Kevin J. Kircher
@kevinjkircher.com
Engineering prof (mechanical + electrical) at a big Midwest state school. Energy, climate, buildings, power grid, control, optimization, data science. He/him. Personal account. https://kevinjkircher.com/ Email: my last name at purdue dot edu
Pinned
New paper! Heat-pump water heaters could cut energy costs and pollution, but installs often require 💰 electrical work to accommodate backup resistance heat. My student Levi Premer developed prediction and control software to eliminate the need for backup heat and ⬆️ efficiency and flexibility. 🧵1/
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Progressive groups yes but also a lot of the federal employees involved with all this
www.gravityisgone.com/a-slap-in-th...
www.gravityisgone.com/a-slap-in-th...
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Progressive groups yes but also a lot of the federal employees involved with all this
www.gravityisgone.com/a-slap-in-th...
www.gravityisgone.com/a-slap-in-th...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Point number 1 in a media statement by the Least Developed Countries group comprising low-income countries, mostly from the African continent is a call for climate finance #COP30
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Point number 1 in a media statement by the Least Developed Countries group comprising low-income countries, mostly from the African continent is a call for climate finance #COP30
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Honest Government Ad | Watch out, Canada
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
The installed capacity of carbon capture and storage is about 50 megatonnes per annum of carbon, but it actually captures about 30 a year
Have been hunting for this number for a LONG time - buried in a DNV CCS report ->
brandcentral.dnv.com/original/gal...
Have been hunting for this number for a LONG time - buried in a DNV CCS report ->
brandcentral.dnv.com/original/gal...
November 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The installed capacity of carbon capture and storage is about 50 megatonnes per annum of carbon, but it actually captures about 30 a year
Have been hunting for this number for a LONG time - buried in a DNV CCS report ->
brandcentral.dnv.com/original/gal...
Have been hunting for this number for a LONG time - buried in a DNV CCS report ->
brandcentral.dnv.com/original/gal...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
"electrification is also the key to a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency, potentially reducing global final energy demand by 24% over the next 25 years, even as global GDP doubles"
A truly stunning point.
This is why I write about energy efficiency so much!
www.ft.com/content/7258...
A truly stunning point.
This is why I write about energy efficiency so much!
www.ft.com/content/7258...
Electrification is the key to energy efficiency
Productivity gains could cut final energy demand by nearly a quarter over the next 25 years, even as global GDP doubles
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
"electrification is also the key to a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency, potentially reducing global final energy demand by 24% over the next 25 years, even as global GDP doubles"
A truly stunning point.
This is why I write about energy efficiency so much!
www.ft.com/content/7258...
A truly stunning point.
This is why I write about energy efficiency so much!
www.ft.com/content/7258...
"More than 5,000 fossil fuel lobbyists were given access to the UN climate summits over the past four years, a period marked by a rise in catastrophic extreme weather, inadequate climate action and record oil and gas expansion"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
How thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then kept drilling
Exclusive: Research shows oil, gas and coal firms’ unprecedented access to Cop26-29, blocking urgent climate action
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
"More than 5,000 fossil fuel lobbyists were given access to the UN climate summits over the past four years, a period marked by a rise in catastrophic extreme weather, inadequate climate action and record oil and gas expansion"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Not a bad view, walking to work after the first snowfall of the winter.
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Not a bad view, walking to work after the first snowfall of the winter.
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
The consensus is that the electrification of transportation will destroy 5 million barrels per day of oil demand by 2030.
In this new piece I argue that this number is too low for a bunch of reasons.
In this new piece I argue that this number is too low for a bunch of reasons.
Gluttons For Punishment: Oil Industry Doubles Down Against Reality
The world is facing a multi-year oil glut where the oil producers will be pumping more oil out of the ground than the world is using. This will keep oil prices at low levels – likely well below the le...
powering-the-planet.ghost.io
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The consensus is that the electrification of transportation will destroy 5 million barrels per day of oil demand by 2030.
In this new piece I argue that this number is too low for a bunch of reasons.
In this new piece I argue that this number is too low for a bunch of reasons.
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Medieval serfs living through their oat fields being trampled by the armies of rival kings but the oat fields are our health insurance access, the rival kings are the insurance and airline lobbies, and the mercenaries on horseback are senators.
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Medieval serfs living through their oat fields being trampled by the armies of rival kings but the oat fields are our health insurance access, the rival kings are the insurance and airline lobbies, and the mercenaries on horseback are senators.
One striking thing about this @drilledmedia.bsky.social podcast on Norway's internal conflict over oil and climate: The US has the same basic problems - oil and gas wealth skewing our culture and politics - but none of the social benefits that Norway's *publicly owned* O&G wealth provides.
The Black Thread
A mini-series on Norway’s conflicted identity as both a progressive global leader and one of the world’s dominant oil states.
drilled.media
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
One striking thing about this @drilledmedia.bsky.social podcast on Norway's internal conflict over oil and climate: The US has the same basic problems - oil and gas wealth skewing our culture and politics - but none of the social benefits that Norway's *publicly owned* O&G wealth provides.
As COP30 (UN meeting on climate change) begins, 10 years into the Paris Agreement, US emissions are about as high as ever, due substantially to methane pollution from oil and gas systems. The US is the world's worst cumulative climate polluter, nearly 2x China, and is not participating in COP30.
New paper. I wish this wasn't the case, but most progress on reducing US greenhouse gas emissions is likely spurious. Why? EPA underestimates methane emissions from oil and gas. Relevant today as Repubs vote to gut IRA's methane monitoring/mitigation program. 🧵
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lL4K_6se4...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lL4K_6se4...
November 10, 2025 at 1:20 PM
As COP30 (UN meeting on climate change) begins, 10 years into the Paris Agreement, US emissions are about as high as ever, due substantially to methane pollution from oil and gas systems. The US is the world's worst cumulative climate polluter, nearly 2x China, and is not participating in COP30.
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
"Danish text" refers to a negotiation document worked out exclusively between rich countries at COP15 in Copenhagen that drew a lot of anger from developing countries. Effectively, it weakened finance responsibilities of rich countries and had poorer ones on the hook for sharp emission cuts
INTERESTING CLIMATE ARCHIVE
Todd Stern (USA) just after Copenhagen COP (#COP15):
"Thank you so much for all you have done for us".
While email is redacted, I'm almost certain Stern is writing to Bo Lidegaard (Special advisor to the Danish PM, closely associated with infamous "Danish text").
Todd Stern (USA) just after Copenhagen COP (#COP15):
"Thank you so much for all you have done for us".
While email is redacted, I'm almost certain Stern is writing to Bo Lidegaard (Special advisor to the Danish PM, closely associated with infamous "Danish text").
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Danish text" refers to a negotiation document worked out exclusively between rich countries at COP15 in Copenhagen that drew a lot of anger from developing countries. Effectively, it weakened finance responsibilities of rich countries and had poorer ones on the hook for sharp emission cuts
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
New paper! Heat-pump water heaters could cut energy costs and pollution, but installs often require 💰 electrical work to accommodate backup resistance heat. My student Levi Premer developed prediction and control software to eliminate the need for backup heat and ⬆️ efficiency and flexibility. 🧵1/
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
New paper! Heat-pump water heaters could cut energy costs and pollution, but installs often require 💰 electrical work to accommodate backup resistance heat. My student Levi Premer developed prediction and control software to eliminate the need for backup heat and ⬆️ efficiency and flexibility. 🧵1/
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Since 1990, the emissions share of the richest 1% has increased by 13%, and the richest 0.1% has grown by 32%, while the poorest 50% has decreased by 3%.
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Since 1990, the emissions share of the richest 1% has increased by 13%, and the richest 0.1% has grown by 32%, while the poorest 50% has decreased by 3%.
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
With some moderate Democrats caving to Republican pressure, the shutdown was all for naught. www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
With some moderate Democrats caving to Republican pressure, the shutdown was all for naught. www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
“We won the thing we were legally owed” take a victory lap Dems, absolutely killing it
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 AM
“We won the thing we were legally owed” take a victory lap Dems, absolutely killing it
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
What is the origin & evidence for the idea that if one country does not export fossil fuels, demand will be met by another? What is the incentive, then, for a country to reduce exports & what is this unique feature of international markets? How come the argument isn't made for domestic supplies?
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
What is the origin & evidence for the idea that if one country does not export fossil fuels, demand will be met by another? What is the incentive, then, for a country to reduce exports & what is this unique feature of international markets? How come the argument isn't made for domestic supplies?
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
It appears that the Senate has lived up to my expectations of the Senate. But I'm voting no on this bill once it gets to the House. Cutting Americans healthcare and locking in assaults on Congress' power of the purse ain't gonna happen with my consent.
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
It appears that the Senate has lived up to my expectations of the Senate. But I'm voting no on this bill once it gets to the House. Cutting Americans healthcare and locking in assaults on Congress' power of the purse ain't gonna happen with my consent.
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
The #COPOut Podcast Episode 1 on Platforming Activism is LIVE! Tune in hear from Ingmar Rentzhog from @wedonthavetime.bsky.social Jamie Minden from This Is Zero Hour and @magnoliae.bsky.social from Party Crashers to learn about their histories and their current work cece.american.edu/cop-out-epis...
November 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The #COPOut Podcast Episode 1 on Platforming Activism is LIVE! Tune in hear from Ingmar Rentzhog from @wedonthavetime.bsky.social Jamie Minden from This Is Zero Hour and @magnoliae.bsky.social from Party Crashers to learn about their histories and their current work cece.american.edu/cop-out-epis...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
“People are blaming republicans for food prices and flight cancellations and health insurance costs and are furious about gilded ballrooms and Gatsby parties and the president is falling asleep on tv and is the most deeply unpopular president in history, time to cave” is a hell of an argument
November 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
“People are blaming republicans for food prices and flight cancellations and health insurance costs and are furious about gilded ballrooms and Gatsby parties and the president is falling asleep on tv and is the most deeply unpopular president in history, time to cave” is a hell of an argument
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Over 80% of the world’s people want their governments to “do more” to address climate change, and nearly two-thirds are on board with that action costing them a bit. Yet, this majority believes its a minority due to media's climate silence. -- @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
The Media Is Complicit in the Climate Confusion
The vast majority of people want their governments to take climate action—but most wrongly think they’re in the minority. The media is partly to blame.
www.thenation.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Over 80% of the world’s people want their governments to “do more” to address climate change, and nearly two-thirds are on board with that action costing them a bit. Yet, this majority believes its a minority due to media's climate silence. -- @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
Have you heard about this?
"As the govt shutdown drags on, buildings at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (HQ for the Webb telescope among other missions) are being emptied without notice. Highly specialized equipment is at risk of being thrown away like trash."
h/t @climatebrad.hillheat.com
"As the govt shutdown drags on, buildings at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (HQ for the Webb telescope among other missions) are being emptied without notice. Highly specialized equipment is at risk of being thrown away like trash."
h/t @climatebrad.hillheat.com
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear | CNN
Buildings at Goddard’s Maryland campus are being emptied and padlocked, sources say. NASA leadership has pushed back against the concerns.
www.cnn.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Have you heard about this?
"As the govt shutdown drags on, buildings at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (HQ for the Webb telescope among other missions) are being emptied without notice. Highly specialized equipment is at risk of being thrown away like trash."
h/t @climatebrad.hillheat.com
"As the govt shutdown drags on, buildings at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (HQ for the Webb telescope among other missions) are being emptied without notice. Highly specialized equipment is at risk of being thrown away like trash."
h/t @climatebrad.hillheat.com
Reposted by Kevin J. Kircher
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.