There has been a recent breakthrough in LED efficiency to get much more light with the same amount of power. Patented in 2020, it should be going into production soon. There is a nerdy explanation here:
I suppose that one of the Five Horsemen preventing decarbonization is Crypto and AI. Both use a tremendous amount of electricity because they're using thousands of computers all at the same time.
Dok, I know you focus on good news most of your climate articles, but I gotta point out that there's some really bad news this morning. The Guardian just posted the results of a survey of climate scientists. 94% believe we're gonna blow right past the 1.5° target like it's not even there. The consensus is 2.5° increase by the end of the century, with a large minority predicting over 3°.
We've known for a while that even with the Paris Accord going full-throttle, it wasn't going to be enough to keep us below 1.5. We're long past the point of preventing major impacts from global warming. Mitigation efforts are going to be just as important as reduction this century.
Yeah, I know. It should be obvious, seeing as all efforts to date have not reduced CO2 emissions a jot, they've only slowed the rate of growth in emissions. Until we actually REDUCE emissions, things can only get worse and worse.
Global emissions may have peaked in 2023, but we won't know for a few years. China's emissions probably did. It's good news, and we're close to that inflection point if not just past it.
It's too little and too late, but it's maybe happening finally. And we can build on this momentum.
Maybe. Other data says that emissions are still rising. It would be nice to have really reliable data in something closer to realtime. And of course, a lot depends on what gets counted as "emissions." Fossil fuel emissions are only a fraction of the total, but a lot of the reporting acts like that's all there is. It would take a significant reduction just to offset CO2 released in concrete production, and everybody is building out infrastructure to try to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
Just got an Ioniq 5 a month ago, only put about 1500 KM on it so far, as we're not huge drivers. Two weekend ~200 km trips on weekends are the only reason we topped 1000.
Im really enjoying not going to gas stations so far, though!
Lol I have to go to gas stations because the car doesn't have a rear windshield wiper, which it desperately needs. So I'll pull in, squeegee the back, and drive off.
I hope to join your ranks someday. I've got solar, and I produce a surplus. I'm replacing my kerosene-fired heater with an electric heat pump this spring, already got rid of my propane appliances and water heater, the vehicle is in the plans if they make one I can use and afford.
Through mostly dumb luck we came into a large sum of money recently, so I put in solar, a heat pump, a heat pump water heater and got an electric car. We're working towards making this a net zero home. Only gas we have is the pool heater, my BBQ and a gas fireplace that we never use.
It's basically a dream come true for me!
Glad to join you on the solar front (once it's turned on...)
Speaking of energy, thansks to all of you who have been supporting anti-abortion Rep. Henry Cuellar
(D-Azerbaijan) is his effort to grift and help a country with their oil while ignoring that in Texas...
What Azerbaijan Wants From Texas Politicians
Laredo congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted last week on charges that he hid payments from Azerbaijan. The country has long waged an influence campaign in Texas.
Thanks for all the good news, but I can't get past that image of the washing machine plugged into the lamppost. What did the guy think he was going to do with it? Stand out in the street and do laundry? Even in L.A., you'd think that would attract a little attention.
Streetlight circuits are wired for a specific amount of current & no more. So that's a really stupid idea, unless they are going to rewire entire cities of their streetlights!
You understand that most of the wiring was installed for older, more power-hungry lights, don't you? The new streetlights no doubt include more energy-efficient lights, so the total power requirement will still come under the rating for the existing wiring.
Is it probably false, or are you just guessing? I'm guessing, but at least my guess is based on basic design principals for making a profitable, marketable product. They're not gonna have many takers if cities have to rewire their street lights, so it only makes sense that they've designed their gizmos so that that's not necessary.
There has been a recent breakthrough in LED efficiency to get much more light with the same amount of power. Patented in 2020, it should be going into production soon. There is a nerdy explanation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EkWn49Zi2U
Granny Weatherwax references always make my day.
Clearly, the path to sustainable, cleaner, and more efficient sources of energy is a long one.
Ta, Dok. Nice Times!! Again!
Thanks Dok, you make energy efficiency fun. Now if we could just get more in Virginia. We have all those hungry data centers to feed.
Mondo upfist for this article, and extra upfist for the Knopfler ref -- that's one of my favorites songs of his.
I suppose that one of the Five Horsemen preventing decarbonization is Crypto and AI. Both use a tremendous amount of electricity because they're using thousands of computers all at the same time.
This raised my spirits, 2.5 degree increase notwithstanding. Thanks, Doc!!
Science fact: Tribble meat has the same amount of protein at less than half the carbon footprint as chicken, because they grow so fast
How is their mouth feel, as compared to, say, a shmoo?
Dok, I know you focus on good news most of your climate articles, but I gotta point out that there's some really bad news this morning. The Guardian just posted the results of a survey of climate scientists. 94% believe we're gonna blow right past the 1.5° target like it's not even there. The consensus is 2.5° increase by the end of the century, with a large minority predicting over 3°.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2024/may/08/hopeless-and-broken-why-the-worlds-top-climate-scientists-are-in-despair
It's nothing we haven't suspected, but it's not encouraging to get confirmation.
We've known for a while that even with the Paris Accord going full-throttle, it wasn't going to be enough to keep us below 1.5. We're long past the point of preventing major impacts from global warming. Mitigation efforts are going to be just as important as reduction this century.
Yeah, I know. It should be obvious, seeing as all efforts to date have not reduced CO2 emissions a jot, they've only slowed the rate of growth in emissions. Until we actually REDUCE emissions, things can only get worse and worse.
Global emissions may have peaked in 2023, but we won't know for a few years. China's emissions probably did. It's good news, and we're close to that inflection point if not just past it.
It's too little and too late, but it's maybe happening finally. And we can build on this momentum.
Maybe. Other data says that emissions are still rising. It would be nice to have really reliable data in something closer to realtime. And of course, a lot depends on what gets counted as "emissions." Fossil fuel emissions are only a fraction of the total, but a lot of the reporting acts like that's all there is. It would take a significant reduction just to offset CO2 released in concrete production, and everybody is building out infrastructure to try to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
"Electric vehicles charged by solar?"
Hey, that's me! (well, it will be as soon as Oshawa power replaces my meter...)
It's me also! And we drive a truly unfortunate amount, so it's great to be in a nice EV.
Just got an Ioniq 5 a month ago, only put about 1500 KM on it so far, as we're not huge drivers. Two weekend ~200 km trips on weekends are the only reason we topped 1000.
Im really enjoying not going to gas stations so far, though!
Lol I have to go to gas stations because the car doesn't have a rear windshield wiper, which it desperately needs. So I'll pull in, squeegee the back, and drive off.
Mine doesn't either (apparently starting next model year they're adding one)
What a weird design issue, 'cause the back window gets WAY dustier than it did on my last car for whatever reason...
I'm wondering if a rear wiper can be retrofit. Probably not, because of the need for wiring and getting the washer fluid plumbed back there.
I bought a squeegee yesterday, which I'll keep in the garage so I can at least start the day with some rear visibility.
I was actually thinking about that as well. Man does the rear window get dusty in a hurry, particularly under the spoiler area, no rain can get there.
I hope to join your ranks someday. I've got solar, and I produce a surplus. I'm replacing my kerosene-fired heater with an electric heat pump this spring, already got rid of my propane appliances and water heater, the vehicle is in the plans if they make one I can use and afford.
Through mostly dumb luck we came into a large sum of money recently, so I put in solar, a heat pump, a heat pump water heater and got an electric car. We're working towards making this a net zero home. Only gas we have is the pool heater, my BBQ and a gas fireplace that we never use.
It's basically a dream come true for me!
Glad to join you on the solar front (once it's turned on...)
Wow. Thanks, Doc. That’s all sort of in the nick of time for me, despair-wise.
Speaking of energy, thansks to all of you who have been supporting anti-abortion Rep. Henry Cuellar
(D-Azerbaijan) is his effort to grift and help a country with their oil while ignoring that in Texas...
What Azerbaijan Wants From Texas Politicians
Laredo congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted last week on charges that he hid payments from Azerbaijan. The country has long waged an influence campaign in Texas.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/azerbaijan-texas-politicians-henry-cuellar/?utm_source=texasmonthly
In Texas, even the Democratic pols are actually Republican.
Thanks for all the good news, but I can't get past that image of the washing machine plugged into the lamppost. What did the guy think he was going to do with it? Stand out in the street and do laundry? Even in L.A., you'd think that would attract a little attention.
Streetlight circuits are wired for a specific amount of current & no more. So that's a really stupid idea, unless they are going to rewire entire cities of their streetlights!
You understand that most of the wiring was installed for older, more power-hungry lights, don't you? The new streetlights no doubt include more energy-efficient lights, so the total power requirement will still come under the rating for the existing wiring.
You're making the false assumption they're changing to LEDs.
Plus, charging cars takes far more power than the old mercury vapor or sodium vapor lights ever used.
It's a non-starter of a bad idea!
Is it probably false, or are you just guessing? I'm guessing, but at least my guess is based on basic design principals for making a profitable, marketable product. They're not gonna have many takers if cities have to rewire their street lights, so it only makes sense that they've designed their gizmos so that that's not necessary.
I was just listening to Equal Rites last night, Dok. XD