At one time, natural gas was seen as little more than a superfluous byproduct of the oil extraction process. But once the potential of natural gas as an energy source became clear, a new era in energy production was soon off and running. Today, natural gas accounts for 23 percent of the world’s total energy consumption, and the International Energy Agency is projecting that by 2035, natural gas use across the globe will expand by an astounding 44 percent. One of the reasons why governments and industry are pushing natural gas so hard at the
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Back in 1989, two University of Utah researchers named Pons and Fleischmann announced to the world that certain experiments they had performed appeared to show the existence of a new type of power source. This new type of energy appeared to emerge as a side effect of certain chemical reactions involving heavy water and palladium, and it was given the name “cold fusion” because it was theorized by these two electrochemists that the excess energy being detected was coming from reactions taking place on the atomic level. Nuclear fusion is the process that fuels energy-releasing
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A decision to move off the grid means profound changes are coming. But many people do not realize what an incredible opportunity for change the off-the-grid lifestyle really represents. This is because most people do not truly understand how deeply co-opted and colonized they have become after living for so long under the camouflaged thumb of a system that comprehensively oppresses our instincts for independence and self-reliance.

The government has quite a bit of egg on its face after the Solyndra debacle. Yet it’s not just one venture that’s the problem. For more than a decade, the U.S. government has been pouring money and easy loans into the alternative energy space. The government has no reason to be in the alternative energy space, and no business meddling in a market that works very well on its own. The fact of the matter is that the government likes to back losing propositions. Private businesses and industries don’t have that luxury. They have to
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Sustainability is a central theme in off-the-grid living, and as technology advances, it becomes easier to access the sustainability one desires at a cost that’s relatively inexpensive to prior years. However, this proliferation of access to energy and value in acquisition also brings looseness in the mindset of those who participate in it. Suddenly, those
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Many U.S. states have given up waiting on the federal government to fully support achieving energy independence in the country. Among many locally-sponsored programs, Hawaii and Iowa have taken large steps toward using alternative energy to provide power for their citizens. Hawaii in particular has sought to increase production of electricity generated by solar power. Hawaiian Electric Company (HEC) has reached a milestone of providing 20 megawatts of electricity through solar power generation. The most prominent location for solar power is on the island of Oahu, where HEC operates a solar array and approximately 4,000
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There are many different ways that people consider making their homes more in turn with their environment, and by doing so, increasing the houses’ energy efficiency. One of the largest benefits of the Green Revolution has been the birth of alternative energies and better ways to remove ourselves from the dependence lifestyle of previous years.
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Promoted as an alternative fuel source for vehicles traditionally powered with gas, fuel cells have led a short and expensive life.  Depending on size, these cells can power anything, from small cars to large buildings, from hospital generators to the space shuttle. To date, fuel cells have required the use of platinum, an expensive material,
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With oil and gas prices still fluctuating, consumers wonder whether they will see any relief from the speculation that led to price hikes on these forms of fuel. Widely publicized reports document how Wall Street, Big Oil, and the federal government have worked together to ensure that consumers have no protection from the price gouging
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In previous articles, we discussed building techniques that make the best use of alternative energy, including improvements to existing structures. As building technology improves, so does our ability to construct houses that require very minimal amounts of energy to provide a comfortable living environment. Unity College, an environmental college located in Maine, is constructing dormitory
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