Sustainable landscape will sequester greenhouse gas

Onondaga CC will transition its trimmed and mowed lawns and landscape into a more appropriate state of natural flowers and grasses.  … …   “implementation of the sustainable master landscape plan will reduce the College’s dependence on lawn-mowing and return portions of the campus landscape to a more natural state of grasses, meadows and wildflowers.  While [...]

Solar panel installer training

Course is scheduled for this June 23rd and 24th at Onondaga Community College through SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.  … …   “The advanced course is geared toward PV installers and engineers who have experience with PV systems. It offers participants an overview of commercial PV systems in a two-day workshop. The course is [...]

Coachella Hydrogen Bus Infrastructure

EPA recognizes local communities, like Coachella, for their initiatives targeting at clean air.  Coachella began the build-out of its hydrogen infrastructure.  … …   “SunLine Transit Agency was the first transit agency to own and operate a hydrogen generation and dispensing station, operating five generations of hydrogen buses that utilize the fuel station. With the support [...]

Solar Micro-Generation using Concentrator Photovoltaics

Victor Valley College and SolFocus celebrated the opening of the new solar power plant on the college campus.  The solar installation deploys concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) and is sized to generate one megawatt of solar power for Victor Valley College in California.  … …   "The Victor Valley College solar micro-generating facility is now connected to the regional electrical [...]

Solyndra solar factory toured by President Obama

President Obama gets to see solar technology up close and personal at the Solyndra factory in California.  Solyndra builds cylindrical solar panels that convert more of the sun rays into power.  The company benefited from investments through the Recovery Act.  … …   “… construction of the new facility has created over 3,000 construction-related jobs and [...]

Fulbright enables Solar Studies

Travel broadens the mind. MIT students are recognized with Fulbright scholarships to further their studies abroad. A number of the students are pursuing the renewable energy challenge. … … “Ian Rousseau, a native of South Hero, Vt., who is completing undergraduate studies in physics, will study Novel Solar Energy Conversion via Terahertz Rectification in Germany. [...]

Solar home naturally fuses to material science

Penn State’s Solar Decathlon home, Natural Fusion, will become adopted by Bayer Material Science as its demonstration center for sustainable technologies.  … …   “In its new capacity, this solar-powered, zero-emission building will serve as an energy modeling site, educational center and showcase for Bayer MaterialScience‘s EcoCommercial Building materials solutions.”   … Via Penn State: Solar-powered home [...]

Smart grid networking equipment

Cisco brings smart grid router (CGR 2010) and switch (CGR 2520) to the utility marketplace.  … …   “The purpose-built, ruggedized routers and switches form a resilient, manageable and highly secure network solution for the substation to integrate Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications with the power grid for intelligent grid monitoring and control. These technologies build on [...]

Sustainable Montana home trains students

Montana State student teams will collaborate with suppliers to build an ecoSmart home in the Bozeman area.  The house will feature a number of technologies, but will focus on passive heating.  … …   “Because of REHAU‘s involvement, a variety of other suppliers joined in the project, which will feature such sustainable building technologies as geothermal [...]

Solar Silicon Manufacturing Technology for $100 Million

MEMC Electronic Materials will acquire Solaicx for its efficient solar manufacturing technology at a price tag of approx $100 Million. … … “Solaicx has developed proprietary continuous crystal growth manufacturing technology which yields low-cost, high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon wafers for the photovoltaic solar industry. The Solaicx technology allows for very high-volume crystal growth compared to the [...]

Research the best green roof

St Mary’s University Sustainability plan …

Energy monitoring with wireless sensors

Onset introduces wireless sensing hubs that communicate with centralized monitoring to understand energy use and environmental conditions in buildings.  … …   “HOBO ZW Series data nodes reduce the cost and complexity of data collection by measuring, recording and transmitting real-time energy use and environmental data – from dozens of points – to a central PC. [...]

Solar photovoltaic silicon technologies combine

Natcore Technology and Vanguard Solar combine to advance the efficiency of solar energy conversion.  Natcore Technology is the exclusive licensee, from Rice University, of a thin-film growth technology enabling room-temperature growth of various silicon oxides on silicon wafers in a liquid phase deposition (LPD) process.  Natcore’s acquisition of Vanguard Solar will close after appropriate due [...]

Production facilities integrate smart grid capabilities

Mitsubishi seeks to integrate solar, wind, and other renewable power sources into its production facilities through smart grid technology that will manage the reliability and stability of the energy supply.  Some of the production facilities will deploy solar photovoltaic systems in conjunction with rechargeable batteries to enable power usage when the sun is down.  … [...]

Solar window integrates into green buildings

Pythagoras will commercialize a solar power generating window that can be integrated into green buildings, BIPV.  … …   “Pythagoras Solar leverages a combination of patent-pending optics, high-efficiency crystalline silicon, advanced materials science and simulation software to create a highly efficient photovoltaic glass unit (PVGU), a new category of green building material. Unlike existing BIPV products, [...]

Solar cell performs better with anti-reflective coating

Solar panel performance is boosted with anti-reflective coating.  … …   “This same is true of conventional solar panels, which is why some industrial solar arrays are mechanized to slowly move throughout the day so their panels are perfectly aligned with the sun’s position in the sky. Without this automated movement, the panels would not be [...]

Concentrated solar manufacturing capacity planned

Amonix invests in solar manufacturing capacity in Nevada.  … …   “Amonix announced that plans to use $5.9 million of a $9.5 million investment tax credit from the Recovery Act’s Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit awarded in 2010 to establish a new manufacturing facility in Southern Nevada are well underway, and that the facility will be [...]

Solar photovoltaic encapsulant creates manufacturing efficiencies

Dow Corning collaborates with Reis Robotics to deliver solar encapsulant technology to the market. … …   “Reis Robotics is now a preferred supplier of equipment used in a manufacturing process that significantly increases the production rate of solar panels, effectively lowering the cost per watt of solar power. The manufacturing process works in conjunction with [...]

Electrofuel research project portfolio seeks biofuels from electricity

Research will target innovation into new pathways to renewable energy.  DOE spreads the love with funding across a number of energy themes, such as this one: electrofuels.  … …  “Electrofuels – Biofuels from Electricity — Today’s technologies for making biofuels all rely on photosynthesis – either indirectly by converting plants to fuels or directly by [...]

Opportunity to Accelerate the Green Building Agenda

through leveraging investment and legislative options.  … … “This report presents an extensive menu of options, spanning across a wide range of programs, which the Administration could begin implementing immediately to advance a high performance, efficient green buildings agenda. All told, the programs identified in this report have the potential to directly provide or facilitate [...]

Solar Photovoltaic growth accelerates

Dupont sees photovoltaic sales improve ahead of expectations and bumps up its near term revenue objective.  … … "DuPont now expects its sales into photovoltaics to exceed $1 billion in 2011, which is a year ahead of plan, and has set a new goal to exceed $2 billion in sales by 2014. In 2009, DuPont [...]

Solar Light Pipe Illuminates Office Space

Texas A&M Aggies win EPA competition for their solution that harvests daylight. … … "Utilizing an outdoor light collector, the apparatus, dubbed Horizontal Hybrid Solar Light Pipe: An Integrated System of Daylight and Electric Light, funnels sunlight from the collector through a pipe of highly reflective material into a simulated office space built within a [...]

Tokyo Sustainable City

Tokyo employs multiple strategies to green the city and emerge as a sustainability leader. … … "Those include toughened environmental building standards, cash incentives for residents to install solar panels and a plan for greening the city, including planting half a million trees and converting a 217-acre landfill in Tokyo Bay into a wooded sea [...]

Starbucks LED Lighting saves energy and looks cool

Starbucks implements LED lighting conversion in stores.  … We did this by reaching out to GE, who developed a highly energy-efficient LED bulb that complements Starbucks store design approach and fits existing fixtures. Via Starbucks: Energy-efficient LED Lighting coming to a Starbucks near You

Solar Energy in Sinatra Hometown

Hoboken business owner eats his own dog food by installing solar energy on his house.  … … "Fahmie, founder of Jersey City-based renewable energy company Solevis, chose his home as the site for his company’s first small-scale project, 3.15 kilowatt solar energy system … " … Via NJ.com: Hoboken Brownstone

Smart charge electric vehicles from the grid

GE partners with Nissan to advance the understanding and state of technology for enabling the electric vehicle infrastructure.  … … "there are a number of potential issues that must be studied and quantified, such as whether clusters of electric vehicles will tax the local electrical distribution system, including transformers. " … Via GE: Electric car [...]

Solar Energy Biomimicry

Green researchers use biology to better understand solar energy conversion. … … "Plants use solar energy to split water molecules into their component hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Scientists dream of efficiently replicating that process, then storing the resulting gases for later use in fuel cells or liquid fuels. " … Via Calvin College: Mimic plant [...]

Prius tops green auto list

per Kelley, with their top 10 list of green cars. … … "Toyota Prius is the biggest, most powerful iteration yet, it’s also the most fuel-efficient. " … Via Kelley Blue Book: Green Car #1 Technorati Tags: prius,green car

People power sustainability 2.0

Sustainability shifts into its next phase as communities embrace climate change actions, creative enablers become easy to adopt, and collaboration spans organizational boundaries. … … “where the government has been slow to increase renewables in the energy mix, there’s been strong interest in community-owned renewable energy. ” … Via Advertising Age: Sustainability 2.0 UCSD on [...]

Solar Array Student Residence

Internationally known artist and landscape architect Walter Hood, Oakland, California, wins the art competition to design the University at Buffalo megawatt solar array. … … “When complete, the UB solar installation’s 5,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate solar energy for 735 student apartments at UB, reducing the university’s carbon emissions by more than 500 metric [...]

Our Environment

Take our quick Earth Day poll #earthday

and help us understand climate change actions …

Major Solar Home Initiative in Northern California

PG&E develops a solar home initiative based on a portfolio of smaller size projects to accelerate the creation of five hundred megawatts of solar power generation capacity. … … “The program, once complete, will generate up to 500 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, enough to meet the needs of about 150,000 homes in PG&E’s Northern [...]

Earth Day History

How did Earth Day get its start? Here’s a historical perspective. … … “In November of 1969, Nelson announced that the National Teach-In on the Crisis of the Environment would take place on April 22, 1970. The date was selected because it rested between spring break and final exams for most college students. In January [...]

Earth Day survey is fun #earthday

and will help us understand climate change actions …

Princeton Greens Appalachian for Sustainable Commitment

Princeton Review recognizes colleges for their green practices through research that will guide applicants that are seeking a sustainable school practicing what they preach. … … “Other highlights include Appalachian’s 2009 installation of the largest wind turbine in the state, a commitment to LEED certification for all new construction, and renovations or retrofitting of current [...]

Earth Day 2010 Pulse Survey #earthday

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Kaleefornya solar progress measured

and discussed by folks with various perspectives … David Hochschild, Solaria Corp, sees improving pricing environment for accelerating solar adoption in California. … … “In just the last year, the average price of solar panels dropped by 40 percent, and more price reductions are expected in the year ahead. ” … Via New York Times: [...]

Post-consumer rigid plastic recycling increases

according to update by the American Chemistry Council. … … “The report, prepared by Moore Recycling Associates Inc., Sonoma, Calif., found that in 2008, more than 361 million pounds of post-consumer rigid plastics were collected for recycling nationwide, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. The report also found that in North American markets, [...]

Green Chemistry Strategy Aligned with Safe Chemicals Act

Legislation drives chemical industry to increase transparency, prioritize risks, and consider green chemistry strategies for alternatives to more toxic materials. … … “EPA would be instructed to create a public database containing information about each chemical and EPA actions on that chemical, and the legislation would restrict which data can be claimed by industry to [...]

Appalachian State will participate in 2011 Solar Decathlon

Appalachian State has been selected to participate in the next Solar Decathlon on the Mall in Washington DC. … … “A total of 45 teams submitted proposals for the competition. Only 20 schools were selected for next year’s competition and Appalachian is the only university from North Carolina selected to compete in the Solar Decathlon. [...]

Penn State green power leadership

Penn State manages almost 20 percent of its electricity consumption through green power purchases. … … “Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation among colleges and universities in the amount of green power it uses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. ” … Via Penn State: Leadership in green power [...]

Green Giants

List of 10 large green opportunities … … “Green technology essentially involves revamping the physical infrastructure of the modern world: replacing coal-fired power plants with wind turbines, building homes from materials concocted in chemistry laboratories, and swapping out engines for electric motors. ” … Via Seeking Alpha: Top 10 Green Giants List

Colorado Solar Recharge

Energy rebates take off in Colorado. … … “Renewable Energy Rebate Applications must be submitted by a contractor on behalf of the residential or small commercial applicant. ” … Via Governor’s Energy Office: Solar Energy Rebates for Colorado

Solar energy achievements grow

The Solar Energy Industries Association reports on the solar photovoltaic market, including residential and solar water perspectives. Venture capital continues to invest in the solar industry. And, the installed solar capacity is growing. … … “A doubling in size of the residential PV market and three new CSP plants helped lift the U.S. solar electric [...]

Hawaii Renewable Energy Education

University of Hawaii Engineering school in collaboration with Hawaiian Electric receives $2.5-million federal grant to educate and train stakeholders for emerging jobs in renewable energy. … … "Utility companies like Hawaiian Electric will benefit from better informed consumers, educators and a future workforce trained in renewable energies. In addition to creating a pipeline to support [...]

China BIPV Solar

Suntech MsK BIPV modules (PDF).

Solar photovoltatics mount on geo membranes

Biosphere 2 will showcase the deployment of solar panels on its geomembranes, which could be leveraged on mining and landfill operations. … … “The new solar panels are mounted at a 50-degree angle on geomembranes, the kind that are usually utilized at landfills or mine tailings to prevent dust and water pollution. ” … Via [...]

Solar internships develop emerging leader

College student is recognized with award to further his development as a green technology leader. … … “He spent last summer at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München researching solar cells under a German government fellowship for American students. Before arriving at Stanford in 2007, Sivaram spent a summer working on thin-film photovoltaics at Nanosolar Inc., a San Jose [...]

New MacBook Pro Energy Efficiency

Updated MacBooks include improvements that increase energy efficiency through hardware and software optimizations. … … “And yet the 320M, despite being more muscular (it provides an 80% performance gain over the 9400M), is 40% more energy efficient. That boosts the battery life of the laptops as much as three hours … ” … Via BusinessWeek, [...]

Queensland Solar Micro Grid

The University of Queensland deploys powerful array of photovoltaic panels to improve its carbon footprint and participate in the build out of a solar micro-grid. … … “The new project, to be located on three buildings at UQ’s St Lucia campus, will feature a 1.2 MW solar photovoltaic installation capable of producing 1750 MWh of [...]

Solar art inspires project

Art renderings will inspire future solar photovoltaic installation. … … “Probably only the fact that they are the inspirations for designs submitted by three internationally renowned artists, finalists in a UB-sponsored public art competition for a solar installation to be constructed on the university’s North Campus in partnership with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). [...]

Dow Chem Solar Shingle Technology Availability

Dow solar shingles should begin to reach the market mid-year. … … “The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011 … ” … Via The StockMasters: Dow Chemical Powerhouse DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle: “Solar shingle integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic [...]

Ford EcoBoost Engine Tech Deployment

Ford EcoBoost engine will be deployed to more models and will be optimized to improve fuel efficiency. … … “in the future it will further improve the economy and power of EcoBoost engines by using more efficient turbochargers and fine-tuning the precision of the direct-injection fuel system. ” … Via New York Times, Wheels Blog: [...]

Ford Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Ford collaborates with electric utilities on infrastructure to support its emerging EVs. … … “The comments underscore the intensifying pressure within the auto industry to attack the hurdles facing mass adoption of electric vehicles while the Obama administration continues to tighten emission standards. ” … Via Wall Street Journal: Electric-Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Insights on Ford’s [...]

Off peak chilling at thermal facility

Scheduling techniques can be applied to leverage off-peak utility rates and use thermal facility to store chilled water. This results in a win for the utility, Progress Energy, and the customer, UCF. … … “The Thermal Energy Storage Facility — the only one of its kind at a Florida university — allows UCF to chill [...]

DowJones Ground Mount Solar in Parking Lots

Dow Jones is implementing large solar energy system at its New Jersey headquarters, using ground mounted photovoltaics in its parking zones. … … “It says it expects to install a 4.1-megawatt solar power system at its 200-acre campus in South Brunswick, N.J., next year. Dow Jones says the system will be one of the largest [...]

Smart LED Bulbs

GE readies its 9 watt Energy Smart LED bulb for market, which will replace 40-watt general service incandescent bulbs. The new LED lighting will arrive on store shelves later this year or in early 2011 and the retail pricing is expected to be in the range of $40 to $50. … … “The new GE [...]

Next-gen offshore wind turbines

GE makes sigificant European wind energy investment with offshore wind turbine manufacturing located in the United Kingdom. … … “At the core of GE’s European expansion plans is the development of GE’s next generation wind turbine, a 4-megawatt machine designed specifically for offshore deployment. As the largest wind turbine in GE’s fleet, it will incorporate [...]

Plastic Fiber Solar Cell Design

Wake Forest researchers work to improve the solar energy production from cells and patent their cell configuration. … … “These new solar cells are made from millions of miniscule plastic fibers that can collect sunlight at oblique angles – even when the sun is rising and setting. Flat-cell technology captures light primarily when the sun [...]

Carbon Solar Cell using Graphene Sheet

Indiana University researchers use carbon in the form of graphene to develop inexpensive solar cells. Their research will continue to refine the prototypes focusing on the cell efficiency. … … “Li and his collaborators tried a different idea. By attaching a semi-rigid, semi-flexible, three-dimensional sidegroup to the sides of the graphene, they were able to [...]

DC Metrobus natural gas fueled

DC Metro bus runs on natural gas near Dupont Circle turning onto New Hampshire Ave. Natural gas transit buses (PDF).

Heat Storage Leadership

Heat storage technology has potential to significantly impact climate change.  The Dutch are seen as leaders in this space.  … … "Dutch are currently the leaders in the creative deployment of heat storage methods. They store heat underneath roads in the summer and then pump it out again in the winter. And in my talk [...]

Most Green Dream Job

Dream jobs has a green winner … … “Most Green – Dina … Global Paper Waste Reduction Agent ” … Via Simply Hired Blog: Winners of Dream Job Contest

Think Laterally to Solar Energy Breakthrough

Creativity and new thinking is needed to drive innovation in the renewable energy space. … … “He has also designed solar panels on top of cars and umbrellas, all things that he said are possible and can benefit the world. He urged students to use lateral thinking, a re-imagined creation of almost anything, as a [...]

Cool Green Cities

Green city list via HowStuffWorks. Includes US and European cities that are embracing green lifestyles, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Pearl Jam Carbon Footprint Offset with Tree Planting in Puget Sound

Pearl Jam partners with Cascade Land Conservancy to plant thirty-plus acres of native trees and plants in communities around Puget Sound to offset the carbon footprint of its world tour. … … “Pearl Jam’s donation of $210,000 will fund the urban forestry project and mitigate more than 7,000 metric tons of carbon. Conservation International chief [...]

Solar Boat Launch

The largest solar boat launches in Germany. … … “solar-powered boat made a gentle plop as it was lowered by a huge crane on to the waters of the Kiel firth in northern Germany today … ” … Via Guardian: Solar-powered boat Türanor View Larger Map

Green Hornet Biofuel Jet

Fuel Economy Standards CAFE reduce GHG emissions through 2016

U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have aligned on new federal rules that establish national greenhouse gas emissions standards that significantly increase the fuel economy of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States. Ultimately, the consumer will benefit from savings on a 2016 model year car [...]

Earth Week Sustainability Fair highlight practices

at SUNY Oswego to build awareness among the student body and community. … … “The first Sustainability Fair on April 21 will offer campus and community members a chance to see and test drive a fuel cell vehicle and view an electric sports car, a wood-to-gas truck, a Smart car and hybrids. Visitors will meet [...]

Ford Microsoft energy management collaboration targets electric vehicles

Ford teams up with Microsoft to integrate the Hohm energy management system into its future electric vehicle products. Electric vehicle owners will benefit from information provided through Hohm and be enabled in their transition to this type of transportation. … … “The two companies are teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohm energy management application [...]

Plastic Solar Cells

Princeton researchers see role for plastic electronics to reduce cost of solar cells in future. … … "By allowing plastic solar cells to be manufactured using low-cost printing techniques and by replacing ITO as the primary conducting material, the plastics the team developed hold potential for lowering the cost of solar panels. Currently, the electricity [...]

Arizona Tokyo Solar Research Partnership

Arizona State University and the University of Tokyo, Japan will partner on collaborative research to advance solar energy technology. The partnership is planned for three years and will involve collaboration on research, education, symposia, and talent. … … “The University of Tokyo is rated by the Global University Ranking organization and others as one the [...]

Kaiser Permanente California Solar Power Systems

Kaiser Permanente collaborates with Recurrent Energy to implement fifteen megawatts of solar power at fifteen California facilities by 2011. … … “Installing solar panels on Kaiser Permanente hospitals, medical offices, and other buildings is the first part of a larger plan to use onsite renewable energy sources to power Kaiser Permanente’s buildings nationwide. A focus [...]

California Waste Treatment Plant Implements Solar Power

City of Auburn wastewater treatment plant will be fully powered by a 680 kilowatt solar power system, installed by Pacific Power Management. … … “The new photovoltaic system will consist of more than 3,300 panels that will be installed on single-axis ground mount trackers at the plant. The city entered into a 20 year contract [...]

Project Brightfield Solar

Chevron Technology Ventures’ Project Brightfield will leverage AboundSolar photovoltaics to pilot commercial scale ground mount installation. … … “The ground-mount facility built on land in Bakersfield, CA formerly occupied by a refinery, has a nameplate capacity of 190kW and is projected to produce more than 300 MWh per year. The array of Abound Solar’s AB1 [...]

Seville solar power tower

Insights into the Spanish solar power tower … … “the tower has 624 heliostats, or giant mirrors, which reflect the sun’s rays into a receiver at the top of the tower. The receiver is similar to giant boiler, creating steam … ” … Via BYU-Hawaii: Power Tower in Spain

Smart Meters provide data for analysis and benchmarking of efficiency trends

Stadtwerke Erding implements GE smart grid technology to enable homeowners in Germany to become more aware of their energy consumption and efficiency impacts. … … “The smart meters are connected to a central office for analysis and planning via a data concentrator, providing data to optimize usage efficiency and minimizing waste. Benchmarking data from last [...]

Minnesota Solar Decathlon ICON House Available for Sale

University of Minnesota Solar Decathlon entry, the ICON house, is coming up for sale. … … “The 550-square-foot home, which took fifth place overall (out of 20 teams) in October’s Solar Decathlon (a DOE-sponsored contest that challenges universities from around the globe to design and construct the most efficient and appealing sun-powered dwelling), is known [...]

Who’s there? Earth Hour is that you?

Manufacturing facility solar photovoltaic installation

Alpha Grainger Manufacturing facility in Franklin Massachusetts deploys solar array that can generate approximately 500,000 kilowatt hours of energy each year representing savings of $80,000 annually.

Manufacturing Facility Environmental Excellence Achievements

Toyota is recognized for its environmental achievements in its manufacturing facilities. … … “energy improvements at TEMA’s manufacturing facilities include: Reducing total energy use by 19 percent per vehicle produced since FY2000 while expanding and adding new facilities; Reducing water usage by 20 percent per vehicle produced since FY1999 through no- and low-cost improvements; The [...]

Solar powered party

Tuscon plans festival for this weekend that will promote sustainability awarenss. … … “On Saturday the festivities will move to Himmel Park in the form of Solar Rock, a totally solar-powered day of music and speakers. Vice mayor Rodney Glassman will introduce the first performers at noon … ” … Via Arizona Daily Wildcat: Sustainability [...]

Algae Biofuel Market Dynamics

Biofuel players are positioning in the marketplace to commercialize fuel from algae. … … “There are no industrial-scale, algae-to-fuel operations up and running, but that may soon change as several companies jockey for position in this emerging biofuel category. ” … Via MarketWatch: Fuel from algae

Florida Solar Decathlon Open House Ahead of Europe Competition

University of Florida’s entry (Project ReFocus) into the European Solar Decathlon in Madrid will host an open house on Friday where the public can tour the home. … … “The UF team, comprised of more than 125 students from four colleges and eight disciplines, will compete in Madrid this June in 10 categories that include [...]

Wind power investment increases

Three utilities (China WindPower, Iberdrola, and Duke Energy) target significant wind power capacity increases this year. … … “A third of those turbines were installed in China, which doubled its capacity to 25 gigawatts. Wind is gaining support as turbine costs fall and government stimulus money helps pay for the plants. ” … Via BusinessWeek: [...]

China solar manufacturing presence

Cost dynamics present opportunity to shift solar manufacturing to China. Evergreen Solar CEO Rick provides pulse of the industry and a view to the future for solar panel production. … … “the direct labor costs, overhead costs, as well as support from the Chinese government make it much less expensive to build solar in China [...]

Perspectives on China Solar

Thin film solar cells research focus by GE

GE’s research efforts will focus on the development of thin film solar photovoltaic technology. The company will marshall its scientific resources across a number of geographically distributed labs and partners. The technology will emphasize cadmium telluride materials to achieve the optimal cost versus performance. … … “the vision for thin film solar panels is that [...]

Biofuel Sustainability Teach the Teachers

Michigan State University receives NSF grant to develop teaching competence in biofuels and spread the education to the elementary school level. … … “The grant will fund eight graduate fellowships per year focusing on biofuel sustainability. The MSU Graduate School is providing funding for another fellowship, for a total of nine per year. The project [...]

Solar cell investment is one of many

projects at USC, as the University catalogs its portfolio of research funding from the 2009 federal stimulus bill. … … “P. Daniel Dapkus, USC Viterbi School of Engineering: Energy Frontier Research Center for Emerging Materials for Solar Energy Conversion and Solid State Lighting, $12.5 million from the Department of Energy: To explore new phenomena in [...]

Rutgers research potential to impact solar cell efficiency

Rutgers professors are awarded by the American Physical Society for their research efforts, which could contribute to furthering the efficiency of solar energy conversion. .. … “The prize recognizes Cheong’s work in understanding a class of materials called multiferroics, materials which exhibit both magnetic properties and electrical properties that resemble magnetism. The materials have potential [...]

Renewable Power Soccket

Harvard students develop soccket soccer ball that charges during play and can power devices at home, especially useful in emerging economies and off-grid situations. … … “The magic soccer ball created by Harvard students Jessica Lin, Jessica Matthews, Julia Silverman, and Hemali Thakkar is beautiful in its simplicity. ” … Via TakePart: Young Women Changing [...]

Solar Hot Water Project Targets Source Reduction

Bowdoin College is implementing renewable energy projects across its campus. … … “The project, designed for the roof of Thorne, includes 24 glazed flat plate solar collectors, which will make up a 960-square-foot solar thermal array, and the piping to solar storage tanks. ” … Via Bowdoin: Solar Hot Water Project for Thorne Hall

Green Pharmacy designs sustainable pharmaceutical products and processes

European Environment Agency hosted workshop on pharmaceuticals in the environment at Copenhagen meeting in January 2009 and the participating experts collaborated to develop a position on sustainability for the EU pharma industry. … … “Green pharmacy is the design of pharmaceutical products and processes that eliminate or reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. [...]

Renewable energy course focuses on biomass gas

The University of Minnesota Morris campus offers new biomass gasification technology curriculum this May through a collaborative partnership of public, private, and academic organizations. … … “An intensive three-week course and other opportunities will be offered in May 2010 on the Morris campus. ” … Via University of Minnesota Morris: May 2010 biomass gasification course [...]

Energy Efficiency in the Dorm Room

Changes in student lifestyle will lead to lower energy use. … … “But short of developing a revolutionary technology that will power the whole world, students have to do their part to help the planet by cutting back on energy waste. And that means lifestyle changes. ” … Via The Tech, MIT: Turn off your [...]

Solar Powered Internet in Africa

Smart Meters and Efficient Distribution Key to Utility Transformation

Microsoft takes the pulse of the utility industry, showing that information-enabling (smart) the grid, electrical distribution, and consumption (metering) will transform the business model. … … “The survey shows that utilities professionals and executives perceive distribution management and smart metering solutions as the most important technologies for successful smart grid implementations. Integration of renewable energy [...]