European Solar Decathlon – Solar home creates twice the energy it uses

Our homes were never designed for energy efficiency. So what happens when designers, architects, and engineers approach the problem? From the European Solar Decathlon: “The house generates twice as much energy in Hungarian conditions and three times as much in Madrid as the house itself spends,” the Odooproject team states. “This amount is able to …

Is it possible to only shop at farmers markets?

With so many benefits to shopping at farmers markets, is it possible skip supermarkets altogether and only shop at farmers markets? It is, and I have been doing so for 3 years. I remember thinking that I couldn’t possibly find everything I needed. Maybe one meal’s worth, but all three? everyday? Yep, it’s possible and …

NASA releases a full 360-degree panorama of Mars surface – feels like you’re there

NASA has released an amazing panorama shot of Mars:   This full-circle scene combines 817 images taken by the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. It shows the terrain that surrounded the rover while it was stationary for four months of work during its most recent Martian winter. Its release this week …

Southern California ends rainy season in a drought – El Niño possibly coming

The 2011-12 rainy season — which ran from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 — has come to an end with less than impressive numbers, according to figures compiled by the National Weather Service. None of the six key sights where the weather service records long term precipitation reported above average rainfall. San Diego …

Winter surfing in New Hampshire – Salmon Theory

A glimpse of the New Hampshire winter surfing experience Voice of Casey Lockwood Surfers: Casey Lockwood Shawn MacDonald Stevie O’Hara and others thegranitestoke.blogspot.com

Calvin and Hobbes – quotes and life lessons

On life’s constant little limitations Calvin: You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don’t help.   On the cruel reality of commercial art Hobbes: Van Gogh would’ve sold more than one painting if he’d put tigers in them.   On the falling of sparrows (or providence’s lack of a timetable) Calvin: …

Beach Report Card – for Los Angeles, San Diego, & Orange County (2012)

San Diego County San Diego continued to exhibit excellent beach water quality, with 93% of all monitoring locations receiving an A grade during summer dry weather. Winter dry weather water quality was also excellent with 93% A grades. During wet weather 77% of locations received an A or B grade, besting both the five-year average …

Free Surf Film – Wave of the Winter – a short film

An in-depth examination of a memorable season on the North Shore. Click here to download the movie for FREE *** Extended footage   More Free Surf Films: Surf Madness – from Sterling Spencer and PinchMySalt. Free surf films from Billabong, Vans, Nike, and Superbrand.

La Niña leaves on Thursday – El Niño could be coming

Changes are brewing in the equatorial Pacific, and they could profoundly affect weather across the U.S. and much of the globe next winter and spring. La Nina, which has held sway since last fall, will be officially declared a goner Thursday, an official at the Climate Prediction Center in Maryland told InsideClimate News. And while …

Renewable energy production variability by hour of day, and by season (graph)

– …illustrate the variability of wind and solar generation relative to the comparatively smooth output from other generation sources – Power produced by geothermal, biomass, biogas, and small hydro generators can be easily dispatched, meaning it can be either increased, decreased, or controlled to remain fairly constant. – Wind resources are often more available at …