Courtney Lepping, Author at The Green Optimistic

France to Ban Plastic Dishes by 2020, Decision Stirs Controversy

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:02:42 +0000

France just passed a law against plastic cups, cutlery, and plates. By 2020, the Energy Transition for Green Growth will go into effect and said plastics will start phasing out. Should it be illegal to negatively impact climate change? Or should it be legal to sell harmful goods despite the detrimental environmental impact? Either way, […]

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Japan’s Emissions Slightly Rise, But Not From Nuclear Shutdown

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 08:42:06 +0000

The earthquake that terrorized Japan in 2011 led to the shutdown of nuclear energy. There was an increase in CO2 emissions by 11.8 percent from 2010 to 2014. Could the reported increase be caused by the shutdown after the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant disaster? Sources claim the rise in emissions wasn’t much of a rise at […]

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Insolight Boldly Claim Record Solar Cell Efficiency

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:37:14 +0000

Insolight, which became an official solar company in 2015, recently made the claim that its new solar panel designed for residential installations is ‘twice as efficient’ than the norm. How? It claims to have a solar energy conversion rate of 36.4 percent. 34.6 percent is pretty much double the conversion rates of popular solar cells. […]

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DONG Energy Builds World’s Largest Wind Turbine

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:35:26 +0000

What’s up-and-coming in 2017? According to DONG Energy, it will be the UK commencement of the operation of the world’s largest wind turbines. Expected to supply clean electricity to 230,000 homes in the UK, the wind turbine at the Burbo Extension offshore wind farm is another respected addition to the changing green world. Wind energy […]

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China’s Electric Car Scandal Could Happen in the U.S.

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:41:10 +0000

Every economic system has an ugly reality and communist countries like China are no exception. An electric car scandal that recently surfaced was unexpected, however, especially with the seemingly unbiased green car revolution. China has a reputation for being a leader in solar and wind power, outpacing similar efforts in other countries. While China’s push […]

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Sony Enters EV Battery Business, Could Power Formula E Championship

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:24:16 +0000

Sony Corporation commercialized the first lithium-ion battery in 1991 and is now approaching the electric vehicle battery industry. Sony can expect to perform well in the industry, even if it loses the bid for the FIA Formula E Championship, which is electric racing cars in need of better batteries. Electric race cars may eventually become […]

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OPEC States It Doesn’t Give a Jack About Electric Vehicles

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 19:39:17 +0000

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), a significant world oil contributor, recently displayed overconfidence in its presence and future influence despite the rise in electric vehicles. While car companies are looking to produce more electric vehicles, OPEC expects to continue providing oil for the car industry. OPEC’s members seem entirely ignorant of the world’s […]

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The Story Behind Ford’s Model E Isn’t So S-E-X-Y

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 19:10:07 +0000

You’ve heard of Ford CEO Mark Field’s upcoming electric vehicle, Model E, which is rumored to come in two body styles: a sedan and a crossover. There’s a lot of reasons why consumers are excited. Model E will have a starting 200 miles of range and will accept a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric […]

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Conergy Builds World’s First Islanding Solar Power Project

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 18:34:53 +0000

An islanding solar project reliant on battery backup is about to undergo a two-year test. Conergy (a well-known solar company), along with Origin Energy, BHP Billiton, Ergon Energy, and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARNEA), just established a Knowledge Sharing Project to bypass renewable energy setbacks. These companies will monitor a $42.5 million Lakeland solar project […]

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Apple Will Produce Electric Cars With This New Battery

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 13:46:49 +0000

Apple is trying, but partly failing, to secure a secret that is on the verge of exposure: The company wants to come out with new technology for its electric car project, technology created from an undisclosed South Korean battery company. What’s the big deal? Well, Apple doesn’t want competing car companies like Tesla to get […]

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New Electrochemical Cell Can Make Synthetic Fuel

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 05:26:52 +0000

Scientists at the University of Illinois may have found a way to move away from the use of fossil fuels and towards synthetically producing fuel via an electrochemical cell that houses three electrodes. This cell is designed to behave in similar ways that a plant would by gaining energy from light. Plants can easily produce […]

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The Mercedes Maybach Elegant EV Could Rival Tesla

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 06:20:04 +0000

The Vision Mercedes Maybach 6 concept is the new high roller in town. The slender low-rider, almost 19-feet in length, could be cruising along the streets in the future, reaching 62 mph in under 4 seconds. This new high-tech electric car is not only autonomous, but stores an 80-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It has 738 horsepower […]

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MIT’s New Lithium-Ion Battery Could Be The Future of Electric Cars

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 19:44:44 +0000

Qichao Hu, the CEO at MIT’s SolidEnergy Systems, invented a lithium-ion battery that will last twice as long but smaller by half. This battery is a big deal in that it uses lithium-metal foil as the anode material, as opposed to the standard graphite, carbon, or silicone, and can be used in things like wearables, […]

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This Student-Built Electric Aircraft in Singapore is Amazing

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 21:01:31 +0000

Orville and Wilbur Wright might have developed the gasoline-powered aircraft in 1903, setting the stage for transportation via flight, but had never imagined an entirely different possibility in 2016- electric aircraft. Students attending the National University of Singapore recently built a three-winged paraglider they named The Delta that travels at a maximum speed of 22 […]

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Tesla Model 3 Attacked by BMW in Acid Advertising

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 20:59:29 +0000

BMW’s new aid campaign is nothing short of misleading. In attempt to put down Tesla’s Model 3 in exchange for highlighting BMW’s plug-in hybrid vehicle, BMW’s only counter protest in its new ad was to argue against the Model 3’s wait time. In just 30 seconds, the BMW 330e ad blows smoke over offering a […]

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Blue Whirls: New Kind of Fire Tornado Could Make Cleaning Oil Spills Cleaner

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:07:06 +0000

Weather disasters are fascinating and frightening. The fire tornado is no exception. A difficult weather condition to control, a research team at the University of Maryland decided to look into ways of reducing its disaster component. The team discovered a fire tornado that manifests as blue whirls. Michael Gollner, a co-author of the study remarked, […]

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Aldi Is Banning Hazardous Chemicals from Their Shelves

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:23:39 +0000

Discount store Aldi’s stated objective is to create a healthier brand for consumers, being that the pesticides generate political concern over their usage. Customers will know that several different pesticides will be removed, and for different reasons. Thiamethoxam and Chlorpyrifos might pose an autoimmune disorder threat, for example, as it has been found to be […]

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Coming Soon: Tesla’s Fully Autonomous Driving

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 22:28:18 +0000

Tesla is about to level up. No, not by playing Pokemon Go, but by introducing Level 4 fully autonomous driving features. Elon Musk is raving about Tesla’s rapid progress on the project and set the release date for the new technology in Q4 2017. Musk stated, “What we’ve got will blow people’s minds, it blows […]

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MobilEye Software “Auto”-matically Ruptured Relationship with Tesla

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:51:30 +0000

Looks like the relationship between business partners MobilEye and Tesla just… crashed. MobilEye, the Israeli company that has supplied Tesla with the technology used in self-driving vehicles, has decided to no longer make those services available. The Tesla vehicle crash must be weighing heavily upon those involved, even if involved in the slightest. The MobilEye EyeQ3 […]

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Bike Couriers Used to Map London Air Pollution

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:50:56 +0000

What if you could visualize the air quality around you, in real-time, as you are traveling around London? You better believe it to be true! Soon London will have an air pollution map available to those with smart phones in the city after utilizing CleanSpace Tags. Drayson Technologies, Inmarsat, and Gophr are coming together to […]

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New Solar Cell Behaves Like Actual Plant

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:49:19 +0000

There’s an efficient new solar cell that can basically perform the job of any plant: convert carbon dioxide into fuel. Instead of a photovoltaic solar cell, the photosynthetic solar cell aims to utilize the excess carbon in the atmosphere and make fuel from that. The characteristics and appearance of such solar cell is much like […]

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Waste-to-Energy Plant Coming to South Africa

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:48:47 +0000

Exciting news coming from South Africa: a renewable energy project is underway that will provide electricity to households through waste management. The engineering company Black & Veatch, which originates from the U.S. and has existed for over 50 years, will be assisting the upcoming waste-to-energy (WTE) plant that will be stationed in Drakenstein. Sub-Saharan Africa […]

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Aerochromic’s Shirts Change Pattern According to Air Pollutants

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:48:13 +0000

A new line of shirts from Aerochromic warn you of air pollutants by changing its pattern. No word yet on how the awareness of the level of air pollutants, which you can know by dishing out 500 dollars or more, would increase public health, but at least you’ll be aware. Aerochromic presents three options for […]

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EPA’s Misleading Emissions Estimate for CAFE Standards

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:49:53 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are under attack for “abandoning” their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles. Citizens blindly trusted in the 163 grams/ mile or 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) estimate of carbon […]

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Geneva’s Electric Buses Will “Flash-Charge” in Just 15 Seconds

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 09:36:59 +0000

Geneva’s new electric bus network will outpace Tesla’s Supercharger by five times as much energy. In a contract with Switzerland-based ABB, Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) will add “flash-charging” buses along a route from Geneva’s airport to Praille-Acacias Vernet. The 12 TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation) buses and 13 “flash-charging” stations will service over 10,000 passengers […]

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Elon Musk’s Master Plan for Sustainable Energy

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 19:56:57 +0000

Remember when Elon Musk devised a “Master Plan” for developing a feasible electric car? Recognize how the company’s goals have changed since 2006 when Musk announced he would use proceeds from a low-volume electric car, only to sell a medium-volume car and eventually develop an affordable electric car. Musk has always envisioned a car company […]

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Helsinki Wants App-Based Transportation Lines

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:40:53 +0000

Should you give up your privacy and personal vehicle to better society? In terms of transportation, the Helsinki government in Finland thinks so. In a push for reducing the carbon footprint, congestion, traffic accidents, and poor air quality, the government seeks to rid the need for individually-owned vehicles by 2025. Traffic engineer Sonja Heikkilä came […]

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Harvard Clean Power Plan Could Save the US $38bln a Year

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:38:37 +0000

Harvard released a report predicting that The Clean Power Plan would save the United States $38 billion a year. How? Lower healthcare costs that, when factored in with the costs of switching to green energy, would save money. The Clean Power Plan, created under the Obama administration, functions much like The Clean Air Act in […]

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Mechanism Will Make Solar Cells Absorb More Visible Light

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:35:55 +0000

Solar energy comprises different wavelengths of light. While 43 percent of solar energy is visible light, 5 percent is UV light. It’s important for materials to absorb visible light in order for solar cells to present better, more efficient energy sources. This concept generally encompasses light harvesting, or using the sun for energy. In a […]

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Tesla’s Autopilot System Under Investigation

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 12:25:52 +0000

You have most likely heard of Tesla’s autopilot semi-autonomous driving system that exists within its higher quality vehicles. It may not become the norm unless the politics surrounding the system dissolves. After a number of Autopilot accidents including the death of Joshua Brown, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Transportation Safety Board […]

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Toyota Plant Uses Hydrogen to Reduce Emissions

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:37:24 +0000

The Miyata Plant of Toyota Motor Kyushu has exciting plans for the use of hydrogen in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. With the incorporation of solar and wind energy as the initiation of a project by of Fukuoka Prefecture, Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc, Kyuden Technosystems Corp and Toyota Tsusho Corp, it is expected that carbon dioxide […]

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Tesla’s Autopilot 2.0 Could Have LIDAR Hardware

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:36:01 +0000

Yet another sighting of one of Tesla’s productions hints at cool new driving features. Model S was recently spotted with what appears to be LIDAR hardware in Palo Alto, CA near Tesla’s headquarters. From the front of the vehicle a laser detection system can be seen with the ability to provide 3D maps in real-time. […]

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A Better Lithium Ion Battery May Have Been Created, in Austria

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 05:05:58 +0000

Electric vehicles might become the modern form of future transportation. Perhaps, this would explain the three men whose recent design is expected to compete with current vehicular batteries. The battery claim has not been entirely backed up evidence just yet, but apparently three brothers in Freistadt designed a lighter lithium ion battery. The Kreisel brothers […]

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Zero-Point Energy Nanomagnet Stores Data In Small Spaces

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:56:41 +0000

The European research institution Jülich just released new information on “zero-point energy” and its effect on the stability of nanomagnets. If scientists can determine how to magnetically store data, information can be stored in extremely small spaces. Quantum mechanics becomes important when we’re talking about small spaces, such as nanometers. Magnetic moments are difficult to […]

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Antarctic Ozone Hole to Be Healed by 2060

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 17:15:04 +0000

There’s justification for the changes we’ve made in our personal lives to help the environment. The Antarctic ozone hole appears to be healing. The atmospheric chemist Susan Soloman, who was part of the recently published study on the Antarctic ozone hole, suggests that the ozone hole will heal towards the end of the century. The […]

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Solar Roadways to Pave Route 66 in Missouri With Solar Panels

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 19:22:49 +0000

In a section of Route 66 located in Missouri, MoDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, and Solar Roadways plans to install solar panels to serve as public roads by the year’s end. The specially-designed roadways will feature LED lights to cover the expression of “lines and signage” as well as surface heating abilities. Not only will […]

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Stopping Peatland Wildfires May Reduce Climate Change

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 15:37:36 +0000

Climate change happens from both direct and indirect human interference- just look at the recent rise in wildfires. A study in Nature Scientific Reports by ecologist Mike Waddington revealed the repercussions of draining and mining peatlands: widespread wildfires. Peatlands, or bogs found in the northern hemisphere, are vulnerable to fires because of unearthed organic material […]

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U.S. Navy Fuel Cells Produce More Fuel From Seawater

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 03:36:06 +0000

The U.S. Navy is looking at a way to extract hydrogen from seawater while capturing carbon dioxide to be used in fuel cells. Fuel cells represent an efficient way of converting hydrogen to electricity without generating harmful byproducts. Current refueling operations at sea are risky, whereas the Electrolytic Cation Exchange Module would not require the […]

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China Needed to Help Pay For Russia’s Hyperloop Project

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 03:34:12 +0000

The Russian government seeks China’s financial support of the possible $500-million Russian hyperloop project. In trying to convince China to lend aid, Russia said of the 70-kilometer transportation line that it would benefit both countries. The Russian hyperloop project would run along the Pacific Coast from Russia’s port of Zarubino to China’s Jilin province. The […]

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“Maxwell”: Meet NASA’s Faster, More Efficient Electric Airplane

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:04:52 +0000

Airplanes are a great convenience to society but not to the environment. Luckily, NASA is constructing an electric airplane designed to be more efficient and quiet. The new airplane, which was deemed X-57 by the Air Force, is expected to hold at most 9 passengers at a speed up to 175 miles per hour. It […]

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Advanced Solar Cell Resembles Rose Petal Epidermis

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:04:09 +0000

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) discovered a cheat for greater organic solar cell efficiency based on the epidermal cells of rose petals. Rose petals have certain properties that when artificially reproduced on a larger scale, such as a solar cell, yields more power. Researchers from the Light Technology Institute (LTI), the Institute of Microstructure […]

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Elon Musk’s Tesla Plans to Acquire Elon Musk’s SolarCity, Offer Joint Services

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:25:53 +0000

Tesla and SolarCity plan to merge energy-efficient products for consumers. Solar City, which produces and installs solar panels, and Tesla, which produces battery-powered vehicles, recently engaged in an offer for Tesla to acquire SolarCity. Tesla seeks to acquire SolarCity’s common stock and give Tesla’s common shares in return. A definite agreement and approval has yet […]

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New Study Finds Algae That Melt Arctic Ice

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:24:26 +0000

Not many have heard of the albedo effect, where microorganisms are theorized to be melting the Arctic. This is displayed by pink snow. The researcher Stefanie Lutz published a study about the decline of albedo, or reflection of sunlight on the earth’s surface, in snow and ice caused by pink algae. 40 samples from 21 […]

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U.K. Roads Will Charge Electric Vehicles

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:23:26 +0000

The U.K. plans to convenience electric vehicles by experimenting with “re-charging” lanes. Electric vehicles have a lower driving range, which means they need to access charging stations more frequently. Battery-powered vehicles have a lower driving range than gas-powered vehicles. Until better improvements develop, electric vehicles cannot go as far as gas-powered vehicles without needing energy. […]

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Tesla’s Model 3 Could be Delivered Sooner Than Expected

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:22:53 +0000

In a move to acquire customer satisfaction, Tesla responded to the need for the Model 3 sedan by changing the production start date. Model 3 is expected to be produced in November 2016 instead of the original 2017 date. The high demand for Tesla’s Model 3 may be because it is a “green” electric vehicle […]

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CO2 Reaches Record Levels at South Pole Observatory

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:07:03 +0000

There is no excuse for denying the impact carbon dioxide emissions will have on the Earth. The South Pole Observatory just reported startling news: carbon dioxide concentrations soared past 400 parts per million (ppm). This is daunting for the Earth, given the obvious negative effects of pollution and heavy emissions. The South Pole, given its […]

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New NANO Li-Ion Battery Does not Catch Fire, Designed for Defense Missions

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 11:36:36 +0000

Many battery cells experience thermal runaway, a condition that results in damage from overheating. Kokam Company produced a new battery, composed of Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), to overcome this problem. NANO battery technology is a new kind of lithium-ion battery that passed ballistic testing and was […]

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Vibranium: Hyperloop’s New Super Strong Material Brings New Hopes to Transportation

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 21:09:00 +0000

In its quest to equate its materials with science fiction references, the company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HHT) has just come out with a material called Vibranium. Based in southern California, HHT collaborated with c2i, a Slovakia company, to produce a material that is supposedly ten times stronger than steel and 5 times lighter than aluminum. […]

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New Texas Toyota Headquarters Going Green

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 06:09:44 +0000

Toyota’s headquarters is moving to Texas and making a shift towards environmental practices. Toyota consulted the Texas energy management and consulting services firm, Priority Power Management (PPM), to design a plan for a headquarters based on renewable power. The Plano headquarters campus will be ‘going green’ with LED lights, solar panels, building shells designed to […]

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Apple May Enter the Renewable Energy Market

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:12:24 +0000

Apple may be planning to sell electricity power to the U.S. markets. The company just filed a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to receive permission to sell its excess energy. Although money might be an important factor, Apple will apparently sell the energy at market rates. This all stems from Apple hoarding […]

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Newly Discovered Crystal Rids Radioactive Waste

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 07:14:31 +0000

How can radioactive waste from nuclear-fuel reprocessing plants be banished? Nature Communications published research by scientists at the national level at EPFL and the U.S. on SBMOF-1, a material deemed a metal-organic framework. This type of crystal absorbs radioactive waste better than current options. Not only can the nanoporous crystal, which contains materials known to […]

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How Elon Musk’s Tweet Made Panasonic $800mln Richer

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 06:27:05 +0000

From a simple Tweet, Tesla’s Elon Musk allowed Samsung’s share price to drop as Panasonic’s increased by $800 million. Tesla Motors is partnering up with Panasonic Corp to provide batteries for the Model 3 which will rival the BMW 3-series. The Model 3 sedan is a creation that promises a change from 0 to 60 […]

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Climate Change Heat Destroys British Warships

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 06:24:54 +0000

The ocean temperature in the body of water called the Persian Gulf has recently skyrocketed to the point of causing the breakdown of six Type 45 British warships. Unbelievably, the ships are prone to losing power from the drastic changes. Although the water temperatures in the Persian Gulf typically range from 75 to 90 degrees […]

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“Norway’s Gas-Powered Car Ban” Rumor is a Rumor

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 14:06:07 +0000

The rumor that Norway is planning to ban gas-powered car sales by 2025 shows that vague Tweets have the potential to produce a misinformed population. Tesla’s Elon Musk misinterpreted the Norwegian newspaper as exclaiming that there would be a ban on fuel cars. Musk Tweeted, “Just heard that Norway will ban new sales of fuel […]

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Hellisheidi Researchers Transform Carbon Dioxide into Mineral

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 20:56:25 +0000

Researchers at the largest geothermal facility in the world, The Hellisheidi power plant beat the time constraints predicted for carbon storage. Storing carbon dioxide underground has been a problematic topic because of suspicions that the natural chemical reactions required would just take too much time. It took less than two years for 95% of the […]

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Monsanto Begs to Keep “Cancer-causing” Glyphosate on Market

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 07:54:04 +0000

Monsanto seeks to renew its glyphosate license for another 15 years despite an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2015 study that predicted the chemical could cause cancer. In the United States and Brazil, Monsanto sells genetically modified glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean seeds. Unfortunately the herbicide glyphosate may present health problems. The majority of […]

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Drone Cameras Capture Dryland Ecosystems Throughout Time

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 07:52:38 +0000

Drones aren’t just for the government. Research by the University of Exeter shows there are environmental applications for drones too. Now, with ‘point and shoot’ basic cameras, drones can improve understanding of dryland ecosystems at a reduced cost. The drylands are a critical provider of food, water, and biofuel with […]

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Chinese Kindergartners More Knowledgeable About Electric Cars

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 19:58:11 +0000

Not many were introduced to electric cars as early as kindergarten. Yet, in China, Tesla is providing an educational program for kindergartners to learn about green transportation. Children will learn the differences between electric and gas powered vehicles. Compared to the United States where fossil fuel concerns are mainly focused on profits, China is providing […]

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Save by Using More Energy for Heating, Researchers Say

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 20:21:21 +0000

There are ways to save money while using more energy to heat a building. The only condition: raise the heat during the nighttime. Aarhus University researchers created this environmentally-friendly, financially-winning system by using simulations and calculation models. Increasing the use of 10 percent more energy will save the same percentage on the heating bill. This […]

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Agricultural Soil Impacted by Fracking Chemical Spills

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 20:19:24 +0000

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) chemicals sometimes end up where they’re not supposed to be: in agricultural soil. Toxic biocides, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, and slicking agents are some of many types of chemicals used to extract oil and gas from shale and rock. The chemicals aid in extraction, but what happens after a spill? Scientists from Colorado […]

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MIT Breaks Theoretical Efficiency Limit of Solar Cells

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 07:14:07 +0000

An MIT demonstration revealed the ability to top the theoretical upper limit of solar cell efficiency which is currently 32 percent. It was a silicon solar cell that showed that the Shockley-Quiesser Limit could be bypassed, suggesting a silicon alternative to perovskites and other solar cell types. An efficiency of 32 percent is considered high, […]

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British Gas Co. Creates Carbon Emissions Calculator

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 07:11:08 +0000

If only there was a way for the average individual to keep track of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, as well as how the emissions are being reduced in nations and continents around the globe. Now there is. “Carbon Emissions Around The World” is a calculator that displays emissions specific to each country. It’s a […]

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Hydroelectric Dams Disturbing to Wildlife, Study Finds

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 31 May 2016 18:42:17 +0000

Hydroelectric dams were recently recognized to threaten a number of species on reservoir islands. Popular around the world, hydroelectric dams were discovered to have a reduction in animal and plant life after flooding. The dams have been said to protect species from hunting and deforestation, but research has shown a disturbing trend. After careful inspection […]

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Volkswagen to Invest $11 Billion in Electric Car Battery Factory

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 31 May 2016 18:38:07 +0000

Volkswagen wishes to make an electric car comeback by investing $11 billion in a battery factory. After suffering through the backlash of consumers who discovered the company’s diesel emissions scandal, Volkswagen plans to produce 1 million electric and plug-in hybrid cars per year by 2025. In the past Volkswagen relied on turbodiesel engines. Now, Volkswagen […]

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University Sets to Calculate Nitrogen Footprint

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 30 May 2016 17:26:24 +0000

The carbon footprint. This term has been in the news for years, sometimes assumed to be the highest tax on the environment. But as Nitrogen Footprint Project Manager Castner points out, the nitrogen footprint holds equal ground with environmental issues. An internationally supported project inspired by a scientist and carried out by Eastern Mennonite University […]

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8.8 Million Granted to Advanced Biofuel Production

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 28 May 2016 09:36:16 +0000

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is granting $8.8 million for the production of advanced biofuels. This translates into jobs at associated facilities in 39 states becoming sustained. Credit goes to the successful Advanced Biofuel Payment Program that was laid out in the 2008 Farm Bill. Advanced biofuels is another word for second generation […]

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Japan Prepares New Non-nuclear Energy Plan

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 28 May 2016 09:21:17 +0000

Japan is going to release an energy plan next year that shifts away from nuclear power but may lead to a greater dependence on coal-fired power plants. The proposed change was predictable. Japanese individuals oppose nuclear power because of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Attempts by the pro-nuclear industry ministry to provide the country with more […]

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New Catalyst for Greening up Natural Gas

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:14:31 +0000

Javier Pérez-Ramírez and his researchers discovered a catalyst that can be used for changing natural gas into basic chemicals used for specific applications. The use of natural gas for the chemical industry is a valued method that can lead to the production of not only fuels but polymers and pharmaceuticals. The reaction they were focused […]

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New Perovskite Solar Panels from MIT Fix Themselves With Light

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 26 May 2016 06:33:17 +0000

Researchers at MIT added to the work on perovskite materials by introducing a light-based method that improves their performance. Perovskites are compounds often produced as thin films that are used in solar cell applications. Past research differs in that it has used electrical and chemical treatments to alter perovskite performance. Although perovskites offer solar cell […]

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Ivanpah, World’s Largest Solar Power Plant, Catches Fire

Courtney Lepping — Sun, 22 May 2016 21:24:49 +0000

The generator at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) in California caught fire from a misaligned mirror that directed sunlight at the power plant’s wires. Luckily, no injuries ensued and workers shut down one of the boilers for later repairs. On the downside, exactly how California’s electricity supply will be affected is unknown, being […]

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Ford’s Green CO2 Materials Will Reduce Carbon Emissions

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 20 May 2016 20:46:35 +0000

Ford, after working with other companies and universities, is taking the next environmentally-friendly leap to include biomaterials in vehicles. By using excess CO2 to create high-quality plastics and foam, the company will use such materials in vehicle seats and under the hood. The change to green vehicular materials will reduce carbon emissions. 2.4 million pounds […]

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New Algae-Based Water Filter Removes Even Viruses

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 20 May 2016 20:44:55 +0000

A new filter paper produced by Uppsala University scientists in collaboration with German virologists promises to improve water filtration by removing resistant viruses. Globally, many people lack access to safe drinking water, and being that water-derived infections is a global cause for mortality, microorganisms that are resistant to disinfection must be removed. Although water-derived deaths […]

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Alamos Team Solves Stability Issue of Promising Perovskite Solar Cells

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 18 May 2016 20:12:39 +0000

The research team at Alamos National Laboratory recently published a study on the photo-degradation process associated with perovskite solar cells and the surprising small solution to their degradation tendencies. The researchers were able to stabilize the devices by adjusting the temperature and light of the surroundings. While standard solar cells lose as much as 50% […]

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Wind Turbines Generate More Power Than Coal in UK

Courtney Lepping — Wed, 18 May 2016 20:10:48 +0000

Wind energy statistics from the UK demonstrated a recent milestone in history, as wind was shown to generate more electricity than coal. In April, 2,290 gigawatt hours (GWh) were produced from wind compared to 1,755 GWh produced from coal. According to the UK, there was a drop in the amount of electricity produced from coal […]

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Nissan’s Creative Jump from Recycled EV Batteries to xStorage System

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 17 May 2016 05:07:27 +0000

Nissan’s new affordable xStorage energy storage system was just revealed in East London, which will be produced in conjunction with Eaton, a power management firm. Made from the company’s recycled electric vehicle batteries, the system has 12 LEAF battery modules and charges from both renewable energy and practical energy sources. The system connects to either […]

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Norway to introduce New Hydrogen Refueling Stations

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 17 May 2016 05:06:37 +0000

A transportation convenience is set to be released this year by the Norwegian leading manufacturer H2 Logic: a new hydrogen refueling station. An alternative to battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles have particular prospects as well as problems. Hydrogen refueling stations can only service a few cars at a time, for starters, but the […]

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Gas and Battery-Powered Cars to Have Equal Energy Densities Within 30 Years

Courtney Lepping — Sat, 14 May 2016 11:00:05 +0000

Although the energy density of automotive batteries has yet to match the energy density of gasoline, the Argonne National Lab paints a bright future in terms of battery-powered vehicles. A short-sighted comparison of only the gas tank and battery was deemed insufficient, as Argonne researchers discuss the importance of powertrain efficiency as well as the […]

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New Stanford Solar Cell Uses Coldness of the Universe

Courtney Lepping — Fri, 13 May 2016 04:46:41 +0000

Current research by Stanford University scientists is showing promising implications for the efficiency of solar cells. These solar cells rely on heat loss from radiative cooling and electricity from sunlight. Solar cells utilize photons, light particles, to generate electricity. In the process, solar cells also generate heat which reduces efficiency. The current research allows the […]

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Jet Biofuel Produced with New E-coli Strain

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 12 May 2016 05:56:04 +0000

Ten years ago, who would have thought that in 2016 scientists would be using bacteria to transform switchgrass biomass into D-limonene, a precursor for bio-jet fuel? Regardless of doubts in biofuel uses, the global commercial airline industry is behind such methods. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently engineered a [C2C1Im]-tolerant E. coli strain to […]

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