Comments solar greg has made

  • Honduras kicked out a president who violated the constitution. They did it acording to the law. The military did their job and are not in power. Of course you will not see this on the US news. They are too busy dissecting Michael Jakson. Take some time and read the Honduran constitution which was written thinking presicely to avoid the perpetuation of dictators. About winning elections in countries where poverty is great, tax money and drug money goes a long way to convince people to vote for Mr. nice guy. Many of the suporters of Zelaya are Nicaraguans sent by Ortega through the border to make trouble. The majority of Hondurans do not want him back!

    The main topic actually relates to the deviation we have taken here with Chavez. It's all about information. If people are informed about where products come from, they can choose who they support with their purchase. Disinformation and rightout lying should be denounced. Ask questions.

    On 'Localwashing' in pictures -- bogus marketing at its finest posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 32 Responses

  • If you want to say hi to your hero, he is celebrating with Kadafi his 40 years of rule, taken by force.

    He just passed a law called "Delito Mediatico" which means Media Crimes. It can put people in jail for 4 years for saying anything the government considers not true. It even punishes people with jail if they withold information from the authorities.

    Sorry if I keep on the same theme but this is serious stuff and the effort to distort the truth is huge! 

    On 'Localwashing' in pictures -- bogus marketing at its finest posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 32 Responses

  • Have they done any study in fresh water plants, specifically the Hidrilla Verticilata? That stuff is taking over lakes and altering ecosystems. If it has a better use than fertilizer stock or biogas production it could help reduce its population.

    On Australia 'reef and beef' project seeks to curb flatulent cows posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response

  • Chavez is Castro's pupil. If there is a threat to democracy, it is Chavez!

    Just listen to his Anti American speeches or find out what he is doing to the news media. He has shut down anybody who oposes his Regime. We buy oil from our enemies!

    Let's just stop buying oil, specially from Venezuela.

    On 'Localwashing' in pictures -- bogus marketing at its finest posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 32 Responses

  • Chavez democtratic?? Closing news media because he feels like it? that is democratic? Confiscating private companies assets because it's in the countries best interest. He recently intervened the two biggest coffee distributors and took over. Have you ever heard him speak??

    After the insulting way he kept interrupting the guy from Spain in the UN, and was finally told to shut up, his reaction was to say he could close down Spanish companies in Venezuela. If you think Chavez respects democracy you must be watching too much TV.  

    On 'Localwashing' in pictures -- bogus marketing at its finest posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 32 Responses

  • Nothing gets investors moving more than a good business. How about setting up land rental in tropical countries for sustainable logging operations. There is enough land owned by individuals without money that just sit there, baren after they sold the rainforest. Instead of letting them plant Jathropa or other biofuel destined plantations, offer to pay for the rental of the land and have them plant trees. The operation could be monitored by the investors via Google Earth. In tropical areas trees are ready to cut in 5 to 10 years. It would be in the best interest of the land owner to take good care of the forest or he doesn't get paid for the lumber.

    Trees are the best carbon capture machine.

    I like the idea of creating snow in places where there should be anyways. Also create cloud cover over the bald spot up north.  

    On Geoengineering schemes shouldn't be dismissed out of hand, scientists say posted 2 months, 4 weeks ago 9 Responses

  • I was wondering when someone would come up with the concept of hydro power with the use of wells. I would try to make the underground storage as deep as possible to reduce the amount of water needed. This way you could think about building a resevoir at ground level even in the desert without losing it. Then use solar thermal to power heat engines (Deluge) or other to pump all day and store heat for a steady 24 hour energy output with heat engines coupled directly to electric generators. The Hydro would take care of peaks.

    On Enabling wind, sun to be our main power supplies posted 3 months ago 5 Responses

  • Amazindrx

    For the collector surface (road) to be thermally efficient you would need to extract a maximum of around 100F. You may need to think of some sort of heat pump to take it up past the 140F needed for the gas turbine. How about Stirling engine/heat pumps? 

    On Could we replace the nation's pavement with solar panels? posted 3 months ago 30 Responses

  • Very few people have the willpower to go without many of the luxuries we all take for granted (in some parts of the world) One of those is hot water for bathing. On the list on #6 you have using energy efficient appliances. Where do you place solar water heaters? This is a little more than going from an old electric heater to a super efficient gas heater. It's more like cutting 20 to 30% off your electric bill.

    I'm all for changing habits for good, but solar hot water is one step that doesn't require sacrificing comfort at all.

    On More on No Impact Man and personal eco-behavior posted 3 months ago 11 Responses

  • Your swimming pool needs at least 4 hours of pumping to keep it clean anyways. Even if you had to pump 12 hours a day (which you don't), the electric bill would be a lot less than your gas bill. For example, if you have 8 standard solar pool panels 4x12, your daily energy input will be around 380,000 BTU. This replaces anywhere between 175 and 422 cubic feet of natural gas. If it where propane it would be equivalent to 5.42 galons. If you are in a temperate climate you can avoid up to 25,000 pounds of CO2 a year with the same example. If you take into acount the maintenance of the gas heater, danger inherent to gas, CO2 and other greenhouse gases, I don't see how anybody can justify anything other than solar. The only excuse would be if you fisically can't install solar. 

    Another benefit of using solar is that you keep the pool warmer all the time, not only when you remember to fire up the gas guzzler.

    On Ask Umbra on solar pool heaters posted 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • Solar pool heating is the most cost effective way of using solar energy. That is why of all forms of solar energy use today, pool heating is the largest use in the world. The main reason is because a swimming pool is a giant energy hog. A solar pool heater properly installed will pay for itself very fast.

    On Ask Umbra on solar pool heaters posted 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • We install solar heaters and have found that one of the things that wastes a lot of energy in the kitchen is the faucet. It seems to be very popular to use the single valve comand. When it opens in the center position, it uses half cold and half hot. Whether you need warm water or not. Because of the way water is used in kitchens, little bits at a time, the heat is lost in the tubing. 

    On Symptom: High utility bills; Diagnosis: Full energy efficiency workup posted 5 months, 1 week ago 4 Responses

  • diffuse or dense

    One argument used by big power is the "so called" diffuse nature of solar. Whether it's coal or nuke. In a country where freedom is on the tip of our tounges, don't you think we'd be a lot more independent an free if NOBODY could mess with our power source?

    Anybody who says solar (DHW solar, ground storage solar for space heating, and eventually PV or thermal to electric) is no good, is either ignorant or afraid of it. We have around 4KWH per M per day to work with in most places and ways of storing for a good amount of energy needs, mainly heat.

    If private enterprise doesn't want to build nukes it is for 2 reasons. Cost and risk.

    The only way nukes could happen now is if somebody reaches into our pockets and decides for us.On French independent nuclear commission reports four malfunctions in four plants in 15 days posted 1 year, 3 months ago 43 Responses

  • propane

    The combustion of one gallon of LPG or propane produces 12.64 pounds of CO2 gas.

    You might ask why if a galon of propane weighs 4.22 pounds, how can that be. It's because it combines with the oxigen provided by the air.

    That is the fuel I displace most when I install solar heaters. A commercial pool 25 x 12.5 meters can produce well over 100 tons of CO2 a year in mild climates.On Umbra on calculating CO2 weight posted 1 year, 3 months ago 19 Responses

  • Underground thermal storage

    I think a lot more can be done in the solar heating department. Most locations in the US have the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. The trick is to store summer heat, captured with solar collectors, for use in winter (underground trenches or wells). This would either reduce or eliminate the need for the heat pump. Maybe to raise the temp. from 80 to 120 for bathing, and for air if the thermal storage drops bellow 80. If a heat pump is efficient with ground source heat at 65F it certainly would increase dramatically if the ground was warmed up during the summer months. In some places you might consider economical pool panels and equipment.

    An you might take it another step and store "cold" from winter in a separate trench.

    What I usually hear is that it's expensive because of the trenches or wells. I don't think it should be that expensive. On There's only one way to get big near-term carbon reductions posted 1 year, 4 months ago 21 Responses

  • wood products

    I guess this blog has become the log blog.

    Nature gives us wood as an excelent building material. It's also one of natures beautiful carbon sinks. If we start depending on forests for an insatiable hunger for stupidly inneficient energy use, or making plastics, I don't think our problems will be fixed. We've already missused millions of years of stored solar energy in 100 years!

    By all means, sustainable forests should be planted and ban logging in natural forests.On Are biofuels a core solution? posted 1 year, 4 months ago 201 Responses

  • Hybrids

    Amazingdrx, I agree that we need hybrid vehicles to make the transition from ICE's to non polluting sources. In my oppinion the best combination is with compressed air rather than electricity. One of combustion engines defects is the wasted heat. In this combination the heat is perfect for a better expantion of the air.

    It's obvious we won't be off of our fuel deppendency as soon as we would like regarding transportation.

    As far as winter heating, a lot more should be done with solar heating. If properly designed a solar system can take care of all or most of the heating load and ground source heat pumps for backup.

    No matter where the fuel comes from it should be a last resource when it comes to home and water heating.On Are biofuels a core solution? posted 1 year, 4 months ago 201 Responses

  • trees vrs solar

    Don't get me wrong, if I have to choose between cutting down a tree to install a solar system, and not installing, I'd rather not install it there. I believe well managed productive forests are not only a good idea but necesary. What I don't think is a good idea is to waste its potential feeding a hunger for fuel.
    And as to your coment about DHW (that is domestic hot water), I only used it to show a comparison of how much energy can be harvested directly from the sun with relatively low cost technology.
    I don't know if the 2,000 galons of ethanol are the correct figure? I just used the number on an earlier post.
    Here is another one, how about avocado trees. They can produce a lot of oil. Again not for burning.On Are biofuels a core solution? posted 1 year, 4 months ago 201 Responses

  • energy efficiency

    I compare our transition from internal combustion and other burning of fuel for heat like someone who goes into rehabilitation for drug addiction. I believe we are addicted to fuel. In the clinic they will give the patient smaller and smaller doses of the drug to keep him alive. They don't just keep on giving him his poison.
    If investors want to keep pumping efforts and money into alternative fuels, go ahead, but not with tax money.
    I heard mentioned 2,000 galons of ethanol a year per acre? That's 160Million BTU's.
    With one acre of DHW panels you produce that in 4 days.  
    On Are biofuels a core solution? posted 1 year, 4 months ago 201 Responses

  • less time less fuel

    If the ship increases its speed it reaches its destination faster. Less running time of the engine translates into less fuel.

    It should have been done a long time ago. A way to incentivate energy and polution reduction, ports should favor the clean ships by charging them less docking fees and more to the dirty ones.

    The best wind is higher up and usually pretty stable compared to lower elevations. It seems like their experiment will be done with a pretty small kite.
    On Cargo ship to use massive kite-like sail on trans-Atlantic voyage posted 1 year, 11 months ago 16 Responses

  • What happened to freedom?

    If we let them get away with stuff like this, we might as well give up.I don't know if it has changed but you could actually put the word ORGANIC on a product if it had a carbon molecule in it! So if they permitted some to basically lie (misleading is LYING in my book), why can't others tell the truth?
    It all boils down to governments being controlled by BIG interests.
    By the way, pesticides that are banned for use in the USA are still manufactured in the USA and sold outside the USA.On Pennsylvania bans hormone- and antibiotic-free labels on dairy products posted 2 years ago 21 Responses

  • water heater

    A large portion of your electric bill (unless you use gas) is for water heating. This is specially true in hotels because people tend to take longer showers when they stay at a hotel. Water saving shower head (1.5GPM) is a step, but you should consider solar heating. In that part of the world there are many more options of solar heaters than in the US.
    It's a way to reduce CO2 emissions and save money too (which you can use to make more improvements).On Umbra on green hotels posted 2 years ago 5 Responses

  • Natures way

    I don't see enough interest in using natures own carbon sequestration ways. A large part of the carbon dioxide problem we have is due to humans destroying forests. Anybody with a minimum amount of observation can see what happens when trees are suddenly missing. Everything dries up. The air warms and affects everything downwind. It doesn't rain evenly.
    The problem with humans is that we think we are so smart that we can take from Nature without consequences.
    How much will it cost (us) for these carbon storage practices? Wouldn't that money be best used to reforest and forest new places? Heck, we are so proud that we can make deserts produce vegetables.
    Assuming it is safe, the thing to consider is if the cost of these sequestration plans wouldn't be best put to use into non polluting energy? Comparing the CO2 that will be sequestered against the CO2 not produced by solar, wind, wave power, during it's lifetime expectancy.  
    I share the fear that this could cause a delay of the real answers we need.
     It will take a while until we are free from combustion as our main energy source, lets not make it longer.On A guest essay from Peter Montague raises questions about the rush to sequestration posted 2 years ago 12 Responses

  • Not if they are smart

    They know the black stuff won't last for ever. If they were smarter they would invest in solar, maybe quietly so as not to encourage everybody else do it too.On OPEC nations demand that petroleum-consuming countries maintain current thirst for oil posted 2 years ago 13 Responses

  • Popularity

    Good or bad, most people buy their car according to what is popular. If small cars become popular, what's wrong with that? You have better chances of convincing people to switch to more economical cars with something that isn't only utilitarian like in Russia with the square Ladas a few years back.  On Eensy-weensy Smart car getting a big embrace from U.S. drivers posted 2 years ago 9 Responses

  • About time

    Congratulations.

    Finally someone is making lemonade out of lemons. If we had enough people with thermodinamic knowledge out there, this would be a basic part of the design of any heat producing or consuming plant.

    I see taking advantage of decompressing gas similar to regenerative braking in cars.

    What about water pumping? Have you detected any potencial in water that just pours into cisterns? or is that to small?On A very promising climate change solution with an image problem posted 2 years, 1 month ago 15 Responses

  • airconditioning

    Air conditioners should use large water tanks as heat sinks. This water can be used as pre heated water for reducing the solar water heater load.
    Any aditional cooling shoul be done with cooler night air. It is insane to have airconditioners running, pumping heat into hot air.On Drifting toward disaster posted 2 years, 1 month ago 6 Responses

  • Yes, more poisons

    Agricultural practices are bad enough for the environment, for food. Remember DDT? Many pesticides are banned for use in the US. But they are allowed to continue manufacturing and exporting them to other countries.
    Crops for biofuels will most probably be grown with whatever they can get their hands on. It all ends up in the water, killing life.
    On All hail the biofuel boom posted 2 years, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • basically the same idea

    That's almost the same as the idea I had, except for the shape of the rail and the slot in the cars.
    ThanksOn Why I don't agree with James Kunstler about peak oil and the 'end of suburbia' posted 2 years, 1 month ago 65 Responses

  • Car rail combination

    What if you had light weight electric cars that are fully independent on the road and have the added benefit of ridding the rail. You would have total freedom of mobility and the choice to ride the monorail. On the monorail you charge your bateries, read the paper and just punch in your destination. These vehicles could be leased with all services programmed and included, energy for driving around included. The more you ride the rail, the more free (prepaid) energy you get. On the same rail you can have traditional mass transit units. The important issue is light weight.
    Making it above ground takes away the problem of space in congested cities. On Why I don't agree with James Kunstler about peak oil and the 'end of suburbia' posted 2 years, 1 month ago 65 Responses

  • Solar or just PV

    It is common ignorance to think only PV is solar. I didn't see mention of solar water heaters, space heating or pool heaters.
    Solar thermal has a much better ROI. The energy required for water and space heating in a home is a large portion of the total energy use.
    Soon you will be able to create electricity with solar thermal in your own home. The technology is out there. Scaterred a bit.
    Solar heaters
    Thermal storage
    Stirling engines
    Generators
    Inverters
    Phase sinc On What if there were more Berkeleys? posted 2 years, 1 month ago 4 Responses

  • Better use for fossil fuels

    It is better to use fossil fuels to manufacture wind mills and solar panels than just burn it and then still have the problem.

    It is kind of ridiculous how we have gotten used to travelling huge distances every day dragging with us tons of steel, inefficiently!  On Why I don't agree with James Kunstler about peak oil and the 'end of suburbia' posted 2 years, 1 month ago 65 Responses

  • Global warming or not

    It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a PhD) to realize we are killing this planet. Whether we contributed 3% or 80% to the warming is irrelevant. Nobody can predict the exact outcome of our irresponsible polluting, populating and exploiting of resources.
    No doubt that somebody will take advantage of the Global warming issue. The same people that create and take advantage of kaos in society for personal gain.
    I think it is irresponsible to just say it is all a lie. It seems as if the answer would be to do nothing to clean up our act.
    Anybody that doesn't care less about wildlife, to me, is part of the problem. On One last rant from the Senate's loopy streetcorner anti-prophet posted 2 years, 1 month ago 34 Responses

  • solar is appropiate technology

    Sorry to contradict you Bill. First of all the empovireshed nations as you call them, are the ones that can bennefit most from the use of appropiate technology. Solar is most appropriate where there is more sun. Coincidence has it that most poorer nations have plenty of sun. As for your calculations of 15 to 20 years to pay back, that may be true for PV, not for water heating or for rustic solar ovens. You probably are not familiar with the health hazards of living in a smoke filled hut. Many people donate through NGO's PV panels for very low income people so they can have a couple of light bulbs instead of candles.

    <Why on earth should we so constrict ourselves ?>

    Where did you get the notion that using solar energy directly (as opposed to stored in wood)will constrict you? If there is a technology that can free people from energy dependance is solar energy. Soon you will be seeing thermal solar panels producing electricity in homes.

    I love trees, I cut my own beams and every once in a while I light up my fireplace (the most inneficient way to heat a home with wood). Solar heating can replace conventional systems for space heating. Very simple, you run water through solar collectors (dont need to be expensive, you could even use bare plastic pool panels) on your roof during hot summer months, and store the heat underground. Then you circulate this in winter through high volume exchangers or even a heat pump.

    As for trees occuring naturaly, you haven't seen satellite pictures of what is left of forests. I do believe that trees must be planted urgently all over the place. Some as wood supply for building materials and most of them just to fix what we ruined.

    You say,
    <<Without the take-up that such appropriate energy technologies could achieve,<br> solar tech on the houses of the wealthy nations will serve only to free up more fossil energy supply for poor nations to burn, to all parties' detriment.>>

    That means we shoud gobble it up faster so they can't? Or should we be developing and manufacturing the replacements for others to bennefit too?On We have plenty of solutions at hand beyond technology posted 2 years, 1 month ago 11 Responses

  • Very good

    We still have a few things to learn from Mother Nature. Our problems began when we started thinking we didn't need Nature and we could control it.
    Before we start messing up more of earth's surface to produce more fuel, we have to start using methods like the ones mentioned for the important use of land, FOOD.
    Energy wise we should first stop wasting so much, and the energy we do use should come directly from the source that makes this planet liveable, the Sun.
    Again, very good article! On We have plenty of solutions at hand beyond technology posted 2 years, 1 month ago 11 Responses

  • Tax It

    I know nobody likes to hear New Taxes.
    If a special tax on gasoline were installed specifically to create a fund for homeowners and industries to be able to purchase solar water heaters, solar space heating systems, efficient PV, maybe even hybrid cars. If the monthly payments for the loan can be structured in such a way that they are equal or less than the energy savings, who wouldn't want to go green?The idea would be to start investing in the companies that already have products that can make us energy independent and reduce GHG.
    It wouldn't even have to be too big, (we wouldn't want to add 5 cents to that midnight pop-tart).
    Development of new technology would come automatically from the profits of these American companies who will also be able to compete internationally.
    There are quite a few inventions out there waiting for investors. Investors won't invest unless there is a big enough market.
    Nobody wants to pay more for gas, but if we don't start coming up with alternatives soon, the price will be a lot higher, in many ways.On No supply-side energy solution will come to our rescue posted 2 years, 1 month ago 16 Responses

  • dense or diffuse

    Dense, centralized.
    Diffuse, spread out.
    Ever heard of having all your eggs in one basket?
    We talk about independence from foreign oil, what about dependance on few large energy suppliers?
    On Is wind worth it? posted 2 years, 1 month ago 72 Responses

  • aerial foresting

    I think spreading seeds with a coating to help them out and in some places even dropping (carefully) sharpenned sticks, (like darts) so that they plant themselves. It may be a crazy idea but these are crazy times. The way I see it you can reach areas that are innaccesible or too dificult to reach and plant. In some counties there is land that has been leveled off and then abandoned. This would be a way to plant without asking for permision. I know it might sound invasive but we would only be helping nature speed up it's reclaiming of the land.On Investments are needed to stave off climate-induced water crisis posted 2 years, 1 month ago 13 Responses

  • Trees

    I think that not enough has been done around the world about reforesting and foresting new areas. Trees are natures solution to keep rain water from evaporating and running off and eroding topsoil.
    Has anybody thought about spreading seeds from high altitude? Even if a small percentage of seeds prosper, I think it's better than manualy planting, and it reaches inaccesible lands.
    On Investments are needed to stave off climate-induced water crisis posted 2 years, 1 month ago 13 Responses

  • Wind storage

    Has anybody thought about hydro storage in flatlands. A tank on the surface collects water pumped from either underground water source or an underground storage tank. When power is needed it is sent down again through turbines. The lower the water table, the better head for turbines. It probably would only work with high head.

    About carbon fixing, I think trees are vital. How about high altitude seed dropping. World wide. Even if a small amount stick, it probably would be more effective than phisically planting each tree only in accesible lands. It would be similar to the way nature does it, only the ones in the right place will prosper, only with a wider range.On Techno-obsession posted 2 years, 1 month ago 18 Responses

  • New technology?

    We don't need new technology. It's already out there. R&D for what? A better use for those $30 billion (it seems to be the figure) would be to make it available as easy to pay loans to anyone who decides to install proven, clean, money saving technologies. Like solar and wind. I believe there should be a slight preference towards the best cost/benefit products already available (not preference towards any manufacturer). I'd put an enfasis on solar home heating (collecting abundant summer heat and storing it underground for use in winter) and solar water heating. I'd make it almost mandatory to use solar heating for swimming pools,(it is the biggest use for solar energy world wide) After that, electricity generation, either for personal use or for micro power generation to sell back to the grid.

    $30 billion is $100 per person per year. Nothing to sneeze at. If it is given as a loan to pay in 15 years, the payments will be lower than the savings on fuel or electricity obtained. Maybe 25 years for today's PV. With a bigger market the price will come down.

    Don't give it away, that doesn't work. After all it is our money they are spending.
    On Shellenberger & Nordhaus respond to critics posted 2 years, 2 months ago 23 Responses

  • No free lunch


    What do you mean by "buy your way out of this problem" You honestly think somebody is going to give it to you for free just because it isn't your fault?

    We are all guilty of creating the mess we are in. We can also try to fix it. We need to do what we can and some of that includes making changes in our energy consumption habits. Change bulbs (you must purchase the bulbs), hang dry your clothes when possible (you must purchase the rope), use the toaster oven sparingly (if you don't have one, don't purchase it), etc.

    (A man made problem) Of course it is!! What makes you think otherwise?

    What do you sugest?On Tidwell responds to scientists responding to Tidwell posted 2 years, 2 months ago 28 Responses

  • zoning

    Talking about laws that don't help, one that has bothered me is the habit of ZONING just for the sake of keeping neighborhoods "pretty". You have to ask for permission to paint your house, they aprove the color, you can't hang your clothes to dry in some places. God forbid a solar heater that ruins their architects conception. Usually designed by architects that didn't even receive basic solar design in university. And if they did it was outdated or they didn't understand it.

    I think this is one example where neighbors should get together and Tell their local law makers to change it NOW!On Tidwell responds to scientists responding to Tidwell posted 2 years, 2 months ago 28 Responses

  • tankless backup for solar

    I agree that tankless saves by not losing heat constantly from a large surface. One problem (if you have kids or like to do it yourself) the person taking a bath sometimes stays in there longer because there is no limit to the amount of hot water.
    I always recomend to go the extra mile and use solar. I don't know why the thermosiphon systems are not used more than they are. Most american homes have a pitched roof that can acomodate panels, and the storage tanks can go at the top of the attic. (long horizontal tanks) Making the finished installation aesthetic.This type of system lowers the innitial cost because you dont need pumps, electronic controls, heat exchangers, long pipe distances, etc. Besides less things to give maintenance to.
    The ideal backup would be tankless, unfortunately I havent found one that can operate with the preheated water from the solar tank. The best is to use the smallest tank heater you can find and super insulate it. On On-demand water heaters rock posted 2 years, 2 months ago 15 Responses

  • thermal storage

    Storage can be used to keep the power output stable and maybe extend a little but until the majority of daytime needs around the country are met, storage won't be needed. This can be used once coal and other dirty sources are being used only for night time generation. Then it can finish phasing them out.

    Ground solar thermal storage should start taking off for home heating any day. On Solar thermal company says its generation/storage combo can power the nation posted 2 years, 2 months ago 22 Responses

  • Critical Mass

    My congratulations Mr. Tidwell, you managed to create debate. I agree that urgency is the word.

    I believe we are reaching a critical mass towards making the changes we desperately need to make if we want to survive on this planet. We have to tackle it from all fronts. Each individual doing his best (not retorically speaking) to do what he can do best. Lobbying, investing, inventing, speaking out! By all means, change the light bulb and please don't leave it on!

    It's time for everybody to realize we have painted ourselves into a corner. In our desperation to create "progress, prosperity, comfort" we forgot to Think, where are we headed?
    We have gotten into bad habits like travelling huge distances every day, dragging tons of steel around with us (Ineficiently!!!). (They had to find users for that black liquid)

     They say a country has the government it deserves. All countries. It's time we realize that if we are not part of the solution, we become part of the problem.

    There have to be strict laws (for example) to stop industries from contaminating. That is only done by law.

    As far as people's lifestyle, the changes would be so great, that laws made to force so many radical changes would create an opposition so huge that it would probabbly backfire. I suggest real incentives. Not like some that seem to be designed to fail on purpose. I mean incentives that any normal person, with his nose in his wallet would be stupid not to grab. A win-win incentive.

    We need investors to supply solar heaters to heat water (huge energy consumption) to heat homes (huge energy consumption) Collect abundant summer heat and store it underground for use in winter. Store winters cold in a similar fashion (not too close to the heat storage) for use in summer.

    What I'm trying to say here is that it's not a matter of high technology or even sacrificing comfort or money, You will actually save money and be more comfortable!! What are we waiting for!! Do what you can.

    I know energy dependance and greenhouse gas emissions are only part of the problems we need to fix. It's one we can help fix right away without crawling into a cave. If there isn't a solar energy company willing to help you, start your own. It will be a big business to be in, and what the heck, make money. It takes money to do things. Better in your neighbors solar business (or your's) than up in smoke.On Tidwell responds to scientists responding to Tidwell posted 2 years, 2 months ago 28 Responses

  • water heaters

    I'm wondering if these houses come with water heaters and if they are solar. It's a Lot more efficient to heat water with solar heat than produce electricity and then heat water with it.
    It's about 10 times (conservatively) better from a cost/benefit perspective.
    On Utility will pay for solar on Habitat for Humanity houses in California posted 2 years, 2 months ago 2 Responses

  • Small List

    Of course it's a small list! I think it's good to take a look at what others are doing. Maybe its not who has reduced more CO2 in the atmosfere or provided more BTU'S of clean heat in homes, but it might even give some people ideas and maybe get their "act" in gear instead of just criticizing.

    We are one HUMAN Race. I don't think they were picked by color. Make your own list! I think this one was interesting.On 15 Green Business Founders posted 2 years, 2 months ago 33 Responses

  • the root of the problem

    The problem is not beer, the problem is not guns, it's Man. If humans don't learn to respect each other just like we don't respect our Mother Nature then we need to work on ourselves!! I deffinitely do not like what cocaine does to the world (not just the drug addicts and our youth, but the incredible armies, money and power the druglords have) but banning it's use (I believe it's illegal) hasn't solved the problem. I think it's worse. We have to become responsable as humans, for all our actions, and yes I drink beer once in a while with my Pizza.On 15 Green Business Founders posted 2 years, 2 months ago 33 Responses

  • beer I might understand

    I drink beer once in a while. I drive an automobile more than I would like to. They may not be too pretty but I'd rather be behind one of these in a traffic situation than a dirty diesel truck. I don't see a problem with making these two things less contaminating. Good for all of them and anybody else out there making changes for the better.On 15 Green Business Founders posted 2 years, 2 months ago 33 Responses

  • LED's

    I'm getting off the main subject but where are the LED's for lighting. They last forever, very easy to create infinite designs (things have to be pleasing too) They can also be turned on and off with motion sensors, light intensity sensors, etc.

    Back to the subject, it's easy for the average person, who is to busy trying to make ends meet and pay for his credit card spending habit, to just label most of us on this blog as fannatics and ignore the whole problem altogether. "If I ignore it it will go away"

    Push for policies but remember, big companies usually have more leverage$$$.

    Some things will only come about if there is money to be made in the process. We all use it.
    Right now the ones making most of it are big businesses. What we need to do is let these big businesses know that we are changing our purchasing habits and start demanding CERO emitions vehicles, not halfway "OK here, have this, are you happy?"

    Let's push for compressed air power in cars, for industries. Batteries to me are a half-way solution. Imagine everybody driving cars that filter the air and cool it too. Air conditioned traffic jams! Maybe even make them Monorail compatible? You would get the bennfits of mass transit without losing your independence to drive around.

    Demand from thermal solar installers to start applying ground storage methods for space heating. You could stop burning fuel in winter altogether.

    We may be past the point of no return with climate change but don't just sit there and wait for answers. If you can't find it, build it.On Social scientists respond to Mike Tidwell posted 2 years, 2 months ago 39 Responses

  • Ignorance

    I think both sides are right. On one hand, people have to start doing things on their own and start being part of the solution and not the problem.
    On the other hand there is so much information going around and the average person may not see the difference between unplugging their cellphone charger and lowering the thermostat on the airconditioner when they're not home. Or that a domestic solar heater can save them as much electricity as changing anywhere from 50 to 150 bulbs to fluorescent (whithout sacrificing comfort at all)

    Unfortunatelly most people feel they have done their part say if they recycle and buy food whithout hormones or antibiotics. The problems we face are so complex that it's mind bogling and many people become turned off when they hear Global Warming or Enviromentally Friendly. Some are starting to think it's all BS created to sell products or for political purposes (although there are always people that use turmoil to their advantage). Don't get me wrong, if it weren't for some of these people we wouldn't have new products and policies to fix our problems.

    It would be interesting if somebody could put out some sort of chart (havent seen one yet)to compare actions and their costs, against benefits or savings. Maybe separated by categories.On Social scientists respond to Mike Tidwell posted 2 years, 2 months ago 39 Responses

  • air car

    I've flown model airplanes with compressed air motors and believe me they can put out quite a bit of power, with a hand pump, not even 40 PSI. The motor is so simple its almost ridiculous. The piston (plastic) is not connected to the piston rod (plastic), the inlet valve is a metal ball with a spring and the top of the piston pushes it open. It's all transparent plastic. I know it's just a toy (model airplane enthusiasts dont like you to call them toys but for the purpose of this blog..)
    As for the Air Car, I think they should take an aproach like Tesla Motors did, go for high performance to catch peoples attention.On 15 Green Cars posted 2 years, 2 months ago 27 Responses

  • air power

    All this new excitement about hibrid electrics is fine but I think a "greener" (sorry Lloyd)  option is the compressed air option. You could set up an underground (in wells) storage in your home and use wind power and solar thermal engines to compress air.
    Your vehicle will not only not polute but actually filter the air surrounding you, plus all the airconditioning you could ever need as a by-product. Any assistance of an internal combustion engine is more efficient because the heat produced by it is used for a better expantion of the compressed air.
    There is one being produced in Europe but I would change the piston engine for turbines on each wheel or vane engines/compressors.On 15 Green Cars posted 2 years, 2 months ago 27 Responses

  • heater choice

    My first choice will always be to use solar as much as possible. If where you are doesn't have much solar in winter, you may try collecting summer heat and pumping it underground. I don't think many solar outfits are doing it yet (The first one I have seen is in Canada)but you might ask. Also ask if they can combine it with ground source heat pumps (which are very efficient even without adding solar heat)
    Even bare pool collectors might work.
    You might even benefit in summer by taking the heat off the roof.On Umbra on replacing a boiler posted 2 years, 3 months ago 7 Responses