Peak News and Blog

How to move from gas to electricity In recognition of these forces and the city’s own climate action plan, Philadelphia has commissioned a “diversification study” to find a new low-carbon business model for the nation’s oldest gas utility, which delivers natural gas to 510,000 customers. Of the country’s 120 million households, about 58 percent are heated primarily with natural…

Working lands are the future of conservation From the earliest indigenous peoples to later European arrivals, those who settled in the American West naturally staked out the best pieces of country they could find. They didn’t settle on the high mountain tops or extreme deserts, places we’ve since designated as wilderness. Instead they etched out…

China builds an ‘Ecological Civilization’ To avert and adapt to the consequences of climate change, civilization must act boldly and with haste. How do we change the course of entire civilizations and how do we do it quickly? China with its 1.3 billion people is accelerating steps to tackle the climate crisis with the concept of “ecological…

UN Security Council Takes Up Climate Change Risk for First Time Wealthy nations will come under pressure to boost funding to tackle climate change during a United Nations discussion that will warn how unchecked rising temperatures could lead to wars and mass migration.  The UN Security Council’s virtual meeting Tuesday will be led by U.K….

Should I be unplugging unused devices and electronics? All things plugged in will bleed some energy. Called “standby” electricity loss because it’s so often associated with electronics in standby or idle mode, it’s also known as “phantom” energy. Even turned off, many appliances keep drawing power. Power supplies don’t just convert energy; they consume it….

Making the case for reusable silicone food storage bags ​The average American family uses 500 Ziploc bags every year. If all those bags are thrown away, that quickly adds up to a massive amount of plastic going into local landfills and incinerators. Reusable silicone food storage bags are a better choice than plastic throw-away bags. Silicone is arguably more environmentally…