I am already looking forward to the 2012 Green Energy Summit, located in Milwaukee, WI.
UW-Oshkosh Installs Solar Thermal Panels
This link will take you to the video of “UW-Oshkosh Topping the State for Solar Thermal Panels.”
Laptops Powered by Typing, Pacemakers Powered by Blood Pressure
Research at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) demonstrates how mechanical pressure can be turned into electricity via a nano-scaled piezoelectic film.
The team’s research lead, Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran explained, “Our study focused on thin film coatings, because we believe they hold the only practical possibility of integrating piezoelectrics into existing electronic technology. The power of piezoelectrics could be integrated into running shoes to charge mobile phones, enable laptops to be powered through typing or even used to convert blood pressure into a power source for pacemakers — essentially creating an everlasting battery.”
via Coming Soon: the Laptop You Power by Typing | CleanTechnica.
Rubber Mulch: Safer playgrounds
Rubber Mulch: Safer playgrounds, Landscape Rubber Mulch and Surefoot Arena Rubber Footing.
Recycled tires used at children’s playgrounds!! Zach and I recently saw numerous playgrounds in the Madison area that are covered with recycled tire mulch. This seemed to be softer and more resistant than wood chips, sand, pebbles, etc. The mulch can improve overall safety for children while playing, while there are also other options like soft play areas which you can get from sites like softplaydesignandinstallation.co.uk.
Today, I am researching where I would like to recycle my tires from my vehicle. Piling them up in a landfill will not be the best option for me. This site provides information about the types of products that are being made from recycled tires.
National Geographic-Green Energy Challenge
National Geographic is hosting a great energy challenge that is available for everyone to check out. There are informative quizzes and a personal energy meter that allows you to have a closer look at your use. After seeing our results from the meter, we discovered the greatest energy used in our home is electricity.
What do you think your greatest energy use is? Any guesses?
Artha Sustainable Living Center- Amherst, WI
Artha: solar water heating training and instruction, herbal and yoga workshops and retreats in Wisconsin and USA, Bed and Breakfast in Wisconsin.
I was very delighted to have come across the Artha Sustainable Living Center located in Amherst, WI. Artha offers green living retreats that include hands-on- workshops in solar water heating, yoga, and herbs. In addition, there is a bed and breakfast that may serve well for weddings and large gatherings.
Freedom Solar Roofing- located in Wisconsin
The Freedom Solar Roofing system is designed to serve a dual purpose of roofing and power generation. While most systems are designed to sit on top of your roof and need to be removed at great expense in order to re-roof your home, the Freedom Solar Roofing system becomes part of your roof and does not need to be removed or replaced during re-roofing.
12-Year Old’s Solar Cell Absorbs 500 Times the Light of Existing Cells
William Yuan, a 12-year old boy from Beaverton, Oregon, has developed a new 3D solar cell which if it ever gets commercialized could seriously change the face of solar power. Though he was encouraged in his research from his middle school science teacher, this is no mere school science experiment: the Davidson Institute has awarded Yuan a $25,000 scholarship for his research.
For More Read 12-Year Old Boy Will Save the World! His Solar Cell Absorbs 500 Times the Light of Existing Cells : TreeHugger.
Extreme window sticker: Tesla Roadster 2.5 estimated at 119 MPGe
At an event in Palo Alto this afternoon, the Environmental Protection Agency EPA announced its new window stickers to be implement on 2013 models, and Tesla Motor shared a mock-up what its Tesla Roadster 2.5 fuel economy label will look like once officially released.The sticker for the Roadster 2.5 shows 119 miles per gallon equivalent: 112 MPGe on the highway and 124 MPGe in the city. In addition, it shows the Tesla Roadster will go 245 miles on an eight-hour charge. The EPA’s 245-mile figure is what Tesla uses for its own range claims. We haven’t tested the $120,000 sports car, so can’t vouch for either the range or energy usage figures.In the emissions section of the fuel economy label, the Roadster scores a perfect “10” in both greenhouse gas and smog ratings. However, those ratings don’t count emissions from the powerplants that produce electricity for the car. How clean the source energy is really depends on where you live.
via Extreme window sticker: Tesla Roadster 2.5 estimated at 119 MPGe.
Solar panels to be fitted in all Japan’s new homes and buildings by 2030
Japan is expected to announce plans to make it compulsory for all new buildings and homes to be fitted with solar panels by 2030.
By Danielle Demetriou in Tokyo 1:53PM BST 24 May 2011
Naoto Kan, the prime minister, is expected to confirm the “Sunrise Plan” initiative in a statement on the nation’s energy policy at the forthcoming Group of Eight Summit opening this week in France.
Mr Kan is expected to tell other leaders that Japan will continue to use nuclear energy following industry-wide improvements on safety standards, according to Japanese media reports.
However, he is also expected to highlight the nation’s future efforts to boost the use of renewable energy sources, in particular solar power for which the nation is already among the world’s top users.
The exploration of alternative energy sources is timely, following the recent closure of the Hamaoka nuclear power plant due to its sensitive position on a fault line and the ongoing repair work at the tsunami- hit Fukushima plant.
The crisis resulted in Mr Kan recently announcing plans to halt the nation’s plans for nuclear expansion and redshift policy focus towards renewable energy sources.
The Sunrise Plan builds on earlier solar plan initiatives, including a target of using solar power energy in 12,000 schools as part of its School New Deal, with the company Kyocera Corporation already installing panels in over 1,200 establishments.
Millions have also been spent encouraging home solar power use on a domestic level, with one initiative involving utilities having to purchase excess solar power from homes and businesses for higher amounts than standard electricity rates.
Other energy sources being investigated by the government include geothermal, wind, biomass and hydropower, as the nation explores ways to increase its energy independence.
via Solar panels to be fitted in all Japan’s new homes and buildings by 2030 – Telegraph.