Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.10.13

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

GRID 

Uganda aims to double power grid in four years (via Reuters)

HVDC: Key to revolutionizing the renewable energy grid (via Renewable Energy World)

Microgrids: Sandy forced cities to rethink power supply (via Climate Central)

ENVIRONMENT 

Wastewater use to supplement world’s strained water supplies likely to increase (via ClimateWire)

Cost of battling massive Rim Wildfire hits $100 million (via Los Angeles Times)

New water plan could turn New Orleans into the next Amsterdam (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Barclays predicts another 13GW of wind will be built in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

Targeting ethanol mandates seen hurting cellulosic growth (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy firms’ stock market values increase 18% in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Community renewables “could soar in the UK” (via Recharge)

Army adds wind power to $7 billion renewable energy buy (via CleanTechnica)

US West’s rush to renewables moves to under-used states (via Reuters)

Renewable power falls as Texas wind underperforms (via Houston Chronicle)

Pattern Energy Group launches $320 million wind power IPO (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Meet the teams (via Energy.gov)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA has $45 million for all-of-the-above energy efficiency strategy (via Autoblog Green)

Three things driving energy efficiency in buildings today (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

Carmakers bearing down on EU emissions goals (via BusinessGreen)

Volkswagen electrifying all vehicle classes; 14 EV or hybrid models by 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Virgin America falls below industry average on fuel performance standards (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS 

FIFA to offset 2014 World Cup’s 2.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions (via Environmental Leader)

Industry to EPA on climate regulations: Let’s talk (via The Hill)

RGGI Northeast carbon auction raises $102.5 million (via Environmental Leader)

CLIMATE 

A climate alarm, too muted for some (via New York Times)

As distant Pacific islands flood, a climate-driven exodus to US grows (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

IEA concerned about oil prices, rules out strategic stock release (via Reuters)

Global crude oil supply disruptions, strong demand support high oil prices (via US EIA)

OPEC sees well-supplied oil market, lower demand for its crude (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

European, Asian LNG buyers team to push cheaper prices (via Reuters)

Gulf of Mexico natural gas well secured several weeks after blow out (via Houston Chronicle)

Chesapeake terminates 13,000 acres of drilling leases in New York State (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

Shaking pennies and fists against utility rate increases (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Why the Dutch are leading the way on sustainable business (via The Guardian)

Efficiency offers a glimmer of hope on energy in Washington (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage: From research to market (via Breaking Energy)

How green is a Tesla, really? (via Mother Jones)

What Australia’s election result means for carbon pricing (via Renew Economy)

Baby Cold Home Remedy: DIY Vapor Rub

baby cold remedy diy vapor rub

When your kiddo is sick, the last thing you want to do is slather him in toxic chemicals! Try this baby cold home remedy for your congested little one.

Is there anything more heart-wrenching than watching your baby struggle with a cold or flu? My little guy is just shy of six months old, and he got his first bad cold last week. At this age, I couldn't medicate him even if I wanted to, and we were using every baby cold home remedy we could to try to make him comfortable while he kicked those nasty germs.

There were a few things that worked well for us. We combined all three of these things at bedtime, and he slept through the night on his two sickest evenings!

  1. Saline nasal spray - This is sort of like a neti pot for babies. Darrol cried the first two times I used this on him, but after that he just kind of went with it. It cleared his congestion temporarily to give his little nose some relief.
  2. Humidifier - Fill 'er up with water, turn 'er on, and she makes your baby's room as humid as a tropical rain forest. This helps keep their little noses and mouths from feeling dry from all of that congestion.
  3. DIY Vapor Rub - You can buy vapor rub for infants, but the one we saw at the store had petroleum jelly and "fragrance" in it. No, thank you! Check out the stupid easy recipe below for making your own, and never buy that stuff again!

Baby Cold Home Remedy: DIY Vapor Rub

Not only is it easy to make your own vapor rub, it's cheap. The essential oil is an investment up front, but it only takes 5-7 drops to make a batch of vapor rub. Darrol was sick for 4 days, and I barely put a dent in the batch that I made for him. You can also use this mixture for grown up colds!

Ingredients and Supplies

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5-7 drops eucalyptus oil
  • small, clean glass container - I used an empty baby food jar

Directions

1. Combine the oils in your container, screw on the lid, and give it a good shake.

2. Dip your finger into the vapor rub and massage onto your baby's chest and back when he needs a little relief.

Caveats

  • Fun fact: vapor rub doesn't actually make it easier for your kiddo to breathe, but it makes it feel like it's easier, because it's cooling and soothing.
  • Never ever ever put straight essential oil on your baby's skin. That stuff is concentrated, and it can be very harmful. Always dilute in a carrier oil.
  • There are other essential oils that work well for congestion: peppermint, lavender, and rosemary are some to try. Just be careful with rosemary oil. It's strong stuff, so start with 2-3 drops in 2 tablespoons of carrier oil.