This is the irony of the eco-world portrayed at its very best as we use the red hot sun to make ice as and when we need it. This is probably why we call the Sun as the ultimate source of energy. It pretty much can do everything- from melting huge glaciers to now creating ice with its heat energy. Of course, it is not without a little helping hand from science and the creative brilliance of some folk at San Jose State University, but that is something we would gladly take any day.

Read the full story »

Ever wondered if your handbag could carry more than it usually does? Do you have to choose between your cell phone charger and lip-gloss to have space in your bag? You are listening to you favourite song during a road block and your i-pod conchs off…and you don’t know what to do?
Well, for all those who have faced this and other power issues, there’s a good news. A handbag that can charge your electric gadgets while on move. Don’t believe me?

Read the full story »

Now-a-days one and all are on the go to explore spanking new green stuff in each facet of life. Accordingly, the world is seeking out ecofriendly means to preserve energy and exploit renewable solar power. An exemplar of this is latest teeny weeny solar fan. Encompassing a diameter of 7.3 cm this mini clip fan would certainly placates you while you are away from home in a scorching heat. Furthermore there is no tension to change batteries since it is charged merely by sunlight. This inimitable creation is accessible to us at a nominal price of $10 at GadgetBrando.

Via GeekAlerts

As a substitute to renting out solar power set ups, PSE&G is committed to help people possess their own solar power systems in New Jersey. PSE&G agenda is to outline utterly green ambiance by financing public who aspires to mount solar panels at their dwelling. Under this line up, up to 6 MW competence solar system installations are entitled for mortgage. At any point in time, production of 1MWH solar energy would dig up one solar renewable energy credit which is worth $475 or market value, either is more. With an interest rate of 6.5% for a decade plan, this loan scheme offered by PSE&G seems to be moving and rational since loan amount could also be compensated back effortlessly based on the SREC received.

Via TreeHugger

The Sun is rising in political spheres! Valuing the sun as renewable source of clean solar power, the EU supergrid gets a crucial political backing from UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. It is jointly decided now that the vast desert of Sahara would be the land where dozens of solar farms will be constructed as a part of the $71 Billion EU supergrid infrastructure. The latter is an initiative taken by the European Commission to meet the continent’s electricity demands in future. The clean power generated by this supergrid will be shared by all the EU countries.
It is projected that each farm of the supergrid will generate upto 200 Megawatts of power. This would then be transferred to EU states via high voltage DC transmission, which is a better option over AC lines. The energy loss incurred over long distances is much lesser when DC lines are used. The decision to build solar panels in Sahara originates from the simple fact that the desert receives intense sunlight throughout year which can be effectively harnessed.

Read the full story »

What kills roughly 2 million people but is not AIDS? Answer: indoor cooking related diseases. Shocked? This fact is found and recorded in a World Health Organization report. The problem aggravates in villages where modern gas burners are rarely available and the smoke chullas (stoves) are vicious enough to choke your lungs!
In an attempt to alleviate this situation, students from MIT have designed a clean solar cooker out of yak-wool canvas panels, for villagers of the Himalayan region. The panels are stretched over bamboo ribs and faced with reflective Mylar in a manner that in first look you might think it to be some sort of an umbrella!

But this unique light weight cooking device comes for only $17 and for an extra $26 one can attach a metal coil for heating one’s house. This solar cooker helps in cutting down carbon emission as opposed to the traditional yak dung or wood fuel the cooker uses solar power to make yummy food! Its design has won a prize and loads of public attention at the MIT IDEAS competition and in near future one may happen to find it in markets for sale. This means clean and green cooking at an affordable price and no more choking or coughing over horrible gas stoves!

Via: wiredscience

Don’t you some times wish that the air you breathe inside your house should be more pure? Atleast that’s what the latest AC models backed with ion technology try to get your attention to. But how many of us can really afford these high-end air conditioners?

Now, there’s a cheaper and greener solution, which promises to revitalize you by refreshing your space indoor in a completely non-polluting, non-toxic manner! That’s Extend for you. A green gadget which exploits the much talked about ion technology and purifies the indoors of your sweet home.

Designed by Matteo Ragni, Extend comes from the house of industrial designer Sander Brouwer. The green gadget (as per its creators) purifies the air with negatively charged ions, which are released from its body. Extend is a sleek looking no-fuss gadget. Its flexibility allows itself to be used as both a fit in panel and a single-fit anywhere inside the house. It operates on solar power and very nicely compliments the little green corner within the four walls of your dwelling place. I guess it won’t be too much on your part then to extend yourself to newer possibilities and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Read the full story »

Solar energy undoubtedly is one of the cleaner and greener power sources. But currently, the solar cells which harness the sun’s radiation and convert them into electricity aren’t cheap enough to be utilized at mass scale. Thus, the true potential of this renewable energy still remains to be channeled for the larger benefits of society.

But now, scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed a new devise which they say is an efficient and practical solar power device. The latter acts as a solar concentrator and is considered to be a key in making solar energy more affordable in the near future. Scientists at MIT used several glass sheets and coated them with organic dyes to concentrate the sunlight hitting on the solar panes. The organic dyes upon absorption of sunlight emit it onto the glass sheet which in turn carries the light to the edges of the pane following the example of transport of light through fiber-optics. In this solar concentrator, small solar cells are located at the edges of the glass sheets.These cells convert sun’s photons into electricity.

Researches hope that this technology can bring down the cost of running a solar power unit down and much closer to that used by conventional methods of power generation (fossil fuel burning). The current type of solar concentrators available in the market use either lenses or mirrors to concentrate sunlight. However, in this new solar power device, glass sheets used are light weight and flat shaped. These can be used on roofs or as windows that could generate power for the entire house/ building. This new device is under testing and the final product ready for the market will become available in a couple of years. So far the news itself promises a sustainable tomorrow. I’m waiting when it actually becomes a reality!

Via Enn

The Fuel Cell System can produce a power now by supplying water and air to fuel and air electrodes, respectively.

The concept Fuel Cell System power generation mechanism of latest system is similar to that of a usual fuel cell, which uses hydrogen as a fuel. According to Genepax, the main feature of the latest Fuel Cell System is that it uses the company’s membrane electrode assembly, which contains a material able of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction.

With the latest process, the Cell System needs simply water and air, eliminating the need for a hydrogen reformer and high-pressure hydrogen tank.

Source

Touted as the greenest endeavor of Toyota, Prius is all set to pep-up its eco-friendly quotient. The super sexy vehicle will now be available with a set of solar panels. These panels will be fitted on the car’s roof. Prius is already an efficient Hybrid cars well established in the market. It is believed that the solar panels thus installed will power the car’s AC (air-conditioning) unit. This further addition not only reflects the car’s potential to remain number one in the world of Hybrid cars but also the company’s smart move to polish its image many folds by becoming more and more eco-savvy.

Read the full story »