If someone told you that it was possible to fuel the world entirely with renewable energy, what would you say?

That’s the question that the founders of The Solutions Project were confronted with in 2011, when they realized that the only thing standing in the way of 100 percent renewable energy across the globe was politics.

In 2009, Stanford University environmental engineer Professor Mark Jacobson published peer-reviewed research in Scientific American showing that it was possible for the nation to transition to 100 percent renewable energy. Two years later, actor Mark Ruffalo and banker Marco Krapels, both of whom were highly opposed to fracking and looking for a sustainable, feasible alternative, discovered this research. The three men decided to start the Solutions Project in order to bring these theoretical possibilities closer to reality.

Jacobson and a team of scientists from Stanford, Cornell, and UC Davis created feasibility studies, not only for all fifty states via the “50 States 50 Plans” initiative but for 139 different countries, showing real ways that we can meet these goals by 2050.

The Project also began highlighting the reasons why this transition is so important. Not only would it create more employment and reduce energy costs, but it would also end the health hazards of dirty energy.

“Families are losing fathers or daughters as a result of dirty energy,” says Sarah Shanley Hope, executive director of the Solutions Project.

Now that it has become clear that 100 percent renewable energy worldwide is a possibility, these effects aren’t just dire, they’re inexcusable.

“We have a choice,” says Hope. “We can change our energy system, save lives, save money, and obviously save the climate.”

So what’s stopping us?

In Hope’s opinion, “it’s not economics, it’s not technology, it’s politics.”

“It’s our culture,” she says. “And that is, of course, both heartbreaking and also hugely inspiring, because this is a people problem, not a technology problem.”

In some circles, the “people problem” is on its way to being resolved: the Solutions Project applauds corporations like Google, Apple, and Walmart and entire states like Iowa who have taken strides towards 100 percent commitments, in some cases even achieving them. The small, conservative town of Georgetown, Texas, fulfilled its 100 percent goals just last month.

The inspiration of seeing what is possible will, in Hope’s opinion, bring more people toward this commitment, be it by driving solar electric vehicles or choosing solar power for their homes, either installing solar panels or investigating clean energy purchasing programs, which are often the same or very similar in price to traditional energy.

“From our perspective,” says Hope, “what we need to do is connect these dots, share those stories of success.”

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Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and all around green-energy badass, is a powerhouse of an innovator. That got us thinking that perhaps Musk should become the president of Earth. Not convinced? We’ll give you three reasons why.

1. He’s dedicated to creating clean energy for everyone

According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk recently unveiled a line of “home and industrial battery packs” that he says will “change the fundamental energy infrastructure of the world.”

Grist reports that the new endeavor is called Tesla Energy: “[Musk’s] goal is to riddle the world with much-needed solar power storage devices that will usher us into a post-fossil fuel, carbon-zero future, thus saving humankind from climate apocalypse.”

Musk made this announcement, appropriately, on May Day (May 1); a traditional day of renewal about Powerwall, the new battery, which will be wall-mounted and can be used in all homes. More from Tesla Motors’ press kit:

“Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed to store energy at a residential level for load shifting, backup power and self-consumption of solar power generation. Powerwall consists of Tesla’s lithium-ion battery pack, liquid thermal control system and software that receives dispatch commands from a solar inverter. The unit mounts seamlessly on a wall and is integrated with the local grid to harness excess power and give customers the flexibility to draw energy from their own reserve.”

Read more about Powerwall’s undeniable benefits here.

2. Musk has been all about renewable energy and space exploration since a young age — and he was willing to make sacrifices to work in those fields

Musk was recently interviewed by Neil deGrasse Tyson. In the interview, Musk revealed that he has always wanted to work on creating renewable energy. But to prove to himself that he could survive if he failed, he decided to live off almost nothing. To survive, he bought food in bulk from a supermarket and lived on hot dogs, pasta, and oranges. The Washington Post quoted a bit from the Tyson interview:

“‘You get really tired of hot dogs and oranges after awhile,’ he said. ‘And of course pasta and a green pepper and a big thing of sauce. And that can go pretty far, too.’ “

Now, that’s dedication.

3. He’s open about how hard it is to do what he does

Now, this isn’t the most flattering news about Musk floating around, but it’s undeniably real. In Ashlee Vance’s biography about Musk, she reports that one time, Musk got after an employe for missing a meeting to attend a child’s birth. Now, Musk has forcefully said that this isn’t true, and truly, we’ll never really know if it is or isn’t. But in a recent interview, Musk admitted to an interviewer that he doesn’t always give his kids direct attention.

Forbes reports that Musk said that often times, he is with his kids while he is working and emailing. He contends that he has to do both at once in order to get his job done. Now, that may sound harsh, but it’s probably true. While that information may not sit well with all of us, it’s at least refreshing to hear him speak his own truth.

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Clean energy at its dirtiest: Pornhub’s “Wankband” produces green power by putting chronic masturbators to good use.

Because when I think Pornhub, I think staunch environmentalists: Better known as the Fitbit’s creepy uncle, the “Wankband” is a (hopefully waterproof) device that allows you to save the planet and charge your smartphone by—you guessed it—masturbating. Finally, moms across the country can make their teenage sons useful (in fact, there were a few in my day who would have been able to feed energy back into the grid).

“It’s well known how incredibly fast we run out of our natural resources and, what’s worse, how much they pollute in order to create energy,” says Pornhub’s promo video. “At Pornhub, we realize that by offering our users millions of hours of adult content, we are part of the problem. That’s why we’re going to show men how they can save the planet while doing what they do best.” (And the Nobel Prize goes to…)

The device contains a valve with a small weight inside, and the upwards-downwards motion of masturbating causes the weight to move up and down as well, which generates energy you can store for a rainy day. There’s a USB port on the side of the “Wankband,” so you can plug your tech devices into it and charge them using the power stored.

“Turn your jobless roommate into a productive person,” the clip says. “And now, when your partner catches you in the act, you can simply say that you’re trying to save on the electric bill. The possibilities are endless.” Nope, there’s only one: Divorce papers.

It says the device is unisex and will work for women just as well as men, but they’re not really clear on how that’s possible, since the motion that charges it is more dude-friendly. If you start seeing a bunch of women around your neighborhood with sprained wrists, I guess that answers our question. Of course, as Pornhub so eloquently puts it, you can “do your part with your part” by signing up to be one of their be(a)ta testers (ha). You know, for science.

Is the “Wankband” a realistic way to produce clean energy? Of course not. If it’s anything like those flashlights you have to shake for an hour to get a few minutes of light, I’m not so sure guys will end up with a charged phone so much as a really large bicep… and possibly carpal tunnel.

And I’m sure this has nothing to do with the fact that in order for men to put the “Wankband” to good use, they’d have to watch more porn. Nah, because that would be ridiculous.

I will say though, the brand’s humblebrag video is good for a giggle:

What do you think of this er, interesting way to produce clean energy?

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Valerie Rockefeller Wayne says her family embraces the irony that her great great grandfather John D. Rockefeller made his money in oil. But the chair of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund also says that Rockefeller was an innovator who moved into fossil fuels to get away from whale oil. And now the Rockefeller family fund will move away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy.

“We are quite convinced that if he were alive today, as an astute businessman looking out to the future, he would be moving out of fossil fuels and investing in clean, renewable energy,” Mr Heintz said in a statement.

In all, 10 percent of the $860 million endowment will go into sustainable investments. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund also eliminated funds in coal and tar sands. In recent years, 180 institutional funds totaling $50 billion have pledged to divest of fossil fuels.

Steve Rockefeller, son of Nelson A. Rockefeller and trustee of the fund sees financial problems ahead for companies that have stockpiled more reserves than they can burn. “We see this as having both a moral and economic dimension,” he said to The New York Times.

Fossil fuels are an increasingly risky investment, according to the Rockefeller family. The announcement was timed to precede the opening of the United Nations Climate Summit. Activist investors like those of the apartheid divestment of the 1980’s seek to bring the conversation about climate change front and center.

“This is a threshold moment,” Ellen Dorsey, executive director of the Wallace Global Fund, which has coordinated the effort to recruit foundations to the cause said to The New York Times. “This movement has gone from a small activist band quickly into the mainstream.”

Activist investors admit that divesting from fossil fuels is unlikely to have an immediate impact on a company’s bottom line but they still hope to “align their assets with their environmental principles”. Others contend that forthcoming regulations on planet warming companies could disrupt profits.

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Air conditioners and central air systems are energy wasting mechanisms that come with a high price tag each month during the summer season. Thankfully, there is an interesting alternative to cool your house naturally: the Cold Pot, a low-tech device that takes the simple occurrence of evaporation and makes it that much more significant.

Clay, a natural substance so menial to most, probably never thought of much, actually has some cool tricks up its sleeve. It’s been around long before the dinosaurs were roaming freely about and embodies an abundance of common (and uncommon) uses. From beauty remedies and products to external and internal medicinal treatments down to pet litter, clay plays an exceptional and health conscious role. Now, in a most unusual portrayal, clay is actually wonderfully useful in altering the warm temps in your home.

How exactly can clay cool your house naturally you ask? French-born designer, Thibault Faverie, has given us the answer with his terracotta Cold Pot invention that utilizes the organic process of evaporation to our benefit. Clay is extremely absorbent so that was the obvious main component used in the design. Cold Pot resembles what most would compare to a flowerpot. It does indeed appear that way, very sleek, simple, and compact in size and shape. But inside is where the magic happens.

Behind the clay exterior lays aluminum cooling slices, connectors, an aluminum pipe, and a fan. The outer pot converts heat through a wide opening at the bottom of the pot while absorbing the water on the inside as the fan propels, releasing it up through the cooling slices and pipe to the outer surface. Once water and air meet, evaporation occurs and a cooler temperature is dispensed. The contraption is so low maintenance it only requires 2 liters of water!

It hasn’t yet been specified how large or small of a room it can cool off, but if the Cold Pot actually ever goes into production, it would make a great little investment. It’s incredibly energy efficient, so no refrigerating gas needed which means as friendly as it is to our environment it also keeps our wallets in mind.

There’s also a major health benefit to the Cold Pot! The air you’d be breathing in would be renewed air, not re-circulated! Re-circulated air is the culprit of many airborne illnesses and germs as well as the lack of moisture, resulting in dry air. Dry air equals possible nosebleeds and sore throats. Renewed air gives you fresh, moist air helping to eliminate the issues mentioned above. Who would’ve ever thought a simple terracotta pot and the age-old philosophy of evaporation could sequentially help cool your house naturally? That’s some pretty awesome, progressive stuff!

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As a South Carolinian I’m not afraid to admit that my state is behind the curve when it comes to solar power. In fact, The Interstate Renewable Energy Council rated South Carolina along with only four other states with D and F grades for progress on the use of renewable energy. But my state is about to open its eyes to solar power thanks to a new piece of legislation that just passed the South Carolina House of Representatives with a vote of 105-0. The final version will soon hit Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk for a signature.

“This is truly a big deal, a giant step in moving South Carolina forward in renewable energy,’’ state Rep. Robert Brown, D-Charleston, said.

The solar power bill has the support of both the utilities and conservation groups after two years of heated negotiations. South Carolina currently depends almost entirely on coal, nuclear power, and natural gas. This new legislation pushes utility companies to increase the use of solar power. By 2021, utilities must get 2 percent of power from the sun, which puts the state in line with other southern states.

Currently, there are only about 7 megawatts of solar power installed in the state, but this new law could increase that number to 300 megawatts. The bill also allows third party leasing, which lowers the cost of solar panel installation for both people and businesses.

Lawmakers are still deciding how utility companies will credit both people and businesses for installing solar panels without cutting into utility power profit.

According to The State, “The legislation also sharply raises one of the nation’s most restrictive caps on the use of solar power by businesses and universities. The cap would be 1 megawatt, instead of the current 100 kilowatt limit for nonresidential solar energy.”

While my state is still miles behind when it comes to renewables, this is a slow but steady step in the right direction.

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Known as “green gold” in Turkey, green builders are looking into using pistachio shells for clean energy to heat Turkey’s new eco-city.

Pistachios are downright delectable, whether as a classic ice cream flavor or as a main ingredient in baklava. But there’s much more to these salty treats than just their gastronomical applications.

Officials in Turkey are planning the country’s first sustainable city and they’re considering burning pistachio shells for biogas to heat both the public and private buildings. The new city, named Gaziatep, will potentially house 200,000 people and it will be located 6 miles from the province’s capitol (also named Gaziatep).

It’s all about utilizing the renewable resources that you have on hand and in an area that produces 6,800 tons of the nut annually, the shells need a better end game than simply turning into waste.

“We thought the ecological city could be heated by burning pistachio shells because when you plan such environment-friendly systems, you take a look at natural resources you have,” said Seda Muftuoglu Gulec, a green building expert for the municipality on AFP.

What’s Biogas?

Biogas is also known as biomethane and it’s a product of anaerobic digestion of organic matter. A solid waste like pistachio shells is then upgraded to a purity standard that makes it safe enough to use as a source of clean energy. It can be used to provide electricity and heat as well as fueling cars. This pistachio shell biogas could provide up to 60 percent of the city’s heating needs.

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The good, the bad, and the ugly. We take a look at how Obama spoke about the environment in the most recent State of the Union address.

It’s hard for me to watch the State of the Union address each year. On one hand, I feel like it’s a civic duty, to stay apprised of the plans elected leaders have for our country. On the other, I’m almost nauseated by the amount of “PR speak” and self-serving camera work. I’ve come to realize that while I want to take the State of the Union seriously, we have no guarantees that any part of this well-written speech will actually come to pass. Considering what was said in the 2014 State of the Union, that could be a blessing in disguise.

First, the good stuff. During the speech, President Obama reiterated what was made plain during the launch of his Climate Action Plan in June: “The debate is settled. Climate change is a fact,” Obama said. Those five words mark a turning point in our national discussion about the extreme weather and other changes that have been repeatedly linked to human carbon emissions and particulate pollution. Obama’s statement sends the message that America is finally ready to discuss not if but WHY climate change is accelerating, and what we can do about it.

The President also scored points with environmentalists by mentioning the need to reduce subsidies for the oil and gas industries, increased investment in solar energy, set new fuel efficiency standards for trucks, and limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Encouraging words, but still just words.

Then, Obama’s State of the Union took a decidedly un-environmental turn. Despite clear scientific evidence that the fracking boom threatens the health of thousands of Americans, putting our soil and drinking water in jeopardy, the President touted the role of natural gas as a job creator. He even proposed that we further prop up this industry by modifying the country’s fleet of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to run on natural gas.

“The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we’ve been in decades,” he said.

Sorry, Mr. President, we’re not buying it. A few weeks ago, four states confirmed that natural gas fracking operations have directly contributed to water pollution in their communities. Just days ago The Rachel Maddow Show reported on a Texas town that’s begging the state to shut down fracking operations that have triggered multiple, devastating earthquakes.

And conveniently absent from the State of the Union address? Any mention of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline–a project Obama has admitted should be rejected if there’s any evidence the project would contribute to air pollution and climate change (which, you know, there is).

So while the State of the Union held many hopeful spots, let’s not forget the contradictions. And as always, that actions speak louder than words.

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China is doubling-down on synthetic natural gas in hopes of reducing air pollution. But is this new natural gas any cleaner?

A study published in Nature last month investigated the finer details of China’s recent approval of nine synthetic natural gas power plants (with plans to build 4o more).

As you may know, China is facing an extreme air pollution problem. Government officials say the large-scale synthetic natural gas plants will curb the countries air pollution issues, but the claim is under scrutiny by the scientific community.

To create synthetic natural gas one must essentially turn coal into a liquid energy source.  Extreme heat and steam used to convert mined coal to synthetic gas that can essentially be transported through pipelines, much like traditional natural gas and oil.

Synthetic natural gas is nothing new, as of 2010 China already had 56 plants in operation.  The United State has one too. It’s called the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in North Dakota, and it began operating in 1984 (yes, the date is creepy).

China has often pointed to the North Dakota plant as a success story and claim to have modeled their synthetic natural gas on its production. What they don’t mention, however, is the drastically different scale. China’s plants will fabricate a total capacity of 37.1 billion cubic meters synthetic natural gas each year. By comparison, the Great Plains Synfuels Plant produces just 1.5 billions cubic meters a year.

Transforming coal into synthetic natural gas is extremely energy and water intensive, so why would China be investing in this energy resource?

It actually takes more energy and water to make synthetic natural gas than simply burning coal itself. In fact, the previously mentioned study reported using synthetic natural gas to create electricity will lead to 36 percent to 82 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions than simply burning coal. The report concludes China’s plants would “produce seven times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas plants and will use up to 100 times the water as shale gas production.”

Although it’s more energy intensive, using synthetic natural gas to create electricity doesn’t emit as much smog and particulate matter as burning coal. Chinese cities has been under extreme attack by environmental organizations and citizens alike to address the sickeningly dense and ever present air pollution.

All the new synthetic natural gas power plants will be built in far west regions of China around inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. These locations are far enough away from the major that cities that, at least in theory, the plants closer to the cities could shut down, and reducing smog and air pollution in urban areas. These plants might create conditions for less particulate matter being pumped into the atmosphere but the energy and water demands only continue to rise.

Synthetic natural gas might be fixing one issue, but it is undoubtedly creating more. How effective can this patchwork approach be?

Robert B. Jackson, second author on the recent study, Nicholas Professor of Environmental Sciences, and director of the Duke Center on Global Change, says, “Using coal to make natural gas may be good for China’s energy security, but it’s an environmental disaster in the making.”

 Image: Jonathan Kos-Read

The post China’s Synthetic Natural Gas: Is It Really Clean Energy? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Feel like you’re falling behind the curve when it comes to clean energy technologies? Not to worry, we’ve gathered up some of the web’s best infographics to get you up to speed.

Oil and coal have had a monopoly on energy production for centuries, but their glory days are just about over. The clean energy industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and quickly approaching grid parity (which means soon solar and wind power will be just as cheap as fossil fuels).

With all the political debate surrounding renewable energy technologies, it’s easy to lose sight of the really important news: that clean energy is creating safe jobs while helping people to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. All without giving up access to the electricity that powers all the gadgets we can’t live without.

To help cut through all the spin, we’ve rounded up nine of our favorite clean energy infographics. If you’re a visual learner (or just don’t have time to read a 10 page article on the growth of solar) they’ll help you digest the facts in record time. Click on the images to enlarge, or on the credit link to see the original.

1. How Do Solar Panels Work, Exactly?

Do you find yourself smiling and nodding when people mention photovoltaics or grid connectivity, but aren’t really sure how it all works? This infographic from Solar Energy Systems explains it all.

2. Top 10 Countries For Solar Power

The U.S. could be a global leader in solar energy, but thanks to political delays and misinformation about solar’s potential, other countries are out in front…for now. This infographic from 1 Block of the Grid shows the top 10 countries in terms of megawatt production.

3. Top 5 Solar Energy Myths

Wondering what kind of misinformation we’re talking about? Check out this infographic from Bright Energy. It shows a few of the myths that solar critics like to spread about this amazing energy source. How many did you believe?

4. Solar Jobs In America

Opponents of solar power often claim that weaning ourselves off coal and oil would be disastrous for our economy because it would eliminate jobs. What they fail to mention is how many jobs it could create! This infographic from 1 Block of the Grid proves that embracing clean energy could be the best thing that ever happened to the American workforce.

5. How Is Wind Power Harvested?

Not sure how a gust of wind is transformed into juice for your phone? No worries, this neat infographic from Daily Infographic explains how wind turbines turn sweet breezes into clean energy, as well as other fascinating facts about this quickly growing industry.

6. Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Wind Power

Did you know that a wind turbine has as many as 8,000 different components? Or that as much as 20 percent of our nation’s electricity could come from wind energy by 2030? These and more mind-blowing facts about wind can be found in this 6 part infographic from the Department of Energy.

7. How Loud Is A Wind Turbine?

Just like solar, wind energy comes with its own set of myths and misconceptions. Some people say they’re unsightly, dangerous for animals, and too loud to be set up near urban areas (where they’re needed the most). This interesting infographic from GE shows that you can’t believe everything you hear.

8. Harnessing The Power Of Geothermal Energy

Solar and wind might be the most popular forms of clean energy, but they’re not the only ones you should know about. Geothermal energy systems tap into the thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth for energy efficient heating and cooling. Never heard of it? Check out this infographic from Wellhome.

9. Energy: Our Past & Future

By now your head is probably swimming with facts and figures about all different types of clean energy. But what does it really mean? How long has it taken us to get this far, and how long will we continue to squeeze the last bits of fossil fuels from the ground? This award-winning inforgraphic from Linda Nakanishi puts it all in perspective.

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