Cleantechnica Archives - Page 3 of 3

Hydrogen Fuel That’s Green Thanks To Microorganisms Found Living In Salt Flats?

Image Credit: DOE/Argonne National Laboratory The pink color of salt lakes is caused by salt-loving microorganisms, called halobacteria. from CleanTechnica. Bacteriorhodopsin — an intriguing protein found within the membranes of the ancient microorganisms living in the desert salt flats of California and Nevada — may allow for the cheap, efficient production of “environmentally friendly” hydrogen fuel from nothing but sunlight and saltwater, according to new research from the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. By combining bacteriorhodopsin with semiconducting nano-particles, the researchers were able to create a new system that utilizes light to spark a catalytic process that results in hydrogen fuel being produced. The great potential of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with regard to light-based reactions, has long been known to those in the scientific community, at least as far back as the early 1970s, when researchers learned that,…

Solar-Powered Modular Relocatable Building Wins Top Eco Award

This article originally published on RenewEconomy Blue Planet Buildings, a Sydney based “solar energy building company” has won the Australian Business award for Best Eco Product in 2013 for a solar-powered, modular and relocatable building. Blue Planet says its structures have special solar panels built into the roof to power appliances such as air conditioners, computers and hot water systems, emit no carbon and in fact generate carbon offset credits. CEO Mark Ottery says the company has begun manufacturing and supplying the buildings for construction companies, government authorities, mine sites and farms – both in Australia and overseas. The buildings an be used both on or off grid (battery storage is available), are flat packed, making them easy to transport and install – and can be erected in less than an hour. Ottery says they are “clean, green, energy efficient and cheap to run.” Solar-Powered Modular Relocatable Building Wins Top Eco Award was origin…

Foldable Electric Scooter — Awesome! (Crowdfund It)

After sharing our recent post on the crowdfunding campaign for MicroPower Chips, someone from MOVEO also contacted me about its campaign for its foldable electric scooter. This is the lightest such scooter out there, according to MOVEO, and it really does fold up in such a way that it is easily transportable — includes luggage wheels and all. It reminds me of the Transformers, one of the best cartoons ever (note: I haven’t seen the movie). Naturally, I couldn’t pass on covering this crowdfunding campaign. If you prefer videos, there’s one on the campaign page, where the crowdfunding push was just launched (like, moments ago). By the way, don’t be alarmed if you click on over to the campaign page and notice that it’s note on Kickstarter or IndieGogo. The crowdfunding platform is called JumpStartCity and is actually quite new. But anyway, back to the foldable electric scooter. The goal of the campaign is to “complete the development and start a limited series production…

Yesterday’s Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan To Solar Power Today

This article was first published on Medium. By Billy Parish, Co-founder of Mosaic The first person whose home blazed with electric light was J.P. Morgan. The financier also owned the first business lit with incandescent bulbs. In the latter case, Thomas Edison himself was on hand to flip the switch. Edison needed funders like Morgan, and later the Vanderbilt Family, because he was launching an endeavor that required huge capital expenditures. He was establishing the groundwork for the electrification of a planet, and to accomplish his goals he needed big finance. Fast forward to the present: J.P. Morgan Chase is now the world’s second largest financial company, General Electric is the world’s third largest company of any kind, and the U.S. electric grid is the largest machine ever built. Our energy system and our financial system have always run in tandem. The two grew up together and they have played off of each other to become history’s largest and, arguably, mos…

14 Best Links to Latest EV and Hybrid News

Aching for some more electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid news? Aching for more Tesla news, Toyota Prius news, Fiat 500e news,… Tesla news? Scroll through the links below: Electric Vehicles & Hybrids Mobile Apps For Electric Cars On The Rise Tesla Wins In New Hampshire & North Carolina Forget The Prius Effect — Here Comes The Matrix Effect Cadillac PHEV Targeting Driving Dynamics Lighting Motorcycles Beat Out Gas-Powered Competitors At Pikes Peak Monster Tajima Sets New EV Record At Pikes Peak Toyota 2015 Fuel Cell Car Aims For 300-Mile Range Whodunnit? Did Tata’s Nano Kill Jag’s Hybrid Supercar? Free Tesla Model S Lease When You Buy This $1.3 Million Home 2013 Fiat 500e First Impression EV Lease Scheme Launched In London With 50 Leafs Tesla Motors Opens More Superchargers For 4th Of July Interview With Lightning Motorcycle’s Richard Hatfield, Winner At Pikes Peak 2013 Breaking: 2014 Honda Fit Hybrid Leaked In JDM Brochure Other Clean T…