Climate Corner: Finding reliable climate information on YouTube

Jun 22, 2024

Jonathan Brier

climatecorner@brierjon.com

YouTube and other media have reliable information, but finding it relies on critical thinking and reviewing who presented and what bias might they have or incentives to mislead, the same way books and other publications should be scrutinized. You might think a librarian would steer readers away from user-generated content, but some of those content creators are certified and verifiable experts with a pattern of disclosure of sources (instead of self proclaimed and “trust me” attitudes).

This week in the MOV and broader region was brutal with a 90+F heat dome. I thought while spending time indoors next week or in the next heat wave readers might explore some media which can be both entertaining and reliable information on climate and ways to take steps to reduce energy use at home and work. I’m including both a specific video to watch from each YouTube Channel, but encourage you to explore their other content.

My top 10 channels on climate and energy:

1. Just Have A Think: A coal power station without coal! How a Win-Win solution could save an industry.

https://youtu.be/DSQ0i4b-5ug

2. Simon Clark: Why aren’t we all using heat pumps?

https://youtu.be/eMd6obMwtOk

3. ClimateAdam: Is Global Warming Speeding Up?

https://youtu.be/7p0HdzZsdII

4. Matt Risinger “The Build Show:” 2024 Heat Pump Water Heater Buyers Guide

https://youtu.be/YT0zTRD7N2s

5. PBS Terra: Save the Planet? In THIS economy? Pffft

https://youtu.be/AxM0w-D_35A

6. Practical Engineering: Connecting Solar to the Grid is Harder Than You Think

https://youtu.be/7G4ipM2qjfw

7. Climate Town: Natural Gas is Scamming America

https://youtu.be/K2oL4SFwkkw

8. HASI (podcast): Enabling global emission matching with data Driven RECs

(full disclosure: I own shares in HASI)

https://youtu.be/h31oOXCXFyk

9. Technology Connections: Heat Pump guide playlist https://tinyurl.com/bdznbath
10. Undecided with Matt Ferrell: Is It Time to Start Cooking With Magnets?

https://youtu.be/X440BHdy35g

Bonus video: Rethinking the way we think of electric peak power. A startup in Texas called Base Power, installs batteries to give back power at peak times to time-shift low power cost availability. Growth in renewables can make them reliable and able to be dispatched when power is needed. https://youtu.be/hk8UPpzTV84

I hope you take a moment and watch these videos and listen to what they cover about a variety of climate issues. Think about what you want for the future of the Mid-Ohio Valley. I would like to see more renewable energy being installed to diversify our tax base and energy supply.

From my experience working with local trades, we need training to bring installations and construction into line with best practices for energy efficiency. We need building codes that will save building occupants energy and costs in the long term, not just cheap and easy to construct, but affordable over time.

What skills do you see the MOV needing developed and which are strong and ready to support new business opportunities? Ask elected officials when we will have a regional climate resiliency plan for economic development and risk management?

I would like to invite you to visit the MOVCA tent this weekend at the Multicultural Festival in City Park, Parkersburg. Introduce yourself, talk about what you learned from a video or share what you would like to learn/do about climate and the Mid-Ohio Valley.

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Jonathan Brier is a Marietta resident, information scientist, data librarian, and an Eagle Scout. He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, American Association for the Advancement of Science, OpenStreetMap US, Mid-Ohio Valley