The growing Texas solar industry is offering jobs to unemployed oil and gas professionals. King Lawrence / Getty Images
The growing Texas solar industry is offering a safe harbor to unemployed oil and gas professionals amidst the latest oil and gas industry bust, this one brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Houston Chronicle reports.
<p>With the fracking sector in turmoil, many workers are looking to apply their skills — from construction to negotiating land use agreements — to the solar industry. </p><p>"No question, we are getting workers moving over from oil and gas," Kevin Smith, Lighthouse BP's CEO in the Americas, said. "A lot of the oil and gas skills are applicable to solar." </p><p>Renewables are the fastest-growing energy sector in the country and Texas' topography, climate, and grid make it an attractive market for solar energy. </p><p>"Clean energy is growing and growing fast in Texas... This is where the jobs are going to be and where the economy is heading," Raj Prahbu, CEO of the Austin-based research firm Mercom Capital Group, told the Chronicle. </p><p>"If you're not going to make the shift, you're going to be left behind."</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Solar-offered-out-of-work-oil-landmen-place-to-15886138.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=107659709&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jGRDk_B6Ji8TgYYD-MiYVUNnHjTwLHlnNpLk6rmBmQFRGCUHSVTG82fadaE-2OlB8gfDMBmrml1xmlhwOKVNfEzz38NIXpkL088Kq9hB3TbYdl-E&utm_content=107659709&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>
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Workers install solar panels on a house near downtown Oakland, California. Grid Alternatives
By Galen Barbose, Eric O'Shaughnessy and Ryan Wiser
Until recently, rooftop solar panels were a clean energy technology that only wealthy Americans could afford. But prices have dropped, thanks mostly to falling costs for hardware, as well as price declines for installation and other "soft" costs.
<p>Today hundreds of thousands of middle-class households across the U.S. are turning to <a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/tracking-the-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">solar power</a>. But households with incomes below the median for their areas remain less likely to go solar. These low- and moderate-income households face several roadblocks to solar adoption, including cash constraints, low rates of home ownership and language barriers.</p><p>Our <a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/publications/income-trends-among-us-residential" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">team of researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> examined how various policies and business models could affect the likelihood of people at all income levels adopting solar. In a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-00724-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently published study</a>, we analyzed five common solar policies and business models to see whether they attracted lower-income households.</p><p>We found that three scenarios did: offering financial incentives to low- and moderate-income households; leasing solar panels to homeowners; and lending money to buy panels, with the loan repaid on property tax bills. All of these approaches resulted in people at a wider range of income levels trying solar energy.</p>
<h2>Solar Power for Everyone</h2><p>For over a decade our team at the Berkeley lab's <a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electricity Markets and Policy group</a> has kept tabs on trends in the rooftop solar market through our annual report, "<a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/tracking-the-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tracking the Sun</a>." It documents how prices have fallen, and the number of installations has risen in U.S. solar markets.</p><p>Over the past decade rooftop solar power has grown significantly in the U.S., spreading beyond initial hot spots in California and Hawaii to states such as <a href="https://www.seia.org/research-resources/top-10-solar-states-0" target="_blank">North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey</a>. The industry projects that rapid growth will continue for the foreseeable future.</p>
<img
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data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUwMTU2OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzgyMTgyMH0.sNBN6gsNwzI9biagSAiT0Ey04xGoJb0dvnzsueOD0lc/img.png?width=980"
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Chart: The Conversation, CC BY-ND. Source: Barbose et al., 2020. Get the data
<p>More recently our researchers have combined this tracking report with data on household-level demographics and income of solar adopters, covering more than 70% of the U.S. residential solar market. Among the research products we've created is an <a href="https://solardemographics.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online interactive tool</a> that shows the demographic characteristics of solar adoption <a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/projects/solar-demographics-trends-and-analysis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">down to the county level</a>.</p><p>Thanks to these price and growth trends, an increasing number of state and local governments, utilities and businesses want to help lower-income customers go solar. They believe solar will cut energy bills, reduce money spent on bill payment programs, avoid pollution and create green jobs.</p><p>So far, 20 states are offering 38 programs to help lower-income customers go solar. California, the largest, has budgeted over US$1 billion for such programs. A number of utilities and solar developers, like <a href="https://www.posigen.com/" target="_blank">Posigen</a> and <a href="https://gridalternatives.org/" target="_blank">GRID Alternatives</a>, are also developing business models that work for all customers. These initiatives leverage state and federal incentives to deliver free or very low-cost solar to eligible households.</p>
<div id="1fd16" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="81c311df8ff44e84e6820ee7f5f86489"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318076805048393728" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Donnel Baird's company makes energy-saving updates to buildings almost exclusively in low-income areas. Cutting the… https://t.co/5uWGSVnu9m</div> — NPR (@NPR)<a href="https://twitter.com/NPR/statuses/1318076805048393728">1603088973.0</a></blockquote></div>
<h2>Reducing Upfront Costs</h2><p>In our study we evaluated five policies and business models to see which ones helped low- and moderate-income households go solar:</p><ul><li>Financial incentives targeted at low- and moderate-income households, usually rebates or other incentives to reduce upfront costs.</li><li>Leasing rooftop solar systems, which reduces upfront costs.</li><li>Property Assessed Clean Energy financing, or PACE, which allows customers to finance energy improvements through their property tax payments. Currently, residential PACE is available only in California, Florida and Missouri.</li><li>Financial incentives such as rebates offered to customers of any income level.</li><li>"Solarize" campaigns, in which customers band together in a group purchase to get a good price.</li></ul><p>The study includes data on more than 1 million residential rooftop photovoltaic systems installed on single-family homes in 18 states from 2010 to 2018. We compared modeled household-level income estimates for solar adopters with area median household incomes from U.S. Census data.</p><p>We found that three of the interventions – targeted incentives, leasing and PACE – effectively increased adoption equity. These approaches are boosting sales to low-income customers in existing markets and helping solar companies move into new markets, such as low-income areas where solar sales have been weak or absent.</p><p>Policies that don't address the needs and constraints of low-income households, like the federal income tax credit, have not had much effect on equity. And solarize campaigns are rarely pitched to low-income buyers.</p>
<h2>An Untapped Customer Base</h2><p>When solar expands into new markets and neighborhoods, it can have a spillover impact. If a system is installed in a neighborhood that had no solar before, neighbors who see it will be more likely to adopt it themselves. Moving into new markets may have greater potential effects on low-income adoption rates than reaching lower-income households in existing markets.</p><p>Expanding sales to low- and moderate-income households can also tap a larger base of potential customers. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) found in a study that <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy18osti/70901.pdf" target="_blank">42% of rooftops</a> where solar power could work are on low- and moderate-income housing.</p>
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A 2018 study estimates that installing rooftop solar systems on low- and moderate-income housing could provide up to 42% of all rooftop technical potential in the residential sector and improve energy affordability in low-income communities. NREL
<p>As the solar market grows, decisions to install solar systems are increasingly driven by the prospect of saving money, rather than strictly by green values or buyers' interest in new technologies. A survey led by NREL found that roughly half of people who decided to install solar in California, New Jersey, New York and Arizona in 2014 to 2016 <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/solar/seeds/2014-2016-study.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">identified cost savings as a primary factor in their decision to adopt solar</a>.</p><p>For low- and moderate-income households, the financial benefits of solar power can make a big difference. Many lower-income households carry a large energy burden, meaning that energy and utility costs consume a large share of their income. Across the U.S., low-income households <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-0582-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spend about three times more of their income on energy costs</a> than other households. Solar power can reduce those energy burdens by providing on-site power at a lower cost than grid electricity.</p><p>Making homes more energy efficient is an established strategy for cutting energy bills, but there's growing interest in having solar play a role. Deploying solar power for low- and moderate-income households can be a way to fulfill policy and social goals like creating jobs and improving the environment.</p><p><em>The study described in this article was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office.</em></p>
<p>
<em>Galen Barbose is a research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.<br/>
</em><em>Eric O'Shaughnessy is a research consultant at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.<br/>
</em><em>Ryan Wiser is a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Disclosure statements: Eric O'Shaughnessy is a renewable energy research analyst at Clean Kilowatts, LLC. Ryan Wiser is a board member of the Clean Energy States Alliance. </em><em>Galen Barbose does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/cheaper-solar-power-means-low-income-families-can-also-benefit-with-the-right-kind-of-help-151907" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
</p><script async="async" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/151907/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" type="text/javascript"></script>From Your Site Articles
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Delta-8 THC is a cannabis product that has become a bestseller over the past few months, as many consumers find they can legally purchase it from CBD retailers. Its proponents say that Delta-8 THC will give you a nice little buzz, minus some of the more intense feelings (including paranoia) that are sometimes associated with marijuana.
Delta-8 THC is being marketed as a legal option for consumers who either don't live in a state with legal cannabis, or are a little apprehensive about how traditional psychoactive THC products will affect them. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Let's take a closer look, exploring what Delta-8 THC is, how it differs from other THC products, and whether it's actually legal for use.
<h2>What is Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>To better understand <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/health/marijuana-hemp-delta-8-thc.html" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a>, it helps to cover some basics about THC and cannabis.</p><p>Cannabis plants come chock full of different <a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cannabis-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>cannabinoids</em></a>. These are naturally-occuring chemical compounds that bind with receptors throughout your body. They can offer a wide range of mental, emotional, and physical effects; indeed, the healing and therapeutic properties marijuana or <a data-linked-post="2648563694" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/strongest-cbd-oil-2648563694.html" target="_blank">CBD products</a> offer can be attributed to cannabinoids.</p><p>One of the most common cannabinoids is what's known as Delta-9 THC. Simply put, this is the part of marijuana that gets you "high." It's worth noting that Delta-9 THC remains illegal in many states, except for in the most minute doses, and is still illegal at the federal level. CBD products are made with trace amounts of THC, ensuring that consumers can enjoy positive health effects in a perfectly legal way, without the risk of getting high.</p><p>On a chemical level, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/health/marijuana-hemp-delta-8-thc.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a> is not too different from Delta-9 THC; the distinction comes down to just a few molecules. But those molecules make a big practical impact: Delta-8 THC will give you a buzz, but the psychoactive effects are considerably milder than with Delta-9 THC.</p><p>More specifically, many cannabis enthusiasts report that Delta-8 THC helps them feel good but also leaves them relatively clear-headed; and, it doesn't produce the anxiety or jitteriness that often characterize a Delta-9 THC high.</p><p>Additionally, because of the way the law is written regarding Delta-9 THC, some CBD companies now sell Delta-8 THC products in places where traditional cannabis is still illegal.</p><h2>What's the Difference Between Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>Here are the primary differences to note between Delta-9 and Delta-8 THC:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. In other words, it's the part that gets you high.</li><li>Though some states have found workarounds, Delta-9 THC is still illegal under federal law.</li><li>Delta-8 THC is also found in the cannabis plant, though it's not quite as powerful or as well-known. </li><li>Delta-8 THC is milder in its psychoactive effects. And, it's not <em>technically </em>illegal under current law.</li></ul><p>These are just a few of the key distinctions to keep in mind. Delta-8 THC is popular among consumers who want a smoother high, and don't want to violate federal law.</p><h2>Is Delta-8 THC Legal?</h2><p>We noted that Delta-8 THC is not <em>technically </em>illegal. Here, we need to get into some of the nuanced legal considerations that surround this substance.</p><p>First of all, there are plenty of cannabis companies that actively promote Delta-8 THC as a legal way to get high. Again, that's technically true, but is still a point of debate for some.</p><p>For one thing, it's not explicitly listed as an illegal substance. While federal laws, and some state laws, specifically ban Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC is never mentioned. More to the point, though, many proponents will cite the<a href="https://www.usda.gov/farmbill" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 2018 Farm Bill</a>. This law legalized several industrial hemp products on a national level, including CBD.</p><p>The Farm Bill also includes some fairly nuanced positions regarding THC. In summary, the law says that hemp and cannabis-derived products are legal so long as they contain less than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC.</p><p>With that said, some lawyers contend that Delta-8's heyday may soon come to an end. That's because the Farm Bill clears it only so long as it's derived directly from hemp; most of the Delta-8 THC products sold today aren't made from hemp, but rather from synthetically-altered CBD.</p><p>Some of these issues are a little fuzzy, and <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/delta-8-thc-legal-weed-explained-1113859/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the legal future of Delta-8 THC</a> remains a little uncertain. For now, though, many experts would argue that it is legal to purchase.</p><h2>What Kinds of Delta-8 THC Products Are Available?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><p>If you're looking to try Delta-8 THC products, you'll certainly find plenty of different products. Dispensaries and legal cannabis stores currently have a trove of products that use this cannabinoid. Some examples include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Vape cartridges, tinctures, and capsules.</li><li>Beverages made with Delta-8 THC, including some seltzers.</li><li>Edibles, including Delta-8 THC gummy bears, chocolate bars, and more.</li></ul><p>The cannabis industry has really been running with Delta-8 THC, finding creative ways to bring it to market. And chances are, even more products will be springing up in the weeks and months to come. </p><p>It's very important to note that you should only purchase Delta-8 THC products from reputable brands and established cannabis retailers. We do not recommend purchasing any products that contain Delta-8 THC from gas stations or vape shops. If you are looking for a reputable place to explore these products, here are a few brands that we trust and recommend:</p>
<h2>What are the Pros and Cons of Delta-8 THC?</h2><p>As you consider whether Delta-8 THC is worth your time, it may be helpful to weigh the pros against the cons.</p><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><p>Let's start with some of the positives:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-8 THC does have psychoactive effects, but it's a milder effect than with traditional Delta-9 THC.</li><li>Delta-8 THC is currently legal and widely accessible in multiple states.</li><li>There are a wide number of products that use Delta-8 THC.</li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><p>Now, a few of the downsides.</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Delta-8 THC isn't quite as commonplace as other cannabis products, including CBD, and some of the options on the market are expensive.</li><li>While this substance is technically legal, there are plenty of uncertainties over its legal future. It's something you want to keep in mind.</li><li>As a relatively new product, Delta-8 THC products are not regulated by the FDA and there is not independent testing in place to verify that it is safe or pure.</li></ul><p>As with any cannabis product, Delta-8 THC has its pros and cons. As you seek the cannabis product that's best for you, it's largely a matter of personal preference.</p><p>Also note that smoking, vaping, or otherwise imbibing any kind of cannabis-related product can carry some medical risks and negative health consequences. If you have any specific concerns, we recommend consulting with your doctor before you try any Delta-8 THC product.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst </strong></em><em>is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. He covers natural health, nutrition, supplements, and clean energy. His writing has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.botanyfarms.com/product/delta-10-thc-vape-cartridge/?aff=14" target="_blank">Botany Farms Delta-10 THC Vape Cartridge</a> actually contains both Delta-10 and Delta-8 THC.This is designed to provide the desired effects of Delta-8 THC but without the drowsiness. They also offer a vape cartridge with a 1:1 concentration of <a href="https://www.botanyfarms.com/product/delta-10-delta-8-thc-vape-cartridge/?aff=14" target="_blank">Delta-8 THC</a> and Delta-10 THC. Note that while vape products can be used to aid in smoking cessation, we do not recommend vaping or smoking because of the negative health effects they can cause.</p>
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The Parc del Fòrum, a public open space with a massive solar panel in Barcelona, Spain. Enrique Díaz / 7cero / Getty Images
By Francesco Starace and Jean-Pascal Tricoire
Why is it so important to decarbonize cities? And how can we do it?
<p>The first question is easy to answer: The cities in which more than half of us live account for nearly two-thirds of the CO2 emissions that lie at the root of our planet's looming <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a>. Skyscrapers in megalopolises, shopping malls, SUVs in the streets, air conditioners in a growing number of places throughout the globe – all consume a vast amount of high CO2-content energy.</p><p>The answer to the second question is to take an integrated approach: leveraging clean electrification and digital technology to harmonize urban energy systems, while also thinking beyond individual projects to consider their impact within the surrounding communities and the built environment.</p>
<p>In fact, urban energy, transport and building infrastructures are gradually becoming greener: There are <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020" target="_blank">more electric vehicles on city streets</a>, better water treatment and recycling schemes, and more <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> panels on rooftops around the globe. According to <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2020?utm_content=buffer061dd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin-Birol&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">International Energy Agency estimates</a>, renewables like solar and wind are set to become the largest source of electricity generation worldwide by 2025, supplying one-third of the world's electricity and ending coal's decades-long dominance of the global power mix.</p><p>All this is, of course, welcome.</p><p>But with climate change accelerating, we need more comprehensive decarbonization actions on three fronts. First, we need even more energy to come from <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable</a> sources. Second, we need more cars, heating and other activity to be powered by clean electricity. Third, we need everything from factories, to office buildings, homes, transport systems and consumer devices to become more energy-efficient.</p>
<p>This third lever might not as headline-grabbing as the rise of solar panels or electric vehicles. But it is a big piece of the decarbonization puzzle, with an even larger potential enabled by digital technologies.</p><p>Consider, for example, the technologies that make buildings more energy-efficient, by automatically adapting the amount of cooling, heating or lighting to occupancy levels at any given moment. Or digital tools that allow the operators of a manufacturing site in Sweden or a public utility in India to run their operations or distribution systems more efficiently and even remotely, rather than in person (a feature that has proved critical in these times of social distancing and lockdowns).</p>
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<p>Imagine how much more we could achieve if we digitally integrate ultra-efficient buildings, public services – e.g. transport or lighting – and electric vehicle charging stations into a wider, highly efficient urban system, delivering better quality services for citizens and accompanying benefits such as local job creation, health, and well-being. Integration and interaction between assets are the key to disrupt the traditional equation of energy and efficiency in cities. An EV battery can store power not only for just one car, but, while a car is not in use, also for the surrounding community thanks to smart-charging infrastructures. Excess power generated by an office building's or warehouse's rooftop solar panels might be used to help power the wider neighborhood.</p>
<p>The technologies, digital tools and data analytics capabilities to enable this efficient urban system already exist, as do concrete examples of such an integrated approach. Therefore, integration and collaboration of systems and stakeholders are the fundamental drivers to accelerate and scale the transition in cities.</p><p>Integration of energy, buildings and mobility requires cross-cutting industry collaboration, ranging from utilities and real estate, to technology companies and financial institutions. City- and state-level administration can enable and facilitate such collaboration through public-private cooperation. The public sector can drive on governance, policy and licensing, while the private sector provides agility, technology and resources. This cooperation can share and balance risks and liability between stakeholders for mutual gains and value creation for the broader community.</p>
<p>All of this comes against a backdrop of great urgency. Epidemics, climate and economic pain have all created unique challenges in 2020. But combating climate change must remain top of mind. Cities lie at the heart of this fight and have now the chance to build back better. We have joined the World Economic Forum in the effort to promote dialogue and mobilize action together with a group of global leaders. As co-chairs of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/projects/systemic-efficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Net Zero Carbon Cities initiative</a>, our ambition is to accelerate a sustainable transition in cities, supporting mayors in creating value for their communities. It is up to all of us to ensure we become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/cities-climate-decarbonize-integrated/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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IKEA has partnered with Vox Creative and tiny home builder Escape to create a sustainable tiny house on wheels. Josiah And Steph Photography
Furniture giant IKEA collaborated with Vox Creative and tiny home builder Escape to produce a tiny house on wheels that could inspire environmental- and climate-friendly changes in the housing industry.
<p>"It was a natural pairing," Escape founder Dan Dobrowolski told <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/ikea-tiny-home-project" target="_blank">Lonely Planet</a>. "We feature many IKEA products in our various tiny home designs around the country as they mirror the renewable, reusable and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/recycling" target="_self">recycled</a> materials we incorporate into the actual structures."</p><p>According to IKEA, the project's goal is to prove "that anyone, anywhere can live a more <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability" target="_self">sustainable</a> life," reported <a href="https://www.greenmatters.com/p/tiny-home-ikea?gm&fbclid=IwAR2rnTfIkXVQmPP1Vpt-uO05nxDzS7s6bY8PwGHP45TnC-piTL5kTcYKr0M" target="_blank">Green Matters</a>. As such, the model IKEA Tiny Home Project was created with that purpose in mind.</p><p>The entire trailer unit is a 187-square-foot model filled with IKEA furniture, topped with roof solar panels and stocked with an on-demand RV water heater, <a href="https://www.dwell.com/article/ikea-tiny-home-project-escape-923a72be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dwell</a> reported. According to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ikea-tiny-homes-can-help-fight-climate-change-giving-small-ncna1252431" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NBC</a>, it runs on electric and allows for off-the-grid living. The tiny building also emits zero pollution, including carbon. In fact, the only emissions come from the trailer being towed.</p>
<p>Manufactured structures are usually less wasteful than on-site constructions, according to <a href="https://pebblemag.com/magazine/living/modular-homes-ecofriendly-reasons" target="_blank">Pebble Magazine</a>. The interior's whitewashed panels are made from sustainably grown pine, reported <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/ikea-tiny-home-project-escape-vista-boho-xl" target="_blank">Travel + Leisure</a>, while the kitchen cupboards are made from recycled bottle tops. There is also a compostable toilet and a collapsible desk/kitchen table, Lonely Planet shared.</p><p> Abbey Stark, IKEA senior interior design leader, told Lonely Planet that she prioritized renewable, reusable and recycled materials to make the space "functional as well as beautiful." Stark designed the space as an IKEA show home with sustainable, multifunctional, space-saving and energy-efficient products, Lonely Planet reported.</p><p>The entire build took less than 60 days to complete and models start at $47,550, Travel + Leisure reported. Curbed created a <a href="https://archive.curbed.com/ad/21417721/virtual-tour-ikea-tiny-home-sustainability" target="_blank">virtual tour</a> showcasing the eco-conscious and stylish elements.</p>
<p>If the tiny house trend becomes even more popular through new, sustainable projects like IKEA's, it could help curb climate pollution from the housing industry. Currently, the sector accounts for about five percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., not counting electricity, reported NBC.</p><p>Some skeptics note that smaller houses won't tackle the biggest climate threat from construction: concrete. The very qualities that make concrete a desirable construction material (non-modular form; low-labor requirements; capacity to be shaped) make it non-reusable and unsustainable, NBC reported. While projects like the tiny house might use more renewable materials, large structures like bridges, ports, roads and factories still use concrete.</p><p>Even so, the push toward <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tiny-house-eco-friendly-2639728847.html" target="_self">smaller, more sustainable housing</a> is leading to environmental shifts. Green Matters reported that tiny homes typically reduced energy consumption by about 45 percent and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tiny-homes-eco-friendly-2634222368.html">prompted owners to behave more sustainably</a> by growing their own crops, reducing consumption and recycling more.</p><p>"We built a sustainable tiny home from the ground up to better educate and inspire consumers to bring sustainability into their own lives," IKEA said, reported Green Matters. The company hopes the project will "[generate] awareness of the tiny home and [illustrate] the big impact that small, daily decisions can make for a better, more sustainable world."</p>
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An electric trolley is seen in San Francisco, California, and is an example of renewable infrastructure. Robert Alexander / Getty Images
A new report from Princeton University released yesterday details five pathways for achieving net zero emissions in the U.S. by 2050, with "priority actions" the U.S. should take before 2030.
<p>A highlight across all pathways is total or near total electrification of energy use across the U.S. economy. </p><p>Additional recommendations include building a significant amount of new energy infrastructure, increasing wind and solar generating capacity, expanding the nation's electric grid, and transitioning homes off natural gas. </p><p>The research puts the price tag of this near-term action at $2.5 trillion, but calculates it will create at least half a million jobs and save tens of thousands of lives. </p><p>The report also identifies several pitfalls the transition could face, including local opposition to land-use for renewable infrastructure and a lack of public support for electric cars and homes. </p><p>"The costs are affordable, the tool kit is there, but the scale of transformation across the country is significant," said Jesse Jenkins, a Princeton professor and lead author of the report.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/climate/america-next-decade-climate.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=103219174&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9vzIPSABi2ZWdEdGo15AmEWXz6DgWIZvZrrWcVO5KJ6FkSwwiE1ePlD4NBsFt4cwpnGjV_9a7OLYBYQuIpD8VY_7rSZGM7uuZeQkNP5gq-xCPaE9I&utm_content=103219174&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/12/15/biden-wants-halt-all-us-climate-emissions-by-2050-heres-what-that-would-actually-take/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=103219174&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9oBoztvBfUWODxXpsJeUADXpLLxOPl4QNnvcsMVzCYSn_sKIpAK1I1_0_qwO8RphqlgQh0ymzxJe6qEdFXAmz-6iSZzCubwz_mVCIsyDGkEwlVJVQ&utm_content=103219174&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.axios.com/net-zero-emissions-2050-study-19a44074-4b88-4ce8-804a-74898eb3f0a0.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=103219174&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Vfl0jNmqcTq7LO2qV_Az1E8C3GLFVwaELgUEPpml1MDSz_6b25Yvpay75sbNZTFfIF67haJA2s3nEOjXLCnEsrcnk2VC1kHsLehGSALTi0cTXeyo&utm_content=103219174&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Axios</a>, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/getting-the-u-s-to-zero-carbon-would-cost-2-5-trillion-by-2030?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=103219174&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--K__qcAzI1hFRNmpt_85pInviMgailOLxvIQGtcqF9sFMZghM8rO1AFjqXewktb0Wk06QKzRwdfEX4u3qog7RD5bcu5emn0Ajw4MfyJlPtX0S0sko&utm_content=103219174&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Bloomberg </a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Wind turbines are seen in Palm Springs, California. Mint Images / Getty Images
By Tara Lohan
How much of U.S. energy demand could be met by renewable sources?
According to a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the answer is an easy 100%.
<p>The report looked at <a href="https://cdn.ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/report-ESRS-2020-ilsr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">how much renewable energy potential</a> each state had within its own borders and found that almost every state could deliver all its electricity needs from instate renewable sources.</p><p>And that's just a start: The report found that there's so much potential for renewable energy sourcing, some states could produce <em>10 times</em> the electricity they need. Cost remains an issue, as does connecting all of this capacity to the grid, but prices have dropped significantly, and efficiency continues to improve. Clean energy is not only affordable but could be a big boost to the economy. Locally sourced renewables create jobs, reduce pollution, and make communities more climate resilient.</p><p>So where are the opportunities? Rooftop solar, the study found, could supply six states with at least half of their electricity needs. But wind had the greatest potential. For 35 states, onshore wind alone could supply 100% of their energy demand, and offshore wind could do the same in 21 states. (The numbers overlap a bit.)</p><p>The study follows a similar report conducted a decade ago and shows that the clean energy field has made substantial progress in that time.</p><p><em>The Revelator </em>spoke with Maria McCoy, a research associate at the Institute and report co-author, about what's changed and how to turn all the potential into reality.</p>
<p><strong>What's changed in the 10 years since you last looked at the potential for instate renewable energy?</strong></p><p><strong></strong>There's definitely been technology improvements in all the energy sources, but especially solar. Obviously there's the same amount of sun, but the solar panels themselves have a higher percentage of solar photovoltaic efficiency. Most states, on average, had 16% more solar potential this time around than they did a decade ago.</p><p>And for the other technologies, it's a matter of either more space being available or the technologies themselves improving. Wind turbines now can generate a lot more energy with the same amount of wind.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>Where do you see the most potential?</strong></p><p>There's been a lot of development in offshore wind and I think it's on the cusp of really becoming a big player in the clean energy field. But regulations, including at the federal level, have blocked it from happening at scale in the United States. Whereas in Europe there's already some incredibly efficient offshore wind farms that are generating a lot of electricity. Those companies are just starting to move into the U.S. market.</p><p>But it's onshore wind that has the biggest potential. Our research found that some states could generate over 1,000% of their energy with onshore wind if they really took advantage of it.</p><p><strong>Your report didn't consider the potential of large-scale solar. Why?</strong></p><p>We looked at the potential of rooftop solar rather than large-scale solar because as an energy democracy organization, we're really focused on distributed and community-owned energy. But it's also because pretty much every state has enough capacity to completely be powered by large-scale solar. It just then becomes an issue of land-usage debates and other challenges.</p><p>Your research shows there's a ton of potential for renewables across the country. How do we realize that potential?</p>
<img
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data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDc5NzI5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NjMxMDYzNX0._Oq06wG8cPRIgogtnKqr4_dSk8cok64mwEpOD3H8an0/img.jpg?width=980"
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Graphic: ILSR, Energy Self-Reliant States 2020
<p>Continued support for renewable energy is a big one. There are a lot of credits that are phasing out and without renewing those, it will make it a little bit tougher for the market.</p><p>We were looking at just the technical ability to produce the energy and not necessarily the cost effectiveness, but we did recognize in the report that the costs have come down. The cost of solar PV, for example, has dropped 70%. So this is not really a pie-in-the-sky goal. It's definitely gotten a lot more feasible and many cities are already doing it or planning to in the near future.</p><p>I think the will is there and people want renewable energy, it's just a matter of fighting the status quo. A lot of these utilities have been using the same business model for decades and they're not really keeping up with where things are going and where the community wants things to go.</p><p>They're holding on to their fossil fuel infrastructure and their business model that profits off building more fossil gas plants when solar plus storage is already a cheaper energy source for customers. And wind is very cheap. If utility regulators and state and national policy could hold these utilities accountable to serving the public, which is their job as regulated monopolies, we could finally get to see some of this potential becoming a reality.</p><p>Having the ability to generate energy locally and store it and use it locally will create jobs and provide a lot of resilience to the grid and communities. And with climate change, I think that's becoming more and more important.</p>
<p><strong>Was there anything that surprised you about your findings?</strong></p><p>We definitely expected things to be better but I don't know if we expected them to be this much better in 10 years. Seeing all this potential and these ridiculously high percentages — I mean, being able to generate greater than 1,000% of the electricity we need with renewables in some states is just a sign of how abundant clean energy is.</p><p>And it's kind of sad, I guess, that some states aren't even able to get to 25% or 50% clean energy goals in their renewable portfolio standards. I would hope that the train starts rolling a little faster.</p><p>And I hope our research can inspire others who think maybe their state doesn't have a lot of renewable energy capacity in their area to realize that they do, and it could provide for all that they need and more.</p>
<p><a href="https://therevelator.org/author/taralohan/" target="_blank"><em>Tara Lohan </em></a><em>is deputy editor of The Revelator and has worked for more than a decade as a digital editor and environmental journalist focused on the intersections of energy, water and climate. Her work has been published by The Nation, American Prospect, High Country News, Grist, Pacific Standard and others. She is the editor of two books on the global water crisis. </em><em><em></em></em></p><p><em><em><a href="http://twitter.com/TaraLohan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a></em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/instate-renewable-potential/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission delivered a victory to supporters of renewables by rejecting an April petition from the New England Ratepayers Association calling for federal rather than local jurisdiction over solar net-metering policies. Gray Watson / Wikimedia Commons / CC by 3.0
By Jessica Corbett
Federal regulators on Thursday released a pair of decisions expected to impact the expansion of renewable power nationwide—one that was celebrated by environmentalists and clean energy advocates as a crucial win and another that critics warned "could lead to more pollution by propping up fossil fuel power plants."
<p>The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) delivered a victory to supporters of renewables by <a href="https://twitter.com/FERChatterjee/status/1283772536073969664" target="_blank">rejecting </a>an April petition from the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) calling for federal rather than local jurisdiction over solar net-metering policies, which had <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/solar-fight-heats-up-as-u-s-set-to-rule-on-rooftop-mandates" target="_blank">provoked</a> strong condemnation from a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers, solar investors, and hundreds of advocacy groups.</p><p>As Public Citizen <a href="https://www.citizen.org/news/public-citizen-unmasks-suspect-ratepayer-group-aiming-to-disrupt-u-s-solar-policy/" target="_blank">explained</a> last month:</p><blockquote>Net-metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar power generators for the electricity they add to the grid. It is a crucial component of rooftop solar project financing because it makes solar energy systems affordable for small businesses and families through energy credits for the solar power they generate. The NERA petition would grant FERC sole jurisdiction to govern such programs through the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act [PURPA] or Federal Power Act.<br></blockquote>
<p>Public Citizen, the Center for Biological Diversity, and over 450 other environmental, faith, and consumer groups <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/06/15/support-urgently-needed-clean-and-just-energy-transition-450-groups-demand-federal" target="_blank">sent</a> a letter to FERC in June arguing that "state net-metering policies and distributed solar systems are foundational to achieving the nation's urgently needed clean and just energy transition—to address historical environmental injustices, fight the climate emergency, and ensure long-term resilience."</p><p>Howard Crystal, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity's energy justice program, authored a <a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/legal-intervention-fights-shadowy-organizations-effort-to-gut-solar-net-metering-2020-06-11/email_view/" target="_blank">legal intervention</a> filed with FERC regarding the petition. In a statement Thursday, he welcomed the Republican-led commission's rejection of the NERA proposal.</p><p>"This is a big win for our climate and for communities embracing clean solar power," Crystal said. "FERC's unanimous ruling ensures that states can keep appropriately compensating people who install rooftop solar. That allows community solar and other distributed renewables to continue playing a critical role in the urgent transition to clean energy."</p>
<p>Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, <a href="https://www.seia.org/news/ferc-makes-right-decision-dismisses-misguided-net-metering-petition" target="_blank">applauded</a> the panel's dismissal of the "flawed petition" in a statement that highlighted the solar industry's record on job creation and contributions to the U.S. economy.</p><p>"Our industry holds great promise to help create jobs and revive local economies," she said. "We are grateful to the state utility commissions and many other partners who strongly opposed this petition. We will continue working in the states to strengthen net metering policies to generate more jobs and investment and we will advocate for fair treatment of solar at FERC where it has jurisdiction."</p><p>Tom Rutigliano, an advocate in the Sustainable FERC Project, which is housed at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), similarly <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/media/2020/200716-1" target="_blank">welcomed</a> the decision, saying that "FERC did one thing right today in rejecting the outrageous petition that would have upended the ability of rooftop solar owners to get a fair price for the excess electricity they generate."</p>
<p>However, Rutigliano expressed concern about the panel's vote to overhaul PURPA, which is more than 40 years old and has been key to renewable energy growth across the country. As he put it: "Instead of promoting small, clean generation, FERC is undercutting the ability of solar and wind power to get a fair chance to compete."</p><p>Noting that "utilities have long sought changes to the law" over cost concerns while solar and wind developers say it "is critical to giving renewables a leg up in states that aren't green-leaning," <em>Bloomberg</em> <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/markets/landmark-rule-that-spurred-us-solar-wind-growth-overhauled/ar-BB16Pn2b" target="_blank">reported</a> Thursday that the panel</p><blockquote>reduced the mandatory purchase obligation for utilities to five megawatts from 20 megawatts in some markets, and gave states more authority to set the price at which small generators sell their power. The "one-mile rule," which determines whether generation facilities should be considered to be part of a single facility, was also changed. The agency will now require that qualifying facilities demonstrate commercial viability.<br></blockquote>
<blockquote>...<br>Commissioner Richard Glick, the lone Democrat on the panel, dissented in part but said that the changes would benefit consumers. "Under the old regime, customers were overpaying for power they were receiving" to the tune of $2.2 billion to $3.9 billion, he said.<br></blockquote><p>Rutigliano warned that "homeowners putting solar panels on their roof, farmers leasing their land to wind turbines, and industrial facilities with efficient on-site power all lose under FERC's rule today."</p><p>"FERC is pushing the nation to use more fossil fuels," he said, "just when it should be doing everything it can to support clean power."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/07/16/big-win-our-climate-and-communities-federal-panel-rejects-attack-rooftop-solar-us?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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IEA: Renewables on Track to Become Largest Source of Global Electricity in Five Years
11 November 2020
Energy
A wind farm is seen on a mountaintop in China. zhongguo / Getty Images
By Andrea Germanos
The International Energy Agency on Tuesday laid out how clean energy is booming in the face of the coronavirus crisis, revealing that auctioned renewable capacity from January to October was a record-breaking 15% higher than the same period last year.
The Paris-based agency's Renewables 2020 report comes as the oil sector faces plummeting prices amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
<div id="6faff" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="72fbe413d6995d807af0d104335d452d"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1326166601297784833" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">In the next five years, renewables are set to become the largest source of electricity ⚡️ generation worldwide - en… https://t.co/qSlN8VmOwD</div> — IEA (@IEA)<a href="https://twitter.com/IEA/statuses/1326166601297784833">1605017731.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Net installed renewable capacity is forecast to grow by nearly 4% globally in 2020, and renewables will account for almost 90% of the increase in total power capacity worldwide, according to the IEA.</p><p>Looking further ahead, "total installed wind and solar PV capacity is on course to surpass natural gas in 2023 and coal in 2024," the report says.</p><p><em>Carbon Brief</em>, in <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/iea-wind-and-solar-capacity-will-overtake-both-gas-and-coal-globally-by-2024" target="_blank">its analysis</a> of the agency's report, noted that "wind and solar capacity will double over the next five years globally and exceed that of both gas and coal." The outlet added:</p><blockquote>Last year, <em><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-renewables-could-match-coal-power-within-5-years-iea-reveals" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carbon Brief</a></em> analysis of the IEA's data found that it only expected renewables to overtake coal output over the next five years under its more optimistic "accelerated case" scenario.<br><br>However, this year—even in its less ambitious "main case" scenario—wind, solar, hydro, and biomass are projected to take the lead within the next five years.<br></blockquote>
<p>"Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while others fuels struggle," IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in statement.</p><p>"The resilience and positive prospects of the sector are clearly reflected by continued strong appetite from investors—and the future looks even brighter with new capacity additions on course to set fresh records this year and next," Birol said.</p>
<div id="9dbbf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="85cf7d7e43a53cc4e5ea4641eaf7dadc"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1326209281931276289" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">China 🇨🇳 & the United States 🇺🇸 are propelling 🌍 renewable power capacity to new heights in 2020. Even stronger gro… https://t.co/wmCDCyzD4l</div> — IEA (@IEA)<a href="https://twitter.com/IEA/statuses/1326209281931276289">1605027907.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Birol also pointed to the United States and the impact the incoming Biden administration will have on the direction of energy policy. The IEA chief said that "if the proposed clean electricity policies of the next U.S. administration are implemented, they could lead to a much more rapid deployment of solar PV and wind, contributing to a faster decarbonization of the power sector."</p><p>Despite the recent growth in renewables and the IEA's projections, policymakers worldwide don't appear to be prioritizing clean energy in Covid-19 relief measures, even when faced with persistent calls from climate campaigners for a just, green recovery.</p><p>As the <em>Guardian</em>'s environment editor Damian Carrington <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/10/renewable-energy-covid-19-record-growth-2020?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank">noted</a> in his report on the agency's assessment:</p><blockquote><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/09/revealed-covid-recovery-plans-threaten-global-climate-hopes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Analysis for the <em>Guardian</em></a>, published on Monday, showed that far more of the coronavirus recovery funds being spent by governments was going to fossil fuels sectors than green projects.<br><br>"The natural environment and climate change have not been a core part of the thinking in the bulk of recovery plans," said Jason Eis, the chief executive of Vivid Economics. "In the majority of countries we are not seeing a green recovery coming through at all."<br></blockquote>
<p>For some climate activists and experts, the IEA report underscored why governments should focus on funding renewables rather than fossil fuels.</p><p>Harvard professor Naomi Oreskes—a geologist, science historian, and author recognized globally as a leading voice on anthropogenic climate change—<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiOreskes/status/1326158964871008264" target="_blank">welcomed</a> the IEA report in a tweet Tuesday.</p><p>"Today's good news: renewable energy continues to grow," Oreskes <a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiOreskes/status/1326158964871008264" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>. "Why? Because it's cheaper and better than fossil fuels. And when we eliminated subsidies to fossil fuels, renewables will do even better."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/11/10/iea-renewables-track-be-largest-source-global-electricity-five-years" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Ninety percent of electricity would have to come from renewable sources, mainly sun and wind, to stay in line with climate targets. yangphoto / Getty Images
By Gero Rueter
Proven technologies for a net-zero energy system already largely exist today, according to a report published Tuesday by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report predicts that renewable power, green hydrogen and modern bioenergy will shape the way we power the world in 2050.
<p>Adopting such solutions would set world leaders on track to meet their target of keeping the planet from heating by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels this century, according to the World Energy Transitions Outlook report. The UN had warned in November that pledges to meet this goal were so far "<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/un-report-woefully-inadequate-climate-pledges-spell-32c-temperature-rise/a-55878680" target="_blank">woefully inadequate</a>."</p><p>"The window of opportunity to achieve the 1.5 C Paris Agreement goal is closing fast," said Francesco La Camera, the director-general of IRENA. "The gap between where we are and where we should be is not decreasing, but widening. We are heading in the wrong direction."</p><p>Instead, IRENA — an intergovernmental organization based in Abu Dhabi made up of 162 countries and the European Union — calls for a change in direction and a dramatic acceleration of the energy transition as countries walk the "narrow tightrope" toward the 1.5 C target.</p><h2>Global Turnaround Through Green Power</h2><p>To meet the growing need for electricity in heating and transport and to make <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/power-to-x-the-secret-to-a-100-renewable-energy-system/a-51662014" target="_blank">green hydrogen</a>, the <a href="https://irena.org/publications/2021/March/World-Energy-Transitions-Outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report</a> projects that global electricity demand will triple by 2050. </p><p>That would make it the main energy source in the world, powering more than 80% of all vehicles. Heating would mainly be provided by <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/climate-friendly-heating-how-to-stay-warm-without-fossil-fuels/a-52072206" target="_blank">heat pumps</a>, whose number is set to rise 20-fold by 2050 to around 400 million. </p>
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<p>To stay in line with climate targets, coal-fired power plants would have to be shut down and no new ones built. Ninety percent of electricity would have to come from renewable sources, mainly sun and wind, with a global installed capacity of photovoltaics almost 30 times greater than in 2018. There would have to be 14 times the wind power, and hydropower would have to double.</p><p>Fossil gas and nuclear energy, meanwhile, would make up 4% and 6% of electricity generated, respectively.</p><p>But, even with such an expansion of renewables and a drop in fossil fuels, the report relies on removing CO2 from the atmosphere to meet climate goals. This includes reforesting areas in which trees have been hacked down or burned, taking CO2 out of the atmosphere by growing plants, and capturing it from industrial sites and injecting it underground. The technology to <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/carbon-capture-paris-agreement-co2-emissions-soil-reforestation-biochar-biomass/a-54717755" target="_blank">capture carbon</a> and store it is expensive, and exists only at a small scale.</p><h2>Major Challenge, But Possible </h2><p>To meet climate goals, the report assumed a globally available budget of 500 billion tons of CO2 for the current scenario. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if no more than this amount is released into the atmosphere, the world has a half-chance of warming 1.5 C and missing the target.</p><p>But, for a two-thirds chance of avoiding that level of warming, even more CO2 would have to be kept out of the atmosphere. According to the IPCC, total emissions would have to be limited to about 285 billion tons. Around 42 billion tons of CO2 are emitted by the energy and agricultural sectors every single year.</p>
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<p>"A scenario like the one presented by IRENA is conceivable," said Christian Breyer, a professor of solar economics at LUT University in Finland, who was not involved in the study. Breyer criticized the report for its high CO2 budget and reliance on technologies to remove emissions rather than stop them in the first place.</p><p>In addition, he said, the benefits "of extremely low-cost solar electricity have not yet been fully incorporated into the scenario, but very expensive system solutions such as nuclear power and biomass with CO2 capture." </p><h2>Economic Stimulus to Bring Jobs</h2><p>That turnaround has already begun.</p><p>Global oil consumption will continue to fall in the coming years, and fossil gas is set to join it in 2025. "Financial markets are already reflecting this change by shifting capital away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable assets like renewables," La Camera said.</p><p>Echoing warnings from the UN last year, IRENA said that stimulus packages in the wake of the pandemic must be used strategically to meet the 1.5 C target. Doing so would also help employment. The report projects that investing in the energy transition will create close to three times more jobs than fossil fuels for every million dollars spent.</p><p>"While the pathway is daunting, several favorable elements can make it achievable," La Camera said. "Major economies accounting for over half of global CO2 emissions are turning carbon-neutral. Global capital is moving, too."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/irena-world-energy-transitions-outlook-report/a-56888942" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle.</a></em><br/><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2651115660#/" target="_self"></a></p>
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A NASA study proves that fossil fuel emissions are heating the planet. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
In a first-of-its-kind study, NASA has managed to achieve something that has so far eluded scientists: provide direct, global observations that fossil fuel emissions are heating the planet.
<p>There is already robust evidence that human activity is causing the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>. This conclusion is supported by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/consensus-on-consensus-97-of-the-worlds-climate-scientists-say-humans--1891114302.html" target="_self">97 percent</a> of climate scientists, and has been established through direct observations of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-levels-historic-2646152010.html" target="_self">skyrocketing carbon dioxide levels</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/2020-hottest-year-noaa-nasa-2649951968.html" target="_self">rising temperatures</a>. However, the connection between greenhouse gas emissions and their climate effects remained theoretical, until now. NASA scientists have provided evidence through satellite observations that greenhouse gases are heating the Earth. "It's direct evidence that human activities are causing changes to Earth's energy budget," Ryan Kramer, the study's first author and a researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-carbon-emissions-nasa-study/" target="_blank">CBS News</a>.</p><p>The research, <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020GL091585" target="_blank">published in Geophysical Research Letters</a> on March 25, used satellites to provide evidence of radiative forcing.</p><p>Essentially, this is the mechanism behind the greenhouse effect, CBS News explained. When sunlight enters Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back into space, while some of it is absorbed as heat. In order for global temperatures to remain steady, solar energy coming in needs to equal solar energy going out. Heat can be trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor. As the concentration of heat-trapping gases increases, the energy balance is thrown off and the Earth becomes warmer. This radiative forcing is the driving mechanism behind climate change.</p><p>"While there are well‐established observational records of greenhouse gas concentrations and surface temperatures, there is not yet a global measure of the radiative forcing, in part because current satellite observations of Earth's radiation only measure the sum total of radiation changes that occur," the study authors noted.</p><p>To get around this, researchers used radiative kernels (a type of methodology) to separate radiative forcing from the totality of energy balance changes observed by satellites between 2003 and 2018. They found that radiative forcing increased, and that these increases were caused primarily by rising greenhouse gases, and secondarily by decreasing aerosol pollution, which has a cooling effect.</p>
<p>In total, radiative forcing increased by 0.5 watts per meter-squared, which is 10 times the energy used by people in a given year, and enough to heat the atmosphere by more than half a degree Fahrenheit in 16 years, CBS News reported.<br></p><p>The study builds on a new but growing body of direct evidence for radiative forcing. A<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14240" target="_blank"> 2015 study</a> made the first observations of carbon dioxide's ability to absorb heat radiated from Earth's surface at the surface level. That study focused on two locations in North America during 11 years.</p><p>"Numerous studies show rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but our study provides the critical link between those concentrations and the addition of energy to the system, or the greenhouse effect," Daniel Feldman, lead author and a scientist in the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said in a <a href="https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2015/02/25/co2-greenhouse-effect-increase/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a> at the time.</p><p>However, the NASA study provides the first comprehensive observations of these changes. That said, the observations are just confirming what most scientists already know to be true.</p><p>"In reality, the observational results came in just as predicted by the theory," Brian Soden, study co-author and professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, told CBS News. "There is no surprise in the results, but rather it's really more of 'dotting the i's and crossing the t's' on anthropogenic [human-caused] climate change. It closes that last link between rising CO2 levels and planetary warming."</p>
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World's Largest Solar Farm in Australia Will Also Supply 20% of Singapore's Electricity
21 October 2020
Renewable Energy
Sun Cable hopes to start construction of the world's largest solar farm in 2023. Sun Cable
A large expanse of Australia's deserted Outback will house the world's largest solar farm and generate enough energy to export power to Singapore, as The Guardian reported.
<p><br/></p>
<p>The massive solar farm, which will be visible from space after it's constructed, will lie halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin, two cities in Australia's Northern Territory. The solar farm will occupy more than 46 square miles and cost $20 billion to build, according to <a href="https://www.unilad.co.uk/technology/worlds-largest-solar-farm-to-power-singapore/" target="_blank">Unilad</a>.</p><p>The remote area of the Outback where the solar panels will work is currently a massive cattle ranch, but the owner of the project, Sun Cable, hopes to start construction in 2023 with the aim of exporting energy by 2027. According to Unilad, the solar farm is expected to generate so much energy that not only will it power all of the Northern Territory, but two-thirds of the electricity will be exported via underwater cables that run 2,800 miles to Singapore, a city-state on the tip of the Malay peninsula.</p>
<p>Sun Cable has initiated the project by evaluating its environmental impact and making sure its project complies with regulation from the Northern Territory's Environment Protection Authority, as the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-10-20/newcastle-waters-station-nt-set-for-worlds-biggest-solar-farm/12785256" target="_blank">Australian Broadcasting Corporation</a> (ABC) reported.</p><p>"We'll be using thousands of hectares of land, and we need to closely examine the impact on the ground at the solar farm end," Sun Cable CEO David Griffin said, as ABC reported. "There's a lot of black soil in that country, but that's a bit problematic for us, so we're [planning to build] on a substantial area of soil that's a bit different and a bit friendlier for us to construct on."</p><p>Despite those challenges, Griffin believes the massive cattle farm called Newcastle Waters is an ideal location for the solar farm because it meets several critical requirements.</p><p>"It's on the Adelaide to Darwin rail corridor, which is brilliant for our logistics given the enormous amount of material we'll have to transport to the site," he said to The Guardian. The location is also just 18 miles off the main highway that runs the length of the sparsely populated Northern Territory.</p>
<p>The weather also provides ideal conditions for producing energy.<br></p><p>"It's a bit of a balancing act too, because it's far south enough to get away from the main patch affected by the wet season, so it's a steady solar resource throughout the year," Griffin told The Guardian. "There's plenty of sun and not many clouds."</p><p>The massive project is expected to supply 10 gigawatts of electricity. The sustainable energy will help the remote areas of the Northern Territory, which usually have to use energy from diesel-powered generators. The exported energy will supply 20 percent of Singapore's energy needs, according to Unilad.</p><p>The solar farm, which is three times larger than the world's current largest solar farm in northern China, is also expected to provide thousands of jobs related to construction and hundreds of jobs once construction is done. Griffin told The Guardian that many of the jobs will go to local <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous-peoples">Indigenous</a> communities.</p>
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onurdongel / Getty Images
More and more homes are making energy efficiency a priority. Not only is it a responsible way to reduce your environmental impact, but it can equate to serious savings on energy bills every month. But what can be done to make your home more efficient? Alongside a home energy audit, a smart home energy monitor is an energy-saving tool that can make a big difference.
<h2>What is a smart home energy monitor?</h2><p>A smart <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-measure-home-power-usage" target="_blank">home energy monitor</a> is a gadget that fits onto your home's electrical panel. The unit then monitors energy consumption throughout your home, showing you energy use patterns and even real-time data.</p><p>It gives you an accurate picture of the amount of energy that your home uses to help you break down your electric bill. A smart home energy monitor can even give you a baseline of electricity consumption when appliances are not in use, as well as data on how much energy individual appliances use. That can give you the type of specific data on your electricity usage needed to make the proper changes and upgrades within your home.</p><h2>How does a smart home energy monitor work?</h2><p>A smart home energy monitoring system is relatively simple. Start by attaching it to your home's breaker box. The device then works by not only monitoring the energy usage throughout the home, but by also identifying the unique energy signature of individual devices and appliances.</p><p>Depending on the type of monitor you choose, you can monitor energy levels when those appliances are on, how often they get used, what they cost per month to operate, and more. This gives you a comprehensive look into your electrical usage to help identify ways you can be more energy-efficient. Pairing a smart home energy monitor with other products like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-smart-thermostat-265026024" target="_blank">smart thermostats</a> and smart plugs can help you take control of your home's day-to-day energy use.</p><h2>Popular home energy monitor brands</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-lazyloadable-image rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTYyOTEyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzYwODY5NH0.419CgGNhr1BtJcIdmXphnL5SROeYV4chGs616YTVOc0/img.jpg?width=980" id="d7d7e" width="1200" height="721" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba175446db683de6c6a57f17f4d69ab7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Kitchen monitor</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">MartinPrescott / Getty Images</small></p><p>Some of the most popular brands of home energy monitors include Sense, Eeydro, Efergy, Neurio, Smappee, and Emporia Energy. There are other brands out there too, but these are the biggest names. Below are more details on each one and the systems they offer.<br></p><h3>Sense</h3><p>The <a href="https://sense.com/" target="_blank">Sense Energy Monitor</a> offers a simple way to keep track of your power usage. The brand offers both solar and standard variations that plug into just about any existing breaker panel with ease. The cool thing about this system is that it connects to a Sense app that provides real-time energy data whenever you want it.</p><p>The Sense will break down energy usage in ways that the average electric bill will not. This allows for a greater, more in-depth look at energy usage like never before. At <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Energy-Monitor-Electricity-Usage/dp/B075K6PHJ9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$299.99</a>, it is a bit on the pricey side, but it is one of the best options out there for detailed, real-time breakdowns of your home's power consumption and even includes goal-setting features and alerts.</p><h3>Eyedro</h3><p><a href="https://eyedro.com/home-solutions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eyedro</a> offers four different home energy monitoring options, including two that can monitor your home's solar production. They range in price from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eyedro-EYEFI-2-Electricity-Supports-Metering/dp/B07KBBD8C5?th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$99 to $299</a>, depending on which one you choose.</p><p>The non-solar Eyedro sensors are a bit more cost effective, but there are limitations when compared to Sense. For one, connecting to your Wi-Fi is a lot more challenging as it will require ethernet connectivity or a wireless mesh setup. Additionally, it will not connect to any smart home devices or systems.</p><p>Still, Eyedro provides the same simple interface that shows a breakdown in energy output by device for real-time data and energy insights. You can set up daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly monitoring reports for a more controlled monitoring experience.</p><h3>Efergy</h3><p><a href="https://efergy.us/products/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Efergy</a> offers a wide selection of smart home energy monitors. These include online energy monitoring options that allow you track your energy use online and through an app, or systems that include a wireless home display. Efergy systems provide a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Efergy-4-0-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B001Q1G4WK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cost-effective</a> means of monitoring your home's electrical output.</p><p>Efergy sensors connect easily to any home electrical box for fast and easy installation that does not require an electrician. The sensor then transmits your energy data to a wireless display or Wi-Fi enabled hub.</p><p>The Efergy wireless displays offer a portable, compact interface to help you track your energy use. It can be placed anywhere in the home and uses its large memory to store data that can be observed monthly, weekly, or daily. It even has an audible alert that notifies in the event of excessive electrical usage.</p><h3>Neurio</h3><p>The Neurio smart home energy monitor is another smart device that can monitor energy usage in real time. At <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Neurio-Technology-W1-Hem-Energy-Monitor/dp/B07KMF9SZL" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$199.99</a>, it is priced similarly to other top-of-the-line devices out there.</p><p>The Neurio W1 HEM home energy monitor provides 24/7 access and updates so that you can see the live impact of energy consumption in your home. It also features a simple installation process that takes only 15-20 minutes. The Neurio system could help you identify ways to save up to 20% of your energy use each month.</p><h3>Smappee</h3><p>Smappee offers a top-of-the-line energy monitoring system on par with the Sense home energy monitor. The <a href="https://www.smappee.com/infinity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Smappee Infinity</a> home energy monitor has some very impressive features that make it a great option. In addition to just monitoring your home's power meter, this system can also monitor your gas and water usage. It features smart control with dynamic load balancing.</p><p>The system features a modular design so you can add individual components to customize your system to your home. Plus, with the Smappee Switch and Smappee Output Module, you can control your appliances remotely and set up schedules to help lower energy use.</p><h3>Emporia Energy</h3><p>One of the most cost-efficient options, Emporia Energy monitoring systems can provide much of the same functionality and insights at a fraction of the price. The <a href="https://emporiaenergy.com/how-the-vue-energy-monitor-works/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gen 2 Emporia Vue Smart Home Energy Monitor</a> delivers real-time data, alerts, goals, and more through a smart phone app available on iOS and Android devices. Available for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emporia-Energy-Monitor-Electricity-Conserve/dp/B07R11H2Q2?th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$70</a> on Amazon, this is one of the most affordable whole-home systems out there.</p><p>The Emporia Vue app will even provide energy-saving recommendations to help homeowners reduce their energy usage and their carbon emissions each month. The company also offers a wireless Vue Utility Connect monitor, though this system is only available in certain states.</p><h2>What to look for in a smart home energy monitor</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-lazyloadable-image rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTYyOTE0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NzM2MDkzOX0.d_1CMH3q9ZC1EsCnP03ZMWV5mzd8tLka-M55-zr3qeE/img.jpg?width=980" id="ea214" width="1200" height="721" data-rm-shortcode-id="b4df5649f8e49fdb11dd467657e2c47f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Energy monitor</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">MartinPrescott / Getty Images</small></p><p>There are a few crucial aspects when it comes to choosing the right smart home energy monitor. After all, you are trying to track the energy usage effectively and efficiently in your home. The better the tool, the more effectively that can happen, and the lower your electricity bill and energy consumption.<br></p><p>The most important factors to consider are appliance recognition, real-time cost tracking, mobile apps, solar energy capabilities, and the installation process.</p><h3>Appliance recognition</h3><p>Energy monitoring is great but if you don't know where the issues are it can be difficult to know where to make changes. With appliance recognition, you can track the energy usage in real-time of each individual appliance. This provides a better indication as to which appliances are lagging behind and may need replacing in the near or immediate future.</p><h3>Real-time cost tracking</h3><p>Each monitoring system will offer comprehensive tracking reports ranging from daily all the way up to yearly. But the best way to see the energy use impacts of your appliances and devices is through real-time cost tracking.</p><p>Understand in clear terms what each device costs to run and which ones may not be doing the most effective job. The great thing about this feature is you can start to see major spikes during the day, which can help you set better energy schedules. This is a highly-effective tool for reducing your energy usage through these monitors.</p><h3>Mobile apps</h3><p>Access to our appliances and devices through our smart phones is crucial, and easier than ever. When using smart phone applications, users can monitor their home's energy usage live, make adjustments to settings, set alarms, and so much more. Those without apps work can still help you save energy, but don't provide the level of convenience and detail that you can get from those with mobile apps.</p><h3>Solar energy capable</h3><p>If you have upgraded your home with <a data-linked-post="2638992179" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/clean-energy-arcadia-power-2638992179.html" target="_blank">solar energy</a>, be sure that you select smart home energy monitors that are capable of tracking how much energy your panels generate. This allows you to better understand the breakdown of your home's energy sources, specifically the ratio of solar vs. electric energy you are consuming.</p><p>Using a solar monitoring system can help you use less electricity to reduce your emissions and save you money.</p><h3>Installation (professional or DIY)</h3><p>Ease of installation matters as well. The more difficult the installation, the more likely it will require an electrician to do the job. While it is always better to have an electrician handle installation if you are not comfortable working with your electric panel, that is an additional cost. Keep that in mind when making your choice. Ease-of-installation is also important in case you ever want to add additional monitors, or features like smart plugs, to your system.</p><h2>Benefits of Home Energy Monitoring</h2><p>There are a few primary benefits to home energy monitoring. The chief among them is identifying areas or appliances that may be trouble spots so you can improve your home's energy efficiency.</p><p>This can help you save money on your bills and reduce your home's overall energy consumption. The right changes can equate to a few hundred dollars saved annually, and a smaller carbon footprint.</p><p><em><strong>Ryan Womeldorf</strong> is a freelance writer who covers technology and consumer goods, including smart home tech. He is a husband and father of two (five if you count his pups).</em></p>
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