My first boss in IT used always to say if you bring up a problem you own the problem. Yesterday I brought up the growing global issue of Climate change. Today I want to talk about some things everyone can do. The first thing is to look up your countries, state, city, or other government and what Transactive Energy laws are in place. Scientists put the amount of renewable water energy every day at nearly 26% of that energy produced. What does that mean? Let’s break it down. In the world of energy, there are producers, and there are consumers. The power company produces energy and sends it along the power lines until somebody says I need that, and it is consumed. It is important to note that the power system globally is almost always charged. If you think the power is bad where you are, look at some developing nations and how bad their power is. I have friends in South America, Africa and some Asian countries that routinely have 1-2 and 3-day brownouts (no power).
But power and the way it moves is not like a river. Once the river, in its banks starts flowing, even a dam doesn’t change its course, the Dam stops the water. Electricity is a circuit system and flows both ways on the cabling. But today, for some areas of the world, only one way is supported. What that means is that the concept behind Transactive Energy has not been accepted. TE allows a producer of electricity to sell their extra. Remember, I said that we lose 26% or so every minute of every day, of energy we’ve already produced. That is above 50% or more that is lost in the transmission of energy in the system to keep those power lines changed. TE allows the producer (you) to send your extra power into the power grid for someone else (your neighbor) to consume. Oh, by the way when your home solar system or your home wind turbine produces more energy than you need for your house, you also get paid for that energy. Overall solar reduces your electric bill.
What can I do:
1. work with your local government to make sure that Transactive Energy is adopted by your power company and by the government! (TE requires a new power meter at the house, it is called a digital meter)
2. if you can get a Solar array!
3. I know this next statement is going to get me in trouble. But all buildings that use space inefficiently (Libraries, Museums, Schools, shopping malls, shopping centers, movie theaters) should be legally required to have a Solar Array on their roof to offset the water energy. I know people love Libraries and Museums, I do as well, but they are huge drains of energy.
4. Pass laws that go beyond the list above to force all buildings over ten stories to have a solar array or wind turbine on the roof of the building.
Transactive Energy is the first step to cleaning up the environment before it is too late!
Link to the last post
The science behind Climate Change. Yes, it is real. Yes it is scary. No, it is not to late!
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Question of
One person changing one law in one country makes a difference ok?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Did you know we produce 2 times the power we use every day becuase we lose 50% or more in transportaiton of the energy?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Why don’t all libaries have solar arrays on the roof?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Should musuems have solar arrays>?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
renewable energy is a good thing right?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Don’t be afraid, act ok?
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Yes
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No
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Q: One person changing one law in one country makes a difference ok?
Yes (12 votes) – 86%
No (2 votes) – 14%
Q: Did you know we produce 2 times the power we use every day becuase we lose 50% or more in transportaiton of the energy?
Yes (6 votes) – 43%
No (8 votes) – 57%
Q: Why don’t all libaries have solar arrays on the roof?
Yes (7 votes) – 54%
No (6 votes) – 46%
Q: Should musuems have solar arrays>?
Yes (11 votes) – 85%
No (2 votes) – 15%
Q: renewable energy is a good thing right?
Yes (12 votes) – 86%
No (2 votes) – 14%
Q: Don’t be afraid, act ok?
Yes (12 votes) – 92%
No (1 votes) – 8%
Yes, public buildings should use solar power
that is step 1 I agree. First let’s start to make less impact.
We all need to do something about it so that the adverse effects will be minimized. That’s one of the reasons why I continue to harp on Monsanto. I want to make sure that I do my part so that Greta Thunberg will not come after me. “How dare you!”
i suspect as we go forward that the part we all need to do isn’t online. The time of online blogs decrying the impact is over.
It is time to act IRL.
Knowledge is the key to improvement in this case I would have to do some research. I do know, that my home has energy efficient everything and the meter was just replaced before we moved in.
my cut is you now have a digital meter. that is a great starting point.
when it comes to energy production, the two main issues are storage and transport
that is so massively true.
we have production systems located in various parts of the country. We generate power 24 hours a day. We push that power across the massive power grid.
we lose power every time we send it down the line.
ever heard of solid state batteries? they could be a real game changer…
fuel cells are also game-changers.
but it is the when will they be on the market.
and generally speaking, I am against rushing to be FTM- don’t ship it until it is ready! but in this case…
I think Tesla and their flaming batteries would agree with you. LiOn works well for storage, but produces a massive amount of heat at times.
TE or Transactive energy is something we need now!
Very interesting post. I or we in our country would very much like to change something. Unfortunately, this is not possible because we have no words or no one listens to us. One citizen cannot change the law here. Only the government can do that.
i know that feeling. We feel that in the US all the time. Change has to be small then! I am writing a second article about what you can do, that is small today!!!
I will definitely need to research solar systems a bit more.
They are better every year than the year before!
That’s good to know!
i first got a solar array on my roof four years ago. In the past four years, I have saved more than 4000 pounds of atmospheric Carbon, from just my house. Sadly the extra energy (beyodn what I use today) generated by our system is wasted today.
Do they work well in winter too?
they work year-round. They are on the roof, in the summer the produce 24kw maximum of electricity. In the winter they produce a maximum of 20 kw.
We don’t use more than 18 even on a really hot day.
Wow, that’s really great!
we have been very happy so far. Now on today, our 4th straight day of gray our production is down to 18kw a day.
Thank you for sharing. Every bit of information and effort helps especially when we all chip in.
it is about all of us working together!
Absolutely correct. Often we shift the blame to our governments and the folks we deem responsible but fail to see how our little effort can make a difference.
My grandfather always said it is easier to blame than act.
That photo makes me want to cough. Yes to all the above and each person can do their part. Renewable energy is the way forward.
It is one step! We have to change the laws first and do more to reduce waste.
Literally creating a power transmission system that was able to move 80% of the power to the destination without loss, would reduce the global production of CO2 by more than 40% in one year.
This is one great idea, dear friend … our country is already giving subsidies and favorable credits for setting up solar panels … I am already thinking in this direction when my central heating stove is blowing up
I’ve read a lot about the EU programs. Based on what has been done in Holland and Germany there is hope for the rest of the world!
We are involved in these programs … that’s where the money comes from
yes that is a really good thing. the EU is ahead in some areas of global preservation.
I agree with you … there are really large sums of money available to co-finance various projects
Let us hope that we do not need any more statues of great leaders. Instead solar panels everywhere!
Thanks for all the reminders Doc. If we all do something, it will make a difference. Small things then become big ones to fight the problem.
you bet! I am trying to keep a positive path on this very controversial and painful issue.
In Israel, most apartments have solar power that is used to heat water for personal household use. It would be a good idea to have turbines on the rooves as as well to catch the wind energy that could be used for household use too.
every time we reduce one person’s consumption we tick dependence on negative energy sources down a little!
that by the way is awesome glad to hear that!
In many countries , Solar is the basic energy source now a days and it is expanding day be day
I would have to ask you to prove that.
The two largest verified producers of solar today are Germany and Holland at between 35 and 38% overall energy production. That is roughly a 1/3 of the energy used. The remainder drops radically from there. Although there are countries rising.
Although I did not understand everything that you explained I concur with you completely. Solar and wind energy is the way to go for sure to help save the planet. But is it really going to be enough? I wonder.
It is the first step, the real issue holding back solar is TE laws.