Green Options

Editor’s Note: In this week’s Ecogeek of the week, Hank Green interviews Ron Pernick, author of The Clean Tech Revolution.

Maybe my ears are just pointed in a very specific direction, but it seems rare when a day passes and I don’t hear someone extolling the possibilities of clean technology. But it’s not entirely clear what clean technology encompasses and how this very broad new category of technology is going to benefit our world in [...]

Dear Mr. EcoGeek,I've heard that it takes more energy to produce photovoltaic cells than the cells will ever produce throughout their lifetime. Is there any truth to that, or are those naysayers just saying nay?DavidSpokane, WAShort Answer:Those naysayers are just saying nay! But that doesn't mean there's not more to this story.Long Answer:This myth was probably perpetuated by studying solar panels created for NASA. If [...]

Editor's note: We're particularly excited about this week's "EcoGeek of the Week," as EcoGeek.org's Matt James interviews author and thinker Daniel Quinn. If you haven't read Ishmael, put it on your reading list… and be prepared to see the world differently once you've finished it.Daniel Quinn, I think, is more a thinker than a writer. His ideas are what change the world, his books are merely attempts to [...]

Instead of solar and wind power to supply to your own house - which are both weather dependent - has anyone thought about systems that might require some actual work, but provide a usable amount of power?I was thinking, what if each member of my family carried a 40lb bag up 3 floors and hung it on a hook that was connected to a generator; would an effort like that actually provide [...]

Editor's note: EcoGeek.org's "EcoGeek of the Week" interview series is a relatively new feature over there, but we've been impressed with the subjects they lined up. When Head EcoGeek Hank Green asked us if we'd like to run the feature, we happily obliged."EcoGeek of the Week" appears every Tuesday at EcoGeek.org… and now also at Green Options.Just because I love the actual world doesn't mean I'm not a pretty big fan [...]

Dear EcoGeek,Is it possible to recycle old CD's or DVD's?Thanks,RobThe perpetual scourge of EcoGeekiness is obsolescence. We pay good money for what we see as a good product, and then five years down the line we're surrounded by useless junk!But I can't help but answer this seemingly straightforward question with several different answers. First, I'll actually answer the question: Yes, you can, but it's not as simple as [...]

Dear EcoGeek,I did a survey and I have 33 recessed bulbs in the house (120W)! I've switched all my non-recessed bulbs with CFLs, but I need something for our recessed lighting.So my question is why aren't these ultra-efficient LED lights being produced in greater quantities (and this bringing the costs down)?Thanks, DavidDavid,Thirty three 120 watt bulbs will keep your house competing with a small star for both power [...]

Editor's note: Yesterday, we discovered that both Green Options and EcoGeek have representatives visiting WindPower 2007, the American Wind Energy Association's annual convention and trade show. In order to give readers of both sites a wide range of coverage, we decided to join efforts and share our posts. This first one comes from EcoGeek writer Ransom Riggs, and was published earlier today. Day one of the Windpower 2007 conference [...]