Well, Popular Mechanics is busting a lot of chops today for fans of alternative energy production. Similar situation to the wind turbine issue in the previous post.
I think with more advances in the solar voltaic cell technology in the next 4 - 6 years, things will improve.
Once concern that I have is about the life expectancy of the solar cells. If they are short (less than 10 years) this could be a show stopper.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Has Affordable, Efficient Rooftop Wind Power Arrived?
I would say this technology is not quite 'there' yet. If the payback time was 14 to 20 years, it would be like putting about $3,500 in a CD and reaping the profit at the end of that time interval. There are questions whether the payback can happen in 40 years.
Still lots of unknowns like maintenance, actual installation costs, etc. You would need quite a few of these turbines in order to make much of a dent in the need for additional electrical production.
Still lots of unknowns like maintenance, actual installation costs, etc. You would need quite a few of these turbines in order to make much of a dent in the need for additional electrical production.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
New Documentary: Food Inc.
A new documentary has just been released in U.S. theaters within the last week or so: Food, Inc.
This is a film that the food industry is not very happy about. In fact, most companies declined interviews for the production.
I have not seen Food Inc., but I did see the director interviewed on the PBS's NOW a couple of week ago.
From this information, I think the film makes many good points. We consumers need information to make rational decisions about what we eat. Our diets are the source of many of the degenerative diseases that plague our society. No doubt, some aspects of the film may be overstated, but I think it is good that we begin to investigate and debate these issues.
As we have shifted from an agrarian culture to an urban culture over the last 100 years, we have become dependent on corporations to grow and distribute the majority of our food.
Just like our favorite restaurants, it is probably a good idea to not look behind the kitchen door (or barn/slaughterhouse door) to see just what goes on in the processing of our food. It would seem that there are parts to this film that are disturbing. I for one, would probably not be all that hungry for s nice filet mignon after a processing beef all day.
But all this is to be expected. For the most part, food is processed in factories. Consuming food mostly processed in factories is not an ideal way to maintain optimum nutrition. It is time that we start migrating back to the home or community garden using natural seeds. The less processed foods we consume, the better our overall health. Low cost processed foods are costing us big time when it comes to dealing with the health consequences.
This is a film that the food industry is not very happy about. In fact, most companies declined interviews for the production.
I have not seen Food Inc., but I did see the director interviewed on the PBS's NOW a couple of week ago.
From this information, I think the film makes many good points. We consumers need information to make rational decisions about what we eat. Our diets are the source of many of the degenerative diseases that plague our society. No doubt, some aspects of the film may be overstated, but I think it is good that we begin to investigate and debate these issues.
As we have shifted from an agrarian culture to an urban culture over the last 100 years, we have become dependent on corporations to grow and distribute the majority of our food.
Just like our favorite restaurants, it is probably a good idea to not look behind the kitchen door (or barn/slaughterhouse door) to see just what goes on in the processing of our food. It would seem that there are parts to this film that are disturbing. I for one, would probably not be all that hungry for s nice filet mignon after a processing beef all day.
But all this is to be expected. For the most part, food is processed in factories. Consuming food mostly processed in factories is not an ideal way to maintain optimum nutrition. It is time that we start migrating back to the home or community garden using natural seeds. The less processed foods we consume, the better our overall health. Low cost processed foods are costing us big time when it comes to dealing with the health consequences.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Renewable Enegies' Potential Untapped
The National Research Council published a report today indicating that existing renewable energy technology could provide 10% of the U.S. electrical supply in 2020.
It would be great to see some leadership in our nation use this information as a spring board to creating jobs and growing the U.S. economy. Energy production is money (real) in the bank. If you don't start an investment plan today, how do you expect to prosper down the road?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Crops Under Stress As Temperatures Fall
There is no doubt that this planet is going through some kind of climate change. It always has. The issue is which direction and over what period of time.
I suspect that the absence of sunspot activity may be a factor in the observed global cooling. We are definitely dealing with a potential problem with colder than normal temperatures in various parts of the globe this spring. The food harvest may be adversely affected.
Have you planted that garden in you back yard yet?
I suspect that the absence of sunspot activity may be a factor in the observed global cooling. We are definitely dealing with a potential problem with colder than normal temperatures in various parts of the globe this spring. The food harvest may be adversely affected.
Have you planted that garden in you back yard yet?
110-mpg Car Engines Made In Ohio
I just got this information this morning so it is very new to me. I have not yet investigated anything about Doug Pelmear, but opened his first manufacturing facility on May 31 to produce car engines that get 110-mpg.
The facility is located in Wauseon, OH and will employ 25 workers initially and produce about 20 engines per day. The engine is rated at 400-horsepower, 500 foot-pounds of torque, and is capable of speeds of up to 200 mph (but not 110-mpg at the same time).
His first customer is a specialty car company called Revenge Designs, Inc. which will unveil its new vehicle at the end of this year.
I just found another article that indicates that Doug Pelmear has withdrawn his engine's entry in the Progressive Auto X Prize competition.
This is all starting to look a bit odd. I'm not so sure all this is on the up and up, but let's hope this all works out and revolutionizes the transportation industry. The proof is in the pudding.
The facility is located in Wauseon, OH and will employ 25 workers initially and produce about 20 engines per day. The engine is rated at 400-horsepower, 500 foot-pounds of torque, and is capable of speeds of up to 200 mph (but not 110-mpg at the same time).
His first customer is a specialty car company called Revenge Designs, Inc. which will unveil its new vehicle at the end of this year.
I just found another article that indicates that Doug Pelmear has withdrawn his engine's entry in the Progressive Auto X Prize competition.
This is all starting to look a bit odd. I'm not so sure all this is on the up and up, but let's hope this all works out and revolutionizes the transportation industry. The proof is in the pudding.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Is There A Life On Mars Conspiracy?
Here is Michael Brooks' perspective on the effort to find evidence of life on Mars. Brooks is the author of '13 Things That Don't Make Sense' which I've posted here in the past year.
The Mars Rovers were not really designed to look for the chemical traces of life. The findings of water are a good indicator that life could have existed at some time or still me exist underground perhaps.
The main question in this article is whether NASA is really looking all that hard.
The Mars Rovers were not really designed to look for the chemical traces of life. The findings of water are a good indicator that life could have existed at some time or still me exist underground perhaps.
The main question in this article is whether NASA is really looking all that hard.
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