photo from PC World
I mentioned back in April that solar-powered cell phones are coming out this summer. Well, now there’s talk of solar netbooks emerging as well. Spanish producer iUnika will begin to sell its first solar model, Gyy, in (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘efficiency’
More solar progress this summer: laptops
Monday, May 18th, 2009Oil rig count falls, gas price passes $2.30
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
The oil and natural gas rig count fell further last week, falling to just 918 or ~55% below its 2008 peak. This lower drilling activity seems to guarantee lower production within a few weeks that may bring balance to the fuel market. Another development was the price of gasoline passing (more…)
New report shows global emissions likely to fall
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) reported today that they expect global oil demand to fall 2.6 million barrels per day (Mbd) in 2009, .24 Mbd lower than their April forecast. As I wrote last month, falling oil consumption can lead to lower overall global greenhouse gas emissions. And IEA’s prediction of even lower oil demand leads me to believe a 2009 emissions drop is now (more…)
May report: US emissions expected to fall further
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook today. And their projection for 2009 US carbon dioxide emissions from energy fell even further than last month’s. The drop was led by (more…)
Economic Woes Subdue Global Oil Demand Further
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Global GDP forecasts for 2009 fell again this week as news of contraction emerged in recent economic powerhouses such as Australia, Brazil, and even China. And since oil demand is closely linked to economic output, the 2009 forecast is for even lower demand than the EIA projected last month. They now see global oil consumption falling (more…)
May not be sexy-tech, but it sure can help
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
Oak Ridge National Laboratory put out an important report last Fall that you probably didn’t hear about. It’s not on solar, wind, or other sexy renewables technologies. But the technology can pack a great climate mitigation punch at a relatively low cost. It has been around over 100 years and is called co-generation or combined heat and power (CHP). (more…)
Fuel Efficiencies Rising: New Prius Gets 50 mpg
Monday, January 12th, 2009
The Detroit auto show is featuring some great progress in vehicle efficiency. The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid boasts fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Honda will begin selling a larger version of its Insight that will get 40/43 mpg in April. But the king of efficiency remains the Prius, which is introducing a 2010 version within a few months that promises (more…)
In reversal, 4th quarter China carbon emissions fall
Friday, January 9th, 2009
Driven by white-hot economic growth, China carbon dioxide emissions have been increasing at a rate that put fear in the hearts of most climate scientists. But the export-oriented growth of the past several years has imploded on a crash in demand for Chinese products from recession-hit consumers in Japan, the US, and Europe. After years of almost double-digit energy demand growth, (more…)
EIA: September Oil Demand Lowest in 12 Years
Friday, December 12th, 2008
The US Energy Information Agency recently released data that our country’s implied oil demand was at its lowest point since 1996 this past September. The total was 2.6 million barrels per day (Mbd) below last year’s level, a drop of more than 10%! While some of September’s reduction is clearly attributable to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, they also signify an intense (more…)
Obama & Co: Make 2009 Year of Efficiency
Sunday, December 7th, 2008
To face the long-term problem of global warming we need to be rooted in short-term reality. And the reality of the year ahead is a global recession that will make life harder for almost everyone. So, 2009 is an opportunity to utilize the tool that both cuts costs and lowers greenhouse gas emissions – energy efficiency.
I’m as big a fan of solar and wind power as anyone, but (more…)