Renew News

With fascinating new technology, the company Ecovative has developed a product called EcoCradle that is a biological and biodegradable replacement for extruded styrofoam packaging.  They use farm waste like seed husks and stick it together by growing mushroom roots through it.

More info here: evocotivedesign.com

They also make a rigid board insulation product for home building.

Two new solar photovoltaic technologies. New and exciting, but not on the market yet. Underground solar panels, and Fiber Optic Photovoltaics.  Read the article here.

Those crazy scientists!  I’m telling ya.

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a nanostructure film that may help solar panels reach new levels of efficiency by trapping more photons and letting less energy escape from reflection.  This could be a big deal.  Any gain in effieciency matters, and if we string enough of them together we could have some great solar panels in no time.

Check out the story here.

That’s right, a new record was recently set for solar cell efficiency.  Maybe all the green economy stimulus money is starting to get us somewhere.   Unfortunately this technology is not practical for everyday use, but I’ll take progress anywhere I can get it.

Check out the full article here.

This month’s Make magazine is all about remaking America, and there are a number of articles on DIY energy projects.  There is everything from a very nice homemade solar water heater, to a hybrid recumbent taxi, or using rainwater to flush your toilet.  If you’re at all handy and want to do some of this stuff your self, check it out.  It’s a great magazine in general if you like to make things.

The company that makes a new type of solar cell that is cylindrical, instead of the classic flat-panel, has received the first Federal Loan Guarantee for an alternative energy company. These new solar panels are expected to produce 20% more electricity than flat panels, and offer better performance on overcast days.

Read the article here.

A scientist at Montana State University discovered a fungus in the rainforest that makes Diesel.  Boom.  That’s it.  You feed the fungus, it poops, then you drive your truck with it.

Of course this is still in the early stages, and it will take years to set up a project to see if this is commercially viable and practical, but it’s stil very exciting.  Especially if we could feed the fungus with stuff we don’t want anymore, like garbage.

Hear the full story here on NPR.

If you live in the USA make sure you vote today.  A lot of great Americans fought and died so that we had the right to vote, and this election is the most important one in most of our lifetimes.

If you’re not sure who to vote for, I’d recommend Barack Obama.  Especially if you think renewable enrgy is important.

A nice article about the details of near-future plug-in hybrids (PHEV).  Good ol’ NPR.

Read the article here.

I still really want to make an electric car.  The main argument against electric vehicles I’ve heard recently is that they deliver an environmental mess courtesy of the batteries.  From what I’ve read tonight, that just isn’t the case.  According to the Electric Auto Association:

The Battery Council International reports that 93% of all battery lead is recycled. A higher recycling rate than newspapers (55%) or aluminum cans (42%). Typical new lead-acid batteries contain 60-80% recycled lead and plastic. A true recycling success!

Also the consensus seems to be that batteries will last 3-4 years depending on usage.  Most of the articles I found tonight were a year or more old, so I’m hoping that there is new battery technology now, or coming in the near future.  When I am ready to start on my electric car I will do some more in-depth research.

The article that got me all excited about electric cars again can be found here on the website Treehugger.com Please let me know if you have any better information on new and improved batteries.