This study by CNW found that, contrary to what seems intuitive, hybrid cars actually produce more pollution than many SUVs during their life cycle. This study, while hotly debated, certainly proves the "law of unintended consequences".
Backers of coal-based liquid fuels say they can help reduce US dependence on imported oil. Critics contend the use of coal in any form would lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful environmental effects.
Scientists from Spectrolab, Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing, have recently published their research on the fabrication of solar cells that surpass the 40% efficiency milestone—the highest efficiency achieved for any photovoltaic device. Their results appear in a recent edition of Applied Physics Letters.
Biofuels like ethanol can help reduce global warming and create jobs for the rural poor, but the benefits may be offset by serious environmental problems and increased food prices for the hungry, the U.N. said Tuesday in its first major report on bioenergy.
This Dept. of Energy study takes an indepth look at ways that the US can conserve energy. It is fairly long, but the executive summary covers the important points, mainly that it would be easy for the US to cut actual energy use by 10% vs. expected use in 2020, and with some effort cuts of over 30% could be made.
A lab at MIT is vigorously researching and promoting a new nuclear technology called pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR). They believe that this technology presents a solution to climate change and fossil fuel depletion, although environmentalists are concerned that PBMRs are too experimental and could pose a safety risk.
Scientists at UC San Diego may have developed a system that could absorb carbon dioxide and split it into carbon oxide and oxygen, and generate electricity. Carbon oxide is a common industrial chemical that is normally captured from natural gas.
Spain, one of the world's leaders in wind energy, during a recent storm had wind as its number one energy producer over nuclear and coal. On an annual average, wind is Spain's third highest source of energy.
