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Apr 15

Stanford researchers harvest electricity from algae, unkempt pools become gold mines

Posted in: green, research, Today's Chili

While we’ve seen plenty of stabs at viable green energy, from underwater turbines to the Bloom Box, we’re always up for another. Running along the same lines as Uppsala University’s algae-based batteries, researchers at Stanford are generating electrical current by tapping into the electron activity of individual algae cells. The team designed a gold electrode that can be pushed through a cell membrane, which then seals around it. The cell, still alive, does what it does best (photosynthesis), at which point scientists harvest chemical energy in the form of electrons. According to Stanford University News, this results in “electricity production that doesn’t release carbon into the atmosphere. The only byproducts of photosynthesis are protons and oxygen.” Of course, the team has a long way to go before this is economically feasible, but who knows? Maybe there’s an algae-powered OPhone in your future…

Stanford researchers harvest electricity from algae, unkempt pools become gold mines originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Stanford University News | Email this | Comments

Apr 15

Intel’s experimental sensor analyzes appliance power consumption from single outlet

Posted in: green, intel, power, sensor, Today's Chili, wifi, Wireless

It’s pretty much set in silicon — in the future, you will monitor your home power consumption, and perhaps even enjoy doing so. Futuristic touchscreen panels and free monitoring software abound, each designed to reward you with a warm, fuzzy Captain Planet feeling and a reduced energy bill when you finally turn off that blasted light. Thing is, unless you’ve got a home automation system, you won’t know which switch to flip. Intel wants to change that with a new wireless sensor that can identify each individual appliance in your house by their unique electrical signal, just by plugging into a single outlet in your house. The reportedly low-cost sensor works by simply recognizing voltage drop patterns when devices are turned on and off, and doesn’t require special appliances to function; Intel demonstrated it on a standard toaster, microwave and fridge in Beijing this week. Demonstrate your supreme demand for this “why didn’t I think of that” idea by directing traffic to our source link — you can jump to 20:10 to see the sensor in action.

Intel’s experimental sensor analyzes appliance power consumption from single outlet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Intel (video) | Email this | Comments

Mar 30

EATR’s engine officially complete, and this robot’s one step closer to reality

Posted in: Today's Chili

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably been keeping pretty close tabs on EATR, the biomass-to-power robot that’s been making people nervous for some time now. Well, EATR’s engine — which is being built by Cyclone Power Technologies — is complete, and the drone is now one giant leap closer to living in actual reality with us. The completed steam engine, called WHE, is a six-cylinder external heat engine which can generate up to 18 horsepower of mechanical power. As previously clarified by EATR’s makers (a project that’s getting help from the University of Maryland and DARPA), the robot will not feed on things like animals… or humans. No, this is no zombified drone — EATR will harvest only plant matter for energy — which, if you ask us, makes the whole thing much more mundane. Regardless, we’ll be keeping our eyes on this project as it moves forward. The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading EATR’s engine officially complete, and this robot’s one step closer to reality

EATR’s engine officially complete, and this robot’s one step closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 27

Earth Hour starts at 8.30PM tonight, asks for sixty minutes of natural living

Posted in: Environment, green, power, Today's Chili, video

Time to don your eco-warrior armor, strap on your nature-loving helmet, and flick that big old… light switch. Yes, in honor of the WWF’s Earth Hour, countries around the globe are tonight switching off non-essential lights and appliances for sixty minutes, with highlights including Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Burj Khalifa, and the Empire State Building all going dark in the hope of helping the planet stay green. Timed for 8.30pm your local time, this unorthodox event has already commenced with Australia, New Zealand, China and others doing their bit — videos after the break — and is just now hitting Eastern European borders. So, fellow earthlings, will you be among the projected one billion souls that go au naturel for an hour tonight?

[Thanks, Pavel]

Continue reading Earth Hour starts at 8.30PM tonight, asks for sixty minutes of natural living

Earth Hour starts at 8.30PM tonight, asks for sixty minutes of natural living originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Earth Hour | Email this | Comments

Mar 23

Toshiba and Bill Gates-backed TerraPower discussing small-scale nuclear reactors

Posted in: power, Today's Chili, Toshiba

It would seem that Toshiba hasn’t given up on its dream of producing a nuclear reactor for the home, and its latest potential partner counts quite the big name among its backers. Run by a former Microsoft exec and partially funded by Bill Gates himself, TerraPower is said to have opened preliminary discussions with Toshiba regarding a possible joint venture between the two companies. The aim is, predictably, to make safer, smaller, more socially acceptable, and just plain better reactors. TerraPower boasts its tech can run without refueling for up to 60 years on depleted uranium and Bill Gates has gotten enthusiastic enough about the whole thing to give a 30-minute talk on the matter. Click past the break for the video.

Continue reading Toshiba and Bill Gates-backed TerraPower discussing small-scale nuclear reactors

Toshiba and Bill Gates-backed TerraPower discussing small-scale nuclear reactors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments

Mar 18

AT&T zeroes in on energy waste with Zero cellphone charger

Posted in: att, charger, charging, green, Today's Chili, usb

Plug your cell phone charger into the wall. Feel it. Is it warm? Then like it or not, you’re wasting electricity. AT&T would like to change all that with this new Zero charger, a tiny black brick which automatically cuts power to itself whenever your cell phone is disconnected. While it’s not quite as amusing as an ejector seat, it’s certainly more practical, and the wall wart’s modular USB design means you can charge almost any mobile with interchangeable cables (sold separately, of course) while you wait oh-so-patiently for the cellphone industry to finally stop using proprietary ports. If you’ve got a vampire draw problem, let AT&T be your garlic this May.

AT&T zeroes in on energy waste with Zero cellphone charger originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink FarEastGizmos | source AT&T | Email this | Comments

Mar 02

Scientists to bring piezoelectrics and rubber together to form flexible, wearable energy harvester

Posted in: electric, research, science, Today's Chili

Piezoelectrics are nothing new — though most applications, they’ve proven to be far more theoretically useful than practical. Still, the technology is starting to move in a direction that could prove more applicable to everyday situations — and a new piezo material recently developed could really get the ball moving. Called PZT, it’s made of nano-sized fibers of lead zirconate titanate, which are applied to thin (and we mean thin) ribbons of flexible silicone rubber. The material is super efficient, and has the ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity at a rate of about 80 percent, and, because it’s made of flexible rubber, it would be well-suited to converting electricity from the energy of body movements, meaning all sorts of wearable fun may be imminent. There’s no word on any practical application of this yet — so we’ll just have to keep our eyes peeled for you.

Scientists to bring piezoelectrics and rubber together to form flexible, wearable energy harvester originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Physorg | Email this | Comments

Feb 27

Melbourne’s decommissioned Observation Wheel re-imagined as energy-making windmill

Posted in: concept, green, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

A Melbourne icon was shut down recently due to damages that were apparently too severe to bother fixing, but thankfully for the otherwise stunning Southern Star Observation Wheel, a few good men and women have their gears going about what to do next. Designer Büro North, who also dreamed up the VEIL Solar Shades, has a most splendorous idea of how to turn a broken ride into something that actually benefits local citizens. Obviously everything’s still a pipe dream for now, but said dream involves strapping solar sails onto the sides and creating a wind-driven energy generation machine that pulls juice from two renewable sources. And let’s be honest, you’d totally ride this — risks be darned.

Melbourne’s decommissioned Observation Wheel re-imagined as energy-making windmill originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Inhabitat | source Buro North | Email this | Comments

Feb 24

Solaroad’s CubeTube adds solar panels to your cube, lowers the cost of you working there

Posted in: green, light, power, solar, Today's Chili

It’s 2010, which means there’s a significant chance that your cubicle work could be done from absolutely anywhere. For those still stuck under the burden of old-school management, here’s an idea that might just nab you that raise you’ve been longing for: the CubeTube. Engineered by Solaroad Technologies, this indoor photovoltaic electrical generator straps onto the edges and tops of conventional cubicles and collects light from every angle. Internal batteries are charged up, and power is instantly available for the decade-old Latitude and CRT monitor that’s still residing on your desk. It sounds like you’ll need to ping the company directly for pricing quotes and the like, but if you managers are seriously considering this for your office, maybe they should first calculate the cost and carbon savings from letting their subordinates telecommute. Just sayin’.

Solaroad’s CubeTube adds solar panels to your cube, lowers the cost of you working there originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmag | source Solaroad Technologies | Email this | Comments

Feb 24

Bloom ‘Box’ Energy Server hands-on (literally) with video!

Posted in: hands-on, Today's Chili, walmart

So here it is, the now-famous (that was fast) Bloom “Box” Energy Servers — all five of ’em — working their magic at eBay’s north campus. Not much to look at, but we’re happy to say it retains a low temperature — the only heat we really found was due to direct exposure to the light — and remains quiet while running. There are vents just underneath the sides where cool air was being pumped out. Of course, its raison d’etre is its ability to more efficiently deliver power, which is not something we can really test ourselves. Bloom Energy showcased a number of customers today —
FedEx, Walmart, Staples, Google, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Cox, and of course, eBay — and if the numbers meet their mark, you can color us mighty impressed. You know the drill: gallery below, quick video after the break!

Gallery: Bloom Box Energy Server hands-on