All Posts Tagged With: "climate change"
What’s got the internet talking today? Green is the next bubble to burst.
Jennifer McClelland | RSS | Thu, Oct 08 2009 | 0 Comments
Today when I wrote this, the article Five Signs that Green is the Next Bubble to Burst had been Dugg about 150 times. It is the top business story right now.
So what are the signs that Green is the next Bubble to Burst? Here are the reasons as written by Tom Johansmeyer for BloggingStocks.com
1. Boom born in bust
Most economic booms find their roots in recessions. Innovators and entrepreneurs take advantage of lost jobs, severance packages and lower prices to get new ventures off the ground.
2. There’s no shortage of cash
Investors sunk $1.59 billion into clean technology venture capital in the third quarter of this year, continuing what’s been a solid pace in 2009. The folks with the money see the potential, and they’re committing. Since 2006, the VC community has put $8.7 billion into clean tech companies.
3. Innovation is flowing, not slowing
Solar cells, improved batteries and appliances are in development right now, along with electric cars. Infrastructure is also seeing some movement and will provide the underlying support necessary.
4. Washington is willing
The Obama administration has said it will invest $150 billion in clean tech over the next 10 years. This is forecast to create 5 million jobs — a great start to replacing the 7.2 million that have been lost to the current recession.
5. Society is on board
A combination of momentum for the sector, evolving thinking on climate change, and memories of last year’s gas prices have made more people open to the notion of green technology. And, the fact that these companies are attracting investment and grant dollars demonstrates an upside that transcends politics or science – most people care about financial upside first.
Green could be the next bubble to burst because of all of these reasons. However, I would personally like to see the whole environmentally conscious way of life continue. Even if, in the future, money gets tight for funding and the bubble does burst, hopefully we can all live a bit cleaner. Maybe our cars won’t run on fossil fuels anymore or our electricity will come from completely renewable sources.
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Tags: cash investors, economic booms, climate change
Could painting your roof be the key to reversing climate change?
Jennifer McClelland | RSS | Wed, May 27 2009 | 4 Comments
So do you think that painting your roof white would make a difference in your energy bill by a little? How about overall, reducing your carbon footprint?
Living in the South means that it is hot all summer. As they say: Mississippi has two seasons, Christmas and summer (or sometimes just hot depending on who you’re talking to). It is always hot, and it is always humid through the sweltering summer months of the year. Right now, in the end of May, it is almost unbearable outside due to the humidity.
However, the United States Energy Secretary Steven Chu said today that the Obama administration wants to paint roofs in the States white. White is, and always has been, a reflecting color. It makes sense considering if you were out in the mid-day heat of August and were wearing white, it wouldn’t be as unbearable as if you were wearing black or another dark color. Mr. Chu gave the speech at the climate change symposium in London on Tuesday.
Mr. Chu said that making roads and roofs a light color, such as white, could be the same as taking every single car off the roads (all over the world) for 11 years.
Here’s the biggest issue I have with the change, if someone is to change the color of their roof to white for the summer months to reduce cooling costs as well as to reduce the carbon footprint of each individual, then what about the winter months?
While there is a definite benefit during the summer, the sun helps warm my house in the winter so that my husband and I don’t use as much heat.
I have often wondered why roofs weren’t white to begin with. I have seen many roofs in pale colors, including strange shades of green, but I now wonder what the negative effect will be in the winter. I think that this would be a good idea for people who live even further south than I do. Perhaps those who live in very tropical climates would be better suited for the roof painting.
At the same time, knowing the consequences in the winter months, I would be willing to have a pale colored roof to help reduce the costs in the summer. Besides, most people burn natural gas in the winter and natural gas are better for the environment than the coal that our electric company goes through to cool and give light to our home.
Would you be willing to paint your roof (or put on pale colored shingles) to help reduce your energy costs in the summer? If so, where do you live and what’s the climate like?
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Tags: humidity, united states energy, change symposium
