Tag Archives: water
In Focus: The Chemicals in Chicago’s Air
Scientists have found that Chicago’s air is infested with chemicals courtesy of airborne compounds that are traveling as far as the Arctic. The chemicals, called cyclic siloxanes, are toxic to aquatic life. Where do they come from? From chemicals in deodorants, lotions and conditioners. “These chemicals are just everywhere,” said Keri Hornbuckle, an engineering professor at the [...]
In Focus: Off Grid Solar Power Billboard Lighting
The biggest challenge associated with lighting the scores of billboards located along remote stretches of highways and byways throughout the US is the accessibility of AC power. When AC power is not readily available or too costly to access, SEPCO’s ultra reliable grid-free solar power systems—combined with energy efficient, high performance LED flood light fixtures [...]
In Focus: Floating Wind Farms
A couple of the common complaints regarding wind power as an alternative source of energy is that, firstly, they are noisome contraptions disturbing those forced to be in close vicinity, and secondly, that they do not produce enough power because they stop generating when the wind stops blowing. However, those arguments don’t hold much weight [...]
FUTUREWATCH: Solar Panels That Dissolve in Water
As the solar industry has been growing, so has its hazardous waste because of chemicals that are integral to making solar panels. But researchers have discovered a process that could change all this – at end of life, solar panels could simply be dissolved in water! That’s because they have found a way to replace [...]
Air + Water = Sustainable Fuel
It sounds like magic but it’s actually based on sound science. A British start-up called Air Fuel Synthesis is developing a technology to make gasoline using renewable energy to capture carbon dioxide and water from the air. It then electrolyzes the water to make hydrogen and reacts the carbon dioxide and hydrogen together to make [...]
In Focus: Floating Solar Panels
Japan is one of the few bright lights for the solar industry this year, with its new aggressive feed-in law. With developers rushing in, there’s room for innovation rather than the scrimping we’re seeing elsewhere. One of the more interesting concepts are floating solar plants. A domestic home developer, West Holdings, plans to build 10 floating solar [...]
Educating Consumers about Sustainable Consumption
Businesses need to address consumer confusion about sustainability. A 2011 WBCSD report reviews how business can help to take sustainability from a niche market to the mainstream. As reviewed in the report, businesses need to be part of the effort to explain sustainability to consumers. Ultimately consumers need to understand that sustainability is about a [...]
Profiting from Solar Printing Technologies
Solar installations are rocketing worldwide as solar electricity becomes cheaper than electricity from fossil fuels – it’s already happened in 105 countries. This is the tipping point where economics takes over from altruism and solar PVbecomes a serious part of the global energy mix. The steady drop in cost-per-watt is great news for the end [...]
Only in China: The Umet Wooden Electric Car
One of the world’s first all-wooden cars has made its debut at the China Eurasia Expo. Dubbed the Umut, this 4 metre long, 7-seater car is composed completely of wood, made entirely by hand, and is powered by an electric motor. With an expected top speed is 60km/h, it can last about 2.5 hours or [...]