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Using Thermostats
I get a lot of questions about energy—from relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I think the most common question is about thermostats and whether it makes sense to lower the…
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Understanding Pellet Stoves
Heating your house with a pellet stove is usually more convenient than using an old-fashioned wood stove
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Outdoor Wood Boilers
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at wood burning—a popular and affordable heating option in rural New England. Ten or 15 years ago, a new option started showing…
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Cleaner and More Efficient Wood Burning
Wood is a renewable fuel and, assuming that new trees grow up to replace those cut for firewood, it is carbon-neutral, meaning that it doesn’t have a net contribution to…
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Heating With Wood
In the 27 years that I’ve owned my house in West Dummerston, Vermont, I’ve always used wood heat to some extent. But my commitment to it has ebbed and flowed.…
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Wind Power Today and in the Future
Last week we reviewed the history of wind energy, including its use for pumping water and generating power. This week we’ll take at look at the state of the art…
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The Answer is Blowing in the Wind
Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at a few power-generation technologies: pumped hydro, landfill gas, and nuclear. This week, we’ll examine another option that’s been in the news a…
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Thoughts on Nuclear Power – Part 2
Last week I described why some environmentalists have shifted their position and now support nuclear power, and I described how we might be able to store nuclear waste more safely…
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Thoughts on Nuclear Power
Continuing in the recent thread of examining various power generation technologies, this week I’ll weigh in on nuclear power. I do this against my wife’s better judgment, and perhaps out…
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Brattleboro’s Historic Landfill Gas System
In last week’s column I examined a fairly unusual local power source: the Northfield Mountain pumped hydropower system, which is used for “storing” electricity—by pumping water uphill. This week we’ll…