Nice Architect, a Slovakian company, has created the ecocapsule, a new kind of super green micro dwelling. The ecocapsule is powered by a built-in wind turbine and solar cells, and its egg-like shape allows the collection of rainwater and dew. Continue reading… “The Ecocapsule is a new super green micro dwelling”
By turning the mattress-shaped batteries in Tesla’s electric car into upright pillars so they can be used to power homes, businesses and even utilities, Elon Musk is trying to pave the way to a better energy future. Continue reading… “Elon Musk trying energy storage fix where utility industry has failed”
Based on printing technologies, VTT Technical Centre of Finland has developed and utilized a mass production method allowing the manufacturing of decorative, organic solar panels. Freedom of design increases the range of panel applications on the surfaces of interior and exterior building spaces.
Continue reading… “Roll to roll manufactured decorative solar panels to be 10 times cheaper”
German car companies, BMW and Volkswagen are teaming up with ChargePoint to install a network of fast-charging stations for electric cars in the U.S. Continue reading… “BMW, VW join forces to build fast-charging stations for electric cars in US”
Electric bus in NYC
Electric cars have come a long way and they continue to wrestle more market share from their fossil-fueled counterparts, but electric cars can only take us so far. Electric buses, on the other hand, are a lot more exciting and becoming more commonplace. Continue reading… “Electric buses on the rise”
Illustration of reflective panel on building
A new ultrathin multilayered material can cool buildings without air conditioning by radiating warmth from inside the buildings into space while also reflecting sunlight to reduce incoming heat.
Fan Lab
Stanford engineers have invented a material designed to help cool buildings. The material reflects incoming sunlight, and it sends heat from inside the structure directly into space as infrared radiation (represented by reddish rays).
Stanford engineers have invented a revolutionary coating material that can help cool buildings, even on sunny days, by radiating heat away from the buildings and sending it directly into space.
Continue reading… “Stanford Engineers Invent High Tech Mirrors that Beam Light into Space”
Robin Speronis lives off the grid in Florida, completely independent of the city’s water and electric system. A few weeks ago, officials ruled her off-grid home illegal. Officials cited the International Property Maintenance Code, which mandates that homes be connected to an electricity grid and a running water source.
That’s like saying our dependency on corporations isn’t even a choice. The choice to live without most utilities has been ongoing for Robin, the self-sufficient woman has lived for more than a year and a half using solar energy, a propane camping stove and rain water.
In the end, she was found not guilty of not having a proper sewer or electrical system; but was guilty of not being hooked up to an approved water supply.
Continue reading… “It’s Illegal to Live off the Grid in the State of Florida”
For many more people than realize it, electric cars are already adequate for their needs and better than a gasmobile for their bank account and quality of life. However, it often isn’t good enough for disruptive technology to be better than the incumbents. It has to be much better. The target for electric cars, in order to meet that challenge, is a very long-range and affordable electric car. That would bring electric car convenience to another level, and leave gasmobiles with not a single actual advantage over electric cars, compared to nearly 10 for electric cars.
Continue reading… “Nissan’s New Electric Car will go farther than ever”
England’s Cornish Tin Mine
Jamie Doward – A pioneering research project to clean up a flooded Cornish tin mine is using algae to harvest the precious heavy metals in its toxic water, while simultaneously producing biofuel.
If the project, which is at a very early stage, is proven to work, it could have huge environmental benefits around the world.
Continue reading… “Algae used to extract metals from mine tailings”
Terraforming Mars
While scientists believe that at one time, long ago, Mars had an atmosphere similar to Earth’s and was covered with flowing water, the reality today is quite different. In fact, the surface of Mars is so hostile that a vacation in Antarctica would seem pleasant by comparison.
In addition to the extreme cold, there is little atmosphere to speak of and virtually no oxygen. However, a team of students from Germany wants to change that. Their plan is to introduce cyanobacteria into the atmosphere which would convert the ample supplies of CO² into oxygen gas, thus paving the way for possible settlements.
Continue reading… “Latest thinking about terraforming Mars, introducing cyanobacteria”
Environmental benefits are not the biggest attraction to electric cars.
People love to categorize things. Sometimes people categorize too quickly and too simply. Electric cars are linked to their environmental benefits and being green, but the electric cars’ performance and convenience benefits are the biggest electric car attractions for most consumers.
An offshore wind turbine near Rostock. Germany.
Germany’s impressive streak of renewable energy milestones continues, with renewable energy generation surging to a record portion — nearly 75 percent — of the country’s overall electricity demand by midday last Sunday. With wind and solar in particular filling such a huge portion of the country’s power demand, electricity prices actually dipped into the negative for much of the afternoon, according to Renewables International.
Continue reading… “Germany generates 74% of power needs from renewable energy”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.