Eric Atienza
A sort of jack-of-all trades, Eric has a degree in journalism from THE Ohio State University, works in the book publishing industry in New York, and has spent a lot of time in recent years blogging about music and food. An environmentalist by upbringing (and by heredity) he hopes to use this space to explore the vagaries of alternative energy and find kernels of useful truth amidst the confusion and hype.
Clean and Safe: Alternative Solutions
Other Stories
Alternative Energy Debate
One of the driving forces behind the push for alternative energy is the fact that burning fossil fuels is one of the central causes of climate change. Oil and coal are, in essence, pockets of carbon (long dead plant and animal matter) that have been compressed over time. When we burn them for fuel, we shoot this carbon back into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide gas.
Hydroelectric Power
As much as I hate buzzwords and catchphrases, there’s no shadow of a doubt that we are living 21st century lives increasingly dependant upon electronics. All the same, the lion’s share of our tools and gadgetry are still driven by 20th century means.
Developing Renewable Energy
The effects of the recent global economic downturn have been wide-ranging and far-reaching. While nations around the world have increased their commitments to develop renewable energy, the green technology sector has not been immune to the vast fiscal crisis.
Wind Energy in the Modern Power Grid
In the last installment of this column I mentioned some issues regarding wind energy in the modern power grid. I touched on overblown concerns about animal strikes and fluid leakage, but there was one area I’d read about but did not mention: aesthetics. There is opposition to moving forward with clean energy because some people think that wind turbines don’t look nice.
Wind Technology
I am all around but cannot be seen. I can be felt but cannot be touched. I have no voice but I can be heard. What am I?
Here’s one more clue: I’m one of the cleanest and most renewable energy sources known to man.
Answer: I am wind.
Hippies. Treehuggers.
A few years ago these words followed any mainstream use of the phrase "alternative energy". The only renewable power in the public consciousness was rechargeable alkaline batteries (that were, generally, recharged by good old fossil fuel). The gas-guzzling, behemoth luxury cars of the 70s have mostly faded, only to be replaced by gas-guzzling, towering SUVs.
