The frustration with the attitude we have taken in addressing global climate change concerns is some of the cool technologies that could be already but have not been able to get funding. Now that the general public opinion, and therefore government concern, is directed towards the potential detrimental effects of fossil fuel use there is money available to get research into some of these missed technologies.
The enormous leaps being made in wind and solar power are meaning they are starting to become cheaper than coal power production. Another very cool technology that is being researched is the ability to scrub carbon dioxide in the air and transforming it back into hydrocarbons. The team and Sandia National Labs are using a solar furnace to alternatively heat and cool cobalt ferrite which allows it to turn carbon dioxide in carbon monoxide and oxygen. The CO is highly reactive and can be used to easily create more complex hydrocarbons like methanol or even gasoline.
Even if you are not convinced that global warming exists, it would still be better if we were not breathing in the gasses from cars and coal fired power plants. And oil can be used for many more things that are useful in our lives than powering cars. And if we can convert the CO2 in the air back into those useful hydrocarbons at a reasonable price then we are all better off.
The "green" sector is definitely starting to produce some cool tech.
Comments (1)
I think the world should start seriously looking into "green" and ways to cut back on global warming. But the problem is who knows what's true and what's not. There are stories that ethanol is worse than gas. And if ethanol costs just as much if not more and gets less gas mileage, then most people will just ignore it.
The bottom line is people worry about putting a roof over their head and feeding their families before anything else. And therein lies the problem with most of the 'green' philosophy.
The infamous Al Gore has private jet rides and isn't exactly 'environmentally friendly' in everything he does. Travolta preaches about it but drives a Jet. The hybrid cars aren't exactly safer and sure aren't exactly that much friendly at this point.
As far as solar energy it's just far too expensive for most people. It's nice that Google spent so much time and money on Solar energy for their complex in California, but a billion dollar company spending millions won't mean much to somebody struggling to pay their bills. And therein lies the problem with most people who push the green agenda or push green technology. It seems they don't live in the real world.
Yes we need to find a way to stop Global Warming and become more environmentally friendly but it seems people who push the agenda don't exactly live what they preach. And until that happens, most people will ignore it.
It's like the parent who tells their kids not to drink or do drugs, yet are in the living room stoned and passed out with beer cans all over the place. When the message is tainted, people have a hard time believing it or listening to it.
And right now Mr. Al Gore is the infamous preacher for Global Warming yet the guy isn't exactly living what he preaches.
Posted by Peter J | January 8, 2008 11:08 AM
Posted on January 8, 2008 11:08