April 10, 2014 - Today, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and other solar advocates gathered at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, the first net-zero commercial building in San Diego, to celebrate the City of San Diego's recognition in being ranked the second largest solar producing city in the nation. The report, "Shining Cities: At the Forefront of America's Solar Energy Revolution" released today by Environment California Research and Policy Center, placed San Diego just behind Los Angeles. The last two consecutive reports by Environment California ranked San Diego as the solar capital of the nation.
Remarks were made at the press conference by Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate of Environment California; Len Hering, executive director of the California Center for Sustainable Energy; Mayor Kevin Faulconer; and Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power. read more>>>
04/11/14 - Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel created a solar-powered table that can generate electricity and charge your gadgets while you work. The Current Table uses photosynthesis to create energy from diffused indoor lighting and features USB charging ports that can power all your electrical appliances throughout the year
The table’s clear orange glass work surface rests on triangular wooden legs. Inside the glass panel is a dye-synthesized solar cell that creates energy using the same mechanism as plants-photosynthesis. It utilizes the color properties of the glass similarly to the way plants use chlorophyll to convert sunlight into energy. The technology behind its application to furniture is based on placing tiny titanium dioxide particles on a piece of glass. The glass is then dyed orange, which acts as a conductor and allows the cell to absorb more sunlight. The excess energy is stored in a battery and used every time a gadget is plugged into the USB port. read more>>>
April 11, 2014 - India has the second largest IGBC-registered green building footprint in the world, says Syed Beary of IGBC-Bangalore in an interview with Ranjani Govind
Any IGBC-rated green building carries a certified mark with it. Today, constructing green buildings is technically feasible and economically viable, says Syed Beary, Chairman, the Indian Green Building Council-Bangalore Chapter. IGBC is highlighting the fact that it has recently crossed 2 billion sq. ft. of registered green building footprint in India. “Green buildings also make good business sense with an investment return time of two years and energy savings of almost 30 per cent per year,” he says.
That by 2022 (India @75), IGBC aspires to cross over 10 billion sq. ft of green building footprint and in the process consolidate its global leadership position in green buildings is something that speaks of a huge responsibility. read more>>>
April 11, 2014 - The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2014 has been introduced to Congress in an effort to secure the United States' clean energy future.
With the uncertainty surrounding tax incentives for renewable energy, the Clean Energy Victory Bond would extend vital tax credits for a decade and provide an opportunity for average investors to support the clean energy economy.
The bond is modeled after the World War II Victory Bond purchased by millions of Americans for a total of $185 billion. read more>>>
09 April 2014 - The European Commission has adopted new rules on public support for projects in the field of environmental protection and energy with regard to 2020 climate targets
The guidelines will support EU member states in reaching their 2020 climate targets while addressing market distortions that may result from subsidies granted to renewable energy sources. To this end, the guidelines promote a gradual move to market-based support for renewable energy. read more>>>
08 April 2014 - Controlled placement of carbon nanotubes into nano-structures produces a huge boost in electronic performance researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have discovered
The use of carbon-based nanostructured materials as components in solar cells is becoming increasingly popular because of their exceptional properties. Now, in a new study, a team of physicists and chemists at Umeå University have joined forces to produce nano-engineered carbon nanotubes networks with novel properties. Their results have been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials. read more>>>
04/13/14 - A group of Spanish architects and engineers joined forces to create ViVood - a tiny wooden prefab home. Developed by Daniel Mayo Pardo, this little energy-efficient shelter comes complete with integrated solar panels. The modular home is made from pine wood, and it can be adapted to different sizes, landscapes and needs.
ViVood was designed and manufactured in Spain using local materials and labor. Its technologically advanced design allows for easy mass production, and therefore lower costs. Its roof and walls pop-up from its wooden base, which comes with adjustable legs that can adapt to any terrain. read more>>>
April 10, 2014 - Solar Parking Canopy Offsets Power at Rehabilitation Center
Suniva, Inc., a metro-Atlanta based manufacturer of high-quality, high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced that its products were selected for a photovoltaic system to power the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC),the Nation’s Medical Center, providing treatment and support for our wounded, ill and injured service members and their families.
The WRNMMC, located in Bethesda, Maryland, recently installed a 297kW solar parking canopy at The Wounded Warrior Lodge, an extended-stay treatment and rehabilitation facility for wounded service members. The solar canopy, Powered by Suniva®, covers a six-story parking deck and was installed by sub-contractor, SolBright Renewable Energy and managed by contractor, dck worldwide and partner, Ttec. read more>>>
04/10/14 - Urban eco-conscious coffee connoisseurs are going to love this. Wheely's Cafe is a specially-made bicycle cart that serves coffee brewed by solar-power, and it's almost ready to hit city streets all over the world. Referred to as an "ecological café bike," Wheely's bicycle carts are equipped with everything needed to sell coffee, tea, soft drinks and pastries, but, unlike most of today's coffee shops, they do it without leaving a harmful carbon footprint.
Developed by the popular Nordic Society For Invention and Discovery (NCID), Wheely’s bikes are 100 percent eco-friendly, CO2 neutral and carbon footprint negative. The bikes are human-powered and the coffee is brewed using a solar-powered 31ah battery. Currently in midst of a high energy Indiegogo campaign, the company boasts healthy, happy coffee that doesn’t come at a high cost to the environment. In fact, the company claims that while buying one cup of coffee at your local Starbucks releases 400 grams of CO2 in the air, Wheely’s coffee is 100% free of emissions. read more>>>
April 11, 2014 - Insanely complex math, and never enough data -- that’s the conundrum in trying to model the ebb and flow of solar power and energy storage on the grid edge.
Large-scale transmission systems are well modeled. But the majority of the grid below the substation provides little to work with beyond original engineering specs -- and hopefully, up-to-date maintenance and replacement records -- to turn into useful data for software platforms.
That makes it very difficult to capture or predict voltage anomalies, reactive power problems and other disruptions coming from customer-side energy assets like rooftop solar. read more>>>
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