Great news on the power efficiency front: Scientists have invented a new material that can efficiently convert heat waste in cars, power generators, and heat pumps into electricity. The new material is thermoelectric, and can turn heat into energy without any pollution. The invention, thallium-doped lead telluride, is twice … [continued]
In order to usher in the Chevy Volt, due out in 2010, General Motors is partnering with 30 utility companies across 40 states to ensure that the infrastructure to support the new model will exist. This is great news for the Toyota RAV4 drivers who have been driving electric cars … [continued]
[social_buttons] The town of Rock Port, in Missouri, is another of the growing number of towns and cities laying claim to be powered entirely by a renewable energy. And though the small town only boasts a population of 1,300, it is the first community in the United States to be … [continued]
30 steps to a more sustainable you! 7-22-2008. A quarter of a year has gone by since I posted my Earth Day blog offering 22 suggestions to change your lifestyle Have you made any changes in the last 3 months? I’ll trust that you have, and in case you’ve done … [continued]
Solar power means more than solar panels. These days it can also mean collectors, towers, dyes, oh my! Here’s a guide to (most of) the different kinds of solar technologies that are out there today. First, the basics: Anything that uses solar energy as a source of power is solar-powered. … [continued]
On February 17, 2009 television stations will go digital, meaning that analog TV’s will not longer receive a signal, leaving millions of analog TV owners with a dark and useless TV set. As technology is rapidly advances, we are constantly ‘trading up’ to get a faster connection and sharper image … [continued]
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to visit Intersolar US, the United States’ premier exhibition for solar technology. I learned about a variety of products that are revolutionizing the solar industry, and one of the most interesting was Paradigma’s AquaSystem. The Aqua solar heating system, first introduced in 2004, works … [continued]
Recognizing the potential for algae as an energy crop, a Hawaiian conglomerate has come together to pursue the joint development of a commercial-scale microalgae facility on Maui to produce lipid oil for conversion to biodiesel and other products, such as animal feed. While a number of factors still need to … [continued]
Last Friday Tim Hurst wrote an article entitled ‘Soaring Fuel Prices Spur Aviation Industry to Explore Alternatives’, wherein he focused our attention on Rolls-Royce and British Airways attempts to search for alternative fuels. Though probably not entirely humanitarian in nature, it is nice to see another industry getting in to … [continued]
MIT has perfected a dye technology that could change the solar world as we know it. The most efficient form of solar technology today is (arguably) extreme concentrated photovoltaics, essentially solar panels placed under a magnifying glass. But the problem with these systems is heat. Concentrated sunlight can … [continued]
