energy efficiency
Archived Posts from this Category
More Use - Less Stuff
Posted by davidwfox on 18 Oct 2009 | Tagged as: enablers, energy efficiency, guides
I just spent the last three days at the annual Bioneers Conference. The closing speaker was Ann Leonard - creator of The Story of Stuff. Her talk inspired me to put together a few thoughts and a ‘presentation’.
The fastest path to sustainability, to meeting the goals of Kyoto, 350.org, etc is to make exponentially more use out of the world’s limited resources. Buying more personal stuff - however ‘green’ - isn’t going to get us there. Instead we need to tap technology (and common sense) to radically increase the use of the products and resources we have today. Here are a few examples…
Moth Eyes Inspire More Efficient Solar Cell
Posted by davidwfox on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: biomimicry, energy efficiency
How would nature minimize reflection? Ask a moth:
Researchers in the Netherlands have developed an anti-reflective coating based on the nanostructure of a moth’s eyes, which could reduce the reflection from photovoltaic cells and thereby make them more efficient… and … a new eco-friendly production technique that can apply the coating with high precision. Continued at Physicsworld…
Google Gets Behind Smart Meters & Monitoring
Posted by davidwfox on 10 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: energy efficiency, my-new-house
Smart meters and energy monitors have been around for years, but Google wants to bring this empowering technology to a much larger audience. Count me in!
Google’s mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” and we believe consumers have a right to detailed information about their home electricity use. We’re tackling the challenge on several fronts, from policy advocacy to developing consumer tools, and even investing in smart grid companies.
Posted by davidwfox on 10 Nov 2008 | Tagged as: climate change, energy efficiency
In a rousing opening address at this year’s Bioneers conference, event co-founder Kenny Ausubel outlined his vision:
“…to re-imagine how to live on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations.” He went on to highlight biomimicry as “arguably the single most important design strategy to shoot the rapids of the next ten years.”
You can read Kenny’s complete address at The Huffington Post.
Solar Botanic’s Nanoleaf
Posted by davidwfox on 13 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: biomimicry, energy efficiency
While most people have yet to hear the term ‘biomimicry’, some are already seeking to take things to the next level by combining multiple biomimetic solutions:
Solar Botanic has designed artificial trees and plants which are so lifelike that to most casual observers they are living trees and plants. In fact, each tree or plant is a powerhouse of renewable energy harvesting the eternal profligate power of the sun, wind and rain. The essential element in this technology is Solar Botanic’s artificial leaf (Nanoleaf) which captures the sun’s radiant energy in photo voltaic and thermo voltaic cells converting the radiation into electricity. Simultaneously as the wind blows the layers of voltaic material in the stems, twigs and branches are moved, compressed and stretched, creating electricity. Press release continues…
Tendril + Zigbee = Smart Grid @ Home
Posted by davidwfox on 31 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: energy efficiency
Cnet’s Green Tech blog offers a write-up on Tendril:
“Most in-home displays take information from the outside meter, but because ours are networked devices and because we’re talking to the utilities’ back office, we know what the price plan is and we can present it in dollars and cents.” Continued at Green Tech…
Smart indeed!
Photo Credits: Tendril Networks Inc.
Smart Sprinkler Systems
Posted by davidwfox on 09 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: energy efficiency, water
Here’s another ’smart’ product company: VentureBeat reports that Cyber-Rain, maker of wireless sprinkler control systems, an has raised $1.5 million in first round funding.
Cyber-Rain claims its technology can save customers 30 to 70 percent on their watering bills. While smart networks are nothing new in the utility sector, Cyber-Rain is one of the few startups we’ve seen that offers wireless control systems for water management. Continued at VentureBeat…
Green Homes Concierge
Posted by davidwfox on 30 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: energy efficiency
Great idea if done right:
For GBP 199, Green Homes Concierge inspectors will come to a customer’s home, toting heat-detecting cameras and other devices to help them evaluate its leaks, wall insulation and appliances. Afterwards, the inspectors will recommend ways the home’s owner can reduce CO2 emissions, and hopefully save some money in the process. Significantly, GHC’s services don’t end there. For a full year the firm will act as a helpful concierge. Should customers wish to make the inspection’s recommended improvements, GHC will help them locate contractors and suppliers able to do the work or tell them where to buy low-energy light bulbs and other environmentally friendly items…Continued at Springwise.
Conference: Biomimicry’s Climate-Change Solutions
Posted by davidwfox on 21 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: biomimicry, climate change, energy, energy efficiency, events, water
On October 20th, The Biomimicry Institute in conjunction with the annual Bioneers conference will be holding a one-day conference “Biomimicry’s Climate-Change Solutions: How Would Nature Do It?”
This landmark one-day intensive reveals the leading edge of biomimetic solutions to climate change, modeled on nature’s operating instructions. It’s designed for action-oriented professionals from the fields of business, finance and investment, science, technology, public policy, education, media and civil society.
More Monitoring
Posted by davidwfox on 31 May 2008 | Tagged as: energy efficiency, my-new-house
A few weeks ago I wrote about Agilewaves, and today CNet has a great overview of more than a dozen ‘dashboard’ technologies ranging from simple wall plug adapters that offer a kw reading for individual devices, to a half dozen startups competing in the whole-house market - including Greenbox which was founded by the co-creators of Flash. (My background is in software distribution and Internet publishing, so its great to see former compatriots leveraging their tech skills into sustainability. Some others switchers are noted in this listing of 25 who “ditched infotech for cleantech.”)
