What's the Alternative?: A Guide to Our Green Energy Future

What's the Alternative?: A Guide to Our Green Energy Future

  • Downloads:7162
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-10-04 10:51:33
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Bob McDonald
  • ISBN:0735241945
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Is a global pandemic what it took to show us that saving our planet is possible?

In the absence of motorized boats and gondolas, Venice's waters have returned to a sparkling blue color。 Deer have been spotted roaming cities in Italy, and mountain goats recently took over a small seaside town in Wales。 Taking advantage of the decreased boat traffic, whales have returned to roaming Vancouver's harbours。 The absence of "regular" human activities has dramatically affected our environment。 In this book, Bob McDonald turns his focus to global energy sources, and shows how the global shutdowns may have been exactly what we needed to show us that a greener future is achievable。

This is not another "wake-up call," and not another plea to heed the climate science。 This is an exploration of the incredible technologies that our species can use to get out of the mess we've made for ourselves。 It is a work of immense optimism, to counteract the sense of doom that hangs over most discussions of the environment。

Many alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal have been available for decades--but they alone will not be enough。 Additional power will come from small nuclear reactors the size of an office desk, and space-based solar power satellites with enormous mirrors that can capture sunlight, convert it to microwaves, and beam it to the ground to light up entire cities。 Energy will be captured from waves, tides, and hydrogen。 Vehicles will no longer have tailpipes that emit smog particles。 Food will be sourced locally。

Green technology is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and will only continue to skyrocket as current products improve their performance and new products emerge。 A new green age is upon us--let this book be your guide to the future。

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Reviews

Steve

I loved this book。 Bob McDonald writes with a conversational tone and greatly simplifies the science。 I found his discussion of fossil fuels very even-handed, acknowledging both their advantages and disadvantages。 It would have been easy for McDonald to lapse into a preachy tone, but he avoided it, making this book a great read。 I also liked the use of personal anecdotes and where appropriate, a little humour。 I also liked the overall positive tone of the book and am encouraged by learning that I loved this book。 Bob McDonald writes with a conversational tone and greatly simplifies the science。 I found his discussion of fossil fuels very even-handed, acknowledging both their advantages and disadvantages。 It would have been easy for McDonald to lapse into a preachy tone, but he avoided it, making this book a great read。 I also liked the use of personal anecdotes and where appropriate, a little humour。 I also liked the overall positive tone of the book and am encouraged by learning that we have technology today to help fight climate change, but similarly discouraged that we lack the will to do so。 Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Viking for the advance reader copy。 。。。more

Rochelle

As a person really interested in learning more about the climate crisis, but not adept in the science and technologies behind it, the book The Future is Now by Bob McDonald was exactly what I needed。 Bob McDonald gives a masterclass on solving the climate crisis。 He is the science teacher you have always wanted。 His passion and intelligence shine through。 He explains concepts very articulately and in a way that people without a science background can understand。 This book flows very much like hi As a person really interested in learning more about the climate crisis, but not adept in the science and technologies behind it, the book The Future is Now by Bob McDonald was exactly what I needed。 Bob McDonald gives a masterclass on solving the climate crisis。 He is the science teacher you have always wanted。 His passion and intelligence shine through。 He explains concepts very articulately and in a way that people without a science background can understand。 This book flows very much like his CBC radio show “Quirks and Quarks”。 While reading it, I could here Bob’s voice in my head。 Just like his show, he engages readers by storytelling。 He draws you in by telling you to imagine yourself in the story he’s telling and then he gives you the science facts to back it up。 Most books I have read on science tend to be dry and boring。 The Future is Now is different。 It’s engaging and at times reads like a page turning novel! If you want to learn more about the science and technology available to help solve the climate crisis this book is for you。 Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for the advanced reader’s copy。 Book to be released on September 26th, 2022。 。。。more