Climate 411

Electric Waves: Power from the Ocean

Miriam HornThis post is by Miriam Horn, a writer at Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Earth: The Sequel. It’s part of a video series on new energy technologies, Unleash the Future.


1. Introduction (YouTube)
2. Solar
3. Biofuels
4. Geothermal
5. Wave


Almost every renewable energy resource begins with the Sun. Wave power is a third conversion of solar energy. The Sun creates the temperature differential that produces wind, and wind, in turn, produces ocean waves. Inventor Alla Weinstein found a way to convert the up-and-down motion of waves into electricity.

Take a look at my short video on wave power to learn more.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/74IVv3ocUGY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

If you have any questions or comments on wave energy, please post them here. I’ll do my best to answer.

Posted in Energy / Read 1 Response

Arctic Heat: Power from the Earth

Miriam HornThis post is by Miriam Horn, a writer at Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Earth: The Sequel. It’s part of a video series on new energy technologies, Unleash the Future.


1. Introduction (YouTube)
2. Solar
3. Biofuels
4. Geothermal
5. Wave


While solar, wind and wave energy all originate with the Sun, the heat locked up in the Earth itself offers another huge potential energy resource. Historically, that “geothermal” power could be converted into electricity only in those rare locations where natural fissures allowed water to flow into deep hot rock and come to the surface at temperatures high enough to generate steam. Now an innovator in Alaska has developed the first low-temperature geothermal power plant, which United Technologies is commercializing for worldwide sale.

Take a look at my short video on geothermal power to learn more.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/R02sy5TI4bs" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

If you have any questions or comments on geothermal energy, please post them here. I’ll do my best to answer.

Posted in Energy / Read 1 Response

U.S. Government Scientists Chime In

Lisa MooreThis post is by Lisa Moore, Ph.D., a scientist in the Climate and Air program at Environmental Defense Fund.

IPCC scientists have been saying for years that man-made global warming is likely to increase extreme weather events. A new report ("Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate") from U.S. government scientists confirms these findings, and focuses specifically on the U.S.

It’s certainly timely, considering the devastating floods in the Midwest.

Read More »

Posted in News / Read 2 Responses

Brewing Gasoline with Yeast

Miriam HornThis post is by Miriam Horn, a writer at Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Earth: The Sequel. It’s part of a video series on new energy technologies, Unleash the Future.


1. Introduction (YouTube)
2. Solar
3. Biofuels
4. Geothermal
5. Wave


“Anything you can get out of a barrel of oil, you can get out of a pound of sugar with the right microbe.” So says Jack Newman of Amyris Biotechnologies, who is using genetically-modified yeast to brew gasoline.

Take a look at my short video on biofuels to learn more.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ySnUAAihUjg" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

If you have any questions or comments on biofuels, please post them here. I’ll do my best to answer.

Posted in Energy / Read 4 Responses

Did Humans Cause the Midwest Flooding?

James WangThis post is by James Wang, Ph.D., a climate scientist at Environmental Defense.

The record floodwaters in Iowa and other parts of the Midwest are claiming lives, destroying homes and crops, contaminating drinking water, and – as the AP puts it – spreading "a noxious brew of sewage, farm chemicals, and fuel that could sicken anyone who wades in." The cost in human anguish is incalculable.

But why is it happening? Is it just a freak of nature? One causal element, as reported in today’s Washington Post, may be human reengineering of the landscape. Mary Kelly, who heads up EDF’s rivers and deltas program, gives a good overview of these issues.

Another element may be global warming, which increases the probability of extreme weather events like torrential rain.

Read More »

Posted in News / Read 12 Responses

Solar Ink on Roofing Material

Miriam HornThis post is by Miriam Horn, a writer at Environmental Defense Fund and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Earth: The Sequel. It’s part of a video series on new energy technologies, Unleash the Future.


1. Introduction (YouTube)
2. Solar
3. Biofuels
4. Geothermal
5. Wave


Harnessing solar energy can be pricey, but that soon may change. One company aims to cut the price by a factor of 10 by printing cheap solar ink onto flexible film that could serve as your roofing material.

Take a look at my short video on new solar technologies to learn more.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/nDnPoYSj0LY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

If you have any questions or comments on solar power, please post them here. I’ll do my best to answer.

Posted in Energy / Read 6 Responses