The EIA report states that renewable energy sources, including biomass/biofuels, solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal contributed 10.9 percent of domestic energy production through the end of September, up 5.7 percent over the same period in 2009. Nuclear energy accounted for 11.4 percent of domestic production – down 0.5 percent from the same period last year.

Given that renewable power continues to grow at a healthy clip, while nuclear power has stagnated in recent years (since 2007, nuclear power has been flat while renewable resources have delivered 22% more primary energy) renewables may well deliver more total primary production than nuclear sometime this year.

Of the various sources of renewable energy, each contributed the following to the overall renewable portfolio:

× Biomass/biofuel: 51.95 percent

× Hydropower: 31.50 percent

× Wind: 10.52 percent

× Geothermal: 4.65 percent

× Solar: 1.38 percent

Wind, biofuels shows biggest growth

Comparing those statistics with the same period of 2009 shows solar energy production expanding 2.4 percent and hydro declining by 5.2 percent. The big winners were biomass and biofuels, which grew by 10 percent in the first three quarters of 2010, and wind energy, which grew a full 26.7 percent. Combined non-hydro renewable sources grew 11.5 percent.

Overall, U.S. primary energy production rose 2 percent in the first nine months of 2010 over the same period last year. Fossil fuels accounted for 78 percent of primary energy production.

Via: Cleantechnica | Globalwarmingisreal

On one side, two countries have experimented a two point increase in the index, India and UK, due to Government’s injection (US$ 1 billion) in the green economy by the former, and the government plans to launch a £2 billion “green investment bank” fund by the latter. On the other side, “Greece, Spain and Portugal have all suffered negative score changes due to worsening capital markets and a downward revision of sovereign credit ratings by Standard and Poor (S&P)”, stresses the report.

The report shows that China is now tied with America as the most attractive location in which to invest in renewable energy projects. The report looks at the "Shift to green" and challenges for renewable support mechanisms.

The Country Attractiveness Indices track the relative attractiveness of 27 countries’ renewable energy markets across a selection of technologies each quarter. The Ernst & Young index tracks and scores investment in renewable energy, all renewables, long-term on or off-shore solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, biomass, geothermal and infrastructure. Since 2003, the Ernst & Young Energy and Environmental Infrastructure Advisory team has been releasing quarterly data that ranks national renewable energy markets, and their suitability for individual technologies.

Via: EY

Who doesn’t wish global warming was just a conspiracy or a scientific mistake? “It would be an enormous relief…” Gore recognizes, and a huge “burden would be lifted”. Yet, years of scientific research and evidence, and hundreds of reports prove that our climate is in fact going through a crisis. We are polluting the environment, which causes the sun’s heat to be trapped, making atmospheric temperatures increase. The only uncertainty is whether we will act or not.

One fundamental cause of our current inaction is the lack of the necessary leadership from the US, because “the world still relies on” it. In fact, the world’s largest and fastest-growing polluter, China, is tying its environmental actions to what the US does.

Further, many question one of the most widespread possible solutions, which is a cap-and-trade scheme. According to Gore, “there is no readily apparent alternative that would be any easier politically”. Cap-and-trade, according to him, has the highest chances of success. Here the familiar disjunction between urgency and appropriateness comes along. Should we apply the currently most trust-worthy solution or should we keep looking for a better alternative? This is not an easy decision, but most certainly a decision needs to be taken.

Another cause for our inaction is the economy. Our world runs on fossil fuels. Economy needs fossil fuels to keep going. It may sometimes be hard to imagine a whole different picture in which fossil fuels do not reign anymore. Many people depend on fossil fuels and are benefited by them. Many don’t believe that we can actually switch our power system. But the clocks keep ticking, and more and more it won’t matter if we can or cannot change voluntarily. The more we wait, the more we will be limited in our options to solve this crisis unknown to humanity.

“The pathway to success is still open…Public officials must rise to this challenge by doing what is required; and the public must demand that they do so…” We need to keep asking for solutions, for actions, we need to make our call for a change heard. As Abraham Lincoln said in his famous Gettysburg Address, “…government of the people, by the people, for the people”, we need to remind ourselves that those in power respond to our voice as a society. We need to be responsible and demand a solution that will be fair to our children.

BUT, we Sustentators believe that in order to progress we need to find the positive side of things. While no binding agreement was reached, there were other accomplishments, possibly minor, but not irrelevant.

To start with, more than 110 world leaders gathered with a common goal: to discuss how to address climate change. We believe this is really remarkable. The Presidents of the USA, China, Germany, France and Brazil, among others, were in Copenhagen. That means the world and political leaders are giving increasing importance to global warming.

Secondly, the conference was covered by thousands of media reporting during the two weeks of Copenhagen on the progress and challenges that occurred there. This breadth in media coverage must have reached many people around the world, which were in contact with environmental problems. This is a virtuous circle, because if more people are aware, the social pressure increases for politicians, and this helps legitimate stronger actions.

Thirdly, an agreement (with all its faults) was achieved. The so-called “Copenhagen Accord” was the result of talks between China, the U.S., India and Brazil. There is now an open door for other countries to adhere to it. This agreement does not oblige countries to meet any goals. But it is a tool for dialogue and mutual support. Registrants will declare their objectives in terms of GHG emissions reductions, and then receive inspections. If the reduction targets are not met, there will be no consequences, since the agreement is not legally binding.

In turn, as mentioned in an article in Worldchanging, this two-week event shows there has been a change in global politics and world order. The fact that both poor and rich countries had the power to affect discussions and be heard is great news. For example, at the beginning of the second week of the CoP15, several African countries boycotted the negotiations, and without them the conference did not follow until an agreement was reached. The methodology of the discussions was democratic. The results were not what was expected, but the good thing is that many countries were able to participate and have a say.

Many leaders, politicians, NGO leaders and media are criticizing Copenhagen. They cite the lack of political will, the failure of the negotiation and decision making mechanisms of the UNFCCC, and the danger we now face because of not having reached an agreement. Certainly, the disappointment is great. But the environmental crisis in which we are forces us to seek to be constructive. We need to try to consider every step, every mistake, as a possible contribution to an effective solution to climate change.

The next stage in global negotiations, framed by the UN, is next year in Mexico. We have much to do. If this year the world was not ready to commit to a binding treaty, perhaps, hopefully it will be in 2010. The greater the awareness and involvement of each one of us, the more leaders will feel bound to find the political will which they lacked in Copenhagen.

Nowadays, people who do not believe in climate change are often dubbed “climate skeptics” by the media. I am not sure of how pleasant it must be to be called that way. There is plenty of evidence and studies that show that the climate is in fact changing. But if we expect to spread the news, accusing others of being skeptics might not be the best way to do this.

One of the keys to solving this unprecedented crisis I think we are in is actually to get people to realize what’s going on and to care enough to do something about it. If climate change is happening (which I think it is), we need to be as open-minded as possible, to be ready to show our arguments, and to listen to others’ arguments.

Political solutions such as emissions trading, or carbon taxes, or carbon budget, are necessary. But without social involvement they will definitely not be even close to solving the problem. If we are to evolve to a system that can co-exist with nature, as many people as possible, from George Bush to my neighbor, need to at least consider the possibility that global warming is happening.

That’s why I think this Ipsos poll is encouraging; it shows that a large part of US citizens actually believe in climate change. That’s many minds focused on the same problem, potentially capable of creating new solutions, and working together to build the necessary changes we all need to make. Besides, global warming is being generated by us, by society, and society is made up of each and every one of us. So if you and I decide to do something about it, if we start to reduce our environmental impact, already society’s impact on the whole is decreasing. You can start… now.

VIA: Treehugger

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US government, the national unemployment rate, last October, rose to 10.2%, the highest one since April 1983.

Unemployment means wanting to work and not finding a job. It may mean hunger, despair, lack of opportunities.

On the other hand, we have the highest levels of CO2 in the atmosphere recorded in thousands of years. More CO2 means more greenhouse effect. More greenhouse effect means a warmer planet, with sometimes unpredictable consequences, and other already perceivable effects such as droughts, floods, rising sea levels, and other such natural disasters.

What if we could link these two problems and solve them simultaneously?

Apparently, and fortunately we can.

A report by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) says that if the American Clean Energy and Security Act and the Waxman Markey Act were to operate together, they could generate $150 billion per year in new clean-energy investments in the US. Besides, 1.7 million jobs could be created. And if investments were larger, even more jobs could be generated.

Thus, unemployment would be reduced 1%, in just one year. This is taking into account the job losses that would be caused by  a contraction of the conventional fuel sectors.

In a study entitled “Green Jobs Study” by the US Green Building Council, the economic impact of green building construction is described as significant. Currently, the green building construction sector generates 2.4 million jobs, $173 billion in gross domestic product, and $124 million in wages. In the next four years the amount of jobs created will be nearly 8 million and the green building construction sector will add $554 million to the gross domestic product.

Until now, 15 billion kWh were saved thanks to green buildings and 10 million metric tons of CO2 were avoided. In the next four years, the emission of 45 million metric tons of CO2 will be avoided.

I think economic growth and sustainability make a rather cute couple.

VIA: Wonkroom

The houses were designed by architect George Watt, and are now being built by Silver Lining Builders.

Electricity will come from the photovoltaic panels that will be installed in each house, on the roof. The system will be linked to the grid, via a net-metering system. So, when the panels aren’t working, (at night or on cloudy days), homes can use energy coming from the grid. However, the homes are designed to generate enough electricity to be self-sustaining.

The heating and cooling system will be based on a geothermal electric heat pump. The interior of the homes will be painted with non-toxic paints, with low VOC (volatile organic compound) and decorated with non-toxic furniture. Further, the homes include a mechanical ventilation system that brings in fresh air from the outside, and also either warm or cool air from the geothermal system.

To make the homes more energy-efficient, a great deal of attention was paid to insulation. Windows are double-glazed and low-E, which means that they have a low emittance of radiant energy. Walls and roofs are highly insulated, to keep interiors warm in winter, and cool in the summer.

They will be about 2,800 sq ft large. The largest one 4,000 sq ft. One of the homes was already built, and it is expected to be sold at $1.2 million, around $300 a square foot. However, the developers are trying to lower the costs to near $200 a square foot, for the other homes.

The neighborhood is of 1.5 acres, and it is located across from a market, shops and restaurants. It also has a good access by bus. This project is another proof that it is feasible to live inside our society in an environmentally conscious way. Let’s hope initiatives like this continue to grow, and we get to see more of these eco-neighborhoods.

Via: Daily Camera

SpringLeaf

Some of the initiatives they have agreed on are the following:

The US and India will foster development and deployment of clean energy technologies. An Indo-US Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative has been launched. This includes a Joint Research Center. Some of the priorities of this initiative include energy efficiency, smart grid, second-generation biofuels, and clean coal technologies such as carbon capture and storage. Also solar energy, sustainable transportation, and wind energy development.

Specifically, concerning solar energy, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) will work with Indian Solar Energy Centre so as to create a nation-wide map of solar energy potential.

On the other hand, both Singh and Obama will try to encourage investment in clean energy projects in India.

They will also help each other regarding adaptation to climate change, looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from forests and land use.

Both leaders said that Copenhagen must result in a treaty that covers mitigation, adaptation, finance, and technology. Further, they both claimed to be determined to reduce emissions and said they are most willing to accomplish these pledges.

Another interesting project is the idea India has of creating a National Environmental Protection Authority, which will receive help and guidance from US Environmental Protection Agency. India’s project has the objective of establishing a more effective system of environmental governance, regulation and enforcement.

And lastly, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will work with India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences to help forecast monsoons and prevent risks related to climate change, which could harm both people and crops.

Let’s hope all these fantastic initiatives and ideas are put into practice and inspire other nations to get together to fight climate change, and develop renewable energies.

Via: America.gov

Climate Progress

Their plan focuses mainly on clean energy. The idea is that the implementation of clean energy will be studied and fostered, and that emissions will be hopefully reduced thanks to natural gas and the development of carbon capture technology.

Main actions to be taken

The US and China will create a common Clean Energy Research Center, that will enhance joint research and the development of clean energy technologies. At least $150 million in the next five years will be dedicated to the Center, and split between the two countries.

Electric vehicles are another key element of the plan. An Electric Vehicles Initiative will be launched, seeking to develop joint standards, educational projects, and demonstration projects.

Energy efficiency could not be left behind, so an Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be established. The US and China will unite their efforts in improving energy efficiency in buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances. Also, common standards will be set. A forum to discuss such topics will, from now on, be held once a year.

As for renewable energies, the two Presidents announced the creation of a Renewable Energy Partnership, through which they will help each other to enhance the development of renewable energy in their countries. They will share information on grid modernization. A forum will be held, also, once a year.

China and the US want to work together to achieve cleaner uses of coal. This is related to their quest for investigating and developing carbon capture and storage.

It is encouraging to see two super powers trying to work together to find possible solutions to the environmental crisis we are all in today. As Al Gore says, “if you want to go far, go together”. Let’s hope all these plans are in fact carried out.

Via: Treehugger

More: White House

Today, November 15, is the US national recycling day. It is dedicated to fostering recycling among Americans, and to promote the buying of recycled products.

This is the 12^th year the America Recycles Day takes place.

You can find events happening today here .

Its mission is to enhance the exchange of information related to sustainable development and sustainable products between consumers, manufacturers, researchers and others interested in being more environmentally friendly.

It will be situated in the Georgia World Congress Center.

There will be a wide variety of topics addressed, including renewable energies, landscaping, green weddings, and recycling. To see the schedule click here .

For more information, click here .

We were talking yesterday about the importance the US has for the Copenhagen Conference. Being the US one of the most powerful nations in the world, and one of the main greenhouse gas emitters, it is crucial for the US to lead the way and accept to be legally tied to reducing its greenhouse gases. If the US does not get involved, many others might wonder, why should we?

For the US to be able to commit, it needs the Senate to pass the climate bill developed by Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry. However, there is much opposition from the Republican Party.

Obama is almost certain that the so-called “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” will not be approved on time. Nevertheless, he still thinks COP15 can be successful, for it can work as a political framework for commitment and future action.

As he recently declared: “I think the question is can we create a set of principles, building blocks, that allow for ongoing and continuing progress on the issue and that’s something I’m confident we can achieve.”

If you still doubt whether climate change is or not a big deal, let me tell you that the scientific evidence that shows that we are on the brink of catastrophe is abundant. Further, emissions need to peak in 2015, if we want to avoid a major climatic crisis. Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, has said, “a climate deal in Copenhagen this year is an unequivocal requirement to stop climate change from slipping out of control.”

Via:

Telegraph

As Al Gore says, this climate crisis represents both a risk and an opportunity. Most politicians, I think, are not only not seeing the opportunity for growth this situation represents, but also ignoring the seriousness of the risks we face. There is a general lack of will to take the lead and work on a solution.

Being the US a world leader as it is, many point to it as one of the main responsible actors in convincing others and transmitting a proactive attitude to other countries. US President Barack Obama seems to have a relatively good will to seek for solutions. However, unless he gets support from the Senate, his words will remain in the world of ideas. If the Senate does not enact the Boxer-Kerry bill, it is doubtful that in Copenhagen world leaders will be able to accomplish a significant treaty.

What is going on in the Senate?

As always, Democrats and Republicans do not agree, and are not quite willing to do so. Within the Senate, there is the Environmental and Public Works Committee, which is in charge of environmental issues.

Democrats are trying to pass the Boxer-Kerry Bill. However, Republicans claim to lack an economic analysis of the bill; they say reducing emissions 20% by 2020, and implementing a national cap-and-trade system will negatively affect US economy. A study done by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) shows that these fears are unfounded, because among the Bill’s proposals is the idea of helping carbon-intensive industries, and poor families in the transition process. Carbon-intensive industries would receive a share of free carbon allowances to prevent the rising of prices, and the risk of migrating companies.

On the other hand, not even Democrats as a whole agree on the cap-and-trade system. Some strongly believe in it and consider it a key to the solution, while others want it off the bill.

Copenhagen is a month away. US Senate needs to realize their decisions have the whole world on hold. I hope politicians are doing their job aware that whatever they decide will have huge and unexpected impacts on every one of us, and future generations.

This is an extremely simplified explanation of a highly complicated topic. We will continue to deepen our analysis in the coming posts.

The state of Hawaii can be made into a sustainable paradise. It is still very far from achieving this goal, but it is on the right path. To begin with, it has a large variety of renewable energy sources, and those with political power have a predisposition to this important change. Today Hawaii depends on 90% of the imported petroleum to generate electricity, the highest level of all of the states of the United States. At the same time, Hawaiian citizens pay the highest energy costs in the entire country. This energy dependence prompted Governor Linda Lingle to look for a change in the state’s energy system. That’s why she is researching and carrying out a series of projects intended to get 40% of the state’s energy from renewable sources by 2030.

The conditions for achieving this are already there. Each of the six main islands that make up Hawaii has at least one renewable energy source. On Maui, there are waves for generating wave energy. On Lanai and Molokai, there is wind for eolic energy. On Oahu, there are solar panels. On Kauai, energy is produced from biomass. And on Hawaii, they are working to convert seawater into electricity. Last year, the Hawaiian government established an agreement with the Hawaiian Electric Company: the idea is that together they will achieve the goal of the island generating 40% of its energy from renewable sources for 2030.

On the other hand, there is no shortage of obstacles. In Hawaii, the greatest consumer of energy is Honolulu, the state capital, but the majority of the energy sources are 160 or 240 kilometers away. Furthermore, the state has six electrical networks, one per island, and none of them are interconnected. Another problem has to do with the social side of the issue. In Hawaii, there is a division between the rural and urban populations. Many of the inhabitants of the less populated areas are tired of receiving orders from Honolulu, with its mega energy plan. There are even groups, such as the Pele Defense Club, that defend the god of fire and the volcanoes, who they call Pele, and consider geothermic energy to be sacrilegious.

Solutions suggested to overcome these problems are: In regards to the disconnection between the electrical grids, to connect them with an undersea cable system. To address potential opposition by certain communities, there are plans to offer support and financing for needs that these groups identify, such as conservation of marine life. One of the individuals responsible for the project stated that the islands are being pressured to supply energy for Oahu, and that they should be compensated somehow.

One of the measures being considered to achieve the goal for 2030 is to reduce the consumption of energy and make it more efficient. One of the proposals consists of reducing the usage of air conditioning in high quality hotels. At the same time, Governor Lingle managed to pass a law that requires family homes built starting in 2010 to have thermal solar panels.

Source:

NY Times

More info:

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative

Hawaiian Electric Company

Less than a month ago, he announced he will invest $1 billion in clean energy technology. Besides, he will spend $100 million in the creation of a climate policy organization. This organization will advise policy makers, develop policies of its own, and look after public interest in the development of environmental policies.

The initiative is headed by Thomas Heller, professor at Stanford University Law School, and expert in energy law and regulation, and environmental law.

Among other things, the organization will work on carbon emission-trading systems. However, Soros says he prefers a greenhouse-gas tax. He warns that carbon emission-trading systems may be subject to manipulation by investors (something he knows about).

It will work in the US, Europe, China, India and Brazil.

His idea is that these investments need to be profitable, and also make a real contribution to solving the problem of climate change. To him, climate change is a “political problem”.

Via: Ecogeek

The power obtained is not only used by the hospital, but also by other local consumers. To compensate the costs, the local utility pays the hospital for the energy it produces. Furthermore, the heat emitted by the engine when working is recycled to produce energy for the waste treatment process in the brewery.

This project means a turnaround in energy sustainability. Hospitals consume more than twice as energy as other businesses. Ironically, they are provided with coal can energy, which can hijack health. Burning coal releases mercury and arsenic, which contaminate air and water and can cause heart disease, lung and liver dysfunctions, as well as reproductive problems.

Therefore, in agreement with its healthcare mission, Gundersen Lutheran has started the “Envision” campaign. The renewable energy engine is the first step. Gundersen Lutheran aims to have energy independence by 2014, not only by using renewable energy, but also by improving energy efficiency, recycling waste and achieving a LEED certificate.

Via: Earth911

Air

Transportation is currently responsible for more than 50% of NY’s local air pollution which means the city will focus on reducing emissions from on and off-road vehicles. It will also switch to cleaner fuels for heating and will retire old, polluting plants so as to tackle other major sources of emissions, such as buildings and power plants. It is hoped that the one million trees which will be planted as part of a set of ‘natural solutions’ will take the city the rest of the way towards having the cleanest air of any big city in the US.

Energy

New York’s escalating energy costs and its continuing growth call for a two-pronged strategy which aims to increase its sources of clean supply and lower its demand of energy. The initiatives are set but there is currently no entity capable of executing them which is why a ‘New York City Energy Planning Board’ will be jointly created with the State.

Land

The supply of land within the city is fixed and its efficient use is vital for sustainable development. The initiatives that will address this include: housing production, the creation of open space, and the redevelopment of brownfields. These measures are expected to help unlock the potential of unrealized housing capacity and thereby accommodate growth while enhancing quality of life.

Transportation

The transportation system needs considerable work as it will be pushed beyond capacity in the coming decades, potentially making it the biggest barrier to growth. Initiatives to solve current transportation problems and solve future ones include: greater transit capacity for millions more travellers and reaching a full ‘state of good repair’ on the city’s roads, subways and rails for the first time in history.

Water

Once an engineering marvel, New York’s waterways have passed their prime. The city will now ‘aggressively invest’ in critical back-up systems and embrace new practices to improve water quality. These measures are aimed to ensure both that the water available is drinkable and that the waterways surrounding the city are clean and available for use.

Through all these policies NY hopes to reduce its global warming emissions by 30%.

Already the municipal government emissions have decreased by 2.6% below 2007 fiscal year levels. If NY stays focused and continues to provide, and act on, comprehensive annual updates on its greenhouse gas inventory then there seems little reason to believe that they will not reach their goals.

By following their lead and learning from their mistakes other world cities should also find easier and more efficient ways of building a more sustainable future.