Comments for A Musing Environment

Comment on Global warming may cause cold winters by Ed

Ed — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:39:32 +0000

This is a fine example of why it may be more helpful to refer to the phenomena as ‘climate change’ in lieu of ‘global warming’. The latter is of course true – but on a global scale. Climate change fosters greater understanding by allowing for variation whether by location or over shorter of time spans.

Comment on Outdoor air pollution kills 1.3 million each year by denali bike

denali bike — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:22:10 +0000

Air pollution has not always been a problem, but during the last decade, air pollution facts show us the environment is more and more affected by the toxins and chemicals which are released in the air. Studies have also shown that pollution is the cause of millions of death and that our health is dramatically affected by it. Studies have shown that each year, 800,000 people die each year because of air pollution. Specialists say that air pollution is the only environmental threat to our health and that things will be worse in the future.

Comment on Cost of New Electricity — Pt 1/2 by Karen Street

Karen Street — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:45:42 +0000

One question to begin—I’ve read inverters need to be replaced every 10 – 15 years. I assume that’s why the lifetime of PV is given as 25 years. If that’s changed, it’s a major price reduction. Can you point me to a source that says that one should assume a 40 year lifetime for PV?

I intend to look at solar soon. What major reports should I include? I just took a look at International Energy Agency 2011, and they don’t see solar or wind as competitive with fossil fuels in the next 2 decades+. IEA had pretty high prices for O&M.

Comment on Cost of New Electricity — Pt 1/2 by Maury Markowitz

Maury Markowitz — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:40:03 +0000

“but believes that it can drop to 10 – 14¢/kWh by 2016″
[snip]
“Costs for grid-connected systems are about $4,500 – 6,000/kW. Installation adds another $5,000 – 9,000/kW”

This post appears to have been posted in 2007. In the time since then, PV prices have plummeted. Today, it is typical to install large industrial systems, including *everything*, for about $3.50 a watt. Small residential systems are around $5, or less.

If one assumes a 40 year lifespan during which you need one inverter replacement at 50 cents, then the 40-year lifespan cost on a large system is just over $4 a watt.

In Mohave, fixed orientation panels make just a shade under 1600 kWh/kW/year. So over 40 years that’s 64000 kWh per kW of panels. At $4 that’s about 16 cents a watt.

So it seems to me that Kammen’s prediction is almost certainly a good bet.

It’s worth pointing out that this reduction in price had nothing to do with subsidies. It was due entirely to market forces and a massive buildout of polysilicon fabs that came online in 2008-09.

Comment on Monbiot and Caldicott by T-Squared

T-Squared — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:20:46 +0000

Your comment “…I especially wonder at Caldicott’s assumption that as a physician, she never makes mistakes”, reminded me of an old saying — A tailor wears his mistakes, a doctor burys his.

Comment on Nuclear Power in a Warming World by An excellent radio interview: a Quaker explains why she now supports nuclear energy

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:49:26 +0000

[...] also publishes a blog, called A Musing Environment. Check it out, it is very interesting and well [...]

Comment on Hope and Climate Change by Karen Street

Karen Street — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:39:56 +0000

Thank you both for your comments. I hope to hear from people who have other experiences of hope, because this is a source of conflict, as I’ve seen in my workshops. It will be good to hear other views articulated.

We can’t hope (rationally) for really positive results with no downsides, but we can hope to reduce the harm we do. We can hope to do what we can.

Comment on Hope and Climate Change by Rosemary

Rosemary — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:01:05 +0000

I don’t have hope about stopping climate change. When you read that methane is bubbling up out of the thawed permafrost of Siberia, where do you find hope? All the current effects of climate change seem to include further contributions to it. I’ll look at your link, though. I do have hope that as conditions deteriorate in our country (if totalitarians don’t take over) the suffering that is going to ensue will bring us together and strengthen communities. We can live a more simple, Spirit-filled, caring life whatever happens.
Rosemary

Comment on Hope and Climate Change by Wesupportlee

Wesupportlee — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:21:49 +0000

Hope about the situation bothers me when it’s a state of denial. It bothers me less when it’s accompanied by strong willingness to adapt bymaking lifestyle changes. Exmplesmight include having few children, xeriscaping around homes, conserving energy etc.

Comment on Hope and Climate Change by Wesupportlee

Wesupportlee — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:12:30 +0000

I notice that some people arent talking about the very obvious drought and the dead-dying trees. They are not hiring tree surgeons to remove obvious hazards from yards, and I see dead shrubbery just being left in some yards rather than being cut or removed . It’s almost like a state of denial rather than active adaptation by planting cacti or other drought-tolerant landscaping.