How to store wind and solar energy

When the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow, solar panels and wind turbines have an obvious problem. Has Isentropic solved the problem of grid-scale electricity storage? 

How to easily fix your bike's flat tire on-the-go

Getting a flat tire when riding your bike is a real drag. Problem solved.

Elio Motors combines the best aspects of cars and motorcycles

Cars are big, expensive and use a lot of gasoline. Motorcycles are smaller, cheaper and more fuel efficient. But motorcycles aren't as safe and don't provide protection from bad weather. Problem solved.

BC SPCA slogan gets to the point

Here's some more great thinking from the BC SPCA.

Doggie daycare solves two problems

Here's a great win-win problem-solving idea. People attending the farmers' market in Ganges village on Salt Spring Island can't leave their dogs in their cars on hot, sunny days. They can't take them to the market either because it's contrary to health regulations. So the BC SPCA has set up a doggie day care at the market as a fund raiser. The SPCA makes a few dollars and the pet owners keep their dogs safe from a hot car interior.

False Creek a great example of urban redevelopment

It's hard to believe now, but False Creek in Vancouver was a polluted industrial wasteland just a few short decades ago. It's now one of the best examples of urban redevelopment anywhere. First, the land was temporarily redeveloped for the Expo 86 World's Fair and then redeveloped again as a residential and commercial district. The transformation is astounding. If you're ever in Vancouver, be sure to spend some time in the Yaletown area on the north side of False Creek.

Reuse. Reuse. Reuse.

I have a lot of respect for people who can keep waste out of landfills by finding a new use. This PVC pipe enhances the sound of these musical instruments and contributed to a wonderful day at the park in Ganges village on Salt Spring Island.

Footbridges reduce wildlife roadkill

Something I never really thought about when traveling through national parks is the effect highways can have on wildlife (other than don't pull over and try to feed them). But highways can be linear barriers that prevent wildlife from freely roaming their natural feeding and breeding areas. If they try to cross the highway, they might be killed. If they don't cross, they limit access to food and reproductive opportunities.

So these overpasses along the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park are designed to provide access without wildlife having to dash across the highway. They work in conjunction with fencing to direct animals to safe crossings. Do they work? According to the federal government, since fencing and crossing structures were first constructed, wildlife-vehicle collisions have dropped by 80%.

Two books that caught my attention: Ethical Oil and Groundswell

This post is going to be longer than normal, so please stay with me.

Most of you know that I believe alternate energy has an important future globally. Sources like wind, solar and biofuels will likely make an important contribution to our energy mix once the challenges get sorted out.

Challenges? Well, storage for one thing. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, these sources can't generate electricity. So someone needs to invent a viable way of storing a huge number of electrons to supply power to the grid while the wind and solar generators are idle.

Then there's the issue of birds. I suspect wind turbines have killed and maimed more birds than the Exxon Valdez. Almost certainly more than oil sands tailings ponds ever will. But that does't make any of this okay. Whatever the method we use to generate energy, we need to protect wildlife.

Will these problems ever be solved? Probably. You know what I think about humanity's capacity to solve problems.

No one knows how long this will take or if alternate energy will ever replace fossil fuels entirely. So Levant's books ask the question: If we're going to use fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, where do you want to get them from?

Although Levant makes some good points, these books are not for the easily offended. They would be considered provocative, blunt and even insulting to many people. Levant takes shots at everyone from Vladimir Putin to Gazprom, the Saudi Royal Family, Iran, Nigeria, Green Peace, the documentary "Gasland" ... you name it. Politics. Religion. Hidden agendas of environmentalists. All kinds of taboo topics are in Levant's crosshairs and he doesn't hold back.

Of special note: According to Levant, the United States has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions below that required by the Kyoto protocol thanks to natural gas fracking (with no environmental consequences). Much of Europe could do the same if they embraced fracking, plus have the energy independence and political freedom that come with it. Really? I didn't know that.

Levant cites some credible sources and appears to trust the scientists who say fracking is okay, but appears to disbelieve the scientists that say climate change is being caused by humans. Environmentalists seem to believe the opposite science. All of this reminds me of the lyrics from the Dire Straits song, Industrial Disease: "Two men say their Jesus. One of them must be wrong."

Facts are facts. But how they can be interpreted and spun is crucial. With issues such as this, it might be most appropriate to challenge those who make claims to cite their scientific sources. We might be best served if we then take the time to read the primary research ourselves before drawing conclusions.