There is no doubt that the development of renewable energy has made great strides in recent years. But even with advances in the industry, the idea of a community being able to meet all of its energy needs through its own renewable generation can still seem like a dream of only the purist idealist. For one island community in Denmark, however, this dream has become a reality. The island of Samso is located off the Eastern coast of the...

I attended a recent lecture on solar projects in the developing world, one of many impressive discussions that were part of Climate Week NYC.  Solar One, a local organization that promotes education about green energy and the potential for solar energy in NYC, hosted the event.  Panelists included a representative from Arc Finance, which micro-finances  various projects, Buksh Group, a Pakistani retailer involved in financing...

Dangerous Bike Trails? 

In my last blog, Bike-able Communities, I discussed the dangers of biking in traffic and my solution to take my bike to a local trail, specifically the Schuylkill River Trail, for a safe ride.  A week later, I noticed the following headline on my local news feed: Shooting on Schuylkill River Trail.  As I had just recommended this trail, I felt that I should also present this new information! 

To...

I love to ride my bike and have always wished that I could commute by bike to work.  It would be great to combine exercise and commute time, save gas money, and avoid emissions all in one simple act.  In the Philadelphia suburbs where my office is located, you take your life in your hands if you commute by bike (I welcome cyclists to challenge me on this assertion).  This office is full of active, athletic, environmentally...

Community Energy is composed of a group of people that are passionate about making a difference in our daily lives through promoting renewable energy, recycling, education, forestation and social involvement, to name a few.  Having a sense of community or being a part of a community is widely studied and usually called sociology, anthropology and sometimes psychology.  Communities are said to have been established to guard and protect,...