Friday Five: August 3, 2012

For those who wonder if predictions about climate change have been true...
Drought grips nation and shows what climate change does to our communities
"They are also consistent with larger trends already unfolding. According to NOAA, more than 25,000 new record temperature highs have been set this year alone in the United States. A recent report from the National Climatic Data Center noted that the past twelve months were the warmest since record-keeping began in the U.S. in 1895.
The number and intensity of extreme weather events has also risen—a shift the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded is linked to climate change. Four out of five Americans live in counties that have had natural disasters declared since 2006."

...and how our use of fossil fuels for electricity generation hits at our quality of life in more than one way.
Infographic On The Energy-Water Collision: How Hot, Dry Summers Impact Water and Power Generation
"As much as 41% of all water used in the United States goes to power plants to produce electricity, making them the single largest water consumer in the nation.
The relationship between water and power generation is complex. (A recent report featured on Climate Progress called “Burning Our Rivers: The Water Footprint of Electricity” takes an in depth look at water usage, particularity in the coal and nuclear sectors.) A whole host of issues can emerge related to the massive water consumption of the energy industry. Many of those issues become exacerbated in particularly hot and dry conditions, much like the ones we are experiencing this summer."

For those who like to hear about solutions and not just the problems...
What trees mean to your communities
"The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3 percent less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12 percent."

...and for those who like to know that even some of the most conservative organizations in the world recognize reasons for reduced reliance on fuel-based energy sources.
Fresh Reminders of Why We Work on Energy: Afghan Fuel Convoy Destroyed and Increasing US Blackouts
"Two primary energy risks to DoD:
1. Unnecessarily high and growing operational fuel demand increases mission risk
2. Critical missions at fixed installations are at unacceptable risk from extended power loss"

Lastly, for those who love the Olympics: how their environmental benefit can show us that our choices really do make a difference.
Greener Olympics mean cleaner air
"The key was banning half of all the private cars in the city from driving on any particular day during the event. The finding suggests that individual choices like whether to drive or take public transit to work have major cumulative effects."

Happy Friday!