From catastrophic chain-reactions which could push us into dangerous climate change, to cooling effects which balance out global warming, climate feedbacks are an important area of research for scientists. This happens when a change in our climate causes an impact which changes our climate further - a knock-on effect which feeds back into our climate. There are two kinds … [Read more...]
Paris climate talks: what difference will temperature rises really make?
Without action, climate scientists have warned that temperatures could rise by nearly 5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. World leaders meeting in Paris hope to keep average global surface temperature rises below 2C – but their pledges to cut emissions could still see up to 3C according to analyses. While it is very hard to make firm predictions, here are some of the … [Read more...]
The rich are choosing a bleak future for humanity
It’s not too late to avert a climate crisis but “pervasive human short-termism” makes it highly unlikely that society will do so in the next 40 years. “Starvation of the poor is one of the inevitable consequences predicted, if we continue to live in a democractic system, where the major focus is on short-term gratification and crafting the best possible life for yourself,” … [Read more...]
Growing SA’s solar water heating industry
Since the light bulb wired the world we can no longer live without electricity and the abundance thereof. However, in South Africa we have become used to living with less electricity, because of the energy shortages at Eskom. The endeavour to supply South Africa with alternative energy recourses is underway, but could definitely use a much needed power boost. The solar water … [Read more...]
Keeping cool in the Boland summer
Just when we thought our computers, and brains, would melt into a puddle in the sweltering Boland summer, our office was saved by our own white ice cap. I have been preaching the gospel of passive insulation and temperature regulation for a long time. So to live my talk we have avoided air-conditioning in spite of ever hotter summers. If you think we're just being wimps, a … [Read more...]
Waste wood burning: eco fire for winter
When blankets and woolly socks just don't cut it anymore during winter time, we switch on our carbon-emitting heaters. This is no good for our already disturbing carbon escalation, so alternatives we have to find,. Which is what we did this week when we discovered a new closed fire eco-heating stove by T and T Energy Solutions. We went to see this clever device at the German … [Read more...]
Summer ice cap still a bonus during winter
Towards the end of the hottest summer in 80 years, we told you the story of our really cool ice cap that saved us from frying in our flat roofed office. You remember this white paint we had applied to our office roof, which uses ceramic beads to reflect radiant heat from the summer sun right back into the atmosphere. This is the space age heat barrier which protects … [Read more...]
