Author: Green Tech

Vancouver recovers heat from waste stream: Thermal energy is captured using a heat exchange process integrated with a new municipal sewage pump station. … http://bit.ly/ajM8E6

Green building strategy for Southeast False Creek requires minimum baseline of LEED Silver environmental performance in all facets of building design and construction. http://bit.ly/bsFamj

State of Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit recognizes pre-95 facilities as part of state renewable energy standard. http://bit.ly/amPZj5

A number of gasoline alternatives are explored at the Chi Town Auto Show, with an interesting twist on biofuel with tobacco as feedstock. …

… “Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have found a way to boost biofuel production from tobacco leaves. If the research pans out, tobacco could prove extremely useful since it’s not a food crop. ” …

Via Medill Reports: http://bit.ly/cpNJGn

If the seeds and leaves generate oil, tobacco could have a role as a biofuel feedstock. …

… “According to Vyacheslav Andrianov, Ph.D., assistant professor of Cancer Biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, tobacco can generate biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural crops. ” …

Via TJU: Engineered Tobacco Plants Have More Potential as a Biofuel

Penn researchers generate solar power through the application of nano-scale molecular gold …

… “The results may provide a technological approach for higher efficiency energy harvesting with a nano-sized circuit that can power itself, potentially through sunlight. Recently, surface plasmons have been engineered into a variety of light-activated devices such as biosensors. ” …

Via University of Pennsylvania : http://bit.ly/dkdr3r

Report: there are no noticeable impacts on the distribution / transmission infrastructures. http://bit.ly/dwbdIV

Platform Research Project in China, India. http://bit.ly/cE5MkC

as venture supported solar companies are acquired. http://bit.ly/a1j2gn

Solar power renovation considerations. http://bit.ly/cO5WLb

Carport solar arrays planned for Jersey Shore community college. http://bit.ly/9dk5Hp

Rooftop Solar shows acceptable payback period in NJ, NY. http://bit.ly/ceE6kO

Sydney Theatre photovoltaic system planned. http://bit.ly/cHbDxM

Texas solar power expansion opportunities are explored … http://bit.ly/bKoDt9

SunPower Corp to Acquire SunRay and project pipeline. http://bit.ly/cuqozU

IBM Research pushes efficiency boundary of ink based solar cells. The team has used a slurry mixture to deliver the materials. …

… “new efficiency is 9.6 percent, up from the previous record of 6.7 percent for this type of solar cell, and near the level needed for commercial solar panels. ” …

Via Technology Review: Efficient Solar Cells

IBM solar ink references.

BC Hydro and Vancouver Organizing Committee are collaborating to drive energy efficiency through the Winter Olympic games through building efficiency and public awareness. Live energy tracking will enable optimization dynamically. …

… “The Power Smart energy tracking system is just one part of a huge focus on conservation at the Games. In its agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee, 90 percent of the power that BC Hydro supplies to the Games will qualify as clean energy. ” …

Via Utilimetrics Association for Smart Metering and Innovative Technologies: Energy conservation at Winter Olympics

Via BC Hydro: Low-carbon Olympic Games: “We will hold the Games with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in the history of the modern Games, at only about a tenth of previous Winter Games. It’s a legacy that will be showcased every time that lights go on in a stadium, a timing device captures a record and a broadcaster goes on the air, largely powered by clean, renewable hydroelectric energy. ”

BC Hydro will educate consumers during the 2010 Winter Games: “at the Power Smart Village, a free family celebration site at BC Hydro’s downtown Vancouver head office. ”

Better Place brings real-world electric vehicle consumer experience to Israel through its demo center. …

… “The demonstration center presents to the public the broadest Better Place consumer experience to date. In addition to EV test drives on a dedicated track and the opportunity to engage directly with Better Place staff, we provide a multimedia experience … ” …

Via Better Place blog: Electric vehicle demonstration center in Israel

Governor Bill Richardson announces that solar manufacturing capacity will come on-stream in New Mexico and some of the production volume is already planned to be sourced by local firm, VLST. …

… “Solar Distinction plans to initially operate a 25-megawatt solar panel manufacturing plant, then expand to 50-megawatts within two years. ” …

Via Yahoo Finance: NM Photovoltaic manufacturing

Solar sourcing arrangement:

Visible Light Solar Technologies Will Source 100% of its Solar Components From the Newly Funded New Mexico Facility (PDF): “Visible Light Solar will be using the panels produced by Solar Distinction as part of its LED lighting fixtures (new or retrofit) with on and off grid energy optimization solutions. ”

Energy storage in underground cavern vaults is planned in Utah to temporarily store renewable power. …

… “It hopes to start dissolving the first cavern within a year. Later, the company is looking to dig other caverns at the site for compressed air, which could store excess energy generated by a nearby wind farm … ” ..

Via ABC: Utah Energy Storage

Offset the carbon footprint of your Super Bowl Party …

Via EarthEra: Super Bowl Party Offset

Just like the NFL is doing for the Super Bowl …

Via NextEra Energy Resources: Green 2010 Super Bowl: “NFL is using renewable energy to power the 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. ”