Don’t Hate Electric Vehicles Hate Pollution

Posted on November 9, 2011 by quest

Ok if you’re a hater and you hate everything green. Here’s your opportunity to get your hate on. In fact check out the EV haters guide so you can do it right:The EV-Hater’s Guide to Hating Electric Cars.The ultimate driving machine people, BMW have released some information on their new concept electric vehicles which could make you forget that these cars are green and all.

All-electric – the BMW i3 Concept.The electric motor of the BMW i3 Concept is designed primarily for operation in an urban environment. Typically an electric motor develops, maximum torque from standstill, in contrast to an internal combustion engine where torque increases with engine rpm.This makes the BMW i3 Concept highly agile and provides impressive acceleration. The BMW i3 Concept accomplishes 0-37 mph in under four seconds and 0-62 mph in under eight seconds.

BMW i8 Concept – emotional, dynamic and efficient.Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept. Acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three liters per 100 kilometers (approx. 94 mpg imp) are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Thanks to the eDrive technology with its large lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel to approx. 20 miles on electric power alone. Added to which, the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality. You can look forward to seeing the BMW i3 in 2013 and the BMW i3 in 2014.

Frenchman Rides Solar Electric Bike from France to Japan

U.S. and Chinese Solar Companies Square Off

Urban Farmers Grow New Green Acres

Posted on November 9, 2011 by quest

“Green Acres is the place for me. Farm living is the life for me. Land spreading out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan just give me that countryside.” With that Mr. Douglas (Eddie Albert) and wife Lisa Douglas(Eva Gabor) left New York City for Hooterville. Well it turns start out things have changed since the 1965 TV sitcom hit the airwaves. As new solar solutions are being implemented to address how we heat, electricfy our homes – and transport ourselves; so too are some very basic assumptions about how and where we get our food.

Global population analyst have just announced the world population is now 7 billion people. How can we know for sure what the real current world population is?That’s a whole lot of mouths to feed in world that’s already struggling with stone age energy, political, transportation and economic systems. Urban farming is taking on unique characteristics such as what we’re seeing in Chicago and Atlanta.

Urban farms provide healthy food

In his recent Ted Talk Urban Farmer Roman Gaus frames out some of the big issues we face as a world society and how urban farming can provide solutions to challenges we’ll have no choice in facing.

But while the idea of community gardens, rooftop farming and vertical farming may seem new: Victory Farms was in full effect in America over 70 years ago.

Urban Farming: Past Present Future

Green Tech Companies in Growth Mode

United Steelworkers Stand With U.S. Solar Companies

Posted on November 8, 2011 by quest

Recently Jifan Gao, Trina Solar President responded to The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing. (CASM), compliant to the World Trade Organization of unfair trade practices. Now a group of seven domestic U.S. solar manufacturers led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., today welcomed the support of the United Steelworkers (USW) – with 850,000 active members, the nation’s largest union – for the coalition’s petitions for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese imports.
The solar energy business continues to gather mainstream media attention as New Times writer Paul Krugman reported in his article, “Here comes the sun.” In it he laid out the case for the rapid development of renewable energy in America. Meanwhile Trina CEO, Goa in an interview with Bloomberg said “This is the decade of mergers and acquisitions. From now until 2015 is the first phase, when about two-thirds of the players will be shaken out.”

According to U.S. trade statistics, Chinese exports of solar cells and panels to the United States rose more than 350 percent from 2008 to 2010. In the first eight months of 2011 alone, imports from China totaled $1.6 billion, more than in all of 2010. In fact, exports in the month of July 2011 alone exceeded those from all of 2010. CASM contends that Chinese dumping has played a significant role in causing seven U.S. solar plants to close or downsize during the past 18 months, eliminating thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

In the union’s letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, said, in part: “Unfortunately, China continues to operate in a manner that is utterly inconsistent with its WTO obligations, which comes at the expense of developing our nation’s clean energy sector and creating and sustaining clean energy jobs for American workers. We urge you to vigorously apply and enforce our trade laws in these solar cases so that American workers and domestic industries can have a fair chance to compete in the U.S. market.” “Manufacturing is the fuel that drives our economic engine,” said Gordon Brinser, U.S. president of SolarWorld, the leader of CASM and the named petitioner in the case. “Members of the Steelworkers Union understand that the key to American economic growth is healthy competition. Their support for U.S. trade actions that keep quality, high-paying jobs in America and allow American companies to compete fairly in the global marketplace is greatly appreciated.”The next step in the case is an ITC staff hearing today Nov. 8, 2011.

Green Jobs Occupy California’s Future

10,000 Surrounded White House Protesting Oil Pipeline

Transforming Solar Sense

Posted on November 7, 2011 by quest

You’ve heard the argument before and no doubt you’ll hear it again and again. Solar is just too expensive. But last week Secretary of Energy Steven Chu highlighted the choice America faces on whether or not to take advantage of the huge economic opportunity and compete with countries like China in the clean energy race. He said, ““Once again, there is a huge opportunity before us – a global clean energy market that is already worth an estimated $240 billion and is growing rapidly. In fact, a very reasonable estimate is that solar photovoltaic systems alone represent a global market worth more than $80 billion this year.”“China – like many countries – has learned from the U.S. how government can support critical emerging industries. Last year, China offered roughly $30 billion in government financing to its solar companies, including $7 billion to Suntech. At least 10 countries have adopted renewable electricity standards, and more than 50 countries offer some type of public financing for clean energy projects. For example, Germany and Canada operate government-backed clean energy lending programs, and in the last several months, the UK, Australia, and India have announced plans to do the same.”

On November 17, Steven Chu, has agreed to testify about the failed solar energy company Solyndra before congressional investigators on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Solyndra received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. Chairman of the Committee Rep. Cliff Stearns said in a statement. “We hope he will finally provide answers about why DOE consciously ignored the direct warnings from their own experts that Solyndra was doomed to fail, and granted the loan to Solyndra.” Congress has issued a subpoena to the White House, with the White House refusing to comply stating it has already released over 80,000 pages to Congress.

Now New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman ways in, “We are, or at least we should be, on the cusp of an energy transformation, driven by the rapidly falling cost of solar power. That’s right, solar power. If that surprises you, if you still think of solar power as some kind of hippie fantasy, blame our fossilized political system, in which fossil fuel producers have both powerful political allies and a powerful propaganda machine that denigrates alternatives.” Read the full article: Here comes the sun.

Transforming ourselves transforming our energy

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A wet baby and change

SRI Listening To Tech and Clean Energy Innovations

Posted on November 6, 2011 by quest

SRI International celebrates 65 years of transformational innovations on Nov. 7. Since 1946, when SRI (then named Stanford Research Institute) was established to conduct research and development and stimulate the post-World War II economy, SRI has been pioneering solutions that are part of our daily lives. From the introduction of interactive computing and the computer mouse in the 1960s to recent advances such as the Siri virtual personal assistant, minimally invasive telerobotic surgery, and electroactive polymer “artificial muscle,” SRI researchers and technologists continue to build on a rich legacy and push the boundaries of what is possible. Over the years, SRI’s innovations have been meeting important customer and market needs and have created new industries and billions of dollars in market value. To date, SRI has launched more than 40 new ventures. Four spin-offs are now publicly traded and have a combined market capitalization of more than $20 billion. SRI spun off Siri, Inc. in 2007 to bring the technology to consumers. In April 2010, Apple acquired Siri, and in October 2011, Siri was unveiled as an integrated feature of the Apple iPhone 4S.

When you talk Siri listens

“In today’s innovation-based economy, the world is limited only by people with the skills that allow development of the abundant opportunities before us,” said Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D., SRI’s president and chief executive officer. “SRI’s many R&D successes are the result of terrific staff members with the passion to deliver on our founding mission: discovery and the application of science and technology for knowledge, commerce, prosperity, and peace. Our approach, which we call the Five Disciplines of Innovation, is designed to create high-value solutions for our clients and partners.”

Today, SRI’s 2,100-plus staff members in Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., Princeton, NJ, and around the world work in multidisciplinary teams to address some of the most challenging problems of our time such as the need for life-saving drugs and renewable clean energy, security of physical and Internet infrastructures, and new educational methods that will develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.

LED Street Greening

A Smart Way to Start Rebuilding America

Solar Powered Education On the Move In South Africa

Posted on November 6, 2011 by quest

Samsung recently unveiled its first Solar Powered Internet School in South Africa to help students in their studies without having to worry about electricity or Internet connectivity. The environmentally-friendly, transportable classroom is a perfect fit for Africa as it addresses one of the region’s biggest challenges – providing stable supply of electricity in rural areas.Despite differing views on the industry’s outlook, Samsung continues to believe solar energy can always be put to good use – not just generating electricity for residential or commercial utilization, but also for something really meaningful that can positively impact people’s lives.

A prime example of this is the use of solar power in education. Of course, solar-powered calculators, notebooks or other educational resources all contribute to improving the learning environment for young students. But what about an entire school or classroom that’s powered by solar energy? The 12-meter renovated container has solar panels installed on the roof that can generate nine hours of electricity a day, powering the electronic equipments inside the classroom. The classroom is equipped with a 50-inch electronic board, Internet-enabled solar-powered notebooks, Samsung’s Galaxy tablet computers as well as Wi-Fi cameras – all of which help enrich the learning experience. Up to 21 students can use the classroom, and the entire curriculums until grade 12 are stored in a central computer server enabling two-way learning by connecting to the Internet. The school can also be moved easily with a truck so that students in even the remotest of areas can continue their education.

The Solar Powered Internet School is just one of Samsung’s efforts to contribute to the local community with its innovative technologies and plans to expand these schools to other regions throughout Africa. Samsung last year identified solar as one of its new growth businesses, aiming to invest 6 trillion won ($5.4 billion) until 2020 to generate 10 trillion won in annual revenue by that year. Samsung SDI Co., which makes rechargeable batteries for mobile devices, is responsible for their solar business, currently has a capacity to produce 150 megawatts, with plans to increase production to 3 gigawatts by 2015.