efficient

EASI Solar Decathlon House Reflects New England—With a Dash of Central America (Video)

Originally published on 1Sun4All. EASI (Efficient, Aesthetic, Solar, Innovation) Living Home, is the design of first-time competitors in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, the Western New England University, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, and Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana team, according to Solar Decathlon 2015. The team wants its project to reflect … [continued]

New Facility In Australia Launches To Develop More Efficient Solar Technology

  Originally published on RenewEconomy by Sophie Vorrath A new facility to pilot the development of Australian-grown, ARENA-backed technology aimed at creating more efficient and affordable solar panels has been launched in Queensland. Brisbane Materials, whose landmark technology produced anti-reflection and other coatings for solar panels which significantly improves efficiency … [continued]

Making Cheaper and More Efficient Solar Cells with Copper

There are two ways to lower the cost of producing energy through photovoltaics – more efficient solar cells (more power per square foot) and lower production costs (lower cost per square foot). The ETAlab of the Fraunhofer ISE has devised a way to do both simultaneously. The research team in the laboratory for new solar cell structures and processing steps has not only made the solar cell contacts out of 100% cost-effective materials (replacing expensive silver with cheaper copper and nickel), but the process also increases the efficiency of the solar cell to a very respectable 21.4%.

Experimental Smart House Completed In Tokyo University

The Institute of Industrial Science of Tokyo University, widely regarded as the top university in Japan, has erected a “smart house” on their Komaba Campus, in cooperation with LIXIL Housing Corporation’s Eyeful Home Company. The current structure, the COMMA house (COMfort MAnagement), is the start of a series of prototypes and tests geared toward creating more-or-less self-sufficient home. The project is expected to have plans for a standard smart house by 2020.

Lighting Science Corporation Blazes a New Trail for LED Streetlights

Lighting Science Corporation has just announced a new breakthrough in high efficiency LED (light emitting diode) technology that outperforms existing LED streetlights, providing an even greater incentive for the nation’s roadways and institutions to make the switch from standard streetlights to more sustainable LED lighting. [social_buttons] The new LEDs, dubbed … [continued]