Solar Tower Concept Heats Up Solar Power
Up to 200,000 homes could be powered by a huge solar tower that looks like a chimney, but doesn’t emit gases. The concept has been used already in Spain in a demonstration project that worked well on a much smaller scale, but blew over in a storm.

The new tower would be much taller, made of concrete and designed to last at least 50 years. While the idea isn’t new, the scale and design have been improved and updated to be more cost-effective and powerful. More …

Ford’s Fumes-To-Fuel Program Creates Power From Paint
Solving two problems with one solution, Ford Motor Company has announced that it will use the VOC’s that its autobody painting generates to run a fuel cell that will power its plant. The VOC’s, which are considered toxic, will be captured forever in beads that will burn in the fuel cell and create the power to run the plant.

This will result not only in a reduction of toxic substances, but also cut down on costs and greenhouse gas emissions from heating and lighting the factory. More …

New Mexico Solar Power Ramps Up In Big Way
The four biggest utility companies in NM are proposing to build the state’s largest solar power installation, now that the US government has done an about-face on their solar power moratorium.
The project would power up to 52,000 homes and use thermal energy to store the solar power for cloudy days. More …

Biofuels Fuel Food Shortages and Prices
According to the World Bank’s recent report, biofuels made from food crops are responsible for up to 75% of the food shortages worldwide. The report also claims that food prices have risen because of speculation over food crops as biofuel sources and because farmers are being encouraged to set aside land just for biofuel production.

The only bright spot in the biofuel sector may be algae as a biofuel source, along with using it for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions. More …

Flush For the Planet
Using gray water for flushing toilets, watering gardens and lawns may be an idea whose time has come. Saniflo makes a greywater pumping system that can use water from bathtubs, dishwashers and clothes washers to flush, irrigate and water.

While many localities have laws against gray water use, others are introducing legislation to allow it. More …

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 6:08 am and is filed under Green News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.