Business 2.0: How Australia got hot for solar power - Aug. 2, 2006: "Rattling down a red dirt road on the edge of the Australian outback, Roger Davey hits the brakes and hops out of a rented Corolla. With a sweep of his arm, he surveys his domain - 24,000 acres of emptiness stretching toward the horizon, the landscape bare but for clumps of scrubby eucalyptus trees and an occasional sheep.
Electrifying exportsAustralia is home to many alternative-energy innovators that are targeting foreign markets.
Energetech Technology: Wave-powered electricity
There's no shortage of surf in Australia, so it's only natural that Sydney startup Energetech has developed an offshore power plant that generates electricity from ocean waves. A parabolic wall magnifies the energy of incoming waves, which force air into a hollow chamber. The air activates a turbine that powers a generator. The first plant is expected to produce enough energy to power 1,500 homes or desalinate nearly 800,000 gallons of water per day.
Pulse Energy Technology: Biomass power generation
This Brisbane company uses rotary kiln technology licensed from the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization to generate green electricity by incinerating sugarcane waste and other low-grade fuels. Pulse is building 10-megawatt power plants in southern China, one of the world's biggest sugarcane-growing regions. 'At the moment they burn sugarcane waste in the fields. Six months out of the year, you can't even see the sky,' says Pulse executive Damien Weis. 'We're able to capture the energy and bag up the pollutants.' Pulse has also struck a deal to study the feasibility of building plants in China powered by rice husks.
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Sunday, September 24, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
AltWheels | The Caravan to MIT
AltWheels | The Caravan to MIT: "The AltWheels Alternative Vehicle Caravan
Thursday Sept. 21, 5:30-7:30p
Come to MIT to welcome and view the AltWheels Caravan!
This year's caravan will feature over 35 vehicles. Cars,
trucks, pickups, buses, vans and scooters! In addition
to hybrid cars, SUVs, there are commercially available
biodiesel and ethanol fueled vehicles, plus a cars fueled
with vegetable oil and electricity.
Special to the Caravan this year are three hydrogen-fueled
vehicles (a bus burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine,
plus a fuel cell car and minivan)."
Thursday Sept. 21, 5:30-7:30p
Come to MIT to welcome and view the AltWheels Caravan!
This year's caravan will feature over 35 vehicles. Cars,
trucks, pickups, buses, vans and scooters! In addition
to hybrid cars, SUVs, there are commercially available
biodiesel and ethanol fueled vehicles, plus a cars fueled
with vegetable oil and electricity.
Special to the Caravan this year are three hydrogen-fueled
vehicles (a bus burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine,
plus a fuel cell car and minivan)."
The MIT Energy Research Council : About ERC
The MIT Energy Research Council : About ERC: "Last May, the Energy Research Council (ERC) presented recommendations on how MIT can best offer leadership on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: finding clean, affordable energy to power the developed and the developing world. Since then, the Provost and I have reviewed the comments the ERC report has generated and have discussed its recommendations with experts and stakeholders both inside and outside MIT. Today, I am pleased to announce the establishment of an Institute-wide MIT Energy Initiative along the lines recommended by the ERC."
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Biofuels Come of Age as the Demand Rises - New York Times
Biofuels Come of Age as the Demand Rises - New York Times: "BARACK OBAMA is not a farmer, but he believes in biodiesel and the votes of farmers who produce soybeans and other crops for it. Senator Obama, Democrat from Illinois, spoke last month at an event to celebrate plans for a new biodiesel plant in Cairo, Ill. His presence was a welcome endorsement for a budding industry."
Thursday, September 14, 2006
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Drastic' shrinkage in Arctic ice
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Drastic' shrinkage in Arctic ice: "A Nasa satellite has documented startling changes in Arctic sea ice cover between 2004 and 2005.
The extent of 'perennial' ice - thick ice which remains all year round - declined by 14%, losing an area the size of Pakistan or Turkey.
The last few decades have seen summer ice shrink by about 0.7% per year."
The extent of 'perennial' ice - thick ice which remains all year round - declined by 14%, losing an area the size of Pakistan or Turkey.
The last few decades have seen summer ice shrink by about 0.7% per year."
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Cars
Power has just released a list of the top 30 environmentally friendly vehicles for 2006, based on the company's 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study. And surprisingly, not all of the vehicles on the list are gasoline-electric hybrids, although those vehicles — hailed by many environmentally conscious folks as being Earth-friendly — are well-represented on the list.
Eight of the 30 vehicles on the list are hybrids: the Ford Escape and its clone, the Mercury Mariner; the Honda Accord, Civic and Insight; the Toyota Prius and Highlander; and the Lexus RX 400h, which has the same basic architecture as the Highlander hybrid.
The trunk of the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid has 10.4 cubic feet of space, 1.6 cubic feet less than in the regular gasoline model.
That leaves 22 vehicles on the "green" list that aren't hybrids, and among these, a variety of manufacturers is represented.
These traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, whose fuel economy and tailpipe emissions qualify them as green even though they are not hybrids, are: the Acura RSX; Chevrolet Aveo and Cobalt; Ford Focus sedan and wagon; Honda Accord and Civic; Hyundai Accent and Elantra; Kia Rio and Spectra; Mazda 3 and MX-5 Miata; Nissan Sentra; Saturn Ion; Scion xA; Suzuki Reno; Toyota Camry and Corolla; and the Volkswagen Golf (now known as the Rabbit for 2007), Jetta and New Beetle.
Eight of the 30 vehicles on the list are hybrids: the Ford Escape and its clone, the Mercury Mariner; the Honda Accord, Civic and Insight; the Toyota Prius and Highlander; and the Lexus RX 400h, which has the same basic architecture as the Highlander hybrid.
The trunk of the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid has 10.4 cubic feet of space, 1.6 cubic feet less than in the regular gasoline model.
That leaves 22 vehicles on the "green" list that aren't hybrids, and among these, a variety of manufacturers is represented.
These traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, whose fuel economy and tailpipe emissions qualify them as green even though they are not hybrids, are: the Acura RSX; Chevrolet Aveo and Cobalt; Ford Focus sedan and wagon; Honda Accord and Civic; Hyundai Accent and Elantra; Kia Rio and Spectra; Mazda 3 and MX-5 Miata; Nissan Sentra; Saturn Ion; Scion xA; Suzuki Reno; Toyota Camry and Corolla; and the Volkswagen Golf (now known as the Rabbit for 2007), Jetta and New Beetle.
MIT energy experts explore life "beyond carbon" - MIT News Office
MIT energy experts explore life "beyond carbon" - MIT News Office:
Anne Trafton,
News OfficeSeptember 5, 2006
If all nations burned gasoline for transportation at the same rate as the United States, world gasoline consumption would rise nearly ten-fold, with a corresponding hike in the concentration of greenhouse gases. That's just one reason why it is imperative that nations work to create a more sustainable transportation system, says John Heywood, director of MIT's Sloan Automotive Lab and the Sun Jae Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
'As the countries in the developing world rapidly motorize, the increasing global demand for fuel will pose one of the biggest challenges to controlling the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,' Heywood writes in 'Fueling Our Transportation Future,' an article he wrote for the September issue of Scientific American.Heywood is one of three MIT professors who tackle energy in the magazine's September issue, whose cover proclaims the theme 'Energy's Future: Beyond Carbon.'"
Anne Trafton,
News OfficeSeptember 5, 2006
If all nations burned gasoline for transportation at the same rate as the United States, world gasoline consumption would rise nearly ten-fold, with a corresponding hike in the concentration of greenhouse gases. That's just one reason why it is imperative that nations work to create a more sustainable transportation system, says John Heywood, director of MIT's Sloan Automotive Lab and the Sun Jae Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
'As the countries in the developing world rapidly motorize, the increasing global demand for fuel will pose one of the biggest challenges to controlling the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,' Heywood writes in 'Fueling Our Transportation Future,' an article he wrote for the September issue of Scientific American.Heywood is one of three MIT professors who tackle energy in the magazine's September issue, whose cover proclaims the theme 'Energy's Future: Beyond Carbon.'"
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Engineers forge greener path to iron production - MIT News Office
Engineers forge greener path to iron production - MIT News Office:
Elizabeth A. Thomson,
News OfficeAugust 25, 2006
MIT engineers have demonstrated an eco-friendly way to make iron. The new method eliminates the greenhouse gases usually associated with iron production.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today that the team, led by Donald R. Sadoway of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has shown the technical viability of producing iron by molten oxide electrolysis (MOE). 'What sets molten oxide electrolysis apart from other metal-producing technologies is that it is totally carbon-free and hence generates no carbon dioxide gases -- only oxygen,' said Lawrence W. Kavanagh, AISI vice president of manufacturing and technology.
The work was funded by the AISI/Department of Energy Technology Roadmap Program (TRP). The TRP goal is to increase the competitiveness of the U.S. steel industry while saving energy and enhancing the environment. According to the AISI, the MIT work 'marks one of TRP's breakthrough projects toward meeting that goal.'"
Elizabeth A. Thomson,
News OfficeAugust 25, 2006
MIT engineers have demonstrated an eco-friendly way to make iron. The new method eliminates the greenhouse gases usually associated with iron production.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today that the team, led by Donald R. Sadoway of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has shown the technical viability of producing iron by molten oxide electrolysis (MOE). 'What sets molten oxide electrolysis apart from other metal-producing technologies is that it is totally carbon-free and hence generates no carbon dioxide gases -- only oxygen,' said Lawrence W. Kavanagh, AISI vice president of manufacturing and technology.
The work was funded by the AISI/Department of Energy Technology Roadmap Program (TRP). The TRP goal is to increase the competitiveness of the U.S. steel industry while saving energy and enhancing the environment. According to the AISI, the MIT work 'marks one of TRP's breakthrough projects toward meeting that goal.'"
Sunday, September 03, 2006
USA WEEKEND Magazine
USA WEEKEND Magazine: "LIMIT WASTE
Waste is the biggest enemy of an environmentally friendly house, and hot water usage ranks as a major problem. You can conserve hot water by, say, putting a limit on your teenagers' 30-minute showers. More effective would be to tackle the problem at the source: your water heater. Conventional storage water heaters gobble up a nice chunk of your monthly energy bill, and for what? Most of the time, it's just storing hot water, keeping it at a high temperature in case you turn on a faucet. Roughly half of every $1 we spend on the water-heating portion of our bill is wasted because no one has turned on the hot water tap. You couldn't create a less efficient system if you tried.
There is an alternative in the form of a tankless water heater, like those by Bosch (boschhotwater.com). These heat water 'on demand' -- that is, when you run the faucet -- so you don't have to store and constantly heat 40 gallons of water every second of the day, even when you're at work or out of town on vacation. Tankless water heaters are expensive, starting at about $500, compared with conventional models that can go for less than $200. But they conserve energy and can be eligible for federal tax credits of up to $300.
STREAMLINE HEATING AND COOLING
Advances in eco-friendly technology have produced a heating and cooling system known as a geothermal heat pump. These units use the Earth's ground temperature, instead of outside air, to heat and cool your home. They are more expensive to install than a traditional HVAC unit, mostly because of the additional digging and excavation that must be done. But they're environmentally sound, and they can cut your heating and cooling bills by as much as 50%. You can learn more by visiting websites for two geothermal heat pump manufacturers -- Trane, at trane.com, and Carrier, at carrier.com."
Waste is the biggest enemy of an environmentally friendly house, and hot water usage ranks as a major problem. You can conserve hot water by, say, putting a limit on your teenagers' 30-minute showers. More effective would be to tackle the problem at the source: your water heater. Conventional storage water heaters gobble up a nice chunk of your monthly energy bill, and for what? Most of the time, it's just storing hot water, keeping it at a high temperature in case you turn on a faucet. Roughly half of every $1 we spend on the water-heating portion of our bill is wasted because no one has turned on the hot water tap. You couldn't create a less efficient system if you tried.
There is an alternative in the form of a tankless water heater, like those by Bosch (boschhotwater.com). These heat water 'on demand' -- that is, when you run the faucet -- so you don't have to store and constantly heat 40 gallons of water every second of the day, even when you're at work or out of town on vacation. Tankless water heaters are expensive, starting at about $500, compared with conventional models that can go for less than $200. But they conserve energy and can be eligible for federal tax credits of up to $300.
STREAMLINE HEATING AND COOLING
Advances in eco-friendly technology have produced a heating and cooling system known as a geothermal heat pump. These units use the Earth's ground temperature, instead of outside air, to heat and cool your home. They are more expensive to install than a traditional HVAC unit, mostly because of the additional digging and excavation that must be done. But they're environmentally sound, and they can cut your heating and cooling bills by as much as 50%. You can learn more by visiting websites for two geothermal heat pump manufacturers -- Trane, at trane.com, and Carrier, at carrier.com."
It's easier being green
It%u2019s easier being green | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA: The two homes – one high-end two-story outside Yelm and another modular home remodeled on the cheap by the City of Tacoma – may look like typical homes, but they have the latest environmentally friendly technology, techniques and appliances.
From the nontoxic paint to the Energy Star fixtures, the mostly undetectable changes add up.
“We can build a home that’s 300 to 600 percent more energy-efficient than a standard stick-built home,” said Paul Huff, an owner of Apple Construction, which built the Yelm home.
Huff’s Yelm-based company switched to strictly green home projects last year. The green home is its third project.
Huff and city representatives said finding materials for “green” building or remodeling was easy. The city’s remodel, called EnviroHouse, was constructed with readily available and reasonably priced materials, said Bill Smith, senior environmental specialist with the city’s Public Works Department, which had a hand in remodeling the modular home.
From the nontoxic paint to the Energy Star fixtures, the mostly undetectable changes add up.
“We can build a home that’s 300 to 600 percent more energy-efficient than a standard stick-built home,” said Paul Huff, an owner of Apple Construction, which built the Yelm home.
Huff’s Yelm-based company switched to strictly green home projects last year. The green home is its third project.
Huff and city representatives said finding materials for “green” building or remodeling was easy. The city’s remodel, called EnviroHouse, was constructed with readily available and reasonably priced materials, said Bill Smith, senior environmental specialist with the city’s Public Works Department, which had a hand in remodeling the modular home.
J.D. Power Rates "Environmentally Friendly" Vehicles - Daily Auto Insider - Car and Driver - September�2006
J.D. Power Rates "Environmentally Friendly" Vehicles - Daily Auto Insider - Car and Driver - September 2006
: Fifteen out of 37 automotive brands are represented in the top 30 list of environmentally friendly vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.
All new for 2006, the Alternative Powertrain Study (APS) includes the Automotive Environmental Index (AEI), which combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly available information with voice-of-the-customer data related to fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases for 2006 model-year vehicles, Power said in a news release.
Voice-of-the-customer data is also used to help determine the relative importance of these environmental factors. The fuel economy factor represents approximately 50 percent of the index, while air pollution and greenhouse gases contribute to the remainder.
Among the top 30 AEI vehicles, eight are hybrids:
Ford Escape Hybrid
Lexus RX400H
Honda Accord Hybrid
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
: Fifteen out of 37 automotive brands are represented in the top 30 list of environmentally friendly vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.
All new for 2006, the Alternative Powertrain Study (APS) includes the Automotive Environmental Index (AEI), which combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly available information with voice-of-the-customer data related to fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases for 2006 model-year vehicles, Power said in a news release.
Voice-of-the-customer data is also used to help determine the relative importance of these environmental factors. The fuel economy factor represents approximately 50 percent of the index, while air pollution and greenhouse gases contribute to the remainder.
Among the top 30 AEI vehicles, eight are hybrids:
Ford Escape Hybrid
Lexus RX400H
Honda Accord Hybrid
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
Friday, September 01, 2006
MIT Energy Research Council : Research Spotlight
MIT Energy Research Council : Research Spotlight: "An MIT researcher has a vision: 400 huge offshore wind turbines providing onshore customers with enough electricity to power several hundred thousand homes%u2014and nobody standing onshore can see them. The trick? The wind turbines are floating on platforms a hundred miles out to sea, where the winds are strong and steady."
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