Here’s a good discussion of what I call the “no free lunch” theory of renewable energy: everything we do, whether it’s solar, wind, hydrokinetics, etc., comes with a non-negligible ecological cost. The issue, obviously, is objectively identifying all costs – ecological, financial, and human (e.g., disease and death stemming from various types of energy generation and consumption), (more…)

The Green Power Hike, which recently took place in Hong Kong, is an annual fundraising event that focuses on environmental conservation and education. It’s a great initiative, but it serves as another reminder of just how inundated my daily life has become by the word “green” and how many different meanings the word has come to adopt. I am beginning to think that (more…)

According to a new study carried out by the English Centre of Economics and Business, traffic congestion in the United Kingdom, Germany and France cost each year up to 18,327 billion euros (around $24 billion). (more…)

In a recently released report, the Annual Energy Outlook 2013 (AEO2013), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected the US energy markets through 2040. Their projections only take into account the effects of policies that have already been implemented in law or final regulations. The EIA found that the growth in energy production has (more…)

Coal could rival oil as the world’s largest energy source within five years as consumption continues to climb in most regions of the world, a trend that could have profound effects on the climate, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.

While coal consumption is expected to decline in the (more…)

Every now and then, an exciting opportunity to experience the world comes by and you just have to say what the heck and toss your hat in the ring. If you are interested in sustainability and in particular the so-called water energy nexus, the opportunity of a lifetime is here.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, taking place (more…)

Needless to say, all of us here in the U.S. are glad that the 2012 election is behind us and that we no longer have to deal with the incredible level of rancor and lies that were embodied in the campaigns. And if you’re asking why I would want to dredge any of that up again, I don’t have a good answer. Having said that, I thought I’d comment on the Romney campaign’s (more…)

Given the failure of international climate negotiations, a tax on carbon consumption is the most effective way of lowering CO2 emissions. If nations are serious about addressing climate change, then they must pay for the carbon pollution caused by what they consume. (more…)

The bubble has burst. The hype and euphoria of 2008 and 2009 is a distant memory. Fueled in part by the externality of the stimulus handouts from the stimulus package, and the (now fleeting) spike of natural gas and oil prices, cleantech has experienced its own mini dotcom era now followed by a dot bomb phase.

The politicization of Solyndra, the fracking revolution (more…)

In recent years, scientists and environmentalists have noted that wasteful human practices and shoddy public infrastructure has led to an unhealthy spike in overall water consumption. To amend this problem, many communities are turning to sustainable construction techniques – and rewarding households that implement them on a regular basis. (more…)