July 8, 2013 from Science Daily — Green spaces, trees and bodies of water are must-have design features for future development in Sydney's suburbs after researchers found that by 2050 global warming combined with Sydney's urban heat island effect could increase temperatures by up to 3.7°C.
The researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science found new urban developments, such as the multitude of new estates on Sydney edges expected to house more than 100,000 residents, were prone to the greatest temperature increases. "Interestingly, we found that overnight temperatures increased far more than temperatures during the day," said lead author from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science Dr Daniel Argueso. "This has implications for health problems related to heat stress accumulation and at an economic level where the higher energy consumption needed to p…San Onofre Nuclear Plant to Shut Permanently, Edison Says
By PAT BRENNAN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The two reactors at the San Onofre nuclear plant will be shut down permanently, Southern California Edison announced early Friday.
The power giant cited regulatory uncertainty surrounding the proposed restart of one of the reactors, as well as costs, in its decision to retire the units at what is formally known as the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
“SONGS has served this region for over 40 years,” Ted Craver, chairman and CEO of Edison International, said in the statement released by Edison. “But we have concluded that the continuing uncertainty about when or if SONGS might return to service was not good for our customers, our investors, or the need to plan for our region’s long-term electricity needs.”
Both reactor units have been offline since January 2012, after a small leak of radioactive gas prompted shutdown of one unit; the other was already offline for routine maintenance.
Unexpected wear was found in the me…
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GE Buying ‘Tens of Thousands’ of EVs
By Chuck Squatriglia for Wired Autopia
It makes sense that a company called General Electric would be bullish on cars with cords. But even by that standard the company is diving into the deep end, with what it says will be the biggest order ever placed for electric vehicles.
Of course, almost any order would be the biggest order, but CEO Jeffrey Immelt isn’t screwing around. Speaking in London yesterday, he said GE will order “tens of thousands” of electric vehicles in about a week, a move that is sure to jump-start the nascent EV market as automakers like Nissan and General Motors bring the cars to showrooms later this year.
The plan makes sense for several reasons.
First and foremost, General Electric builds the equipment that provides one-third of the world’s electricity, so of course it will do everything possible to promote the technology. GE is moving quickly into the EV space, building charging stations and working with A123 Systems to develop batteries. Acco…
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Crude Awakening: Viral Video Uses Bad Word for Good Cause, Drops F-Bomb on Gulf Oil Spill
A controversial viral video featuring an F-word-filled tirade against the Gulf oil spill from the mouths of 4-year-olds to grandmothers is raising both eyebrows and funds this week as it gains momentum in a bold campaign to raise money for Gulf wildlife rescue and environmental charities.
The no-holds-barred video features a cross section of people wearing a black T-shirt that reads “UNF--K THE GULF” and unleashing on BP, the federal government and the whole mess in a way that millions of people wish our leaders would.
Sick of yelling at the TV in frustration over the Gulf spill, environmental activists Luke Montgomery and Nate Guidas produced the video as a way to channel their “f--king righteous anger with all that is going on and not going on in the Gulf into something positive.” They put out a casting call on Craigslist for people upset over the oil spill, cast the best in the video, and created the website www.UnF--kTheGulf.com.
“It’s both therapeutic and funny to…
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