First Half of 2010 is Warmest on Record on Earth
Global Clean Energy Initiatives Launched
$30M for Small Business Clean Energy Technologies
Recovery Act Boosts Advanced Vehicle Investments
Cool Roofs across the Federal Government
Home Size Declining, Energy Efficiency a Factor
First Half of 2010 is the Warmest on Record on Earth
The first six months of 2010 were the warmest on record, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) analysis.
The agency's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) finds that combined global land and ocean surface temperatures averaged 57.5°F for January through June, which is 1.22°F above the 20th-century average.
By comparison, the second-warmest January-June on record was in 1998, when the average global temperature was 1.19°F above the 20th-century average.
Land temperatures were the second-warmest on record, falling behind 2007, while ocean surface temperatures were also the second-warmest on record, falling behind 1998. In addition, every month from March to June 2010 was the warmest on record for the globe. See the NOAA press release and the NCDC analysis.
11 International Clean Energy initiatives Launched
The U.S. is helping launch 11 international clean energy initiatives, DOE announced on July 20. The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants worldwide over the next 20 years.
They will cut energy waste, help deploy smart grid and electric vehicle (EV) technologies, support renewable energy markets, expand access to clean energy jobs resources and jobs, and support women pursuing careers in clean energy.
Announced during the first Clean Energy Ministerial, a two-day gathering in Washington, D.C., the initiatives promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants.
Ministers from 23 governments and the U.S. attended. The countries represent over 80% of world energy consumption and about the same percentage of the global market for clean energy technologies.
As part of the "Global Energy Efficiency Challenge," the U.S. is leading projects that will deploy super-efficient appliances, improve industrial and building efficiency for large-scale facilities, implement smart grid technologies, and help put millions of EVs on the roads.
For example, under the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, government/ private sector partnerships will encourage buyers to choose super-efficient appliances. At the same time, SEAD-focusing on lighting and televisions-will back stronger appliance standards that push the most inefficient machines off the market.
In the public-private Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership, participants will encourage operators of large buildings and industrial facilities to measure and manage energy by establishing certification programs to recognize facilities that adopt approved energy management systems and achieve significant efficiency improvements.
In the transportation sector, the Electric Vehicles Initiative will enhance global cooperation on development and deployment of EVs. According to the International Energy Agency, this outreach will help put participating countries on the path to deploying at least 20 million EVs by 2020, while reducing global oil consumption by roughly 1 billion barrels over the next decade.
A majority of governments at the gathering joined the International Smart Grid Action Network, which would support the spread of EVs, improve reliability of the electrical system, promote the growth of renewable energy, and help consumers and businesses reduce energy use.
