Armed rebels in Libya have hijacked the oil

Billions of dollars’ worth of oil are now under the control of armed rebels in Libya, costing the country more than $130m (£82m) a day on the global market.

Libya was producing approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil a day earlier this year, compared to last week’s total of 700,000, confirming the long-held belief that whoever controls the energy, controls the fate of the nation.

The rebel groups consist mostly of former employees who had been hired to guard the country’s oilfields. Although they aren’t making any specific demands, rebel leaders cite industry corruption as a main inspiration for their siege. Not much has changed since vicious dictator Muammar Gaddafi was removed from office two years ago, they claim. Others are demanding more autonomy for the country’s eastern borders, where most of the oil lies. Still others are striking over salaries, or being fired and replaced by former militia members willing to work for less.

In response, the Libyan government is moving forward with treason charges. They believe the rebels are seizing the oil in an attempt to sell it themselves, and what’s worse – they’re afraid the civil unrest will ward off foreign investors who currently operate many of the country’s largest oilfields.

“The security issue is essential, and we know a situation like this is not encouraging for investment, but I assure [investors] it's temporary, not permanent," says Deputy Oil Minister Omar al-Shakmak.

Libya’s parliament has already passed legislation to raise civil servants’ salaries by 20%. But is it a little too late? Now that the rebels control the oil, are they really motivated to comprise?

All authorities can do for now is petition local citizens to put added pressure on these protestors in hopes that familial and communal tensions will force them to surrender.

"A lot of [the trouble] has to do with day-to-day expectations not being met, politicians and government failing people at the very basic level in terms of service delivery," says Ahmad Safar, an independent economic adviser. "We haven't seen a decentralized system that guarantees equal share to the wealth of the country; we haven't seen proper and fair distribution among Libyans - south, east, west, north.”

Roughly 30% of Libya’s fuel is refined domestically. So when rebels initially hijacked the oil, fuel shortages resulted in mass panic. People started stocking up on gasoline and propane. There were lengthy blackouts. Oceans of stand-still traffic. Even shoot-outs.

NRGLab is working towards preventing situations like the one in Libya from erupting elsewhere in the world. By empowering people with cheap, reliable access to electricity, we can break free from the bonds of a centralized energy infrastructure. We can take precautions against corruption. Prevent civil wars. Save lives. And create a greener, more sustainable future for our children.

For more information on how NRGLab plans to revolutionize the way we approach green energy, visit nrglab.asia, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/NRGLabJohnWish.

EU proposes new environmental legislation – pests beware

Today, the European Union (EU) proposed new environmental legislation in hopes of managing the growing threat of pests that have migrated north, thanks to global warming. Over 12,000 invasive species are wreaking havoc throughout Europe, disrupting ecosystems and causing ripple effects across the global economy.

Is there any stopping them?

These pests are causing an estimated €12 billion worth of damage each year. Crops. Trade. Water wells. Europe’s historic, rural communities are at risk of dying out.

From an ecological standpoint, invasive pests can force the extinction of some indigenous species, crippling food-chains that are vital to maintaining balance in nature.

But animals aren’t the only ones in danger. One sting from a tiger mosquito or an Asian hornet, and you’re done for. Think about that the next time you hear something buzzing around your head.

Ultimately, pests become about politics. Members of the EU have already thrown millions of dollars at the problem. They’ve spent substantial resources, too. But until the issue is approached from a unified stance, and not left up to individual nations, then the pest infestation will continue to spread, until one day, the entire planet’s consumed.
Don’t believe me? Think I’m exaggerating?

Consider the Japanese knotweed, which is literally strangling buildings to the point of causing structural damage. Or how about the giant hogweed in Belgium, which, even if the country is successful in eradicating it, may simply cross the border, and start ravaging French crops! (If only traveling was so easy…)

"Combating invasive alien species is a prime example of an area where Europe is better when working together,” says Janez Potočnik, Environment Commissioner of the EU. “The legislation we are proposing will help protect biodiversity and is targeted to allow us to focus on the most serious threats. This will help improve the effectiveness of national measures and achieve results in the most cost-effective way. I look forward to working with Member States and the European Parliament to put this legislation in place and step up our efforts to tackle this serious problem right across Europe."

Potočnik is calling for a ban on select species, meaning it will be illegal to “import, buy, use, release or sell them” anywhere within the EU. The legislation encourages a transition towards a more preventive approach to pests and global warming, which should increase recognition efficiency and lower damage costs.

What’s the best way to prevent global warming? Eliminate carbon emissions. How can we do that? End our dependence on dirty fossil fuels like coal. How can we do that?

That’s the question NRGLab has been asking for years now, and we think we’ve come up with some pretty creative solutions. From a portable, polycrystalline electric generator, to a more efficient gasification turbine – see how you could be paying as little as $0.03 per kWh by visiting nrglab.asia.

Help us ensure a greener future for all.

Global warming, pests, and poverty - how they're interconnected

Think of all the under-privileged people living in the world. The sick. The starving. Sure, every once in a while you might donate to a charity. You might even send a child you sponsor in Africa ten cents a day for basic necessities. It’s a shame to think that so many people continue to struggle to make ends meet despite advancements in technology and an expanding global economy. Medicine, 3 meals a day, warmth, shelter – things we take for granted can literally save lives.

Global warming, unfortunately, is only complicating matters.

Did you know that we already lose between 10% and 16% of our annual global crop production to pests like bacteria, fungi, viruses, worms, and other insects? That loss alone could feed 8.5% of the world’s population!

Want to put an end to world hunger? Kill all the pests!

Yet, according to a new study out of England, hundreds of species of pests are slowly migrating away from the tropics “at a rate of nearly two miles a year.” Rising surface temperatures across the planet are making more ecosystems inhabitable for these dangerous, sometimes microscopic, organisms.

British scientists looked at data collected over the last 50 years and discovered an average annual shift towards the north and south poles of approximately 2.7 km (1.7 miles).

"If crop pests continue to march pole-wards as the Earth warms, the combined effects of a growing world population and the increased loss of crops to pests will pose a serious threat to global food security," claims Professor Dan Bebber of Exeter University, who led the research team.

Take the mountain pine beetle, for instance. Warmer weather has driven the beetle to the U.S. Pacific north-west, where it continues to be a major deforestation threat. Another example would be the rice blast fungus, a devastating pest that’s destroying wheat crops in over 80 countries, most notably Brazil.

"Renewed efforts are required to monitor the spread of crop pests and to control their movement from region to region if we are to halt the relentless destruction of crops across the world in the face of climate change," says Professor Sarah Gurr, also from the University of Exeter and co-author of the study.

So if we really want to make a difference in the lives of the under-privileged, let’s start working together to halt global warming. NRGLab believes the way to accomplish this is by developing cost-effective, clean, and renewable sources of energy.

For more information on NRGLab’s slate of innovative green energy projects, visit nrglab.asia, and read up on our biofuel turbine, our polycrystalline electrical generator, and much, much more!

2012 – Top 10 hottest year in recorded history!

According to four different independent studies, last year was among the 10 hottest years on record. Two countries, Argentina and the United States, experienced their hottest years EVER!

And you thought we were making progress on the global warming front. Not enough progress, it appears.

Let’s take a look at some of 2012’s not-so-stellar highlights:

The ice caps continued to melt at a frightening rate, roughly twice that of lower latitudes. Why? Well, ocean heat, for starters. Heat contained in the upper 2,000 feet of the ocean remained near record highs in 2012. The biggest increases from last year occurred between depths of 2,300 and 6,600 feet.

After a 30-year stretch of increasing sea surface temperatures, the global average in 2012 was among the 11 warmest on record. This is due, in part, to the prevalence of superstorms plaguing the 21st century and disrupting ocean currents.

Meanwhile, the sea itself reached a record high level. Globally, levels have been steadily rising at an average rate of 3.2 ± 0.4 mm per year since 1990. So unless we take drastic action, 2013's sea levels will be higher still. A new record.

Continuing a trend that started back in 2004, ocean selenic concentrations were up in areas of high evaporation, including the central tropical North Pacific, suggesting that evaporation is escalating in drier environments. That's less and less drinking water that will be available in the future.

Greenhouse gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, continued to climb following a slight dip associated with 2011’s economic downturn. Increased efficiency standards have proven fruitless so far, so until we learn to curb overall consumption habits, government regulations will never succeed.

Last year, a total of 84 tropical cyclones ravaged various parts of planet Earth. Sound like a lot? It’s not. In fact, it’s just about average. But what the numbers don’t reflect is that these storms are growing more severe. They’re lasting longer. Traveling further. Causing more damage and ruining more lives.

Hopefully, by scrutinizing our environmental record, we can ensure 2013 doesn't negatively contribute to the history books!

Join NRGLab in the energy revolution.

An economic time bomb lurks under the icecaps

According to a joint-study conducted by a group of polar scientist and economists, the melting icecaps could prompt an “economic time bomb” to go off, costing the global economy TRILLIONS of dollars.

The common theory for the last two decades has been that melting icecaps would result in an economic “boom” of another kind. Companies would finally be able to exploit untapped reservoirs of natural gas and crude oil which had been trapped underneath thick sheaths of ice for centuries.

The Arctic ice, which melts and refreezes on an annual basis, is shrinking at an unheralded rate. Last year, “it collapsed to under 3.5m sqkm by mid-September, just 40% of its usual extent in the 1970s”. And since the ice is also becoming less thick, some scientists predict the Arctic Ocean will be largely free of summer ice by the end of the decade.

The growing concern is that, as the icecaps melt, the warming of the sea water will trigger offshore permafrost to release greater quantities of methane. “A giant reservoir of the greenhouse gas, in the form of gas hydrates on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS), could be emitted, either slowly or catastrophically fast over a shorter time frame,” the researchers claim. “And that could result in “a $60 TRILLION global price tag.”

"This massive methane boost will have major implications for global economies and societies. Much of those costs would be borne by developing countries in the form of extreme weather, flooding and impacts on health and agricultural production," says Professor Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University, one of the authors of the study.

The poorer economies of Africa, Asia, and South America are expected to be impacted the most by all this. But since we live in a global economy, like a stone cast into a pond – the ripple effects can stretch across oceans.

"Neither the World Economic Forum nor the International Monetary Fund currently recognize the economic danger of Arctic change. [They must] pay much more attention to this invisible time-bomb. The impacts of just one [giant "pulse" of methane] approaches the $70-tn value of the world economy in 2012,” says Professor Gail Whiteman of the Rotterdam School of Management, another author involved in the study.

Shipping companies are preparing to deploy a record number of vessels across the north of Russia later this year in order to tap into the natural gas and oil preserves. The new Northern Sea Route uses the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska and is only passable a few months out of the year with an icebreaker. This shorted trip slashes travel costs up to 40%!

It’s only a matter of time until one of the drilling operations opens up a massive pocket of methane gas and releases the “pulse” scientists are waiting for.

NRGLab would prefer if we didn’t have to trek all the way up to the artic for a fuel that could wind up costing us TRILLIONS in oversight. That’s why we’ve developed a number of alternative energy programs that are not only cost-effective, but renewable and reliable as well. For more information on NRGLab, visit nrglab.asia.

Cut energy consumption from your computer & phone!

Just imagine – you’re two minutes away from pulling into your driveway after a long day at work. You reach into your pocket and pull out a smartphone. Click. Click. By the time you’re standing at your front door, the porch lights are on. Inside, the air conditioning is at just the right temperature. Even the TV is set to your favorite channel.

No, this isn’t science fiction. It’s Canadian!

Valta, a Toronto-based startup company, is looking towards the Internet to help fund their new energy-management technology. Combining an innovative outlet attachment with a central hub, an iPhone app, and a monitoring website, Valta’s technology promises to help homeowners tame energy wasting appliances with just a few clicks.

The outlet attachments feature built-in microchips that detect inactive energy guzzlers. Those chips can then send a text message alert to your phone, allowing you to turn the socket off completely!

You can also view which of your home’s appliances are in “standby” mode, which means they continue to sap electricity without actively being in use.

The technology utilizes a geofence to shut appliances off as soon as you leave the house, and then turn them back on as soon as you return. So even if you forgot to reach for your phone on the car ride home, don’t worry!

If you’re one of those people who likes to plan everything down to the smallest detail, you can schedule power on and offs, like turning on your entertainment system, fan, computer, or home office.

Valta’s technology can even track your energy consumption so you can see how your habits have evolved over time. Because energy consciousness has never been more important! Sure, it’s easy to forget about that lamp on in the other room. It’s easy to let the water run a little longer than need be. What’s difficult is changing our habits. Learning. Improving.

If we don’t improve as a society, and quickly, we’ll be left with one mess of a planet. Thankfully, companies like NRGLab and Valta are taking a stance and doing something about it.

 
Valta has the experience in cloud-network computer programming, iOS, hardware and electrical engineering.  All they need now is money. The company has turned to Kickstarter, the highly-successful crowd-based funding site, for $100,000 to get the gears turning.

Interested in pre-ordering Valta’s technology? The v-Hub and three sockets will run you $139 (about 55$ less than projected retail this Fall). Check out their Kickstarter campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/671204280/valta-energy-usage-simplified

Cut costs and energy consumption in 10 easy steps

You don’t have to take drastic measures in order to adapt to the energy and climate crises. By adhering to these 10 simple steps, you’ll cut down on your carbon footprint while simultaneously shredding your monthly utility bills!

It doesn’t take expensive solar panel instillation to do it, either. Just take a little bit of time out of your day, walk around your home, and consider the following:

1. Set your thermostat to 78° Fahrenheit (about 25 C°). It’s a low-energy yet comfortable temperature that’s sure to save you big bucks during those long, sultry summer months.
2. If you’re running the air conditioner, make sure the windows and doors are all closed. Waste not, want not, as they say.
3. Make sure those vents aren’t being blocked. A lot of times (often for feng shui), people will unknowingly position furniture against the AC vents. This restricts the flow of cool air throughout your home, forcing you to run the unit longer.
4. Another common decorating mistake – make sure your TV, lamps, and heat-emitting appliances are positioned away from the thermostat. They have a tendency of tricking the AC into thinking it’s hotter than it actually is.
5. Did you know that your water heater is generally your third largest energy expense? Turning it down just a few degrees will help you save money consistently month-to-month.
6. Washing your clothes in cold water instead of hot will pocket you an extra hundred dollars or so every year. Also, stashing a dry towel in the dryer with each load of freshly washed clothes reduces drying time by absorbing dampness. That means running the dryer less. Using less water. Less energy.
7. Microwaveable TV dinners – not so bad after all! The microwave oven uses about ½ as much energy as a convention one. So don’t feel bad the next time it takes you five minutes to cook dinner. Feel like you’re being responsible.
8. Vacuum your refrigerator? Sounds a bit ridiculous, I’ll admit. But when dirt and grime build up in your fridge’s coils, it has to work twice as hard to keep your food cold.
9. If you haven’t brewed coffee, played video games, or watched TV in a while – unplug your appliances! Surprisingly, many consume electricity even when they’re off.
10. Have an attic? A basement? Even a crawlspace? Inspect your insulation regularly to make sure that it’s dry. When moisture seeps in, it greatly impacts the insulation’s effectiveness. Cold air leaks out during the summer, and in during the winter, making it very difficult to stay warm or cool (depending on the season).

Well, there you have it. 10 easy steps to reducing costs and energy consumption. And remember, when it comes to global warming – we’re all in this together. So take the time to make sure you’re being as energy-efficient as possible. Tell a friend. Make a difference.

As Gandhi once said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.”

Creating a greener future, one step at a time

Besides investing more money, what other steps can the government take to ensure a greener future? Plenty!

Complex problems require complex solutions. Over the past decade, governments have tied themselves to various ‘breakthroughs’ in energy technology. Nuclear power plants. Solar panels with increased battery capacities. Wind turbines with better conversion rates. But these trends come and go. Why? Because in and of themselves, they cannot create a sustainable infrastructure.

NRGLab is helping the world create an energy ecosystem instead. With a collection of independent producers and distributors, we can make electricity universally available.

We can’t do it alone, though. We’ve developed the SH-Box – a carbon-free electrical generator that’s both affordable and portable – but that won’t be enough. NRGLab needs support to advance manufacturing. What kind of support? Yours of course!

Since 2008, the U.S. government has invested in new energy programs to stimulate innovation at deliberate points along the course of technological development. Policymakers fear unnecessary bureaucracy and extensive red tape, but eventually, they will have to come together to establish a clear vision for the future – no more jumping from trend to trend.

Programs like the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) within the U.S.’s Department of Energy are trying to address the fundamental issue of climate change. We need to understand 100% why surface temperatures are on the rise so we can solve the problem once and for all. The EFRCs and Office of Science are studying causal theories in chemistry, material science, and physics that could lead to pragmatic energy strategies.

The Joint Center for Energy Storage Research has taken over a decade’s worth of research and material to develop batteries that are five times more energy efficient than any of today’s lithium-ions, and at one-fifth of the cost!

Investing in transformative solutions like those provided by NRGLab will allow society to overcome the economic and political barriers that are preventing us from making the breakthroughs in green energy our planet so desperately needs right now. This includes investing in better gasification methods, all-natural renewables, and energy independence.

Every journey begins with a single step. The question is: which way will you step? In line with the sheep, or ahead of the pack?

NRGLab is currently recycling waste across the world into clean diesel fuel. With our SH-Boxes, we’re giving consumers the opportunity to enjoy energy independence. For more information on any number of our projects, visit us at nrglab.asia, and help us ensure a greener future!

In a globalized world, we need an energy cocktail

Power makes the world go ‘round. Banking systems. Information technology. Multimedia. These days, everything depends on electricity. But what if you live ‘off-the-grid’? Worse yet —what happens when energy becomes scarcer than gold?

Global demand for energy is expect to grow by at least 35% by the year 2030. While policy makers scramble to come up with answers, rising populations and longer life expectancies drive that number higher. How can this outrageous demand for electricity be met?

Developed countries represent two-thirds of the world’s crude oil demand, and the United States, Europe and Japan have already exceeded their demand ceilings. Today, China consumes more energy than the United States – something which was once thought impossible. Even with increased energy efficiency, rising incomes and improved standards of living means a greater demand for energy.

Environmental concerns continue to dictate the energy market. The question of global warming and carbon has never been more pressing now that atmospheric levels have surpassed 400 million parts per unit. Over 80% of the world’s fuel consumption is carbon based —oil, coal, and natural gas.

The transition to alternative, renewable sources of energy is already in motion. Wind and solar are improving, but still have major drawbacks.

The answer to this energy crisis requires a unique cocktail of solutions. Responsible consumption. Innovative thinking. And one large shot of NRGLab.

Our vision of a globalized energy grid is complex, and needs time to be realized by a majority of people who are simply too accustomed to using fossil fuels. Real progress means curbing consumption and investment habits. New techniques, facilities, buildings, and vehicles are like band-aids over the real problem of energy dependency.

The real solution is responsible energy independence. With a generator like the SH-Box, which is carbon-free and cost-effective, you don’t have to rely on dirty, expensive fossil fuels. In fact, you could be paying as little as $0.03 per kW, or a fraction of your current energy costs.

Interested in learning more? Follow us on Facebook, or visit nrglab.asia for more information on the SH-Box and NRGLab’s energy revolution.

Disagreement over global warming? 97% of scientists say, “No.”

Although the public seems to think experts are divided on the issue, 97% of scientists agree that global warming is, in fact, a man-made disaster. However, the public’s misconception is making it more difficult for elected representatives to enact necessary policy changes.

"There’s a strong scientific agreement about the cause of climate change, despite public perceptions to the contrary," said Professor John Cook of the University of Queensland, Australia. "There’s a gaping chasm between the actual consensus and the public perception. When people understand that scientists agree on global warming, they're more likely to support policies that take action on it."

Did you know that the planet’s average surface temperature has risen by 0.8 degree Celsius, or 1.4F, since the Industrial Revolution? That may not sound like much, but consider that today, all 19 of Earth’s glacial regions are melting, the effects are irrefutable.

Experts from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia studied thousands of peer journals dating back to the 1990s, and what they found was a wide – much wider than anticipated – acceptance of man’s role in global warming. This was the largest effort to gauge the scientific community’s opinion on the topic.

Professor Mark Richardson of the University of Reading, England, says that "if people disagree with what we've found, we want to know.”

Surveys performed in over 90 countries show widespread belief that experts are in disagreement about whether climate change is man-made, or simply part of a fluctuating environment. Last October, the U.S. Pew Research Center found that only 45% of Americans answered "Yes" when asked: "Do scientists agree Earth is getting warmer because of human activity?"

The level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has reached 400 parts per million, the highest it’s been since the dinosaurs! Droughts, floods, and rising sea levels are expected to ravage our very way of life. Is the government doing enough to protect us?

NRGLab has your back. My developing clean, renewable sources of energy and improving upon existing methods of fuel production, we’re working to eliminate carbon-emissions from the equation altogether. Want to know more? Visit nrglab.asia for more info on our innovative SH-Box and gasification techniques.

Europe fighting a losing battle against climate change

Europe has been at the forefront of the fight against global warming for decades now, going so far as to criticize the rest of the developed world – the United States especially – for not following their lead. Recently, however, the European Union has been victimized be inauspicious governing and ineffective legislation, and now find themselves fighting a losing battle.

One proposal under consideration would place a ‘carbon cap’ across the continent, allowing companies to save and trade their surplus of allotted pollution. This would grant companies an additional stream of revenue in hopes that, with that additional revenue, the company will invest in green-renovations for their manufacturing and corporate facilities.

But, as author John Steinbeck once wrote: “The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry…”

The E.U. didn’t present a fully-fleshed out proposal. They allowed the demand for carbon permits dry up, and then voted down a rushed, patch-work relief plan. Any hope for continental-congruency in the plight against climate change has all but disappeared. Instead, individual regions will be responsible for drafting their own energy policies and passing their own legislation – an act of delegated democracy that has proven itself futile in the past. Most analysts place the blame on incompetent politicians hovering on the fence, too afraid to lose what little power they’ve been entrusted with. Their inability to present long-term solutions has set the entire union back who knows how far.

For example, Germany has suddenly closed several of its carbon-free nuclear power plants in an ‘all-or-nothing’ gamble on renewable energy. Though well-intentioned, the move has forced the country’s remaining power providers to burn more coal to pick up the slack.

Spain’s economy has suffered due to investments in ill-conceived energy projects. France continues to syphon through coal while (wisely) refusing to explore domestic fracking operations. This has contributed to creeping levels of carbon emissions across Europe, while countries like the United States have been able to reduce their overall CO2 levels.

The U.S.’s progress is due, partially, to an increased emphasis on vehicle fuel efficiency, a willingness to open power-plants near residential areas, and a curious courtship with natural gas. Hopefully the country will learn from Europe’s mistakes and enforce a strict, extensive cap on carbon emissions.

NRGLab offers a variety of solutions to today’s energy problems. Innovative techniques of extracting oil from agricultural waste and shale. A low-cost renewable generator called the SH-Box. Learn more by visiting nrglab.asia, and see which solution best suits your energy needs.

Earth Day 2013: shouldn't it be EVERY day?

Tomorrow, 192 countries around the world will be celebrating Earth Day, a day where we join together to debate possible solutions to global warming while promoting positive examples of community action.

The Earth Day Network will be spotlighting a recycling drive, a special NASA exhibit, as well as a rural farmer’s market. The theme of Earth Day 2013 is “the face of climate change,” said Bryan Buchanan, a spokesperson for the network. They’ll be televising inspirational stories and photos submitted online by users who want to ensure their voices and efforts are given the platform they deserve.

Global warming “has real consequences for real people,” said Buchanan. “We want to bring this massive problem down to size. It makes everyone who’s doing their little part feel connected to the bigger environmental movement.”

Amongst the photographs featured, one should expect a portfolio’s-worth of snapshots from Hurricane Sandy and the heroic relief efforts that followed. The storm, which ravaged the east coast of the United States, was simply one in a distributing new trend of “superstorms” resulting from the melting icecaps and variations in ocean currents.

Another issue expected to be addressed is deforestation. Groups such as The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management need public support to continue to defend our forests. From the Amazonian rain-forest to the Californian redwoods, trees absorb carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Carbon levels are already out of control. Cutting down more trees will only escalate the rate of global warming. Not to mention, protecting our forests means protecting the ecosystems on which we rely. The wildlife. The water. All aspects of life are interconnected, and it’s up to us to shepherd the network.

Unfortunately, due to the global economic crisis, governments are beginning to sacrifice the environment in order to stimulate job creation and consumer spending. The state of Oregon, for example, was once lush with beautiful prehistoric forests. Today, thanks to over-logging and inadequate re-planting, the land is dying – both physically and fiscally.

Local communities, even the government, should take it upon themselves to create stable streams of revenue that do not require stripping the Earth of its natural resources. I think we can all agree – a livable planet is equally important, if not more so, than one’s livelihood.

So tomorrow, consider it your responsibility to do the research. Read about recycling drives sponsored by your local community. Learn more about politicians’ stances on green energy. Visit nrglab.asia and check out the SH-Box, a carbon-free electrical generator capable of bringing power to the third world. But first and foremost, consider what you can do on a day-to-day basis to help make the Earth a better place. Because EVERY day should be Earth Day. Not just April 22nd.

Little to no progress made on cleaning up energy, according to research

This week, the Clean Energy Ministerial, an organization of representatives from countries responsible for 80% of today’s carbon emissions, will meet in New Delhi to share environmental experiences and encourage the transition to a more stable, globalized energy infrastructure.

However, according to one representative who will be in attendance, Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy has been shelved in favor of temporarily stimulating national economies. “The average unit of energy produced today is basically as dirty as it was 20 years ago,” she claims.

Modern power plants are the worst polluters of all. Usually dependent upon coal, the dirtiest of all fossil fuels, these power plants emit astronomical amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. In order to track these levels, the IEA has relied on a system of evaluation called the Energy Sector Carbon Intensity Index (ESCII). The ESCII calculates the average amount of carbon emissions expected in the production of an individual unit of energy. In 2010, the index calculated that, in order to produce energy from one metric ton of oil, 2.37 metric tons of carbon dioxide would be given off – or nearly the exact same number registered back in 1990!

Can you think of any other industry that’s experienced stagnant quality or production costs and actually survived amidst the free-market? Didn’t think so. Hence the reason Apple, Nike, and all of your favorite brands compete for the top designers and then outsource production to manufacturers where laborers have never heard of a “minimum wage.”

The important of developing alternative energy sources has been stressed amongst the media, environmentalist, and politicians alike for decades now. Yet, as van der Hoeven points out, the “growth of coal-fired power is actually outpacing the increase in generation from non-fossil energy sources.”

Why? Because sticking with what’s already in place is usually the easiest option -- not necessarily the right one.

 
Even countries making “honest” attempts to curb their carbon emissions eventually succumb to greed. The United States, for example, is burning less coal than in the past, but is selling their stockpile of unused coal to facilities over in Asia. One way or the other, the stuff is getting burned. It’s polluting our air and waterways. And the problem is only getting worse. Since we consume roughly 50% more energy compared to a decade ago, and yet the ratio of carbon output to energy production hasn’t improved, that means we’re pumping cataclysmic amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

At our current pace, van der Hoeven thinks “the world is on track to have global temperatures rise by 6 degrees Celsius,” or 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit, by the year 2100. If that happens, most scientists agree – we’re done for. (In fact, they estimate that if surface temperatures rise more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the world as we know it will cease to exist.)

“The overall lack of progress should serve as a wake-up call,” warns van der Hoeven. “We cannot afford another 20 years of listlessness. We need a rapid expansion in low-carbon energy technologies if we are to avoid a potentially catastrophic warming of the planet.”

NRGLab couldn’t agree more. That’s why we developed the SH-Box, a generator that produces electricity with absolutely ZERO carbon emissions. Not only is it a clean and renewable source of energy, the SH-Box is also a penny-saver, generating electricity for as little as $0.03 per kWh. That’s four times less than your current energy provider is probably charging you!

Want to know more? Check out the SH-Box and NRGLab’s other green initiatives at nrglab.asia.com.

Future Waterworld features new trade routes: no Kevin Costner

As the ice caps continue to  melt, new trade routes through the arctic are expected to open by mid-Century, increasing trade between the United States and Asia. Sure, we may be forced to live in Waterworld, where pirates run amok in a Kevin Costner-less future, but hey -- at least the economy will see a boost.

For hundreds of millions of years, the Arctic has been an impenetrable sheath of ice, forcing seafarers to navigate around the obstacle through man-made canals. Currently, trade between the U.S. and Asia runs primarily through the Suez and Panama canals; but as the planet continues to warm, the Northwest passage could become the next most-viable trade route. Hear that, Canada? With your meteor defense system and this added economic leverage -- you're on the verge of becoming the next superpower.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Plus, man may soon be able to pass directly over the North Pole for the first time in Earth's history. Due to the albeido effect, where in which reflective light-colored ice is replaced by murky sun-absorbing water, the more the ice melts, the hotter the planet gets; becoming a viscous, downward spiral ending in the Apocalypse.

So, global warming is growing exponentially, and moderate energy policies aren't doing enough to address the seriousness of this fact. Last fall, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center recorded the level of Arctic ice at an historic low. Now, scientists are scrambling to try and predict the consequences of heightened sea levels.

According to Laurence Smith, a geography professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, "The (Arctic) distances are vast. The landscape is boggy and wet and covered with lakes. What you see is a shutdown of human access on land and an increase of human access in the ocean."

Ships capable of plowing through an estimated four-feet of ice will be able to make the 'over-the-globe' trip by 2050. This new route will save ships 30% of current travel times through the Northern Sea Route.

It's nice to try and paint a silver lining on global warming. I joke about Waterworld and amphibious adaptations, but really -- melting ice caps shouldn't be seen as a positive thing. Although offering temporary economic perks, new sea routes are but a glimpse of a bitter long-term reality. The water is rising. The question is, when will our ancestors have to build themselves houseboats?

Besides, there are other ways to boost the economy! Like investing in clean-energy. Developing new strategies through collaboration. We don't have to simply accept our dismal fate. We have the ability to change the world. It starts with slowing global warming by cutting down on fossil fuel consumption. And how can we do that without descending into chaos?

Visit the NRGLab homepage at http://nrglab.asia/ to learn more about how the SH-box is the answer.

Carbon out of control

According to a study published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), carbon emissions have increased by nearly three-million ppm (parts per million) since this time last year -- the second largest spike in over fifty years.  'Parts per million' equates to the number of carbon particles relative to oxygen in the atmosphere -- meaning the air we breathe is slowly becoming less breathable.

"So what?" you ask. "It's just air..."

Well, the increase also means "the prospects of keeping climate change below that 1.9-degree goal are fading away," said Pieter Tans, one NOAA's scientists, who operates out of their Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory. Current levels are 41% higher than the pre-industrial period. Since then, the global temperature has risen 0.7 degrees Celsius.

John Reilly, co-director of the Science and Policy of Global Change, estimates that temperatures will rise another 1.3 and 2.3 degrees Celsius between now and 2050. Were will the world be then?

Food production will become unstable because of unpredictable weather patterns. Super-storms will cease to be 'super' -- they'll be the norm. The oceans will rise. More UV rays will pierce the atmosphere, meaning more cases of skin cancer. High insurance rates. Leading to medical reform. And higher taxes.

The effects of global warming stretch far beyond the environment, which should concern people in the first place. But for those out there who have trouble looking twenty-five, fifty years into the future, just ask yourself why your energy bills and taxes have steadily increased during the same period the Earth has gotten warmer.

Everything is connected. This isn't just a philosophical principle: it's an aspect of our everyday lives. We've identified the source of this spike in carbon emissions: fossil fuels. However, as sophisticated countries like Singapore and Germany work towards alternative energy sources, addressing consumption concerns, developing countries, in a struggle to play catch-up with the rest of the world, are burning more oil than ever.

Again (and not to stress the point too far), but the climate crisis we're currently faced with can't be solved by any one nation. It's going to require a collaborative effort -- public, private, and federal partnerships coming together to face the harsh reality of what reckless oil consumption has done to our world.

By introducing the SH-box to market, NRGLab aims to bring global warming to a stand-still. Keeping the increase below 1.9 degrees Celsius will allow the world to focus on solving many of the other fundamental problems facing us today. Like war. Religious intolerance. Educational reform. Global warming is only the beginning.

February highs for gas prices

As I predicted, gas prices in America have soared to all-time seasonal highs. According to AAA spokesman John Townsend, ‘February “is the most expensive we’ve seen gasoline in the dead of winter.”

Despite vehicles becoming more fuel-efficient and more people growing conscious of the miles they're driving, the bills just aren't reflecting this progress. In a study performed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American family spends roughly $3,000 a year on gas. This includes heating the house. Driving to work. Things that, if re-imagined, could be accomplished just the same via alternative energy sources.

In February, the national average for gasoline rose to $3.80 a gallon. (On the West Coast of California, it's more like $4.00 plus) This price depends on a number of factors, of which the American Institute for Energy Research has broken down into four basic components:

1. World markets

2. Refining costs

3. Taxes

4. And distribution markup.

Saudi Arabia produces 700,000 fewer barrels now compared to a year ago. As a result, market competition between Iran and Iraq has increased. Add to that the current civil uprising in Syria, another major crude oil producer, and it's no wonder why, with the American government's dependency on foreign oil, people are paying the price. There are even talks of America raising the national gas tax, which has been stable at 18.4 cents per gallon for almost twenty years. 

It seems like everything costs more these days. From diapers to highways, as the costs of raw materials rises, so too will taxes. If history has proven one point: it's that citizens have rarely given into increased taxation without some sort of push back. Families are already struggling to survive and cannot afford to pay more for gasoline. IT'S TIME FOR AN ALTERNATIVE.

And not just a hypothetical one, either. We need real solutions, like the one offered by NRGLab. Their crystal technology produces natural electricity that's not only green and good for the environment, but good for the American wallet as well. Because times are tough. The government needs to stop offering temporary solutions to structural issues (like the gas tax hike), and repair the structure from the foundation up. 

1.5 degrees away from total meltdown

We now have a number. Scientists from Oxford University say an increase of merely 1.5C will be enough to send the world reeling into an Apocalyptic scenario.

This increase in temperature will begin to melt Siberia's permafrost. Covering roughly a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere's total land surface area, the melted permafrost could release hundreds of GIGATONNES of methane and carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.

Though scientists claim that this type of melting could take decades to reach, the fact remains: in the spectrum of billions of years, mankind's occupancy his been minimal, yet disastrous.

Compare our time on Earth to the stalactites and stalagmites studied in Siberia. They've formed over hundreds of thousands of years from melting permafrost dripping into the caves. Through ice ages and vast civilizations, warming periods and wars, they've grown and shrunk with the environment. Scientists can measure individual stalactites and stalagmites much like loggers can measure the age of trees -- by cutting into them. (Only scientists use radio-carbon dating instead of saws.) They're then able to examine growth and decay rates, which can be linked to specific periods in history.

Scientists discovered that Siberian stalactites experienced rapid growth during a period dating back 400,000 years, when temperatures were 1.5C higher than today. This finding indicates that permafrost will melt just as quickly again if temperatures rise to a similar level.

Presently, the global temperature is approximately 0.6C-0.7C above pre-industrial revolution levels.

Anton Vaks, of Oxford's Earth Sciences department and one of the chief scientists on the Siberian team, hinted that their findings could have an affect on energy infrastructure, including the laying of natural gas pipelines and future drilling operations. Oh, and one more thing: it could send the world into complete, and total chaos. "Although it wasn't the main focus of our research, our work also suggests that in a world 1.5C warmer – warm enough to melt the coldest permafrost – adjoining regions would see significant changes. Mongolia's Gobi Desert could become much wetter than it is today."

New oceans, drowning our deserts. Coastline cities under water. Sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie, though I assure you -- the threat is all too real. We need to gain an appreciation for consequences, and the domino-effect our every decisions, even the simple ones, have on the rest of the world. Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth. Leaving that extra light on when you're not even in the room. These things seem trivial, and yet they add to the overall problem of global warming and energy consumption.

Consumption has been taken off the table of debate, since democracies often equate consumption with personal freedom. So then, what can we do? We must re-evaluate our means of energy production and distribution. A good way to start? The SH-box by NRGLab -- a device designed as a cost-effective alternative to carbon emitting fuel sources.

We will decide the world we live in. Whether that's a good or bad thing remains to be seen. Every pipeline feeds our consumption habits, which warm the planet, making it harder to lay more pipelines, which makes gas more expensive, and people poorer and more stressed. The end of the world doesn't always lie at the bottom of an ocean. Sometimes, it lies at the bottom of ourselves.