Mikey Sklar
Solar Power Problems
November 7th, 2006
Solar panels are one of the first things people like to bring up when discussing energy alternatives. PV (photovoltaic) based solar panels certainly do have some advantages over other green energy options. PVs are easy to install, can be placed in remote locations, and they have no moving parts to wear down or be replaced. However, there are issues. The highly processed silicon used today along with the fuel used to create the solar cell keep solar panels in the realm of the unaffordable (for most of us). Read the rest of this entry »
The Paper Problem
October 31st, 2006
Paper is a huge problem today. Over 48 million tons of paper reaches
our landfills each year, a comfort to the 200 million Americans that have paper recycling services and believe they are doing a good thing by keeping paper out of the landfills. In some sense it is beneficial to keep those glossy magazine treated with chemicals from seeping into ground. But most paper products would be better buried in the landfill than recycled. The trick is to bury carbon back in the ground rather than let it escape into our atmosphere. There are many drawbacks to paper recycling that we should be aware
of. Read the rest of this entry »