Where is your water?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by quest

By Sig Britt Ivey - According to the Hopi prophecies,“…there are things to be considered….Where are you living?  What are you doing? …. Where is your water?“
Water is sacred. It is a great mystery and the source of all life. Our bodies are 70% water as is the Earth. Without water we would die and so would all life on earth. What we do to our soil and water we do to ourselves. Years ago I wrote an article about toxic waste being used as fertilizer. It was apparent to me that polluting our soil would eventually pollute us. Who comes up with these crazy ideas anyway ? It’s so outraegeous that its somehow accepted as okay. The fracking controversy involving pumping hundreds of toxic chemicals into the earth to extract natural gas is a similar outlandish proposal and practice. These toxic chemicals eventually leak into the groundwater polluting the soil, animals and people along the way. When will we as a species, learn that it’s not a good idea to spoil your own nest ? No other animal behaves in such a ludicrous manner.The documentary GASLAND explains what’s happening all over the country where natural gas drilling is taking place.

Clean drinking water becomes a rare commodity in many areas where fracking is allowed and people and animals are getting sick and possibly even dying. The quality of water we drink has a direct effect on brain function since the human brain is 85% water. A strong movement against fracking is developing in New York State where many people are calling for a ban. Citizen’s are outraged by stories of polluted water in Pennsylvania where there have been numerous complaints of toxic drinking water. Fracking has been linked to over 1000 incidents of groundwater contamination across the U.S. including many cases where people can actually ignite their tap water. Just go to You Tube and input “Tap water on Fire” and you’ll see for yourself. Fracking involves injecting secret, highly toxic chemicals deep underground to break up shale formations. The process is unregulated and the Environmental Protection Agency, in charge of supposedly…Read the full article

Brown Promotes Renewables In State of The State Address

Future Engineers Using Solar And Renewable Energy

Posted on January 18, 2012 by quest

Hundreds of future engineering students from all across New Jersey flocked to Rutgers’ University this past Saturday to gain insight and encouragement from New Jersey American Water engineers as they competed in the 5th Annual New Jersey Engineers Future Cities Competition. The competition, held at the Rutgers University Livingston Campus, featured students’ models of future cities designed to meet energy needs and maintain a healthy planet.“The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

Throughout the university’s student center, student vied for more than two dozen awards with models of cities made from recycled materials that showcased different forms of alternative energy such as wind mills, solar power, and magnets. New Jersey American Water sponsored two of the awards: 5th place overall, which was awarded to Iselin Middle School for their city named “Verison City,” and the specialty category of Healthiest City, given to St. Paul Interparochial School for their city named “Findiger City.”Iselin Middle School received a $500 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Grant for materials used in their school’s classrooms as well as the opportunity to be the special guests of the company at the American Water Works Association’s New Jersey (AWW-NJ) chapter’s annual conference held in Atlantic City . St. Paul Interparochial School in Ramsey, NJ will also take a behind the scenes tour of a New Jersey American Water treatment plant.

In between presenting their designs, students stopped by the New Jersey American Water booth to seek academic and career advice, as well as to marvel at the company’s “magic floating faucet” and collect giveaways.“It is so important to encourage students at this early age to explore engineering and technology as a career interest,” said Suzanne Chiavari, New Jersey American Water Vice President of Engineering, and Future Cities Competition judge. “The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

OBAMA TO TURN DOWN XL PIPELINE

U S Military Has 7 Gigawatts Of Solar Energy Potential

Posted on January 17, 2012 by quest

The Department of Defense could generate 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy—equivalent to the output of seven nuclear power plants—on four military bases located in the California desert, according to a study released today by DoD’s Office of Installations and Environment. The year-long study, conducted by the consultancy ICF International, looked at seven military bases in California and two in Nevada. It finds that, even though 96 percent of the surface area of the nine bases is unsuited for solar development because of military use, endangered species and other factors, the solar-compatible area is nevertheless large enough to generate more than 30 times the electricity consumed by the California bases, or about 25 percent of the renewable energy that the State of California is requiring utilities to use by 2015.

DoD is seeking to develop solar, wind, geothermal and other distributed energy sources on its bases both to reduce their $4 billion-a-year energy bill and to make them less dependent on the commercial electricity grid. Such on-site energy generation, together with energy storage and so-called smart-microgrid technology, would allow a military base to maintain its critical operations “off-grid” for weeks or months if the grid is disrupted.

The ICF study looks in detail at the seven DoD installations that are located in California’s Mojave and Colorado deserts: Fort Irwin, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, the Marine Corps’ Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Edwards Air Force Base, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and Naval Air Facility El Centro. The study also looks at two Air Force bases located in the Nevada desert, Creech and Nellis. Read the full report: Executive Summary – Solar Energy Development

ASU Building Megawatt Solar Power Plant

Solar Water Bulb Lighting New Philippine Lifestyle

Posted on January 11, 2012 by quest

When Los Angeles based green entrepreneur and founder of Savor Solar, Susan Rigali first turned me on to this story I was struck by the simplicity of roof mounted bottles of water providing light to communities in the Philippines. Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Solar Bottle Bulb is based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies – a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities. Illac Diaz is a Philippine born social entrepreneur who helped bring the Solar Bottle Bulb concept the country. As the financial, environmental and job creation power of solar energy becomes more apparent – alternatives to thin film and silicon based solutions are also coming to the forefront. Light being diffused through bottled water are just part of a wave of innovations in renewable energy which include spray on solar, solar powered boats and airplanes.

A Liter of Light – MyShelter Foundation is a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to challenged communities throughout the island nation. The program inspired by many innovations from around the world. Many cultures have used glass bottles to allow lighting through the roof, and Alfredo Moser from Brazil began pioneering methods of experimenting with plastic bottles. There has been modifications to the Philippine model, but what must be emphasized is the amount of people whose lives are being affected by this innovation.

Solar Water Blub

Recent statistics from the National Electrification Commission in the Philippines reveals 3 million households still remain powerless outside Metro Manila. And even in the metropolitan Manila families still continue to live in darkness. Government officials report that a large number of fire- related incidents involve faulty electrical connections. Informal settlements are high-risk areas, since local officials do not conduct fire hazard inspections in these communities. MyShelter Foundation is bringing economically- and ecologically-sustainable sources of light that will provide immediate environmental and green job solutions.

Ed Begley Jr. Shinning For Panasonic Solar 

Posted on January 10, 2012 by quest

Jim Doyle, President of Panasonic Eco Solutions North America has announced an exclusive brand license and endorsement agreement with noted environmentalist endorsement of Ed Begley Jr. for Panasonic HIT solar panels. “Mr. Begley is not only a well known actor but his view of helping the environment matches Panasonic’s mission to be the number one green innovation company in the electronics industry by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding. Ed will be a recognizable and trusted voice to the customer about how they can help the environment by installing solar panels.”

“Environmental lifestyles have changed much over the past few years. Solar has become an alternative to people who want to do something sustainable in their lives as well as save money. Solar can help them do both with quality solar panels like Panasonic’s HIT, government incentives, and solar leasing,” said Mr. Begley. “This agreement will help me reach customers and educate the public on the benefits of going solar. It has always been my mission to help people make greener lifestyle choices, and consequently create a brighter, healthier future for all of us.”

HIT stands for “heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer”, and the solar cells used are a hybrid with a unique structure comprised of a thin mono-crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. HIT solar modules are known for having one of the world’s highest conversion efficiencies and excellent temperature characteristics, allowing HIT modules to generate more power throughout the year, even during peak summer months, compared to other types of crystalline modules. The panels were originally developed by Sanyo Electric, which Panasonic Corporation acquired on April 1, 2011.

California Focusing On 2020 Solar Vision

Solar Energy Expanding In Developing Nations

Posted on January 10, 2012 by quest

Currently, 600 million people in Africa live with no access to electricity. The enormous solar energy potential in Africa is currently underutilized, and only accounts for less than 2% of installed world solar facilities or solar / wind farms. Of the fossil energy sources that are exploited in Africa, only 25% of oil production is consumed locally. Limited energy development in the region has resulted in one of the lowest use of modern energy sources. More than 75% of sub-Saharan Africans have no access to electricity, compared to fewer than 15% of Latin Americans and East Asians. Sunbelt International can facilitate current efforts to spur economic growth and reduce poverty by providing the region with a needed energy supply.

Sunbelt International has announced expansion through the developing nation initiative. The company announced today that they will offer a wide service range through the Operation Network to provide critically needed local Turbine and Solar PV services and technical support to the energy users in Africa. Sunbelt International president Fang Soo Lui realizes the potential this initiative has for both the company and the end users. Mr.Lui has had several meetings with the Developing Nations and Aid organizations who are planning to invest in the future of developing countries, and exploit Africa’s huge energy potential as a weapon against poverty.

Developing countries are a large market for the sustainable energy systems provided by Sunbelt International. Due to poor infrastructure, and large initial investment requirements, only 7 percent of the potential market is being reached. At least half of the African Continent’s 53 countries could profitably produce Wind / Solar energy. Sunbelt International is pleased to reach these markets to provide sustainable energy solutions.