alternative energy « Alternate Energy Sources

July 25, 2010

Energy Audit For Europe-Clean Energy By 2050

Filed under: energy audits,saving energy — Tags: Climate change, energy audit training — admin @ 7:57 pm

Neither side of politics in Australia has the conviction, nor the guts, to display leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The American Republicans oppose Obama’s modest cap and trade scheme.

Any points of light, before the lights go out?

The Greens propose a 100% renewable energy scenario for Australia. Is this realistic?

Well, ask the Europeans.

According to the European Climate Foundation Europe can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent. It will thereby reduce its energy bill by 350 billion euros (US$476 billion) per year. All this can be done by 2050 if it acts within five years.

Not bad.

This means the 27-nation European Union will to lower its carbon- dioxide discharges by 20 percent from 1990 levels Pollution is to be reduced by 80 percent to 95 percent in the next forty years.

The Foundation is adamant these goals are realistic. It believes zero-CO2 electricity can be provided as reliably and economically as now.

It is not surprising that energy auditing is the Foundation’s first-line defense strategy. It is being subsidized and practiced in many countries.

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November 12, 2009

Lightening Up The Planet With Free Animated Ecards

Filed under: Climate change,alternative energy — Tags: eco ecards — admin @ 4:04 pm

Don't be disheartened!

The news, well the facts, of climate change, species extinction, pollution, over population and your indigestion are overwhelming, aren’t they.

But “overwhelmed” is giving in. While we must be concerned, and act, in our own daily lives to make things better, we must also remember what gets people through hard times: good and helpful communication with each other and Humor. Yes, a good laugh can snap you out of it, give you new courage and inspiration to do those things that make a difference.

Christmas, how we treat each other on Earth as it is in Heaven...

Earth Ecards says it’s “putting People and the Planet together” and I suggest you have a go at that too by sending a free animated ecard to your friend who needs to hear from you. Or to that politician who needs to hear your message!

it is a new site offering free animated musical ecards right now but that might not last long as they become a popular destination for people-and-planet-putter-togethers,

Interestingly, Earth Ecards does not confine itself to planet Earth. They have animated some of those amazing NASA Hubble space telescope pictures to allow you to send some pretty unique Christmas and New Year cards.

Enjoy!

Happy new Year! Turning over a new leaf with Earth Ecards.

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October 18, 2009

Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference registration

Filed under: Climate change,Green Jobs,bioenergy — Tags: Bioenergy Australia Conference 2009 — admin @ 6:28 pm

Bioenergy is a very important source of energy in the mix of alternative energies to abate effects of global warming.

Early Bird registration for the Bioenergy Australia 2009 conference is open until the end of October. You can register online at www.bioenergyaustralia.org.

Australia’s premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2009 will be held at the Radisson Resort Gold Coast, Queensland from 9 – 10 December 2009 with a Technical Tour on 8 December 2009.

This year’s program will have over 85 presentations covering policies and programs, bioenergy projects and project development case studies and emerging opportunities. It will also consider many facets of bioenergy, including:
·         Biomass sources and supply aspects
·         Algae and other future feedstocks
·         Heat and power
·         Energy-from-waste
·         Anaerobic digestion and livestock wastes
·         Gasification
·         Pyrolysis bio-oil and sequestration via bio-char
·         First and second generation liquid biofuels
·         Overarching aspects of bioenergy, such as life cycle emissions and sustainability.

Maybe you can attend?

Contact:
Dr Stephen Schuck
Bioenergy Australia Manager
c/o Stephen Schuck and Associates Pty Ltd
7 Grassmere Road
Killara NSW 2071
Tel/Fax: (02) 9416 9246
www.bioenergyaustralia.org

Energy Audit Training – A Green Career, Whether The Economy Is Up Or Down

Download a free preview copy of an effective home made wind generator plan here.

Build Your Own Solar And Wind Energy

Download a preview of an electric car plans guide here

How To Build Your Home With Straw

All The Solar And Wind Energy Supplies And Information You need To Get Going

Building Your Own Geothermal Heat Pump

The Great Green Movies Guide

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September 13, 2009

Green Jobs Are Not “Just” Blue Collar Jobs

Filed under: Climate change,Green Jobs,alternative energy,renewable energy incentives,saving energy — admin @ 10:06 pm

There have been some noises from some quarters that green jobs are nothing but blue collar jobs, as if they are not part of a very influential trend in a sustainable future.

As Greenpeace says in its report Working For he Climate – Green Energy Job Creation: As we head towards the Copenhagen Climate Summit, world leaders have the opportunity to stimulate economic recovery while cutting carbon emissions through investing in green jobs in the renewable energy sector.

The jobs that have an environmental benefit can of course be seen as extensions of existing trades like plumbers, electrician and mechanics but when they become applied to low-CO2 generating purssuits and saving energy they are justifiably green jobs. Nothing at all wrong with that.

We must make the change to clean energy if we are to survive on a sustainable planet. Greenpeace’s report Energy (R)evolution says that “the world can achieve a nine-fold increase in its production of renewable energy to avoid catastrophic climate change.” Under this scenario, by 2030, there would be over 8 million jobs in renewable power and energy efficiency. This is over three times the number than would be the case under a business-as-usual approach.

Furthermore this report showed that if we do nothing to change to clean energy we will half a million energy supply jobs disappearing over the time period.

Energy Auditing – A Growing Green Job Sector

Working For The Climate Report here

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June 21, 2009

Australian Government Sinks Another Renewable Energy Rebate Scheme

Filed under: alternative energy,renewable energy incentives,solar energy grants,solar power plant — Tags: solar energy grants withdrawn — admin @ 6:16 pm

Well, I don’t want to say “I told you so…” but…

After pulling the residential solar PV rebate scheme two weeks early because of an enthusiastic uptake of the scheme (isn’t that what we want?), the federal government has done it again.

This time it’s the $200,000 grant for solar stand-alone power supplies in rural remote communities. Again, the government says money has run out for this scheme. You greedy people have actually taken the government seriously by taking to this scheme like ducks to water (well, there’s another subject…) and now you cannot have it any more.

Bang goes the lid on the cookie jar.

What’s happening?

Like I suggested before: governments think people must go renewable energy, whether or not it gives out rebates. So it feels it won’t need to do this anymore at a time it has no money left. It has just spent its billions on economic stimulus that encourages the very behaviour that got us into this mess.

So, what to do? Don’t rely on government rebates and solar energy grants anymore.

Live sustainably.

Save up to buy that PV solar panel and get that solar hot water panel with a government rebate right now.

Save energy where you can.

Leave the car in the driveway or share it with others.

Grow some vegetables in your backyard.

Be creative.

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June 20, 2009

Recession + Lower Green House Gas Emissions = We Can Do It!

Filed under: Climate change,alternative energy,saving energy — admin @ 9:11 pm

Alternative energy is not the only way to lower emissions. human behaviour is number one!

Study results of the thirty largest Dutch companies in 2009 shows greenhouse gas emission reduction levels of 7%. This thought to be a direct result of the economic recession and application of greenhouse gas emission-reducing measures.

What conclusions to draw from this?

First greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere are a direct result of human activity. Second, humanity has it fully in its power to lower greenhouse gas levels globally. Third, it’s a choice between consumerism or living within limits.

Worldwide Dutch company Shell lowered its emissions by 8.5%. Main reason? Oil production problems, notably in Nigeria. A fertilizer company, DSM, was able to lower its emissions by 21% through application of laughing gas removal technology.

Impressive achievements. Promises of being able to live with effects of global warming.

The Dutch Plan Bureau for Environment states that the economic crisis will help The Netherlands meet its Kyoto target. This target is 6% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions relevant to 1990 levels, by 2012. It fears that a 20% reduction by 2020 will be more difficult to achieve.

We might conclude that for the Earth’s sake, the economic crisis should continue. And by the time this crisis is over, we might have had enough of a prod in the back of climate change effects, to start doing things differently.

Like, consuming necessary things, according to real needs. And real needs will be better assessed by living for the common good, rather than for “number one.”

Sources:

http://www.volkskrant.nl/economie/article1246730.ece/Recessie_levert_schonere_lucht_op

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June 10, 2009

Alternate Energy Sources, Energy Saving, Global Warming, Just A Waste of Time?

Filed under: alternative energy,solar energy grants,wind energy — admin @ 9:05 pm

I always knew it. Mercury’s orbit is deformed and might cause a collapse of the solar system.

Here am I, a Gemini, trying to pull the whole thing together here on earth. Arguing for seeing our planet and all life on it as a whole, deserving action towards a sustainable life.

Renewable energy, wind generators, green jobs, energy saving devices and ways of living…

Sustainable Life? In a collapsing solar system?

OK, OK, calm down… So, what’s this all about then?

Well, some French researchers have just published in Nature their theory of a 1% chance of collapse of the entire solar system.

The culprit? No, not us humans this time.

Not Mercury either but Jupiter (God of war) who is pulling vulnerable little Mercury out of its orbit, already “20% deformed.”

“Deformed?” Hmmmphhh… Just “challenged”, or “differently abled” perhaps. A bit more sensitive, please… These Nature-people!

Anyway, Mercury could also cross paths with Venus, or with the Sun.

Oh dear…

No more solar energy. No worries either about whether your solar energy grant scheme is going to be taken away from you by the government hand that giveth. Or whether your wind power generator will work.

But, a 1% chance nevertheless. It’s odds many people frequently punt on in buying lottery tickets. And as they say there’s always a winner.

Let’s think. Cool head. We DO know for sure that the oceans are rapidly expanding, glaciers are melting.

We also know that we are heating up the Earth’s atmosphere by our important actions of consuming computers, software, dvd’s, cd’s, nylons, cars, fast food, useless toys, meat we don’t need, gadgets and more gadgets… In one half of our lives running around in mad circles buying it, in the other half producing it.

It’s enough to make you want to get off? But where? Another solar system?

But, it seems the chances of us landing in a global mess because of our own actions are much much greater than Mercury’s vulnerability to the big thugs out there in space. And that’s a Gemini telling you.

So, do relax, go back to what you were doing in your own life about saving the planet and let Mercury, Venus and Jupiter do their own thing.

Your own alternate energy sources are within you. Your personal power system.

Here’s to you!

Planets Could Collide

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June 8, 2009

Solar Rebates Can Be Ripped From Under You Without Warning

Filed under: alternative energy,renewable energy incentives,saving energy,solar energy grants — admin @ 10:51 pm

The Australian government has just terminated its AUS$8000.00 rebate scheme for domestic installation of PV solar panels. Two weeks early of its planned cessation.

What does that mean?

While economic stimulus in the US and, in part in Australia, is built on growing the renewable industries, this is the first sign that governments are now judging this movement needs no help. Plus people have been taking up this opportunity to a much greater extent than government budgeted for.

It is a must, so people will do it anyway, so government reasons. And it has already given out so much money in economic stimulus that it has no more to spend.

I have predicted this would happen sooner or later but I did not think it would be this soon. It’s not a mere two week cut, sooner than planned. This is a signal tthat will be repeated as the importance of The Economy resumes its undeserved first place over the Environment and Social domains.

Yes, the Australian government will still offer a solar credits system, but it’s not the same as a cash rebate, is it?

So, while governments still offer solar energy grants and rebate, take the opportunity now. Research what is available to in your country and take action.

Australian Renewable Energy Grants

Solar Energy grants – A Living Database

Australian Energy Incentives Government Source

Renewable Energy Grants

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June 6, 2009

Gas And Petrol Prices Are Rising Again – And There’s No Going Back This Time

Filed under: Green cars,Peak Oil,alternative energy,saving energy — admin @ 8:26 pm

My local branch of the Motor Trade Association (Western Australia) has just issued a warning on rising fuel prices.

The price of a barrel of oil has risen to almost $70 recently and this is reflected by your pain at the bowser. You might be laughing at the price of AUS$1.24 for a litre of petrol here now. But it’s set to go much higher. Much higher, I suggest, than the predicted $1.40 by the end of 2009.

Why?. Peak oil is here. Dwindling oil supplies, high demand and few (cheap) alternatives will have you cut back on your Christmas shopping spending this year.

If the economy is really now climbing out of the recession then energy demand will grow again. But oil will be the break on it this time.

I drive on LPG, tied to half the going price of petrol. But, half of a lot will still be a lot!

You can however take advantage of grassroots car conversion technologies and fuel-saving gadgets.

Rising fuel prices will cause the biggest global explosion of fuel-saving conversion and gadget demand ever seen as the fuel-cost graph goes in one direction only from now on – North!

Of course you can look at converting your own car, or let your mechanic do it.

How To Convert Your Car To Electric

Yes, Running Your Car On Water Vapour (Browns Gas) Is Not A Myth

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June 4, 2009

Peak Oil Has Arrived Says Swedish Expert

Filed under: Peak Oil,saving energy — admin @ 7:55 pm

Kjell Aleklett, professor in Physics, Global Energy Systems, Uppsala University, Sweden and president of ASPO, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, says it’s here now.

Peak oil. That’s what.

By 2030, world oil production will have fallen 25%. Calculated on an internationally accepted scale, denoting the commencement of phenomenon of Peak Oil, this is it. It’s all the way down from here.

Of course oil production is only part of the story. Expanding economies – once this recession is forgotten – will see rising energy demand once again.

And renewable energy is not ready to tack up the slack, bar a few percentage points of world energy capacity right now.

Translation?

Be prepared!

* Be prepared to pay much higher prices for fuel

* Be prepared to pay much greater prices for domestic energy use

* Be prepared to pay much higher prices for just about anything because just about anything relies on oil to make it, or get it to you.

What can you do?

Prof Aleklett says: “If we don’t have the energy, society will crack, so there is not one solution,” he said.

“We should use everything, we should use energy more efficient, we should use other forms of energy, renewable energy is a must of course.”

So, again, what can you do:

* Use less energy

* Buy energy-efficient appliances