Green Spot

Air conditioning is a necessity in modern-day Los Angeles (LA). When it takes an hour of sitting behind thousands of cars going 5 miles per hour to get home (which is 5 miles away - better than most in LA), it gets hot. Especially when Summer is upon us. There are millions of people in urban sprawls like the City of Angels that are apartment dwellers too, and have Air Conditioning (AC) units that pop put like eye sores, are heavy, and guzzle energy and cash like a starving Tasmanian Devil. With not much of a yard available to them, apartment dwellers can’t set up an area to cool off (sprinklers, a pool, slip ‘n’ slide) and rely on closing the shades, wearing less, and turning on the good old AC.

Something new is just around the corner, thanks in part to the U.S. Department of energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory: The DEVap Air Conditioner. ‘DEV’ stands for Desiccant-enhanced Evaporative, and thanks to Wikipedia, I can inform you that we have all dealt with a desiccant in our lives (an agent that dries the air such as the silica gel packet you may see in shoeboxes - it will chemically dehumidify the air).

According to initial results, it can reduce energy costs by between 50% to 90% through use of filters, coolers and “drying agents” in an evaporative cooling process involving the removal of heat from air with desiccating agents, a type of “Latent Cooling” (pulling moisture out of the air and using to lower the temperature). The DEVap also would not release the same chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in to the home or atmosphere like older AC units typically do, nor would the DEVap units harbor polluting microbes in air ducts as is a problem in some homes. The market currently has a competitor in The Coolerado, and it seems that there are still issues with replacing the desiccant material once it is consumed.

We’ll keep an eye on this technology as it seems to be getting better for the environment, less expensive, smaller and definitely COOLER!

AC is out of control - Time for it to cool off.

Self-Activated Building Envelope Regulation (SABER), is the name for the UC Berkeley-born photosynthetic film that could save energy, regulate heat and overall climate as well as light in homes and buildings in the future.

Like the skin of some animals, this film would adhere to the exterior of a building, the windows actually, and through the use of nanotechnology, allow cool or hot air in as well as light. There are two layers to the SABER material: The first layer of micro-lenses in a photo-sensitive gel opens as more light becomes available outside, this allowing the interiors to be brightened and lit. This should help to regulate office lighting energy expenditures and reduce energy waste. As this first layer opens, more air is allowed into the building (with a limit of course) to help cool hallways and office space. The second microscopic layer is composed of a polymer that pushes water-vapor and humidity out of the building as heat builds up in spaces meant for living and working.

This technology is in initial prototype stages but seems promising. As the recent oil spill in the gulf teaches us, renewable energy that can replenish itself is the only sustainable way to ensure the environment remains intact. Nature has always been able to regulate itself before industrial society, as is seen in the growth of plant life to battle Carbon Dioxide buildup. It’s time for human ingenuity to take over where nature has left off and regulate ourselves through the use of simply green solutions.

SABER Technology Could Reduce Energy Waste in Buildings

A few days after the recent oil rig catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, there was more breaking news. Although surprising at the time, it wasn’t the fact that Iran offered to help the United States contain the spill, it was something very different. The headline read:

“BREAKING: Large Air Spill at Wind Farm. No threats reported. Some claim to enjoy the breeze.“

But there was no cause for alarm. In fact, other than the occasional Santa Ana winds and those pesky gusts that blow at the wrong moments, wind is pretty harmless. In fact, we’ve promoted use of natural energy resources that the planet offers before, namely the wind.

Companies such as Finavera, Acciona, Sway and more, develop relationships with governments and municipalities to place wind turbines in windy places. These turbines collect energy from wind that spins the turbine blades, thus generating backup power in the turbine’s generator. 3Tier, a renewable resources information and consulting company has provided and mapped locales that are ripe for harnessing wind power. Greenland, Cape Horn in South America, New Zealand, the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, and more, are all places where turbines can prosper.

Once the recent oil spill is contained, it should hopefully create enough popular demand for wind power and natural energy resources, and one day we may live in a world where the only environmental disaster are large gusts of wind.

Wind Speeds are highlighted in red.

Imagine a box, about the size of a refrigerator, that held thousands of thin fuel cells and powered about 100 homes. Without inducing the process of combustion (which is grimy and has a lot of emission), it combines air and different types of fuels to generate clean power all day long, and even store power. It’s proprietary electro-chemical process can reduce an entire manufacturing plant’s emissions by over 30% and reducing large amounts of electrical costs.

You actually don’t have to imagine it because its real. It’s the Energy Server developed by Bloom Energy. This Silicon Valley startup with origins in NASA, has developed the energy server with office buildings in mind. Lights, computers and action - can all be powered with the Bloom Energy Server, and save companies nearly a million dollars in energy costs in a matter of years.

Take a peek at the future of renewable energy, and implore your city councils and state governments to review Bloom Energy for a simply green solutions today.

Bloom Energy Servers powering the EBAY Headquarters

General Electric (GE), an American innovator since the early 19th Century, plans to further develop and expand research within its facilities in Shanghai, China. Rather than use its global offices as simple support hubs for its New York headquarters, GE plans to make the Shanghai location a keystone locale for product creation.

Since 2008, the facilities have developed new imaging techniques including a portable ultrasound device called the Vscan that has brought marvel to the medical world. The portable ultrasound device weighs one pound, and has a USB port to instantly transfer data to laptops or other computers. It also has touch screen controls and voice annotation for recording what doctors are seeing on its screen, whether its a prenatal checkup or an inflamed appendix. It is the smallest ultrasound scanner and has given the Shanghai offices the next steps it requires to compete with other local companies in China for the government’s push to promote clean energy.

The GE office in China is involved in the offshore wind farm development near the Yangtze delta, in direct competition with Sinovel and other companies to harness wind energy. Allowing this satellite location to lead and gain ground in new technology development gives it the authority required to bid and establish a good reputation for doing more business in China, and making the world a better place.

Check out the below commercials to get an idea of what GE has been up to in China:

VID: GE Brings Better Medical Imaging (and love) to Rural China

VID: GE’s Shanghai Offices Developed the Vscan

GE Healthcare at Work in China for the World

China, one of the world’s largest market for wind power, will be pushing the power button this month (April, 2010) on a huge wind turbine farm near Shanghai. The wind farms are produced by Chinese energy innovators Azure International and Sinovel. As leaders in renewable energy resources and technology, these companies have transformed local chinese economies to become self-sustaining societies that in-turn, have helped their country’s government better understand and fund more energy creation projects.

The idea is spreading beyond just the Atlantic Ocean and Shanghai, which is a good thing.

Venezuela is currently developing its first wind turbine farm to help produce energy from naturally occurring phenomena as well. There are drawbacks though - China’s Yangtze Delta is not only prone to typhoons, which have damaged previous carnations of wind turbines, but the ground at the bottom of that area of ocean is unstable. These problems have only called for more creative green solutions, and floating wind turbines, such as the ones developed by Hywind, have been considered for the project. These types of turbines aren’t restricted by land masses near shorelines which can actually reduce wind, and have access to nearly all parts of the ocean.

As we move towards a more sustainable and a cleaner future with more renewable energy resources, more creative and effective yet simply green solutions will help the Earth and its people prosper.

China's seas to create energy from wind.

Does your plumber carry a wrench that can make the Earth smile? Is plumbing even something you think about? Probably not, but if you’re a home owner, you pay bills - water, heating, power, and more. A green plumber and eco-friendly plumbing, heating and energy techniques can save you money, and yes, can lend a hand in saving our environment and energy waste.

His pipe is green

As part of a multi-national association, Green Plumbers USA®, with American headquarters in Sacramento, is an organization that helps to train plumbers in up-to-date water and energy efficiency technology. Accredited plumbers practice installation of:

• Tankless Water Heaters, which reduces energy waste by up to 40% by heating water only when needed
• High Efficiency Showerheads, which reduces water usage while maintaining proper pressure
• Aerating Faucets that also maintain accurate pressure but allow less water flow thereby eliminating an extra gallon per minute of water waste
• Basic Home Water Audits, a 50-point inspection and review of a home to solve energy and water loss, reduce monthly bills, and help your home become more eco-friendly
• High Efficiency Toilets, which use less water and can save up to 4,000 gallons a year!
• Solar Hot Water Systems that integrate solar paneling with your water heater, qualify for Federal, State and City tax credits (in most places) and save thousands of dollars and reduce energy waste

Sooner or later, Green Plumbing certification will be necessary as consumer and building code demands require more stringent plumbing, heating and in-home water alternatives that save money and provide better care for the world.

No green plumber's crack here...

California is possibly partnering up with Chinese Government contractors to assist in building a high-speed railway. Recently, California voters passed a bill to fund a high-speed rail that could connect Sacramento to San Francisco, and other cities. China has a very extensive rail network that has functioned well for many years, and its technology is being considered for use in Florida as well.

The deal calls for Chinese technology and coordination of a project that would be built here in California, but in the meantime, it seems offers are being entertained from countries such as Germany and Japan as well. China is being called upon to build its successful rail line in Saudi Arabia, and this mode of transportation can reduce carbon waste from cars and planes - not to mention create jobs and cut hours off of road vehicle travel time.

We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed and giving them a call to see if they need reusable bags, canteens and more for that green solution on its maiden voyage.

C'mon ride the train!

Parents know best. But so does Parans.

Parans is a Swedish company that is bringing solar energy into the 21st Century, and the only electricity cost to spend is about one Euro per year. With an extensive system of fiber optics and rooftop channelers, Parans has developed a process by which offices, schools, galleries and large-retail venues can take solar power to the next level - direct use and repurposing of sunlight. Electricity in the form of lighting (20% of entire Earth’s use of electricity) uses a large carbon footprint worldwide, but Parans plans to reduce energy needs and pricing through use of their solar equipment.

The solar panel faces the sun and channels sunlight through fiber optic tubes. The tubes lead down to an office or another area where the system is installed, and shines the exact tone of natural light through special bulbs that are proprietary to Parans. When there is cloud cover, their hybrid system is built to shine stored solar energy to keep the light on, albeit in a different brightness. But if it is night time, and solar energy runs out, darkness prevails.

It seems they are still working out the kinks. But, there are many positive aspects to this, such as the fact that most places that would only need light for a set amount of time are the places it was designed for: offices, schools, certain retail locales. Plus, although its sunlight, you won’t get hot nor will you get a tan, it filters out heat and UV rays.

Natural sunlight is a good thing, and getting some sun daily can affect your health in a positive manner. It not onlylowers energy costs and increases productivity by nearly 16% in office workers, but studies have shown that it improves sales and property value as well. We can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 220 million tons each year if only 10% of the buildings in the U.S., Europe and China used Parans technology.

As of right now, they are looking for distributors in the United States, but this innovative and eco-friendly company may soon find its way out of Sweden and in to your cubicle.

Parans

This week marks an anniversary of sorts for another eco-friendly search engine, Ecosia. They’ll be celebrating 100 days of being live online, but that’s not all. For every search done using their engine powered by Bing and Yahoo!, Ecosia donates 0.13 Euro cents to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Rainforest replenishment program. They even delete any private search data you may have generated within 48 hours - something unheard of amongst larger search giants.

If you use Ecosia as your search engine of choice for a year, about 2,000 square meters of rainforest can be saved. As of yesterday, it seems the Germans are saving more rainforest than anyone else, but in time, let’s hope more countries of the world adopt this simply green solution.

Click the link to the video below and try out Ecosia today!

How Ecosia Works (Video by In60Seconds)

Ecosia