House Priorities–Right on Track!
| Potential Of Graphene Films As Next-generation Transistors Demonstrated Physicists at the University of Pennsylvania have characterized an aspect of graphene film behavior by measuring the way it conducts electricity on a substrate. This milestone advances the potential application of graphene, the ultra-thin, single-atom thick carbon sheets that conduct electricity faster and more efficiently than silicon, the current material of choice for transistor fabrication. |
| ‘Anti-noise’ Silences Wind Turbines If wind turbines clatter and whistle too loudly, they are only permitted to operate under partial load to protect the local residents — but this also means a lower electricity output. An active damping system cancels out the noise by producing counter-vibrations. |
| Solar In the Home-It’s Approaching Mainstream Solar Night Industries featured in Yahoo Real Estate Story (January 2008): Solar in the Home-It’s Approaching Mainstream |
| Nanowires May Boost Solar Cell Efficiency, Engineers Say Electrical engineers have created experimental solar cells spiked with nanowires that could lead to highly efficient thin-film solar cells of the future. The new design increases the number of electrons that make it from the light-absorbing polymer to an electrode. |
| Advance Brings Low-cost, Bright LED Lighting Closer To Reality Researchers have overcome a major obstacle in reducing the cost of “solid state lighting,” a technology that could cut electricity consumption by 10 percent if widely adopted. The technology, called light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, is about four times more efficient than conventional incandescent lights and more environmentally friendly than compact fluorescent bulbs. The LEDs also are expected to be far longer lasting than conventional lighting, lasting perhaps as long as 15 years before burning out. |
| House Priorities–Right on Track! The House Appropriations Committee was busy yesterday approving legislation for increased funding for clean energy technologies. In separate legislation, the committee also increased funding for veterans health care programs by 13% from last year. Two terrific steps in the right direction. For more on yesterday’s activities in the House check out this article. |
| D’oh! A Pipe Dream!? Thomas saw it coming–but Homer never did. “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” ~Thomas Edison, in a conversation with Henry Ford in 1931 “And Lord, we are especially thankful for nuclear power, the cleanest, safest energy source there is. Except for solar, which is just a pipe dream.” ~ Homer Simpson, saying his prayers before a meal (Homer emulating his hero Thomas Edison) |
| Six tips for safely choosing an IT asset disposal partner Picking the right company to help retire your IT gear could not only save you some cash and headaches, it could protect you from a regulatory nightmare READ MORE |