Green Energy News Items - 03/27/2008
The Bands Play On With Solar Power
Powering a big outdoor music festival takes a lot of power. Using biodiesel generators cut down on the energy drain, but the noise almost drowned out the music. Enter Firefly, a non-profit company that has come up with a better way to keep the music playing: Solar Power.
Of course, solar is only good while the sun is shining, which can be a problem in the UK where Firefly is located. Britain has its share of gray days, but the Orion Solar Generator can handle it with backup batteries, which will also let audiences dance all night. More …
The Biggest Green Building in the World Isn’t A New One
It’s big enough to have its own zip code and is 78 years old. Unlike the new, energy-efficient towers on the Chicago skyline, the Merchandise Mart was built in the days when energy was cheap and no one worried about how much cold or hot air leaked in through the window frames. Now though, after over three years of retrofitting everything from the windows to the motors that power the elevators, the building has been retrofitted until it’s green enough for the Guinness Book of World Records! More …
Ice Shelf Breakup Is Sign Of Accelerated Global Warming
Scientists were shocked by news that the Wilkins Ice Shelf is literally hanging by a thin strip of ice. Although it had been expected that the event would occur, best estimates were that it would happen decades from now. There is a consensus amongst scientists that this is a clear indication that global warming is occurring much faster than even the alarmists predicted.
Obviously, winning the battle to stop global warming is even more critical now and every effort must be made to fight it. While the scientists monitor the Antarctic Ice Shelf, everyone must increase their efforts to slow the melting. More …
Wind Power Is Built Into This Innovative Atrium Building
The same team who built the Pearl River Tower, where the face of the building funnelled wind into two large turbines, will be building the Clean Technology Tower. In this new design, the wind will be directed from the four corners of the building into smaller turbines at each corner.
In addition, the space will be cooled by the negative pressure of the turbines and has solar cells on its roof to help power the offices, retail space, hotel and spa that the building will contain. Construction is slated to start soon in Chicago. More …
Soot Is Carbon Too
Particulate matter in the form of soot from burning solid fuel has a greater impact than was thought on global warming. Reducing it would have a big effect on health as well as the environment. Particulates are small enough to lodge in lungs and cause respiratory disease, as well as block sunlight from reaching the earth and prevent greenhouse gas from escaping the earth’s atmosphere.
On the brighter side, scientists believe that reducing soot would quickly have a positive impact on global warming. More …