• NTT develops Turbine generator shoes that charge your gadgets on the go.

    Posted in Gadgets and Tech on October 20, 2008

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    Japanese telecommunications giant NTT is developing shoes that it claims can charge your mobile phone for ever as long as the user keeps walking. The Turbine shoes do not provide any storage of the power that it generates but is an ideal solution to charge your MP3 player while you take a jog. The shoe manages to generate 1.2 watts of electricity, which is enough for most mp3 players or mobile phones. Small turbines that are attached to water filled soles power NTT shoes. Every time the user takes a step, the water in the sole moves and turns the turbines, which generates power.

  • CO2 calculator for everyday green monitoring

    Posted in Gadgets and Tech on September 23, 2008

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    The CO2 calculator is a tool that has been introduced in response to an increasing customer request for precise CO2 numbers. Frepar Networks have developed the solar-powered CO2 Calculator; it includes calculating every human activity, which contributes to expanding or contracting our CO2 footprints, from utilities to trash and recyclables. It is possible in the future for users to calculate their yearly Carbon Tax payments as well. It all comes down to the credibility of a particular home’s green solutions. It is easy for a manufacturer to say that a solution is more environmentally friendly than others are, but with this calculator, one can actually prove it, right down to the household level.

    GE to soon showcase the Evolution Hybrid locomotive

    Posted in Transport on September 16, 2008

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    When highways are clogged and fuel reserves are strained, a machine that moves goods by dozens of thousands of tons represents a miracle technology that arrives not a moment too soon. Trains are the cleanest way to move massive amounts of freight long distances. In 2005 General Electric, cut fuel consumption by 5% and emissions by 40% compared to locomotives built just a year earlier with its Evolution diesel engines locomotives. GE will soon display its Evolution Hybrid locomotive prototype at the RSI Railway Technology Exhibition. Following the success of the Evolution Series locomotive, GE Transportation began development of the Evolution Hybrid prototype. The Hybrid features an innovative power-storing device that captures the energy that is dissipated in braking a 207-ton locomotive. The device then uses the energy to generate a 2,000 horsepower boost, which provides a fuel savings of 15 percent and an emissions reduction of 50 percent compared to pre- Evolution Series locomotives.

    Newlyweds convince guests to fund for their solar dreams

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 11, 2008

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    What would you do if you had to raise 12,300 to turn your new home into a solar powered green house? Well you could beg borrow or steal them but, how about taking an inspiration from this entrepreneurial couple who used their gift registry to collect funds. The couple in their early thirties had to afford a solar system to power their 800 sq. ft. condominium, the idea came to them when they sat down to plan the gift registry for their September 2007 wedding. The couple then set out to educate family and friends about the benefits of going solar – and how a contribution to the 1.7-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system they wanted to install on their condominium rooftop would empower them to create the sustainable lifestyle they yearned to live. The majority of their 75 wedding guests enthusiastically contributed to their solar fund. A State of Illinois solar rebate check further helped reduce the total costs by a good 30% and a federal tax credit yielded $2,000. The two incentives offset the solar system cost by about 50 percent. That was just the finance, now came time to convince the homeowners association, Sarah and husband Kiril made several promises to the association:
    1. No penetrations of the roof membrane,
    2. Keep wiring out of sight and
    3. Contain system components (the AC disconnect, for example) within their respective condominium unit.

    Formula Zero Fuel cell race finishes with Dutch victory

    Posted in Biofuels on September 3, 2008

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    Rotterdam has now finished hosting the world’s first international championship for fuel cell powered racers from August 22 – 23. This new zero-emission race was open for all fuel cell single seaters. The competition had just one rule zero emissions, presently Formula One cars gain speed to over 200 miles per hour, whereas Formula Zero cars at the moment, reach just over 30 miles per hour. Each team’s entry was powered by a commercial fuel cell that produces electricity from hydrogen.

    Japan plans massive floating generators which generate power and provide food

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 2, 2008

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    Japan realizing its massive future energy needs has decided to build ECO rigs that are generators which measure 1.2 miles by 0.5 miles that ground various alternate energy collectors like solar arrays, wind turbines and other green sources. Each of these Eco Rigs could produce around 300 megawatt hours of power, scientists even estimate that strapping three such Rigs could produce enough energy as a standard Nuclear power station. The power generated from these ECO-Rigs could be used to fuel colossal underwater banks of LEDs which could use these platforms as nurseries for specially selected seaweed that absorbs carbon dioxide and feeds fish and plankton. Deep-sea water that is rich in minerals will enhance the seaweed growth. The wind turbines will power pumps that will then draw the water to the surface these rigs which will be unmanned and comprise several hexagonal platforms.

    Air Compression Energy finds new financial backing

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 29, 2008

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    Air Compression Energy is a unique form of energy generation which so far has found little takers, but the recent inflation in fuel rates has made even this as a better alternative. Air Compression Energy is produced by first compressing air inside underground caves with the help of electricity (not produced by the caves but from an outside source) then when the cave is pressurized the air is released then spinning turbines to generate electricity. Although this technology has been around for some time, it hasn’t found many investors until now. PSEG Energy Holdings have announced to invest $20 million in the development of this power generation system along with storage expert Michael Nakhamkin. They will jointly lead the way to promoting this wind generation technology by using the caves once occupied by vast reserves of oil and gas. They hope to make ACE as popular as conventional wind turbine energy. BCC Research says that the US market for wind systems will be worth $60.9 billion in 2013, up from $11.2 billion this year.

    Dubai to make a new Eco-friendly mall to LEEDS standards

    Posted in Architecture on August 25, 2008

    dubai-mall.jpg Dubai the city of extremes, after building a ski resort in the desert which could be the worst contributor of green house gases, Dubai is all set to build a new shopping mall. Shopping malls in the city spring up everyday, but what’s unique in this one is that it will be built keeping LEED certification criteria as its guideline. Thereby making it the most Eco-friendly mall in the region, specifications suggest that the roof will be made of reflective materials to reduce the energy required to keep the building cool, and landscaping will include plants that need less water, along with on-site recycling for glass, paper, metal and plastic. The new Eco friendly mall will hopefully start a new green conservative trend in new shopping mall construction and maintenance.
    Source

    World’s biggest solar power plant in California could reduce as much carbon emissions as by 90,000 cars

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 17, 2008

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    California’s largest utility company- Pacific Gas and Electric has signed deals to build the world’s two biggest solar plants that would supply electricity to 250,000 homes and reestablish the United States as the global leader in solar power, officials said Friday. Pacific Gas and Electric will use the two massive solar facilities to help it meet state requirements to generate 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010. PG&E has signed contracts with two Silicon Valley firms, Optisolar and SunPower, to build the plants in the sunny central California coast city of San Luis Obispo, which is almost equidistant from the state’s two population centers San Francisco and Los Angeles. Optisolar will build a 550-megawatt solar farm using thin-film photovoltaic panels, while SunPower will build another 250-megawatt plant on former farm land, PG&E said, adding that the OptiSolar plant alone could reduce as much carbon emissions as by 90,000 cars.
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    Energy sector officials said that the new project is so large that it would double the entire installed base of solar power generation in the United States. The world’s largest solar facility is currently in Spain with a23-megawatt generation capacity, while a 154-megawatt station is under construction in Australia.

    Hummer H2 Black Chrome Limited Edition readies for 2009

    Posted in Transport on August 14, 2008

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    The other day it took me two hours by car to commute a distance that usually takes 30 minutes. With the way traffic snarls and crazy drivers are possessing the streets, do we really need more cars on the road? Especially fuel guzzling ones? The Hummer H2 SUV and SUT line-up called Black Chrome are gearing up for a 2009 release. Other than concentrating on upping the looks, I doubt Hummer has done anything to reduce fuel inefficiency in the series. Looks wise the new lineups feature black chrome detailing that includes the 22-inch chrome-clad wheels, grille, hood latches and handles, fuel filler door, door handles, mirror caps, badges, side air vents, spare tire cover emblem, rocker moldings and hood louver