Solarion

Solar energy, will be playing a big role in our lives, as it has been playing for eons. Sustainable society is a need if we are to survive as a planet. There are many a facets to solar energy, solar electricity, solar heat and so on. Education is key factor in bringing Solar power to the doorsteps of every house and all people. This site will try to empower you, by bringing new about solar energy, the solar power blog, empoweringsolar. Be powerful! be off the grid. Let Sun Shine On You.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Happy 4th of July 2007 America!

Be safe, Be free and Be thinking of Our world. Let's leave something behind so that they can land on!

Monday, July 02, 2007

WeSeePeople: Vote for New 7 Wonders of the world

Please go and vote for new seven wonders of the world, as this will work toward the awareness of the world and our heritage.
WeSeePeople: Vote for New 7 Wonders of the world

Go green through flowers and more

Sustainably grown, organic from "seed-to-store" flowers of every variety and color are now much more widely available. The best ones are from your own garden, farmer's market or local floral designer who specializes in organics. But when time and miles require a long distance solution, the Internet is suddenly filled with resources that will guarantee delivery of no-spray, sustainably grown beauty.

Look for the USDA Certified Organics seal, or the VerifloraTM emblem. VerifloraTM is America's first Green Label certification standard for the floral industry. The standard establishes procedures for verifying sustainable agricultural practices employed by flower and ornamental operations, from soil preparation and seed planting through production, harvest, and post-harvest handling. If a VerifloraTM farm is not already organic, it must have plans to make that transition.

Checkout Organicbouquet.com, which carries roses in just about every shade imaginable, as well as lilies and tulips, or Californiaorganicflower.com, which bills itself as the country's first online retailer of organic flowers.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Is Darfur Crisis related to Global warming? or Is violance in Darfur worsened by Global warming?

Yes I am confused too but there is some truth and a relationship to this after looking at the above data. I gathered this information while I was checking out Live Earth concert that is slated for 07-07-07. (It happens only once in hundred years!)
Decades of drought helped trigger Darfur's violence as rival groups fought over scarce water and arable land.Now, experts fear the war and its refugee crisis are making the environment even worse, leaving the land increasingly uninhabitable and intensifying tensions with no end to the drought in sight.
Darfur's tragedy could be repeated in much of North Africa and the Middle East, experts fear, because growing populations are straining a very limited water supply. Data show rainfall steadily declining in the region, possibly because of weather changes linked to global warming.
Well keep that in mind when you throw that plastic bag away next time. We may never know what we are igniting!
Read the complete article,

Darfur violence leaves environmental scars

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Keep your connections hassle free with Net Neutrality

Keep your connections hassle free with Net Neutrality
Geemodo: Net Neutrality How it affects you and the nation.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Google will go carbon neutral by the end of 2007

To any one concerned about our dear earth, will be happy to hear that a globally known entity like Google tipping the hat will make a major effect. I have earlier written about Google's Solar Energy efforts. But I did not think at that time that Google will reach Carbon Neutrality by this time frame.
I am surprised everyday how much less people know what they are doing to this planet. All innocent family and people loving people, just not enough awareness of things we could do to help conserver a tiny part of this planet.
Google has done super service by joining the many a companies, governments and individuals that further this effort. If you ask 100 people if they knew what is Solar energy is you will be surprised at the answers. But they will surely will know what Google is! So there you go. Thanks Google.
So what is this carbon neutrality? Well it is long way to explain but for now I will tell you how Google is doing it!
Google's plan to neutralize it's carbon footprint includes three basic strategies:
- reduce energy consumption by maximizing efficiency;
- invest in and use renewable energy sources; and
- purchase carbon offsets for the emissions that we can't reduce directly.

To calculate Google's carbon footprint, They have taken into account emissions from purchased electricity, employee commuting, business travel, construction, and server manufacturing. In a partnership with the Environmental Resources Trust (ERT), Google has independently verified this assessment, and will continue to do so every year.

in addition, Google already has several other environmental programs and initiatives in place. Last week Google announced the Climate Savers Computing initiative to greatly improve computing energy-efficiency standards. (Make sure your next computer purchase is a compliant PC!)
Transportation is another major area of focus. Google employee shuttle system provides a commute for more than 1,500 Googlers daily around the San Francisco Bay area, and several hundred more have also taken advantage of the rebate Google offers when an employee bought a fuel-efficient vehicle.

Google is equally committed to finding and developing new green technologies and sources of energy. Google has just completed its solar panel installation in Mountain View, the single-largest corporate solar installation in the U.S. to date.
Google have also joined the World Resources Institute's Green Power Market Development Group. And of course Google.org is working on creative new initiatives, including plug-in hybrid cars. In addition, Google has set itself the ambitious goal of creating 50 megawatts of new renewable generation capacity--enough to power 50,000 typical U.S. homes--by 2012.

Information gathered from Official Google Blog: Carbon neutrality by end of 2007
Google also has a site specifically dedicated to clean energy initiative at Google here.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A Tree for the planet, a gift for some one you love (may be our planet itself!),

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007.
There are many other organizations that have joined the effort. Billion Tree Campaign partner-organizations Trees for Life and Tree-Nation.com are offering you the opportunity to give a gift with a conscience this Valentine’s Day or next Valentine day. Each is appealing to people to give their loved ones a tree this lover’s day - a gift that will truly last a life-time and save our planet and may stop someone from starving!

Tree-Nation.com is offering to plant a tree in your loved one’s name in the Saharan desert. The effort is part of their goal to create an 8 million-tree park in the shape of a giant heart there, to help fight Poverty, Global Warming and Desertification.
How about this 2000 year long gift card!

learn more

Name: Adansonia Digitata
Specie: Baobab
Uses:
• can live up to 2,000 years
• enhance soil fertility
• sprouts, fruits, leaves for food
• leaves and flowers for fodder
• traditional African medicine


75

Trees for Life’s ‘I Love Pine’ Valentine’s appeal is giving people the chance to have a specially-dedicated Scots pine, or grove of pines, planted in Scotland’s beautiful Caledonian Forest on behalf of a loved one. To join Trees for Life, to dedicate a tree or grove to a loved one, or to join a volunteer Work Week planting trees, visit Trees for Life - I love Pine website or call 01309 691292.

Monday, June 18, 2007

New multijunction Solar Cell provides 40% efficiency over conventional Solar cells

Researchers at Boeing-Spectrolab have announced that they have created a multi-junction solar cell that achieves an incredible 40.7% efficiency, about twice that of the current most efficient solar cell, that was announced about six months ago by Silicon Valley-based SunPower. Said to be a solar cell capble of achiving 22% efficiency .
But at the announcement SunPower cell, SPR-315 was 50% more efficient than the current industry standard Solar cells used in bringing solar power to homes, industries and even lamp posts.
The new high efficiency multijunction cells have a significant advantage over conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar cells are required to achieve the same power output. This technology will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar energy as well as the cost of materials used in high-power space satellites and terrestrial applications.

Spectrolab is reducing the cost of solar cell production through research investments and is working with several domestic and international solar concentrator manufacturers on clean, renewable solar energy solutions. Currently, Spectrolab's terrestrial concentrator cells are generating power in a 33-kilowatt full-scale concentrator system in the Australian desert. The company recently signed multi-million dollar contracts for its high efficiency concentrator cells and is anticipating several new contracts in the next few months.

Development of the high-efficiency concentrator cell technology was funded by the NREL's High Performance Photovoltaics program and Spectrolab.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Zero Emission housing efforts in UK

OFFSITE 2007 is exploring how todays construction and other technologies are teaming to provide high performance, smarter sustainable buildings. The effort will lead to very latest, near zero-carbon houses – possibly the first to achieve Level 6 of the new Code for Sustainable Homes (On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched in United Kingdom.).
At the OffSite 2007, you will certainly see The Big Build: exhibitions, displays and demonstrations spread over the BRE site, including the full-scale off-site and MMC buildings on the BRE Innovation Park which are retained on the site for two years after the event for demonstration and training purpose, and;

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) – such as off-site manufactured systems and innovative on-site construction methods
Smart technologies – control systems and sensors for monitoring; and intelligent technologies for whole building communication
Sustainable technologies – recycled building products and sustainable building materials; new products from natural resources and application of industrial by-products for construction

If you are unable to attend, you also can followup with this photo Blog.

OFFSITE2007: the exhibition and conference
Over 50 companies are expected to exhibit at OFFSITE 2007, and a major conference runs throughout three days of the event.
The exhibition

This outdoor exhibition space includes the unique Big Build area where two existing and six new real-life buildings are being built especially for the OFFSITE event. This includes the first houses to be built to the new Code for Sustainable Homes, with one exhibitor hoping to achieve the maximum Level 6 rating. See more about the Big Build buildings...

As well as the full-scale exhibits in The Big Build area, key suppliers, manufacturers and installers from the MMC and off-site sector, along with providers of sustainable energy products, innovative communications solutions and more, will be at OFFSITE2007. See who's exhibiting...

Zero emission housing efforts in UK is certainly interesting effort that we all should keep an eye... mmm may both the eyes wide open, on.

I picked up this news from BRE, another site you should keep your eyes on.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Live Earth save our earth, 07-07-07

Live Earth is a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people on 7/7/07 to raise awareness about global warming. With 24 hours of music across 7 continents, and performances by more than 150 of the world's top musicians, Live Earth will engage, connect, and inspire individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve the climate crisis.

Press Releases and Fact Sheets

Microsoft Commitment to Environmental Sustainability
Microsoft Corp. is committed to environmental sustainability, continuously implementing and exploring new ways to preserve and improve the environment.

GERMANY Live Earth Revealed
Get ticket information, artist line-up and more.

AUSTRALIA Live Earth Revealed
Get ticket information, artist line-up and more.

Spinal Tap to Reunite
They're back and will perform at Wembley stadium to help save the world. Watch the video and get a preview.

U.S.A. Live Earth Revealed
Get ticket information, artist line-up and more.

U.K. Live Earth Unveiled
Get ticket information, artist line-up and more.

SOS Films World Premier at Tribeca Film Fest
Seven short films; Gore to host opening night gala.

A Letter from Joanne Bradford
MSN Corporate Vice President and Chief Media Officer, Joanne Bradford, talks about Microsoft's participation in Live Earth.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide

A DUTCH three-time winning team heads the list of entries for this year's World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.

The Nuon Solar Team team won the biennial solar car race across Australia in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and is favoured to take out a fourth victory in October this year.

Chasing it all the way to Adelaide will be the Victorian-based team from the Aurora Vehicle Association which won the race in 1999 and then finished second to Nuon in the last three events.

Releasing the entry list today, South Australian Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said 46 teams from 21 countries had so far signed up to start the 2007 challenge in October.

"The current team entry list proves that this event is truly inspired by adventure and fuelled by the spirit of friendly competition, attracting teams from research and educational institutions around the world," Dr Lomax-Smith said.

First run in 1987 the World Solar Challenge is designed to promote and celebrate educational and technical excellence and draw attention to the need for sustainable transport.

"Whilst the notion of actually driving a solar car on the road as seen in this event may not be likely, it is very likely that we will all be driving electric cars one day," Dr Lomax-Smith said.

"Some of that electricity may come from a renewable source such a solar energy quite possibly using technology developed through this event."

The World Solar Challenge will leave Darwin on October 21 with the leading cars expected to complete the 3,000km to Adelaide within four days.

Among the entry list so far are cars from Japan, Germany, Canada, Malaysia, the United States, Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands, France and Senegal.

Adelaide Now

Now is the time for "Solar Powered wine!"

St. Helena, CA - Fans of Robert Keenan Winery will notice a pleasant surprise when they pick up a bottle of this year’s “Summer Blend” Chardonnay. The label on the June 1 release is the winery’s first release bearing the words, “Solar Powered and Sustainably Farmed.”

The winery’s recently completed solar power system is the illustration of a sustainable business philosophy that owner Michael Keenan said goes back to his father Robert, who started the vineyard in 1974. Keenan noted, “My father taught me that preserving the environment and keeping the business going were inextricably linked.”

“What was amazing about the solar power option was that it allowed us to fulfill all of the responsibilities we have, to sustainable farming, to our customers, to our community, and to our business – and it was a surprisingly compelling business investment at the same time.”

Keenan Winery’s solar power system, which was designed and whose installation was managed by San Francisco-based Sunlight Electric, will generate 100% of the winery’s electricity needs, and each year reduces Keenan Winery’s carbon footprint by more than 37 tons of CO2, equivalent to the carbon captured annually by 10 acres of forest.

“When you look at all the benefits – environmental, social, economic – this was a no-brainer for us,” added Keenan. “And it wasn’t difficult to do. The whole project, start to finish, was really turn-key.”

Before Robert Keenan passed away in 2006, he installed solar power for the family’s home and told his son that eventually the winery should be powered by solar as well. Michael Keenan adds, “Ultimately, it’s about what practices lead to quality – and preserving resources allow us to focus on the things that create quality.”

Keenan has long received wide recognition for its wines. Most recently, Wine & Spirits Magazine gave the winery’s 2003 Cabernet a 92-point score and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate frequently scores Keenan wines 90-95 points.

SOURCE Robert Keenan Winery

via beverage online

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Hawaiian Electric gets solar Powered!

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaiian Electric Company says it plans to negotiate to buy solar power from Hoku Solar Incorporated, a subsidiary of local high-technology start-up Hoku Scientific.

Under the proposed deal, Hoku Solar would provide the electric utility with solar power from a system it would install on the roof of Hawaiian Electric's Archer Substation on Ward Avenue.

The project would be one of the largest solar power systems on Oahu.

Hoku Solar would own and operate the system and charge HECO a fixed rate for the solar power over 20 years. The utility would have the option to buy the system after five years.

Hoku Scientific's shares jumped 42 cents, or almost 10 percent, to four dollars, 69 cents on the news.

(Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Monday, May 28, 2007

A new renewable energy information resource.

Winning Team Launches The Renewable Energy Centre

A new renewable energy information resource.

Via PRWEB Newswire.

The website, The Renewable Energy Centre has been established by the winning team already responsible for one of the UK's busiest property portals, Email 4 Property.

The website is targeted at homeowners who want save money on energy bills and for commercial companies looking to improve cash flow and reduce their carbon footprint. It also provides an invaluable source of new business for companies supplying products and services in this emerging sector.

Entrepreneur Richard Simmons, who was behind the success of Email4Property which now sees over 1 million visitors a month, is convinced this new venture will also become one of the most accessed websites in the UK as he explained;

"I was investigating installing Solar Water Heating for my family home and realised that there was no comprehensive point of reference where I could find the information and contacts I needed. With so much focus on global warming it was obvious that there was a huge gap in the market for this kind of website. We are very excited about how the website will serve both people and businesses and help to accelerate the use of renewable technology within the UK."

A website launched this week is the first of its kind in the UK and is set to lead the way as a primary source of information and reference for renewable energy. The website is targeted at homeowners who want save money on energy bills and for commercial companies looking to improve cash flow and reduce their carbon footprint. It also provides an invaluable source of new business for companies supplying products and services in this emerging sector.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Nuclear Lemmings are on the move, trying to get you on the cliff too!

Nuclear Lemmings are on the move, trying to get you on the cliff too! I do not know what it takes to convince people that we have better things around us, like wind, solar and water. If these were used properly, we can fill all our energy needs with those resources without having to go nuclear. Our earth still holds vast amounts of energy and thinking we will find a better alternative once we run these off.
I think it is time to slow down and think a bit to our selves, Like until we find a better way to utilize coal.
But what ever the way we are going to do it, nuclear is not the way, again unless we find a better way. So follow the link to read about why we should stay away from nuclear energy for the moment!

Links;
Nuke revival efforts die in California!

Why Must Nuke-Power Lemmings Again Flock to the Radioactive Sea?

Monday, April 16, 2007

Friendly Datacenters with Green Grid.

AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems and VMware are members of a consortium of information technology companies and professionals seeking to improve energy efficiency in data centers around the globe. The Green Grid takes a broad-reaching approach to data center efficiency focusing on data center "power pillars" that span the gamut of technology, infrastructure and processes present in today's data center environments. The consortium's working focus includes research, standards writing, published studies and continuing education.
Their mission statement is;
The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to developing and promoting energy efficiency for data centers and information service delivery by:

* Defining meaningful, user-centric models and metrics

* Developing standards, measurement methods, processes and new technologies to improve performance against the defined metrics

* Promoting the adoption of energy efficient standards, processes, measurements and technologies.

I think with millions of computers in use everyday, a WATT saved per processor becomes a MEGAWATT project.
I also replaced one of my workstation/server combo with a dual core AMD X2 processor that only uses 65 WATTs. I am looking forward to those 25 WATT processors.

Get on the green grid

Friday, March 09, 2007

Global warming, Climate control through memos!

This is nuts, worse than Don't ask Don't tell. According to New York Times article;
"Internal memorandums circulated in the Alaskan division of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service appear to require government biologists or other employees traveling in countries around the Arctic not to discuss climate change, polar bears or sea ice if they are not designated to do so."
Just sweep the dirt under the rug, nobody will notice.
I have no idea why these administrative takes us to be ignorant, and I don't feel like writing about this any more.
Follow the link for NYT article, and while you are there read the series, The Big Melt.

Links;
Global warming memos
The Big Melt

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Berkeley ranked 3rd in cleantech by Sustanlane Government

SustainLane Government just released its ranking of top US cities for cleantech incubation clusters. Which cities are the best candidates to be the center of 21st century cleantech economic development?

According to the site, cleantech refers to venture-capital (VC) funded investment for sustainability related industry sectors such as renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy efficiency, green building, advanced materials, nanotechnology and material reuse.
Berkeley got to be in the third place after Austin, Texas and San Jose, California, due to, according to the post;
3. Berkeley, CA: Another Bay Area city? Yep, UC Berkeley just landed a $500 million grant from British Petroleum, with additional funding from the state of California, so the Biosciences Energy Institute can become “the biofuels capital of the universe,” according to a managing scientist with institute partner Lawrence Berkeley Labs. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is another partner.

Well I am happy and you should visit the sites below, they are very informative sites if you are trying to be Green.

links;
Cleantech at SustainLane Government
SustainLane Government

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Energy efficient PC for your daily use

Energy efficient PC for your daily use, well I am a bit ashamed by this news because I use two PC's that have 500Watt power supplies and components to match. But I will promise at least to replace one of these with this energy efficient PCs.
From custom computer maker Jinglehorse comes this new PC called the EcoSystem. Designed around the Core Duo processor and energy efficient components, the EcoSystem PCs are built to match the performance of their Pentium 4 counterparts while using 75% less energy. The basic Jinglehorse EcoSystem configuration uses no more than 44 watts while idle and an average of 75 watts while under full load. The makers claim that it's the most energy efficient PC available today. The EcoSystem PCs are also very quiet — lower power consumption means a cooler running temperature, so minimal fans are needed and are required to run less frequently. Prices start at $895.
(Jingle horse website has disappeared and I will search for alternate PCs)

Links;
Jinglehorse EcoSystem PC (The link goes to an unrelated site, will update when real link found)
Original Treehugger post

BioDiesel car might bring IRS agents home!

In a bizarre news post I read states that an elderly couple is being pressed with felony charges for use of untaxed used vegetable oil as motor fuel (is vegetable oil tax free?)and in order to become legal to post a $2500 bond to become special fuel supplier.
According to the same news item, this bond is for, "On the department of revenue's Web site, David Wetzel discovered that the definition of special fuel supplier includes someone who operates a plant with an "active bulk storage capacity of not less than 30,000 gallons." Wetzel also did not fit the definition of a receiver, described as a person who produces, distributes or transports fuel into the state. So Wetzel withdrew his application to become a supplier and receiver.

Mike Klemens, spokesman for the department of revenue, explained that Wetzel has to register as a supplier because the law states that is the only way he can pay motor fuel tax.

But what if he is not, in fact, a supplier? Then would he instead be exempt from paying the tax?

"We are in the process of creating a way to simplify the registration process and self-assess the tax," Klemens said, adding that a rule change may be in place by spring."

So watch out those biodiesel cars, specially with stickers that you proudly display might bring trouble. But State Sen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville, introduced Senate Bill 267, which would curtail government interference regarding alternative fuels, such as vegetable oil. A public hearing on the bill was held at 1 p.m. 1st march in Room 400 of the state Capitol.
follow the link for the complete Herald & Review article.

Links;
Herald & Review article