Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Green with the Wind
It is one of Life's most vital forces. Wind. It shapes the land, spreads its seeds, carries the clouds, churns the seas, and moves through our past, present, and future. Wind has been a renewable energy ally since time immemorial, and it certainly isn't going anywhere.
Wind has been with us before the mast, as we sailed the seven seas and charted undiscovered territories; it's had a hand in the windmilling of the fruit of the land, giving birth to many civilizations and just as many revolutions; and, today, it is the keystone of the Green Movement.
But Wind Turbines don't just appear out of thin air; their manufacture and deployment require the extraction and refinement of raw materials--same as any other technology. The every day Turbine has the upper hand, however, when compared to more commonplace energy producers--namely Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas--in that they can be removed from their station at the end of their 20 to 30 year life cycle--and with no lasting effect on the environment!
What's more: a single Turbine will pay for itself 35 times over in the course of its lifetime. Take that, Standard Oil Co.!
The only real inefficiency with Wind Power Generation is that it's at the mercy of the Wind itself. Yet, modern Power Grids do not rely on Gusts and Gales alone to meet electrical demand. The variability of the Wind Variable is factored into the load dispatch equation, and electricity generated from Wind often serves as an operating reserve, to be called upon in case of a shortfall or for load-balancing.
Despite the Good Nature of Wind Power, the energy-producing Turbines are not always greeted with open arms and smiling faces.
On the other side of the fence, there are questions as to whether or not Wind will quickly produce sufficient amounts of energy for the long haul. In 2008, the Wind Energy Yield for the United States was a scant 1% of all energy produced. Or, just enough to power 4.5 million homes.
The evolution and implementation of Wind Technology has been relatively slow-going since the first Wind Farms popped up in California nearly two decades ago. Certainly, the Monoliths of the Wind are worth their weight in resources; so if it isn't the cost-savings and energy returns, what else might be standing in the way of a Wind Farm-dappled horizon?
For many communities and land owners, there is much to be said about the unsightliness and noisiness of most Turbines. Additionally, factors like profit motive seem to be a blinding light to many so-called Environmentalists.
Serious concern has also been raised regarding the affect Wind Towers have on Avian and Bat mortality--during migration especially. Nevertheless, the bulk of the research shows that an avian death sentence may not be spelled out by Wind Plants, but by myriad other manmade structures (Radio Towers, Skyscrapers, et al).
After all is said and done, the question still remains: IF Wind is to be part of the Energy Solution, what, indeed, will drift in on the Winds of the Future?
Weather Clemency aside, the Wind Farms of Tomorrow are likely to be comprised of tightly formed banks of compact and vertical Turbines, that not only act as sponges for every nanowatt of potential Wind Power, but are also less of an impact on the Earth and its Inhabitants.
We need not hang our charms in the breezy night air to catch the dream of Energy Independence.
The Renewable Energy Answer, my friends, is already blowing in the wind.
Wind has been with us before the mast, as we sailed the seven seas and charted undiscovered territories; it's had a hand in the windmilling of the fruit of the land, giving birth to many civilizations and just as many revolutions; and, today, it is the keystone of the Green Movement.
But Wind Turbines don't just appear out of thin air; their manufacture and deployment require the extraction and refinement of raw materials--same as any other technology. The every day Turbine has the upper hand, however, when compared to more commonplace energy producers--namely Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas--in that they can be removed from their station at the end of their 20 to 30 year life cycle--and with no lasting effect on the environment!
What's more: a single Turbine will pay for itself 35 times over in the course of its lifetime. Take that, Standard Oil Co.!
The only real inefficiency with Wind Power Generation is that it's at the mercy of the Wind itself. Yet, modern Power Grids do not rely on Gusts and Gales alone to meet electrical demand. The variability of the Wind Variable is factored into the load dispatch equation, and electricity generated from Wind often serves as an operating reserve, to be called upon in case of a shortfall or for load-balancing.
Despite the Good Nature of Wind Power, the energy-producing Turbines are not always greeted with open arms and smiling faces.
On the other side of the fence, there are questions as to whether or not Wind will quickly produce sufficient amounts of energy for the long haul. In 2008, the Wind Energy Yield for the United States was a scant 1% of all energy produced. Or, just enough to power 4.5 million homes.
The evolution and implementation of Wind Technology has been relatively slow-going since the first Wind Farms popped up in California nearly two decades ago. Certainly, the Monoliths of the Wind are worth their weight in resources; so if it isn't the cost-savings and energy returns, what else might be standing in the way of a Wind Farm-dappled horizon?
For many communities and land owners, there is much to be said about the unsightliness and noisiness of most Turbines. Additionally, factors like profit motive seem to be a blinding light to many so-called Environmentalists.
Serious concern has also been raised regarding the affect Wind Towers have on Avian and Bat mortality--during migration especially. Nevertheless, the bulk of the research shows that an avian death sentence may not be spelled out by Wind Plants, but by myriad other manmade structures (Radio Towers, Skyscrapers, et al).
After all is said and done, the question still remains: IF Wind is to be part of the Energy Solution, what, indeed, will drift in on the Winds of the Future?
Weather Clemency aside, the Wind Farms of Tomorrow are likely to be comprised of tightly formed banks of compact and vertical Turbines, that not only act as sponges for every nanowatt of potential Wind Power, but are also less of an impact on the Earth and its Inhabitants.
We need not hang our charms in the breezy night air to catch the dream of Energy Independence.
The Renewable Energy Answer, my friends, is already blowing in the wind.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
2BGRNorNOT2BGRN
In the beginning, cellular phones were bricks of non-renewable resources, useful for only a handful of curt conversations before there was a loss of signal strength or battery power or Cancer.
A lot has changed since then.
Today's mobile phone isn't just for talking; it's for sending messages, taking pictures, and playing music, movies, and games. It's for making Green Peace, too.
The newest phones are made from bio-plastic, come with solar cell LCDs, and can remind the user to unplug the charger when the phone's battery is fully charged.
Neat, huh?
Of all the modern bells, whistles, and Eco-Wise manufacturing techniques, the Greenest feature is that of the Short Message Service; or what is more commonly known as TXT MSGNG*.
What appears to many as the twiddling of thumbs is really the practice of limiting the expenditure of Kinetic Energy, which then affords the Texter to apply this freed energy to other, more important tasks--LIKE SAVING THE PLANET!!!
The EPA estimates that texting prevents the release of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 10.3 million cars and saves Mobile Networks and the American People up to 1 Petawatts of Kinetic Force every year.
2BGRNorNOT2BGRN.
The TXT isn't just here to stay; it's here to Ecolutionize your life.
*Text Messaging
A lot has changed since then.
Today's mobile phone isn't just for talking; it's for sending messages, taking pictures, and playing music, movies, and games. It's for making Green Peace, too.
The newest phones are made from bio-plastic, come with solar cell LCDs, and can remind the user to unplug the charger when the phone's battery is fully charged.
Neat, huh?
Of all the modern bells, whistles, and Eco-Wise manufacturing techniques, the Greenest feature is that of the Short Message Service; or what is more commonly known as TXT MSGNG*.
What appears to many as the twiddling of thumbs is really the practice of limiting the expenditure of Kinetic Energy, which then affords the Texter to apply this freed energy to other, more important tasks--LIKE SAVING THE PLANET!!!
The EPA estimates that texting prevents the release of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 10.3 million cars and saves Mobile Networks and the American People up to 1 Petawatts of Kinetic Force every year.
2BGRNorNOT2BGRN.
The TXT isn't just here to stay; it's here to Ecolutionize your life.
*Text Messaging
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