Energy News

So much of what’s discussed in offices these days – and forever really – focuses on this: What’s best for the company? How do we increase profits? That’s totally understandable, given that a primary responsibility of any for-profit enterprise is to benefit its owners and investors. Still, as individuals, and I would argue, as part of the capitalist system, we …

The latest episode in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) award-winning “Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions” podcast series puts forth the reassuring finding that concerns about global warming having a domino effect — unleashing 600 billion tons of carbon in vast expanses of peat in the Northern hemisphere and accelerating warming to disastrous proportions — may be less justified than previously thought. In …

ACEEE REPORT: U.S. BETTER OFF “THINKING BIG” ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY INSTEAD OF FOCUSING FIRST ON DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ENERGY SOURCES How Lack of Emphasis on Major Energy Efficiency Investments Leaves “3 Jokers in the U.S. Economic Deck”; Slashing Energy Use 60% Could Generate 2 Million Jobs & Save the Equivalent of $2600 Per Household Annually. WASHINGTON, D.C.///January 12, 2012///America is …

I was asked, recently, about renewable energy credits, and the person asking was embarrassed to have to admit that they really knew nothing at all about them. So, I put together this list of things that you may find useful to know about renewable energy credits. 1. Definition. A Renewable Energy Credit, generally referred to as an REC or by …

The study used publicly-available data in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The analysis, entitled “Toxic Power: How Power Plants Contaminate Our Air and States” was jointly released today by NRDC and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR).

Energy & Fuels New technology that combines production of electricity with capture of carbon dioxide could make billions of barrels of oil shale — now regarded as off-limits because of the huge amounts of carbon dioxide released in its production — available as an energy source in a greenhouse world of the future. That’s the conclusion of a report on …

Phillip Rye asked: It seems like about three million of you have asked me to explain how a geothermal system works. Well, maybe not three million, but it’s a bunch of you and I’m honored that I have the opportunity to do it. Now you’ve probably already figured out that I’m not smart enough to be real technical, but I …

Darren W Chow asked: There has been an ongoing debate pertaining to the pros and cons of geothermal energy. Before we can begin to discuss the advantages and disadvantages, we need to have a clear understanding of what exactly geothermal energy is. 4,000 miles below the Earth’s surface is incredibly hot. It is thought to be over 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit. …

Loisa Jamora asked: A quick increase in the population of ecological companies has been noticed following the rising product requests of the organic society. Several green businesses assist the environment by making products that lessens our energy demands. Some of these companies offer alternative energy methods like solar energy, wind power and other services by the geothermal industry. Geothermal power …

Gloria Smith asked: Geothermal heating provides many benefits especially to homes and buildings. The fact that the energy it uses comes from nature makes it very appealing to homeowners. And with a renewable source that will never go out of supply, it incurs less operational costs compared to any other type of heating system available in the market today. The …

Lisa A Mason asked: More people are talking today about how to save fuel and how to find more energy efficient ways to do the things we need to do every day. Geothermal heat and energy are one revolutionary way to use the natural energy that’s in the earth to power our homes and buildings. In addition to being more …

Christopher Brown asked: There are three options for you to choose from when purchasing a heat pump: Geothermal, which uses the heat from a few feet below ground or water; Electrical Air Source, which utilizes the air from the outside, heats it and then pumps it into your home; and Dual Fuel, which utilizes both gas and electricity to heat …

Richard Chapo asked: Geothermal energy is often viewed as a relatively new form of alternative energy. In truth, the use of geothermal energy stretches far back into the past. Looking To The Past Of Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy is literally, “earth heat”. This type of energy’s name comes from two Greek words: “geo” meaning earth, and “therme”, which means heat. …

Michael L Leigh asked: One of the lesser known renewable energy sources geothermal electricity is created by using the heat contained underground by magma. This magma heats rocks and sometimes travel directly through water sources below the surface heating it up. We extract this water and run it through pipes which surround another set of pipes that contains a liquid …

Eric Parish asked: As our population grows and the earth’s resources are strained like never before, many people have questions about geothermal systems but are not sure about some very fundamental concerns.  Hopefully, this brief article can open your eyes to the potential of geothermal system. How does geothermal work? The basic principle is that a geothermal heat pump extracts …

Stephen Ewings asked: Today’s geothermal systems outperform the best gas technology, by an average of 36% in heating mode and 43% in cooling mode. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and most cost-effective space conditioning systems available. There is no doubt that geothermal heat pumps are the low hanging …

Daniel Lanback asked: Geothermal energy is the energy taken from the heat stored inside the earth. This energy has been stored inside the earth from its very origination and even from the solar energy, which is absorbed by the surface of the earth. Geothermal energy has been widely used today to provide electrical power in countries. Industries have also been …

RJ Current asked: Geothermal heating is an idea that has been around for a long time. But just what is it and how does it actually work? Steam created from deep underground heat sources or natural hot springs have been used as a clean energy heating source for years. If you have a dog, you have probably noticed how they …

Robert Eckard asked: When it comes to geothermal energy, Australia may not hold the top spot in the utilization of this renewable energy, but the potential is certainly there. As it has with other renewables, Australia has turned its attention to geothermal energy as a means to reach certain energy generation goals by the end of the year. These goals …

Jordan Laurent asked: Determining which type of geothermal heat pump is right for your home depends on the local climate and soil conditions, as well as the available land. Geothermal heaters work by absorbing heat from the ground and transferring it indoors using buried pipes will with water or refrigerant. The four types of geothermal or ground source heat pumps …