10 Reasons Why The World Should Go Solar

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

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Guys, what's up? 7K+ people in this amazing group of News lovers and climbing! So proud to be connected with all of you. We have a better way! 

You’ve probably heard of it; Solar Power. The way to go green by using the sun for electricity and much, much more. 

If you take a serious look into all the possibilities that solar power has to offer, you are going to wonder why the whole world is not running on it yet. Here are the 10 reasons why the world should go solar:

1. It saves you money

One of the things that make Solar Power stand out is how on the long haul you are going to save money. Sure, getting them might be a bit expensive, but after a few years your wallet is going to thank you. Money saved can go up to $2400 a year (for homeowners) and up to $6000 a year (for business owners). You could take the family to Disney for that money. 

2. Solar energy is a way to escape the hold countries have on other countries

A lot of natural resources like oil, coal and gas are imported into our country from other countries. This means that when something happens in those countries, like lets say a war, we could potentially be cut off from supplies. Solar Power does not face that problem as it is possible in any country anywhere. 

3. It’s better for the climate 

Critics have pointed out that by making solar panels certain chemicals are released into out atmosphere that form a bigger danger than carbon dioxide. What they fail to mention is that more carbon dioxide is released into the air per day from all over the world than the chemicals used to make solar panels. For solar panels this is a one time thing, once it’s made it’s made and no chemicals are released anymore and that’s better for the climate than your car ever will be. 

4. Jobs 

If there is more solar power used there will also be more jobs for people out there. Especially in this economy those are needed, as unemployment rates are still on the rise in almost all of the countries across the globe. By creating a bigger market for solar power you will also be creating more jobs for more people. 

5. The sun isn’t going to run out of light 

Another of the pros of solar power is the fact that the sun won’t be running out of light anytime soon. However we will be through natural resources like oil and gas eventually. 

6. It has many purposes 

Solar power can be used in an infinite number of ways. The only thing that’s limiting us is our creativity. Currently there are satellites in our inner and outer atmosphere completely powered by solar power. Cars that break speed records are powered by solar power. In Africa water is being distilled by solar power.. Well, isn't that awesome?!

7. It’s easily integratable into your home or community 

Your house probably already has a roof where you can place solar panels, but even for those of us who live in apartment buildings there are great options available. By placing a field with solar panels inside a community, or outside a town when you need more space, you can easily generate enough energy for a whole neighbourhood. Which brings me onto my next point..

8. It’s usable everywhere 

Any country and any person in the world could live off of solar power. It could easily change the world and save a lot of people who are currently dying because of the lack of electricity, heating or drinkable water. 

9. Solar powered roads 

Not that long ago a huge online fundraiser for solar roadways was held. They got way more than their original goal of $1 million and no wonder. Solar Roadways are freaking awesome and here’s why; They will make driving safer for people and for animals, because they light up when anything walks over them, heat up in cold areas so the roads are not snowy and more. Plus they are very durable and take way less maintenance than those asphalt roads. Want to know more about this amazing project? 

Check them out here.

10. Low maintenance

Solar Power is low maintenance. Did you know that solar panels only have to be cleaned a few times a year? With everything you get out of them that’s just a small price to pay. Once your installation is up, there is almost nothing to do to maintain the installation.

The Bottom Line is: Solar Power has the power to change the world and it’s all up to us whether or not we take all the opportunities it has to offer to make this world a better one. 

SEE ALSO: CNETTV : Robots Pivot Solar Panels to face the Sun by QBotix

Have a nice week! If you liked this post please leave your good comments in the box below.

*by andreascy*

Benefits of the Different Types of Alternative Transportation

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

There are a lot of reasons to want to leave your car behind and find alternative modes of transportation if you're in the city. Cars can be a gigantic hassle--traffic and parking nearly always present problems, and you are constantly running the risk of fender benders and other accidents. 

Cars also guzzle gas (especially during the aforementioned traffic in larger cities), and are thus much more costly than most alternate forms of transportation. And finally, cars are very inefficient, and thus environmentally unfriendly. So if you're thinking of leaving the car behind, and hopping on some alternative transportation, here are some options to consider.

Bus 

A bus is often the best friend of a city dweller. Buses run frequently to all the busiest parts of town, and for very reasonable rates. If you're a frequent public transportation user, a bus pass is a very worthwhile investment. Chances are, if you live in the city, there's a bus stop within a few blocks of your residence. It's a good bet that walking to the bus stop takes less time than trying to find a parking spot. 

Buses equipped with hybrid engines or solar panels on their roofs are becoming more and more popular, meaning this mode of transportation is getting greener and greener. So buses are also a way to feel better about your carbon footprint when you're moving from Point A to Point B. 

Subway 

If you live in a city with a good subway system, then look no further. Subways can be the ultimate form of transportation, as they are speedy, usually run with good frequency, bypass traffic completely, and are a fantastic, environmentally friendly choice.

If you're lucky enough to live near a subway station, your trip or commute is bound to be much less of a hassle than it would have been by car. And if you don't live in walking distance of a station, just hop a bus to one! Subways are also important because they represent the future of public transportation: they can hold lots of people, they travel at good speeds, and the potential to lower their environmental impact is almost limitless. 

Taxis 

Taxis are pretty prevalent in almost all of the major metropolitan areas. They're a great way to get where you need to go with little hassle or wait. You can call and reserve a taxi, or simply flag one on the street, and it will take you exactly where you're going: no parking, no stopping for other guests, just a beeline to your destination. There used to be two downsides to taxis: money, and environmental impact. They still cost a lot more money than, say, a bus, but you certainly make up for it with the low-hassle and quick delivery. As for the environmental impact, more and more taxi companies are shifting to hybrid vehicles, meaning you needn't feel so bad about wasting gas to get to work or that new restaurant you've been wanting to try.

Car Share

Car sharing is a revolutionary idea that allows you to have a car only when you need it. With a membership to one of the many car sharing services, you have access to a whole fleet of vehicles that are conveniently parked in street spots reserved just for them, or cruising around town waiting to pick you up. These vehicles are usually environmentally friendly (and you don't pay for gas or insurance, just a membership), so they're a fantastic alternative to owning a car.

That was it for today, we hope you enjoyed our article. Feel free to like, comment and share it with your friends and other social circles. Hopefully we will inspire and attract more people on our Blog. Thank you everyone for your continuous support! 

*by andreascy*

How Engineering Helps Society

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Engineering is one of those areas that most people take for granted and don’t give much thought to. 

The valuable work that these engineers undertake is all around us, in all areas of our lives. Engineering makes our lives better, helps us to enjoy life, saves lives and keeps us safe from harm.

So just how does engineering help society?

Once a person has trained as an engineer, their skills can then be used in many different ways. For instance, medical innovations need engineers to develop the necessary equipment and components in order to save lives. However, the medical world is not the only way that engineers benefit our society.

Engineers work in so many areas, they help to build roads, construct bridges and bypasses, they develop ways of producing more environmentally friendly power or ways in which we can recycle more. Electrical engineers develop safety devices and engineers help develop our cars to protect us from crash and injuries.

Put quite simply, engineers are involved in every stage of a process from the design, through the manufacture, development and implementation. There are so many different fields in which an engineer might work, but here we will just explore the role of an Energy Engineer.

Energy Engineering

Energy engineering covers a broad spectrum of areas which deal with energy efficiency, services, facility management, alternative energy and environmental compliance. Due to the Government legislation and carbon reduction targets, energy minimisation is a growing industry. To reduce our energy consumption, consideration must be given to lighting, refrigeration and eco-friendly ways of generating power such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Energy technology is a term used which refers to the skills, knowledge and equipment required for the production, distribution and use of energy. By the end of this decade, 15% of all energy consumed within the UK will have to come from renewable sources and for this reason there is a growing demand for Renewable Energy Engineers.

What does a Renewable Energy Engineer Do?

A renewable energy engineer is responsible for the design, development and implementation of renewable energy sources. These include wind, marine, biomass and solar technologies and an energy engineer’s job is to solve existing problems and develop creative solutions to capture, convert, store and manage renewable energy.

There are many areas to the job and becoming an energy engineer is a very rewarding career. A renewable energy engineer will be responsible for evaluating current sources of energy before designing and developing alternative solutions. The engineer may also wish to specialise in a certain area such as heating, lighting, air conditioning or energy procurement.

Renewable Energy Engineering as a Career

Due to Government targets, unique opportunities are being created in renewable energy. As an energy engineer you will be involved in the research, development and production of energy through renewable sources. You will be responsible for solving problems and developing ways to extract usable energy from sustainable sources such as bio fuels, hydro power, wind turbines and solar power.

For more information and careers advice you will find all you need to know on the web or speak to your careers advisor for further details.

*by andreascy*

The Newest Eco-Friendly Apartment Building Trends

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The importance of conserving the Earth's limited resources finally seems like it's gotten through to mainstream culture in recent years. People are beginning to understand how crucial it is to find more efficient energy alternatives.

As of late, the use of environmentally friendly construction materials is on the rise. Many of these "green-living" ideas are implemented in today's modern apartments. When looking for a new apartment, here are some of the most popular ones to look for:

1. Strategic Orientation of a Home to Maximize Sunlight

Building an apartment in a location that receives a lot of sunlight is an ingenious way to save money on heating and lighting. Many engineers and architects are figuring out ways to design buildings that can take advantage of sunlight as much as possible. The orientation of the building makes a huge impact on how natural light is able to come through the windows, so strategic positioning is definitely an eco-friendly way to light up and heat up a place.

2. Exclusive Use of LED Lights

LED lights are a great choice for any apartment, house, business, or any situation where lighting is needed. Why? LED lights are not only brighter than the typical incandescent light bulbs, they are far more energy efficient too. Most LED lights give off a pleasant, white glow and only use about 20% of the energy that standard bulbs use. Renters can easily cut their electric bills in half after replacing all incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

3. Roofs Made from Copper

Metal roofs, especially copper roofs, are becoming a stylish choice in the world of apartments. First, they are quite inexpensive to purchase and install, and they also require very little maintenance. Secondly, they look great when paired with the right architecture. Copper roofs have a very long life span, with up to a century of use. Finally, they can be recycled with ease. What's not to like?

4. Rainwater Collection Units

If people have survived on rainwater for countless years, why can't we make use of it today? Rainwater collection units are set up in strategic locations around the apartment to collect the runoff. This water can then be used for watering the lawn and garden and general cleaning use.

5. Counter Tops Made from Easily Accessible Wood Sources

Granite counter tops have been popular for many years, but it seems that cheap, wood counters are spreading like wildfire through many apartment complexes. What's the appeal of wooden counter tops? Aesthetically, they obviously look good. More importantly, wooden counter tops that come from rapid growing trees like bamboo do much less harm to our forests and environment. When slow-growing trees are used for wood, the environment takes a much bigger hit because animal homes are lost and oxygen production is halted for a much longer amount of time.

6. Water-Saving Toilets

Using the restroom is something that all civilized people must do, flushing the toilet is an unavoidable consequence. Compared to standard toilets, those designed to conserve water can cut water consumption by 20%. These efficient systems can significantly decrease your water bill and put more money in your pocket.

7. Electric Stove Tops

Induction stovetops are much more eco-friendly than gas versions because far less energy is lost when turned on. Heat transfer through physical contact is a better alternative to turning on a flame that burns your money away with every use.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Tips On Making Your Office Greener

As always you can send your questions to us by email.

*by andreascy*

Why A Solar Set-Up Is A Good Idea

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

It’s no surprise: In today’s world, we use a lot of excess energy and power. With so much technology, we stretch our resources to the limit to power our convenient lifestyles. We also emit a lot of pollution into the atmosphere. But who ever said that in order to have convenience, you have to forget about the Earth and what’s best for the environment? 

Fortunately, there’s an alternative – for your house, anyway. It is called a Solar Set-Up, and it can do a lot for you, as you do a lot for the environment. What are the advantages to having one for your home? Here are the positive features of a solar set-up:

Saves On Utility Costs

When you invest in a solar set-up, you actually save money overall. How? Your utility bills can decrease by as much as 20 to 30 percent each month. That is money that really adds up over time, amounting to over thousands of dollars, so you can actually end up saving a lot of money over the years.

Protects the Environment

By getting a solar set-up, you can really do your part for the environment. Using solar panels, a solar set-up converts DC power into AC power, which is then used to generate your household electricity. In addition, a solar set-up reduces the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The average American home emits more than 16,000 pounds of CO2 annually, so switching to this set-up really does drastically reduce pollution and does its part for the environment.

No Large, Upfront Investment

If you’re thinking “That sounds great, but I just don’t know if I could afford it,” you’re in luck. While some companies make it so expensive that you have to finance your solar set-up, others work to make it more affordable. Companies like Vivint make it affordable because they don’t have these large, upfront costs. For example, Vivint uses a Power Purchase Agreement, or PPA. A PPA is an agreement where you buy the power your system produces. And it’s at a lower rate than you would otherwise pay on your utility bill.

Professionally Trained Installers and Complete In-House Management

Companies like Vivint also have professionally trained installers and complete in-house management. Basically, this means the homeowner doesn’t have to worry about whether or not the system is set up correctly. For example, Vivint’s installation staff completes rigorous training in order to provide quality service. And unlike some providers, companies like Vivint manage the entire process in-house so that good service and customer satisfaction is a guarantee.

RECOMMENDED: 10 Reasons Why The World Should Go Solar

Bottom Line? Going green really is more of a reality than a lot of people think. It is efficient and affordable. And it can really end up saving a lot of money in the long run. In addition, it does a lot for the environment without requiring you to give up anything at all. In the end, these positive features of a solar set-up really make it a win-win situation.

*by andreascy*

Best Green Energy Resources

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

If you are anything like me and you like staying up to date with the current flow of energy news then I am here to help! I have always had an invested interest in energy and especially the renewables vertical.

So I thought I would add a list of my favourite places to grab this news or even have it delivered straight to my inbox should I need it!

1. If This Then That

Something I came across not such a long time ago was If This Then That. This service is brilliant; what it does it creates “recipes” for you online and lets you create connections between several services such as Facebook, Twitter and blog sources in a simple statement format (hence If This Then That). 

So for example, I can grab my favourite blogs RSS feed and have all the latest posts sent straight to my inbox for me to read when I want. There are lots of different cross channel “recipes” you can use but my favourite (bearing in mind I love everything green) is the Belkin energy saving one. 

You can keep an eye on your energy usage as the Belkin socket outlet will send an email to your inbox each time the timer switch comes on! You have to check this out!

2. The Guardian

Under the Environment section in The Guardian you will find everything you need to keep you up to date with all the facets of green living. In here you will find blogs where you can voice opinion and share your thoughts; there is also Newsletters, Apps and even a Food section. 

The reason I like this site is because it covers everything that I would want to read about and it does do in depth - perfect for anyone who cares about these topics.

3. The Green Living Forum

This is a blog run by some friends of mine and I like it because it takes information that is readily available to you and me but they make manipulate it and make it more digestible. This blog heavily focuses around Green energy and more specifically renewables such as wind, sea and solar power that take some of the burden of fossil fuels like coal and gas.

This is one that I use through the tool I mentioned before If This Then That where I pull its RSS feed straight into my Gmail account.

RECOMMENDED: Tips On Making Your Office Greener

These are just a few of the places I like to visit and use to keep up to date with everything that is going in this space. What are some of the places you like going to keep up to date? Leave a comment and please connect with us on Twitter! 

*by andreascy*

Create the Future with SunSaluter and Galaxy Note 10.1

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The SunSaluter is a technology that enables the automatic rotation of solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day (just like a sunflower) to increase their energy generation - without using any electricity to do so. 

The technology was created by Eden Full and is being developed by her company Roseicollis Technologies.

It has been deployed in two pilot projects in Kenya. Fascinated by biomimicry, Eden Full aims to power a whole village on SunSaluters in Peru and southern India -- by 2013.

The SunSaluter won the Mashable/UN Foundation Startups for Social Good Challenge and was awarded the runner-up prize at the 2011 Postcode Lottery Green Challenge.

"Good technology is something that is simple, something that anyone whether you are 5 years old, a university professor or a farmer in Tanzania, you'd be able to look at it and get it."

Currently in active development, the Roseicollis Technologies website claims that the SunSaluter is :

• Cheaper: It is constructed from locally-sourced and recyclable materials rather than electronic components.

• Simpler: Almost anyone can assemble and maintain it because of its intuitive design.

• Flexible: It can be installed underneath any existing solar panel with a few minor adjustments.

Watch on the video below how the Galaxy Note 10.1 plays a part in creating the future with Eden from SunSaluter.

In order to preserve our planet and encourage societies to adopt renewable energy resources, we need to lower the cost of solar energy so it is more affordable for individual families and their homes and villages. The SunSaluter is a contribution to tackling energy infrastructure growth and climate change.
Read also: Robots Pivot Solar Panels to face the Sun by QBotix
Learn more about Galaxy Note 10.1 and discover other interesting Solar related topics. Subscribe for straight updates to your inbox or your favourite feed reader.

*by andreascy*

The Ultimate Electricity & Money Saving Technology - Electromagnetic Motor

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The tsunami of new "green" energy technologies has come ashore and so have the scams. People all over the world are struggling with the high costs of energy and are looking for new methods for solutions. The well informed and diligent homeowner can find many ways to slash their utility bills by improving efficiency of existing systems.

All too often, the contractor has been nothing more than a con - artist. One such technology packed with incredible promises and unheard of savings, is the Electromagnet Motor. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

From the replacement of old boilers and furnaces, to the addition of solar voltaic panels and solar hot water units, there are many options when it comes to improving your home performance, prioritizing your utility bills to achieve the highest savings while spending the least is crucial in choosing a home project.

The primary areas of consideration when looking to lower your utilities are:

- Insulation is probably the most overlooked aspect in construction today. Outdated technologies remain the norm in many locations where new innovative products struggle to market their product against the might of the fiberglass industry.

- Often times they will do a free detailed analysis to determine if your home is suffering from a poorly sealed building envelope. Money spent here will have the greatest payoff.

- Heating/cooling Replacing an aging furnace or air conditioner will NOT save you money if insulation hasn’t been optimized. That said, the newer boilers, air conditioners and forced air furnaces run more efficiently than older units. 

- It may be time to look for new technologies for savings. Solar hot water panels use evacuated solar collectors to charge glycol/water mix up to 180 degrees F in the winter. This water can be circulated to use in many types of boiler fed heating systems including radiant floor and baseboard heat.

- If your location and climate permit, landscaping trees for shade in the summer or using wood burning stoves can offset costs some. Lighting this can be as simple as turning them off. It is estimated that over a quarter of home electrical use is due to leaving lights on when not needed.

- If you can’t bear to turn out the lights, buy some new super efficient LED lights or compact fluorescents. These can save huge amounts over the course of a year, but the initial cost can be substantially more than incandescent bulbs. Even with the large investment, the savings of an LED will pay for them over and over as many last over 10,000 hours! So it would be reasonable to assume that to reduce our energy bills one could simply purchase solar panels or a wind turbine to capture the free energy all around us.

- This is a good assumption and with a large savings pay off this can be a good investment. Once again, if the above listed remedies aren’t in order, it will not save much if anything as it can take up to 20 years to pay off. Recently new advances in solar panel efficiency have put them back into the spotlight for viable alternative energy sources. The troubling new trend is the emergence of fly by night scam artists looking to sell unbelievable technology.

- There are many scams out there, but the one receiving the spotlight today is the electric magnet motor. It is claimed that by using rare earth magnets or electromagnets it is possible to make an infinite supply of energy for the home.

- Supposedly the magnets would begin to spin spontaneously and without any outside input, increase the velocity at which the motor spins. This is simply impossible. It violates the basic laws of physics and principles that govern the real world.

- Newton and Leibniz would be rolling in their graves to see some of the claims made on the internet. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed in an isolated system. Energy can only change state. 

Theoretically, the magnetic motor could work if it gave up mass to the surroundings, but eventually the motor would dwindle down to nothing and would no longer power anything. New technologies are emerging every year to enhance our lives at lower costs. There are many well founded and proven methods that can be used. “Free energy” machines are far from actual cutting edge products and the sellers prey on the desperation of struggling consumers.

*by andreascy*

Do Politics Hurt the Move Toward Green Energy?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Increasingly, city planners and civil engineers are looking at methods of using green energy. Because so many are concerned about global warming and other issues caused by pollution, green energy has become a major part of politics. However, some are questioning whether politics has lowered the level of discourse about green energy.

When issues become politicized, people often seem to lose the ability to think rationally. Party affiliation has proven to be strong, and people are rarely swayed by rational arguments and impartial analysis. As a result, people will often believe what their party says about green energy. Someone who believes that green energy is expensive is unlikely to change his or her mind. Likewise, someone who believes that natural gas is inherently dirty will not be persuaded by arguments about harm reduction and the importance of affordable energy. However, the politics of energy policy seems to be cooling. As green energy becomes more affordable, political parties will be more likely to reach compromises.

Image compliments of Green Career Guide

*by andreascy*

CNETTV : Robots Pivot Solar Panels to face the Sun by QBotix

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Robots have proven themselves in extreme and diverse environments from the surface of Mars to battlefields and ocean depths. 

QBotix is a robotics company that is bringing the innovations of last several decades to the operation and management of solar power plants.

Their mission is to leverage their expertise in rugged and intelligent robotics to create breakthrough products that offer a compelling combination of competitive cost, high reliability, easy installation, superior performance, universal compatibility and unprecedented system level intelligence. 

With their products, customers reduce cost of ownership while increasing their profit margins and investment returns in solar power plants.

QBotix has invented the paradigm of Solar Robotics™, where autonomous, rugged and intelligent robots replace hundreds of conventional electromechanical components, and also reduce structural material requirements. 

The use of their paradigm allows the creation of fundamentally new system level architectures that reduce cost and increase performance and reliability.

Their first product is the QBotix Tracking System™ (QTS™), which delivers dual axis tracking at single axis installed price. 

The QTS works with all existing photovoltaic modules, inverters and foundations to increase energy production and decrease installed costs, providing the lowest Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of any mounting or tracking system.

Just like a sunflower turns its head toward the sun, smart and efficient solar panels must do the same for maximum energy absorption. CNET's Kara Tsuboi visits Qbotix in Menlo Park, Calif., where the company introduced such a robotic tracking system that mechanically pivots solar panels, saving energy and money.

If you liked our article read also :
Solar Energy Panels vs. Solar Electricity Plants
Natcore Technology achieves the Blackest Solar Cell ever designed to absorb 99.7% of all light
MIT 3D Stacks of Solar Panels increases their Power output by up to 20x
TED : Donald Sadoway - The missing link to renewable energy
Japan : Rallying for Solar expansion

*by andreascy*

Solar Energy Panels vs. Solar Electricity Plants

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Most people think of how we will use solar energy panels to become less reliant on fossil fuels in terms of solar power homes; every house would have its own array of photovoltaic panels and be individually energy independent. An electrical grid would allow people to sell any energy their home produced beyond what they need so that others could use it, but for the most part, each unit would function autonomously. Skeptics are quick to point out that this approach suffers from being too costly, if only because power plants offer economies of scale that allow them to generate electricity at a lower average cost. Fortunately, a solar electricity company could step in to deal with this problem.

The obvious benefit of a solar power electricity company over individual homes building their own is it should cost less. One company that centralizes several solar energy panels in arrays can do the entire thing for a lower average cost per watt than individuals can for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is that they can build these plants in places that have above average amounts of direct sun so that the plants maximize solar cell utilization. And this lower cost also reflects higher efficiency, which is important for a project that aims to protect the environment. Better efficiency means lower consumption and less waste. For the individual consumer, this means both nearly no upfront cost and a better electricity price.

Types of Solar Power Plants

A few different types of solar power plants have been built. One planned for Arizona would install 1900 acres of solar panels to power up to 70,000 homes. The plans are based on using solar radiation to generate steam heat that then spins turbines. Another plant planned for southern Spain would use a different technology, also to create steam energy from solar radiation. Part of the reasons plans for solar plants eschew solar energy panels based on photovoltaic technology is that these panels have a lifetime of 20 to 30 years, and can require more attention than simpler technology. This makes the steam-based solar technology more appropriate when solar power will be harnessed en masse.

Pros vs. Cons

The drawbacks to this approach are significant, however. The biggest is that for people who want to convert to solar energy now, waiting the years necessary to design and build these large plants is not an option. Another is that it combines all the risk on one entity. If a better technology is developed while the plant is in construction, they either have to go ahead with a less efficient option or scrap the plants, accept the financial losses, and deal with having wasted those resources. However, if homes adopt solar panels at their own pace, solar conversion risk is spread out and averaged, which makes it a more financially reasonable strategy for conservation.

Solar energy panels lend themselves to a number of different alternative energy approaches. Solar power plants would be less costly to consumers due to a number of advantages. But that comes at a cost for those who are already prepared to make the conversion now.

RECOMMENDED: Ten Reasons Why The World Should Go Solar 

I love to write about sustainable living and energy. Hope you've liked this story, and we'll catch up with you again soon. If you want more then get our best articles every day with emphasis on technology.

*by andreascy*

A Better Future: Visualizing Sustainable Energy

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

As part of the Pecan Street demonstration project, Intel-based servers in the Texas Advanced Computer Center analyze huge amounts of data from each building in the Mueller community in Austin, Texas, charting usage patterns onto the world's highest resolution visualization screens.

This video discusses how to use technology to provide instant value as well as looking ahead to the future of data sharing and our networked world. 

ARTICLE OF THE DAY: How Engineering Helps Society
Write me a comment below!

*by andreascy*

Natcore Technology Achieves the Blackest Solar Cell Ever Designed to Absorb 99.7% of All Light

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The blackness of black silicon comes from the near-total absence of reflected light from the surface. This is desirable because it means that incident light is being absorbed for conversion to energy, rather than being reflected and wasted. 

A panel made with black silicon solar cells will produce significantly more energy than one made with cells having a standard antireflective coating – firstly because it reflects less light, and secondly because it performs better during the morning and afternoon when the sun hits it at an angle.

Conventional solar cells with antireflective coatings produced by chemical vapor deposition have a reflectance of about 4%. Previous black silicon technology reduced this to about 2%, but a new technology developed by researchers at Natcore Technology achieves a tenfold improvement. 

They have shown that simple liquid bath processes can produce a black surface on silicon wafers with an average reflectance in the visible and near-infrared region of just 0.3%, the blackest surface ever measured on silicon solar cells. 

The process starts with an uncoated, textured silicon wafer. Nanoscale pores are first etched in the wafer surface by briefly submerging it in a liquid solution at room temperature. A liquid phase deposition process is then used to fill the pores and coat them with silicon dioxide. In addition to reducing the reflectance, the coating passivates the surface.

Read more on CleanTechnica. 

Looking for recent articles? Go here. Don't miss out on the next big thing! Comments optional but please keep them positive. Thanks!

*by andreascy*

Science Nation : Science for a Sustainable Future

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Princeton University physical chemist Emily Carter is using fundamental scientific principles to create computer simulation tools that will help predict the behavior of different materials including renewable fuels. 

The research, which is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), has a broad range of applications including, improving thermal barrier coatings for jet engines, developing new materials for lightweight vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and creating novel materials for use in non-fossil fuel sustainable energy production.

*by andreascy*

Nasa SPS-ALPHA: The First Practical Solar Power Satellite via Arbitrarily Large PHased Array

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Welcome Googler! 

The idea of space-based solar power has been in research since the early 1970s. I believe this is a doable technology (today) and an inevitable technology that will happen (at some point) and it offers the only large scale chance we have of reducing CO2 from coal use and therefore mitigating climate change.

Here is a cool video that describes John Mankin's vision of the future, that was presented at the National Press Club in Washington DC by the NSS, and is part of the recent NSSO Study:

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*by andreascy* 

TED : Liquid Battery - The Battery of the Future

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A liquid battery that runs on dirt could be the answer to sustainable energy. Dr. Donald Sadoway of MIT has developed an innovative new battery technology, which could change the future of renewable energy. 

Professor Donald Sadoway is building liquid metal batteries to try to separate power supply from power demand. The goal is to help the electrical power grid do a better job of storing energy, including renewable energy. 

Sadoway dreamed up the idea of combining magnesium and antimony, a process he diagrammed at TED with chalk on a blackboard. Among other benefits, like cheap materials and long lifespans, liquid metal batteries are built to run hot, so they can handle temperature increases.

Sadoway’s research team - which is now also a company funded by Bill Gates - has created a pizza-shaped 16-inch cell battery with a capacity of 1 kilowatt hour, and it expects to manufacture a version four times as big in two years, Sadoway said.

*by andreascy*

MIT 3D Stacks of Solar Panels increases their power output by up to 20x

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What’s better than one pancake? A whole stack of pancakes! Using the same logic, a team of MIT researchers have stacked a bunch of photovoltaic solar cells together to produce up to 20 times the power output of conventional solar power installations.

 Basically, photovoltaic cells themselves aren’t all that expensive - according to MIT, they’re only around 35% of the total cost of a solar power installation. The main issue with solar power (and its main cost) is its low energy density, and thus the sheer surface area required to generate a sizable amount of electricity. This is why you need to cover your whole roof with cells to power your light bulbs, and why solar power plants would have to occupy tens of square miles of desert to produce as much power as a nuclear power plant.

To combat this issue, MIT has built 3D stacks of photovoltaic cells. These have the same footprint of a conventional, flat solar power setup - but as you can see in the picture above, the total surface area is much, much larger. The team built a variety of 3D designs, including a cube, and in all cases they produced between two and 20 times as much power as a flat panel. The most interesting facet of this discovery, though, is that these 3D stacks produce lots of extra power whenever the sun is near the horizon, i.e. in the morning, evening, winter, or at latitudes far away from the equator. With conventional, flat cells, it’s hard to capture low-angle light, but with an accordion structure (as pictured below) the relative angle would be closer to 45 degrees.

Squeezing more power out of low-light periods is a huge, huge deal. Beyond the large footprint required, the main issue with solar power is unreliability (cloud cover) and natural fluctuations (winter, night time). Solar installations produce most of their electricity in the middle of the day, but that’s when you least need electric light or heat. As a result, you need to store the energy for later use, which usually involves a big battery of some kind. If these 3D solar cells can capture enough light that they can produce reliable electricity in the morning, evening, and winter, then this could be exactly the kick-start that solar power needs - especially when you combine it with the ion cannon that cuts photovoltaic costs in half

*by andreascy*