Bringing Solar to the Masses, 1 Block at a Time

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Beth Buczynski .

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Renewable energy is the buzz word of the year. From the White House to the greenhouse, people are being told that renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar are the answer to the clunky, dirty fossil fuels we’ve depended on for so long. The federal government is even offering tax credits for building or renovating homes so that they use energy more efficiently. But saying we need homes powered by the sun, and actually heating your morning shower with it are still, unfortunately, two entirely different things.

Butterfly Wings Inspire A New Idea in Solar

Posted on February 9, 2009 by John Platt .

Oh, the things we can learn from nature! Take butterflies, for example. An examination of the microscopic properties of butterfly wings by scientists in China and Japan has led to a new idea in solar cells, one which the scientists say could yield a greater efficiency than most other solar cells on the market.

Barack Obama and a Greener America

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Doug Gunzelmann .

While listening to the inaugural address today it was hard to miss the nods President Obama made toward the need for alternative energy sources and a shift in behavior towards America’s energy consumption. Happy inauguration day!

Coffee as Biofuel: Good to the Last Drop

Posted on December 23, 2008 by John Platt .

Ah, that first cup of coffee in the morning. It really gets you moving. And soon, it could get your car moving, too.

Reuse Heat, Save the Planet

Posted on December 11, 2008 by John Platt .

Electric and mechanical power produce heat. That heat, according to research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), could be a ready source of energy — enough to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2030.

Zounds! Sound Is Energy!

Posted on December 3, 2008 by John Platt .

Solar, wind, biofuels, tidal power — all green, all sustainable. But they are not the final word in power.
In fact, your very words could create power, according to new research out of Texas A&M University.

22 Years Until Clean Energy?

Posted on November 17, 2008 by John Platt .

How long will it take us to get to a truly clean-energy economy? Five years? Ten? Twenty-two?
That number might seem arbitrary, but many organizations and scientists see the year 2030 as a reasonable and do-able goal to achieve total clean, renewable energy.
Quite a few of those scientists are gathered in Atlanta today for the IEEE [...]

These Boots Were Made for Walkin’ (and Generatin’ Power)

Posted on October 28, 2008 by John Platt .

Motion is energy. Capturing that energy is easy if you’re talking about huge turbines. But what about tiny motions, like a footstep?
A number of new projects aim to use the energy of human activity and translate it into ways to power the portable devices we so love. The photo above is an obviously early prototype [...]

Harnessing the Awesome Power of the High Five

Posted on October 12, 2008 by Matt Embrey .

See end of post for full schematic
This ground breaking technology from Cunning Labs could be the most promising alternative energy innovation yet.  The system taps into the vast energy potential of the “High Five” to generate electrical energy. 

Only Trees Can Prevent Forest Fires

Posted on October 7, 2008 by John Platt .

Forest fires cause terrible devastation every year — not to mention the release of huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Stopping forest fires is hard enough, but what about detecting them before they get to be a problem?