Mike Sandru, Author at The Green Optimistic

Terrafugia’s TF-X is World’s First Flying Hybrid Car

Mike Sandru — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:43:13 +0000

As if putting their very first flying car through its paces was not enough, Terrafugia have recently revealed plans to build a hybrid flying car – the first of its kind in the world. The flying car would be semi-autonomous, small enough for regular-sized garages, have space for four people and a range of 500 […]

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Iran’s Apartment No. 1 Built Entirely from Recycled Stone

Mike Sandru — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:56:02 +0000

Iranian city Mahallat is home to a thriving stone cutting industry. Even though the industry contributes nearly half of the city’s economy, it also generates a lot of waste stone from the cutting process. Tehran’s Architecture by Collective Terrain thus set out to put the so-called waste stone to use by constructing an apartment building […]

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World’s First Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant to be Built Off Chinese Shore

Mike Sandru — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:51:42 +0000

US aerospace company Lockheed Martin have signed an agreement with Reignwood Group, a resort developer based in Beijing, China, to construct an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant – the first of its kind in the world – off the shores of southern China. The plant, scheduled to be finished by 2017, will produce 10 […]

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Energy Floors Transform Kinetic Energy from Dancing into Electricity

Mike Sandru — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:20:46 +0000

Floors which harvest kinetic energy to produce electricity have already been used in sports arenas with implementation in running tracks and fields. This development is now coming to nightclubs with Energy Floors, the name behind the design, producing an LED-lit floor that transforms dance moves into electricity. Available in many sizes, the Energy Floors feature modular […]

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Al Muratsuchi’s Bill Could Lower Plug-In Car Taxes in CA

Mike Sandru — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:22:50 +0000

A new bill to make plug-in vehicles a little less expensive has been announced in California. The Assembly Bill AB1077 suggested by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, if passed, would generally decrease the taxes imposed on plug-ins by implementing a post-incentive valuation of the cars rather than a pre-incentive price. This would result in a reduction in […]

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Sunseeker Duo: The Fastest Two-Seater Solar-Driven Airplane

Mike Sandru — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:12:07 +0000

This year’s AERO Global Show for General Aviation held in Friedrichshafen, Germany has witnessed the launching of the world’s fastest solar-driven two-seater aircraft – the Sunseeker Duo. The Solar Flight-designed plane is a refresh of 1990’s Sunseeker I which was aimed at cross-country flights. The Sunseeker Duo does not use conventional fuel by relies on […]

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MIT’s New Floating Wind Turbines Produce Energy When There’s No Wind

Mike Sandru — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:57:13 +0000

Finally, it seems the main shortfall of wind power – the lack of power when there is no wind – may have been solved by scientists at MIT. Their engineers have designed a new wind turbine which would be anchored in the sea by hollow spheres which also produce energy from the seawater. This would […]

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SUPRAPOWER Project to Develop Superconductor Wind Turbines for EU

Mike Sandru — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:15:03 +0000

Despite the clean energy provided by wind turbines, they remain expensive to build and install, especially the offshore type. To help reduce this cost, the EU together with nine more companies and science groups and led by Spain’s Tecnalia, have unveiled a project to develop superconductor technology for wind turbines. The entire project is to […]

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China One Step Closer to Having the Biggest Ocean Thermal Energy Plant

Mike Sandru — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:35:05 +0000

The southern China sea is set to have the biggest Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant installed by a collaboration of Lockheed Martin and Reignwood Group. Although OTEC technology, which generates electricity from the difference in temperature between warm surface waters and cold deep waters of the sea, has been in existence for some time, […]

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RWD Full-Electric Ford Fiesta Created by German Company

Mike Sandru — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:20:07 +0000

In recent years, more and more vehicles are of the front-wheel drive type, with the Ford Focus being no exception. German firm Schaeffler has elected to convert a Ford Fiesta into a rear-wheel drive, fully-electric car. Utilizing wheel hub motors in its conversion, the driving dynamics of the car have been completely changed; perhaps a […]

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Europa City Design Greens Up Paris Area

Mike Sandru — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 05:42:01 +0000

Denmark-based BIG recently came first in an international competition to design a next green-roofed city. The design, known as Europa City, would be located in the Paris area, and would be made up of a park combining the iconic Parisian density with the greenery of the suburban environment. The City would also feature highways with […]

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28% More Wind Turbines Installed In 2012, Compared to 2011

Mike Sandru — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:29:42 +0000

The wind power industry in the US is growing in leaps and bounds with the country particularly keen on tapping its offshore potential. This is evident with the industry’s strongest year to date being 2012 which saw the number of wind turbines increase by 6,700 or 28% over the previous year, according to a report […]

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Hamburg’s BIQ House is First Algae-Powered Building in the World

Mike Sandru — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:53:31 +0000

Hamburg is now home to the first algae-powered building in the world. The BIQ House, as it is called, has a façade made of algae which react to differing environmental conditions to serve as a case study for renewable energy generation in urban areas while also providing “living” buildings that generate the power needed by […]

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London Array, The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Now Operational

Mike Sandru — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:51:44 +0000

The London Array has officially become the largest wind farm in the world after recently installing its last turbine and switching online. The wind farm which is made up of 175 turbines with the capacity to provide power from Margate to Essex is situated in the Thames Estuary. A collaboration between Masdar, EON and Dong […]

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“Energetic Energies” Solar Panel Design Unveiled at Milan Design Week

Mike Sandru — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:40:07 +0000

Panasonic will soon be revealing its Akihisa Hirata-designed “Energetic Energies” exhibition during Milan Design Week. The structure, measuring about 30 meters in length, is installed underneath the University of Milano’s Largo Richini Portico and is made up of a large number of solar panels spread over a depiction of the rooftops of a city. Japanese […]

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Australia Capable of 100% Renewable Energy by 2030

Mike Sandru — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:27:32 +0000

Australia not only is one of the largest producers of coal with significant export mainly to China, but is also a big user of fossil fuels, with more than 75% of its 2008/2009 electricity derived from it. However, researchers from the University of New South Wales have conducted a study showing that Australia can rely […]

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Solar-Powered Wind Turbines: An Idea Developed at Liverpool University

Mike Sandru — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:19:51 +0000

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed the ultimate renewable energy-generating structure, by incorporating solar panels on regular wind turbines. The team developed the idea of using solar blades on conventional wind turbines to answer critics who claim that wind turbines are only beneficial while the wind blows. The technology thus makes it possible […]

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Definity Professional LED Lamp to Replace Incandescent Lamps

Mike Sandru — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:57:45 +0000

A brand new batch of LED lamps have been unveiled recently by Lighting Science Group Corporation with the hope that they would be the eventual replacement for conventional lighting systems. The LED lamp, known as the Definity Professional A19 LED lamp, has a lightweight aluminium CoolPoly construction that makes it more energy efficient, lighter, and […]

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Technology to Clean Oceans of Plastic Debris Developed by Student

Mike Sandru — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:25:09 +0000

Boyan Slat, a 19-year-old Aerospace Engineering student at TU Delft designed a device that could clean the ocean from plastic trash. The concept called Ocean Cleanup Array, combines long floating booms with processing platforms,which can collect and separate trash. Plastics are one of the main ocean pollutants, adding tones of harmful chemicals every year and […]

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TORQ Roadster with Formula One Performance is The Fastest Electric Car Ever

Mike Sandru — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:10:30 +0000

In recent times when electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S have become so popular, no of these electric vehicles have focussed on offering anything like Formula One performance. But that is all set to change with California-based Epic EV’s TORQ Roadster offering just that. Featuring a 400 horsepower electric engine […]

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100% Wind Powered: DC Government Agencies One Step Closer to Goal

Mike Sandru — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:53:28 +0000

As part of their recent aim to become the ‘greenest’ city in the US, Washington DC has signed a new contract requiring that all government agencies be 100% powered by wind energy. The deal, signed between DC’s Department of General Services (DGS) and Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) who are based in Herndon, would initially […]

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Soundscraper Converts Noise and Vibrations into Sustainable Energy

Mike Sandru — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:24:21 +0000

The “Soundscraper” would be a state-of-the-art structure which converts the noise and vibrations a city produces into sustainable energy. The design of the structure was put together by Olivier Colliez, Julien Bourgeois, Romain Grouselle, Cedric Dounval and Savinien de Pizzol as their entry in this year’s eVolo Skyscraper Competition. The structure would essentially be a […]

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Siemens Opens World’s Biggest Wind Turbine R&D Center

Mike Sandru — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:45:58 +0000

Siemens Energy has launched two key wind turbine Research and Development test centres in Denmark; one in Brande and the other in Aalborg. The Brande test center would evaluate the main parts of their wind turbines such as main bearings, complete nacelles and generators, while the Aalborg facility would perform the full gamut of tests […]

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Chinese Designers Propose VolcanElectric Mask to Tap Volcano Energy

Mike Sandru — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:43:17 +0000

Generally, volcanic eruptions are dangerous occurrences that people do well to steer clear off. However, a group of Chinese designers have proposed a structure that would harness the volcano’s energy to be used for electricity production, while also protecting the environs from the dangerous products of eruption including lava and tephra. The eVolo Skyscraper Competition […]

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KLM to Introduce New Weekly Bio-Fueled Transatlantic Flights

Mike Sandru — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:55:52 +0000

Dutch carrier KLM is planning to introduce weekly transatlantic flights that will be running solely on biofuels obtained from old cooking oil. This marks an important step towards satisfying the ever-growing demand for sustainable air travel. With this move, then, KLM offers commuters between Amsterdam and New York the option to reduce their air travel […]

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London Mayor Reveals £1 billion Overhaul of Cycling Routes

Mike Sandru — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:50:14 +0000

London’s Mayor has revealed a £1 billion restructuring of the cycling routes in the nation’s capital. The project includes the creation of 15 miles of fully-segregated routes dubbed “Crossrail for the bike”, as well as semi-segregated routes which would include cycle paths alongside selected streets, the aptly labelled “Quietways” for backs streets as well as […]

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Libya Could Generate Five Times More Energy from Solar

Mike Sandru — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:49:05 +0000

Libya is one of the world’s largest petroleum producers with annual exports of nearly $12 billion, representing 70% of total exports from the country, which also boasts reserves of crude oil estimated at about 48 billion barrels. Even with this much dependence on oil, a recent study revealed that the potential for solar energy was […]

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Ivanpah Solar Thermal Power Plant Ready to Roll

Mike Sandru — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:44:36 +0000

The Ivanpah solar thermal power facility in California boasting a capacity of 377 MW recently achieved its first landmark by passing its ‘first flux’ test. Brightsource Energy’s VP of Construction Management explained the ‘first flux’ as indicating that the facility can now start operations. The first flux test was done by focusing adjustable motorized mirrors […]

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Kickstarter Campaign for Energy-Producing Soccer Ball Soccket Now Launched

Mike Sandru — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:14:55 +0000

Socket is a soccer ball that produces kinetic energy when it is played. It is hoped that the energy produced can help power off-grid areas across the world. That aim is looking quite realistic now as the team behind Soccket, Uncharted Play, has now launched a Kickstarter campaign, along with a brand new design for […]

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Urbee 2 Hybrid is Strong, Light 3D-Printed Car

Mike Sandru — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:05:25 +0000

The Urbee 2 is a futuristic 3D-printed car with three wheels and a hybrid engine and also features top speeds of 110 mph with a carrying capacity of 1,200 lbs. The car was created by Jim Kor with the aim of redefining modern vehicular transportation with sustainability. Made with ABS plastic, this allows for minimum […]

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Hyundai’s 2013 Sonata Hybrid an Overall Upgrade on 2012 Model

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:54:42 +0000

Hyundai’s 2013 Sonata hybrid promises a good enough upgrade over its predecessor toting better miles to the gallon, a higher capacity battery as well as a lower price. The Sonata hybrid this time round has a better Hybrid Starter Generator with a capacity of 10.5 kW, compared to last year’s 8.5 kW. Other improvements include […]

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Biodegradable and Recyclable Plastics from Pine Sap

Mike Sandru — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:53:17 +0000

Since pine sap is made of compounds similar to those in petroleum, they can be chemically modified using polymerization so that plastics which have biodegradable characteristics can be produced. With the harmful effects of pollution becoming more and more evident, researchers are investigating alternatives to materials made with petroleum. University of South Carolina’s Chuanbing Tang […]

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Russian Airplane Industry Considering Solar as Alternative Power Source

Mike Sandru — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:39:10 +0000

According to recent announcements about government investments in solar, it appears that the energy source will be powering the civilian aircraft in Russia in the not-too-distant future. With rising fuel costs and the hunt for alternatives, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade or Minpromtorg has committed resources to funding a number of studies looking […]

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Coffee-Powered Car Sets New Speed Record

Mike Sandru — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:48:04 +0000

Coffee-powered car owner Martin Bacon has just beaten the 65 mph record for cars of that class. The car achieved the feat with an audience including a Guinness World Records adjudicator and Bacon’s wife at Greater Manchester’s Woodford Airfield. The 42-year-old achieved a speed of 65.536 mph to claim the record in a car that […]

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Toyota Hybrids Enjoy High Popularity in Europe

Mike Sandru — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:37:55 +0000

Toyota and Lexus hybrids represented 13% and 15% of their brands’ total car sales in Europe and America respectively, in 2012. Toyota and Lexus hybrids had total European sales reaching 100,000 for the first time in 2012. There was a 29% increase compared to 2011 total sales as a result of greater demand for the […]

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US Geothermal Power Capacity Increased by 147 MW in 2012

Mike Sandru — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:35:53 +0000

Of the various forms of green energy, geothermal power is the least popular when compared to solar and wind. For example, with the wind energy capacity in the US increasing by over 13 GW in 2012 and 5.5 GW of the total coming only in December, the Geothermal Energy Association reports that 147.05 MW capacity […]

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Worldwide Nissan Leaf Sales Hit 50,000

Mike Sandru — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:30:32 +0000

Nissan declared this past weekend that their Nissan Leaf, the fully electric vehicle, had achieved sales of 50,000 after its 2010 launch, which enabled Nissan to make the claim that the figure represents the best-selling car of all time. Also, with reference to numbers by the Carwings telemetry system, Nissan added that the car had […]

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Composting: The Next Big Thing After Recycling

Mike Sandru — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:06:47 +0000

Composting could be used over landfill sites, says a renowned specialist. In recent years, recycling habits have become commonplace, with paper and plastics leading the way. However, organic wastes, which make up about one-third of all waste generated, are still being transported to landfill sites to be buried. The Central Illinois Composting Symposium’s co-founder Wynne […]

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2013 Ford Focus Electric Awarded 5-Star Rating for Safety by NHTSA

Mike Sandru — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:10:04 +0000

Following in the manner of the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the 2013 Ford Focus Electric has also been put through its paces in a crash test conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The car passed the test comprehensively with a 5-star rating. Breaking it down, the electric car also rated 5 stars […]

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Electromagnetic Harvester Able to Charge Batteries Using Ambient Energy

Mike Sandru — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:59:23 +0000

In a world where electromagnetic fields are so commonplace with the likes of electronic gadgets, power lines and vehicles continuously emitting the invisible force the fact that this energy cannot be felt does not mean that it is not possible to harvest the energy from electromagnetic fields. That is exactly what Dennis Siegel, of the […]

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New York Green Project to Use Destructive Rain Water

Mike Sandru — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:57:57 +0000

The problem with New York City and other similar older cities is that they are just not set up to deal with so much rain. Having paved most of the city, there is little ground left to soak storm waters, so much so that the sewers are overloaded, resulting in dumping of a water and […]

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Hong Kong Government Set to Levy Glass Bottles to Help Recycling

Mike Sandru — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:19:04 +0000

The Hong Kong government is planning to put a HK$1 levy on each bottle to help defray the cost of local recycling. According to the proposal by the government, the levy would apply to water and juice bottles as well as wine and beer bottles. The plan also revealed that about 1,700 distributors and importers […]

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“Bipolar” LED Lamps Made from Recycled Wine Glasses

Mike Sandru — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:18:33 +0000

Unwanted wine glasses can now be turned into lovely LED lamps thanks to the Canadian designer Tat Chao. The “bipolar” lamps are created from two champagne flutes or wine glasses with detached bases that are joined together at their drinking ends. The Canadian collects these glasses through donations or used equipment shops after which the […]

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Pennsylvania’s Mehoopany Wind Farm Becomes Fully Operational

Mike Sandru — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:36:22 +0000

Sempra US Gas and Power in collaboration with BP Wind Energy revealed early this year that the Mehoopany Wind Farm, a $250 million wind farm in Pennsylvania, is now fully operational. Sempra US Gas and Power CEO and President Jeffrey W. Martin expressed joy at the announcement, praising the State of Pennsylvania for leading the […]

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Artist Invents ‘Breathing Bike’ to Combat Air Pollution in Beijing

Mike Sandru — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:25:04 +0000

Beijing’s air is so polluted that breathing it has been compared to smoking one cigarette pack a day. The situation has inspired local artist Matt Hope to invent his very own air filtration system attached to his bike rack. The steampunk-style filtration system was made from odds and ends of unwanted materials from an IKEA […]

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Heilbronn House, a Sustainable Geothermal Home on the Edge of a German Forest

Mike Sandru — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:15:48 +0000

Heilbronn House is a three story home designed by KM Architektur which boasts sustainable features such as a passive solar design, solar water heating and a geothermal energy system as well as being built using sustainable materials such as wood, glass and copper. It is a sterling example of an eco-friendly home but also enjoys […]

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Switzerland Building Floating Labs Powered by Solar Energy

Mike Sandru — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:14:06 +0000

Viteos SA, a Swiss energy company, in conjunction with project development company Nolaris are planning construction of three floating laboratories on the Lake Neuchâtel, to be powered with solar energy. The laboratories would serve to show how efficient concentrated solar power (when sunlight energy is concentrated onto boilers for steam production which in turn drives […]

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Nissan Planning to Install 500 EV Fast-Charging Posts in the US

Mike Sandru — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:57:05 +0000

Whether it was Tesla’s introduction of the Supercharger system of fast-charging posts for electric vehicles or an attempt to curb the current range anxiety plaguing electric vehicles, it is no doubt a move in the right direction that Nissan is now setting up its very own fast-charging stations – 500 of them, to be complete […]

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Spanish Wind Farms’ Record-Breaking Power Generation in Last Three Months

Mike Sandru — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:56:12 +0000

According to industry experts, wind farms in Spain have over the last three months generated more electric power than any other source of energy. Grid company Red Electrica de Espana’s data shows that electrical capacity of more than six terawatt hours was generated by wind farms in January alone. Spain’s Wind Energy Association announced this […]

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New Mexico Thin Film Solar Energy More Affordable than Coal Power

Mike Sandru — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:54:40 +0000

The biggest thin film solar panel producer in the world, First Solar Inc. is planning to distribute electricity in New Mexico at a rate of 5.8 cents per kWh. In accord with First Solar’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) deal with El Paso Electric Company, the New Mexico grid would be supplied with their 50 MW […]

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2012 Seen as Milestone for Wind Energy in the US

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:16:01 +0000

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) confirmed 2012 as a record-breaking year for wind power in the US with a total of over 13 GW capacity (up from about 10 GW from 2011) installed throughout the country during the year. Also worthy of note is the fact that over 8 GW of the 13 GW […]

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Bosco Verticale in Milan – One Step Closer to Become World’s First Vertical Forest

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:53:16 +0000

The Italian city of Milan is among Europe’s most polluted; so much so that in order to forestall damage to da Vinci’s The Last Supper, city officials had to put up a ventilation system in 2009. The city’s air is so bad that limits set by the EU are frequently surpassed, with one medical student […]

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Buildings Pitagoras and Tecnova Spearhead Sustainability in Almeria, Spain

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:52:25 +0000

In 2012, the Pitagoras and Tecnova Foundation buildings in Almeria, Spain, were completed. Promoting sustainability and the development of advanced technology, the Ferrer Arquitecos-designed buildings have outer shells that ensure that the interiors receive adequate daylight and are also designed to be energy-efficient with viable gardens located throughout the premises. In addition to researching high-tech, […]

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Winter Cabin in Japan Merges Tradition with Modern Technology

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:51:54 +0000

In northern climates, buildings are often put up with some form of synthetic insulation and mechanical heating; a method that uses much energy without being the most efficient. In Japan, the indigenous people, called the Ainu, build for the winter by using earth with sedge grasses and bamboo, with warmth provided by an ever-burning central […]

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2013 Electric Ford Focus Price Drastically Slashed

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:21:27 +0000

At the time the Ford Focus was introduced, it was widely expected that it would become one of the hottest electric cars on the market in terms of sales. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as expected with rather uninspiring sales figures. It is arguable whether the mediocre sales were as a result of poor promotion or […]

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Hut-to-Hut: Southern India’s Cheap and Environmentally-Friendly Home

Mike Sandru — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:54:33 +0000

Hut-to-Hut is the result of a workshop organised by Rintala Eggertsson Architects and some students from the University of Science and Technology in Norway to design and construct a practical, eco-friendly home in India’s Western Ghats region. Built with locally-produced materials and using solar power and a composite latrine to provide its energy needs, the […]

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10-Year-Old Child Praised for Successful Recycling Business

Mike Sandru — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:53:59 +0000

When his age mates were likely just getting to grips with their roles in the world as young ones, Vanis Buckholz, at the age of 10 had already made his mark on the world with his very own recycling business. Beginning at the age of 7, when in elementary school he learned about the benefits […]

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Report Indicates Photovoltaics Better than Biofuels in Converting Solar to Mileage

Mike Sandru — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:25:57 +0000

A recent report indicates that in terms of conversion of solar energy to how much distance one can cover on wheels, photovoltaics come out on top over even the best biofuels. The report, published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal hoped to establish how efficient each of the power sources were by comparing how […]

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Texas Introduces World’s Biggest Wind Energy Storage System

Mike Sandru — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:25:16 +0000

North Carolina’s Duke Energy has started operations in what it refers to as the biggest battery power system in the world. The Notrees wind farm facility, which cost $44 million and has a 36 MW capacity, uses some of the most advanced technology to store the energy being produced by the 153 MW renewable energy […]

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California and New York New Destinations for 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In

Mike Sandru — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:11:19 +0000

In recent times, Honda’s range of plug-in vehicles has been largely underwhelming, but with the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In, that looks set to change. The reason is that in past years, Honda has elected to stick with their less powerful IMA Hybrid system, which made the driving ranges of their plug-ins mediocre, and as a […]

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Electric Motorbike Zerotracer Takes 80 Days and $400 to Travel around the World

Mike Sandru — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:10:19 +0000

The electric motorbike, the Zerotracer, can definitely be called the most fuel efficient vehicle in the world. The Tobias Wülser design was able to travel around the world in 80 days, using only $400 worth of fuel. A product of an Aurau Academy of Art and Design thesis project, the Zerotracer was showcased in Abu […]

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New Study Indicates Sunlight Could Power All Our Energy Needs

Mike Sandru — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:08:59 +0000

The chief concern with renewable energy has always been the argument that renewable sources would never be able to power all of the energy needs of the world. A new report, however, has revealed that in a number of regions in the world, solar power alone could satisfy all their energy needs. Using seven case […]

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Silt Lake City: A City Floating on the Nile River

Mike Sandru — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:35:26 +0000

The River Nile in ancient times was shown to flood the Nile valley area during certain seasons and served to irrigate the land and provide needed nutrients for farming. The construction of dams along the river in modern times has all but done away with this useful resource, but a new architectural solution promises to […]

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ELF: A Pedal-Solar Hybrid Trike to Start Shipping in March

Mike Sandru — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:53:35 +0000

It’s only some few months ago that Rob Cotter, founder of Organic Transit had the idea for the Elf, a solar-powered pedal hybrid vehicle. However, after only a short while, the design is almost a consumer reality after going through prototype phase in Durham and then gathering the necessary funds via Kickstarter. Although the project […]

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Amsterdam Shipyard Hosts Recycled Container Theater

Mike Sandru — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:42:38 +0000

Amsterdam’s architecture firm O+A have created a large shipping container for the city’s annual Over het IJ theater festival. The container was made from materials from the town and was located in the NDSM Shipyard in the Dutch capital. O+A used the containers as makeshift building blocks in their design, which made for an unforgettable […]

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New Way to Determine Renewable Energy Potential of Waste

Mike Sandru — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:41:41 +0000

Cranfield University has reinvented the way to determine the renewable energy potential of waste before incineration. Benefits of the new method include reduction in cost, time and energy in processing the waste by energy companies. Since the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) scheme implemented by the UK Government requires that electricity companies determine how much of […]

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Recycled Wood Pallets Used to Build Attractive Pavilion

Mike Sandru — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:39:03 +0000

It may be arguable as to whether wooden pallets actually make good building materials, but the fact remains that they are capable of a wide range of use, including refugee housing, furniture and even gardening. It is with this versatility that Italian architects Avatar Architecttura have constructed the beautiful pavilion in Florence, Italy for the […]

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Gardens by the Bay in Singapore Home to Biggest Climate-Controlled Greenhouses in the World

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:05:39 +0000

The extraordinary Gardens by the Bay in Singapore was completed in 2012, featuring carbon neutral conservatories with one of them being the biggest such greenhouse in the world. Implementing active and passive technology in the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, the Wilkinson Eyre design provides an environment that allows exotic plants to flourish. The climate-controlled […]

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Japan Plans World’s Biggest Offshore Wind Farm

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:04:51 +0000

It is almost two years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown in 2011, and after all but reducing its dependence on nuclear power (only two out of 54 reactors are still online), Japan has declared its intention to focus on renewable energy by building the biggest offshore wind farm in the world. The wind farm […]

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Giant Solar Field Launched in Saudi Arabia by Suntech

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:01:13 +0000

The president of Saudi Aramco, Khalid A. Al-Falih recently inaugurated a 3.5 MW solar field. The project in Riyadh is for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). Estimated to be capable of providing 5,800 MW of electricity to be used to supplement the grid, the solar field covers an area of 55,000 […]

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NanoLight – The Most Energy-Efficient LED Bulb in the World

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:59:11 +0000

These days, when energy efficiency is the watch-word in purchasing electronics, it is even more evident when bulbs are the objects of such purchases. With the LED’s longevity and energy efficiency in reducing energy bills, it is no wonder they are so popular. That has led to Gimmy Chu, Christian Yan and Tom Rodinger’s creation […]

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MVRDV Design Glass Building with Traditional Farmhouse Look

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:57:39 +0000

Architects MVRDV have constructed a building made of glass but resembling a traditional Dutch farmhouse – Glass Farm. The building houses mixed-use retail establishments and offices right in the middle of Schijndel, a town in The Netherlands. Glass Farm was built to help in the redevelopment of the market square of Schijndel which sustained heavy […]

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Belgium to Build Artificial Island to Store Wind Energy

Mike Sandru — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:55:34 +0000

With the growth of wind farms the world over, it becomes necessary to provide some form of electricity backup and also since when the energy produced by the turbines is not used, it often goes to waste, there is the need to implement a storage facility for wind energy – and that is exactly what […]

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The ZCB: Hong Kong’s First Zero Carbon Building is Powered by Solar Energy

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:31:03 +0000

Hong Kong has seen its very first zero carbon building, the ZCB. Ronald Lu & Partners designed the building using passive design techniques to ensure that energy use is reduced. With a natural ability to ventilate, a close-fitting thermal envelope, waste-to-energy biodiesel creation, a photovoltaic roof, rainwater collection, and advanced monitoring system the ZCB wastes […]

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The CrossBlue: Volkswagen’s New Diesel-Electric Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:30:18 +0000

Volkswagen launched their new diesel-electric plug-in hybrid SUV, the CrossBlue, recently at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The SUV would certainly appeal to consumers needing a larger vehicle but still want to reduce their carbon footprint. Though the vehicle is a hybrid, it is not the usual gasoline-electric variety, but rather sports a more powerful […]

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Atlantic Wind Connection is Planning Phase One of Offshore Wind Transmission “Backbone”

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:29:46 +0000

Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC) is an offshore wind transmission project, or “backbone”, being created by Trans-Elect, an independent transmission company and Atlantic Grid Development with backing from Bregal Energy, Elia, Marubeni Corp. and Google. The companies supporting the project have given some details of the beginning phase of the project. For the first phase, New […]

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“Empowerhouse” Home Generates Its Own Energy – Sustainably

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:28:31 +0000

New School students and students of Stevens Institute of Technology have created the Empowerhouse, which is a home that generates all of its required energy. Built in the Washington D.C. area as an entry in the Solar Decathlon design competition, which is supported by the D.C. Community Development and Department of Housing, this brings to […]

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Recycling Mobile Phones Could End Chemical Leakage

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:27:07 +0000

Recycling mobile phones is a big business, not only for the financial benefits. This is because it ensures that dangerous chemicals do not reach landfill sites and that material resources are also preserved. Without a doubt, the mobile phone industry is one of the world’s most competitive, as indicated by consumer behavior such as is […]

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Solar Power Systems in California Reaching 1 Gigawatt

Mike Sandru — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:16:10 +0000

The rebate program targeted at businesses and homeowners in for installing solar panels in California now has enough subscribers to produce 1 gigawatt worth of electricity, which is the first among the US states, and a level reached by only a few nations. The report on Thursday showed that California residents, taking advantage of the […]

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US Military Supports EV-to-Grid Initiative for 500 Electric Vehicles

Mike Sandru — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:15:28 +0000

The US Military has recently announced a $500-Electric-vehicle-to-grid program with a $20 million fund, as part of the several sustainable energy initiatives out there today. The other initiatives include zero emission electric vehicles, zero emission recharging using solar or other sources of renewable energy, utilising smart grid technology which maximises off-peak power usage, and local […]

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UK Initiative Plants Trees for Recycled Junk Cars

Mike Sandru — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:14:53 +0000

Investigators at the International Energy Agency estimate that by 2035 there would be about 1.7 billion vehicles plying the roads. It is hoped that most of these vehicles would be powered by advanced technology such as hydrogen fuel cells or electricity. That means that there would be quite a lot of internal combustion engine cars […]

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World’s First Electric Car-Carrying Ferry Developed by Siemens

Mike Sandru — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:59:11 +0000

Siemens has collaborated with Fjellstrand, the Norwegian shipyard, to develop what is the very first electric car ferry in the world. The vessel which is 80 meters long, can carry up to 360 passengers and 120 cars. It is scheduled to begin ferrying from 2015, from Lavik to Oppendal, through the Sognefjord. The batteries of […]

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Japan Decides to Go Back on Decision to Reduce Nuclear Power Dependence

Mike Sandru — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:58:35 +0000

When the nuclear meltdown occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan a couple of years ago, the Japanese government decided to cut down on nuclear energy. Now Japan is prepared to go back on that decision by reverting to nuclear power once again. Before the Fukushima meltdown disaster, Japan was planning to increase […]

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Belgium’s Whale-like Ice Rink in Liège is Both Energy Efficient and Fun

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:18:55 +0000

Liège’s new Olympic Ice Rink, which has the rather interesting look of a beached whale, was finally completed last month. L’Escaut Architecture are responsible for the design, which is located adjacent the Médiacité shopping mall by Ron Arad. With a covering of aluminum scales, the building is kept cool and energy-efficient with the help of […]

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Lilliputian Systems’ “Nectar” Fuel Cell Provides Gadget Power for Weeks

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:17:54 +0000

In a bid to help supplement the increasing power demand of today’s gadgets, Lilliputian Systems this week introduced their Nectar Mobile Power System during a CES event. The system combines the long life and convenience of fuel cells with portability in this innovative solution. Nectar is a wholly dependent on disposable power, in contrast with […]

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Nicaragua Targets 94% of Energy from Renewables by 2017

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:07:57 +0000

Compared to its neighboring countries, Nicaragua has rather limited energy reserves, resulting in most of the commercial electricity having to be generated through imported petroleum and the rest generated from geothermal and hydropower. However, with the current target of having 94% of their energy needs being obtained from renewable sources by 2017 through the National […]

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A Solar-Powered Temporary Housing Unit Now Home to Damaged Property Victims

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:07:22 +0000

A number of designers are competing to design the best practical emergency housing unit. Michel Antoun Zateef’s design of The Temporary Housing Unit is among the proposals to provide shelter for victims of property-damaging disasters. No matter the kind of natural disaster, from hurricanes to floods or even earthquakes, the project’s goal is to provide […]

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New Wind Turbine Blade Design Aims to Be the Longest So Far

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:06:50 +0000

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) of the UK has chosen Blade Dynamics, a wind turbine developer also from the UK to design and develop the technology to build what would become the longest turbine blades in the world. Measuring in the range of 80 to 100 metres, these would be much longer than the usual […]

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True North Log Homes Adds More Energy Efficiency by Using Sustainably Grown Timber

Mike Sandru — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:05:45 +0000

True North Log Homes has constructed this quite marvellous structure from Quebec and north Ontario’s sustainably-grown white pine heartwood timber, which incidentally are also Forest Stewardship Council Certified. Evoking memories of the breezy country log homes of a bygone era, these are more technologically-advanced homes implementing computerized machinery and meticulous timber preparation in its construction, […]

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Official Says Beijing Will Introduce Electric Vehicle Incentives Soon

Mike Sandru — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:51:42 +0000

Beijing will be introducing a 60,000-yuan subsidy for electric vehicles, similar to the subsidies by the central government, in an effort to increase sales and decrease smog in the city, which is among the most polluted. Deputy Head of local government in charge of development of vehicles powered by alternative energy, Chen Guiru stated in […]

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Ford’s New MyEnergi Lifestyle Reduces Energy Bills and Carbon Footprint

Mike Sandru — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:51:03 +0000

Ford recently introduced its MyEnergi Lifestyle project which indicates how integrating plug-in vehicles with renewable energy sources and home appliances can help a family decrease their energy bills as well as reduce their carbon footprint. Together with SunPower, Eaton, and Whirlpool, the technology is being introduced at this week’s International CES in Vegas. Partnering with […]

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Nissan to Offer New and More Affordable Leaf Electric Car

Mike Sandru — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:49:49 +0000

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Nissan is set to offer a new low-priced version of the Leaf, known as the Leaf S when it starts introducing its 3013 models. Though there has been no word on pricing yet, Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman has indicated that the new Leaf would be available in car dealerships this […]

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Forecast: 3.8 Million EVs Sold by 2020

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:47:24 +0000

Pike Research estimates that electric vehicle (EV) sales (both pure electric and hybrids) are to reach 3.8 million by 2020 due to increased affordability and increased number and efficiency of charging points. Thus, it is still early days yet for the electric vehicle. According to Pike research’s Dave Hurst in the report, electric vehicle sales […]

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Will the Electric Car Finally Have its Time in 2013?

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:45:48 +0000

According to The Hague, the experts and sales figures point to 2012 as an encouraging year for hybrids and electric cars. A typical example was the tripling in sales of the Chevrolet Volt, one of the most common plug-in hybrids in North America. Still, with only 23,461 of them sold in the US, representing about […]

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Rotterdam’s Floating Pavilion is Solar Powered and Developed to Withstand Climate Change

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:45:14 +0000

In order to face the challenges posed by climate change and its consequent rise of sea levels, Rotterdam has begun the construction of some interesting floating structures. At the forefront of this project for climate-proof architecture is the Floating Pavilion which is made up of three bubble-like hemispheres located in the old harbor of Rotterdam. […]

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Guinness World Record for 45,000-Milk-Carton Tetra Brik Pavilion

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:44:42 +0000

To mark World Recycling Day in Spain, CUACS Arquitectura unveiled a quite remarkable pavilion built using 45,000 milk cartons. In conjunction with RESUR, a waste recycling firm, the Grenada government started the project in 2011. Using tetra briks collected from about 100 colleges in Granada and recycling them, the project, once finished, won the Guinness […]

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Uruguay Planning Global Leadership in Wind Power

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:44:15 +0000

Uruguay plans to lead the world in terms of power derived from wind energy by using renewable sources to produce about 90% of its electricity by 2015. The wind energy-derived electrical power is supposed to take up about 30% with the remaining 45% and 15% taken up by hydropower and biomass respectively, as reported by […]

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Chile Sees South America’s First Thermal Solar Power Plant

Mike Sandru — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:42:19 +0000

Minera El Tesoro, part of the Antofagasta Minerals group is the first South American recipient of a solar thermal plant with Spain’s photovoltaic developer Abengoa designing and building a 20-megawatt capacity structure for the mining group. Located in Antofagasta in Chile, the plant is covers 6 hectares and consists of more than 1,000 solar thermal […]

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Astronauts Turn to Recycling as NASA Converts Trash to New Parts

Mike Sandru — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:47:26 +0000

Apparently, waste is not only an earth-based problem as NASA is also trying to figure out how to deal with waste produced in space and how to recycle these into new parts. The scientists at NASA are plotting a closed-loop system for all manner of space-generated waste to be reused in several interesting ways. NASA’s […]

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Chinese Gold Sliced Porosity Block Deserves Green Kudos

Mike Sandru — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:46:54 +0000

The Sliced Porosity Block in China has been declared finished by Steven Holl Architects. The building, which was designed with daylighting in mind, is made up of five irregular structures interspersed with open spaces to allow light to reach a plush inner courtyard. The project was inspired by valleys and canyons and also aims to […]

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