Eco-Thinker

Ultraviolet rays take a toll on solar cells, just as they do human cells. While it may not manifest itself as a sunburn, UV light does expedite degradation of solar cells. As a promising answer to this dilemma, a scientist at the University of California in Los Angeles, Yang Yang, says his new material can change UV rays into visible light, reducing damage and even enhancing efficiency of a solar cell.

First we had hybrid-busses and then plug-in hybrid busses, and now a no-plug-in hybrid wirelessly rechargeable bus? Say what? So the terms may need tweaking. From Tokyo, check out this interesting new project by Hino, a subsidiary of Toyota. Before the majority of society can even ingest the news of a prospective electric-car-future, we have a design that can keep a battery charged without having to stop, plug in, and “fill up”. But, as EcoGeek pointed out, the available wireless energy transmission technology is rather inefficient. So to actually make it a truly green project would mean the source of the energy providing the grid would have to be solar power or some other efficient energy production.

Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory, along with partners at Microcontinuum Inc. (Cambridge, MA) and Patrick Pinhero of the University of Missouri, are developing a novel way to collect energy from the sun with a technology that could potentially cost pennies a yard, be imprinted on flexible materials and still draw energy after the sun has set.

Could this possibly mean what we think it means for electric cars? The question this raises is, if the Tesla, for a commonly known example, can travel 240 miles on a charge, will the new design allow for a 2,400 mile trip? It appears that little change to the size of the battery itself will be needed, but a major change to the life of the battery could result from the newer version.

This is how to make passive solar heater for under $20 or so. It is basically a greenhouse box. Simple yet brilliant. It is environmentally friendly (after it is assembled), green, handy, forehead slappingly easy to make, and even an awesome project for shop class. Ok so it will not become school curriculum, but most agree it should be damn it! grumble government subsidies grumble greed and priorities and blah…watch this and learn!

David Faiman has 30 years of research in the solar field and has come up with a design that will make solar energy competitive. Actually not only competitive, but beyond moronic to not start switching over from coal fired energy.

An experimental pocket-sized radio receiver, powered by energy from the sun, weighs only 10 ounces and will work more than eight months in total darkness without recharging. Developed by General Electric, the set uses a miniature storage battery, four transistors, and seven solar cells.

Graeme Atty, an inventor from Australia, has designed a simple and affordable solution to supplying your home’s energy needs. Just five of these simple looking turbines can power an average home. Since the initial cost is around $700 each, a few thousand dollars for a power station is quite the bargain. The oversupply can be sent back to the grid for a potential profit in certain areas.