planet, in movements like Kyoto Protocol.
I just wrote about global warming witness' like Mitsuaki Iwago bt then people like Robert Novak too are in this world pulling the other end of the rope, and I like to see more columnists like BlueClimate exposing their blows to the healthier world. If you are world concious, I am sure you will find BlueClimate a very good read.
Links;
Columnist Robert Novak Feels the Pain in his right...
global warming witness
Monday, December 25, 2006
Global Warming Witness, Iwago, Mitsuaki
I cane across this site, “A Witness to Global Warming - Mitsuaki Iwago’s Website”, today that I spent my whole morning, going through the site, watching movies and thinking about the global warming.
I strongly urge you to visit this site and see the marvelous work done by a wild life enthusiastic. I got there because of my camera, after seeing his work on this site and else where, I wonder why "my camera does not work very well, even though mine is two or three models newer than his!"
Global warming could change climates throughout the world, raise ocean levels and bring more violent hurricanes, desertification, coral bleaching, and unseasonable rain and snow. These events would create serious problems for mankind and wild animals.
Mitsuaki Iwago has been photographing wild animals in their natural habitats for decades. His keen powers of observation and unique insight focus on the dangers that global warming poses to the natural world.
Visit “A Witness to Global Warming - Mitsuaki Iwago’s Website” to enjoy his special movies and high-quality digital photos shot with the Olympus E-1. Through his eyes and camera lenses, you too can be a witness to the effects of climate change.
Links;
Global Warming Witness, Iwago, Mitsuaki
I strongly urge you to visit this site and see the marvelous work done by a wild life enthusiastic. I got there because of my camera, after seeing his work on this site and else where, I wonder why "my camera does not work very well, even though mine is two or three models newer than his!"
Global warming could change climates throughout the world, raise ocean levels and bring more violent hurricanes, desertification, coral bleaching, and unseasonable rain and snow. These events would create serious problems for mankind and wild animals.
Mitsuaki Iwago has been photographing wild animals in their natural habitats for decades. His keen powers of observation and unique insight focus on the dangers that global warming poses to the natural world.
Visit “A Witness to Global Warming - Mitsuaki Iwago’s Website” to enjoy his special movies and high-quality digital photos shot with the Olympus E-1. Through his eyes and camera lenses, you too can be a witness to the effects of climate change.
Links;
Global Warming Witness, Iwago, Mitsuaki
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Sunday, December 24, 2006
Hope sun will shine your way! Have a great holiday!
I hope Santa will come your way and Your holiday will be filled with laughter and Joy. If you pass by an unfortunate person, please try to make him/her smile. Don't forget that all the Kids are the same!
Best Regards!
Best Regards!
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Venturi Eclectic OIL Independeant Vehicle, Solar and Wind Powered
Soaring gas prices, economic crises, wars, omnipresent pollution, irreversible changes in the climate… Our world is going through a period when the stakes in terms of energy form the very basis for worldwide chaos. While admitting that no solution for energy production can be perfect, we must become fully aware of the imperative need to limit our own personal consumption of energy.
Eclectic, the first autonomous vehicle in the history of the automobile, opens up a new era in the field of mobility : reserved for daily driving in urban areas, its low energy consumption makes it the most economical environmental vehicle ever built.
Innovative and astonishing, Eclectic is much more than a simple vehicle ; it is a production and storage plant for renewable energies, either solar or wind based. Charging of these energies, which is intermittent in certain regions, can also be complemented by electrical recharging.
This new solar and wind powered vehicle is energy independent to the extent that it is able to acquire the energy it needs on its own. For sunny days it has a solar panel on its roof, and for days without sun, if there is wind, a wind turbine can be erected to charge the battery. But for moments when both sun and wind is not enough, the renewable energy sources can also be complemented by electrical recharging by plugging in to an electric outlet.
Links;
Venturi
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echoMOD, one house at a time, by ecological design
I learned about a nice project by university of Virginia, ecoMOD, through a post on the worlds fair. echoMOD seems to be a project that we should hope will spread in to other areas of studies at universities and the like. The echoMOD's target, according to website is "The ecoMOD project is embedded in the curriculum of the University of Virginia, and is intended to create well-built homes that cost less to live in, minimize damage to the environment and appreciate over time."
echoMOD has already built a house under this program for a family affected by hurricane Katrina, for a family in Gautier, Mississippi.
Each completed house is to be monitored and evaluated carefully, with the results guiding the designs of subsequent houses.
Newly built low-income single-family homes tend to be trailers or some variant of manufactured or prefabricated housing. These homes may be affordable and easily installed in various locations, but they tend to be built in ways that waste resources and encourage indoor air quality problems. Most of them are sited without any consideration of solar or wind orientation, or local hydrology. The buildings themselves are aggressively 'site-less' – seemingly adaptable to any environment, yet entirely separate from their surroundings.
In contrast, the intent of the ecoMOD designs is to create site-specific homes using natural lighting and ventilation, non-hazardous materials, renewable energy, and energy-efficient systems to help reduce environmental impact and improve occupant health.
The other areas of engineering studies could also take part in this type of projects. Material design, Electrical Engineering, social sciences, could all come together to make this world a better place. If all at once is not possible, one at a time will do.
Links;
echoMOD project site
The worlds Fair
echoMOD has already built a house under this program for a family affected by hurricane Katrina, for a family in Gautier, Mississippi.
Each completed house is to be monitored and evaluated carefully, with the results guiding the designs of subsequent houses.
Newly built low-income single-family homes tend to be trailers or some variant of manufactured or prefabricated housing. These homes may be affordable and easily installed in various locations, but they tend to be built in ways that waste resources and encourage indoor air quality problems. Most of them are sited without any consideration of solar or wind orientation, or local hydrology. The buildings themselves are aggressively 'site-less' – seemingly adaptable to any environment, yet entirely separate from their surroundings.
In contrast, the intent of the ecoMOD designs is to create site-specific homes using natural lighting and ventilation, non-hazardous materials, renewable energy, and energy-efficient systems to help reduce environmental impact and improve occupant health.
The other areas of engineering studies could also take part in this type of projects. Material design, Electrical Engineering, social sciences, could all come together to make this world a better place. If all at once is not possible, one at a time will do.
Links;
echoMOD project site
The worlds Fair
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Monday, December 04, 2006
Oil Giant Venezuela goes Solar, on the streets.
Solar enegy panel powered lights now line Avenida Bolivar in central Caracas.
Credit: Michael Fox
Michael Fox at Venezuelanalysis.com reports that Venezuela has entered solar energy phase. I think making solar powered street lights is one way to go. Although I do not like politics of Venezuela, I do like their thoughts about energy alternatives. This is a country that did not have to worry about running out of oil for a while.
Highlighting one of the first initiatives of the recently launched Mission Energy Revolution, 73 new solar-powered lamp posts where installed last week along Bolivar Avenue in downtown Caracas. Venezuela has plans to multiply the pilot project around the country.
“Can you see these structures all along Bolivar Avenue?” President Hugo Chavez asked hundreds of thousands of his supporters on Sunday, from the stage on the Western side of the avenue. “Above, they have two panels, they are solar energy cells, or better said, cells to capture the energy of the sun. They accumulate the energy throughout the day, and with that we are illuminating Bolivar Avenue at night.
Chavez announced that he saw the solar panel project in action when he was in Vietnam and ordered Energy and Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez to set it up in Venezuela.
Links;
Michaels report
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Thursday, November 30, 2006
Spanish Solar, Spain begins to enjoy the SUN.
The emerging EU power, Spain, which has not made any changes to it's building code since 1970s, is taking giant steps to make solar power a prime part of the building or renovating any new structures.
All homes now have to have, at least, hot water solar systems and all new businesses have to generate solar electricity. Other regulations in the new building code include mandatory use of insulation, maintenance of heating and cooling systems and use of natural light. All together, these practices should decrease electricity use by up to 40%.
“The new standards will bring energy savings of 30 to 40 percent for each building and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy consumption of 40 to 55 percent,” the Environment and Housing Ministries said in a joint statement.
Spain, which is both enjoying and loathing a gigantic boom in construction, is hoping to control some of that growth as well as mitigate its impacts with the new regulations. The construction lobby, of course, is furious, saying that building costs will go up over 10%. The government does not seem too unhappy about that, but cites it's own figures that say the costs of construction will be recouped by energy savings within a couple years.
Way to go Spain, these are the wars you should fight.
Links;
Reuters article via MSNBC
All homes now have to have, at least, hot water solar systems and all new businesses have to generate solar electricity. Other regulations in the new building code include mandatory use of insulation, maintenance of heating and cooling systems and use of natural light. All together, these practices should decrease electricity use by up to 40%.
“The new standards will bring energy savings of 30 to 40 percent for each building and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy consumption of 40 to 55 percent,” the Environment and Housing Ministries said in a joint statement.
Spain, which is both enjoying and loathing a gigantic boom in construction, is hoping to control some of that growth as well as mitigate its impacts with the new regulations. The construction lobby, of course, is furious, saying that building costs will go up over 10%. The government does not seem too unhappy about that, but cites it's own figures that say the costs of construction will be recouped by energy savings within a couple years.
Way to go Spain, these are the wars you should fight.
Links;
Reuters article via MSNBC
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Sunday, November 26, 2006
Simplee Solar, fined £40,000 for false claims
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Simplee Solar, based at Woolsbridge Industrial Estate, Three Legged Cross, had sent flyers telling householders they could save up to 70 per cent on their energy bills and that solar could power their central heating.
Among those who gave evidence at the trial was pensioner Wendy Hammett, who paid £8,500 to have the system installed at her West Parley bungalow in August 2004.
Prosecuting on behalf of Dorset Trading Standards, Tim Bradbury said: "The extent to which the system could accrue benefit was wildly exaggerated."
continued...
He explained that the expert view was that solar panels could only be expected to provide two to three per cent of the energy needed for a domestic central heating system.
Simplee Solar denied two counts of supplying and five counts of offering to supply goods to which false trade descriptions had been applied.
But a jury yesterday convicted them of all charges.
So be true in your claims to energy savings through solar energy. Rather than using solar panels to heat water, solar water heaters are better, A few years ago, in a very sunny area, I was able to produce near steam, with a series of hand made solar water heaters.
Links;
Solar energy firm fined £40,000 for false claims
Among those who gave evidence at the trial was pensioner Wendy Hammett, who paid £8,500 to have the system installed at her West Parley bungalow in August 2004.
Prosecuting on behalf of Dorset Trading Standards, Tim Bradbury said: "The extent to which the system could accrue benefit was wildly exaggerated."
continued...
He explained that the expert view was that solar panels could only be expected to provide two to three per cent of the energy needed for a domestic central heating system.
Simplee Solar denied two counts of supplying and five counts of offering to supply goods to which false trade descriptions had been applied.
But a jury yesterday convicted them of all charges.
So be true in your claims to energy savings through solar energy. Rather than using solar panels to heat water, solar water heaters are better, A few years ago, in a very sunny area, I was able to produce near steam, with a series of hand made solar water heaters.
Links;
Solar energy firm fined £40,000 for false claims
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006
SunPower Gobbles up Powerlight, actually purchases.
Solar San Diego reports about SunPower a division of Cypress Semiconductor purchasing PowerLight, a leading provider of large scale solar project systems for $332.5 million in cash and stock.
From the press release;
"Together, SunPower and PowerLight aim to accelerate the reduction of solar power costs to compete with retail electric rates without incentives," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO. "PowerLight is one of the premier system integrators worldwide and presents us with a downstream investment opportunity that will accelerate SunPower's revenue growth while meeting our long-term financial model. By working closely with PowerLight over the past year as one of its key suppliers, we have gained great respect for their innovative products and the breadth and depth of their customer relationships. We intend to build on our strong market positions and duplicate our success in other emerging markets.""
Read more and find the press release at Solar San Diego.
Links;
Solar San Diego
Sunpower
Powerlight
From the press release;
"Together, SunPower and PowerLight aim to accelerate the reduction of solar power costs to compete with retail electric rates without incentives," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO. "PowerLight is one of the premier system integrators worldwide and presents us with a downstream investment opportunity that will accelerate SunPower's revenue growth while meeting our long-term financial model. By working closely with PowerLight over the past year as one of its key suppliers, we have gained great respect for their innovative products and the breadth and depth of their customer relationships. We intend to build on our strong market positions and duplicate our success in other emerging markets.""
Read more and find the press release at Solar San Diego.
Links;
Solar San Diego
Sunpower
Powerlight
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Monday, November 13, 2006
Is Solar Power Affordable? You Bet!
Andy Black on Mother Earth News carries an reprinted article from Solar Today magazine. I immediately knew that I need to inform users of this fine piece of writing. I know a lot of people are confused when it comes to financing and planing to convert their abode to be energy independent. The information is our there but at best is scattered. "You Can Afford Solar Power" article carries one through the phases of implementing such a system. It touches on age old questions such as payback and gives you no frills answers. I suggest that you read and digest this article if you are solar energy expert, solar power user, or intending to be one or the other.
from the article;
'What Factors Improve Payback?
The most important factors for making solar an attractive investment include high electric rates, net-metering policies, financial incentives and good sunlight. Unlike the other factors, sunlight is available in almost all of the continental United States.
High electric rates can take various forms. California, Hawaii, New York and other states have average rates well above 15 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). California’s tiered pricing system penalizes large residential users with prices as high as 33 cents per kWh. Solar energy offsets highest-tier usage first, making the customer look like a smaller net user.'
The article ends with links to valuable tools listed below ;
Tools for Calculating PV System Payback
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
Solar Energy Industries Association Guide to Federal Tax Incentives
Author’s post of detailed information on calculating various scenarios
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Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Oil companies win, California Prop 87 Defeated
What can I say, Only thing I can repeat is what Adam Browning, Executive Director of the Vote Solar Initiative said.
"Oil companies spent nearly $100 million trying to convince California voters that collective suicide is a good idea. Unfortunately, they were successful,"
So congratulation's California, if you cannot wait for the results, you can jump off coastal cliffs and finish it now.
Links;
Vote Solar, (The Vote Solar Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of stopping global warming and increasing energy independence by bringing solar energy into the mainstream.)
"Oil companies spent nearly $100 million trying to convince California voters that collective suicide is a good idea. Unfortunately, they were successful,"
So congratulation's California, if you cannot wait for the results, you can jump off coastal cliffs and finish it now.
Links;
Vote Solar, (The Vote Solar Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of stopping global warming and increasing energy independence by bringing solar energy into the mainstream.)
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How Cash back for Solar works in California.
If you are a Californian, there are incentives for you to turn your home in to a Solar Generator! Aka self sustained house. California State initiative, works in a wonderful ways to turn your interest toward converting your house in to a solar power house.
I urge all the states that could benefit from Solar energy to adopt a similar initiatives. Let's go beyond the American Borders, let's introduce such measures all over the world.
The California Solar Initiative Offers:
I urge all the states that could benefit from Solar energy to adopt a similar initiatives. Let's go beyond the American Borders, let's introduce such measures all over the world.
The California Solar Initiative Offers:
- Photovoltaic incentives starting at $2.50 per watt for systems up to one megawatt in size.
- Funds for solar installations for existing and new low-income and affordable housing.
- A pay-for-performance incentive structure to reward high-performing solar projects.
The California Solar Initiative will be coordinated with the state's energy efficiency, "smart" metering, and building standards programs at the Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission, ensuring that the state is using its energy resources wisely.
The above is true if you act before the year ends. There is a new way based on Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of California that will change the incentive payment criteria.- Starting January 1, 2007, incentives for all solar energy systems greater than 100 kilowatts in size will be paid monthly based on the actual energy produced for a period of five years. This incentive is called Performance Based Incentives, or PBI.
- Incentives for all systems less than 100 kilowatts will initially be paid a one-time, up-front incentive based on expected system performance. Expected performance will be calculated based on equipment ratings and installation factors, such as geographic location, tilt, and shading. This incentive structure is called Expected Performance-Based Buydown, or EPBB.
- Starting in 2010, incentives for all systems greater than 30 kilowatts in size will be paid based on actual energy produced.
On March 2, 2006, the CPUC opened a proceeding to develop rules and procedures for the California Solar Initiative and to continue consideration of policies for the development of cost-effective, clean and reliable distributed generation (DG). On August 21, 2006, the Governor signed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), which directs the CPUC and the Energy Commission to implement the CSI program consistent with specific requirements and budget limits set forth in the legislation.
The PUC has a rulemaking in progress to reconcile its decisions with SB1, and it also continues to hold public workshops to continue designing program elements. Contact the CPUC to learn how to provide your input in these decisions.
Current incentives provide an upfront, capacity-based payment for a new system. The CSI incentive system will change in 2007 when it moves to performance-based payments. In its August 24, 2006, decision, the CPUC shifted the program from volume-based to performance-based incentives and clarified many elements of the program's design and administration.
There is also a FAQ page that will answer most of your questions.
Links;
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"Go Solar California" is the moto of the new state website promoting solar Energy in California.
After all the initiatives that California has made, you can follow the progress on the new web site, "Go Solar California". The State of California plans or wishes to place 3,000 megawatts of new, solar produced electricity systems on rooftops by 2017. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger goal is to put solar systems on a million California roofs. And certainly the California need your help.
State has already taken steps to make alternative energy a part of the power Grig that runs through California.
About 10.2 percent of the electricity California already use comes from renewable sources - biomass, geothermal, small hydroelectric, solar, and wind.
According to a statement on the site, why alternative energy;
Only bad thing about site is videos are in windows format and not all can watch them. Please change them to a better format that ASF, not all people use windows, specially californians.
Links;
"Go Solar California"
State has already taken steps to make alternative energy a part of the power Grig that runs through California.
About 10.2 percent of the electricity California already use comes from renewable sources - biomass, geothermal, small hydroelectric, solar, and wind.
According to a statement on the site, why alternative energy;
Benefits of Renewable Energy
Choosing renewable power provides many benefits:
- Making use of secure, indigenous, and sustainable natural resources.
- Helping to keep our air clean.
- Potential to reduce the production of carbon dioxide - a leading contributor to global climate change.
- Helping to create jobs for California and American workers.
- Establishing the United States as a world leader and exporter of renewable power technologies.
- Nationwide, reducing dependence on imported oil.
By purchasing electricity generated from renewable resources or installing a renewable energy system on your home, you can demonstrate your commitment to a healthy environment and a healthy economy.
Today, thousands of Californians have already made the switch to renewable energy, producing clean, "green energy" for themselves.
So join the race and be productive. The site is a source of information for Solar energy whether you are a Californian or not. I hope all the states in USA and other countries will follow a California, the state I live, and find best resources for energy. If you were to surpass us we will surely, follow you. Like we are already learning from Brazil about alternative feuls.Only bad thing about site is videos are in windows format and not all can watch them. Please change them to a better format that ASF, not all people use windows, specially californians.
Links;
"Go Solar California"
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Saturday, November 04, 2006
Solar Powered Politics in Down Under
An exciting new election pitch by the Green Party proposes that every Australian man, woman and child would wash under a solar heated shower.
“A complete change over to solar could potentially reduce the state’s greenhouse gas production by 2200 million tonnes each year,” Greens energy spokesman Louis Delacretaz said. (Michael Warner, Solar Conversion a must under Greens, Herald Sun, October 21, 2006).
Under the Green Party’s new election campaign, solar power units would be installed in all new homes and electric and gas systems would be slowly replaced over the next 15 years. The controversial new policy would also see the closure of Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley. The Greens are also pledging to spend a huge $10.5 billion in upgrading the Public transport network and Education is set to receive $1 billion in additional funding.
Major Political parties have historically taken the Green Party’s pre-election promises as a joke. However, the Green’s are highly likely to grab the balance of power in the new 40 seat Legislative council due to changes in the state’s electoral boundaries. Voting for the upper house has changed from preferential to proportional and has threatened Labour and Liberal’s strong-hold in state politics. This in turn has created an opportunity for smaller parties to take them on at the polls.
“A complete change over to solar could potentially reduce the state’s greenhouse gas production by 2200 million tonnes each year,” Greens energy spokesman Louis Delacretaz said. (Michael Warner, Solar Conversion a must under Greens, Herald Sun, October 21, 2006).
Under the Green Party’s new election campaign, solar power units would be installed in all new homes and electric and gas systems would be slowly replaced over the next 15 years. The controversial new policy would also see the closure of Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley. The Greens are also pledging to spend a huge $10.5 billion in upgrading the Public transport network and Education is set to receive $1 billion in additional funding.
Major Political parties have historically taken the Green Party’s pre-election promises as a joke. However, the Green’s are highly likely to grab the balance of power in the new 40 seat Legislative council due to changes in the state’s electoral boundaries. Voting for the upper house has changed from preferential to proportional and has threatened Labour and Liberal’s strong-hold in state politics. This in turn has created an opportunity for smaller parties to take them on at the polls.
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30 Million into Sharp Solar Power Development
VUNET's Simon Burns from Taipei, reports that Sharp Coporation will expand its solar cell output by a factor of six, the Japanese electronics manufacturer announced on November 1st.
New production lines will start rolling at the company's solar cell facility in Southern Japan later this month.
After the expansion, Sharp's total annual production capacity of pholtovoltaic solar cells will be enough to generate 600 megawatts of power, up from 100 megawatts today.
Solar panels with 600 megawatts of generation capacity would be enough to provide power for a city with a population of almost half a million.
Simon also reported earlier that Motech Industries will ask for about $300m from investors, and E-Ton Solar Tech will seek more than $190m, increase production of Solar Cells this year.
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Monday, October 30, 2006
Household water saving Peoject started
New project targeting water usage and water savings in households is on the way in Australia. This project planed to span over three years will gather data, and will provide "bullet Proof" solutions to todays problems in water usage in households.
According to Project leader, Dr Rodney Stewart;
"Until now there has been little hard, specific data available on the effect of different water saving technologies on household consumption.
"Government rebates on items such as tanks and whitegoods are vital to encourage consumers to buy water-saving technology and this study will enable governments to prioritise which technology to subsidise."
The project will involve selecting 100 homes with average-to-high water use in South East Queensland, a region pinpointed as Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan area, and one under massive pressure to meet escalating domestic water demand.
They will collect and analyse data from before and after the installation of the water saving devices then present the findings to local and state government water authorities nationwide.
This will also enable water authorities to tackle the massive water loss that occurs in the supply system before the water even reaches homes.
"Up to 10 per cent of Australia’s drinking water is lost through pressure leaks in the system before it even reaches us," Dr Stewart said.
I think this is not only a problem in Australia but everywhere and any solution this research will benefit all of us.
Links;
Project press release
According to Project leader, Dr Rodney Stewart;
"Until now there has been little hard, specific data available on the effect of different water saving technologies on household consumption.
"Government rebates on items such as tanks and whitegoods are vital to encourage consumers to buy water-saving technology and this study will enable governments to prioritise which technology to subsidise."
The project will involve selecting 100 homes with average-to-high water use in South East Queensland, a region pinpointed as Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan area, and one under massive pressure to meet escalating domestic water demand.
They will collect and analyse data from before and after the installation of the water saving devices then present the findings to local and state government water authorities nationwide.
This will also enable water authorities to tackle the massive water loss that occurs in the supply system before the water even reaches homes.
"Up to 10 per cent of Australia’s drinking water is lost through pressure leaks in the system before it even reaches us," Dr Stewart said.
I think this is not only a problem in Australia but everywhere and any solution this research will benefit all of us.
Links;
Project press release
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Sunday, October 29, 2006
A new 3435AH Battery for your Solar Power system
Surrette Battery, a leading Canadian lead-acid battery manufacturer has a new, higher capacity giant for your Solar/Renewable Energy battery needs. I meant Giant, well at least you have to be a giant to lift or carry it at 285 pounds or 130 KG weight.
There is more than the size or weight to this battery, known as 2-YS-31PS, The lead acid battery features the same durability, performance and ease of maintenance as every Surrette battery, but its larger size and additional capacity of 3424AH allow the system to minimize parallel connections in your solar power storage system, thereby maximizing charge efficiency and reliability. The new 2-YS-31PS design maximizes cell size and bank capacity, which reduces the depth of cycles while increasing the battery’s longevity. In addition, the larger capacity allows users to minimize the number of cells in their system, cutting down maintenance time.
Here are the numbers for the battery;
2-YS-31PS Specifications:
| Model: | 2-YS-31PS |
| Overall Dims: | 15 ½” x 9” x 31 5/8" |
| Weight Wet Est: | 285 LB/130 KG |
| Max Ht with optional Hydrocaps: | 32 1/9” |
| Weight Est: | 200 LB/91 KG |
| Capacity: | 1993 AH 8 HR |
| 2430 AH 20 HR | |
| 3435 AH 100 HR |
Links
Surrette Battery
Rolls Battery
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Friday, October 27, 2006
Solar Power need no pushing, it will pick up speed naturally....
According to Author, fund manager, and former corporate buyout expert Travis Bradford in "Solar Revolution."
The president and founder of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development in Cambridge, Mass., says we are on the doorstep of the solar era. He's not forecasting something that will occur in the next century. Bradford offers the evidence of a trend that is well under way and that will gain relentless momentum within the next two decades.
I came across the news on Plenty Magazine (How to go green), which I started reading from Issue 5, Which is now available in digital format. Go register and you will learn a lot. The article was "Lighten Up" by Trevor Stokes. it is an interview with Travis Bradford.
Read the rest of the article at Plenty.
The president and founder of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development in Cambridge, Mass., says we are on the doorstep of the solar era. He's not forecasting something that will occur in the next century. Bradford offers the evidence of a trend that is well under way and that will gain relentless momentum within the next two decades.
I came across the news on Plenty Magazine (How to go green), which I started reading from Issue 5, Which is now available in digital format. Go register and you will learn a lot. The article was "Lighten Up" by Trevor Stokes. it is an interview with Travis Bradford.
Plenty: Why do you think solar energy will be part of the solution to today’s energy crisis?
Bradford: The answer to that is very simple: Today solar energy costs 10 percent of what it did to install in the mid- to late-1970s. The products have gotten more mature; the efficiencies have improved; the costs have come down—all using the exact same photovoltaic technologies. The more we make, the cheaper it gets. We’ve entered a phase where it’s cheap enough to install the technology in lots of places; every time we install more it gets cheaper.Read the rest of the article at Plenty.
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Friday, October 20, 2006
SEPA award goes to PGandE for its solar energy programs, for the second time!
PGandE has interconnected more than 13,000 customers with solar generating systems to the power grid -- representing more than 100 megawatts and more than any other utility in the nation. In just the past 24 months, PGandE has interconnected nearly 4,000 customers representing 35 megawatts of solar power. PGandE has also provided more than $150 million in rebates to nearly 300 solar customers through the utility's self-generation incentive program, which helps offset the cost of installing solar and other forms of clean, on-site generation such as wind and fuel cells. And for all these work, an award from the Solar Electric Power Association.
his is the second time in two years that PGandE has received SEPA's Solar Business Achievement in the category of public awareness and industry leadership. This is also the first time SEPA has honored any company with a "repeat" award.
PGandE is hosting the Solar Power 2006 conference being held in San Jose from October 16 to 19. King made introductory remarks to welcome over 4,000 conference attendees, which I attended. I plan to attend next year as well.
his is the second time in two years that PGandE has received SEPA's Solar Business Achievement in the category of public awareness and industry leadership. This is also the first time SEPA has honored any company with a "repeat" award.
PGandE is hosting the Solar Power 2006 conference being held in San Jose from October 16 to 19. King made introductory remarks to welcome over 4,000 conference attendees, which I attended. I plan to attend next year as well.
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Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Is your hot water usage putting you in hot water?
Then read GREEN TIPS published by UCS, which I am a member! and I urge you to join UCS even if you are not a scientist. It is a good source of information on energy, world and local matters that matters to all of us, and pure good science for cleaner and healthier living. Most of my articles are originated from the ideas I receive from UCS and I am sure you will wonder, why did not I find this site before!
Now back in to hot water, A few years, a decade ago, I worked on a project to introduce Solar Energy to a third world country, factory. This factory needed a lot of hot water and steam in order to operate and they were spending a fortune in heating water that used boilers that were so old I could not even guess the age.
Due to monitory reasons they were not willing to replace the boilers and the project fund was not that big either.
So we decided to construct solar water heaters on the factory roof and feed the boilers with heated water so that it would use less energy to heat the water. All the people were sceptical because the factory was in a cold area higher up in the mountains. But we saw that, when sun shines, it shines better.
The water the factory was getting was from a natural stream, and water was cold to touch.
So we sat out to produce solar water heater, which were very crude, from copper plates, copper tubes and Matt black paint. We produced about 30 panels about one square meter and connected them in serial manner. We fed cold water in one end and checked out the other end, Viola, near steaming water came out on sunny days. Even on cold gloomy days, water temperature was much higher than that of the stream.
The factory workers and the owners (The same) were very happy to see the results. They started saving a lot of money as they connected the output of the solar heater to the input of the boilers. After a decade, now they have much better solar heater and boilers. All made locally by technicians that we trained. This is something I always remember when I think of solar power. It makes me extremely happy.
Now back to the UCS green tips article,
Water heating accounts for approximately 15 percent of the average household’s total energy consumption (and a sizable chunk of its energy costs). If your water heater is more than 10 years old it is likely running at less than 50 percent efficiency—wasting energy and money—but most people don’t replace their water heater until it fails. Upgrading to a new, more efficient model will lower not only your monthly expenses, but also your contribution to air pollution and global warming.
Before you shop for a new water heater, however, make sure you’ve done everything you can to minimize your hot water use. Install water-saving fixtures and appliances, for example, and insulate your pipes. Then, choose the most energy-efficient model that meets your needs and budget; three types are described below.
So I ask you to click on the link below and read the rest of the article, you may get out of the hot water you are in right now!Links;
Hot water with less worry
UCS Union of Concerned Scientists
Incentives for renewable energy
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