Dipole Explains How Climate Change can Cause Diverging Weather Systems

A dipole is a term that has been coined by researchers to explain two different weather systems such as hot dry weather in the West and cold snowy weather in the Midwest and the East. Traditionally, a dipole is a term used in physics and chemistry to describe two electric charges or magnetic poles that have equal magnitudes but opposite signs and are separated by a small distance. It is also used in chemistry to define a molecule in which the center of positive charge does not coincide with the center of negative charge.

Global Warming Continues Unabated Despite a Seemingly Endless Winter in Parts of North America

Even if it is still cold and stormy in parts of North America, the data reveals that the global warming trend is strong and getting stronger. As some of us are still waiting for the first flowers to bloom, winter may seem eternal. Cold weather can give the impression that the heat may be abating somewhat, however the facts reveal that global warming shows no signs of easing.

Global Warming Continues Unabated Despite Cold Snaps

While climate deniers love to point to cold weather as evidence that global warming is a farce. The data indicates that despite the polar vortex and the associated colder temperatures, we are still experiencing some of the warmest weather on record. According to the NOAA January 2014 was one of the hottest months ever recorded both on land and at sea.

The combined global land and ocean surface temperatures (January)

The warmest since 2007 and the fourth warmest on record at 12.7°C (54.8°F), or 0.65°C (1.17°F) above the 20th century average of 12.0°C (53.6°F). The margin of error associated with this temperature is ± 0.08°C (± 0.14°F).

Cyber Monday 2013: The Ongoing Growth of a More Eco-friendly Way to Shop

The term for online shopping on the Monday following Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday. Each year a growing number of people are going online to do their holiday shopping. Since the term was coined by the National Retail Foundation's Shop.org in 2005, Cyber Monday spending has more than tripled. By avoiding a trip to the mall, shoppers cut down on their environmental impacts including emissions associated with car travel.

According to a report by GigaOm, Black Friday is 50 times more carbon intensive than Cyber Monday shopping. While the report is imperfect, it shows how driving cars to the mall en masse is not an eco-friendly way to shop.

One suggestions to reduce the footprint (and cost) of online shopping is to avoid overnight shipping (air freight). According to The Daily Green ground transportation is better than rush delivery. Ground shipping is six times more energy efficient than air. Not only do airplanes release more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than terrestrial vehicles, they release these GHGs higher in the atmosphere, which has a greater adverse impact on global warming than gases emitted at ground level. Data from the Center for Energy Climate Solutions shows that even when using overnight shipping, the carbon impact of buying online is a fraction of driving to a mall or store.

The Solar Industry at a Glance: Past Present and Future

The last couple years have been difficult for the solar industry, but in 2013 we are likely to see consolidation that will bode well for the long term. In 2011 and 2012 we saw major reorganization in the solar industry. In 2011 there was a 66 percent loss on the Ardour Solar Energy Index (SOLRX) and last year there was a 35 percent loss.

In 2012 only one of the major solar companies posted a tiny profit, and companies averaged over $28 million in losses. Other solar industry metrics like earnings per share (EPS), price to book ratios, sales growth and analysts projected earnings are similarly disheartening.

According to IHS iSuppli Market Intelligence, the number of PV suppliers is expected to plunge by 70 percent in 2013.

As reviewed in a report titled "The Critical Decade: Global Action Building on Climate Change," new solar power capacity in China has risen by 75 percent in 2012 and is expected to triple by 2015. Globally, the capacity of solar photovoltaic panels increased by 42 percent in 2012.

2013 International CES: Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies

The 2013 International CES show is the biggest trade show in the Americas and includes some of the newest eco-design and sustainable technologies. The show is organized by the Consumer Electronics Association and takes place in Las Vegas from January 8 to January 11. Last year 156,000 people attended CES 2012. The show is huge covering almost 2 million square feet of booths and exhibits. CES is not open to the general public and is intended for people in the consumer electronics industry. For those who cannot or will not attend here is a summary of some of the environmentally oriented gadgets at this year's show.

Eastman Kodak Company Kodak: EasyShare S730 Digital Frame The KODAK EASYSHARE S730 Digital Frame allows you to share your pictures anywhere in your home, thanks to the rechargeable battery. Easily navigate and explore up to 8000 pictures.

2013 International CES: Smartphones and Eversense 2.0

CES Las Vegas is the world's largest consumer electronics show and there are many technologies on display that can help to minimize our footprints. Smartphones are a ubiquitous part of our lives, however more than half (65%) of the time these phones are being used for purposes other than communications. Increasingly smartphones are becoming interfaces to services. They are now handheld computing tools that can serve our energy and environment needs. This includes everything from monitoring our energy use to calculating our carbon footprints.

One stellar example of a new home energy management system is Eversense 2.0, it uses your phone to turn lights turn off and adjust the thermostat, it can even set your alarm.

The Growth of Corporate Sustainability in 2013

Despite ongoing economic difficulties around the globe corporate spending on sustainability is expected to increase in 2013. However, we still have a long way to go before sustainability is where it needs to be to reverse our dangerous trajectory towards runaway climate change.

A Verdantix study indicates that corporate spending on sustainability, environmental, and energy programmes is likely to rise between one and nine percent next year. While this is trending in the right direction, it is nowhere near enough to arrest growing levels of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts.

Video: Green Software - Sustainable Case Studies

A January '09 Fast Company article deemed the Sustainability Systems Developer one of the Ten Best Green Jobs for the next decade. Mary will talk about Green Software Investments and Case Studies in Smart Grid, New Media, Mobile, Web Calculators, Solar, Data Centers and IT, Energy Management, Water Efficiency, Carbon Accounting, and Lighting.

Most Popular Green Search Terms for 2011

According to Google green searches ranked highly, showing the growing influence of the environment on public consciousness. Every year Google publishes Zeitgeist, a collection of the year's most popular search trends on the world's most popular search engine. According to Google's 11th annual Zeitgeist, people are increasingly looking up all things green. Google has revealed that some of the most robust trends in green search include things like "sustainable development." Some of the fastest-rising search queries in 2011 were “solar energy,” “garbage islands” and “reusable water bottle” .