Photo via the New Republic It's a widely held notion that politicians have long been in the pocket of Big Oil. And there's good reason for that perception: oil companies' huge campaign donations, vast lobbying power, and close ties to politicians have ensured that their taxes remain low , that hidden subsidies are around to provide extra funding, and that they receive preferential treatment in US energy policy. But there could be a new, ... View original post here: The Next Big Oil: Big Smart Grid?
So there really isn't anything that deep to this image. It's just a (more or less) life-sized blue whale eye. And on the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society site you can educate yourself/be mesmerized/ waste some time for a while staring at it while the entire life-sized animal scrolls across your browser window. Believe me, it's way cooler than you might think:... Read more from the original source: Ever See a Blue Whale Life-Sized on Your Computer? Now You Can
published October 2, 2010 and has No Comments
Eco-architect Michelle Kaufmann speaks with Prudence Ferreira about the three criteria for Passivhaus certification. Prudence is the founder of Read the full story on TreeHugger Go here to read the rest: West Coast Green 2010: Michelle Kaufmann Interviews Prudence Ferreira
Read more...published September 17, 2010 and has No Comments
Image via Yanko Solar cookers can be super simple devices -- just a cardboard box with some aluminum foil lining and a plastic cover. Or, they can be very high tech, and such is the case with the Solar Ibex Cooker concept from designer Nir Beit-av. This particular cooker has a lot of built in technology that can keep ...
Read more...published September 13, 2010 and has No Comments
Photo: Patrick Gillooly, MIT What Can't We Do With Carbon Nanotubes? MIT researchers have found a way to use carbon nanotubes to concentrate light by about 100x and funnel photons into smaller (thus less expensive) solar panels. "Instead of having your whole roof be a photovoltaic cell, you could have little spots that were tiny photovoltaic cells, with antennas ...
Read more...published September 7, 2010 and has No Comments
photo: Adam Tinworth via flickr Two new illustrations about how the US has stiff competition around the world in renewable energy: New York Times reports on how China has beaten the United States in building the first major offshore wind farm outside of Europe; Go here to see the original: China Beat US in Offshore Wind, Europe Still Trounces Everyone ...
Read more...published September 7, 2010 and has No Comments
photo: Lori via flickr While we've just learned that over 80% of new farmland in the tropics came at the expense of forests, another new study shows us that when it comes to calculating how much carbon tropical forests store , variable on the ground conditions make estimating how much sequestration potential forests have more tricky than thought. In ...
Read more...published September 5, 2010 and has No Comments
MIT's Test Cell Patrick Gillooly, MIT Solar cells are intended to mimic the photosynthesis of plants -- converting light into energy in the most efficient manner possible. But what other characteristics of plants could be handy for the renewable energy sector to mimic? How about the self-assembly of chloroplast, the component of plants that do all the vital photosynthesis. ...
Read more...published August 24, 2010 and has No Comments
Photo: NASA Who Knew Deserts Were Dusty? Dust is annoying enough to clean in my small apartment, I can't imagine the headaches that it must give the owners of large solar farms. Dusty solar panels capture fewer photons and thus produce less power, so keeping them clean is important. Thankfully for solar developers, help is coming... all the way ...
Read more...published August 19, 2010 and has No Comments
Image of toothbrush via ingridtaylor ; image of solar powered brush via Canada.com It's one thing to have an electric toothbrush that charges with solar power. It's another thing altogether to have an electric toothbrush that charges with solar power and eliminates the need for you to ever buy toothpaste again. Sound too good to be true? It might ...
Read more...published August 18, 2010 and has No Comments
Photo: Flickr , CC Part of the State's 25% Renewables by 2025 Plan Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed two bills into law yesterday (House Bill 6202 and 5429)) that will mandate the state's utility companies to buy more solar power and protect the right of homeowners to set up solar panels on their homes, provided "certain guidelines" are ...
Read more...published August 18, 2010 and has No Comments
Image credit: Neddy's Palaver Legends abound about the Archimedes "death ray", constructed from giant mirrors, which he allegedly used during the siege of Syracuse in 212 BC to set Roman ships ablaze. Now Green Power Science—the folks who brought us videos on flash cooking eggs with a Fresnel lens , building your own solar space heater with discarded campaign ...
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Save the sea creatures! Handcraft your own natural specimens using these these simple patterns, some yarn and a crochet hook. View post: 8 Enchanting Sea Creatures You Can Crochet
A Finnish designer has made a working surfboard from broken skateboards. Read the original here: Hollow Surfboard Is Made from Broken Skateboards
