How long can Global Warming last? 100,000 years if you're an ocean!

An interesting post on Wired.com's science blog states that Global Warming could be around a lot longer than we first thought -- about 100,000 years longer! If the planet continues on a "business as usual" path (no change in greenhouse gases) recent studies indicate earth's oceans could be compromised for as long as 100,000 years. Read the report for the full details.

Not the Shrub's energy and environment plan ...

What difference a change in administration makes! President Obama's energy and environment plan is a quantum leap from President Bush's lack of a plan!

Another great NOVA program, The Big Energy Gamble

Always informative and factual, the PBS series NOVA, highlights the aggressive green energy plan of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. California has the 6th largest economy in the world (yes, the state by itself!) and critically needs sources of clean, reliable power, therefore the Governor has embarked on an aggressive plan to greatly expand renewable power in the state's energy mix. Could this be the model for President Obama's energy plan? I certainly hope so and with even more aggressive measures!

Check out clips from Dr. Steven Chu, formerly of Lawrence Livermore Labs, now the US Energy Secretary and a friendly "green" competition between Ed Begley (St. Elsewhere) and Bill Nye ("Bill Nye the Science Guy®"). You can link to the program at "The Big Energy Gamble" on the PBS website.

Solar array is cleared for use

The W L&I inspector cleared the solar array for use on Thursday. Amazingly, she asked my wife why no one called her to inspect the changes last Friday! The Brother's Electric folks called her several times on that Friday and where here most of the day. Obviously the Washington Labor & Industries division of the state government can't even afford to charge their cell phones!

The next step is to get the production meter from Puget Sound Energy installed. That could take up to another week or so, but usually less. Once the meter is plugged in the Clugston household will be producing power :-)

My solar power hits a snag -- the electrical inspector!

Well my solar power setup looked all ready to go until the electrical inspector inspected the system. Mary Ness, of the Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries, cited two complaints, one was arguable either way, the second I found confusing. Apparently Dave Cozine has worked with inspectors that allowed photographs in lieu of climbing the roof  to inspect connections. Mary does not, and wanted the panels removed so she could inspect the Enphase quick-disconnects. I think we've resolved this issue, but we'll see Monday when the inspector comes again.

The lesson I take away from this is have your installer call the inspector before the install begins and ask what they want to see. Dave, who has a spotless record and excellent references, has worked with 47 different inspectors with few snags. But there are no standards between inspectors. There probably should be, but L&I hasn't set any in place.

The oceans are warming, not cooling -- a climate skeptic myth dispelled ...

A study published in 2006 by John Lyman at Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and Josh Willis of NASA reported a surprising finding, the world's oceans were cooling rather than warming as would be expected with global climate change. This report was immediately hailed by climate change skeptics as proof that global warming was a myth, just a normal aberration in the earth's climate cycle. Unfortunately, for the skeptics, it wasn't true.

Josh started to see disturbing errors in his data, and like all scientific data, his data was subject to review and correction. Josh found the largest problem in his data came from a robot floating sensor called Argo. A chunk of the temperature data was from Argos with defective temperature sensors. With the defective readingswarming removed from the data the cooling almost disappeared. A second piece of sensor data, readings from a expendable thermometer called a XBT, made the early readings of ocean temperature appear to warm. Read the full tale of Josh Willis' scientific sleuthing at the NASA Earth Observatory.

Sorry skeptics, better luck next time!

Bill Clugston, a Climate Change believer

Photograph of the completed solar array

Here's a photo of the completed 2 kilowatt solar array.

[caption id="attachment_93" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo of completed 2 kilowatt solar power system"][/caption]

Kudos go to Brothers Electric and Solar for a quick and professional job. If you want a solar power system installed in the Tacoma - Seattle area definitely give Dave Cozine a call! I'll be adding more information to the main Earth, Sky, Stars website on the steps for installing a solar power system. I'll also detail how to approach your homeowners association about such a project (hint: lots of detailed information!).

With any luck the incoming Obama administration will give a big boost to solar power installs and make solar power even easier to obtain.