In a series of tests in Cornwall in western England, researchers from the University of Exeter used 28 traps to capture 1,200 animals on the ground beneath street lights and in darker areas between the lights.

According to their findings, published in the journal Biology Letters, invertebrate predators and scavengers were more common underneath the lights, even during the daylight hours.

Thomas Davies, a researcher at the University of Exeter and lead author of the study, said these findings suggest that nocturnal behavior is affecting habitat preference overall, and could have implications for critical ecosystem services, including pollination and the breakdown of organic matter.

“It’s amazing how long we’ve been using street lighting and artificial lighting, and how little research has been done on the impact of those lights on the environment,” he told BBC News.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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“This is an outstanding event for BELECTRIC and the photovoltaics industry in general,” said Bernhard Beck, CEO of BELECTRIC, which employs over 2,000 people.

“Much of that which is today seen as standard in the photovoltaics industry was researched, developed and brought to market readiness by BELECTRIC,” added Chief Sales Officer Martin Zembsch.

The company’s innovations have been key to the integration of renewable energy into the grid. It has developed grid-stabilizing solar power plants that have taken the functionality of solar power generation to the level of large conventional power plants.

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, a team of scientists calculated that coastal seagrass beds can store up to 83,000 metric tons of carbon per square kilometer, compared with 30,000 metric tons of carbon per square kilometer in typical forests.

While seagrasses occupy less than 0.2 percent of the world’s oceans, they account for more than 10 percent of all the carbon trapped in the sea. Seagrasses have a unique ability to store carbon in their roots and soil in coastal areas, the study showed.

In some regions, they found, seagrass beds have stored carbon for thousands of years. “Seagrasses only take up a small percentage of global coastal area, but this assessment shows that they’re a dynamic ecosystem for carbon transformation,” said James Fourqurean, a scientist at Florida International University and lead author of the study.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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The reason why an EV’s price has to come down is made clear by a recent New York Times piece that examines the return on investment of an EV against a similar energy efficient vehicle. For instance, the $31,767 (after tax credits) Volt payback period is estimated at 26.6 years compared to the $19,925 Chevy Cruze Eco. For this reason the EV market is highly dependent upon a small group of “affluent green” consumers rather than a broader customer base.

The major culprit for the excessive price of the EV is the cost of the battery which can be over 35 percent of the vehicle’s cost. To be sure, some battery developers have announced technological breakthroughs that would halve that cost. But a breakthrough of that type will not be commercially available for five to ten years.

To shorten this delay, French OEMs Mia Electric and Renault are spearheading a business model that may prove attractive to more mainstream drivers. To reduce upfront costs, Mia and Renault have set up options where EV drivers can purchase the EV without buying the battery. Instead, EV owners will rent the battery at a cost of around $50 to $100 a month. Although the total costs over time are still significant, the business model allows for a more affordable initial purchase price and reduces the financial risk to EV owners, in that the battery is guaranteed for life.

Mia began production of its EV in June of 2011 and since then has sold over 1,000 of the cars at a little over €15,000 (after state incentives). The battery rents for €49/month. Four EVs from Renault, all with battery rental plans, have reached European markets with estimated prices from €7,000 for the small urban Twizy, to €21,000 for the larger Fluence Z.E. sedan. Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen, may also adopt the business model when it releases its EV offerings next year.

The battery leasing model certainly presents an opportunity for OEMs to make initial prices more competitive with other fuel efficient vehicles. However no maker selling plug-in models in the United States has indicated it will start a leasing program here. In an interesting development, Nissan has indicated it may lease batteries, but also just in Europe, where its Leaf will compete against the ZOE, which is made by Nissan’s European partner Renault. The ZOE is set to sell at half the cost of the Leaf, thanks to the battery leasing program.

U.S. OEMs could be wary of bearing the financial and legal burdens inherent in leasing a technology with so many perceived unknowns, or perhaps the automakers assume the economics of owning a vehicle and leasing its fundamental power source are too confusing for consumers. (The familiar telecom model of buying a subsidized handset and paying a monthly service fee would indicate otherwise.) At any rate, if the European programs boost sales, you can be sure the model will make its way across the Atlantic.

Article by Scott Shepard, appearing courtesy the Matter Network.

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This is the logical follow up of a move in the same direction by the United States, China and other countries back to February. However, like the previous agreement, CO2 is still not mentioned.

The aforementioned greenhouse gases are much more potent but remain for much less time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide

Since CO2 is the main pollution due to fossil fuels burning, it may take some time before it is addressed. We have seen however that more and more countries are willing to address it.

I am confident carbon taxes and other emissions trading schemes will keep on being implemented locally and that some significant agreement will be reached by 2015 (perhaps earlier). Let us all act in this direction!

The gases agreed upon last week are also responsible of more than two million premature deaths per year. This is thus a major air pollution issue.

In any case, this bodes well with the incoming Rio 20+ conference.

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Radiation readings in Odaka are well below anything that could be considered a health risk, but people are still not coming back. Indeed, the long shadow cast by Fukushima has extended over a much wider area than any scientific assessment of radiological hazard would argue is necessary. In Minamisoma, 20km north of the stricken reactor, a community centre above the town is decked out for indoor play because no one wants to let their children venture out of doors. The parents refuse to believe that radiation readings are low enough – barely above normal background, on my dosimeter – that their children’s health would be improved by letting them play outside in the fresh air. Watching the kids cooped up in a big wooden hall, I could only conclude that unnecessary fear of radiation is just as much a hazard as the real thing.

On a wider scale still, unnecessary fear of radiation now presents a serious hazard to the world’s climate. Japan’s precipitous exit from nuclear power generation – the day I arrived in Tokyo was the first non-nuclear day in Japan for 42 years – has pushed the country’s fossil fuel demand through the roof, with imports of oil and gas up by more than 100% since last year, their ballooning cost driving a record trade deficit of $32bn. As carbon emissions rise in lockstep, Japan’s leaders are now backing off from their international climate change commitments, which the country has no chance of meeting. Given that wind, solar and geothermal account for less than 1% of Japan’s electricity generation, the country will be massively dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come if the reactors stay switched off. The only alternative is blackout.

Given the trauma of the March 2011 tsunami disaster, Japan’s nuclear shutdown is understandable – if regrettable from a global warming perspective. But a flight across the Sea of Japan to its neighbour South Korea shows a very different model in evidence.

In the same week that Japan mothballed its very last reactor, Korea broke ground on two new-build nuclear power stations – a pair of APR-1400 units now being constructed at Shin Ulchin, on the east coast. They are two of eight new stations planned to add to the country’s existing nuclear fleet of 23, currently supplying 45% of the nation’s electricity. To mark the occasion the country’s president, Lee Myung-bak, paid a visit to the site, praising a “huge milestone” for South Korea’s engineers, who had helped the country achieve “the dream of independent nuclear technology”.

It is not that South Korea is not green. In fact the mantra of “green growth” has been a central component of President Lee’s policy platform since 2008, and this month – even as Japan backed away from its own climate commitments – Korea’s legislature unanimously passed a new climate act which will enforce carbon caps and an emissions trading scheme among its heavy industry and electricity sector. The country’s international carbon emissions target is for a 30% cut below “business as usual” emissions by 2020, a commitment its leaders say they intend to deliver on. It also spent a higher proportion of its post-economic crash stimulus package on environmental initiatives than any other country.

South Korea is anxious to export its green growth model to other countries. Last week President Lee spoke at a landmark summit held by the Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute, reiterating his view that there need be no automatic trade-off between rapid economic growth and environmental sustainability. In respect of Japanese sensitivities, he refrained from addressing the centrality of nuclear to Korea’s green growth plans, but tension between the competing visions for what counts as “green” were evident throughout the two-day meeting. The president was immediately followed by the Japanese telecoms billionaire Masayoshi Son, who – having reinvented himself as head of the new Japan Renewable Energy Foundation – dramatically declared that there should be “no nuclear for mankind anywhere in the world, for the sake of the future, for the sake of our children, for the Earth”.

The Korean hosts clapped politely, but did not appear convinced – hardly surprising given that Masayoshi Son’s only proposed alternative to nuclear generation was a scheme for a pan-Asian supergrid linking Japanese cities with thousands of solar and wind plants supposedly to be built across the Gobi desert in faraway Mongolia. The plan would cost trillions and take decades to implement – and would leave Japan dependent on power lines crossing its energy-hungry and often less-than-friendly neighbour China. Koreans know that their economic miracle has been built on practical engineering success, not magical thinking.

The chair of the Green Growth Institute, Dr Han Seung-soo, himself a former prime minister of Korea, told me later: “Once the safety aspect is guaranteed there is no cleaner source than nuclear. It is clean energy because the amount of emissions created is almost nil.” When I asked if Korea had a target for wind and solar deployment, he shook his head. Looking out of the window, from the centre of an Asian megacity with impressive skyscrapers in every direction as far as the eye could see, the idea of powering Seoul with renewables did seem nonsensical.

The truth is that, as in Japan, the proportion of solar and wind on the Korean grid is tiny, about 0.25% – most of the country’s power comes from coal, and the only way to reduce its carbon emissions significantly is to continue to replace coal plants with nuclear. Yet as the post-Fukushima anti-nuclear hysteria continues to drag many countries – from Japan to Germany to Switzerland – back towards the fossil fuels age, South Korea is quietly getting on with reducing its carbon emissions while continuing its growth miracle.

Article by Mark Lynas, guardian.co.uk , appearing courtesy Earth & Industry.

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While becoming an advocate for Mother Earth is enough to persuade some students to pursue these fields, some experts speculate that others are more promoted to go in the field of renewable energy research or engineering for example because the more “traditional” career choices like those in business, have seen better days. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment opportunities for business careers in finance for example will slow down significantly, but those pursuing green energy careers, such as in the wind power industry, bio energy, solar power or hydropower, will just continue to grow as the world looks for new and sustainable ways to function. That said, if you are college bound student or looking to make a change in your career, below are some popular career titles to consider.

Energy Efficiency Engineer
• What do they do? An energy efficiency engineer is responsible for identifying ways that consumers can conserve energy and be more efficient in their homes or place of business. Their expertise can be used when a new building is getting constructed, or when completely remodeling a new home for example.
• How do I get this job? The minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering.
• What’s the job outlook? While job availability will vary between location, experts predict the job growth will only increase about 6%. However, experience and a higher education can increase your chances. Salary also varies, but the average yearly salary was $88,570 in 2010, according to the latest statistics from The Bureau.

Wind Turbine Drivetrain Engineer
• What do they do? A wind turbine drivetrain engineer is responsible for overseeing the safety, maintenance and installment of wind turbine devices on wind farms. They must also use their technical knowledge to ensure operations run smoothly or must correct the issue when malfunctions arise.
• How do I get this job? While it is possible to get a job with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s degree in the same field is typically favored.
• What’s the job outlook? Figures aren’t available on whether this specific job is in demand, but with the continuing necessity to use alternative energy, wind turbine drivetrain engineers will surely be needed. On average, wind turbine drivetrain engineers make about $62,000 a year.

Sustainability Specialist
• What do they do? A sustainability specialist is responsible for producing and implementing programs designed to improve the planet, conserve energy, and save money for their clients—whether it’s reducing the amount of energy needed to run a factory or eliminating a corporation’s carbon footprint by making employees use electric vehicles on grounds, sustainability specialists really work hard to help the environment.
• How do I get this job? In order to be found employable, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in environmental science or environmental engineering.
• What’s the job outlook? Experts predict that employment opportunities for this field are expected to be “fair,” increasing about 13% within the next decade. Salary will vary depending on level of education and experience, but on average you can earn about $60,000 a year, according The Bureau.

Environmental Engineer
• What do they do? In a nutshell, environmental engineers are responsible for combining their knowledge in biology, chemistry and engineering in order come up with solutions to various environmental problems, including those that deal with renewable energy.
• How do I get this job? In order to become an environmental engineer, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in either environmental science, or a related field such as mechanical, civil or chemical engineering.
• Job Outlook? Employment opportunities are predicted to increase a whopping 22 percent throughout the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is typically excellent as well. The average yearly salary was $78,740 in 2010, according to the latest statistics from the Bureau.

While the career titles listed above are definitely not all of the career titles offered in the green industry, they can most certainly help point you in the right direction.

Article by Maria Rainier, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online colleges, online degrees etc. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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The program consists of three, one-hour lesson plans which highlight real-life case studies on solar technology, including interactive learning tools such as LED lights and solar electricity testing kits. Teachers can choose curriculum based on specific education levels, including elementary school, middle school or high school. Plans can be integrated into existing environmental studies, math and science courses, and delivered by SunPower or One Million Lights representatives.

Earlier this year, the program was piloted in San Francisco Bay Area classrooms. “The One Million Students program has touched the hearts and minds of our 270 seventh-grade students,” said Curtis Schneider, a teacher at Egan Junior High School in Los Altos, California. “As a teacher, I value students learning how science can help the planet and those who are less fortunate. Two thumbs up and best wishes for the future of this program.”

Anna Sidana, founder of One Million Lights, said the organization is delighted to take part of the project. “One Million Students employs a creative approach to education and addresses the critical issue for renewable energy solutions in our lives. This program enables us to bring our global solar light programs full circle by sharing our experiences and knowledge with children here in the States.”

Teachers and students interested in registering their school for One Million Students or learning more about the program should visit the program’s website.

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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“Long Island needs good jobs,” said Jim Castellane, President of the Nassau and Suffolk Building Trades Council. “This bill (A. 9149a – Englebright) would help create thousands of jobs installing solar panels – jobs that can’t leave the area – and make sure they pay good wages. Thousands of out-of-work New Yorkers are counting on our elected officials to pass this legislation.”

Supported by a growing coalition of labor, business and environmental organizations, the bill would set create a robust solar market, ensuring that 3,000 megawatts of New York State’s power supply would come from solar energy. This would create thousands of local jobs installing the solar panels and protect the environment.

“Investing in solar power is a no-brainer,” said Sail Van Nostrand, Chairman of the Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association. “The New York Solar Jobs Act would ensure that our energy dollars are invested in local jobs right here on Long Island.”

Solar energy has bi-partisan support in the Legislature, as well as support from Governor Cuomo, who recently announced the NY-Sun plan to double the amount of energy produced by solar panels by 2013 and quadruple it by 2014.

“Solar power is a critical part of our state’s energy future,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Not only does it provide needed jobs for New Yorkers, but it can help clean up our local airshed by reducing the need to use the antiquated, dirty power plants in New York and Long Island, especially on hot, summer days when energy use is at its peak.”

The new bill compliments Cuomo’s initiatives and provides the Public Service Commission (PSC), utilities and state energy authorities some flexibility to decide how to meet their solar targets and includes a mechanism to protect consumers by ensuring that the annual cost of the program never exceeds 1.5% of electricity sales.

“On Long Island, we here at Local 25 of the IBEW have been doing many different solar installations over the last 5 years. Job sizes range from simple 10 KW installations to the more complex 32 MW Long Island Solar Farm at Brookhaven National Lab. We consider it to be a thriving new technology which will bring many new job opportunities to both Nassau and Suffolk Counties,” said IBEW Local 25 Business Manager Kevin Harvey.

“Efforts to grow the solar energy industry promote the triple bottom line of sustainability by reducing air pollution and global warming green house gases, while promoting the growth of profitable companies and creating good quality jobs,” said Neal Lewis, Executive Director of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College.

The Solar Jobs Fair included a one-hour job training session for people who want to get a job in the rapidly-growing solar energy field.

“New York’s solar opportunity is real. My own town is proud to be the home of the largest solar installation in the eastern United States – the 32 megawatt array at Brookhaven National Lab. I’ve seen the impact of solar development on jobs and investment in my community, and I know we can do more with strong policy from Albany,” said Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, Town of Brookhaven.

We’re just as excited as these Long Islanders about what aggressive new solar policy would mean for the local economy, public health and the environment. Help us urge Albany to take action today! If you missed us on Long Island, never fear – we’re taking this show on the road to Buffalo, NYC and the capitol over the next couple weeks.

The Solar Jobs Act would set a target of 3,000 megawatts of solar power generated in New York by 2021 with an interim target of 670 megawatts by 2015. 2,100 MW of the 3,000 MW by 2021 obligation is on investor-owned utilities (IOUs) with an interim target of 400 MW statewide by 2015. 900 MW of the 3,000 MW by 2021 obligation is on the public authorities (LIPA and NYPA) with an interim target of 270 MW, collectively, by 2015. The bill would not prescribe a mechanism for how such obligation must be met, and would allow the Public Service Commission and the utilities the flexibility to explore various options. The bill would include a price ceiling of 1.5% of total electricity sales revenues to protect New York energy consumers. The bill applies labor protection laws, including the prevailing wage law, to the installation of solar panels above a certain size threshold to ensure that New York is expanding solar technology while at the same time creating good, local, family-supporting green jobs. Doesn’t get much better than that.

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University of Alaska researchers, conducting aerial and ground surveys, said they have discovered 150,000 methane seeps in Alaska alone near the margins of retreating glaciers or thawing permafrost. In Greenland, the seeps tended to be concentrated around the margins of ice caps that have been retreating for the past 150 years, the scientists said.

Katey M. Walter Anthony, lead author of the study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, said that these seeps in the earth’s frozen zones, or cryosphere, are not currently a major source of methane emissions. But, she added, “As the cryosphere degrades further, it could be a really big source.”

Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and researchers are concerned that rapid warming of the Arctic could trigger a methane “time bomb” as thawing permafrost, vegetation, and land ice result in the release of huge quantities of methane.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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