Articles in the Energy Category
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Energy on 8 November 2008
The enormous energy stored in the Earth’s interior will now power over one-third homes in Utah. Raser Technologies has finally announced the completion of the first geothermal plant in Utah over 20 years. Built over the countries largest geothermal hotbeds that have been exposed since the past 25 years, this project took just 6 months to complete.
Posted in Energy, Environment on 3 November 2008
In a quest to find alternative sources of energy, researchers have continued their efforts in and out of laboratories and nothing concrete has come out yet. Though there are many alternate sources of energy, they are expensive, unmanageable, or simply not friendly enough for lay users to use, to charge small gadgets. Now, a researcher and professor from Taiwan have claimed to create the world’s first chlorophyll organic battery. Though it’s not clear how the battery works, Chungpin Hovering Liao claims that it can practically use any liquid to generate charge and that within just 10 seconds. Even urine could be used, says he. Apparently, the storage capacity is a lot more than traditional water-powered fuel cells and consumes very little power.
It would also cost only 3 to 6 cents to manufacture one biodegradable unit. The fact that the battery is biodegradable makes it more environmentally friendly. It would be interesting to see if his claims can be substantiated with batteries that can truly use any liquid and help people charge their gadgets. If so, I must say this is a brilliant invention.
Via Gizmodo
Posted in Energy, water on 25 October 2008
The beauty of the waves is admired by every person who goes to a beach, but none of us ever thought of the marvels these waves can perform. There is probably tons of energy stored in them (estimated to be 2 Terawatts of power). Portugal’s Pelamis Wave Power has recently introduced this renewable source to the world through the first ever wave farm in Agucadoura.
Posted in Animals, Earth, Energy, Fashion, Global warming, Green, Land, Ocean, Plants on 22 October 2008
Target has come up with an ultra cool collection of tees that will have teenagers wear their eco beliefs on their shirts. 100 per cent organic, the shirts come at an affordable $10 a piece.
So why organic cotton? Well, to start with it takes only one-third of a pound of chemicals to yield cotton for one shirt. In other words, this type provides clothes to almost half the world without the use of any harmful substances like pesticides, herbicides, insecticides etc etc.And the bonus on that is the feature prints or wording on tees which help further the cause- ideas of Earth, peace, nature and wildlife, basically all things green.
Posted in Efficiency, Electricity, Energy, Fuel, Gas, Power on 21 October 2008
Google has never failed to surprise us with its eco-consciousness. Time and again the organisation has come up with tips on how to save energy in data centers to investments in plug-in cars and batteries.
Well, most recently Google has come up with an energy savings calculator which even matches with the Halloween theme. Do check out the website www.google.com/hauntedhouse08/ and enjoy the spook. The brains behind this initiative have kept the Halloween air throughout, like, “Ghosts: Hear that eerie moan? That’s the sound of warm air escaping up your chimney.” Even Zombies are in action with, “Computers can feed on energy even when they’re not in use.”
Posted in Energy, Power on 17 October 2008
The idea sounds really simple and once you look at the way this one is being executed, you just feel why someone dint think of this much earlier. Well, it took man over 1600 years to think about why the Apple falls, so we are not really that surprised either. The officials at Japan’s Chitose Airport in Hokkaido have announced that they would be using snow collected in the winter months to power the cooling needs of the airport in summer. That sounds both simple and something that can be used in more places across the world.
Posted in Energy, Wind on 16 October 2008
Ericsson is till date known for the mobile phones it manufactures, but now it has come up with a tower tube that will soon work with a vertical wind turbine. It takes its inspiration from the award winning original Tower Tube. These new age cell towers are expected to make communication in regions with inadequate access to the power grid.
Posted in Energy, Gadgets on 16 October 2008
The number of gadgets that are rolling out into the market with a green outlook and an attempt to save your energy consumption is pretty much overwhelming. There are many tacky and quite fancy gadgets that not just save your energy with smart integration with your home system, but also give you an access to real time stats and other figures making the whole concept of energy-saving a lot more interactive and fun. But all of them come with a certain initial cost that just puts them beyond the reach of many and just turns away potential “eco-followers”. The Ecobee might just be on that fine line which makes it not an attractive option but not an extravagant one wither.
Posted in Energy, Technology on 16 October 2008
What you might be flushing down the toilet could be the material that would power your car or even your home in the near future. Surprised or maybe you just think that we have lost it and are going plain crazy! Well, If Oregon State University College of Engineering has its way then very soon every sewage plant across the world can also open its own Hydrogen fuel supply chain. Just imagine the day big firms and multi-million dollar corporate houses would be fighting over sewage rights… Truly, stuff tailor-made for a reality television show.
Posted in Architecture, Energy on 15 October 2008
With the way LED lights are being used by artists and designers, it seems that they are turning out to be much beyond just energy savers that are cool for the planet. LED technology is being used and improvised by designers across the globe to create spectacular and visually enthralling images that use very little energy and leave a deep impact in our hearts and minds. Constructed as part of the city’s European Capitol of Culture 2008 event, the Stromer is an interactive LED display that turns shadows into compelling creations of art.
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