Is there an upside to global warming?

[macdoc]

When I say geo-thermal I'm just suggesting HVAC ground loop

 

[Trakar]

When I say geo-thermal I'm just suggesting HVAC ground loop

Ah,...missed that initially, focussed on other issues. Yeah, ground loop systems make a lot of sense. Don't use much AC, and the heating is largely handled through design and a combination of thermal mass and very good insulation though we do have a few electric-mat subfloor systems and several woodburning area-heat systems for the occassional deep chill situation that overwhelms design in the main house, the shop, the barn, and couple of the cabins (friends and family like to use them in the winter when they visit). Perhaps when (if?) the economy picks up a bit I'll look at a remodel to include such a system!

 

[DogB]

Pretty quick but I'm assuming you are staying hooked to the grid as backup?

Absolutely. I use a lot of power for various reasons but my peak use times and peak generation times will not match. Fortunately my peak generation times do match the peak use times for the overall grid, so the power will be purchased from me in one way or another (waiting on parliament to decide the exact process).

I expect generate a considerable excess (perhaps 7kwh per day) during daylight hours – some of which I will buy back during the night. Just a curious point you might be interested in – I expect to generate much greater excesses during winter. Daylight hours in summer are far greater but summer is our wet season so rainy days are far more frequent and air conditioning is by far my greatest power demand. Winter is cool with clear days, perfect generating weather.

 

[Wangler]

Those super carriers chugging back and forth across the Pacific are burning high sulphur bunker fuel and pumping out the equivalent of two Pinatubos a year.

These numbers seem off...

...two Pinatubos would be 40 million tons of SO2 per year...

In 2000, the global shipping fleet put out 12 million tons of SO2 burning 280 million tons of bunker oil....

Estimates for global fleet annual consumption in 2020 are on the order of 400 million tons, which would likely still leave SO2 output well below two Pinatubos.

 

[macdoc]

I think you are using old figures but yes I over stated the ratio against Pinatubo which was huge -

I recall the conversation with Gavin was two volcanoes worth each year - rather than 2 Pinatubos -
I found the release a shockingly high number given the low profile of shipping as a global factor in pollution....and one would think targetting the largest container ships plodding across the Pacific would give good results.

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

New research suggests that the impact of shipping on climate change has been seriously underestimated and that the industry is currently churning out greenhouse gases at nearly twice the rate of aviation.

Shipping, although traditionally thought of as environmentally friendly, is growing so fast that the pollution it creates is at least 50 per cent higher than previously thought. Maritime emissions are also set to leap by 75 per cent by 2020.

The International Maritime Organisation, the UN body set up to regulate shipping, has set up a working group due to report this year. Research seen by the group suggests previous calculations, which put the total at about 600 million tonnes per year, are signifi-cantly short. The true figure is set to be more than one billion tonnes, according to a confidential report produced for the IMO by Intertanko, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners.

In comparison, aviation produces an estimated 650 million tonnes. The old figures were based on 2001 estimates, but shipping has grown by 4.5 per cent on average annually.

 

[Wangler]

It absolutely boggles the mind how much fossil fuel is consumed on a daily basis, aviation, shipping, generation, etc.

 

[macdoc]

Yes - there was one comment about finding new oil - that a whale.....a huge oil find would only delay peak oil by 3 DAYS!!!!!

We are deep into it and very little way out.