Your Nation's Voice - Green

Gerb Ceder Talks About New Discovery For Batteries

On March 13, 2009, NPR Science Friday had Gerd Ceder from MIT on the show.  They have apparently patented a new twist on Lithium Ion battery technology that, after some major engineering is completed, will take a full charge in a matter of seconds to minutes.  At the end of the series, Mr. Ceder indicated this technology will likely be available in the marketplace in 3 - 5 years.

This could be a major breakthrough for small electric products like power tools, cell phones or laptops and could even work for electric cars.  Click here to listen to the interview.

Pretty interesting!!

Honey Bees Still Dying - Colony Collapse Disorder

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a chronic decline in honey bee population that has been going on for a few years now.  As much as one third of all honey bee populations have died and no one really knows with certainty what is causing it.  Some experts say that the honey bee is our "canary in a coal mine", warning us in advance of potential environmental impacts to humans.

Unless you're a farmer or a bee keeper, you may not have much interest in what happens to honey bees.  However, if you like almonds, cranberries, avocados, pears, blueberries, cantaloupes, strawberries, watermelons, apples, honey, or wear anything made of cotton, you might want to read on. 

World's Largest Garbage Dump - In The Pacific Ocean

I recently watched a program on the Ellen DeGeneres Show which discussed the level of plastic being dumped in our oceans.  Certain breeds of Albatross in the Pacific Ocean are realizing huge losses (up to 40%) of young hatch-lings because the parent Albatross cannot differentiate things like bottle caps, lighters, etc. from live prey.  They consume the plastic products and then regurgitate them into their young offspring as if it were food.

Why Compact Fluorescent Light ("CFL") Bulbs?

Unless you've been under a rock for the last couple of years, you've heard of CFL's.  Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, which look like a pig's tail, are the rage among those that are doing what they can to conserve energy.  According to the government's ENERGY STAR program, if every American switched just one incandescent bulb to a CFL bulb, it would save $600 million in annual energy costs, save enough energy to light 3 million homes and create a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equal to the amount created by 800,000 cars.  That is tremendous!

Two degree rise could spark Greenland ice sheet meltdown: WWF (theAge.com)

A less than two degree Celsius rise in global temperatures might be sufficient to spark a meltdown of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice, the WWF warned in a new study released Thursday....read entire article.

Pickens On The Daily Show

Whether you like the man or not, you have to give Pickens credit for getting after the energy crisis.  Here is a recent interview on The Daily Show.  I think Jon is with him.

Learn more about what Pickens wants to do by clicking here.

Eating Carbon (The Economist)

There is a type of rock with a voracious appetite for carbon dioxide

ONE way of helping to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is to pump the gas into underground caverns or old oil fields. But there is also a rock that is happy to gobble it up, and according to the latest research its appetite for the greenhouse gas is not only massive but could also be increased by a little human intervention....read the entire article.

A Bit Of Vision With A Dash Of Political Will Goes A Long Way

Below is a seventeen minute video that was produced in Britain a few years ago about the energy efficiency being realized in Sweden with mixed technologies.  Pretty interesting.  Even though these specific solutions may not work in America, the video shows that with the proper degree of political will, alternative energy solutions can be developed and efficiently utilized.

Our Commitment To Alternative Energy Can't Drop With Oil Prices

Oil prices have been falling like a rock the past several weeks.  With reduced consumption due to the worldwide recession, prices have dropped from a high of $147 a barrel to the current price of $56. 

Take Action Now On A New Clean Energy Policy

The election is over and now decisive action needs to occur on the development of a clean energy initiative for America.  Numerous suggestions have been provided by high profile citizens, from Al Gore to T. Boone Pickens, and the new President-elect should appoint a team of talented individuals, with a cabinet level Secretary of Energy Transformation leading the charge, to address this problem.