Facebook wants the world to signup, like, comment and share, and in order to do so, the company has stumbled across a way to “take the internet” to remote areas. Facebook will use solar-powered drones to “beam internet to devices on-ground”. This will enable people who aren’t connected to the grid to go online!
Electricity will fuel the world in the future, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels substantially. One of the biggest catalysts of this change, besides all the electric cars that have been taking to the streets lately, is the Gogoro Smartscooter. With a range of 60 miles on a full belly of electricity, the Smartscooter can have its drained battery swapped for a fresh one Gogoro Energy Network “Go Station, instead of being plugged into a wall socket.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the beginning of development in Cancun, architect and designer Richard Moreta Castillo has announced a breathtaking offshore platform for 2020. Called the Grand Cancun eco-complex, this offshore platform will pack luxury amenities like underwater dining, shopping facilities and much more. But the sheer size of the project and the luxuries it comes packed with isn’t what makes it attention-worthy. This structure is green too!
It’s always sunny in California. This is probably the biggest reason why the state is the first to get 5% of its power from the sun! According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, California is now the forerunner in solar energy by producing a whopping 9.9 million megawatt hours of energy in 2014. Also, let’s not forget the fact that the report takes into account only “utility-scale” energy production. This means by including the amount of energy generated by the solar panels installed privately by residents, California will have generated much more than the aforementioned figures!
The sun has tons of uses humankind still hasn’t made the best use of, and this solar oven set up in Parkent, Uzbekistan, is one of the many solar applications that’s receiving attention from around the globe. Constructed to resemble an Aztec temple, this solar furnace is capable of producing temperatures hot enough to heat metal. The curved surface of the furnace’s mirrors measure 175 feet up and across. These direct a beam with a four foot diameter.
While installing a solar panel at home and using the sun’s juice to power up your television might sound like a great idea, the task of setting up a system like this isn’t always as simple. Often, people interested in solar energy are faced with hurdles like angled roofs and improperly structured terraces that are a hostile environment for solar panels. To make things easier, a Boston-based startup called CloudSolar has come up with a solution!
Like every good thing that comes to an end, bicycles too have a lifespan, post which, they’re meant to be scrapped. However, there’s a greener and more environment friendly way to put to rest your old bicycle. Guatemalan NGO Maya Pedal has come up with an innovative way to turn old bicycles into useful contraptions. The NGO transforms old retired bicycles into pedal-powered machines. These include functional water pumps, blenders and tile makers too!
In an effort to increase its energy-efficiency quotient, France has just passed a law that requires every new building constructed in a commercial area to either sport solar panels or a green roof! A move like this will help the nation boost its solar energy production, while decreasing its complete reliance on polluting energy sources. France has been left behind in green energy generation and this law will also help change skylines and make the country environment friendly!
There are countless benefits of riding a bicycle instead of driving around in a gas-guzzling four-wheeler. More importantly, these green contraptions are a great way to get around without polluting your immediate environment, while helping you stay fit. To top it all, electric bicycles like the Leaos, make sure you can travel farther, on foot-power! These handmade bicycles from Italy are the brainchild of Armin Oberhollenzer, and are built in collaboration with Italian industrial designer Francesco Sommacal.
Well, it seems like the aviation industry is in for a green overhaul after all! Currently, NASA is busy spending its time at the drawing boards, working on a concept that could very well bring electric propulsion to the world of airplanes. The agency is testing an electric plane concept that uses Leading Edge Asynchronous Propeller Technology (LEAPTech). The technology is designed in partnership with Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) and Joby Aviation. What sets this one apart from the rest of the electric concept planes we’ve come across before is the 18 independently-operated electric motors that power the LEAPTech wings.
