Innovative News

13October2008

Earth energy and geothermal energy

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy.

Sometimes people are confused about the terminology earth and geothermal energy.  They sound like they’re the same thing, but they aren’t.

Earth and geothermal energy are two different types of energy.  What are the differences?

Earth energy comes from the air.  It uses the earths temperature for heating or cooling air which is forced into the earth.

The advantages are that it requires less energy for moving the heat than for converting one energy in another. Earth energy is widely used in Canada and northern Europe and more and more in the U.S.

Geothermal energy comes from captured steam or water.  Geothermal energy requires a certain earth temperature and therefore a certain local geography.

Geothermal energy is widely used in the Philippines, Italy, Iceland, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Japan and China.  Other countries like Canada and Switzerland are testing geothermal sites.

Both types of energy can be applied for residential, commercial and industrial uses.

12October2008

Low cost solar power system

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy.

There is a race among solar companies all over the world to achieve highest performance with lowest cost.

The SkyFuel company in Colorado made an important step toward this goal.  Their vision is to make solar power a true “alternative” source of energy by collecting fuel from the sky.

They unveiled the SkyTrough, a solar power system with high performance and lowest cost utility-scale.

The secret of SkyTrough lies in the surface material.  The highly reflective surface is made of a glass-free, silver-metalized polymer film which is inexpensive, weather resistant and easy to maintain.

Even though each SkyTrough solar collector assembly is more than 100 meters long its weight is remarkably low wherefore transportation, installation and maintenance aren’t expensive.

Parabolic solar power systems like SkyTrough have been in continuous operation in California’s Mojave Desert for nearly 20 years. 

11October2008

Solar garden fountains

Posted by Cecilia under: Home.

With solar fountains you can embellish your garden at the same time have an eco-friendly product.

Solar fountains are available in a large diversity with a wide range of costs.  Customers who’ve installed a solar fountain in their garden are very satisfied with the end result.

You can find all kinds of solar garden fountains such as a solar bird bath fountain, water floating solar fountain or terracotta cascade solar fountain.

The newest solar technology allows the fountains work with low sun intensity. 

Other advantages of solar garden fountains are low pump noise and that the fiberglass material is weather-resistant and maintenance-free.

Having a solar garden fountain is a joy for everybody.

10October2008

Carbon Capture and Storage CCS

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy; Environment.

Despite media reports, the financial crisis isn’t the only thing happening in Iceland.  The Icelandic geothermal power station Hellisheidi produces CO2 in a huge amounts.  So as not to burden the atmosphere with it’s emissions, it’s important for the power station to contain and store the CO2 safely.

Conventional projects store CO2 in gas form.  The risk of this technique is for leakage back into the atmosphere.

Now, researchers have developed a new way using a natural process.  Because CO2 interacts naturally with calcium ions from basalt rock and forms calcite, a stable mineral, researchers will dissolve CO2 in water and inject it into basalt to a depth of 400-800 meters.  The geo-chemical reaction will be observed very carefully to find out how long the mineralisation process takes.

It’s an interesting and innovative project that will hopefully reduce geothermal carbon emissions.

9October2008

Homemade windmill

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy.

Some of the existing windmill power systems are very expensive to purchase, not to mention the installation and maintenance.  This fact keeps people away from generating their own power through wind energy.

There are a growing number of low cost wind power systems which people can build themselves and cost just a few hundred dollars.

Windstuffnow provides a lot information about wind systems.  They start with detailed explanations of a basic wind system and take you all the way through a Three Phase Turbine Kit.

The “Builders Corner” of Windstuffnow presents kits for every requirement.  I was especially interested in the Dual Rotor alternator kit.

Building your own wind turbine is a cost effective and interesting challenge that could lead you to creating your own homemade windmill.

8October2008

Green Heroes

Posted by Cecilia under: Economy; Energy; Environment.

Yesterday, on October 7, 2008 the Green Heroes Sustainable Innovation Network was launched.

The goal of this young network is to create a place for sharing information, ideas and experience on sustainable innovation but also to connect green start ups with experienced professionals all over the world.

The Green Heroes Network is open for anyone to join.  Interested people can connect to Green Heroes online or at events such as at the National Sustainability Congress in Amsterdam, Holland on November 27, 2008 where the Young Sustainability Award will be presented.

Each opportunity for connecting with people and exchanging knowledge benefits attendees mutually.  By making a combined effort the world will more rapidly achieve the goal of a sustainable life for everybody.

7October2008

Talking green on cell phones

Posted by Cecilia under: Economy; Environment.

In Germany people can help the environment while they talk on their cell phones.  The company TalkGreener is offering a very special “green service” for their clients.

Phone usage with TalkGreener is carbon neutral.  The company calculates carbon dioxide emissions produced while talking and charging.  Based on the amount of the emissions TalkGreener buys CO2 credits which are invested in renewable energy projects certified by the UN.

Also, for each new TalkGreen client they plant a tree in Borneo where tree planting campaigns support forest conservation projects.  The company also supports other green projects all over the world.

Talkgreener also helps recycle old cell phones by shredding them in small pieces for recycled materials or by adapting fully functional cell phones to the newest technology and by bringing them back in the market.

Talkgreener is a phone company that offers customers more than just free minutes!

6October2008

Top 5 design requirements for sustainable products

Posted by Cecilia under: Economy.

There are an estimated 100 million products on sale worldwide, with only 1000 among them considered sustainable products.  This shows that sustainability still has lots of room to grow.

A product is sustainable when it is fully compatible with nature through its whole life cycle.  To achieve sustainability for a product it needs to achieve 5 design requirements.

The first three points are based on the example of plant and animal ecosystems.  The forth step considers the utility of resources in a finite world and the fifth point incorporates the people who work for the production.

• Cyclic: The product is made from organic materials, and is recyclable or compostable, or is made from minerals that are continuously cycled in a closed loop.
• Solar: The product uses solar energy or other forms of renewable energy that are cyclic and safe, both during use and manufacture.
• Safe: The product is non-toxic in use and disposal, and its manufacture does not involve toxic releases or the disruption of ecosystems.
• Efficient: The product’s efficiency in manufacture and use is improved by a factor of ten, requiring 90% less materials, energy and water than products providing equivalent utility did in 1990.
• Social: The product and its components and raw materials are manufactured under fair and just operating conditions for the workers involved and the local communities.

Every step taken to make products sustainable is important.  Looking at nature to find ways to reach this goal is one of the best ways to accomplish it.

5October2008

ZENN: Zero Emissions, No Noise

Posted by Cecilia under: Transportation.

 If you have a daily city commute you might be interested in ZENN, an all-electric car - also called an LSV, or low-speed vehicle.

The prices of a new LSV range between $6,500 and $17,000.  Even better than the purchase price is that it only costs about $200 a year to operate.  According to purchasers who recharge it overnight on household current the electric bill shows no substantial increase.

The newest LSV has a 5-hp electric motor powered by six 12-volt batteries.  The ZENN can go between 25 and 30 mph with a range of 30 to 50 miles.

According to dealers sales over the last year have increased 30 percent.  While it may not be practical for long commutes or travel, the ZENN is the perfect car for daily commuters over small distances and security-patrol cars for businesses and shopping centers.

4October2008

Champions of the Earth

Posted by Cecilia under: Environment.

Each year the Champion of the Earth Award honors people all over the world for their efforts in sustainable development.

One of the Champions of the Earth 2008 is Senator Elizabeth Thompson, Minister of Energy and The Environment in Barbados.  She has played a key role in environmental awareness and protection across the Caribbean region.

Her work for sustainable development made her to one of the recognized leaders on environmental issues in the Small Island Developing States.

She said in her acceptance speech that as “Champions of the Earth we must find a tangible way to make a global difference.” 

Everybody all over the world can be a champion of the earth by making a small but important difference in their daily lives.