A Greenpeace report found that the UK was Europe's renewables laggard as of 2005, with 1.3% of needs sourced from clean energy.

Ten years ago the UK's renewables figure was 1%. Not exactly progress.

Sweden, by contrast, got 35.7% of its energy from renewables in 2005.

Yesterday, however, members of the UK Parliament took the step of supporting a parliamentary motion supporting a drive to increase installations of solar power by means of "feed-in tariffs" that pay a higher than market rate for electrivity fed into the national grid when it comes from particular sources.

Feed-in tariffs have proved effective elsewhere in increasing use of renewable energy.

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Today, Japan is contributing to our potential for a further reduction in emissions – Martin Bursik, Czech Environment Minister

Solar Heating: Now Subsidized
To fulfill its target to buy 100 million metric tons of Carbon Emission Rights, Japan has bought 40 million metric tons of these rights from the Czech Republic at a cost of $500m. The Eastern European country sold the ‘redundant’ rights it had earned by reducing its carbon emissions by a decent 24% (from 1990), significantly above its pledge (Kyoto) of 8%.

To put the reduction in perspective, Germany reduced its emissions in the same period by approximately 22% but will unlikely engage in a similar trade as its Kyoto pledge was a significantly higher 21%.

The Ministry of Environment, led by Green Party leader Martin Bursik, will use the substantial financial inflow to subsidize Czech households’ building or installing environmentally friendly heating or insulation systems.

The move will not only reduce the country’s energy use and carbon emissions but, perhaps more importantly for the regular Czech household, significantly reduce their heating bill during the current downturn.

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Over $140bn (£85bn) was invested in solar, wind and other clean energy solutions, compared with $110bn for gas and coal electricity generation.

China,India and other developing nations claimed the prize for the biggest growth in renewables investment, according to the United Nations figures.

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Here they come: with millions of Federal dollars destined for renewable energy sources, lobbyists are lining up to claim that their particular source is indeed "renewable," whether it's nuclear, coal waste, garbage, old tires....

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An interesting piece from Edie on the difficulties of splicing up carbon emission ownership along a supply chain, in this case the water supply chain.

It quotes my brother. I had no idea he was an expert on this. We should talk more.

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China has been getting on top of the technology required for so-called "clean coal" energy production, driving down their costs in the process.

The Chinese government has also been getting utilities to shut down an old, higher polluting power plant for each new "clean coal" plant constructed.

It's still a second rate strategy compared to, say, natural gas power stations, but it is something.

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When told to remove selenium and other metals from their air emissions, power plants diverted the contaminants  into sludge, often ending up in rivers.

Now the Environmental Protection Agency is planning new rules on this discharge, targeting selenium emissions.

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"Wind Power Anywhere"

A Wind Power Generator that can be deployed almost anywhere? AND Deliver a steady and strong stream of Energy? If further testing is successful, the future of energy could be MARS.

Although Magenn's Air Rotor System (MARS) is currently in its prototype phase (since April'08), we could see a backpack version of the system as soon as 5 - 10 years!

But what is MARS?

Essentially a 'Floating Wind Power Generator', it stays in the air with Helium in very much the same way a Blimp floats in the air.

At 500 - 1000 ft in the air, enjoying Consistent and Strong Winds, it generates 50% of its rated capacity. A significant improvement over regular ground level wind turbines that generate 20 - 40% of their rated capacity.

Changing Wind Directions?

Not a Problem. A deflector disk will keep MARS pointed in the right direction all the time.

Power Output?

The prototype was rated at 2 Kw with production versions anticipated to be rated 10/12 Kw.

Accessible Price!

With home sized units (4 Kw) expected to cost USD$10,000 and camping units (2 Kw) USD$2,000. Easy, renewable energy will be well within the reach of your average consumer.

We are very excited about this technology and will be sure to check out our closest demo unit once they become available! (Which could be as early as late 2009)

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Courtney Spaude, a letter carrier in Madison Wisconsin, saved the life of an elderly woman on his route last week, after noticing signs that things were not as usual at her house and alerting the police.  While he "didn't want to be the nosy mailman," he did feel responsible enough for another's well-being to take action.  The police found the woman, lying where she had fallen four days earlier, severely dehydrated but alive.  She is now recovering nicely from her fall. 

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The Environmental Working Group has put out an interactive guide evaluating the contamination levels of US drinking water from 39751 water utilities in 42 states through contact with state environmental and health agencies.

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