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Asia-Pacific Partnership Sets World Up for Massive Global Warming

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has grave concerns following an announcement by the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate that some of the participating countries are willing to accept “runaway” climate change. The Australian Prime Minister’s office said that the Asia-Pacific Partnership would lead to 20 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than would otherwise be the case by 2050. “In my entire career I have never seen a more misleading public statement as that made by Prime Minister John Howard,” said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne. “If the statements made today become a reality, this will lock us in to a 4C rise in global average temperatures, when scientists confirm that the world needs to stay below a 2C warming to avoid dangerous climate change. There couldn’t be anything more irresponsible than to knowingly embark on a path towards massive increases in emissions and runaway global warming.” The Australian government figures are said to be based on an analysis by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE). What is not being said is that the ABARE report shows global emissions will in fact increase by 100 per cent by 2050 under the Partnership plan. Climate scientists are […]

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Rechargeable Tools and Appliances Can Now Earn the Energy Star

Battery chargers for cordless tools and appliances are the latest products eligible to earn EPA’s Energy Star label, which identifies energy efficient products. Americans use some 230 million products with rechargeable batteries; Energy Star chargers will be at least 35 percent more energy efficient. Battery charging systems recharge a wide variety of cordless products, including power tools, small household appliances, personal care products like electric toothbrushes and electric shavers, and garden tools such as weed and hedge trimmers. In the U,S., energy efficient battery chargers have the potential to save Americans more than 1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year, saving Americans more than $100 million annually while preventing the release of more than one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions?equivalent to the emissions of 150,000 cars. More and more consumer products are becoming cordless and portable, requiring battery chargers and power adapters. Battery chargers — even when not actively charging a product — can draw as much as 5 to 20 times more energy than is actually stored in the battery. Energy Star guidelines for battery charging systems focus on “non-active” modes of recharging, including battery maintenance mode (charger is connected to a fully charged product), and […]

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WorldWater Completes 400 Kw California Solar Project

WorldWater & Power Corp. (OTCBB:WWAT.OB) has completed and commissioned a 400 kilowatt photovoltaic system project by Quantum Energy Group, the construction and engineering subsidiary it acquired in 2005. The new photovoltaic (PV) system provides solar power to offset electric utility consumption at a complex of four tenant-occupied buildings in Menlo Park, California, south of San Francisco. The buildings house more than 50 different types of businesses, ranging from high-tech, dot-com companies to auto repair businesses. Total system output is approximately 386,125 watts, which is expected to meet virtually all of the current annual electric usage charges for the four buildings. Quantum Energy Group designed and installed PV arrays on the roofs of three of the buildings, with extensions that allow part of the system to serve as an awning over each of the front entrances. For the fourth building, the PV system was installed in the front parking area. Quantum worked closely with the utility company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), to install the systems and ensure successful interconnection with the local electric grid. Each system has been approved for rebate funding from the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). The buildings — three concrete tilt-up structures and one metal building […]

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