
Solar power and its associated technologies have traditionally been expensive, inefficient and difficult to maintain. Nevertheless, since its early years it has been vastly improved by innovators who are finding new ways, and improving old ways, of harnessing the power of our sun. The following are a few of these innovations that are giving this renewable energy source a bright future.

Winning over the title of the world’s largest solar plant at a single location from California’s Topaz Solar Farm, is India’s Kamuthi Solar Power Project in Tamil Nadu. Having been completed two years ago, the former has a capacity of 550 MW, while Kamuthi augments our country’s generating capacity by a whopping 648 MW, and is expected to be powerful enough to provide electricity to 1,50,000 homes.

There’s a good chance homes across the country could become a lot greener over the years. The government seems to be encouraging energy efficiency with rebates and incentives, while homeowners realize how much value they can add to their homes with a few green renovations.
So, if you’re planning to invest in your home and make it a lot greener, here are the five must-have technologies you need to know:

Computers are complex machines with different hardware, software, and a multitude of other components and systems that work in harmony. However, just like all complex electronic devices, PCs can also malfunction, experience technical glitches and other issues.
A web-based Point of Sale system that uses PHP language script and uses MySQL as the back-end data storage. Everyone knows the definition of an Open Source POS system. However, choosing that one great open source point of sale system perfectly moulded for a particular business can be a perplexing, daunting task, for new and experienced business owners alike.
In the wake of green consciousness, consumers are becoming more savvy about effects of what they buy on their environment. Today, people actively check product labels in stores for signs of “fair trade”, “environmental friendly”, “recycled material” and so on. The same practice can be said of the property market.
As a landlord with a comprehensive checklist, you should be wary of green technology that can give your house a competitive edge in the property market. They not only give you quick returns, a green upgrade saves you costs in the long run.

Those who want to reduce their carbon footprint after they die can plan a green funeral that is eco-friendly. More so now than ever before, people are becoming concerned with the impact that common funeral practices have on the planet. Burials take up valuable land, while cremations produce a lot of greenhouse gasses. But new practices such as green burials and chemical cremations can be expensive. So we’ve gathered together some easier and cost-effective tips to help you plan a funeral that’s a little more earth friendly!

Think about it. If open land across the world were used to harness solar energy, we wouldn’t require to pay for it. This ideology is yet to be adopted by most governments from across the world and Chile has proven to the world just why. The country’s central grid has increased to 770 megawatts, which is four times the power it harnessed in 2013. An additional 1.4 Gigawatts will be added to the same this year. With a total of 29 solar farms and 15 still in development Chile has more power than it can leverage, as a result, it is giving a free, clean energy out. The northern grid is the one that will be benefitting the most from this while the southern regions are yet to experience the benefit of this power distribution. This is on account of a bifurcated power grid.

Soon, sitting down on a park and reading your favorite novel will be a lot more fruitful for you. Especially, if you have a phone that tends to juice-out sooner than your patience for reading. Due credit for this should be given to the minds at MIT Media Labs. They have devised a bench that solar charges phones and New York City will be benefitting from five such installations. The benches aren’t a new deal for the rest of the land though. They were first launched in Boston but soon spread to 12 states and five countries. The benches can seat up to three people and also includes an environment sensor that keeps you update with conditions outside. It is made from sustainably-sourced materials to be a truly eco-friendly means of charging your phone and taking some time off.

Formerly known as the Eurocopter X3, Airbus’ patent-pending X3 hybrid helicopter could be the fastest forward moving helicopter in history. It took its first flight back in 2010 but has been a piece of work for the company as it battles out challenges to make the X3 the world’s fastest at speeds of up to 239 mph. This is made possible by a combination of a traditional motor for take offs and wing rotors that can be fired up during flight to give it the forward thrust it needs. The speeds far surpass the fastest helicopter today, which does a modest 160 mph. The patent has been filed for a new design that sees the motors placed behind the wings resulting in lesser noise and vibrations. This also boosts passenger safety and does a word of good for the aerodynamics of the flight.