Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system can operate nearly perpetually
| Vancouverism and the Seven-Year Itch Seven years after winning their bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, how are Canadians feeling about the upcoming games? Denis Du Bois talks with Vaughn Palmer, political columnist for the Vancouver Sun. |
| Neighborhood grids promise energy gains Researchers are creating technology that will treat neighborhoods like a miniature power grid, sharing energy generated at each house according to need. Allied to a host of other developments, the concept promises huge energy savings. |
| The Process of Buying the Wind: Come, Follow the Crow’s Bruce and Tammy Crow of Fort Defiance Virgina recently purchased a Skystream 3.7 from us and took the time to log the entire process from the information gathering phase through to completion. Here it is. As they point out, it should answer any questions a future consumer would have. Good morning Amy I have outlined our process to inform others who may be interested in wind power. May 2007 * Gathered info on increase in real estate property values with renewable energy sources. * Info sheet on noise and decibel level of turbine system in operation. * Info sheet on. |
| ARRA “Retrofit Ramp-Up” To Jump Start an Energy Efficiency Industry The U.S. Department of Energy is announcing a new $450 million program designed to catalyze a nationwide energy upgrade that could save $100 million annually in utility bills for households and businesses. The Recovery Act’s “Retrofit Ramp-Up” program will try new models for rolling out energy efficiency to homes and businesses on a large scale. |
| Intelligent energy management for the home In order to save energy, consumers need to be able to obtain up-to-date information at any time about the energy consumption of their appliances, and be able to control them while away from home. Scientists have developed two new applications that help consumers manage their power use. |
After Toyota Recall, Best Deals Ever for Hybrids In an unexpected turn of events, Toyota’s safety recalls could create a jump in hybrid sales. To counteract the effects of negative publicity, Toyota is offering a sale on the 2010 Prius: $249-a-month on a three-year lease. Some dealers are also increasing residual rates and dropping finance rates.”The programs are very aggressive,” says Tom Rudnai, president of Longo Toyota in El Monte, Calif., the highest-volume Toyota dealership in the country. “We are seeing quite a bit of traffic,” Rudnai told the Wall Street Journal. He added that the recall is bringing hundreds of customers for service, providing an opportunity to speak to them about deals on their next vehicle.Hybrid competitors, most notably Honda and Ford, are trying to take advantage of Toyota’s problems. According to Autodata Corp, Honda is discounting the Honda Insight to $219 per month on a no-money down lease. The Ford Fusion Hybrid continues to sponsor American Idol, which also features competing commercials, sometimes back-to-back, for the Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.This level of marketing, and price incentives, is unprecedented for hybrids. In recent years, when gas prices were higher, dealers were charging premiums to hybrid buyers hoping to bypass long waiting lists to purchase a Prius.Analysts expect Toyota’s overall maket share to slide by about 3 percentage points, and the company will take at least a $2 billion hit to its profits from the costs of repairs and loss of sales due to negative publicity.Despite the recalls, and even before the hybrid deals, the Toyota Prius topped the list of new-car best values according to Consumer Reports’ latest annual auto issue, announced yesterday. The 2010 CR issue has the Prius beating out more than 280 cars in eight categories-and nudging out the Honda Fit for the top position. While the Prius is more expensive than the Honda Fit-by about $10,000-and has a higher cost per mile, the Prius performed notably better in Consumer Reports’ battery of road tests, earning a score of 80 versus the Fit’s 68. According to CR, both cars have excellent reliability.Reprinted with permission from Hybrid Cars |
| A window that washes itself? New nano-material may revolutionize solar panels and batteries, too Researchers have developed a method to control the atoms and molecules of peptides so that they “grow” to resemble small forests of grass. These “peptide forests” repel dust and water and can also serve as high-density battery capacitors. |
| Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system can operate nearly perpetually A newly developed 9 cubic millimeter solar-powered sensor system is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually. |
| Press Release from Solar Night Industries 12.28.2007-Solar Night Industries (PINKSHEETS: SLND), a renewable energy company formed to accelerate the adoption of Modern Energy Solutions by providing design and product solutions, had a challenge. Project Manager Alan Brani of Solar Night began working with their Michigan Installer/Partner, Mark Bauer of Bauer Power, who was concerned about finding an optimal roof mount location for a solar thermal (hot water) installation. Working with Bauer, it was agreed the best solution would be a “ground mount” system for the solar panels. Solar Night found it difficult to find a viable solution from their extensive list of suppliers. See Full Press. |