Balancing act
March 27, 2009
For Environment Minister Jim Prentice, it’s all “about balance.”
Prentice was in Calgary on March 6 speaking to Calgary business leaders at a breakfast for members of the Institute of Corporate Directors. His main message – that our energy, our environment and our economy are all interconnected and that public policy should seek to balance all three of these elements. In his eyes, national environmental policies also need to be positive tools for economic renewal.
This balancing act also applies to energy production. “Bottom line,” Prentice stressed, “any energy sources that both countries produce need to be as environmentally friendly as possible.”
That other country Minister Prentice is speaking of is the United States. Prentice reiterated the Canadian government’s stance that cooperation with the U.S. is crucial as we move forward with plans for our environment and our economy.
The main tool to move this new spirit of cooperation forward is the Clean Energy Dialogue, first announced Feb 19 during President Obama’s visit to Ottawa. The Dialogue focuses on three areas: expanding research and development in the area of clean energy, developing and deploying clean energy technology and building a more efficient electricity system based on renewable energy generation.
Prentice is optimistic that the Dialogue can help Canada reduce its emissions, particularly through focusing on new innovations, such as carbon capture and storage. He also highlighted some good news stories regarding Canada’s energy production. Currently, 73 per cent of Canada’s electrical system doesn’t emit carbon at all. This will increase to 90 per cent by 2020 as new hydro, nuclear, wind and solar resources come online.
Prentice will continue to spread this message of balance as he moves the Clean Energy Dialogue forward in Canada and the U.S. in the coming months.
Friday Facts
March 27, 2009
Canada is the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. In 2006, Canada generated 351.9 billion kilowatt hours of hydroelectricity.
Source: Energy Information Administration
What’s all the buzz about?
March 26, 2009
Here’s a shock – car sales are down. An easy prediction, given the current economic climate. The more difficult prediction is what happens next.
Not a few industry insiders are predicting the electric car will – finally – make an impact.
The scoop on the automobile market. In December, sales of new motor vehicles in Canada fell 14.8% to 109,831 units. This was the largest monthly decline and lowest sales level since January 1998, when an ice storm crippled parts of the country.
New trucks fared even worse. “Trucks” is a catch-all category, including minivans, SUVs, light and heavy trucks, vans, and buses. Sales fell 20.4% to 50,997 units. Again, this was also the largest decrease for this vehicle type since January 1998.
Enter, maybe, the long-predicted electric car. The electric car has been hamstrung by poor performance, and no regulatory support. Both formidable obstacles. Obstacles that seem to be changing.
First, performance. BMW is testing the Mini E, which reviewers are calling a “little rocket ship.”
Electric cars have been derided as slugs, but the Mini E – and vehicles like it – move at highway speeds. 500 test vehicles are slated for testing on the roads of New York and Los Angeles this year.
Second, regulatory support. Automakers are preparing for the day when taxes and regulations will likely prevent gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles from entering the core of major European cities. North American cities may follow suit.
BMW and other automakers genuinely seem committed to electric car development. Some predict the electric car will comprise 10 per cent of all new cars sold worldwide, currently around 70 million units a year.
That’s 7 million new electric cars per year. That would be a shock.
Saving the earth one song at a time
March 26, 2009
Yet another green music initiative: a Canadian band is ensuring their CD is emissions free
City not meeting 2010 greenhouse gas target
March 26, 2009
Even Canada’s greenest province has a city that won’t meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets due to significant development and growth
Green building rating systems battle it out for supremacy
March 25, 2009
What green building rating system should you choose? According to construction industry experts, the choice is entirely up to you
Full Story [Journal of Commerce]
Electrifying new technology
March 25, 2009
If your hair is standing on end, maybe it has something to do with the electrified ceiling.
That’s right. Direct current (DC) electric systems are getting a new set of standards, and could soon be favoured over our present alternating current (AC) systems. But it doesn’t mean rewiring every building in order to charge up devices. It would just mean electrifying ceilings, walls, and floors.
Our ‘current’ system is based on big, central power plants that pump out high voltage, with decreasing output levels for commercial and residential distribution. At every step, there are energy losses – as much as 10% of the electricity transmitted by the power plant is lost on the way.
A DC system would standardize electricity, using the same voltage for all our devices and reducing costs not only in consumption, but also in the manufacturing of transformers and converters. DC power needs no childproofing, no wall warts, creates no EMF and makes adding alternative sources like solar and wind much easier.
In reality, the type of power would be so low that you couldn’t feel it, unless you touched your tongue to the ceiling. This low-voltage, direct current alternative is safe and preferred due to its flexibility, efficiency and sustainability. The perfect power source for LED lights!
As standards are set and technology improves, it’s just a matter of time before the eco-building industry snaps up the idea. Rewire our thinking without having to rewire all of our buildings.
A new approach to energy that is grounded in green thinking.
Trees have life as biofuel
March 25, 2009
Can dead trees breathe new life into alternative energy? Knock on wood…
Wednesday Words
March 25, 2009
Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) | method of producing heavy oil which involves two horizontal wellbores, one above the other; steam is injected into the upper wellbore and softened bitumen is recovered from the lower wellbore
City dwellers pollute less, study says
March 25, 2009
Torontonians lead the way in energy efficiency
