Hybrid Living

Yesterday, Colorado’s state legislature finalized a bill to increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2020.

Colorado was one of the first states to adopt a renewable energy standard at all, committing in 2004 to get 10 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2015 and increasing that to 20 percent by 2020 in 2006.  This latest measure puts the state right behind California, who has the highest standard at 33 percent by 2020.

The bill also requires utilities to get 3 percent of their electricity from distributed sources like rooftop solar and other smaller wind and solar installations in order to give a boost to local renewable energy and construction companies.  That requirement alone will be responsible for 1 GW of clean energy, save 6.8 billion gallons of water and reduce emissions by 30 million tons of CO2 a year.

via Climate Progress

Warren County Kentucky is building the first net-zero energy school in the country.  Richardsville Elementary School will operate free of the grid by generating its own renewable energy, incorporating smart architectural features and a major emphasis on efficiency.

The list of features for this school is mind-boggling.  The school will have thin-film PV roof arrays, solar water heating, geothermal HVAC, insulated concrete form walls, a rainwater collection system and energy-efficient lighting.  The building is designed to take full advantage of natural light and wind for cooling. The plot of land includes a reclaimed brownfield, preserved woodland, a protected stream and bioswales.

Read more…

A new report from technology research corporation iSuppli warns that we’re facing a global LED shortage in 2010.  Hooray!

Why am I cheering?  Because the reason for this shortage is a huge surge in demand for the energy-efficient lighting in the electronics industry.  Yes, it’s bad that the supply is low, but it’s great news that the use of more efficient lighting is becoming more mainstream.

The report says that demand for LEDs is expected to rise by double-digit percentages for at least the next three years.  In 2009, 63 billion units were consumed out of the 75 billion unit capacity worldwide.  The worst-case scenario is a rise in prices for mid-range and high-end computers and HDTVs because of their larger displays.

The solution is simple enough though:  increase production.  The two largest suppliers have gotten the hint — Aixtron and Veeco Instruments are doubling their production by the end of this year.

via PC Mag

In case you thought that after all the setbacks, T. Boone Pickens was giving up, he’s reminding us that he’s still around and he still has a plan (albeit a different one) to free the country of its dependence on oil.

In a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Pickens outlined revisions to his original plan that was big on wind power and natural gas-powered cars.  To sum it up in five words:  less wind, more natural gas.  Here are his main points:

• Natural gas prices have fallen 70 percent in the last year making it more attractive than wind financially.
• He’s still committed to wind energy, but thinks even if we add wind power, we’ll need natural gas to act as a back up until there’s better power storage.
• Discovery of more natural gas shales has lead him to believe that now is the time to amp up its use in generating electricity and converting 18-wheelers to run on it.  Doing so would decrease oil demand by 2.5 million barrels a day.
• He believes Congress will pass an energy plan by Memorial Day, hopefully including the Natural Gas Act that would support converting trucks and fleet vehicles to the fuel.

I agree that power storage is a huge hurdle wind and other renewables have to overcome if we want to start replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, and until we get there, having natural gas fill in those gaps isn’t a bad idea, but I am disappointed that he’s lost the huge enthusiasm he once had for wind energy.  It was nice having an ex-oil tycoon dreaming big about wind.

via Houston Chronicle

Researchers at the University of Michigan have unveiled their latest breakthrough:  a tiny solar power system that contains a processor, battery and solar cells all in 9 cubic millimeters!

The miniature system measures 2.5 by 3.5 by 1 millimeters — 1,000 times smaller than any comparable commercial system.  It’s extremely energy efficient and the scientists say that it could almost operate perpetually if the battery didn’t have to be replaced after many years.

The system uses an ARM processor, a popular, widely-used processor which will make commercial adoption of this technology much easier.

The system could be remodeled to generate power from movement or heat instead of light, making it fit for a variety of uses.  Like the small, flexible kinetic-energy harvester we profiled a last month, the scientists also see this device serving as a power source for medical implants like pacemakers.  Other possibilities include powering environmental sensors that track air and water quality and motion sensors for buildings, homes and bridges.

The good news is that the researchers are already working on commercially developing the system.  With a host of possible applications, who knows where this itty bitty power generator might end up.

via University of Michigan

Sweden’s energy minister, Maud Olofsson, announced yesterday that the country would install 2,000 wind turbines over the next decade that would add to 10 terawatt hours of clean energy per year.

The country is also aiming to have 50 percent of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2020.  To reach that goal, Sweden will be adding another 15 TWh of renewable energy from sources like solar power and biofuels in addition to the wind power.

Sweden already gets 20 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources, mainly hydroelectricity plants, so the 50 percent mark will not be impossible for them to reach.

via AP

EcoGeeks love robots.  And recycling.  So, what could be better than a robot that helps us recycle?

Osaka University and Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co. have designed a robot with laser-sensing technology that can distinguish six different types of plastic from all other garbage.  The 5-foot 6-inch by 6-foot 9-inch machine identifies the plastic materials by analyzing the reflectivity of five different wavelengths of lasers on the garbage.  Once it identifies the material, it sorts the garbage into different piles.

The purpose of the robot is to streamline the recycling process and increase the amount of plastic that gets recycled.  Often confusion about what types of plastic are recyclable versus non-recyclable results in lower recycling rates in Japan, where people have to sort all of their plastics.  With this robot taking care of that sorting, people could more confidently recycle.

Only one prototype robot currently exists and is undergoing testing in Japan.  Smaller versions of the robot are expected to go into production soon and will sell for around $55,000.  With that steep price tag, the robot would probably be better suited for commercial and industrial purposes.  I can’t see many people paying that much to have one at home.

via Telegraph

Today, President Obama announced the details of the HOMESTAR program, otherwise known as “Cash for Caulkers.”  The president said the home retrofit program would create construction jobs, reduce the nation’s energy use equal to the output of three coal power plants, save participating households $200-$500 per year in energy costs and support energy efficiency innovation.

The program basically includes rebates for energy efficiency improvements that are given at the time of purchase, much like how “Cash for Clunkers” worked.  Here are some details of the program.

• Small-scale upgrades like insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors would be eligible for 50 percent rebates up to $1,500 or combined upgrade rebates of up to $3,000.
• Entire-home retrofits would be eligible for a rebate of $3,000 towards an energy audit and upgrades amounting to 20 percent energy savings.  Any savings over that would be eligible for more rebates.
• Safeguards would be put in place to ensure that the upgrades actually improve efficiency:  all contractors must be certified in energy efficient installations and independent auditors will perform surveys to make sure upgrades were installed correctly and are saving energy.
• The program would also help state and local governments create financing options for these retrofits so more consumers can participate.

The program will have to get through Congress, but hopefully with the promise of boosting the economy and creating jobs, it will be attractive enough to legislators to pass.

via White House release

Bourne Energy has created a portable hydroelectric generator that weighs less than 30 pounds and can be worn like a backpack.

The appropriately-called Backpack Power Plant is capable of generating 500 watts and can quietly produce electricity from a stream four feet or deeper.  To install the generator, the user digs a trench on either side of the stream or river for two lightweight anchors.  A rope connects the anchors to the generator, keeping it afloat through tension.

It performs best at flow speeds of 2.3 meters per second, but can work at a variety of speeds.  It produces no heat or exhaust emissions.

Bourne has designed a more-powerful and lighter version for military use in remote locations.  The civilian version will sell for $3,000 and could be used in developing countries or by any hydroelectricity enthusiast.

via Wired Science

Google announced last year that they were working on new technology that would make solar thermal energy cheaper than coal.  Just a few months later, they have a prototype and expect a product to be ready in as little as a year.

Google’s energy czar, Bill Weihl, said the company is focusing on redesigning the mirrors, using alternative materials on the reflective surface and the substrate on which the mirror is mounted.  The new technology could halve the cost of building a solar thermal plant and bring the cost of the electricity down to 5 cents/kWh or less.

The prototype is being internally tested before more rigorous external testing, but two solar companies, BrightSource and eSolar, are already interested in the technology.  Google is a major investor in both companies and has said if the prototype works, the companies would use the technology.

via Reuters