Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Natural disasters killed more, cost less worldwide in 2013 (via Huffington Post/AP)

COAL 

Coal surge sullies Germany’s clean energy image (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

India’s coal imports rise 20 percent to help fuel new power plants (via Reuters)

The future of coal: Appalachia’s downturn sends miners west (via Wall Street Journal)

More coal plant retirements in New England? Perhaps not so fast (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

EU urged to set 2030 renewable energy target by ministers (via The Guardian)

China’s CNOOC oil company selling wind, biofuels projects (via Thompson Reuters)

Mexico as bellwether for an unsubsidized solar future (via Greentech Media)

Wind emerges as Spain’s dominant power source in 2013 as emissions plummet (via BusinessGreen)

US consumer support for clean energy at highest level since 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

White House urged EPA restraint on 2014 RFS targets (via Greenwire)

NREL adds 5MW wind turbine test facility (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium urged by California lawmakers (via Sacramento Bee)

Sen. Schumer presses for safer crude-by-rail shipments (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nissan Leaf has record sales in 2013 as it challenges Volt for top EV spot (via Facts of the Day)

Plug-in vehicles: For utilities, more opportunity than challenge (via Navigant Research)

Jerry Brown seeks $250 million to boost California’s bullet train (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Polar vortex may be example of global warming (via Climate Central)

Everything you wanted to know about the polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports (via The Hill)

GRID 

First commercially operating Li-ion energy storage installation goes online in China (via Green Car Congress)

ISO-NE approves Northern Pass transmission line, other approvals needed (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top ten markets for energy efficient-lighting (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons cities neglect energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Clean energy should do without special tax breaks (via Washington Post)

The clean energy economy in three charts (via Energy.gov)

Canadian prime minister says Keystone XL pipeline will be approved (via Reuters)

Spotted: Vertical Storage from Old Dresser Drawers

Vertical Storage from Dresser Drawers

If you live in a small space, storage is at a premium. Vertical storage is a great solution for fitting more stuff into less space!

Just like vertical gardening, vertical storage takes advantage of height to help maximize a small area. Store-bought vertical storage solutions can be a little bit pricey, but when you make your own from reclaimed materials you save money and reduce your environmental impact! Bing, bang, boom!

I love these sweet vertical shelves that Samantha at the Douangphilas made out of salvaged dresser drawers. She ran across these empty drawers at a Habitat Restore, and it's surprisingly easy to find drawers without homes. So many folks leave old dressers out by the side of the road, and the outside gets ruined, but the drawers are sheltered and remain intact.

Keep an eye out for dilapidated old furniture, because even if you can't salvage the whole thing, this tutorial shows that you can even use parts to make something wonderful.

craftRECYCLED logo

To make your own vertical storage from old dresser drawers, you will need:

  • old dresser drawers
  • damp rags, to clean your drawers
  • paint and paint brushes
  • sandpaper
  • fabric or contact paper
  • coat hooks and screws (optional)
  • long screws to mount the drawers to the wall

Ready to make your own vertical storage? Click here for the tutorial!