Watch Safely During Annular Solar Eclipse

Posted on May 20, 2012 by quest

On Sunday, May 20, an annular solar eclipse will be visible to those who live on the West Coast. Watching a solar eclipse can be an exciting and educational experience, but people should do so safely, warns the American Optometric Association (AOA). Looking at a solar eclipse without proper protection can result in serious eye damage, the association says. A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon are positioned nearly in a straight line. The moon comes directly between the sun and the earth, casting a shadow on the earth’s surface. The solar eclipse is visible from the earth in the areas where the moon’s shadow falls. The May 20 eclipse will be visible on the West Coast of North America and will begin at approximately 5:24 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.Early on May 21, viewers in Asia will also be able to experience the eclipse.

During most of a solar eclipse, at least part of the sun’s rays remain visible, therefore the sun’s rays can burn the eye’s retina if a viewer looks directly at the eclipse without protection. The retina is the delicate lining at the back of the eye that contains layers of light-sensitive nerve cells used for seeing. Retinal burns cause a temporary or permanent vision loss based on the degree of exposure. Light-induced retinal injuries can occur without any feeling of pain and the effects of the injuries may not appear for at least several hours after the damage is done.

The AOA warns consumers to avoid viewing a partial solar eclipse with the naked eye. Also unsafe are: sunglasses, color film, black and white film, medical x-ray films with images on them, smoked glass, photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. The AOA recommends viewing the solar eclipse safely with such methods as the use of an image projection device, such as a pinhole projector (which can be constructed at home), or wearing a solar viewing filter to protect the eyes. Examples of safe solar viewing filters include shade number 14 welder’s glass (available from welding supply outlets) or glasses (available through special manufacturers) constructed specifically for solar observation.

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Solar Decathlon Gets $1 Million For Great Park XPO

Posted on May 18, 2012 by quest

At their meeting on May 17, 2012, The Orange County Great Park Corporation Board approved an agreement with the United States Department of Energy that provides a $1 million grant to host the Solar Decathlon 2013 at the Great Park. The agreement establishes a two-phase planning and implementation process that also includes the staging of the first ever multi-day exposition set for October 3-13, 2013, dubbed the XPO: Clean+Renewable+Efficient Energy Exposition.

“We are excited to host the Solar Decathlon and XPO at the Great Park,” said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation Board. “Today’s action allows us to move forward on developing plans for this international event that will bring worldwide attention and economic development to the Great Park and the region and raise public awareness about the benefits of clean energy and energy conservation.”Under the first phase of the agreement, the Great Park accepted $375,000 from the United States Department of Energy for the planning and development process. This planning phase includes event programming and sponsorship planning as well as a finalized site plan that shows the location of the Solar Decathlon Village, where 20 collegiate teams will showcase their solar-powered houses.

The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The winning house best embodies affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence while also providing optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The XPO, featuring the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, will showcase technology, products, arts, education and business opportunities that arise from clean and renewable energy generation and efficient energy use. Both events will occur simultaneously October 3-13, 2013.

Sustainable Food Festival Cooking Up In Monterey

Posted on May 15, 2012 by quest

Food lovers, culinary experts and chefs from across the country will convene in Monterey, California from May 18-20 for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cooking for Solutions, a premier event celebrating the use of sustainable food. On the night of May 17, eleven top chefs from ARAMARK Parks and Destinations will showcase their culinary talent at the Aquarium using regional ingredients and sustainable practices in a special Meet the Chefs Reception. ARAMARK, which manages the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s dining experiences in partnership with award-winning Napa Valley chef and restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn, is bringing together chefs from its portfolio of parks, resorts and cultural attractions to take part in this weekend’s festivities and participate in this prestigious event. Invited guests attending the Meet the Chefs Reception will dine on a menu featuring fresh, local and seasonal ingredients while learning more about the protection and conservation of the environment.

“It is an honor for our chefs to be invited to participate in the Meet the Chefs Reception,” said Brian Stapleton, vice president of food and beverage, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “We look forward to providing guests with an extraordinary menu and memorable evening that reflects the chefs’ passion for cooking with sustainable ingredients.”

“Monterey Bay Aquarium has dedicated itself to educating the public about the importance of protecting our environment and natural resources,” said Bruce W. Fears, president, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “We also have deep respect for the environment and are delighted to have our chefs participate in Cooking for Solutions, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest sustainable food festivals.”Programs and events, such as Cooking for Solutions and Meet the Chefs, allow ARAMARK to demonstrate its commitment to protecting and improving the environment. ARAMARK believes sustainability is a process and has implemented environmental management practices and systems within the areas of food purchasing, supply chain, building operations, energy and water conservation, transportation and waste management.

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Solar and Renewable Energy Innovations Awarded 200k

Posted on May 15, 2012 by quest

Young entrepreneurs developing energy from waste water treatment, robots for cleaning solar panels and solar cell films with 20% more efficiency took the top prizes at the First Look West (FLoW) regional finals competition, which closed last week. At an awards celebration held at the California Institute of Technology on May 1, Stanford Nitrogen Group, Greenbotics and Xite Solar shared $200,000 in prize money.Professor Harry Atwater, Director of Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute, says “Successful competitions such as this show how universities, working with investors and the business community, are leaders in accelerating innovation flow to the real world, and in launching our future entrepreneurial leaders.”

At the Regional Awards Celebration, keynoter and Judge Andrew Chung, Partner at Khosla Ventures, captured the tone of the competition during an address that touched on the importance of thinking beyond the obvious. “Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be about extrapolating the past, but rather inventing the future,” Chung said. “Startups shouldn’t let the word of the ‘experts’ or conventional ‘wisdom’ constrain them from imagining new possibilities.”

FLoW represents the Western Region of the DOE’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition (NCEBPC). The winning teams from six regions across the country will now participate in the National Competition in Washington D.C., June 12 and 13, 2012. The awards event was the culmination of a six month competitive process searching for the untapped clean energy innovation that lies in American university labs. In its first year FLoW attracted 83 applicants from 34 universities across twelve states, and saw inventions ranging from new battery materials for portable electronic devices to net energy+ home kits, hydroponic farms and telephone apps for tracking energy use in the home.

Solar Powered Light Little Sun Launched

Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging A Reality

Posted on April 30, 2012 by quest

Evatran, the developer of Plugless Power wireless recharging technology for electric vehicles, will welcome EVS26 attendees at the Los Angeles Convention Center May 6th through May 9th. Plugless Power technology will be featured in booth #1115 and also at the Ride, Drive, and Charge event open throughout the four-day conference. Evatran will be showcasing its Plugless Power hands-free charging system on both a Nissan LEAF and a Chevrolet Volt at the event. Booth attendees can interact with automotive-quality components, witness the alignment process, and see object detection technology. Members of the Evatran team will also be available to answer visitor questions regarding the Plugless Power system and discuss integration considerations for automotive manufacturer production systems.

Evatran’s attendance at the EVS26 conference and exhibition follows the launch of its Apollo Trial Program, an initiative that encourages electric vehicle adoption through the trial of wireless charging technology. Prototypes used in the Apollo Program on LEAF and Volt vehicles will be on display at the Evatran booth. Evatran will also be promoting the next phase of its Apollo Trial Program, where select commercial partners can join Hertz, Google, and Duke Energy to trial wireless charging on their own electric vehicles.

Rebecca Hough, chief operating officer of Evatran, commented, “Interest in wireless charging is at an all time high in the electric vehicle market and we’re excited to unveil the current generation of our product at EVS26. Wireless charging is no longer simply about transferring power over a gap; the market is demanding seamless integration into vehicles, safety features, and the incorporation of a simple user interface. With design considerations for each of these requirements, Plugless Power will be showcased as the most production-ready technology available in the market.”

SunRun Invests $150 Million In Home Solar Systems

EPA Awards For Innovative Environmental Solutions

Posted on April 26, 2012 by quest

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded more than $1 million in grants to 15 university and college teams from across the country who participated in the 8th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for their innovative environmental solutions. EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) award competition was held at the expo, and featured more than 300 college innovators showcasing their sustainable projects designed to protect the environment, encourage economic growth and use natural resources more efficiently. Some P3 team projects include a new process that uses spinach to capture and convert the sun’s energy to electricity and a partnership with a local landfill to design a process that uses waste heat and drainage to grow algae for biodiesel production.

“The competition and expo are not only about EPA’s prestigious P3 award, but also about supporting the next generation of this country’s innovators and entrepreneurs who are entering the environmental and public health field with passion to make a difference and many brilliant ideas,” said Lek Kadeli, acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The P3 program gives these students the opportunity to bring those ideas to realization and many have the potential to make significant impacts on our nation’s sustainable future and development of environmental technologies.”

Two of the award winners were – Santa Clara University for developing a high efficiency solar absorber/exchanger that can bring low cost energy to urbanites who have limited space for solar collectors and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for designing a foldable solar power water purification system that can fit into a backpack for easy transport for use after a disaster affecting drinking water supply. Read the article see and list of winners.