Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 17 November 2013

Planning the war on carbon

Nov. 4, 2013 - One of the basic elements of warfare planning is to gather together your best generals and the most up to date intelligence to forge a campaign strategy that strikes at the enemy’s weakest point while maximizing the impact of whatever is your strategic advantage.

That is exactly what is going to take place later this month in Toronto, Canada, when a diverse group of thought leaders will share their expertise and commitment to addressing key sustainability challenges facing our environment to plan the war on carbon. read more>>>

Dubai Carbon Reduction: A 10 B Dollars Business Opportunity

Nov 11 2013 - Dubai carbon reduction initiatives across, renewable energy generation, smart grid and buildings' energy efficiency, will spur government spending and private investment, of over 10 billion US Dollars, in the coming few years, according to Waleed Salman, Chairman of Dubai Green Economy Partnership. Salman made his comments at the inaugural Green Leadership and Stakeholders' Dialogue series, an initiative of the Dubai Green Economy Partnership, a global initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Inspired by the long term national green economy strategy "Green Economy for Sustainable Development" launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, last year. read more>>>

Oak Hill’s “Green” Efforts Receive National Recognition

November 11, 2013 - Oak Hill Supportive Living Community in Round Lake Beach, IL, was one of only two senior communities in the nation to be recognized by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) for being “green.”

Oak Hill received an honorable mention in the 2013 ICAA Innovators Green Award category for its green construction and livable community. A leader in green building for senior living, Oak Hill was the first Assisted Living community in the United States to meet ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ criteria and earn “Gold” Certification from the National Association of Home Builders and the International Code Council. read more>>>

Bringing Sun's Light and Energy to Interior Rooms: Innovative Solar Technology May Lead to Interior Lighting Revolution

Nov. 6, 2013 — A pair of University of Cincinnati researchers has seen the light -- a bright, powerful light -- and it just might change the future of how building interiors are brightened.

In fact, that light comes directly from the sun. And with the help of tiny, electrofluidic cells and a series of open-air "ducts," sunlight can naturally illuminate windowless work spaces deep inside office buildings and excess energy can be harnessed, stored and directed to other applications.

This new technology is called SmartLight, and it's the result of an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UC's Anton Harfmann and Jason Heikenfeld. Their research paper "Smart Light -- Enhancing Fenestration to Improve Solar Distribution in Buildings" was recently presented at Italy's CasaClima international energy forum. read more>>>

Rock On! Playing Pop and Rock Music Around Solar Cells Improves Efficiency

11/06/13 - New research out of the UK finds that solar cells actually enjoy improved efficiency when exposed to the pounding beats of today’s pop and rock music. According to researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London, the high frequencies and pitch featured in pop and rock music trigger really “good vibrations” in solar cells that contain a cluster of ‘nano rods.’ Their research found that these vibrations improve efficiency by up to 40 percent, which could be especially good news for those working to develop lower cost, printed solar cells.

To confirm solar cells’ preference for rockin’ beats, the scientists grew billions of zinc oxide nano rods and covered them with an active polymer to form a device that converts sunlight into electricity. Thanks to “special properties of the zinc oxide material, the team was able to show that sound levels as low as 75 decibels (equivalent to a typical roadside noise or a printer in an office) could significantly improve the solar cell performance,” according to a Queen Mary University press release. read more>>>

California's Community Colleges Go Solar with SunPower

Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Community College Facility Coalition Annual Conference in Sacramento today, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) announced it has installed approximately 20 megawatts (MW) of solar power systems at 12 community college districts in California. The systems are generating enough clean, renewable solar electricity to power more than 4,100 California homes each year, according to calculations provided by the Solar Energy Industries Association. If the colleges were to buy the power from their utilities at current rates, it's estimated the districts are avoiding approximately $5.4 million in annual electricity costs.

SunPower is currently completing construction of its largest community college district solar installation to date. College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. expects to have 3.8 MW of SunPower solar carports operating by the end of the year. The solar power systems are expected to generate up to 66 percent of the total electricity consumed on campus, delivering much-needed savings while supporting the college's commitment to sustainable practices. read more>>>

Solar provider in landmark African charity bid

06 November 2013 - A charity and a thriving solar business are seeking to light up the lives of schoolchildren in Malawi with the aim of providing power to 15,000 people and creating the first solar powered community in Africa.

Together they say the £100,000 campaign will help businesses to flourish, create jobs, and enable Malawians to extend the length of their day, which still ends with natural light.

The campaign, in the bicentenary year of the birth of one of Malawi's most famous adopted sons, Scots explorer David Livingstone, is an ambitious extension of a successful operation last year. read more>>>

Nearly half a million UK homes now solar powered

Recent data from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that nearly 460,000 homes across the UK have solar panels installed

Data released recently by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and published on the website of the Solar Trade Association (STA) has revealed that nearly half a million homes in the UK have installed solar panels. This represents a combined peak capacity of 1.3GW, making domestic solar the largest sub-sector of the solar market.

The popularity of solar in the UK has largely resulted from massive international production volumes combined with major efficiencies achieved by the UK solar industry. read more>>>

EBRD to support Kazakhstan's national green growth plan

12 November 2013 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will support Kazakhstan's National Green Growth Plan, the bank reported on November 12.

First Vice President of the bank, Phil Bennett reaffirmed the EBRD's support for the plan during his first visit to the country.

During meetings with members of the Kazakh government and business community, Bennett said that the EBRD remains committed to the country's sustainable development.

He stressed that the bank places special emphasis on sustainable energy and is ready to support viable projects in the nascent renewable sector, specifically wind and solar power. read more>>>

Jamaica sets off on a path to a renewable future

November 12, 2013 - The Worldwatch Institute has released a groundbreaking Sustainable Energy Roadmap for Jamaica, which looks at the measures that the Jamaican government can take to transition its electricity sector to one that is socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. The report analyzes the potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment in Jamaica and discusses the social and economic impacts of alternative energy pathways, concluding that a scenario of high renewable penetration can bring significant savings, greater energy security, gains in competitiveness, and many other important benefits to the country.

"Jamaica is paying a colossal price to import polluting and health-threatening fossil fuels, even when it has the best clean energy resources at its doorstep: wind, solar, hydro, and biomass," said Alexander Ochs, director of climate and energy at Worldwatch. read more>>>