https://cleantechnica.com/author/joewachunas/ Clean Tech News & Views: EVs, Solar Energy, Batteries Fri, 26 May 2023 19:03:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2 https://cleantechnica.com/files/2013/07/ct-favicon-50x50.png https://cleantechnica.com/author/joewachunas/ 32 32 13821326 https://cleantechnica.com/2023/05/26/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-are-a-crucial-technology-to-decarbonize-multi-family-commercial-buildings/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/05/26/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-are-a-crucial-technology-to-decarbonize-multi-family-commercial-buildings/#respond Fri, 26 May 2023 22:35:49 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=296555 Water heating uses a lot of energy, and consequently costs a lot of money and creates a lot of pollution. The heat pump water heater is the silver bullet to these water heating problems. It’s efficient, saves money, reduces or eliminates air pollution, and it delivers hot water with faster first hour ratings than electric […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2023/05/26/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-are-a-crucial-technology-to-decarbonize-multi-family-commercial-buildings/feed/ 0 296555 https://cleantechnica.com/2023/04/20/this-earth-day-invest-in-a-heat-pump-water-heater-do-the-equivalent-of-planting-a-tree-or-forest/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/04/20/this-earth-day-invest-in-a-heat-pump-water-heater-do-the-equivalent-of-planting-a-tree-or-forest/#respond Fri, 21 Apr 2023 03:50:49 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=293395 The energy efficiency, cost savings, and versatility of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) make them a clear choice for the environment and households across the U.S. With 120 million water heaters in the U.S. alone, we could save over 100 million tons in carbon emissions every year if all the water heaters in U.S. buildings […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2023/04/20/this-earth-day-invest-in-a-heat-pump-water-heater-do-the-equivalent-of-planting-a-tree-or-forest/feed/ 0 293395 https://cleantechnica.com/2023/03/24/bay-area-sets-nox-emissions-standards-for-gas-water-heaters-furnaces-effectively-ending-sales-starting-in-2027/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/03/24/bay-area-sets-nox-emissions-standards-for-gas-water-heaters-furnaces-effectively-ending-sales-starting-in-2027/#respond Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:10:14 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=290657 Big news for clean air last week. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted amendments requiring the elimination of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new water heaters by 2027 and new furnaces by 2029. We’ve been hearing about the indoor pollution from gas stoves this year. Gas water heaters and furnaces also have […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2023/03/24/bay-area-sets-nox-emissions-standards-for-gas-water-heaters-furnaces-effectively-ending-sales-starting-in-2027/feed/ 0 290657 https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/28/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-can-act-as-massive-water-batteries-seattle-pilot-project-shows/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/28/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-can-act-as-massive-water-batteries-seattle-pilot-project-shows/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:45:37 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=288563 Central heat pump water heaters (CHPWH) present a tremendous opportunity to reduce the substantial energy used in water heating and can act as giant thermal batteries. They do this by using energy to heat water during times of low grid demand and storing it for later use, enabling them to limit their energy use during […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/28/central-heat-pump-water-heaters-can-act-as-massive-water-batteries-seattle-pilot-project-shows/feed/ 0 288563 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/21/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-new-voltex-al-heat-pump-water-heater/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/21/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-new-voltex-al-heat-pump-water-heater/#respond Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:37:30 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=283711 Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are a key technology for a zero-emissions 21st century. They are 2–4 times more efficient than fossil gas or electric resistance water heaters, emit little if any CO2 (depending on your electricity mix), and cost around $100 a year to operate. And, if you’ve got lots of family members, housemates, […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/21/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-new-voltex-al-heat-pump-water-heater/feed/ 0 283711 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/10/24/hug-your-super-efficient-water-heater-on-heat-pump-water-heater-day/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/10/24/hug-your-super-efficient-water-heater-on-heat-pump-water-heater-day/#respond Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:06:57 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=279705 You’ve heard of tree huggers? Well, on October 26, the Advanced Water Heating Initiative and hundreds of other organizations will celebrate another cylindrical climate saving object we should all be excited about (and maybe even hugging) — the heat pump water heater.  I know it may sound strange to hug the perhaps least-loved, least-exciting appliance […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/10/24/hug-your-super-efficient-water-heater-on-heat-pump-water-heater-day/feed/ 0 279705 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/28/celebrate-drive-electric-week-with-a-virtual-tour-of-a-ford-lightning/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/28/celebrate-drive-electric-week-with-a-virtual-tour-of-a-ford-lightning/#respond Wed, 28 Sep 2022 10:30:58 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=277536 It’s Drive Electric Week! The annual event to celebrate, try out, and transition to electric transportation runs from September 23 – October 2. CleanTechnica is marking the week by partnering with three nonprofit organizations, Electrify Now, Forth, and EEBA, to present a behind the scenes look at the auto industry. The webinar is titled The […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/28/celebrate-drive-electric-week-with-a-virtual-tour-of-a-ford-lightning/feed/ 0 277536 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/26/rheem-releases-120v-plug-in-heat-pump-water-heater-that-can-be-plugged-into-typical-outlet/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/26/rheem-releases-120v-plug-in-heat-pump-water-heater-that-can-be-plugged-into-typical-outlet/#respond Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:00:24 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=277354 Last fall I wrote about how 120 volt heat pump water heaters were just about to come out on the market. Well, they’re finally here! Rheem released its 120V ProTerra(R) Plug-in Heat Pump water heater (HPWH) in July and everyone is excited! Ok, you may not geek out on heat pump water heaters as much […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/26/rheem-releases-120v-plug-in-heat-pump-water-heater-that-can-be-plugged-into-typical-outlet/feed/ 0 277354 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/22/the-scientific-reason-why-air-dried-laundry-smells-so-good/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/22/the-scientific-reason-why-air-dried-laundry-smells-so-good/#respond Mon, 22 Aug 2022 15:35:32 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=274957 I’m a big evangelist for hang-drying laundry. It’s the original form of solar energy, in which you use the sun to dry your clothes instead of an energy hungry dryer. Dryers account for something like 3% of all electricity usage (equivalent to all the solar panels currently installed) in the US, and hang-drying is a […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/22/the-scientific-reason-why-air-dried-laundry-smells-so-good/feed/ 0 274957 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/30/eugene-becomes-first-city-in-oregon-to-ban-natural-gas/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/30/eugene-becomes-first-city-in-oregon-to-ban-natural-gas/#respond Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:35:51 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=272957 “The power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.” — John Maynard Keynes The city of Eugene, Oregon, is on the world’s radar for two reasons these days. First, it lived up to its nickname as “Tracktown USA” and became the first city in the US to host the […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/30/eugene-becomes-first-city-in-oregon-to-ban-natural-gas/feed/ 0 272957 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/23/we-spent-95-to-drive-2700-miles-on-a-summer-roadtrip-life-with-an-ev-is-sweet-indeed/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/23/we-spent-95-to-drive-2700-miles-on-a-summer-roadtrip-life-with-an-ev-is-sweet-indeed/#respond Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:00:53 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=272329 For the second year in a row, my family embarked on a massive EV road trip. Five of us — my wife, 3 year-old, 7-year-old, and 17-year old exchange student — piled into a rented Model 3 and drove 2,661 miles across the Northeast to see family and friends and enjoy seven beautiful states. What […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/23/we-spent-95-to-drive-2700-miles-on-a-summer-roadtrip-life-with-an-ev-is-sweet-indeed/feed/ 0 272329 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/converting-from-fuel-oil-to-heat-pumps-would-save-the-us-47-of-the-oil-we-used-to-import-from-russia/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/converting-from-fuel-oil-to-heat-pumps-would-save-the-us-47-of-the-oil-we-used-to-import-from-russia/#respond Mon, 30 May 2022 18:45:14 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=267773 To save the planet from catastrophic climate change, and win the war against belligerent petro-states, our best strategy boils down to the rapid deployment of three key technologies: electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and heat pumps. The first two technologies are flashy and compelling and show up daily in CleanTechnica articles and other publications (as […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/converting-from-fuel-oil-to-heat-pumps-would-save-the-us-47-of-the-oil-we-used-to-import-from-russia/feed/ 0 267773 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/with-las-vote-americas-two-largest-cities-have-said-no-new-fossil-gas/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/with-las-vote-americas-two-largest-cities-have-said-no-new-fossil-gas/#respond Mon, 30 May 2022 15:33:47 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=267985 The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to prohibit fossil fuels in new construction. The Council directed departments to develop a plan over the next six months “that will require all new residential and commercial buildings in Los Angeles to be built so that they will achieve zero-carbon emissions.” The plans are expected to […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/30/with-las-vote-americas-two-largest-cities-have-said-no-new-fossil-gas/feed/ 0 267985 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/22/this-earth-day-kick-fossil-gas-out-of-your-kitchen/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/22/this-earth-day-kick-fossil-gas-out-of-your-kitchen/#respond Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:34:43 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=264921 Gas stoves, like gas anything, are a 20th century technology that doesn’t have a place in our clean century. They served their purpose over the last decades, but now that we have research showing how much they pollute in our homes and outdoors, and considering the excellent high-performing electric alternatives, it’s high time to give […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/22/this-earth-day-kick-fossil-gas-out-of-your-kitchen/feed/ 0 264921 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/08/a-heat-pump-water-heater-is-the-energy-saving-equivalent-of-7-solar-panels-costs-%e2%85%99-the-price/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/08/a-heat-pump-water-heater-is-the-energy-saving-equivalent-of-7-solar-panels-costs-%e2%85%99-the-price/#respond Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:28:59 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=263663 My sister is in the process of building a house in Ohio, and I’ve been having conversations with her about how to make it green. She and my brother-in-law both consider me to be eco-crazed (arguably rightly so given the climactic and political stakes) and so tend to raise eyebrows when I make one of […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/04/08/a-heat-pump-water-heater-is-the-energy-saving-equivalent-of-7-solar-panels-costs-%e2%85%99-the-price/feed/ 0 263663 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/28/electrify-decarbonize-to-fight-back-against-the-petrostate-autocrats/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/28/electrify-decarbonize-to-fight-back-against-the-petrostate-autocrats/#respond Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:55:34 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=260961 For too long, I think, we’ve seen that one of the many downsides to our reliance on fossil fuels is that it empowers autocrats in petrostates to spread chaos at home and across the world. It’s time to Electrify & Decarbonize. From Venezuela to Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to most recently (and blatantly!) Russia, we’ve […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/28/electrify-decarbonize-to-fight-back-against-the-petrostate-autocrats/feed/ 0 260961 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/15/repowering-10000-school-buses-from-diesel-to-electric-adds-up/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/15/repowering-10000-school-buses-from-diesel-to-electric-adds-up/#respond Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:55:04 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=260072 Instead of replacing a diesel bus with a brand-new electric bus, why not convert it?]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/15/repowering-10000-school-buses-from-diesel-to-electric-adds-up/feed/ 0 260072 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/30/nycs-first-electric-school-buses-are-diesel-to-electric-repowers-thats-a-big-deal/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/30/nycs-first-electric-school-buses-are-diesel-to-electric-repowers-thats-a-big-deal/#respond Sun, 30 Jan 2022 20:40:00 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=258690 Critics of electrification often call early retirement of long-life diesel trucks and buses an expensive waste - but this EV conversion program is giving diesels a new lease on life with an EV conversion!]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/30/nycs-first-electric-school-buses-are-diesel-to-electric-repowers-thats-a-big-deal/feed/ 0 258690 https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/21/natural-gas-becomes-important-battleground-in-transition-from-fossil-fuels/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/21/natural-gas-becomes-important-battleground-in-transition-from-fossil-fuels/#respond Fri, 21 Jan 2022 17:14:33 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=258225 2021 was a big year for natural gas bans as cities continue to lead the way in phasing out gas from homes and buildings. From New York City’s recent ban on gas in new construction, to Californian cities’ steady march to “cut the pipe,” to the backlash and ban on gas bans in 20 states, […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/21/natural-gas-becomes-important-battleground-in-transition-from-fossil-fuels/feed/ 0 258225 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/11/29/120-volt-heat-pump-water-heaters-hit-the-market-make-gas-replacements-even-easier/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/11/29/120-volt-heat-pump-water-heaters-hit-the-market-make-gas-replacements-even-easier/#respond Mon, 29 Nov 2021 21:50:13 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=254355 Updated: Editor’s note – a previous version of this article stated that the Rheem 120 V water heater was already for sale. This water heater is expected to hit the market in the first half of 2022. We regret the error.  There are big developments happening in the world of water heating. 120 volt 15 […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/11/29/120-volt-heat-pump-water-heaters-hit-the-market-make-gas-replacements-even-easier/feed/ 0 254355 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/16/renewable-natural-gas-is-the-ultimate-red-herring/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/16/renewable-natural-gas-is-the-ultimate-red-herring/#respond Fri, 17 Sep 2021 03:31:40 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=248417 There are three fossil fuels we must stop burning if we are to save our planet: coal, oil, and methane (aka “natural”) gas. Coal is declining precipitously. Scientists think we hit peak coal in 2013, and American use of coal has fallen by over 50% in the last 10 years (though, we need to quickly […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/16/renewable-natural-gas-is-the-ultimate-red-herring/feed/ 0 248417 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/08/21/13-tips-for-hang-drying-laundry-saving-the-planet-with-your-undies/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/08/21/13-tips-for-hang-drying-laundry-saving-the-planet-with-your-undies/#respond Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:10:25 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=246320 Hang drying clothes is a simple way to save massive amounts of energy. Hear me out — the statistics are startling. The average American family does 2300 pounds of laundry per year, and drying that, literal ton, of laundry in a clothes dryer uses close to 1000 kWh of electricity or one tenth of a […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/08/21/13-tips-for-hang-drying-laundry-saving-the-planet-with-your-undies/feed/ 0 246320 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/07/30/ductless-heat-pumps-demystified/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/07/30/ductless-heat-pumps-demystified/#respond Sat, 31 Jul 2021 01:30:26 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=244669 Climate change has the odd effect of making many of us inordinately excited about appliances we never used to care about. Suddenly, all the background machines, which have up to now been unconsciously powering our lives, have taken on outsized importance. Some of them have the potential to provide the essential services we depend on […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/07/30/ductless-heat-pumps-demystified/feed/ 0 244669 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/29/nate-the-house-whisperer-interview/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/29/nate-the-house-whisperer-interview/#respond Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:40:05 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=242183 Every day we hear more about the idea of  “electrifying everything” as one of the clearest paths to eliminating our carbon emissions. Combine clean renewable power with efficient all electric appliances and you have a recipe for a carbon neutral, comfortable home. But what about those of us living in the northeast and midwest? Is […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/29/nate-the-house-whisperer-interview/feed/ 0 242183 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/27/its-114-degrees-in-oregon-time-to-productively-panic/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/27/its-114-degrees-in-oregon-time-to-productively-panic/#respond Sun, 27 Jun 2021 14:28:39 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=241968 Here on planet Earth, summer is becoming the worst season. Instead of looking forward to sunny days lazing around on beaches, we find ourselves annually playing a game of climate roulette, with continuously worse odds, and megafires, off-the-chart smoke levels, and category 5 hurricanes, the outcomes of unlucky rolls. This weekend, in my formerly mild, […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/27/its-114-degrees-in-oregon-time-to-productively-panic/feed/ 0 241968 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/21/confessions-of-a-sidewalk-charger-cleantechnica-version/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/21/confessions-of-a-sidewalk-charger-cleantechnica-version/#respond Mon, 21 Jun 2021 20:40:32 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=241519 I have a confession to make. For 4 years I charged my electric car using a 50-foot long, yellow extension cord. I would plug the cord into an 120V outlet on the side of my house and run it over my retaining wall, across the sidewalk (covered with a cord protector for safety), and attach […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/21/confessions-of-a-sidewalk-charger-cleantechnica-version/feed/ 0 241519 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/17/electric-vehicle-charging-hubs-will-help-scale-fleet-electrification/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/17/electric-vehicle-charging-hubs-will-help-scale-fleet-electrification/#respond Thu, 17 Jun 2021 19:38:27 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=241226 Charging stations and networks for electric passenger cars are quickly coming online across the country with fast chargers on ever more routes and Level 2 chargers continuously in more places where we work, shop, and sleep. But as our world looks to quickly electrify other types of vehicles including trucks, buses and delivery vans, we’re […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/17/electric-vehicle-charging-hubs-will-help-scale-fleet-electrification/feed/ 0 241226 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/26/the-geebee-an-electric-scooter-aimed-at-fleets/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/26/the-geebee-an-electric-scooter-aimed-at-fleets/#respond Wed, 26 May 2021 14:59:29 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=239509 Electric micromobility is increasingly present in almost every type of vehicle imaginable; from e-bikes, to shared electric scooters, to one-wheels, skateboards and mopeds — you name it. The hope amongst active transportation advocates is that by electrifying everything on two and three wheels, we can appeal to people who otherwise wouldn’t use these “alternative” forms […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/26/the-geebee-an-electric-scooter-aimed-at-fleets/feed/ 0 239509 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/07/new-nonprofit-seeks-secret-to-successful-bike-share-in-small-cities-interview/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/07/new-nonprofit-seeks-secret-to-successful-bike-share-in-small-cities-interview/#respond Fri, 07 May 2021 16:28:33 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=237996 A few years ago, we entered an era where shared bikes were provided for free to any city that wanted them. Cities jumped at the opportunity to offer another form of transportation to their residents at no cost to their perpetually stretched budgets, but quickly learned that there was no free lunch. Streets became cluttered […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/07/new-nonprofit-seeks-secret-to-successful-bike-share-in-small-cities-interview/feed/ 0 237996 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/30/multnomah-county-oregon-bans-natural-gas-in-new-county-buildings/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/30/multnomah-county-oregon-bans-natural-gas-in-new-county-buildings/#respond Fri, 30 Apr 2021 18:35:05 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=237419 Multnomah County, which encompasses much of the city of Portland, Oregon, unanimously approved a resolution last week that will make all new county buildings — libraries, courthouses and community centers — free of fossil fuels. Basically this means that new county buildings will no longer pipe fossil (aka “natural”) gas into them and instead rely […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/30/multnomah-county-oregon-bans-natural-gas-in-new-county-buildings/feed/ 0 237419 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/24/how-quickly-will-electric-school-buses-scale-an-interview-with-blue-bird/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/24/how-quickly-will-electric-school-buses-scale-an-interview-with-blue-bird/#respond Sat, 24 Apr 2021 05:03:07 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=236833 School buses are ripe for electrification. First off, they replace dirty diesel with clean electrons, which dramatically reduces emissions of both CO2 as well as other harmful pollutants like air particulates and NOx. Since a majority of low-income children (60%) ride the bus to school and school buses with lower emissions have been shown to […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/24/how-quickly-will-electric-school-buses-scale-an-interview-with-blue-bird/feed/ 0 236833 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/14/8-days-2-kids-2700-miles-1-tesla-lessons-learned-from-a-cross-country-ev-road-trip/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/14/8-days-2-kids-2700-miles-1-tesla-lessons-learned-from-a-cross-country-ev-road-trip/#respond Thu, 15 Apr 2021 01:43:14 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=236067 If there is one achilles heel of the electric automobile, it’s the road trip. Even if the road trip is something we only very occasionally ask of our personal vehicles, it’s still a crucial aspect of the American car owner experience. If electric transportation is ever going to fully kick gas cars into the ash […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/04/14/8-days-2-kids-2700-miles-1-tesla-lessons-learned-from-a-cross-country-ev-road-trip/feed/ 0 236067 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/13/women-in-evs-leading-women-in-the-industry-talk-about-their-experiences/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/13/women-in-evs-leading-women-in-the-industry-talk-about-their-experiences/#respond Sat, 13 Feb 2021 18:48:36 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=231575 Women are the key to unlocking the potential of the EV industry, but have been largely overlooked — not just as consumers, but as valued contributors to this growing field. Women influence over 80% of vehicle purchasing decisions in the US, but only purchase 30% of EVs. Furthermore, they comprise less than 25% of the […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/13/women-in-evs-leading-women-in-the-industry-talk-about-their-experiences/feed/ 0 231575 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/12/sacred-cow-documentary-makes-an-argument-for-better-meat/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/12/sacred-cow-documentary-makes-an-argument-for-better-meat/#respond Fri, 12 Feb 2021 19:40:31 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=231455 The documentary Sacred Cow was released in January 2021 and explores the ways that ruminants (cows) and well-raised meat can play an important role in solving our climate crisis (I’ll be interviewing director Diana Rodgers on a grasslands webinar in March). The film’s central argument is that the real threat to our climate and our […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/12/sacred-cow-documentary-makes-an-argument-for-better-meat/feed/ 0 231455 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/10/buy-land-plant-an-adventure-in-reforesting/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/10/buy-land-plant-an-adventure-in-reforesting/#respond Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:49 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=231214 A decade or so ago, I came across an article in the local paper about a retired school teacher who owned some land a couple hours east of my city of Portland, Oregon, and spent his golden years planting trees. He had planted 10,000 trees up to that point, aiming to reforest a semi-dry area […]]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/02/10/buy-land-plant-an-adventure-in-reforesting/feed/ 0 231214 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/20/exclusive-interview-mayor-of-americas-10th-largest-city-on-benefits-challenges-of-electrification/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/20/exclusive-interview-mayor-of-americas-10th-largest-city-on-benefits-challenges-of-electrification/#respond Thu, 21 Jan 2021 04:22:16 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=229553 I’ve been following San Jose’s Mayor, Sam Liccardo, for some time. In 2019, I heard from environmentalists in California about how he was instrumental in getting all-electric building legislation through the city council of the nation’s 10th largest city. I’ve also been tracking San Jose's nation-leading efforts in clean electricity and electric vehicles.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/20/exclusive-interview-mayor-of-americas-10th-largest-city-on-benefits-challenges-of-electrification/feed/ 0 229553 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/11/electric-fireplaces-safe-cozy-clean-flames/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/11/electric-fireplaces-safe-cozy-clean-flames/#respond Tue, 12 Jan 2021 03:51:33 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=228625 In past articles, we’ve profiled some of the key technologies that are essential to the all-electric modern home of the future: heat pumps for space heating; induction stoves for incredibly precise and fast cooking; electric cars for pollution-free transportation; and heat pump water heaters for hot water. To this list we now add the electric fireplace.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/11/electric-fireplaces-safe-cozy-clean-flames/feed/ 0 228625 https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/07/community-solar-year-1-a-new-program-gets-underway/ https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/07/community-solar-year-1-a-new-program-gets-underway/#respond Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:06:37 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=228330 Community solar is the idea that folks who can’t install solar panels on their rooftops — either because their roof isn’t in good shape or they don’t have the upfront capital or they rent and don’t own their home — can essentially buy solar panels at a solar farm (usually off in a field somewhere relatively nearby), receive credit off their utility bills, and take part in growing their solar energy locally.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2021/01/07/community-solar-year-1-a-new-program-gets-underway/feed/ 0 228330 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/18/signing-up-for-community-solar-my-experience/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/18/signing-up-for-community-solar-my-experience/#respond Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:16:25 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=226984 I decided to look into community solar, interview some people involved in the program, and sign up myself to see how it’s going and to better understand how community solar works in general.  ]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/18/signing-up-for-community-solar-my-experience/feed/ 0 226984 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/04/breaking-news-oakland-seattle-ban-natural-gas-as-cities-continue-to-lead-on-electrification/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/04/breaking-news-oakland-seattle-ban-natural-gas-as-cities-continue-to-lead-on-electrification/#respond Fri, 04 Dec 2020 16:29:39 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=225856 The announcements are coming so fast it’s hard to keep up. In mid November, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to ban natural gas in new buildings. On December 2, Oakland’s city council did the same. And yesterday, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ...]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/04/breaking-news-oakland-seattle-ban-natural-gas-as-cities-continue-to-lead-on-electrification/feed/ 0 225856 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/02/letter-to-a-friend-buying-an-electric-car/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/02/letter-to-a-friend-buying-an-electric-car/#respond Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:08:09 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=225606 Two friends recently bought electric cars for their families after thinking about it for a long time. Beyond wanting to congratulate them, and click my heels together like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain, I felt the need to describe, in detail, just how big a deal this EV purchase is, beyond platitudes like “EVs are so amazing for the world.” So I wrote them a letter.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/02/letter-to-a-friend-buying-an-electric-car/feed/ 0 225606 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/13/helping-families-one-electric-heat-pump-water-heater-at-a-time/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/13/helping-families-one-electric-heat-pump-water-heater-at-a-time/#respond Sat, 14 Nov 2020 02:46:47 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=224215 A couple of weeks ago, CleanTechnica profiled an important way to electrify everything equitably.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/13/helping-families-one-electric-heat-pump-water-heater-at-a-time/feed/ 0 224215 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/20/the-high-performance-all-electric-home/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/20/the-high-performance-all-electric-home/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:44:04 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=222269 In the 1950s, when nuclear energy was booming and hydroelectric dams were laying across rivers like tourniquets, the all-electric home became a thing. It didn’t matter that the electric heating technologies of the time were vastly inefficient. The promise of electricity that was “too cheap to meter” meant that people could use it to their heart’s delight.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/20/the-high-performance-all-electric-home/feed/ 0 222269 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/19/on-the-cutting-edge-of-vehicle-to-grid/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/19/on-the-cutting-edge-of-vehicle-to-grid/#respond Mon, 19 Oct 2020 23:06:41 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=222296 Using the energy in our car batteries to power our homes during emergencies and our electrical grid during times of peak usage has felt like the holy grail where electrical vehicles, renewable energy, and efficient buildings all intersect.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/19/on-the-cutting-edge-of-vehicle-to-grid/feed/ 0 222296 https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/09/equitable-electrification/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/09/equitable-electrification/#respond Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:31:55 +0000 https://cleantechnica.com/?p=221540 Electrifying everything is increasingly viewed as one of our best strategies for decarbonizing our societies and solving the threat of climate change.]]> https://cleantechnica.com/2020/10/09/equitable-electrification/feed/ 0 221540