Category Archives: Alternative Energy
Addressing the need to absorb most of the sun’s energy, Eli Hariton has conceived Space Solar. Thinking out of the box, the designer has realised that the earth’s atmosphere obstructs the penetration of all of the solar rays. And since solar crafts and satellites (almost) run on sun’s energy, why not deploy them to direct the abundance of unhindered solar power to earth? About ten to twenty football field sized solar arrays can be used to generate thousands of kilowatts per hour! This energy will see its way down to every corner of our blue planet via microwaves. And since these satellites are orbiting around the earth, they never stand a chance to be in dark. So earthlings can enjoy the liberty of unlimited solar energy all through the day as well as night.
Continue reading 
Emergency service vehicles go Green! Last month I wrote about the solar powered ambulances from Mumbai, India. But today, I am back with solar powered fire trucks that are driving up and down the town of Shawnee in Pennsylvania, United States. Intending to cut down their carbon footprints, the Fire department worked on a trial project to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of solar powered fire trucks. Solar panels fitted on the roof of these trucks are expected to power up the necessary equipment like firefighters’ battery-powered flashlights, portable radios, thermal imaging cameras and the Mobile Data Terminal, within the trucks when the ignition is turned off. Also these cool red beasts are left running to keep the hoses from freezing when the temperature drops.
Image for representational purpose only
Continue reading
Since living on alternative energy sources is deemed to be the latest trend, allow me to bring to your attention to the Axial Flux Wind Turbine. Harnessing the wind’s energy with its large 10 foot (diameter) fan blades, it is a complete kit for $1,750 from OtherPower. Though it doesn’t seem to fit the urban scenario, people living on farms, ranches or other wide open airy locations can find a place to fix this DIY wind turbine kit. Inspired by Hugh Piggotts designs, the kit contains the assembled alternator, blades, tail vane, and all necessary hardware to assemble the machine. More importantly, a users manual is also shipped along, without which it can be a daunting task. Custom designed to charge up the batteries of 12, 24 and 48V, this is 10 foot diameter turbine is conservatively rated at 800 Watts. However the alternator has proven to withstand sustained output of 1000 Watts in bench testing.
Continue reading
And you thought that priests only pray to God for well being? Allow me to correct this myth. In a move to make Vatican more clean and green, the current leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI held his first green audience yesterday. About 9,000 attended the green service under the solar roof of Paul VI Hall. In all, 2,400 solar panels on the roof above the Pope’s head converted sun rays into electricity to light and heat the hall.
Continue reading
Though acres of graveyards only provide a peaceful accommodation to all the dead bodies world wide, a small town outside Barcelona, Spain begs to differ on that trend. The city council and the authorities of the Santa Coloma de Gramenet cemetery are wise and green without doubt. They have installed 462 solar panels on top of the grave niches which in turn power up the local energy grid. The energy generated is equivalent to the yearly consumption of 60 homes. Started about three years back, this project saw day light last week. Such a location provides an ideal solution for towns and cities that crib about lack of space to install such eco-friendly projects.
Continue reading
These days, most of us need to run through a list of must-have gadgets to be carried before stepping out of the house for work or even a simple stroll through the park. A few to name are cannot-do-without cell phone, laptop, MP3/iPod, gaming console, a pedometer for fitness freaks, GPS unit and lots more, I’m sure. However the whole geeky persona fizzles out if your doodads aren’t charged to be at your service at the end of the day too. For such times, a Fusion Messenger Bag is the savior. Fitted with flexible solar charging module, these bags can juice up all the dead batteries with a 12V auto adapter. Crafted out of recycled materials along with durable 1680D, 800D nylons and natural heavy canvas, a leather trim gives a chic look to the other wise green bag.
Continue reading
Traveling via public buses in Gulf countries doesn’t seem to be soothing suggestion. But that’s not the case if you are a resident of Abu Dhabi. Step out of the air-condition-cool house to board an air-condition-cool bus for your work by waiting in an air-condition-cool bus stop too! The place now boasts of the first of the 550 solar powered air-conditioned bus stop shelters. A look at the prototype and the citizens as well as the tourists can be convinced that the government is bent on promoting the public transport system with ‘cool’ zest. And it’s not only the cooling aspect that will appeal to all the commuters. Folks waiting for their bus to arrive can hang around in a cool, eco-friendly, informative, high-tech environment without fretting.
Continue reading
Venezuela’s Airport De Guiria is all set to sport green lights over the airfield very soon. Carmanah Technologies Corp., world’s largest supplier of self-contained solar-powered LED airfield lighting technology recently got an order to supply eco-friendly lights for the airport. For about $700,000, the airport’s field will be trimmed with Carmanah ICAO-compliant A704-5 runway edge lights, threshold lights, handheld radio controllers, A601 taxiway lights.
Continue reading
And if you thought that an elementary material like cardboard doesn’t need any thought before chucking it off, you are mistaken. The government and the residents of Cranberry town, Pennsylvania, are eco-smart to understand the need to recycle cast off cardboard. Just recently, their old collecting and recycling units for the same were swapped for a better upgraded greener version. This new commercial-strength, solar-powered compactor was put up to take care of large volumes of cardboard carton waste. And when the days are cloudy, this cardboard churner will still run on the local power supply. This free, 24/7, self-service cardboard recycling compactor will lure people to dispose off the cardboard containers in the green clean manner. Fitted with a surveillance camera, every move of the user will be recorded and any violation of the rules will call for legal action.
Continue reading
While playing any sport, even for recreational purpose, it is always advisable to keep our cell phones back at home or in car when in action. But for those addicted to their cell phones, designer Oana Oniga has come up with an all-in-one wearable gadget dubbed, Sport Phone. Exclusively shaped for all the sports person and athletes, this conceptual gadget is an ingenious blend of communicating features along with cannot-do-without sport tools. But the highlight of this sporty doodad is that it sports a green charger along with the traditional battery. The green touch comes from the fact that this phone can also get its juice by harnessing the kinetic energy of the body. As almost all sports involve moment in some form or the other, all the energy expended by the wearer is absorbed for an eco-friendly charge up. Roll over to read more about its sporty features……
Continue reading