News Archives - Page 26 of 31

Using American Green Jobs To Help Fight Climate Change

Center for American Progress Mainstream media coverage of climate change presents the manufacturing sector of the economy as one of the fiercest enemies of climate action in the United States. But this sector, which is also usually painted as one of the biggest sources of carbon pollution in the country, is actually vital to the process of building a low-carbon economy. Remaking old systems such as the electricity grid will require new clean energy products, and the development of new sectors will be fueled by technological innovation. For advanced economies such as the United States, it’s increasingly clear that manufacturing and innovation go hand in hand, and emerging sectors, including renewable energy, restoration and resilience, and low-carbon transportation, will depend on a strong and vibrant domestic manufacturing sector. By innovating, engineering, and manufacturing clean energy technologies, the United States can create good jobs for the middle class and fight …

Mobbo Electric Unicycle Looks Strangely Familiar

Nino Marchetti A new electric, self-balancing unicycle was recently unveiled by the folks from Mobbo. It may actually not be that new, however, as it strongly resembles a very similar device we covered back in 2011. The Mobbo Electric Unicycle, according to the company selling it, has a range of 16 km/h and a top speed of 16 km/h, which are the same specifications as the Solowheel from Inventist. There’s a red plastic piece on the two which looks the same, and both share gyro sensors, a 1000-watt motor and a rechargeable battery, which captures energy cruising downhill and slowing down/stopping (via regenerative braking, like a Prius). image via Mobbo Inventist, at the time we covered the Solowheel unicycle, was soliciting individuals and businesses interested in re-selling the device. Assuming Mobbo is a reseller, you may actually get more of a deal buying it from this company, as it prices for $999 ($1,399 regularly) from them versus $1,795 from its original c…

GM, Honda to Partner On Fuel Cell Technologies

by Nino Marchetti of EarthTechling The race to develop fuel cell vehicles for what automakers hope will be an interested consumer audience has mildly been heating up of late. Hyundai, for example, has been for the most part at the forefront as some of its production ready vehicles are now in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark to be used there in a municipal fleet. Now word comes GM and Honda are teaming up to collaborate on next-generation fuel cell technologies. The two automakers are no slouches when it comes to capital investments in the fuel cell market, ranking No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in total related patents filed between 2002 and 2012, with more than 1,200 between them. This collaboration will find the companies sharing expertise, economies of scale and common sourcing strategies. GM and Honda said they will also work “with stakeholders to further advance refueling infrastructure, which is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of f…

Renewables Continue to Outpace Conservative Global Projections

by Stephen Lacey, Greentechmedia The International Energy Agency is out with its latest medium-term outlook for global renewables. And once again, projections for installation and energy production have been revised upward. According to the IEA's analysis, renewable electricity will surpass output from natural gas and double generation from nuclear by 2016, becoming the second-most important source of electricity behind coal. Those projections for generation are 90 terawatt-hours higher than last year's medium-term renewable energy market report. The IEA now says that renewable electricity will make up one quarter of gross power generation in 2018, with non-hydro renewables accounting for 8 percent by that date. Although the IEA has always been outspoken about the need to deploy more low-carbon technologies and address climate change, the organization has been known for its conservative analysis about the future growth of renewables. For example, in 2003, it …

Renault Twizy Cargo An Electric Urban Cargo Hauler

Nino Marchetti of GreenTechling The Renault Twizy, while an innovative little electric car, doesn’t offer much space for carrying cargo. This can make use of it for anything other than passengers a little tough. The French automaker is looking to address this though by recently announcing Twizy Cargo, targeted towards urban cargo deliveries. The Twizy Cargo, according to Renault, integrates a new rear cargo area into the electric vehicle by replacing its rear seat. This watertight storage has a capacity of 75 kg (165 pounds) and is accessible via a rear door that opens to 90°. This rear door features a locking system that works with the EV’s ignition key. Aimed primarily at at delivery or express firms, such as lift operators, postal services and emergency services, the Cargo comes in two different flavors depending upon your needs. The more powerful model has a top speed of 80 kph (49.7 MPH) and a range of around 62 miles. Both offerings feature a variety of safety i…

8 Surprising Energy Hogs in Your Home

Katherine Tweed, GreentechMedia By itself, the ceiling fan in your house isn’t much of an energy suck. But the number of ceiling fans in the U.S. is going up as more people move into homes in warmer climates. All of those spinning fans are add up to nearly as much energy use as personal computers. The ceiling fan is part of a large group of household devices and commercial equipment that make up miscellaneous energy loads in buildings. Most of the technology isn’t an energy hog by itself, but taken in aggregate it becomes a serious opportunity for energy efficiency standards. A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Miscellaneous Energy Loads in Buildings, found that all of these random devices add up to 7.8 quadrillion Btus every year, nearly as much as water heating, refrigeration and cleaning and cooking combined. Knowing which devices are the most inefficient is particularly important as President Obama committed to increas…