My son bought a little device that has a solar panel on it, and generates enough electricity to charge it’s internal battery which in turn can charge an iPod or other small electronic device.

Seems ok at first blush. But of course, as an earnest person on Treehugger.com observed, the total energy benefit from this device is probably negative. The cost of production, shipping, and so on is around $30 (plus shipping). The amount of electricity used to charge an iPod is fantastically small — we use a little more than $100 of electricity each month, and I am thinking the vast majority goes to lighting, the fridge, dryer, and various other significant appliances. Actually getting $40 in electrical savings from this device would take eons.

He thought about it

However, my son did something important. He thought. (more…)

Please take a minute read this one page: “Global Warming: Think You’re Making a Difference? Think Again.“. Didn’t read it? Ok, how about this quote:

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is investing a half billion dollars to reduce the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of their existing buildings by 20% over the next seven years. If every Wal-Mart Supercenter met this target……The CO₂ emissions from only one medium-sized (500 MW) coal-fired power plant, in just eight months of operation each year, will negate this entire effort.

Yet, “There are 151 new conventional coal-fire plants in various stages of development in the US Today.” Wal-Mart is doing a good thing, and Wal-Mart is the biggest company in the US (and in the world). If even half of these 151 plants are built, Wal-Mart’s efforts offset only about 1% of the global warming emissions created. And the article has six other equally amazing comparisons like this. C’mon — read it.

But there is a solution, says the article. And it is a “silver bullet”. (more…)

With the aid of lawyers from EnvironmentalDefense.org, an important ruling was handed down today, allowing states to require specific conditions for cars sold there. California has been doing this for years, but the Bush Administration tried to reject this practice. Now 14 states can set their own rules. In your face, EPA.

Perhaps the states could give some ideas to the federal government while they are at it. (more…)

When I started writing this blog, I began to think that it is important to find a simple way to quantify the impact of changes I made (and you make) as a way to help simplify the problem of how to conserve energy. As I began to understand the problem, I realized that energy was at the heart of many of our most serious issues today: global warming, organic food, locally grown food, climate, terrorism, energy independence, geo-politics, and resource depletion. I still believe this is true.

I promoted the idea that one could measure energy most simply through your overall consumption, hence, dollars spent. I think this works at some level on a micro-economic level (your annual household budget, for example). But I have recently come to see that there’s a huge and important flaw in the general way of thinking that lead me to that simplification.

In short, my assumption is that “things” are as they are; our basic assumptions, our ways of thinking, our actions are essentially immutable. (more…)

I just watched an episode of Living with Ed which plays on HGTV (Home and Garden TV, I guess?). I learned a few things. For example, it hadn’t occurred to me that compact fluorescent lights produce less heat, which is good in the summer, and just a lousy way to heat your house in the winter.

Or, if you have a pool, you don’t need to clean it as much, and you can use ozone instead of chlorine. I don’t have a pool, but if I did, I would have been able to make a simple change: reset the timer.

It’s a good show — funny, light hearted, and useful. And, it’s set outside of Hollywood, so there are always friends who just happen to be movie stars showing up. Give it a look. (more…)

I think it’s time for all of us to organize our efforts and make the changes needed to conserve energy, raise awareness of global warming, and use the power of many to get a lot done.

My mom always said “Many hands make light work” (usually as we attempted to skulk away from unwashed dinner dishes). But she’s right. The power of many people acting in concert can be pretty amazing. And in the realm of energy, global warming, conservation, and environmentalism there’s a lot to be done. (more…)

I came back from Deer Isle, Maine where I spent a long week on vacation. When surrounded by natural beauty and the sea, things meteorological and astrological seem more important. The weather was great, with clear skies for our whole visit. We watched the lunar eclipse from our bedroom (good thing, as it happened at 5:28 AM). And near the end of our visit, after the moon had started to rise later, we were treated to a perfectly clear, dark sky.

We lay, backs down on the grass, looking up. I showed my kids where the big constellations were, the Milky Way was clearly evident, shooting stars dotted the scene, and of course, billions and billions of stars. It was stunning, indeed it was awesome, and not in the sense of the word frequently used by my 10-year old and his friends. No, the scene produced a feeling of awe in all of us. (more…)