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Google, Harvard's Wissner-Gross debate CO2 from Web Search

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 22, 2009

Harvard graduate student Alex Wissner-Gross created quite a stir with his claim that every web search creates between 5-10 grams of CO2 from the power required to keep those massive server farms going. Google officials apparently thought he was singling it out, but he later said he was speaking about generally about web searches and had no axe to grind with Google.But who does not equate web searc ...... Read More

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Gasoline's Dismal Future

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 15, 2009

I’ve been wondering about the long and short term prospects for gasoline. We’ve seen prices plunge and if the Detroit Auto Show is any indication, one might think we’ll all be driving hybrids and pure electrics within 5-10 years. What’s more, a green-friendly president moves into the White House next Tuesday to work with a Congressional majority which feels the same way ...... Read More

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LG Chem's Win over A123 Raises Questions

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 12, 2009

GM’s selection of LG Chem to supply battery cells for the Chevy Volt and other electric vehicles has all the intrigue of a spy thriller. GM enlisted two teams to vie for potentially lucrative contract to supply battery technology for the Chevy Volt. One was a partnership between A123 Systems of Watertown, Mass. and German concern Continental Automotive while the other was LG Chem an ...... Read More

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Industries: Engineering Behind the Chevy Volt

Natural Gas Emits Ultra-Fine Particulate: Study

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 9, 2009

A new study promises to debunk the belief that natural gas is a completely clean-burning hydrocarbon. The study, published in the Environmental Engineering Science journal, contends natural gas used in home appliances such as cook top burners emits ultra-fine particulate that damage the lungs and brain. The study bolsters the notion that there is ALWAYS a cost to producing energy or heat. Wind ene ...... Read More

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Shadow Flicker and Wind Turbine Noise Wars

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 8, 2009

Two posts ago, I mentioned a dispute between abutters and a wind energy project where shadow flicker and noise were cited as potential problem. The tower started going up this week. So I wondered what shadow flicker is (I chose a link to a power company site with a seemingly credible technical explanation) and how loud wind turbines can be.Look no further than Youtube to appreciate the impact of w ...... Read More

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Automobile Love Affair is Over

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 7, 2009

Carmakers across the board reported rotten December sales so I wondered: Have Americans fallen out of love with the automobile? Have they become more of a necessary evil as opposed to a status symbol or prized possession? Are consumers in increasing numbers viewing the gas-powered automobile as an expensive and environmental pariah instead of a technological marvel? Have we reached an automotive t ...... Read More

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Wind Turbines Not in my Back Yard

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on January 5, 2009

Everyone loves wind energy until someone wants to put a large turbine in their backyard. Just such a battle is playing out in next to my hometown. Mark Richey, owner of a large woodworking business located in former plastic bottle plant where I once worked summers during college, has said he will begin erecting a 600- kilowatt 292-foot high turbine this week, weather permitting. That’s desp ...... Read More

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Top Ten Green Engineering Trends, Stories for 2008

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on December 30, 2008

No doubt, 2008 was a tumultuous year. GM and Chrysler nearly went under. Banks and brokerage house screwed everyone, but we bailed them out anyway. And we saw our 401ks get sawed nearly in half. But it was great year for green engineering which has become a household term if not a common practice in design circles. Here’s a review of the year’s top 10 year green engineering even ...... Read More

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Renewable Energy Kits Instructional

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on December 29, 2008

If you’re interested in renewable energy, but are a neophyte on the topic, check out Thames & Kosmos, LLC’s web page in renewable energy kits. These enable you to conduct anywhere from 20-70 experiments across the four kits, two on fuel cells and one each on wind power and sustainable buildings. They’re not cheap: $50 for the wind power kit to $150 for each o ...... Read More

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Wave and Wind Hybrid Projects Taking Root

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on December 29, 2008

While still largely experimental, wave energy is gathering momentum with this morning’s Boston Globe reporting that a large wave and wind project a dozen miles south off Massachusetts’ well-heeled Nantucket Island. Wind and wave hybrids deploy a combination of wind and wave turbines on fixed platforms similar to oil rigs. Projected output is 100 megawatts, the company sai ...... Read More

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Wave Energy Enjoys Breeze at its Back

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on December 22, 2008

Wave energy holds enormous potential, but is far less further along in its development than other renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels. But some projects are emerging that tackle many of the daunting challenges engineers face such as wave variability, corrosiveness of seawater and environmental concerns. The potential is huge: in wave rich areas, 100-200 megawatts ...... Read More

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HP Enlists Boston Power’s Green Notebook Batteries

John Dodge
Posted by John Dodge on December 16, 2008

What makes a computer battery green? According to Boston Power, green means developing a battery which consistently delivers power after every recharge for at least three years. The green reasoning is the user would be less inclined to replace the old one whose power time dwindles after repeated charges. “With most batteries, you get four hours. A few months later, it’s two ...... Read More

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