From the hero of the Industrial Revolution to the villain of climate change, fossil fuels are alternately extolled and defamed in the media, textbooks and everyday conversation. Indeed, these materials present a mixed record that is often skewed one way or the other. Proving themselves an efficient and - sometimes - abundant energy source, petroleum, coal, shale and natural gas can take a share of credit for the comfortable lifestyles many enjoy. … [Read more...]

Deciding on the best new or replacement HVAC system can be worrisome; the investment is quite large and the comfort and safety of your family are in play if you make the wrong choice. When considering geothermal heating for your new or existing home, be sure to look long-term at factors such as comfort, safety and cost. Pros Tax Credits and Energy Savings On the face, a geothermal heating and cooling system is more expensive to install … [Read more...]

One of the most crucial issues facing the world both in the present and future has to do with energy. How do we produce it, and what is the environmental cost of doing so? Currently, fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal provide around 80% of total energy in the US, and a comparable figure around the world. However, alternate fuel sources will become increasingly necessary going forward. One such alternative is biomass energy. We’ll … [Read more...]

From psalms to odes to sonnets, literature frequently alludes to the awesome power of the oceans. Yet observant writers are not the only ones who understand the overwhelming strength found in the seas. Many shipwreck victims can do likewise, as can former owners of beachfront properties. This understanding is not lost on scientists. They measure the global potential of surface wave energy to equal roughly two terawatts (TW), i.e. two-trillion … [Read more...]

Anyone who lived through a coastal hurricane or major flood will testify to the mighty power of flowing water. The devastation of the aftermath tells the tale of crushing force and unstoppable movement. Utilizing this dynamism to human advantage is a practice as old as ancient Greece, where water wheels powered the grain milling process. Since then, humankind developed all kinds of ways to harness energy from water pressure. Damming rivers is one … [Read more...]

In struggling with the economy of energy, consumers and policy makers end up with two options: make more or use less. While conservation is a popular idea, it is a practical challenge to a significant degree. So dependent are developed cultures on automation that restraint of power usage is likely only achievable around the edges of people’s lives. Renewable energy better appeals to this plugged-in society. Solar farms are attractive to many, but … [Read more...]

The advent of nuclear power serves as a dividing line between distant history and the modern age. Its atomic symbol exudes the authority of science. Accounting for more than 11 percent of world energy production, it is unlikely that this medium will fall into disuse. At the same time, the fission process represents a danger for many who view it as a hazard to the earth and to humanity. Weighing the nuclear fission pros and cons is a constant … [Read more...]

The 21st century is a long way from oxen pulling plows and horses pulling carriages. Mechanization and modern technology makes life less arduous and more efficient...so it would seem. Yet all of the state-of-the-art engineering and split-second communication create problems while solving others. Perhaps the biggest challenge is exploding energy demand. Powering cars, planes, submarines and satellites takes power. For the last century, fossil … [Read more...]

Although they powered the industrial and technological revolutions from the late 19th to early 21st century, fossil fuels and other non renewable energy sources give many critics pause. While nobody doubts their contributions to the economic progress of the world, some contend that the continued use of these resources poses a serious threat to the existential future of our planet. How, then, do we think about fossil fuels? We begin by weighing … [Read more...]

There is evidence that people began harnessing the power of the tides before 900 CE. The principle is simple and obvious. Set a dam to capture water at high tide and hold it. When the tide is low, run the water through a sluice gate to drive a water wheel. Use the water wheel to power machinery, usually a flour mill. It is an obvious step from this use to electrical generation, but there are important tidal energy pros and cons to take into … [Read more...]