Archive for March, 2009
« Previous EntriesThe New and Improved CTL Scheme
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.” - Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut
A very short paper (two pages) appeared in the latest Science detailing an improvement on coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology. A couple of people have e-mailed me to ask for my take [...]
Should I Be an Environmental Economist?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
NW says “I am thinking of becoming an environmental economist, but I have a few concerns:
Are they high in demand by economics departments? If not, what can they do to make themselves more marketable?
If environmental economists are not high in demand in academia, why not?
I really enjoy thinking about, discussing, and solving [...]
Fixed and Variable Costs
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
I was explaining “cost” to a reporter last week, and we got onto fixed and variable costs (and revenues).
A fixed cost does not change with your behavior. My bimonthly water bill from EBMUD has a “water service charge” of $19.06 and “seismic improvement program surcharge” of $3.52. I pay these charges even [...]
Food Chain FAIL
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Bottom Line: Don’t make “policy” about things you don’t understand.
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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Self-Fulfilled Prophesies
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
As I noted here and here, simulations are only as good as the parameters specified, but this paper [PDF] takes that obvious truth a step further. In it, Kidson et al., estimate the reliability of Metropolitan’s water supply — given different shares of imported water in Met’s total portfolio. (Local water may [...]
Yes He Could
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
Feasible? Yes. Realistic? No.
Do I believe the U.S. can be energy independent? Yes, I believe that with certain draconian measures, the U.S. could achieve energy independence within 10 years. But emphasis must be placed on ‘draconian.’ So yes, I think Barack Obama could make good on his campaign promises and make [...]
When A Problem Comes Along…
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I was going to create a post that was addressed to DEVO and asked that they stop wearing their silly plastic hats. Then I realized that they are irrelevant. At about the same instant, my horribly song-tagged head underwent a kind of metamorphosis whereby it was no longer tagged with the original [...]
Earth Needs More Than ONE Hour!
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This past weekend, people around the world “showed solidarity” by turning off their lights for one hour.
I don’t know about you, but this seems like another example of greenwashing — where people “do the right thing” for a moment before going back to business as usual — or carbon offset indulgences — [...]
California Is a Third World Country
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
via someone nice, I received copies of letters between Jean Sagouspe and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Sagouspe has donated over $90,000 to various political figures in the past decade — according to public records.
(Interestingly, shehe has worked as “farmer, realtor, self-employed, homemaker, housewife [sic], Triple J Partners, Sagouspe Enterprises, Harris Ranch, JP Properties, [...]
Speed Blogging VIII
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
The short version of Lester Brown’s plan to save civilization [a new book] is well-worth a look. He wants to cut population, reduce GHG emissions, and conserve other resources. He provides cost estimates, but I expect the real trouble is finding a way to get the programs going AND share the costs [...]
Freshkills Park
Submitted by everydaytrash
…has a blog!
via Frehskills2030 on Flickr
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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Weekend Discussion: Foreign Food
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
NOTE: This post will stay here until Sunday night. Posts for Saturday and Sunday morning go below this post.
Dear Aguanauts,
Discussion posts allow you to discuss your beliefs on a topic — to share your understanding, experience and opinions — without worrying about what’s right or what others think. (Check out last week’s [...]
What’s Beneficial Use?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
All over the western United States, water rights* are defined with “beneficial use” in mind. Section 2 of Article X (”Water”) of California’s Constitution says:
It is hereby declared that because of the conditions prevailing in this State the general welfare requires that the water resources of the State be put to beneficial [...]
Weekend Discussion: Foreign Food
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
NOTE: This post will stay here until Sunday night. Posts for Saturday and Sunday morning go below this post.
Dear Aguanauts,
Discussion posts allow you to discuss your beliefs on a topic — to share your understanding, experience and opinions — without worrying about what’s right or what others think. (Check out last week’s [...]
Economy vs. Environment
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This piece from the New Yorker is BRILLIANT:
The world’s financial and energy crises are connected, and they are similar because credit and fossil fuels are forms of leverage: oil, coal, and natural gas are multipliers of labor in much the same way that credit is a multiplier of wealth. Human history is [...]
Don’t Subsidize Water
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
From the Department of No Duh!, we get this World Bank paper:
The pressure on an already stressed water situation in South Africa is predicted to increase significantly under climate change, plans for large industrial expansion, observed rapid urbanization, and government programs to provide access to water to millions of previously excluded people.
The [...]
Drumming up Business?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
(via DW) The Pacific Institute says that “significant improvement is needed in the depth and breadth of corporate reporting on water, particularly regarding water issues outside of direct business operations”
Now water reporting sounds like a great way for various consultants to make good money from corporations, and I am sure that the [...]
Greywater
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
In the comments to my post, greywater came up.
[Interested readers will want to revisit this post on greywater regulation and this one on health standards. Also get more information from the Greywater Alliance or Greywater Guerrillas.]
In this update (via DW), we get an idea of the silliness surrounding greywater regulations:
The vast majority [...]
Landscaping Efficiency
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
During my water chat with Joe Berg of MWDOC, we discussed his studies of water conservation for landscaping in urban areas.
Although he discussed some on-going studies (where only 30 percent of homeowners given access to $3,000 credits towards installation of high-efficiency irrigation controllers actually opted into the program; 70 percent did nothing), [...]
Water Wars NOT!
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Fleck has a great post on water wars:
It is still important that the popular myth of water wars somehow be dispelled once and for all. This will not only stop unsettling and incorrect predictions of international conflict over water. It will also discourage a certain public resignation that climate change will bring [...]
Aventine, Verenium on the Ropes
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
Reality is starting to catch up with prospective cellulosic ethanol producers. I felt like this was bound to happen, but the poor economy is making it happen faster than I expected. I expected some plants to be built, and then they would bleed red ink for a while before declaring bankruptcy. [...]
Reusable Bag Roundup
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I buy reusable bags from a guy who stands outside the entrance to the main vegetable market in the city. They come in either black or brown. I get some of each and relegate the brown ones for the produce that comes with soil on them. Oh, and they cost less than [...]
March Madness
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
The front entrance area of my residence has transformed into some kind of gyre. The wind brings plastic bags and assorted other trash in from the street and it never leaves. On the bright side, there is usually an intact plastic bag there for me to but all the ragged ones into. [...]
Kuros Zahedi
Submitted by everydaytrash
…will be at the Seattle Green Festival this weekend making art out of trash
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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TrashCade
Submitted by everydaytrash
Cute use of old boxes: build a destructable cabinet for your video game system that allows you to stand up and play, old school arcade style.
TechEBlog
Via Cnet via TechEBlog
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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