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Heating Oil Users: Beware of Misleading Rebate System for Energy-Efficient Heating Systems
By Josh Garrett, Editor of The HEAT Zone
To his credit, President Obama has made energy-efficiency a major priority in his agenda. Between appointing Nobel Laureate Steven Chu as Energy Secretary and repeatedly voicing support for energy efficiency and green energy advancements, he has helped lay the foundation for a US “energy revolution” in the coming [...]
US and China to Collaborate on Green Energy Research and Develoment
This morning, the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China, announced plans for a joint Clean Energy Research Center, according to the AP. Operations are set to begin by the end of 2009.
The US Department of Energy says the Center “would facilitate joint research and development on clean energy by teams [...]
Exxon Makes Big Investment in Algae Biofuels
The world’s largest publicly traded oil company, Exxon Mobile, is investing $600 million in the world’s smallest plants, the AP reported today. Exxon just announced a partnership with biotech company Synthetic Genomics to develop transportation fuels from algae.
Fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum, as well as their many derivatives, such as gasoline, [...]
Commercial Real Estate Cashing in on Advantages of Green Upgrades
It’s normally considered a “cool” color, but right now, green is the hottest trend in commercial real estate. New buildings are being constructed with energy-saving and environmentally friendly features, and famous old skyscrapers are being retrofitted that way as well.
The Empire State Building, New York’s and probably America’s most instantly recognizable skyscraper (even without a [...]
Renewable Energy Industries Face Halt in Growth When Stimulus Funds Run Out
The massive government stimulus package, a.k.a. the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), contains billions for renewable energy development. Among the hoped-for results are reduced dependence on fossil fuels, cleaner air, and millions of jobs in new, green industries. The money is already flowing, but much remains to be distributed to companies developing solar and [...]
Read More »Algae Will Eat CO2, Produce Ethanol at Pilot Plant in Texas
The New York Times Green, Inc. blog reported on Monday that Algenol Biofuels and Dow Chemical Company are planning to build a pilot plant to produce low-cost, non-feedstock ethanol from algae on the site of a Dow plant in Freeport, Texas.
The plant already produces carbon dioxide (CO2), a key ingredient in the photosynthesis-based production [...]
Fuel of the Future: Bio-Butanol from Wood as Renewable Gasoline
We have known for centuries how valuable trees are: they help us breathe, provide us with wood for shelter and can even be turned into a variety of products, like paper. But now, some investors are developing ways to turn trees into bio-butanol to help wean America off its usage of petroleum.
According to a Reuters [...]
New Tools Boost Energy Conservation, But Will Growing Demand Wipe Out Savings?
We recently looked at the nation’s aging electrical grid and the challenges involved in upgrading it to meet America’s surging power needs, now and into the future.
That post was based on a series presented on National Public Radio in April. The 10-part series also considered these questions: If we used electricity more prudently, could we [...]
Cap-and-Trade Bill Passes House by Thin Margin
A sharply divided House of Representatives narrowly passed the controversial Waxman-Markey climate change bill Friday. An early vote on the bill had been pushed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who had first vowed to get it passed before the Fourth of July recess, then moved the vote to Friday.
The bill passed by the [...]
Federal Funds Heading to Iowa to Support Big Alternative Energy Plans
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this week that Iowa will receive $16 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy development, the Chicago Tribune reported. It’s part of the Administration’s dual push for alternative energy and economic stimulus, and Iowa merely happens to be one of the first states to receive funds—many others will as well. [...]
Read More »US Oil Gets More Expensive to Find
What may be the first sign that oil is becoming more difficult to find—when existing wells cough, sputter, and run dry? When new wells are drilled, but bring up rock, clay, or mud, instead of oil? No…by the time those things are happening with any frequency, we’re already almost out of oil. Instead, the first [...]
Read More »Updating the Power Grid: Many Challenges to Tackle
The nation’s electricity grid is a marvel of dependability, but it’s badly outdated and beginning to show signs of wear. The grid is having trouble coping with increasing demand and is unprepared to adapt to new alternative energy sources. The federal stimulus package includes $11 billion for improvements to the grid. But bringing it up [...]
Read More »Federal Stimulus Funds for Weatherizing Arrive in Long Island
Out with the good air, in with the bad air…wait, that’s not right.
No, it’s not. However, it’s exactly what happens in many homes, especially older, more poorly insulated ones: warm air escapes in winter, drawing in cold air and raising heating bills. In the summer, the opposite happens. In either case, the homeowner spends more [...]
The Future of Green Lighting Could be LEDs
Normally, the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace is a much bigger deal than the changing of the light bulbs.
However, in late May, light bulbs took center stage, at least for a little bit. Workers replaced the light bulbs illuminating the Palace’s grand stairwell with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
The New York Times describes LEDs as [...]
Maine Weatherization Bill Passes House Without Heating Oil Surchage
By the year 2030, every house in Maine and at least 50 percent of businesses will be fully weatherized.
So say the backers of an energy bill that the Maine House of Representatives passed last Friday. This bill will spend $79 million of federal stimulus money over the next two years on various energy conservation programs. [...]
Federal Weatherization Money Going to Hot and Cold States
The Federal government has announced it will spend stimulus package funds to help homeowners in warm states save on air conditioning costs, the New York Times reported on Sunday.
Read More »NY State Assembly Considering Three Heating Oil Bills
Several pieces of legislation related to heating oil are currently floating around the New York State Assembly. And, if any pass, New York heating oil users could see some changes in the industry.
Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from Nassau County, has proposed legislation that would give tax incentives to heating oil users to move to [...]
Investment in Green Tech Surpassed Fossil Fuel Investments in 2008
The New York Times reported this week that global investment in renewable energy sources surpassed investment in fossil fuel technologies in 2008 for the first time, according to a report just released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The study, prepared by research firm New Energy Finance, reported that last year’s investment in alternative energy [...]
Japan, Once World’s 2nd Largest Oil Consumer, Cuts Back on Refining as Demand Sinks
Nippon oil recently announced that it will process 4% less crude oil in June 2009 than it did a year ago, owing in large part to a reduction in oil consumption. And this is not an isolated event: Nippon closed one of their refineries earlier this year, and is converting another over to service the [...]
Read More »Chu Raises Environmental and Energy-Conserving Benefis of White Roofs
“President Obama’s energy adviser has suggested all the world’s roofs should be painted white as part of efforts to slow global warming.” begins a recent article in the London Telegraph. Speaking at a climate change symposium in London, US Energy Secretary, Steven Chu said the simple expedient would not only benefit the environment, but would [...]
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