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Ma and Pa solutions to global warming
April 09, 2009
The prairies offer opportunities for capitalizing on environmentally friendly farming practices and potentially useful agricultural waste to produce jobs, economic growth, commercial opportunities, and renewable energy sources, according to a perspective article published in the current issue of the International Journal of Private Law. Ronald Griffin, Professor of Law at Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, asks what can leaders do for a desperate and aging population in an environment faced with global warming to re-engage a region that blankets eight states.
The Great Plains are dotted with oil patches, public utilities, farms, ranches, feed lots, meat-packing plants, medium-size cities, military bases and tiny towns feeding on agricultural activity, explains Griffin. Hidden in this vast region are major resources yet to be tapped aside from the great agricultural assets. He cites marketable sod, fertilizers, bio-methane, and renewable electricity generation as answers to his question. Artificial wetlands also offer sites for the sequestration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Projects associated with trapping heat, fuel resources and greenhouse gas capture could all contribute to efforts to ward off debilitating climate change.
"When the climate sours, farm economies clank and civilisation burps, people abandon their homesteads and trek somewhere to find jobs and opportunities to improve their lot," says Griffin. "Climate change inspires some of this." But there is an alternative that does not simply hanker for the agricultural "good-old days" which actually never existed, "We must make business climate conscious and climate consciousness profitable," he adds.
Environmental change, energy shortages, and economic downturn are not discrete challenges, there is a connectivity between all three aspects of the threats facing the world today, asserts Griffin. Addressing any of these three problems without facing up to the others will not provide a lasting solution and could make matters worse. In fact the US is facing a single crisis brought on by an overall design defect in the modern industrial machine, he adds.
Farmers can siphon stuff from nature's life cycle better than anybody. Exploiting this life skill captures the prairie's potential. It generates food for us, harnesses renewable energy, and addresses our concerns about rising carbon dioxide levels.
Inderscience Publishers
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Renewable Energy
by Godfrey Boyle (Editor)
Stimulated by recent technological developments and increasing concern over the sustainability and environmental impact of conventional fuel usage, the prospect of producing clean, sustainable power in substantial quantities from renewable energy sources arouses interest world-wide. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principal types of renewable energy-including solar, thermal photovoltaics, bioenergy, hydro, tidal, wind, wave, and geothermal. In addition, the text explains the underlying physical and technological principles of renewable energy and examines the environmental impact and future prospects of different energy sources. It includes over 350 detailed illustrations, more than fifty tables of data, and a wide range of case studies. Renewable Energy, 2/e is ideal...
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Renewable Energy: Sustainable Energy Concepts for the Future
by Roland Wengenmayr (Editor), Thomas Bührke (Editor)
This essential new title provides a contemporary overview on a major key topic of the 21st century. Written by well known scientists in the area who discuss the topic soberly and without ideology, they focus on how photovoltaic, solar power, wind power, hydropower, geothermal energy, fuel cells, and hydrogen enterprise work. Presented in full-colour with catchy information diagrams and information boxes. “… the book offers a solid overview of possibilities of environmental friendly techniques, energy conversion, storage, and transportation” – FAZ (German newspaper)
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Careers in Renewable Energy: Get a Green Energy Job
by Gregory McNamee (Author)
Numerous job opportunities await in the fast-growing field of renewable energy. Grab this handy book and discover how green energy can be a part of your future. Job sectors include solar and wind energy, biofuels, hydrogen energy and fuel cells, geothermal energy, hydro energy, green building, climate study, energy management and efficiency, and much more. Various jobs within each sector (engineering and technical positions, project management, R&D and sales/marketing) are discussed, and the appendix is loaded with resource materials for further education and training, professional associations, reference Web sites and more.
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Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, Second Edition
by Aldo V. da Rosa (Author)
We are hearing a LOT about renewable energy these days! But unlike most available resources on alternative energy that focus on politics and economic impacts, da Rosa's practical guide, Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, is dedicated to explaining the scientific and technological principles and processes that enable energy production from safe, renewable, clean sources.
Advances in the renewable energy sphere are proceeding with an unprecedented speed, and in order for the world's alarming energy challenges to be solved, solid, up-to-date resources addressing the technical aspects of renewables are essential.
This new, updated 2e of da Rosa's successful book continues to give readers all the background they need to gain a thorough understanding of the most popular...
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The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living)
by Dan Chiras (Author)
The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence. The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy tells you how. It starts by outlining the likely impacts of fossil fuel shortages and some basic facts about energy. It then discusses energy conservation to slash energy bills and prepare...
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Sunforce 50013 1W Power Sports Charger
by Sunforce
The Sunforce 50013 1 Watt Power Sports Charger is the perfect solution for charging the batteries of motorcycles, personal water crafts, ATVs, snowmobiles and tractors. The 50013 is not only weatherproof, but maintenance free and extremely easy to install. With its built in overcharge / discharge protection, you cannot go wrong with the 50013 battery charger. This top of the line solar panel works in all daylight conditions to keep your batteries charged. Your purchase includes wires with quick connect technology, battery clamps, and an O ring connector and fuse.
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The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living
by William H. Kemp (Author)
As oil prices continue to rise, many people are starting to think about how to unhook from the electricity grid. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and rural energy independence. Author/engineer William H. Kemp, who is a leading expert in small- and mid-scale renewable energy technologies, designed and built his own off-grid home. The result is a house that has all the standard “middle-class” creature comforts while using less than five times the total fossil-fuel energy of the average North American house. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses on the unique requirements of off-grid living and contains chapters on energy conservation; heating and cooling; backup power; domestic water heating; wireless communications;...
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Renewable Energy Policy
by Paul Komor (Author)
Renewable energy is the key to the future of humankind. Wind power, solar (photovoltaic) energy, geothermal power, and other forms of renewables can help solve our most pressing environmental problems, including global climate change. But how do we move these promising technologies out of the laboratory and into widespread use? Renewable Energy Policy shows what public policy can—and cannot—do to help tap renewables' promise. Renewable Energy Policy takes a pragmatic, nuts-and-bolts look at the myriad government efforts to promote renewables, and reports back on what works, what doesn't, and why. In clear, jargon-free language, Renewable Energy Policy shows how and why some policies have achieved impressive results, and others have failed. Skillfully interweaving...
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Modern Marvels: Renewable Energy
Starring: Artist Not Provided
In the young 21st Century, two realizations are dawning on the world's population: we are hopelessly dependent on petroleum, which is only going to get more expensive; and global warming, caused mainly by our burning of fossil fuels, will impact civilization in ways that we're only beginning to grasp. Stepping in to fight both of these massive problems are the rapidly evolving technologies that harness renewable energy. We will see how air, water, earth, and fire are transformed into clean, reliable sources of heat, electricity, and even automobile fuel. We'll take an in-depth look at the most proven and reliable sources: solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal power. From the experimental to the tried-and-true, renewable energy sources are overflowing with potential... just waiting...
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Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower, and Other Alternative Energy Sources
by David Craddock (Author)
Studies have shown that the average North American family will spend more than a quarter of a million dollars on energy in a lifetime. What many other countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, China, Brazil, and even Iceland, have realized is that there is a better way to power our homes, businesses, and cars by using renewable energy sources. Recently, the United States has begun to understand the importance of reducing its reliance on coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydropower plants, which comprise the majority of the nation s electricity, due to increasing oil prices. Some sections of the country, including California, are turning to renewable energy sources. In fact, 12 percent of California s electricity is produced by renewable resources. The potential for the...
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