Lancaster University Unveils Net Zero Energy Center
In a bid to be one of the lowest carbon schools in the UK, Lancaster University has started construction of a new Net Zero Energy Center.
Buildings
Frankly, It’s Time To Talk About The Built Environment And Climate Change
While the current political rhetoric dismisses substantive climate dialogue, cities are in crisis because of climate change. Extreme weather is leading to calamitous consequences. Now more than ever, in the absence of federal funding support, cities must focus on reconciling the norm of civic pride as symbolized in the built … [continued]
From Solar Tiles to Starship: The Decade Musk Failed to Deliver Puts Semi At Risk
Tesla says the Semi is entering high-volume production in 2025, nearly eight years after its 2017 unveiling. At the time, Elon Musk promised a revolution in freight: 500 miles of electric range, faster acceleration than a diesel, and a cost-per-mile figure that would make it a no-brainer for fleet managers. … [continued]
Insurance Industry Predicts More Future Losses — Now Tariffs Add To The Impact Of Climate…
My condo community in Florida has been struggling with our insurance premiums. While our east coast location hasn’t put us in the path of any significant damage nor submitted climate claims since Hurricanes Jeanne and Francis in 2005, we have — like so many places across the US — been … [continued]
Trump’s DOE Swings At Clean Energy & Accidentally Hits A Home Run
In a move that surprised absolutely no one, the Trump/Wright Department of Energy began swinging the axe at clean energy programs—but here’s the twist: this time, they might accidentally be getting a few things right. Not because they’ve suddenly developed a coherent decarbonization strategy or found religion on climate policy. … [continued]
Geothermal’s Moment—and Its Messengers, Mirages, and Models
The geothermal series is done, and if you’ve been following along, you’ll know it’s been a mix of cautious optimism, heavy sighs, and the occasional full-body cringe at some of the more outlandish claims. Geothermal is, at long last, getting a bit of attention—but, as always, when something is “having … [continued]
Can Geothermal Cooling Tame Data Centers’ Energy Appetite?
The world is increasingly run by data centers — huge, anonymous buildings that gobble up electricity and belch heat like angry dragons. Each click, stream, or swipe piles up more data in racks upon racks of humming servers. Yet few people realize just how thirsty these data dragons really are. … [continued]
The “Fabric First” Trap: Decades Of Studies Show Electrification Wins Every Time
In climate and energy policy, certain well-intentioned ideas gain outsized popularity despite persistent evidence against them. One such appealing but deeply problematic approach is the “fabric first” philosophy — the notion that building decarbonization must begin by aggressively insulating and sealing structures, only later electrifying their heating systems. On the … [continued]
How China’s Sinopec Is Escaping The Gas Utility Death Spiral — And Why The West…
When Sinopec, China’s sprawling petroleum giant, decided to start drilling geothermal wells instead of oil wells, it was initially greeted with skepticism. Geothermal? Renewable energy? Surely not the first place you’d expect an oil-and-gas colossus to stake its future. But Sinopec wasn’t dabbling. True to form, the company went straight … [continued]
Can Underground Thermal Batteries Warm Northern Cities in Deep Winter?
Having grown up in Canada’s north and spent far too many winters trudging through snowy downtown streets in Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton, I know firsthand just how brutal Canadian winters can be—and how urgently our cities need practical, scalable, low-carbon heating solutions. Even if you haven’t spent months navigating icy … [continued]
