CATS: A solar array for every home? Why not?

Number six in the Clean Air Technologies Series. Every winter in America, it seems someone loses power to the home. Now add to this that about half this nation’s electricity production alone is via the burning of coal. In putting two-and-two together doesn’t it make sense that when such extreme conditions become present, losing power … Read more

CARS: Contaminated-Air-Remediation Strategies

There are all kinds of ways to make air cleaner – everything from the simple to the substantial and from the subliminal to the sensational. From an earlier post – “Air pollution: The enormity of it all,” I listed various pollution sources. Repeating those here, these are: Agricultural Commercial (Business) Construction (and Demolition) Energy Production … Read more

Polluted air: The ‘heart’ of the problem

“‘We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone,’” espoused a determined Richard Nixon in one of his presidential speeches as conveyed in America Revealed, Episode 3: “ELECTRIC NATION,” a 2012 Public Broadcasting System presentation. Question is: In hindsight, could air (and water) afford such a … Read more

America’s energy future: Coal, gas, solar, water, wind or what?

Consumers. People are consumers. That’s what we do. Consume. And consumption at its essence is no better typified than in the home. It was expressed in America Revealed, Episode 3, “ELECTRIC NATION,” a 2012 Public Broadcasting System broadcast, that in America in the typical home, on average, can be found 26 different electronic devices. Everything from washers, … Read more

On cutting transport emissions, Europe gets high marks

Given the global energy picture, there is continued strong emphasis on fossil fuel use, in the transport sector especially, as its reliance on such is extremely heavy.1 It was this startling piece of information, though, from the Nov. 2011 International Union of Railways (UIC) report High Speed Rail and Sustainability that caught my eye. The … Read more

Clean Air Technologies Series kick-off: Shock-absorber packs ‘power’-ful punch

Over the centuries, ways have been found to put energy to work and as long as creative thinking never ceases, work on finding new ways to put energy to work will continue. Figured out have been methods to harness the power of the sun, wind, water and geothermal steam. Consider also the addition of the seemingly limitless supply of … Read more

eMission control – Focus: Railways

At the end of “Cutting-edge transportation: Effective emissions-reductions approaches,” in closing, I wrote: “With that said, transit might just be the best thing going when it comes to mitigating negative environmental impact.” Well, time has come to expound upon that thought. For starters it is helpful to clarify “negative environmental impact.” In the context of … Read more

Put one’s energy house in order and score one for the environment

Energy-wise, can we get more from what is currently available? Certainly we can! As consumers, in order for this to happen, though, per-capita consumption must be less. When per-capita consumption is less, then whatever energy is produced is able to go farther. During summer months when temperatures climb, energy use can go through the roof. … Read more