Household size The number of people living in your home and your water consumption patterns Household size The number of people living in your home and your water consumption patterns Of the many different types of Solar water heaterson the market, the best hot water system for your home will depend on your situation. Consider the following.
Household size The number of people living in your home and your water consumption patterns (ie whether you all shower at the same time of day; run the dishwasher, washing machine and bath at the same time) will determine the size of the system you need and help to identify the best system and energy source for your needs.
Cost The purchase cost and operating costs of your hot water system both need to be considered. The energy used by your water heater will impact on your energy bill for years to come so consider carefully before buying.
Government rebates are also available on some energy efficient systems.
Space available In existing homes it may not be possible to install some systems due to lack of space or a difficult layout.
Existing water heater Some existing hot water systems can be easily converted to more sustainable types. For example, the best replacement for the old style ceiling mounted gravity service is often a roof-mounted solar system, as plumbing usually requires minimal alteration.
Available energy sources Your choice may also be limited by the available energy sources. Natural gas is not available in some areas and solar energy may not be ideal in cooler climates or shaded areas.
The energy source of a hot water system has a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas hot water systems typically generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electric storage hot water systems and solar hot water systems can generate even fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Local climate Sunny locations with good solar radiation allow solar hot water systems to operate most effectively. In warm climates there is also less energy needed to raise the temperature of the water storage tanks if they are located outside, as the difference between the air temperature and the temperature of the hot water is smaller.
The amount of emissions generated by your hot water system depend on:
Greenhouse intensity of the energy source.
Age and efficiency of the hot water appliance.
Amount of solar radiation available for solar hot water systems.
Amount of heat available in the ambient air for heat pump hot water systems.
Heat lost by hot water storage tanks to the outside air.
Volume of hot water consumed.
The following recommendations can be used to minimise greenhouse gas emissions:
Where gas is available and solar access is good, a gas boosted solar water heater will generate the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.
Where gas is available but solar access is poor, an instantaneous gas system or electric heat pump is usually the best option for small to medium households.
For large households (5 people or more), a gas storage system gives similar performance to an instantaneous gas system at lower cost.
Where gas is not available an electric-boosted solar system or an electric heat pump will minimise emissions.
For multi-residential developments, a large, cost-effective solar water heater can be effectively combined with instantaneous gas boosters in each unit, or a geothermal heat pump could be cost-effective for blocks of five or more units.
About 30 per cent of the energy used to heat water in a storage system is wasted due to heat loss from the tank and associated pipework. This can be reduced through careful design and installation.
Floorplan of water heater siting in relation to use
Keep hot water pipes as short as possible to minimise heat loss. In new or renovated homes, locate wet areas close together with the water heater close to all points of hot water use. If this is not possible, locate it close to the kitchen where small, frequent amounts of hot water are used. Another alternative is to install a water recirculation system. These systems are generally compatible with any hot water system type. They recirculate water in the pipes until hot water is detected, to avoid wastage.
Estimate your hot water needs accurately to ensure your system is not oversized or undersized for your household. If storage system tanks are too small for the number of people in the house hot water can run out. If the tank is too large, operating costs will be excessive.
Storage systems lose heat through the tank walls. Reduce heat loss from electric hot water heaters by wrapping the tank with an insulation blanket. Insulation blankets are unsuitable for gas storage systems.
Insulate hot water pipes, particularly externally exposed pipe leading from the water heater to the house and the pipe leading to the relief valve (on storage systems). Note: Standard green lagged hot water pipes are inadequate for external protection in cold and cool temperate climates. Apply additional insulation or lagging'. At least 10mm of foam insulation is needed
The tempering valve, required to limit hot water to 50^0C to prevent scolding, should be located as close as possible to the tank to minimise pipe heat losses. Be sure to comply with your state or territory government requirements.
For storage systems consider installing a timer to ensure water is not heated when it's not needed, and a switch so the system can be turned off when you go on holiday.
Design new homes with a roof pitch and orientation suitable for a solar water heater. You may not want to install one now but it leaves the option open for the future. A north-facing roof with a pitch of between 22^0 and 40^0 is usually adequate.
A hot water supply system must be designed and installed in accordance with Section 8 of AS/NZS 3500.4:2003 Heated Water Services (including amendment 1) or clause 3.38 of AS/NZS 3500.5:2000 (including amendments 1,2 and 3). A solar hot water supply system located in climate zones 1,2 and 3 is exempted from complying with the above mentioned requirements. For further information please refer to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume Two, Part 3.12.5.
Reducing your use of hot water is a great way to save on your energy bills, regardless of what type of water heater you have.
Showering uses the most hot water in a household. Installing a water efficient (3-star) showerhead can reduce this use by about half. If you have an instantaneous water heater, make sure that your water efficient showerhead is compatible and does not reduce flow excessively. Check with the manufacturer of your heater.
Use a shower time to remind everyone in the household to save water.
Buy washing machines and dishwashers that have a cold or warm water or economy cycle option and use these cycles as much as possible.
Immediately repair dripping hot water taps and leaking appliances, including the relief valve from your water heater.
Ensure that the thermostat on storage hot water systems is set at 60^0C. A higher temperature than this means that energy is used unnecessarily and a lower temperature than this may allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Instantaneous hot water systems should be set to no more than 50^0C.
Turn off your water heater when you go on holidays.
Maintain your system and have it serviced according to manufacturer's instructions.
Installing a solar water heater can greatly reduce your energy bills as it will use energy from the sun to heat water at zero cost.
Using solar energy to heat water produces no harmful greenhouse gas emissions. A solar water heater can provide up to 90 per cent of your total hot water requirements, depending on the climate and the model of heater.
The upfront cost of a solar water heater (including installation) is higher than electric or gas water heaters. Government rebates are available from the Australian Government and several State Governments to assist with the initial purchase cost of a solar water heater.
Although the initial cost of a solar water heater is higher, it can save energy and reduce your bills. The time required to break even (the payback period) depends on the climate, the type of system installed and the energy tariff applied. Solar water heaters have additional benefits, as they last longer than conventional water heaters and add to the value of your home.
HEADLINE NEWS:
* Comparing 2014 to 2013 in terms of changes in power produced in the US, windpower increased most. In fact, windpower gained more than all traditional power sources put together. Solar was number two, with 2014s output more than doubling 2013s. Output from natural gas fell, despite increased capacity. [CleanTechnica]
* The UK has spearheaded a return to growth for the utility-scale solar sector in Europe, according to Wiki-Solar.org. The website, which tracks installation of solar projects over 5 MW solar worldwide, says there was a total of 35.9 GW of utility-scale solar capacity at the end of 2014, up 14.2 GW from 2013. [Solar Power Portal]
* Around the world there were 51,477 MW of wind capacity installed during the year, a 44% increase over the amount installed in 2013. This brings the total global wind capacity to 369,553 MW, a huge number! Also, growth figures indicate we could double wind capacity during the next 7 years. [Treehugger]
* Environmental action group World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines on Friday dismissed fears over the possible negative impact of wind power on the national grid. The group's Climate Change Unit Head said adding 500 MW of wind power to the national grid will have no negative impact on grid operations. [The Manila Times]
* Prominent leaders from agriculture's diverse value chain issued an open letter to policymakers and presidential hopefuls attending the first ever Iowa Ag Summit, urging them to consider Iowa's renewable energy record in wind, solar and biofuels as an example for clean energy policies for the nation. [KMAland]
For more news, please visit geoharvey - Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
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Here's the logic of this post:
* The latest science says we're heading for over 6 degrees C warming.
* Romney will do nothing but make this worse
* Obama must win
* Then go to Doha and help broker a global pact on limiting emissions.
Following Hurricane Sandy, and more bad news on climate change today, there has never been so much at stake in an American election for the rest of the world.
If this is not a wake-up call, I don't know what is.
Hurricane Sandy was the worst storm to hit the eastern seaboard of the United States in living memory.
In one dramatic moment, that will end up costing American taxpayers billions of dollars, it has succeeded in doing something by powerful demonstration that no other amount of evidence or eloquence has succeeded in doing: it has brought climate change, at the last moment, into the presidential election agenda.
In its wake, the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, has thrown his support behind Barack Obama. The latest issue of Bloomberg BusinessWeek carries on its cover the slogan: "It's climate change, stupid!"
In an editorial, it says: "Climate deniers exploit scientific complexity to avoid any discussion at all. Clarity, however, is not beyond reach. Hurricane Sandy demands it: At least 40 U.S. deaths. Economic losses expected to climb as high as 50 billion. Eight million homes without power. Hundreds of thousands of people evacuated. More than 15,000 flights grounded. Factories, stores, and hospitals shut. Lower Manhattan dark, silent, and underwater."
The latest scientific climate change research, arriving with chilling timing in my e-mail box today, points to disaster for the planet unless something drastic is done. Current rates of decarbonisation mean that global average temperatures are heading to a disastrous 6oC of warming. This would render much of the planet uninhabitable.
The news comes from fresh analysis by financial consultants PwC. Their Low Carbon Economy Index measures the progress of developed and emerging economies towards reducing emissions linked to economic output. Its latest issue says "To limit global warming to 2oC would now mean reducing global carbon intensity by an average of 5.1% a year - a performance never achieved since 1950, when these records began". [For a copy of the report contact Rowena Mearley, Tel: +44 207 213 4247 or e-mail rowena.mearley@uk.pwc.com.]
It adds that any investments in long term assets or infrastructure, particularly in coastal or low-lying regions need to address far more pessimistic scenarios.
This message seems almost pointedly directed at the East Coast of the United States this week.
On October 31, the New York Times published an article which explicitly linked Hurricane Sandy to climate change.
It said "the storm surge along the Atlantic coast was almost certainly intensified by decades of sea-level rise linked to human emissions of greenhouse gases. And [scientists have] emphasized that Hurricane Sandy, whatever its causes, should be seen as a foretaste of trouble to come as the seas rise faster, the risks of climate change accumulate and the political system fails to respond". It quotes in support Thomas R. Knutson, a research meteorologist with the government's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J.
Hurricane Sandy came hot on the heels of the intense summer drought, which also powerfully affected much of the United States.
Americans now know first-hand some of the effects of climate chaos. It's not happening in some remote atoll of the Pacific Ocean, or in the estuarine delta of a poor, developing country. It's happening right in their homes. It is affecting their power supply, the price of their food, their livelihoods. It's costing lives. It's going to put up insurance premiums.
Most Europeans have not been subject to the same ideologically-driven debate over climate change as Americans have in the last decade. They have not been deprived of the true facts of the situation, or misled by compromised politicians.
Facts have a great way of cutting through ideology. During the Cultural Revolution in China, millions died as a result of ideologically-driven policies on agriculture. The authorities responded with denial and cover-up, because the alternative was to admit that their leaders were wrong. But now we know the truth, sadly too late for those peasants who suffered death by starvation.
Americans need to know that their leaders have been wrong, before it is too late.
There is no doubt that Obama's policies on climate change are better than Romney's, who said in his acceptance speech for the GOP nomination: "President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise... is to help you and your family". That phrase should return to haunt him now.
But for Obama to have spoken out loudly on climate change before now would have, paradoxically, worked against his best interests. Instead, he has during his campaign repeatedly shown support for oil, natural gas, shale gas and coal as well as renewables.
That has not been an obstacle for Bill Clinton, who is on the campaign trail himself. On Tuesday he said: "All up and down the East Coast, there are mayors, many of them Republicans, who are being told, 'You've got to move these houses back away from the ocean. You've got to lift them up. Climate change is going to raise the water levels on a permanent basis. If you want your town insured, you have to do this.' In the real world, Barack Obama's policies work better".
The president of the World Resources Institute, a former special envoy for climate change at the World Bank, who also happens to be British, has commented on the fact that both presidential candidates have largely avoided mention of climate change by saying: "Political discourse here is massively out of step with the rest of the world, but also with the citizens of this country. Polls show very clearly that two-thirds of Americans think this is a real problem and needs to be addressed."
We have to hope that Obama wins the poll this week. Romney has opposed Democratic initiatives to regulate emissions from power plants and vehicles. He has promised to reverse Obama's air quality regulations. He has said he will renegotiate the auto efficiency standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 that automakers agreed to this year.
Obama, speaking last week in Iowa, has promised to continue support for wind power projects and federal tax breaks for them, which Romney wants to end. "My plan will keep these investments, and we'll keep reducing the carbon pollution that's also heating the planet, because climate change isn't a hoax. The droughts we've seen, the floods, the wildfires, those aren't a joke. They're a threat to our children's future. And we can do something about it."
He is right. Romney is wrong. It's as simple as that.
Obama must not just win a second term. He must then lead the world in the COP 18 climate change negotiations this December in Doha to a proper, legally binding agreement.
America, the world's greatest polluter, has avoided this responsibility for over a decade, and the PwC report reveals the consequence of this.
There has never been so much at stake for the rest of the world in an American election.
Below are highlights from January 29 from the official blog of the 2015 National Biodiesel Conference Expo.
The end of 2014 delivered two powerful shocks to the transportation fuels sector. First, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refused to decrease production to offset reduced demand, leading to the lowest oil prices in years. Then, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would finish the year without setting annual federal renewable fuels volume requirements for gas and diesel distributors.
Those burning energy issues and more were hot topics at the annual National Biodiesel Conference Expo which took place January 19 - 22 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. This was the 12th straight year NBB produced the premier U.S. biodiesel event, which featured demonstrations and discussions among thousands of biodiesel producers, distributors, and enthusiasts.
Full coverage can be found on the official blog.
Next Generation Scientists For Biodiesel
The Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel program continues to grow and there were 30 student scientists represented at this year's conference. Here are the Co-Chairs of the program James Anderson, Southern Illinois University, a PhD student in Agricultural Science; Katie Heil, University of Colorado - Boulder, an undergraduate in Electrical Engineering; Mike Morgan, Utah State University, an undergraduate in Biochemistry and Dan Browne, a graduate research assistant in the Dept. of Biochemistry Biophysics at Texas AM University.
I asked them to each describe the type of work they're doing related to biodiesel and then tell me what coming to the conference has meant to them.
.
Leadership Discussion
This year's conference featured a discussion with industry CEOs led by Joe Jobe. On the panel were Dan Oh, REG; Gene Gebolys, World Energy; and Paul Soanes, Renewable Biofuels.
The conference has become very focused on the business of the industry and as you wander around the convention center you'll see small groups of people having serious business discussions.
.
The post 2015 National Biodiesel Conference Expo - Official Blog Highlights from January 29 appeared first on Biodiesel Sustainability Blog.
I'm back from my two day mini lecture tour through Maryland and Delaware. On Saturday afternoon, I gave a talk on the economics of renewable energy with Scott Donnelly from the Eastern Shore Sierra Club at the Maryland Sierra Club's jamboree. It may seem strange that any outdoor types would want to spend any part of a Saturday afternoon indoors going through a PowerPoint presentation, but our talk drew an attentive and engaged audience, which included Allison Chin, the Sierra Club's national president (shown here with Scott and me).
Scott is among the local Sierra Club members who are quickly getting themselves up to speed on the economic, environmental and regulatory issues involved in bringing offshore wind power to Maryland. We shared our pride in being members of the organization founded by John Muir, whose vision led to the creation of the first national parks.
Sunday was Coast Day in Lewes, where I got an update on Bluewater Wind's efforts to line up more customers for the Delaware wind power project and learned that I live 142 feet above sea level, thanks to Google Earth and DNREC's coastal programs office.
That night, I led a town hall discussion at the monthly gathering of Dining with Progressives on the topic of energy economics. I had just started to describe Senate Bill 106, which created energy efficiency resource standards for Delaware, when someone asked, Isn't that (DNREC secretary) Collin O'Mara outside? Sure enough it was, and I stepped out to ask if he would take few moments to say hello to the group. Collin graciously added to an already long day by talking with the group about energy policy and environmental regulation before rejoining his wife and friends.
The key message of my weekend talks was that opponents of progress (whether wind power or climate change) will exaggerate the costs and dismiss the benefits. We saw it in the fight to bring wind power to Delaware, and we're seeing it again in the national debate on climate change.
Energy Made Clean are pleased to announce the recent recruitment of five new staff who will provide energy independence solutions to mid-to-large commercial power users connected to the SWIS. This is the first sales team ever for EMC, after over 10 years of business, with more than 20 years combined experience in the solar energy industry.
New members Dale Burden, Sean Scott, and Eamonn McDonnell join existing business development agents Anika Sweetland and Peter Milner, in response to strong growth indications within the marketplace for commercial solar generation.
CEO John Davidson says, "We are seeing the beginnings of a major uptake in large-scale solar power for commercial businesses and government. Having now built a number of projects, we are ready to offer WA businesses owners and operators competitive, clean, electricity from dispersed generation."
Eamonn has a strong sales history within the solar industry, built over eight years of working within the solar power industry at a range of levels. Sean has built his sales experience over a range of industries, while completing multiple training certificates, including those in Communications and Retail Management, Computer Studies, and language tutoring. Dale completed his Bachelors of Engineering, with B Class Honours, at Murdoch University, with accreditations from the Clean Energy Council and ABSA. He holds rich sales experience in photovoltaic and renewable energies from multiple positions within the industry.
The skills of our new recruits complement EMC's strong engineering expertise, and will aid in the ongoing integration of technology and economy of solar power for the benefit of consumers.
For more hydrogen fuel cell news articles.
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LINDE WILL BE THE EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER OF HYDROGEN FOR THE SHELL EVENT
Shell is hosting its fifth annual Eco-marathon, where teams of students from various universities demonstrate the potential of hydrogen fuel cells in the transportation sector. Shell expects that 54 teams will compete in the event this year, showcasing their fuel cells and how these energy systems can be used in vehicles. Linde, a leading producer of chemical gases, will be the exclusive provider of hydrogen fuel for this year's event.
COMPANY CONTINUES TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE EXPANSION OF HYDROGEN FUEL
Linde has played a major role in promoting the use of hydrogen fuel over the past few years. The company has helped develop new fueling technology and has bolstered the hydrogen infrastructures of the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company has shown particular support for clean transportation, highlighting the benefits of hydrogen over more conventional forms of fuel. In the coming years, hydrogen fuel is expected to become quite prominent in the clean transportation space.
Hydrogen Cylinders To Be Provided To Students Competing In The Eco-marathon
Linde will be providing ready-to-install hydrogen fuel cylinders to teams competing in the Eco-marathon this year. These cylinders can provide the hydrogen that fuel cells need to generate electrical power. They serve as convenient hydrogen supplies, reducing the need for fuel cell vehicles to spend time filling dedicated fuel tanks. The cylinders will also provide students with a chance to gain experience with new technology and understand how fuel cells can make use of hydrogen in different ways.
Event Could Provide Students With Valuable Experience Concerning Fuel Cells And Clean Technology In General
Shell's Eco-marathon represents a promising educational opportunity. Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining more popularity throughout the world and may soon become a primary source of power for the auto industry and residential sectors. Students gaining experience with these energy systems could equip them with the skills they need to find jobs in the fuel cell industry. The Eco-marathon is also meant to draw attention to the potential capabilities of hydrogen fuel cells in the transportation space.
For more alternative energy news headlines today.
As a result of solar PV cost declines, rising utility rates, and supportive public policies and incentives, residential rooftop solar PV has become an affordable option for millions of customers, especially in America's 50 largest cities. This is especially true if customers have the ability to access low-cost financing options like longer-term loans, leases, and third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs) that eliminate the upfront cost. Thus, the availability of solar PV (and other ways to more efficiently use energy) has caused many customers to seek their own degree of personal "energy independence" by focusing on ways they can diversify their energy choices and exert greater control over their utility bills.
However, most of the customers who want a greater degree of personal energy independence (and the community leaders who wish to help them get there) often do not understand (or are simply unaware) of how solar PV technology can help them save money and reap the rewards of a largely risk-free long-term investment. Often, the lack of familiarity most customers have with solar PV has the effect of increasing the costs (often called "customer acquisition costs") that solar PV installers must incur to educate consumers and make a sale. When one considers that selling more PV systems is how solar installers can reduce their other costs and make their businesses leaner, more competitive, and cost-effective without incentives, educating customers and community leaders about the "dollars and cents" value of solar PV truly is paramount.
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University, a partner in the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (SolarOPs), has developed a series of tools to help do just that. This month, we released "Going Solar in America: Ranking Solar's Value to Consumers in America's Largest Cities". The report's analysis shows that the combination of rising utility rates, declining costs of solar, and the existence of supportive public policies and incentives make investing in solar PV a prudent and conservative long-term investment for people of all walks of life. We also crunched the numbers and ranked the best places within America's 50 largest cities for customers to invest in solar PV.
Using the most current solar pricing data available (generously provided by EnergySage, the leading online marketplace for solar), we designed a ranking system for determining the "dollars and cents" value of investing in solar in these 50 cities. The rankings themselves are based on three metrics: (1) first-year average monthly bill savings, (2) the overall present-day value of a long-term investment in solar (as compared to an investment in a stock with an average return), and (3) the average or "levelized" cost of energy from a rooftop solar energy system.
The top ten highest ranking cities overall are:
* New York, NY
* Boston, MA
* Albuquerque, NM
* San Jose, CA
* Las Vegas, NV
* Washington, DC
* Los Angeles, CA
* San Diego, CA
* Oakland, CA
* San Francisco, CA
The three metrics factoring into the rankings, examined individually, show:
1. CUSTOMERS WITH A TYPICALLY-SIZED 5 KW SYSTEM CAN REALIZE SAVINGS OVER 100/MONTH, DEPENDING ON HOW EFFICIENTLY THEY USE ENERGY, AND HOW MUCH OF THEIR ENERGY USE FROM THEIR UTILITY THEY CAN OFFSET WITH SOLAR PV.
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2. WHEN CUSTOMERS CHOOSE A LOW-COST FINANCING OPTION LIKE A LOAN (OR A LEASE), SOLAR PV CAN BE A BETTER INVESTMENT THAN THE S height: 720px;">
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3. FOR CUSTOMERS IN 42 OF AMERICA'S 50 LARGEST CITIES, A FINANCED SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS ALREADY AT GRID PARITY, AND A SYSTEM PURCHASED UPFRONT IS AT GRID PARITY IN 14 CITIES.
Nevertheless, the non-hardware soft costs of solar PV still constitute 64% of the price of a solar PV system, and must be reduced in order for solar PV to offer customers significant savings and investment value without supportive public policies and incentives. Over the next two years, while solar PV may face some policy and market uncertainty with the scheduled expiration of the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit at the end of 2016, local governments can help lower the costs of solar PV by taking targeted actions to reduce soft costs, and allow an even greater portion of the American public to choose solar energy if they so desire.
Jim Kennerly is a Senior Policy Analyst, and Autumn Proudlove is a Policy Analyst at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Their special thanks goes to all of their colleagues working on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) project, whose knowledge of policies and incentives in their states made this project greatly benefitted this project.
For more information on how your city can expand its local solar market and save consumers money on their utility bills, please feel free to contact Autumn Proudlove (afproudl@ncsu.edu).
Nevertheless, the non-hardware soft costs of solar PV still constitute 64% of the price of a solar PV system, and must be reduced in order for solar PV to offer customers significant savings and investment value without supportive public policies and incentives. Over the next two years, while solar PV may face some policy and market uncertainty with the scheduled expiration of the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit at the end of 2016, local governments can help lower the costs of solar PV by taking targeted actions to reduce soft costs, and allow an even greater portion of the American public to choose solar energy if they so desire.
"Jim Kennerly is a Senior Policy Analyst, and Autumn Proudlove is a Policy Analyst at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Their special thanks goes to all of their colleagues working on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) project, whose knowledge of policies and incentives in their states made this project greatly benefitted this project."
"For more information on how your city can expand its local solar market and save consumers money on their utility bills, please feel free to contact Autumn Proudlove (afproudl@ncsu.edu)."
"AUTUMN PROUDLOVE"
"Policy Analyst"
"NC Clean Energy Technology Center"
"NC State University"
The post What's the Financial Value of Solar for Residential Customers? (Part 1): Ranking America's 50 Largest Cities appeared first on EnergySage.
The Most Extensive Study Yet Of The UK's Wind Resource, Blows Away Many Myths About Wind Power.
The research, conducted by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute for the DTI, analysed hourly wind speed records collected by the Met Office at 66 locations across the UK since 1970.
The key findings are:
o The UK has the best wind resource in Europe. The recorded capacity factor for onshore wind energy in the UK is 27%, greater even than in Germany (15%) and Denmark (20%) where wind farms are currently most widespread.
o Availability of wind power in the UK is greater at precisely the times that we need it - during peak daytime periods and during the winter.
o The UK wind resource is dependable. The likelihood of low wind speeds affecting 90% of the country would only occur for one hour every five years.
o The chance of wind turbines shutting down due to very high wind speeds is exceedingly rare - high winds affecting 40% or more of the UK would occur in around one hour every 10 years and never affect the whole country.
Graham Sinden, author of the report from the Environmental Change Institute research team said:
"The UK wind resource offers a reliable source of electricity that is not only low carbon, but reduces the UK's reliance on imported fuels.
"By examining such extensive wind records from throughout the UK, we can be very confident that the study identified both long term trends and the most extreme wind conditions the UK will experience."
Many anti-wind farm campaigners persist in saying wind turbines are useless, don't work when needed, and inefficient. This evidence will hopefully finish the argument once and for all (who am I kidding?!).
More: Wind Power and the UK Wind Resource from the Environmental Change Institute
Last week, I wrote that the Sierra Club endorsed John Carney. While it hasn't been formally announced, the Sierra Club has endorsed Chris Coons as well.
The process reveals plenty about the divide between the parties when it comes to the environment. Chris Coons and John Carney earned their endorsements, which are decided by national and local leaders of the organization. As a member of the Sierra Club Delaware Chapter's leadership (I'm vice chair of the executive committee), I proudly voted to support them. But I am profoundly disappointed that their opponents never even bothered to return a questionnaire, despite repeated phone calls and e-mails asking for a response. In fact the only Republican candidate to represent Delaware in Congress who did fill out a questionnaire was Mike Castle.
In short, when it comes to the environment, Christine O'Donnell and Glen Urquhart don't even want to talk about it. You may remember that they both blew off a long-scheduled forum sponsored by most of Delaware's environmental organizations.
This is in sharp contrast with our current congressional delegation, who have made themselves and their staff available to environmental leaders. If O'Donnell and Urquhart don't bother to respond to environmental leaders in the campaign, one can only assume that they would ignore environmental issues if they were elected.
With Christine O'Donnell and Glen Urquhart at the top of the ticket, the Republican Party of Delaware has abandoned its historical interest in the environment. Russ Peterson who was elected governor as a Republican, and served as an environmental advisor to Richard Nixon, switched parties in 1996. Former Congressman Tom Evans, who is now an preservation advocate in Florida, was among the Republicans who endorsed Chris Coons yesterday.
Urquhart today published an op-ed in the "News Journal" that repeated the conservative campaign of misinformation on the economics of renewable energy. He claimed (without citing sources) that climate action would cost families 1,769 a year, 2.3 million jobs, a doubling of utility rates and 7-a-gallon gasoline.
Urquhart sounds like the opponents of wind power who wildly inflated the costs and dismissed the benefits of the Bluewater Wind proposal. He also repeated the rather thin accusation that John Carney improperly tried to get government funding for an enterprise to build the towers for the Bluewater Wind project. I refuted the criticism here and here, and applauded Carney for trying to bring wind power jobs to Delaware.
In his op-ed, Urquhart cites dubious and unsourced statistics about the economic costs of renewable energy, but when presented with the opportunity to weigh in on a tangible business plan, he preferred to attack his opponent and ignored the prospect of real, blue collar jobs at stake.
And speaking of spurious statistics, there is this startling assertion from Christine O'Donnell two years ago:
But only 1 percent of the oil pollution in the sea is the result of oil drilling, while 63 percent is the result of natural seepage on the ocean floor. If Glen Urquhart and Christine O'Donnell wanted to, they could sit down and have a genuine conversation, and perhaps be put at ease about their misinformed objections to environmental protection. But they don't seem to even care, which is another reason why we should send Chris Coons and John Carney to Washington.
