Spain Continues to do Sassy Things
Back when HAWTaction was a hairless, blind newborn, I wrote a post about how Spain is Doing Sassy Things, covering Spain's surprising effort to utilize renewable energy. I grew up in Spain, so no one could be more surprised (and delighted) than me in these initiatives to lead the way with creative solar power options and other... sassy things. Turns out a few other things have popped out recently and it looks like Spain Continues to do Sassy Things.
First, Spain is taking on the auto industry. There was a formal speed limit in Spain when I grew up there (140 km/h on highways, 87 mph), but it took hitting 180 or 200 km/h to get any cop's attention. That's why I'm surprised at a report in Treehugger at the end of July that reported a trio of Spanish initiatives to change their automobile industry.
The country's energy minister is aiming to set the speed limit, nationwide, at 80km/h (50mph) to conserve gasoline. Spain also intends to save jet fuel by allowing passenger planes to take short-cuts over military airspace. In addition, they are introducing a pilot program to manufacture one million electric and hybrid cars. Before 2014, they intend to hand out (free) 49 million low energy light bulbs. Finally, in a move I can't applaud enough, they are expecting to limit air conditioning in public buildings to 26 degrees C (79 F). (They will also aim to limit heat in winter.) Nothing gets me more mad than going into a store that is over heated and/or over cooled. It's just a waste!
That's Spain taking things seriously. There is still more sass, though!
First, Spain is taking on the auto industry. There was a formal speed limit in Spain when I grew up there (140 km/h on highways, 87 mph), but it took hitting 180 or 200 km/h to get any cop's attention. That's why I'm surprised at a report in Treehugger at the end of July that reported a trio of Spanish initiatives to change their automobile industry.The country's energy minister is aiming to set the speed limit, nationwide, at 80km/h (50mph) to conserve gasoline. Spain also intends to save jet fuel by allowing passenger planes to take short-cuts over military airspace. In addition, they are introducing a pilot program to manufacture one million electric and hybrid cars. Before 2014, they intend to hand out (free) 49 million low energy light bulbs. Finally, in a move I can't applaud enough, they are expecting to limit air conditioning in public buildings to 26 degrees C (79 F). (They will also aim to limit heat in winter.) Nothing gets me more mad than going into a store that is over heated and/or over cooled. It's just a waste!
That's Spain taking things seriously. There is still more sass, though!
Second, Spain is leading the solar power industry. A Spanish company, Torresol, has gotten $1.24 billion in funding to bring three massive solar power plants to Spain. The first one is similar to Sevilla's Solar Tower discussed in Spain is Doing Sassy Things. That first Solar Tower is expected to provide power to 600,000 residents by reflecting sunlight (with giant mirrors) to a tower that turns water to steam and runs it through a turbine to make electricity.
This new one will be similar, and it will look like this, but... like... real:
The other two plants will use parabolic trough technology, which sounds... interesting. It looks like this:
This mirrors works on a smaller scale, but also reflects the sunlight up to a water, turns it to steam and pumps it through a turbine. Zero-carbon emissions. Totally clean. Totally great. [Treehugger]
Third, Madrid is following the Dutch in laying down special asphalt. In a kind of brilliant move, someone thought, why not capture dangerous emissions at the source? Madrid's approach is to line a normal street with a layer of "noxer" that, on a warm day, captures nitrous oxide, turning it into a less harmful product that can be washed away with rainwater. Totally sassy. In addition, Madrid's trying out a road that's made of recycled tires to minimize noise pollution. [Engadget]
I'm proud of my country. Keep leading on, little guy. Your initiatives are total HAWTaction [hot ak-shuh
n].
This new one will be similar, and it will look like this, but... like... real:The other two plants will use parabolic trough technology, which sounds... interesting. It looks like this:
This mirrors works on a smaller scale, but also reflects the sunlight up to a water, turns it to steam and pumps it through a turbine. Zero-carbon emissions. Totally clean. Totally great. [Treehugger]Third, Madrid is following the Dutch in laying down special asphalt. In a kind of brilliant move, someone thought, why not capture dangerous emissions at the source? Madrid's approach is to line a normal street with a layer of "noxer" that, on a warm day, captures nitrous oxide, turning it into a less harmful product that can be washed away with rainwater. Totally sassy. In addition, Madrid's trying out a road that's made of recycled tires to minimize noise pollution. [Engadget]
I'm proud of my country. Keep leading on, little guy. Your initiatives are total HAWTaction [hot ak-shuh
n].Join the HAWTaction reader group on Facebook.
This is insane. Spain gets its government to support these initiatives and we get T. Boone Pickens. Don't get me wrong, T., I love what you're doing in Texas, but even you are asking for outside help.
I'm the best blogger, ever.
- JLF
Spain is super sassy these days. A place I definitely plan on visiting in the future. I cant wait to take down a windmill.
Don't worry there is windmills a plenty these days through the Spanish countryside. Be careful, however, the new ones produce energy!
Seriously, the idea here comes from the fact that Spain is an Energy island, we import all the oil we consume!!! So I guess that thinking of alternative sources of energy, and bringin them to work on an economically feasible level (this has not been achieved yet...they are all subsidized by the spanish taxpayer) is a good idea, if it ever works. Which I hope it will, since we are all paying for them.
John, I love your Spanish posts, but the speed limit thing is a pain in the butt. I have decided to stop driving so as not to get a ticket!
Ricardo,
Thanks for commenting. Yeah, the speed limit might have more impact than slowing cars down... I'm guessing a lot of people just won't drive. Who wants to go 80hm/h down carretera de la coruña? Might as well replace driving into la marcha Madrileña with tapas en Majadahonda.
I'm expecting Spain to lead the solar-power industry globally. It'll be a few years between a "hungry energy" island and a green-leaning, money-making island. I think helping build a humanity-changing, world-reaching industry is a good use of tax money. The U.S.? We pay for wars.
I'm the best blogger, ever.
- JLF