by Justin Manger on September 4th, 2010
日本語の原稿は下記に記載されています。
Editor’s Note: This post comes from Tsutomu Kakegawa, a resident of Myogi-machi in Gunma-ken who has installed solar panels on his new house. Original Japanese version also included below. English translation by Justin Manger.
There are many places on the internet where you can research solar power generation for your home and get good information, but here are a few words from me, a homeowner who has had PV solar panels installed. I can say that paying nothing for lighting and heating every month definitely provides some leeway in the household budget. I also take pride in the fact that my house is contributing to the eco-movement and we’re on the forefront of actually implementing this advanced technology.
Before installing solar panels, the yearly cost for our family of four was around $2500; $1500 for electricity, $700 for gas, and $300 for kerosene. After installation, our home
by Eric Wilson on September 3rd, 2010
Earlier this summer Colorado Governor Bill Ritter “signed legislation that will let renters and others who are unable to install solar panels on their own roofs to join forces and create community ‘solar gardens’.” According to the press release, House Bill 1342 – as its known – “allows renters and homeowners and businesses without solar access to own a portion of an off-site solar farm. Subscribers in a solar garden will own a fraction of the system and reap the same financial benefits through utility bill savings as if the system was physically installed on their home or business.” The press release claimed that “Colorado expects to have 100,000 solar rooftops by 2020.” This bill helps push the state toward a clean energy future and accomplishing the goal of 30% renewable electricity generation by 2020.
by Justin Manger on September 3rd, 2010
Whether trying to live in concert with it or trying to control it, humans will always be impacted by the chaotic whims of Mother Nature. The floods that have ravaged Pakistan over the last two months are an extreme example. Here are some astonishing statistics.
- Nationwide, the flood has displaced 20 million people, destroyed 1.2 million homes and nearly 8,000 schools, swamped a quarter of Pakistan’s agricultural land.
- 70 percent of the roads and bridges in affected areas have been washed out
- The Indus River’s 2000-mile valley is among the longest-settled and most densely populated places in the world. Pakistan is 307,000 square miles, a bit bigger than Texas; but where Texas has 25 million people, Pakistan has about 170 million. About 100 million Pakistanis are said to live in the valley.
- Pakistan’s annual monsoon rain usually produces about 280 millimeters (10 inches) of rain across July and August. This year, districts near the headwaters got 300 millimeters over the 48 hours of July 29th-30th; in the extreme case, Risalpur got 415 mm in the last week of July.
- As in many countries Pakistan has tried to control irrigation and insulate cities from normal flooding. Levees can reduce the size of wetlands that normally reduce flood impact, while canals draining from the bottom can leave waterlogged lands unable to sop up a heavy rain. American experience suggests that such constructions make floods rarer, but also can turn large floods into exceptionally damaging events.
| Average Indus River flow: |
~0.6 cubic kilometers daily |
| Indus River flow August 2010 |
~20 cubic kilometers daily |
[Source DLC Trade Facts]
by Eric Wilson on September 2nd, 2010
The calendar of conferences and events for September has been updated. There are a number of events across the globe on this month’s calendar. Below are half a dozen conferences paired up in the following categories: Ecotourism, Biomimicry, and Green Building Conferences. Take a look and let us know of conferences, events, or festivals in your area. We will gladly add them on to our calendar. Please send us an email with the name, date, location, description, and website.
The following events are grouped by topic:
by Justin Manger on September 2nd, 2010
Screaming across the famous natural racetrack known as Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, the Buckeye Bullet left more than a steam trail in its wake on August 24th. It also smashed the previous world land speed record for electric vehicles by blasting 307mph across a 12 mile dessert course. Engineering students from Ohio State University (hence the Buckeye in the name) led the team that broke the record using a sleek design and power from
