CleanTechnica » Breath on the Wind http://cleantechnica.com Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 23:01:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 Northrop Grumman’s LEMV BLIMP Takes Flight at Lakehurst, NJ (Videos) http://cleantechnica.com/2012/08/25/northrop-grummans-lemv-blimp-takes-flight-at-lakehurst-nj-videos/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/08/25/northrop-grummans-lemv-blimp-takes-flight-at-lakehurst-nj-videos/#comments Sat, 25 Aug 2012 10:56:57 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38623 The Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) has been an elusive ISR goal for the Department of Defense through numerous false starts and half-completed contracts, but on August 7th at 6:49 pm EST a new LEMV hybrid blimp first took to the air at Lakehurst Navel air station in NJ. The vehicle is based upon a design by Hybrid Air Vehicles, LTD, and developed by Northrop Grumman. Many new considerations have come into the design of this airship but there are some old myths to be dispelled as well.

Northrop Grumman’s LEMV BLIMP Takes Flight at Lakehurst, NJ (Videos) was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/08/25/northrop-grummans-lemv-blimp-takes-flight-at-lakehurst-nj-videos/feed/ 11 A 200-Mile “Date” with a 2012 Mitsubishi i EV http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/29/a-200-mile-date-with-a-2012-mitsubishi-i-ev/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/29/a-200-mile-date-with-a-2012-mitsubishi-i-ev/#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:09:45 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=39937 The experience of testing a Mitsubishi I for 4 days is a bit like getting to know someone, a date. As I slowly found out more about my partner in different settings, I was also able to observe reactions of family, friends and the people we met along the way. Some initially treated the vehicle with disdain while others saw a rock star.

A 200-Mile “Date” with a 2012 Mitsubishi i EV was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/29/a-200-mile-date-with-a-2012-mitsubishi-i-ev/feed/ 15 BioLite Stove for Wilderness Heat and Electricity? http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/08/biolite-stove-for-wilderness-heat-and-electricity/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/08/biolite-stove-for-wilderness-heat-and-electricity/#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:18:11 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=39295 BioLite has been developing solid-fueled stoves with an unusual thermoelectric technology for several years. The camp stove, which started shipping in June, creates the ideal conditions to burn any local biofuel, rather than having to carry in a petrochemical-based fuel. While not designed for mystical caves, the pastel beauty of deserts, or snow-bound wonderlands with no usable vegetation. it is a perfect companion for a hike in the woods.

BioLite Stove for Wilderness Heat and Electricity? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/07/08/biolite-stove-for-wilderness-heat-and-electricity/feed/ 1 ROI a Misused Metric for Electric Vehicles? (Response to “Honda Fit EV Faces Tough ROI Arguments”) http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/28/roi-misused-metric-electric-vehicles-response-honda-fit-ev-faces-tough-roi-arguments/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/28/roi-misused-metric-electric-vehicles-response-honda-fit-ev-faces-tough-roi-arguments/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:11:24 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=39296 When applied poorly the Return on Investment measurement can have us working for our money instead of making our money work for us. We want certainty and we need accuracy, but when our need for certainty over-reaches our desire for accuracy we tend to accept any answer...

ROI a Misused Metric for Electric Vehicles? (Response to “Honda Fit EV Faces Tough ROI Arguments”) was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/28/roi-misused-metric-electric-vehicles-response-honda-fit-ev-faces-tough-roi-arguments/feed/ 13 How to “Hot-Rod” an Electric Car http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/18/how-hot-rod-electric-car/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/18/how-hot-rod-electric-car/#comments Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:40:46 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=39160 When we think electrical cars we are usually trying to be well grounded ... or trying to save the Earth. Some cars are mostly for show. Others are tuned for performance. This "test" by Car and Driver is just plain fun. They raised the question of what could be done to a stock Nissan Leaf to make it drive more like a Porsche 911 Carrera

How to “Hot-Rod” an Electric Car was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/18/how-hot-rod-electric-car/feed/ 1 The EV Black Knight Rides Again: John Petersen on Mortal Enemies http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/11/ev-black-knight-rides-again-john-petersen-on-mortal-enemies/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/11/ev-black-knight-rides-again-john-petersen-on-mortal-enemies/#comments Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:48:20 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38932 In commerce, a black knight is someone who makes an unwelcome takeover bid. John Petersen is not an EV supporter. Rather, his disclosure exudes a contempt for the EV that is pervasive throughout his work, while he admits to previous commitment to lead-acid batteries and a present ownership in Axion Power. A recent article throws down the gauntlet as he tries to take over the EV conversation: the Black Knight rides again.

The EV Black Knight Rides Again: John Petersen on Mortal Enemies was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/11/ev-black-knight-rides-again-john-petersen-on-mortal-enemies/feed/ 47 Climate Change Will Turn Off the Lights: New Study Finds Nuclear and Coal at Risk http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/05/climate-change-will-turn-off-the-lights-new-study-finds-nuclear-and-coal-at-risk/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/05/climate-change-will-turn-off-the-lights-new-study-finds-nuclear-and-coal-at-risk/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:50:46 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38789 A new study finds that climate change will impact the 91% of US and 78% of European power that is produced using thermal power plants. In the near future, power potential is expected to be reduced from 4 to 16% with the possibility of a complete system collapse tripling or more

Climate Change Will Turn Off the Lights: New Study Finds Nuclear and Coal at Risk was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/06/05/climate-change-will-turn-off-the-lights-new-study-finds-nuclear-and-coal-at-risk/feed/ 14 University of Barcelona’s New Wind Prospecting Balloon http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/31/university-of-barcelonas-new-wind-prospecting-balloon/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/31/university-of-barcelonas-new-wind-prospecting-balloon/#comments Thu, 31 May 2012 11:48:09 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38663 With a view that the largest future expansion of wind turbines will be offshore, a team coördinated by Bernat Codina has applied expertise in meteorology and aeronautics to create a system ready to find potent wind resources in the open ocean.

University of Barcelona’s New Wind Prospecting Balloon was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/31/university-of-barcelonas-new-wind-prospecting-balloon/feed/ 1 Perspectives on the Geothermal Energy Association Showcase in DC http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/29/perspectives-on-the-geothermal-energy-association-showcase-in-dc/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/29/perspectives-on-the-geothermal-energy-association-showcase-in-dc/#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 08:37:25 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38293 The fourth annual GEA International Geothermal Energy Showcase concluded Wednesday, May 23, in Washington DC. The conference featured countries and projects in 6 different regions of the world: Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Presentations by corporate and country leaders, for many of the projects, were very similar, but a few had unique challenges. Ultimately, what started out with policy, charts, and graphs ended up with a human face and concerns in Nevis and East Africa. The showcase was well-organized, resulting in a virtually flawless program.

Perspectives on the Geothermal Energy Association Showcase in DC was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/29/perspectives-on-the-geothermal-energy-association-showcase-in-dc/feed/ 3 Aptera Electric Car Company Rises from Its Ashes: A Rescue by the Sleeping Dragon http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/22/aptera-electric-car-company-rises-from-its-ashes-a-rescue-by-the-sleeping-dragon/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/22/aptera-electric-car-company-rises-from-its-ashes-a-rescue-by-the-sleeping-dragon/#comments Tue, 22 May 2012 10:52:07 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38163 The phoenix and a dragon is a common motif on Chinese pottery, often used as wedding gifts. Aptera (a wingless bird) is an electric car company that ceased operations in December after many setbacks, but its ideas and assets have taken flight again, purchased by the Jonway Group, a Chinese company. This might be considered an auspicious omen.

Aptera Electric Car Company Rises from Its Ashes: A Rescue by the Sleeping Dragon was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/22/aptera-electric-car-company-rises-from-its-ashes-a-rescue-by-the-sleeping-dragon/feed/ 6 Disappearing Meta-materials Now More Common http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/16/disappearing-meta-materials-now-more-common/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/16/disappearing-meta-materials-now-more-common/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 10:39:33 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=38110 Meta-materials (MM: materials beyond the imagination) have been largely confined to tricks in the lab because the required components of silver and gold are not well adapted to semiconductor manufacturing processes and too much of the material is lost. These MM have the ability to bend narrow wavelengths of light, sound, and seismic waves. They have been used to make objects seem to “disappear.”

Disappearing Meta-materials Now More Common was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/16/disappearing-meta-materials-now-more-common/feed/ 2 Precious Metals from Nautilus Minerals: a New Frontier http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/14/precious-metals-from-nautilus-minerals-a-new-frontier/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/14/precious-metals-from-nautilus-minerals-a-new-frontier/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 11:16:18 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=37991 In perhaps a little over a year Nautilus Minerals will begin mining operations in the deep ocean off Papa New Guinea. New tools, ships and techniques are anticipated to yield copper, gold and silver.

Precious Metals from Nautilus Minerals: a New Frontier was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/14/precious-metals-from-nautilus-minerals-a-new-frontier/feed/ 0 Understanding Wind Turbines and Heating/Cooling: “Eureka!” http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/02/understanding-wind-turbines-and-heatingcooling-eureka/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/02/understanding-wind-turbines-and-heatingcooling-eureka/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 21:42:25 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=37656 Are wind turbines that produce electricity "bad" and contributing to global warming or is it all just hot air? (Hint: the answer has something to do with the air, but not the global climate.)

Our world is warming. Just a little, but it is enough to cause considerable and catastrophic climate changes. We know that for anything to warm there must be a source of energy. Wind turbines produce electricity. That is energy. Couldn't that be a source? Archimedes solved one problem by jumping out of a bath and running through the streets naked, exclaiming "Eureka!" ("I have found it" in ancient Greek). We can also understand the wind turbine effect by thinking of being naked in a bath.

Understanding Wind Turbines and Heating/Cooling: “Eureka!” was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/02/understanding-wind-turbines-and-heatingcooling-eureka/feed/ 7 Are Electric Cars “Green” No Matter Where You Plug-In? http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/20/are-electric-cars-green/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/20/are-electric-cars-green/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:27:31 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=37226 Paul Stenquist of the New York Times attempted to educate us last Sunday by suggesting that pollution from electric cars is as clear as a sixth grade math problem. However, by 9th grade, we should begin to understand that although we can add any numbers together, it is the relationship between those numbers and something in the real world which gives us sensible results

Are Electric Cars “Green” No Matter Where You Plug-In? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/20/are-electric-cars-green/feed/ 42 Terrafugia Soars with Mass Interest at the NY Auto Show http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/06/flying-car-ny-auto-show-terrafugia/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/06/flying-car-ny-auto-show-terrafugia/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:36:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=36769 They are at the entrance to the 2012 New York International Auto Show, their first auto show, with only one vehicle, but what a vehicle. Terrafugia is a Massachusetts company sure to become increasingly known as the people who make vehicles that can fly to more than 5000 public airports and then be driven home to a garage. Foul weather can ground the pilot of a light aircraft but with the "Transition" the sport pilot's license gives way to a driver's license and the journey continues.

Terrafugia Soars with Mass Interest at the NY Auto Show was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/06/flying-car-ny-auto-show-terrafugia/feed/ 6 Hands on & High Tech: Atlantic Builders Convention http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/02/high-tech-atlantic-builders-convention/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/02/high-tech-atlantic-builders-convention/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:58:44 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=36598 I traveled to Atlantic City recently for the 63rd Annual Atlantic Builders Convention to answer a question: "What technical innovations are being discussed and seen at the 'street level?'” We were told that consumers are the biggest factor in a home’s efficiency but, unfortunately, modern homes do not tend to come with an owner’s manual

Hands on & High Tech: Atlantic Builders Convention was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/02/high-tech-atlantic-builders-convention/feed/ 0 Fracking Language: Between the Lines with Oil Reserves http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/27/fracking-language-between-the-lines-with-oil-reserves/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/27/fracking-language-between-the-lines-with-oil-reserves/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:04:19 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=36427 We have had high oil prices before and I expect that, as before, we will complain about the prices as they increase. They will reach a high point that we begin to accept. And that peak will be followed by a recession and a price decline for months or a year before they once again begin their upward trend. It is as if we are being tested and slowly being acclimated to the new price. This is not to suggest that this is a conscious process or someone is manipulating prices. But in a world where only a handful of major oil companies control almost all the market share, some cooperation is possible and, to some extent, might be expected

Fracking Language: Between the Lines with Oil Reserves was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/27/fracking-language-between-the-lines-with-oil-reserves/feed/ 0 US Military and a Critical Energy Alternative http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/19/us-military-and-a-critical-energy-alternative/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/19/us-military-and-a-critical-energy-alternative/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:21:37 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=36178 The US military is a consumer with different priorities. They make their own assessments and have determined as far back as 2010 that there is likely to be shortages of fuel by 2015. If by one war or embargo or a well placed weather event, supplies of oil are interrupted their tanks, ships, aircraft and supplies will have limited mobility

US Military and a Critical Energy Alternative was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/19/us-military-and-a-critical-energy-alternative/feed/ 6 EV Heating (and Cooling) Could Revolutionize Energy Use http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/12/ev-heating-and-cooling-could-revolutionize-energy-use/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/12/ev-heating-and-cooling-could-revolutionize-energy-use/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:29:27 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=35952 Electric vehicles can already be fuel-efficient, however in very cold or very hot weather, when air conditioning or heating requires the same energy used for driving the vehicle, range can suffer. "A 5-pound EMOF-based heat pump [electrical metal-organic framework] the size of a 2-liter bottle could theoretically handle the heating and cooling needs of an electric vehicle."

EV Heating (and Cooling) Could Revolutionize Energy Use was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/12/ev-heating-and-cooling-could-revolutionize-energy-use/feed/ 3 Offshore Wind: the 21st Century Frontier http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/08/offshore-wind-the-21st-century-frontier/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/08/offshore-wind-the-21st-century-frontier/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:30:22 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=35163 There are many who recognize our Seas contain a vast yet, largely unknown world: mankind's new frontier that is far closer, with a long history, requiring less investment and perhaps more immediate returns than space. Offshore Wind development is not only a major development into that frontier but a test to see how we may limit or enhance that development with regulations

Offshore Wind: the 21st Century Frontier was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/08/offshore-wind-the-21st-century-frontier/feed/ 4