08/03/10
by Frank Zeman
If the summer heat didn’t get you down, odds are you have coal to thank. While green technologies such as wind and solar photovoltaic or even liquefied natural gas are attracting lots of attention, around 50% of U.S. electricity is produced using coal. Unseen to most Americans is the mining associated with producing more than one billion short tons of coal a year as well as the emission of over 90,000 lbs. of mercury. (more…)
05/12/10
by Frank Zeman
After a long winter, sunshine on a warm spring day lifts our spirits. It can also ease the burden on our local energy grids. When we think of solar energy, we are often reminded of electricity-generating photovoltaic panels. There is, however, a more direct use of solar energy—as a means of providing heat and hot water for homes. (more…)
02/10/10
We have slowly come to realize that an uncontrolled discharge of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere may not be sustainable. The rise in CO2 concentrations has been measured for more than fifty years, yet almost 90 percent of the world’s primary energy still is released through the oxidation of fossil carbon. This fact places us at a crossroads. (more…)
10/29/09
We have slowly come to realize that an uncontrolled discharge of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere may not be sustainable. The rise in CO2 concentrations has been measured for more than fifty years, yet almost 90 percent of the world’s primary energy still is released through the oxidation of fossil carbon. (more…)
08/13/09
by Frank Zeman
Is there a more enduring symbol of the natural world than the tree? Through various incarnations, the tree has symbolized life, fertility, strength, and now sustainability. As presented in books such as “Cradle to Cradle,” the tree invokes images of plenty as the center of the ecosystem. It provides beauty, pollen for bees, and ground fertilizer, as well as forage and lodging for animals, all the while anchoring the soil layer and retaining moisture. It’s a seductive image that naturally leads to the idea that nature, and trees in particular, should be the basis for our sustainable future.
