Don’t let solar cloud your judgment
By Chloe Smith
Introduction
“Solar power will be the single largest source of electricity generation by the midpoint of the century.’’ -Elon Musk, 2014
Rows and rows of shiny panels line the country field, soaking in rays and converting it to energy. Many politicians and environmentalists praise the idea of solar panels being the leading source of energy for the world. But are solar panels as effective as they say? How do they work? And what are the risks?
Worldwide statis...
What Is Greenwashing?
“Environmentally friendly.ʼʼ “Sustainable.ʼʼ “Eco-friendly.ʼʼ “Green.ʼʼ
By Chloe Smith
These buzzwords surround many products today that claim the consumer can do their part to save the planet. But are these products preventing global warming? Or are these claims greenwashing ploys?
What is greenwashing? Biologist Jay Westervelt coined the term in a 1986 essay about hotels urging guests to reuse towels to save water. The term referred to companies spending more ...
Turbine talk: The facts about wind energy
By Chloe Smith
Wind has been a tool of humankind for centuries. As far back as 200 BC, Persian, Chinese and Middle Eastern people used windmills for irrigation, wood cutting and grinding grain.
Throughout the ages of civilization, the windmill evolved, and the first wind turbines began to convert kinetic energy from wind to electricity in 1888.
Now, they join the ranks of sustainable energy sources marketed by politicians and activists and make up 7.2% of power in the United States...
Don’t overreact: Be informed about nuclear energy
By Chloe Smith
When people hear the word nuclear, they probably imagine a rising mushroom-shaped cloud, followed by fire, fury and death. Or they think of Chernobyl, one of the most well-known nuclear meltdowns in history.
But what many people donʼt know is that energy can be harvested from nuclear power and is an alternate source for fossil fuels.
Are the dangers as pressing as many assume? Or should nuclear be used more often for our energy needs?
Atoms make up everything in ...
