I've blogged before about the need for a new energy calculus. Not just market and whosesale costs to the user of the energy. Economics and business have a notoriously short-sighted, narrow-minded set of considerations. Haven't we just re-learned that ancient lesson from the hedge funder corruption and...
Those soft-hearted, multi-nationals in the European Union once again tried to do something that was supposed to be good for the planet and future generations. They seem to have this groundless belief in the perfectability of mankind. How can they, of all peoples, belief in human betterment with...
At least one of the Silicon Valley VC firms moving in greentech sector sees a clear connection between politics and greentech start-ups. No surprise the firm is The Westly Group, headed by former gubernatorial candidate, Steve Westly. Here's how they position themselves on the VC firm's...
The European Union is phasing out the incandescent bulb. As of today the 100 watter can no longer be imported or made within the members of the E.U. By 2012 all incandescent bulbs will be illegal although those on stores shelves can be sold, and hoarded according to...
Here's a look at the confusing, perhaps almost meaningless, array of labels and tax credit inducement that now go into American buildings. Now somebody has the effrontery to suggest that actual energy use be monitored? And the water use? You can conserve water and not energy or...
Cayman Islands tax protection. An office in Houston, Texas. Run by a veteran of the Enron successes. Sound like a Hollywood plot? Nope, just a verrrrry rich IPO for the old energy crowd. Nearlya billion dollars expected to be captured. It's the IPO of AEI, Ashmore...
CALPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) just announced it will put $60 million into Khosla Ventures' greentech fund. Khosla's fund already has about 70 investments in the green tech sector and has raised over a quarter billion dollars. Past investments by Khosla have ranged from biofuel to solar to...
IBM and railroads. This is not a non sequitor. I recently spoke with Keith Dierkx who works for IBM in their expanding business providing services for planning, construction and operation of high-speed rail. Dierkx is in the process of relocating to Beijing where he and IBM will...
THIS FROM AN EMAIL I JUST RECEIVED FROM ZDNET READER: I reluctantly traded a 1989 Ford Crown Victoria 24/32 mpg (city/highway)for a VW Jetta TDI which is supposed to get 29/41 mpg but actually delivers 38/50 mpg. I bought the Crown Vic used in 1991 with 10,000 miles and I...
Bob Dylan was right, as always. A Canadian study says auto emissions would be cut by 90% if we all drove plug-ins, and then re-charged them when the wind blows. Like, overnight. In places like Calgary where they did the study. Where the wind comes sweepin'...
Some are fer it, some agin it. The White House seems pleased. Waxman and Markey still have their names on it. Greenpeace evironmentalists despise it, so does Dr. James Hansen we hear. Right wing groups like Heritage Foundation and Americans for Tax Reform are using words like...
Were near the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. So in honor of the pending solstice, I spoke with a man who's mission is to spread the harvesting of solar energy. David Kaltsas, SunWize Executive Vice President, explained how his firm is helping spread residential use...
I recently blogged about shrinking cities. And we've all heard about shrinking newspapers. Lay-offs, smaller payrolls, even shut-downs. The "Gray Lady" did another shrinking act today. The "New York Times Sunday Magazine" is now 9% smaller. Not fewer pages, just smaller ones. Simply put:...
We have definitely been here before. What comes around.... But is it going to be different his time? Ehrlich's POPULATION BOMB. Schumacher's SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL. Guess that's why I got this sinking feeling when I wrote about shrinking cities. Shrinking, sinking, deja...
Some hail the current version of the energy security act as a major step forward in American policy on global warming. It's not going to get an upbeat greeting in Europe, one of the world's largest economies. The proposed American law has only passed one House committee so far,...
For most of my life "Glacial adjective" has been synonymous with "slow" and "gradual." Get me re-write, it's starting to mean "sudden," and "gone forever." The new poster child for global warming is what was once the world's highest altitude ski spot: the Chacaltaya glacier, at...
Courtesy: Wakeland Housing. A newly opened San Diego housing complex is certified to be the most energy efficient in the U.S. Built in Chula Vista for under $18-million, the 42-unit housing development is 100% solar-powered. It's called Los Vecinos. The units are for low...
"American Scientist" has a provocative article on peak oil and what that means for the chimera of unending economic growth. The authors remind us that population growth and increased food production have both literally been fuelled by ever more energy use, much of it wood or fossil fuel. ...
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