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How biogas can help America on its path to energy independence
Piyush Bakshi Waste Management & EnvironmentalBiogas is produced when organic matter undergoes anaerobic decomposition. Its primary component is methane, a powerful greenhouse gas with 21 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide. Biogas plants provide excellent disposal for agricultural waste, such as manure from cattle and pig farms, wastewater and organic waste from urban settings, such as food, oil, fats and yard clippings.
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Whirlpool’s Dave Szczupak: Energy efficiency benefits businesses
Ryan Clark ManufacturingDave Szczupak, executive vice president of global product organization for the Whirlpool Corporation, was awarded the Visionary Award for his innovative work, leadership and commitment to energy productivity earlier this month at the 2015 Energy Efficiency Global Forum.
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Stanford’s Oil-Climate Index: Not all oils are created equal
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesThis December in Paris, 196 countries will meet to try to overcome the gridlock over 2030 carbon emissions targets. Could the impasse over global climate change policy be partly the result of the stark choice we are presented between "clean" renewable sources and the "dirty" oil industry?
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EE Global Forum: Hard traveling on the long road to energy efficiency
Ryan Clark Waste Management & EnvironmentalOur country's movement toward greater energy efficiency should be viewed as an energy resource by those in legislative power, noted Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the keynote speaker for the 2015 Energy Efficiency Global Forum's opening plenary session on May 12.
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US leads the world in hydrocarbon production — but for how long?
Stefanie Heerwig Natural ResourcesAccording to the latest estimates of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) , the U.S. remained the world's largest producer of hydrocarbons in 2014, despite plunging oil and gas prices and a dropping rig count. The EIA estimates that U.S. hydrocarbon production continues to exceed that of both Russia and Saudi Arabia. U.S. petroleum production increased by 1.6 million barrels per day in 2014, while natural gas production increased by 13.9 billion cubic feet per day over the past five years.
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With sanctions lifted, will Iran further damage global oil prices?
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesThe last thing the global oil industry needs now is more supply. The negotiations concluded this month between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1 countries (China, France, Russia, U.K. and the U.S., plus Germany) were a victory for global nuclear nonproliferation, but have been billed as yet more bad news for oil companies worldwide.
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Examining the environmental impact of the California drought
Piyush Bakshi Waste Management & Environmental2014 was the driest year in the history of California since records were first maintained in 1885. Some researchers estimate that the year may have been the driest in the past 400 years, and the drought situation will only worsen in 2015. Experts predict the state's water reserves will hold out for another 12 months — at most.
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Total cost of ownership: The challenge of effective supply chain management
Frank Wilhelm Facilities & GroundsCompanies are always looking for creative ways to reduce costs and expand profit margins. In some cases, new and innovative approaches are employed. In others, proven but overlooked techniques are being resurrected and applied.
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Is the shale bubble really ready to burst?
Stefanie Heerwig Natural ResourcesSince June last year, bond yields of companies in the shale business rose from an average of 5.7 percent to 9.7 percent. Currently, about 17 percent of all junk bonds on the market are made up of U.S. oil and gas exploration and production firms, according to Bloomberg News.
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Open data in the oil and gas industry — How far have we come?
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesThe oil and gas industry, more than most, has a reputation for opacity and secrecy — deals made on a handshake behind closed doors, secretive contract negotiations and revenues moving in complicated cross-streams among hundreds of corporate subsidiaries.
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