Archived material from historical editions of The Generator
Is it more eco-friendly to use a fireplace or a gas-powered central heater? Or, um, just keep freezing? And, speaking of fireplaces, what’s up with those prepackaged logs? Advice maven Umbra Fisk warms up to the topic. See Online columnist Umbra
(FORTUNE Magazine) – A disturbing consensus is emerging among the scientists who study global warming: Climate change may bring more violent swings than they ever thought, and it may set in sooner. Lately John Browne, the CEO of BP, has been jolting audiences with a list of proposed solutions that hint at the vastness of Continue Reading →
Energy usage in Victoria surged 45 per cent above normal weekend
levels, as air-conditioners were switched on to cope with the heatwave,
reported The Age (23/1/2006, p.5)
Record energy consumption not a worry? During the holidays,
energy use normally averages closer to 5500 MW, but it hit 8010 MW –
only 500 MW shy of the record. Earlier this month, Energy Minister Theo
Theophanous gave assurances that Victoria has enough electricity
reserves to prevent blackouts this summer. This is despite the $780
million Basslink connector not being expected to be fully commissioned
until late April.
Eastern Europe remains in the grip of extreme cold temperatures, with
five people freezing to death in Moscow and Russian authorities
struggling to keep ageing heating systems going, reported The Daily Telegraph (23/1/2006, p.15)
Freezing temperatures to drop again: The bone-numbing Siberian
weather system spread through Russia, Scandinavia, the Baltic states
and Poland into northern and eastern Turkey. Conditions in Moscow
eased, with the temperature rising to -23C. But temperatures are
expected to drop again.
At least 76 killed as homeless take refuge in Moscow metro station:
The latest five deaths announced by Moscow’s medical emergency service
brought to at least 76 the number of people killed in Russia’s lethal
deep freeze of the past week. Twenty three people died in neighbouring
Ukraine. Homeless people huddled in Moscow’s metro station entrances,
while extra diesel buses were laid on as the cold snapped trolley bus
cables.
Moscow’s infrastructure at breaking point: There was
speculation over whether Moscow’s ageing heating system could cope
after a warning by the head of the UES electricity monopoly that it was
working at its limits.
SEATTLE,
Jan. 20 — After taking nine years to penetrate what they called a
“vast eco-terrorism conspiracy” in Oregon and four other Western
states, federal prosecutors announced on Friday the indictment of 11
people in connection with a five-year wave of arson and sabotage
claimed by the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front.
The
17 attacks, which occurred from 1996 to 2001, caused no deaths but
resulted in an estimated $23 million in damage to lumber companies, a
ski resort, meat plants, federal ranger stations and a high-voltage
electric tower.
SALT LAKE CITY – Associated Press reports that Utah is joining a small, but growing, list
of municipalities nationwide that offer free parking as an incentive
for people to buy fuel-efficient vehicles.