PriusChat Forums - Environmental Discussion http://priuschat.com/forums/ en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:58:28 GMT vBulletin 60 http://priuschat.com/forums/images/silk/misc/rss.jpg PriusChat Forums - Environmental Discussion http://priuschat.com/forums/ Hadley CRU files/emails hacked! http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72308-hadley-cru-files-emails-hacked.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:15:34 GMT Hadley CRU has apparently been hacked, Many CC Files Posted [Breaking] - MarketTicker Forums

Breaking News Story: Hadley CRU has apparently been hacked – hundreds of files released Watts Up With That?

Now, This link below takes a good 5 minutes to load. Post 101 and down is where it gets good.
http://www.priuschat.com

Quote:
Dear Ray, Mike and Malcolm,
Quote:
From: Jonathan Overpeck
To: "Michael E. Mann"
Subject: letter to Senate
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:49:31 -0700
Well well well........ Things just got a little bit more interesting.:D ]]> Environmental Discussion Jimmie84 http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72308-hadley-cru-files-emails-hacked.html View Living with Ed on the web? http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72283-view-living-ed-web.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:56:18 GMT Is it possible to watch recent episodes of Living With Ed on the internet? Is it possible to watch recent episodes of Living With Ed on the internet? ]]> Environmental Discussion GreenGuy33 http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72283-view-living-ed-web.html Climatologists baffled by Global warming time-out http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72277-climatologists-baffled-global-warming-time-out.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:20:04 GMT Stagnating Temperatures: Climatologists Baffled by Global Warming Time-Out - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International... Stagnating Temperatures: Climatologists Baffled by Global Warming Time-Out - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International ]]> Environmental Discussion docbooks http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72277-climatologists-baffled-global-warming-time-out.html <![CDATA[Is nuclear energy "green" energy?]]> http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72262-nuclear-energy-green-energy.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:17:54 GMT James Lovelock makes the argument that renewable energy is only going to replace fossil fuels incrementally and gradually. It won't be fast enough to stave off the carbon caused climate change. I personally think we can replace fossil fuels with renewable if we had the will, but it's just not there. However, he believes that nuclear energy can provide the large amounts of energy that we consume with the benefit of reducing carbon. The waste he believes is minimal and that we who live in first world nations have unsubstantiated fear of nuclear waste. He actually has a chart showing that for every terawatt of energy produced, nuclear attributes to much less death(at least for the workers) compared to all the other fuels. A melt down is very unlikely with today's technology. And even if it were a risk, would it be any less tragic or dangerous than the 3 gorges dame bursting in China(which by estimates could kill half a million people? Should nuclear be in the basket of our energy modalities? I've always been a no go with nuclear, but now I have my doubts. ]]> Environmental Discussion burritos http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72262-nuclear-energy-green-energy.html What they believe! http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72257-what-they-believe.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:42:14 GMT ...They believe it is much better for America that the world be dependent on oil for energy — a commodity largely controlled by countries that hate... ...They believe it is much better for America that the world be dependent on oil for energy — a commodity largely controlled by countries that hate us and can only go up in price as demand increases — rather than on clean power technologies that are controlled by us and only go down in price as demand increases...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/op...8friedman.html ]]> Environmental Discussion Manolo1 http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72257-what-they-believe.html Trillions of light dispersing discs in space to shield the sun http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72172-trillions-light-dispersing-discs-in-space-shield-sun.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:56:29 GMT Hi guys I saw a program recently on the GREEN channel. It was about an effort to put up trillions of light reflecting discs in space. The discs... Hi guys

I saw a program recently on the GREEN channel. It was about an effort to put up trillions of light reflecting discs in space. The discs would diffract 2% of sunlight, which would counteract the supposed increase in temperature due to CO2, man, etc. (Which we all agree men is not causing temperature increase right? or no? I still don't know where the truth is there.)

The project seemed completely absurd. They were backed by Kevin O'Leary (from the TV show Shark Tank, he's a billionaire.) It relied on technology that is not even invented or at least perfected yet (mile long rail guns to launch things into space, the thinnest silicon discs ever made, etc.) Also it would cost more money than the world economy has. It just seemed like such a ridiculous pipe dream of some scientist. Sure it would work, but so would a million other equally unfeasible ideas.

It sure seems like for the same amount of money, and using technology we have today, you could buy everyone on the planet solar panels for their homes, and electric vehicles, etc. For the same amount of money we could eliminate the burning of hydrocarbons, etc

Just curious anyone else's thoughts on this program. ]]> Environmental Discussion radioprius1 http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72172-trillions-light-dispersing-discs-in-space-shield-sun.html Record High Temperatures Far Outpace Record Lows Across US http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72090-record-high-temperatures-far-outpace-record-lows-across-us.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:25:24 GMT ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2009) — Spurred by a warming climate, daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the last... ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2009) — Spurred by a warming climate, daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the last decade across the continental United States, new research shows. The ratio of record highs to lows is likely to increase dramatically in coming decades if emissions of greenhouse gases continue to climb.

Record high temperatures far outpace record lows across US ]]> Environmental Discussion blueumbrella http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72090-record-high-temperatures-far-outpace-record-lows-across-us.html SANYO to Mass Produce New Large-capacity High-voltage Lithium-ion Battery Systems http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72061-sanyo-mass-produce-new-large-capacity-high-voltage-lithium-ion-battery-systems.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:04:19 GMT FYI, SANYO to Mass Produce New Large-capacity High-voltage Lithium-ion Battery Systems Storage Battery System for Solar Cell Hybrid Applications... FYI,

SANYO to Mass Produce New Large-capacity High-voltage Lithium-ion Battery Systems Storage Battery System for Solar Cell Hybrid Applications and an Electric Motor Battery System for Light Vehicles | News Releases | SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. Global
"Tokyo, November 13, 2009 – SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) is pleased to announce that it has developed two new large-capacity high-voltage lithium-ion battery systems, and will begin mass production of the new products in March 2010."
-----
I think these products are not big deal right now, but I believe they are good step forward for greener environment.
Maybe, the batteries are one of candidates for smart grid application.

Ken@Japan ]]> Environmental Discussion ken1784 http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72061-sanyo-mass-produce-new-large-capacity-high-voltage-lithium-ion-battery-systems.html <![CDATA[Do you subscribe to James Lovelock's conclusion that it's too late to stop the effects of GW?]]> http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72000-do-you-subscribe-james-lovelocks-conclusion-its-too-late-stop-effects-gw.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:10:23 GMT and that several billion of us basically are f'd? ]]> Environmental Discussion burritos http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/72000-do-you-subscribe-james-lovelocks-conclusion-its-too-late-stop-effects-gw.html <![CDATA["Organic (But Not Green)" - IEEE Spectrum]]> http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71885-organic-but-not-green-ieee-spectrum.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:27:22 GMT IEEE Spectrum: Biofuels Aren't Really Green

Their model suggests photovoltaics are a better answer than a biofueled world economy. I have no opinion one way or the other but it is an interesting hypothesis and model.

So this begs a question ... Is enough solar energy impinging upon streets and highways to power electric vehicle transportation?

Bob Wilson ]]> Environmental Discussion bwilson4web http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71885-organic-but-not-green-ieee-spectrum.html 10 Megawatt Hour Aniversary http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71803-10-megawatt-hour-aniversary.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:08:47 GMT We got back from Nashville yesterday ... visiting the only child ... 9 months & one week pregnant (prepare for tangent) btw ... here's her Halloween costume (and her hubby's too):

Click the image to open in full size.

We had to laugh. oy vey ~

:focus:

So ... when we got in yesterday, I checked the Kwh readings on our two PV inverters after we got home. This one is hooked to 20 panels facing South West:

Click the image to open in full size.

The one below hooks to 16 panels facing kinda north east.


Click the image to open in full size.

Is my addition right? Over 10,000 Kwh ... they must have clicked over about 2 or 3 days ago ... isn't 10,000Kwh the same as 10 megawatt hours? That sure sounds a lot higher :p. We've been grid tied since mid January of 2009 ... 10 months ago. That's 1 megawatt hour per month? Hey! I better go turn the porch light off!

;)

. ]]> Environmental Discussion hill http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71803-10-megawatt-hour-aniversary.html Bird Box Project Update http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71786-bird-box-project-update.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:56:16 GMT I just thought I'd give everyone an update on the Nesting Box Program I started on one of our nature preserves.

As some of you know, I am a land manager and one aspect of my work entails doing restoration work. I was charged with installing a few nesting boxes on our grassland/vernal pool preserve (427 acres) but I decided to turn it into a project that would end up installing 50+ boxes in the next 2yrs and using school childen for the building, installation and monitoring of the boxes.

Last nesting season we had 28 bluebird/tree swallow boxes installed by 5th grade girls from a local elementary school, a handful of volunteers from the community college and a few general volunteers. Since we did not get the monitoring project up and going in time I had to go by my estimates obtained by regularly checking boxes hwile out on the preserve and I came up with:

60-70 Tree Swallow fledglings
5 Bluebird fledglings

This season I have a 14yr old girl scout heading up the project as part of her Silver Project and she will be building and installing an additional 15-30 boxes on another preserve (329acres of oak woodland habitat) as well as cleaning and monitoring existing boxes. She will also lead a short tour to her nesting boxes as part of our Treasured Landscape Tour we give each spring. We generally have about 40-50 community members on each tour.

Here are some recent photos her little sister took while we toured one preserve and got her oriented with the property and the work being done there.

#1 Nesting boxes installed last season (the 2 are close together because tree swallows are agressive and they will outcompete bluebirds for nesting space. Once they have their own box they will ignore bluebirds but will defend the area against other swallows. So by putting 2 boxes close together the bluebirds get a well defended home.

#2 Girl scout's father, myself and the girl scout
#3 Typical oak savanah habitat
#4 Male bluebird spies food!
#5 Male bluebird wondering what this little girl is doing with that black device stuck to her face
#6 Teaching the family how to identify the different oaks by their leaves (from left to rightt: interior live oak, valley oak, and blue oak)
#7 She is painting wooden birds that she gives to people who take part in her adpot a bird box program that she started to help fund the overall project. Materials run about $20 per bird box half of which is the $10 8' t-post!

Here is a link to some of the other work being done out there as well as pics of the tree swallows. They are just too cute!

http://priuschat.com/forums/environm...-included.html
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]]> Environmental Discussion F8L http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71786-bird-box-project-update.html <![CDATA[Poor man's flush counter]]> http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71646-poor-mans-flush-counter.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:12:16 GMT Thought I would pass on this tip. As part of my water use reduction project I've wondered how often per day any given toilet is flushed. Numbers range from 6 to 10 times/day per person in various sources. Of course this varies depending on how much one is actually at home, among other things.

Trying to keep track of it manually was likely to miss a lot of flushes. So I started thinking about a way to make a flush counter and realized I had an ultra-cheap pedometer handy. I clipped it to the toilet lever arm and voila, a poor man's digital flush counter. :D ]]> Environmental Discussion Shawn Clark http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71646-poor-mans-flush-counter.html Vegan Hummer vs Carnivorous Prius http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71434-vegan-hummer-vs-carnivorous-prius.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:04:38 GMT Eating his words: Michael Pollan retracts Hummer-vegan/Prius-meat-eater comment &mdash; Autoblog Green

Want to give your public pronouncement a little zing? Try throwing in the words Hummer and Prius and imply that the SUV is better for the earth than the Prius. CNW sure knows the value of making the false claim. Last week, author Michael Pollan tried a similar trick when he said at the 2009 Poptech conference that, "A vegan in a Hummer has a lighter carbon footprint than a beef eater in a Prius." ]]> Environmental Discussion zenMachine http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71434-vegan-hummer-vs-carnivorous-prius.html Sincere Question - Straight Answer http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71406-sincere-question-straight-answer.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:03:50 GMT Global Warming (GW) - I am genuinely interested in understanding proposed solutions to GW. Please avoid mentioning the opinion of "experts" (both pro and con); "global cooling" and conclusion based on "statistics." For the purpose of the question ... we accept that GW is an accepted fact. Not interested in debating GW.

I own a G3, IV Prius; my TV's are LCD; my appliances are new and energy efficient. My light bulbs are mostly fluorescent; my home is new, small and well insulated. The thermostat is set as low as is comfortable with a lap "throw" while seated (watching TV).

I assume most will say the above a :step in the right direction." I am comfortable in my environment within these conditions. Help us all understand what else is being proposed, and the direction we might expect future discussions will take us.

Within the GW advocates, is a hybrid considered insufficient? Is an EV ultimately considered to be the only viable solution?

A writer for the NY Times, advocates limiting families to one child. Is that gaining any traction?

Just this week we read that it has been proposed that we all become vegitarians. Is that the position of GW advocates?

Wind generators, geo-thermal, tides, hydro and capturing the sun's heat are all viable sources within geographic limitations. What are the proposed alternative in portions of the country where these natural resources are not available?

Are there any plans whereby consideration is given to the many Americans that enjoy camping? Boating? RV'ing? 4-wheeling? snowmobiling" The Prius cannot pull any of these vehicles and/or trailers, and an EV would be even less likely to do so.

Amid GW concerns, are there ways to accommodate the airline and tourist industry?; cruise lines?; professional sports?

Well, you get the idea. This is a genuinely interested in where the GW debate is headed .... please respond with firm, viable proposals. ]]> Environmental Discussion Felt http://priuschat.com/forums/environmental-discussion/71406-sincere-question-straight-answer.html