Estimating Agricultural Groundwater Withdrawals with Energy Data
Agricultural water use is the leading cause of groundwater overdraft in California. However, agencies tasked with managing groundwater resources do not have access to accurate and reliable measurements of groundwater extraction. Previous studies identified a relationship between pump energy consumption and groundwater extraction and indicated that the efficiency lift method (ELM) can produce reliable estimates […]
The Biden Administration Increases the Social Cost of Carbon
…Last month, economists Nicholas Stern and Joseph Stiglitz suggested a value around $100 per ton by 2030; Carleton and a colleague set it at about $125 per ton of carbon in a paper published in January; and Frances Moore, an environmental economist at the University of California at Davis, put it at $220 per ton in the estimate she and […]
Residential Solar Water Heating: California Adopters and their Experiences
Solar water heating provides domestic hot water with lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to more typical natural-gas water heating. Solar water heating has a long history, particularly in places where the climate is favorable, such as California where state-backed incentive programs have been successful in creating small bursts of adoption. However, widespread adoption of solar […]
Local School Districts Improving Air Filtration As More Campuses Allowed To Reopen
…“I kind of have this analogy where I imagine there’s little glitter particles all over the air and how are we going to get them out of the air,” Theresa Pistochini, UC Davis engineering manager, said. “We can replace them or we can filter them.”… Watch the interview.
UC Davis Energy Industry Expert Explains Texas Power Outages
As many as 4.2 million Texans have suffered this week as a winter storm unplugged their power grid and the Lone Star State seemed unable to cope. Sonseeahray spoke to Keith Taylor, an expert in the energy industry from U.C. Davis, to talk about how Texas seemed so unprepared and how utilities in California may […]
Low-Cost, Large-Diameter Shallow Ground Loops for Ground-Coupled Heat Pumps
This project developed and validated modeling tools for simulating a ground heat exchanger technology that provides a less expensive method for implementing ground-source heat pumps and significantly reduces energy use in many California climate zones, furthering attainment of California’s energy goals. It is well documented that properly sized and installed ground-source heat pumps enjoy higher […]
Sac City Schools Paid $6 million for Costly Air Cleaners with Unnecessary Features
“There are two things I’m worried about. One is using money wisely to best support school reopening,” said Theresa Pistochini, the engineering manager… Read the article.
Trump Downplayed the Costs of Carbon Pollution. That’s About to Change
Carbon pollution is about to get a lot more expensive. Over the past 4 years, the Trump administration low-balled the “social cost of carbon”—a number representing the burden that carbon emissions place on present and future generations… Read the article.
With Solar on the Rise in Pa., Some Worry the Panels will be Harmful. Scientists Say Most Fears have been Disproven
A professor of ecology and Earth system science at the University of California Davis who studies how solar energy interacts… Read the article.
Aligning Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals With an Innovation Systems Roadmap for Renewable Power
Aligning Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals With an Innovation Systems Roadmap for Renewable Power Outlet Full Name: Frontiers in Sustainability Academic Journal News Date: December 18, 2020 A global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy may mitigate climate change but may also undermine the capacity to achieve some or all 17 Sustainable […]
