Per Capita Davis: Whatever happened with hydrogen?
Every few years or so there seems to be a renewed excitement about the potential for using hydrogen as a non-fossil fuel. Usually, the conversation is about cars. Once you get it into a car’s fuel tank, it can power the car without producing any…
Backup Battery Systems: The Final Piece of the Energy Puzzle
Our homes are more important than ever: they are our offices, schools, entertainment, and, at times, the only sit-down restaurant in town. So, having a home that powers itself, even when there’s a power outage, equates to huge peace of mind. How is this possible?…
Per Capita Davis: Innovating for the future
I’ve been searching high and low for innovations that could help power a more energy-efficient and sustainable future. There’s a lot out there, some very much closer to being a concept than an actual product or process. Still, the sheer number of ideas being pursued…
Cool Davis receives $6,000 for all-electric engagement
The Valley Climate Action Center (VCAC) recently provided $6,000 to Cool Davis to continue their work engaging Davis residents to adopt all-electric heating and cooling systems. The funds will also be used to develop an electric retrofit “roadmap” for existing homes, going directly to programs…
Per Capita: To the moon and back
Whether technology can save us from the climate crisis is an open question. It seems relatively certain that improvements in technology will inevitably at least help reduce carbon emissions, or maybe even capture some of them from the atmosphere, but hoping for or anticipating a…
Shelter-in-Place and Your Home Energy
Cool energy efficiency and conservation actions we recommend while you’re sheltering, working, learning, and playing at home.
Per Capita Davis: Some good news in a time of anxiety
I’ve been thinking a lot about “sustainability” the last few weeks and intended to write about it. But that would take me down a sort of dark road, and in these strange times I feel a need for something positive, lighter, hopeful. So here is some…
All Electric Homes in Davis: the Carrot vs. the Stick
In January, the California Energy Commission approved a new building code in Davis that encourages the construction of all-electric homes and discourages the use of natural gas to fuel residential appliances and heating systems. This comes after numerous California cities have approved similar initiatives, including…
Per Capita Davis: More pieces of the puzzle
I’m continuing to clean out my inbox and I don’t mean that to diminish what I conceive to be the value of this and other similar columns that don’t address a single idea, theme or thread. The items below are pieces of the puzzle of…
Per Capita Davis: New report on world energy outlook
There are several highly reputable organizations tracking the science of the climate crisis and issuing regular reports. Probably the best known of these is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at the United Nations. Another, right up there at the top in terms of reputation…
Per Capita Davis: Big money and climate change
The previous column was the second of three addressing money and the transition to a fossil free future and it featured the actions of several billionaires to identify and support game changing new technologies. Incredible as it may sound, there are also trillionaires in the world, and…
Valley Clean Energy Customers Reaping Environmental Benefits for Same Cost
It’s been a long hot summer, but those cool autumn days aren’t too far off… And thanks to Valley Clean Energy, local electricity customers are not paying any more to run their air-conditioners than they would have paid under PG&E. At the same time, they…
Per Capita Davis: Billionaires invest in radical solutions
The last two columns were about money and the climate crisis. One was about how shareholders are pressuring the world’s largest companies to be leaders in sustainability. The other was about how some companies are doing just that. Frankly, I get tired of reading about…
VCE adds solar customers, dividends
The Valley Clean Energy board of directors a pair of decisions in June to fulfill two promises to its customers. The board voted unanimously to begin including Net Energy Metered solar customers in VCE service starting in January 2020, and additionally voted to launch a…
Per Capita Davis: It’s time to think about building decarbonization
“Decarbonization,” a word so new my computer keeps trying to spell check it to something else, defines what some have called the next frontier in California’s fight against the climate crisis. The focus for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been largely dominated by discussions over…
Methodist church focuses on environmental stewardship
Davis United Methodist Church is offering three forums in April on the theme of environmental stewardship. These presentations will be on Sunday mornings April 7, 14, and 28 from 9:45 to 10:50 at the church, 1620 Anderson Road in Davis. April 7: Cool Climate Diet, with…
Home Energy Retrofit Saves Money and Energy for Happy Owner
Stephen Peithman had been warned that his West Davis home’s central air conditioner was ready to fail. But he didn’t do anything about it until two years later in April 2015 when he received a letter from PG&E alerting him to potential rebates for energy…
Home Heating and Cooling: Make a Plan Workshop Set for Jan 27
Sun Jan 27 1:00-4:30pm Davis Senior Center 646 “A” St Valente Room
Local real estate agent outfits own home with energy efficiency retrofits
Knocking on the front door and looking at one of the few windows that lined the front of the house, I didn’t know what to expect. Trees and vegetation surrounded the house, with ferns lining the covered walkway to the front door and leafy vines…
Solar “Power Pioneer” Proves Payback Period Has Decreased Dramatically
It’s not surprising that Sue Fields decided to put solar panels on her roof in 2010 — a relatively early time in the movement – she’s an environmental engineer after all. Sue freely admits she didn’t research all of the installers in the area or…
FACEBOOK FEED
fter a summer of heat waves, wildfires, orange skies and hurricanes, people are beginning to recognize that climate change is here now. But are we too late?
In its second season, Unfold, a UC Davis podcast, explores the solutions to and complexities of climate change. Hosts Amy Quinton and Kat Kerlin talk to researchers who think this unprecedented crisis calls for unprecedented solutions, including projects that pull CO2 out of the air.
Unfold Podcast Launches Season 2 Focused on Climate Change
www.ucdavis.edu
After a summer of heat waves, wildfires, orange skies and hurricanes, people are beginning to recognize that climate change is here now. But are we too late? In its second season, Unfold, a UC Davis p...23 hours ago
TWITTER FEED
Unfold Podcast Launches Season 2 Focused on Climate Change - UC Davis
Unfold Podcast Launches Season 2 Focused on Climate Change
After a summer of heat waves, wildfires, orange skies and hurricanes, people are beginning to recognize that climate change is here now. But are we to...
www.ucdavis.edu
Climate Strike Davis Plans Central Park Camp-out to Call-out the Crisis
Climate Strike Davis Plans Central Park Camp-out to Call-out the Crisis - Cool Davis
Noon on Friday to Noon Saturday Central Park, Davis (5th and B St.)
www.cooldavis.org
Protect your Prostate and Lower Your Cancer Risk by Changing Your Diet @thebeetofficial
To Lower Your Risk of Prostate Cancer, Eat More Plant-Based Foods
Diet and exercise play a major role in your lifetime risk of prostate cancer, as new studies emerge that link higher risk to a diet rich in red meat a...
thebeet.com
Newsom orders 2035 phaseout of gas-powered vehicles, calls for fracking ban
Newsom orders 2035 phaseout of gas-powered vehicles, calls for fracking ban
Under Newsom's order, new gas-powered cars and light trucks and medium and heavy-duty trucks must be zero-emission by 2045 where possible.
www.latimes.com
Gavin Newsom signs order banning sales of gas-powered cars in California by 2035
Gavin Newsom signs order banning sales of gas-powered cars in California by 2035
This is the latest effort by California officials to reduce greenhouse emissions and transition to clean energy.
www.sacbee.com