A Green Think Tank

An intelligent house

2009-03-11T03:13:00.000-07:00

Reliant Energy is installing high tech networks in the homes of its 1.8 million customers will help them save electricity.

The 50MPG Tata Nano- auto Solution, or Pollution Nightmare?

2009-02-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

Tata Nano the smallest car ever in India is expected to come in market in mid- 2009 with its two variants: standard and deluxe. Both these versions will be available in the market in various body colors and equipped with many accessories so that on an overall the car can fulfill the desires of a particular individual. The world’s cheapest and the most anticipated car. It is expected that Tata Nano launch revolutionize the auto industry that has been generated immense interest in India and abroad.

In January 2008, at New Delhi's Auto Expo, Tata Motors had unveiled a bubble-shaped car called the Nano. Integrating sleek curves, a roomy interior, and a small but powerful engine, the vehicle has a shockingly low price: Rs 1,000,000, = $2,500: a four-seat family ride for the price of an high-end laptop.

Middle-class household incomes in India start at roughly $6,000 a year, so a $3,000 car is the kind of innovation that could create millions of new drivers. 8 million Indians currently own cars, and another 18 million have the means to buy one. However, the Nano could increase that pool of potential auto owners by as much as 65 percent, to 30 million. "This goes beyond economics and class," says Ravi Kant, managing director of Tata Motors. "This crosses the urban-rural divide. Now a car is within the reach of people who never imagined they would own a car. It's a triumph for our company. And for India."

The Tata Group is the General Electric of India, a sprawling conglomerate with a commanding presence in media, telecom, outsourcing, retailing, real estate, locomotives and autos. In 1998, Tata Motors introduced the country's first indigenously designed car- the homegrown Tata Indica, which now sells for around $6,000, became ubiquitous as a taxi.

Ratan Tata, the company's chair and the great-grandson of Jamsetji, got the idea for the Nano when he was sitting in traffic, battling Mumbai's gridlock, and he noticed a single scooter carrying an entire family. Suddenly it struck him: The poor driver and his passengers represented not just a vast social need but an immense market opportunity. The success of the Indica gave him the confidence to try to tap it.

In India, the new vehicle could make the dreams of millions of dreams come true, but at the same time, the prospect of a flood of additional cars terrifies city planners and environmentalists. Metropolises throughout the developing world are expanding at breakneck speed. In many places, the crumbling roads are already crammed beyond capacity. Traffic fatalities are on the rise, and air pollution threatens to choke remaining pockets of green space. Sure, a single Nano is a step toward independence, security, and social mobility — but to some observers, millions of Nanos spell apocalypse.

Tata insists that the Nano will pollute less than the two-wheelers it is intended to replace. The Nano's catalytic converter appears to reduce most pollutants by about 80 percent—not as much as the 99 percent Western models do, but still a big reduction. Environmentalists, though, say that it will probably fail after a few years on the road. The reason: Indians typically don't keep their autos in tip-top shape. When the catalytic converter fails, emissions of pollutants could shoot up fivefold.

The story gets worse when greenhouse gases like CO₂, which escape catalytic converters, are considered. The more gas burned, the more CO₂ released. The Nano is likely to replace motor scooters and motorbikes, which get about 54 kilometers to the liter, more than twice what the Nano (20 kilometers per liter of gasoline, which is equal to 50 miles per gallon) is expected to get. And that does not account for a decline in fuel efficiency if the cars are not maintained well.

Western environmentalists know they have little moral standing to criticize Indians for wanting cars, particularly one that meets the highest Western emissions standards. But they're rattled in part because they didn't see this coming, and will have to recalculate projections for the buildup of greenhouse gases based on a world of many more drivers. "In none of our reports did we assume there'd be a car like this," says Judy Greenwald, director of innovative solutions at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. "This is a new category. It will affect everybody's projections."

The 80 Billion Energy component of the 787 Billion Stimulus package

2009-02-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

So now that the 787 Billion USD stimulus package has been passed, are you wondering, how much of it will be energy related?

Wrapped inside the economic stimulus package is about $80 billion will be devoted to the Energy sector- to spending, loan guarantees and tax incentives aimed at promoting energy efficiencies, renewable energy sources, higher-mileage cars and clean coal. As a stand-alone measure, these investments would amount to the biggest energy bill in history.

Eighty billion dollars is a lot of money, and the federal agencies overseeing its disbursement must provide strong regulation to ensure that it is spent wisely. Here are some of the provisions that will bear close watching as the money flows to states, cities and businesses:

Energy Efficiency: Homes and buildings soak up 40 percent of the energy generated in the United States - more than vehicles. Of the $25 billion provided for energy efficiency, more than half is aimed at helping low-income families weatherize 1 million homes and helping governments at all levels retrofit public buildings.

Renewable Energy: In addition to new money for research into alternatives fuels, the measure provides roughly $20 billion in tax incentives for wind, solar, hydroelectric and other renewable power sources. These incentives, which are crucial for future development, were the subject of endless congressional debates last year.

Smart Grid: The measure invests $11 billion in grants and $6 billion in loans to modernize the electric grid and increase its capacity to deliver power generated by renewable sources. These programs will need especially careful oversight.

Mass Transit: Federal transportation spending has long favored highways over mass transit by a 4-1 margin, even though mass transit is far more effective in the reduction of gasoline consumption and in greenhouse gas emissions. The package improves this ratio while providing $17.7 billion for mass transit, Amtrak and high-speed rail, nearly a 70 percent increase over present spending levels.

The package includes other potentially useful energy-related provisions: $2 Billion in grants and loans for research into advanced car batteries, a tenfold increase over the existing program; and $3.4 Billion to develop coal-fired power plants that can capture and store greenhouse gases, also a tenfold increase.

Much more will be required to fully address climate change and oil dependency. And President Barack Obama promised much more in his campaign. But the stimulus package is a good beginning.

Source: International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/18/opinion/edenergy.php

Hybrid vehicles - not the same as Electric Vehicles

2009-02-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

What is a hybrid vehicle?

A hybrid vehicle is an automobile powered by an engine assisted by an electric motor, in a way that fuel efficiency is combined with low running cost and performance.

In a Hybrid vehicle, the electric motor assists the engine in high fuel consumption conditions like standing starts and accelerations, helping reduce fuel consumption. This means that compared to a regular car of the same size, a hybrid is cheaper to run. Furthermore, electric motors deliver maximum torque from zero rpm for powerful, exhilarating standing starts and added power for acceleration. Combining fuel efficiency, and driving performance with environmental performance through reduced fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions: that is what hybrid vehicles are all about.

Types of hybrid vehicles.

Today, there are three different types of hybrid vehicles.

Parallel hybrids, in which the engine is the main power source with the electric motor providing assistance as needed.

The engine serves as the main power source. The motor, which delivers maximum torque from zero rpm, is called upon to assist the engine during standing starts and during acceleration, when engine fuel consumption is high. This type of hybrid is also simple: a parallel hybrid can be created simply by adding an electric motor and batteries to an existing vehicle.

Combined hybrids share characteristics of series and parallel designs. The electric motor alone is used at low speeds, and the engine and electric motor work together at higher speeds.

The electric motor powers the vehicle from a standing start and at low speeds. As speed increases, engine and electric motor work in combination to efficiently provide the power required.

The system is more complex, featuring a power split device and a generator. The engine is also required to power the generator.

Series hybrids, like electric vehicles, run solely on power provided by electric motors.

The vehicle runs on power from the electric motor. The engine only powers the generator that charges the batteries.

The system powering the vehicle is the same as that of an electric vehicle, but because the vehicle also has an engine, it is considered a hybrid.

Source: http://world.honda.com/automobile-technology/IMA/

Biofuels

2009-02-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

With all the discussions about biofuels, have you ever wondered, what exactly are biofuels, why they have achieved so much prominence, and where this is headed?

Biofuels are so relevant in the context of today’s energy crisis and global warming, because they have the potential for Co2 reduction. Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from biomass materials and are used primarily for transportation. The term biofuels most commonly refers to ethanol and biodiesel. In 2007, the United States consumed 6.8 billion gallons of ethanol and 491 million gallons of biodiesel. By comparison, 2007 consumption of motor gasoline and diesel was 139 billion gallons and 39 billion gallons, respectively.

Biofuels are made by converting various forms of biomass such as corn or animal fat into liquid fuels and can be used as replacements or additives for gasoline or diesel. Biofuels generally have lower life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions than do their fossil fuel counterparts.

What Is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a clear, colorless alcohol—the same as is found in alcoholic beverages. In fact, ethanol is produced when yeast ferments sugar in a process similar to that used to produce beer. Ethanol can be made from the starches or sugars found in various agricultural crops, such as corn, barley, and sugar cane.

Prior to the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, gasoline sold in certain geographic areas was required to contain oxygen, which helps the fuel mixture combust more completely. Originally, a chemical called methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was the preferred oxygenate, but it was phased out due to concerns about seepage into groundwater and ethanol was mandated as a replacement. The usage of ethanol also gained market share due to the Renewable Fuel Standard requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Today, a little more than half of the gasoline in the United States has some amount of ethanol blended into it, and these blends are named by their ethanol content: for example, a blend of 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol (by volume) is known as E10. However, because ethanol contains approximately 67% the energy content of gasoline per gallon, usage of ethanol blends results in decreased gas mileage. Despite this reduced gas mileage, high crude oil prices and government incentives have resulted in the consumption of increasing amounts of ethanol.

While almost any regular gasoline car can run on blends of ethanol up to E10, special cars known as “flex-fuel” vehicles are required for use of blends above E10. Flex-fueled vehicles are currently available from every major American automobile manufacturer and are almost identical to regular gasoline vehicles, except for a few modifications to the fuel system and minor engine components. On a mass production basis, it costs less than $200 extra per car to make a flex-fuel automobile compared with a conventional gasoline vehicle.

What Is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel consists of chemicals known as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) that can be used as a diesel fuel substitute or diesel fuel additive. Biodiesel is typically made from oils produced from agricultural crops such as soybeans or canola but can also be made from various other feedstocks such as animal fats.

Currently, most biodiesel in the United States is produced from soybean oil, but recent increases in soybean crop prices have caused producers to switch to other feedstocks such as waste animal fats from processing plants or recycled grease from restaurants. Biodiesel can be made from virtually any feedstock that contains an adequate amount of free fatty acids, which are the raw materials that are converted to biodiesel through a chemical process. Research is underway to harvest algae for biodiesel production because they contain fat pockets that help them float, and this fat can be collected and processed into biodiesel.

Biodiesel has chemical characteristics much like petroleum-based diesel and, therefore, can be used as a direct substitute for diesel fuel or blended with petroleum diesel in any percentage without suffering any significant loss of fuel economy.

In 2007, the United States consumed 6.8 billion gallons of ethanol and 491 million gallons of biodiesel. According to EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2008, ethanol usage is predicted to increase to nearly 24 billion gallons in 2030, which would represent approximately 16% of total gasoline consumption by volume in 2030. Biodiesel consumption is predicted to increase to 1.2 billion gallons by 2030, or approximately 1.5% of total diesel consumption.

Source: Energy Information Administration

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/biofuels_use.cfm

Recycling cell phones

2009-02-14T04:05:00.000-08:00

Cell phones are potentially hazardous waste because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. If thrown in the trash and sent to incinerators or landfills, environmental contamination can occur from combustion and leaching into soil and groundwater.

Sadly, less than 2% of old cell phones are being recycled today.

There are more than 500 million used cell phones in the U.S. sitting in people's drawers or in our landfills, and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that cell phones will be thrown away at a rate of 130 million a year by 2005 that equals 65,000 tons of waste containing toxic metals!

Many of the materials found in cell phones are also on the EPA's list of persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs). Because PBTs accumulate in fatty tissue of humans and animals, the toxins are gradually concentrated, putting those at the top of the food chain at the greatest risk, especially children. According to the EPA, "PBTs are associated with a range of adverse human health effects, including damage to the nervous system, reproductive and developmental problems, cancer and genetic impacts."

It is incumbent upon each of us to recycle our cell phones.

There are a number of organizations that recycle cell phones. Cell phones and accessories received in working order can be recycled back into reuse, the highest form of recycling. If the cell phone is broken, but has useful parts, it is possible to create working phones from the scraps. These affordable refurbished cell phones help bridge the digital divide and improve the quality of life for people in the developing world who purchase them.

Even if the overall phone is not in a functional condition, batteries, chargers, and accessories are reused. Before recycling, it is important to ask fo information on how the hazardous waste is processed.

The Wall Street Journal shares ideas on going GREEN

2009-02-14T03:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an article about going green during tough economic times, with 10 energy-saving ideas.

1. High-Tech Thermostats

Programmable thermostats make it easy to preset a week's worth of temperatures -- and give you much greater control over energy bills. For instance, you could program the gadget to lower the temperature when everyone's asleep, something you might forget to do on a nightly basis.

COST: $50 to $150.

PAYBACK: About a year, assuming the thermostat controls both heating and cooling. The estimates assume natural-gas heat and electric central cooling.

2. Smarter Water Heating

Drain-water heat-recovery systems warm up water for your shower by capturing the heat from waste water as it travels down your drain. (You can also get the systems for dishwashers and other appliances.)

COST: $500 to $700, plus $100 or so for installation.

PAYBACK: Around five years, assuming you heat your water with natural gas and pay fairly high rates. If you use electricity, payback can be under three years. And if your utility offers a rebate for installation, as many do, that payback time can be less than a year in some cases.

3. Sealing Air Leaks

Filling in the gaps around windows and doors, and sealing up ducts, can be a simple way to cut energy bills.

COST: Weatherstripping that goes under and around external doors runs $20 a door. With windows, you insert caulk between the frame and siding, wherever the air is going through, at a cost of about $10 a window. Then there's an often-overlooked source of air leaks: the electrical outlets on exterior walls. These can be fixed with outlet sealers, which cost under $10 for a pack of six.

You can do all those fixes yourself. But you often need to hire someone to seal heating and cooling ducts. The job will usually run from $300 to $1,000, depending on the size of your house.

PAYBACK: About two to three years -- but there are lots of variables.

4. Low-Flow Fixtures

Low-flow showerheads and faucets limit the volume of water you can get out of the fixtures, reducing the amount you spend on water -- and on electricity or gas to heat the water. Although the technology is improving, you'll still feel a difference in water pressure.

COST: Low-flow showerheads start at around $30, while faucet aerators cost $2 and up. Both are simple to install.

PAYBACK: For aerators, almost immediate. For showerheads, a few months. In addition, several utilities offer rebates for buying low-flow fixtures.

5. Leasing Solar Panels

Buying and installing a set of solar panels can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But leasing the same system can be a cost-effective alternative.

Several companies—most of them in California and a handful of other states—will install solar panels on your property, then charge you for the power the panels generate. Essentially, the company owns the panels, and you "rent" them by paying the cost of the power. That rate is often lower than your regular utility rate. (In Oregon, the rate's the same, but people often choose the panels for environmental reasons, according to Lyndon Rive, chief executive of solar leasing company SolarCity.) You'll also have to pay your utility for power when the panels aren't generating any electricity, such as nighttime. But you'll be paying much less than you ordinarily would.

COST: Sometimes nothing. Many companies don't charge an upfront fee for the panels, and their plans promise to reduce your total electric bill immediately by about 11%. Consider a typical plan for condominium owners from Applied Solar LLC. The company says its arrangement delivers savings of $15 per month on a total electricity bill, or $180 a year, for an owner in San Diego Gas & Electric territory who used to pay $135 per month and is buying solar from a 2-kilowatt system.

However, some companies do charge an upfront fee, often $2,000 to $5,000. In some cases, that fee is considered a prepayment on the solar-power portion of your bills -- so you end up paying less for that power every month. In other cases, the fee doesn't lower your monthly bill; it's simply a down payment.

PAYBACK: Immediate, if you pay no upfront fee. If you pay a fee that lowers your rates, payback can take a while. Let's say you prepay $2,000, which some solar companies say can save you an extra 10% a month on your payments for panel-generated power. In a typical case, that translates into saving $25 a month on your total electric bill, or $300 a year -- for a payback of seven years.

If your upfront fee is just a down payment, though, the payback time is much longer -- because you don't get any extra discount on your bill. Assuming you save $180 a year with the panels, your payback time on a $2,000 down payment would be about 11 years.

6. Air Filters

Keeping the air filter clean saves about 7% in electricity costs a year.

COST: New filters cost about $10 each for central systems. Window-unit filters can simply be wiped clean.

PAYBACK: Less than a year in warm climates for central units. Immediately in all climates for window units.

7. Compact Fluorescent Lights

These advanced bulbs (13 watts) use up to 75% less energy than regular bulbs (typically 60 watts), and they last about six to 12 times longer. Experts say that replacing regular lights with CFLs can be the cheapest, most effective way to get big savings on energy bills.

COST: About $3 a bulb.

PAYBACK: 3 to 7½ months.

8. Lighting Motion Sensors

Although they're more common in commercial buildings, motion sensors that automatically turn off lights when a room isn't occupied can offer big energy savings in a home. They're particularly useful when installed on outdoor lights, which are often left on all night.

COST: Many porch lights have built-in sensors and cost about $50 to $60.

PAYBACK: Under a year.

9. Window Treatments

Putting shades on southerly or westerly facing windows can reduce your costs by 6%. Insulated curtains curb losses from air conditioning and heating.

COST: Inexpensive pull-down blinds that provide summer shade run $5 to $10; curtains that promise greater insulation typically sell for as little as $30 and can run as high as $150.

PAYBACK: From just under a year to almost four years, depending on a host of variables.

10. Attic Insulation

It's well known that insulating attics can reduce the amount of heat escaping through the roof. But many attics, especially in older homes, still have too little insulation -- or none at all.

COST: About $500 to nearly $700 for an average 2,000-square-foot house; less if the attic already has some insulation. That doesn't include installation costs, which can vary widely.

PAYBACK: A year and a half, but it can vary depending on the climate, cost of insulation and other factors. Installation costs can also boost the payback time.

The full article is available at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123378447725049229.html

Why is it so important to recycle electronics?

2009-02-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Electronics are a fast-growing waste stream of hazardous materials

As we replace old electronic products with newer models, the stockpile of used and obsolete products grows. On February 17, 2009, most television stations in the USA will broadcast only in digital, as required by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 and numerous televisions around the country will become obsolete. The National Safety Council projects that nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years and mobile phones are discarded at a rate of 130 million per year.

Hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, can be found in all these electronic products. A television or cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor contains four pounds of lead on average. Circuit boards, batteries, and CRTs are just some of the common electronic parts that can be released into the environment through incinerator ash or landfill leachate.

EPA reported that in 1998, over 112 million pounds of materials were recovered from electronics, including steel, glass, and plastic, as well as precious metals. Reusing and recycling the raw materials from end-of-life electronics conserves natural resources and avoids the air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing new products.

BG- America's first Neighborhood Electric Vehicle has been approved

2009-02-12T03:26:00.001-08:00

The future of transportation has arrived and it's safe, reliable, affordable and 100% electric. With the release of this new neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), the C100, BG Automotive Group, Ltd. is a viable solution to the energy crisis. The C100 exceeds all Department of Transportation/National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (DOT/NHTSA) requirements.

"The current state of the economy makes it the perfect time to introduce the C100, America's first mass-produced Neighborhood Electric Vehicle," said Barry Bernsten, President of BG Automotive Group. "There is an ever-growing demand for alternative fuel vehicles and BG's fully electric cars meet those demands."

BG Automotive Group will produce affordable electric vehicles for all consumers who wish to make the commitment to switch from gas combustion cars to electric vehicles. For the environmentally conscience driver, the C100 is a perfect solution. The car ranges in price from $15,995 to $17,995 and costs less than $0.02 cents per mile to operate.

Depending on federal and state regulations, the C100 is legal to travel on roads with posted speed limits of 35-45 mph. The C100 will be able to travel 60-120 miles per charge depending on the vehicle's motor, battery configuration, load capacity and driving conditions. The batteries used in BG's NEV are 95% recyclable.

The C100 is a four-door, four-passenger hatchback that produces no noise, no emissions and no pollution. Each model comes fully loaded with features such as air-conditioning, AM/FM stereo and CD player, front-wheel drive, power steering, power brakes and an onboard charger with a 30-foot cord that the consumer can plug into a standard 110V or 220V outlet. Additionally, each car has a free in-dash 8G i-Phone (an upgrade to 16G is available) for music, navigation and hands free telephone capabilities.

The C100 is ideal for shore and golf communities or other suburban areas with travel needs that are close to home. The C100 is also perfect for high school or college students. Parking authority attendants, governmental agencies and fleet buyers will find the C100 an ideal eco-friendly vehicular alternative as well. In fact, many states and companies are adapting new legislation and mandates that requires a specific percentage of their fleets to be electric.

BG Automotive Group is currently evaluating proposals from several states to determine where the first mass-production facility will be located. BG is planning to develop six facilities in the next 24 months for a total production of approximately 100,000 vehicles by year-end 2010.

BG is committed to the manufacturing, continued development and advancement of the world's safest EVs. Equipped with dual airbags, the C100 is the safest Neighborhood Electric Vehicle in production. The future is now, and safety and affordability are the keys to success in the electric vehicle industry.

More information available at: BGelectricCars.com.

California to get world's largest Solar Project

2009-02-12T03:17:00.000-08:00

Great news for the world of Renewable Energies! Especially good news, given the recession....

The desert outside of Los Angeles is about to get a system of solar thermal plants that will, at maximum output, produce 1.3 gigawatts of electric power. That is higher than even some large nuclear plants. This is officially the world's largest planned solar project till date.

The plant is a joint project of Southern California Edison, the utility that serves the area, and Brightsource, the company who will be building the power plant. The power will be produced by focusing light from a large area with mirrors onto a tower. The heat will then be used to boil water and the steam will turn a turbine, just like a traditional coal or nuclear power plant.

The main advantage of these "solar thermal" power plants over photovoltaic power plants is that the technology is very simple, and thus cheaper. They aren't as efficient per acre, but they're a lot cheaper to build. Solar thermal plants have been shown to, over their lifetimes, be an even better investment than coal-fired power plants, even without government subsidies, so the resurgence in their construction should come as no surprise.

There will be seven of these towers built, each producing between 100 and 300 megawatts of electricity. The first will be finished in 2013 with the rest of the seven to follow.

A film on Biodiversity

2009-02-12T03:04:00.000-08:00

Director Howard Hall is the creator of Under the Sea 3D. The film will be released only in IMAX theatres starting February 13, 2009.

Under the Sea 3D discusses the effect of climate change on the oceans.

It is strongly predicted that there are very specific changes that the oceans will undergo because of increased carbon dioxide levels- some of those changes are already happening, while some others are not yet well-known. One reason for making this film was to show people how important it is to do something about climate change and carbon dioxide excess.

A large purpose of this film is to explain what goes on in the coral reef community, and what affects coral reefs. Some of these things are increasing water temperatures, increased carbon dioxide levels dissolved in the seawater, acidification of seawater and the loss of mangroves. The loss of these mangroves affects the siltation on the reef, increasing the amount of debris that washes off the islands and onto the reef. When mangroves are removed, the reefs don't have protection. There is a mangrove sequence in the film which is quite beautiful. The roots grow right out into the seawater and produce a habitat for a wide variety of animals that are really wonderful.

Once people see a myriad of beautiful sea animals, like the Flamboyant Cuttlefish or Weedy Sea Dragon, they're going to fall in love because not only are these creatures remarkably beautiful, but also have really interesting behaviors and personality, and it is heartbreaking to imagine that some of them are so threatened.

There are a lot of issues affecting coral reefs, and the animals that call it home. The development of islands, ocean shorelines and industries- especially in the the emerging economies, are all creating a huge impact. While there is a benefit to that kind of development, there is also a major benefit of having coral reefs around the world, and those beautiful sea animals out of danger.

Google takes on the SMART GRID

2009-02-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

Google wants to give Power to the People

The search giant on Tuesday, February 10^th, 2009, showed off a prototype Web application that displays home energy consumption broken down by appliance. The software uses so-called smart meters, which can communicate home energy consumption back to utilities every few minutes.

The driving idea behind the Google PowerMeter iGoogle gadget--and nearly all smart-grid companies--is that giving consumers access to more detailed home energy data will lead to lower usage. There are dozens of smart-grid trial programs now going on, offered through utilities.

Google’s mission is to "organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful," and the company believes that consumers have a right to detailed information about their home electricity use.

Currently, our utility company sends us a bill at the end of the month with very few details. Most people don't know how much electricity their appliances use, where in the house they are wasting electricity, or how much the bill might go up during different seasons. But in a world where everyone had a detailed understanding of their home energy use, we could find all sorts of ways to save energy and lower electricity bills. Google reports that studies show that access to home energy information results in savings between 5-15% on monthly electricity bills. It may not sound like much, but if half of America's households cut their energy demand by 10 percent, it would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road. The Google Powermeter is currently being tested by Googlers and is not available to the public.

There are currently about 40 million smart meters in use worldwide, with plans to add another 100 million in the next few years. Google is also trying to influence smart-grid policy. On Tuesday, it published recommendations to the California Public Utility Commission, advocating that home energy data be available to consumers in real time for free in standard formats.

"Unfortunately, many of today's smart meters don't display information to the consumer. We consider this unacceptable. We believe that detailed data on your personal energy use belongs to you, and should be available in a standard, non-proprietary format," according to the announcement on the Official Google blog.

The Google PowerMeter as an extensible platform, much the way the Google's Android software is for mobile devices. By building on the relatively simple features it introduced on Tuesday, Google could get into other businesses, such as coordinating the flow of energy from plug-in hybrid cars to the power grid during peak times.

There are several incentives for smart-grid deployments--the Obama administration has set a target of bringing smart meters to 40 million homes over the next three years--are a big part of the stimulus package being considered by Congress, with as an early draft offering $11 billion for research.

Making Solar Power cost effective

2009-02-10T03:07:00.000-08:00

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced on Jan 29^th, 2009, that it has launched the second of two projects to help electric power companies add solar energy to fossil-fueled electric power plants, reducing fuel costs and plant emissions, thereby enabling reliable, cleaner electric energy.

Both this project, and a parallel study launched in October, 2008, at natural gas-fueled facilities, involve adding steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle to offset some of the fuel required to generate electric power.

These projects will use breakthrough technologies to demonstrate a near-term and cost-effective way to use large amounts of solar energy at commercial scale to provide clean electric power. These ‘hybrid power plants’ will combine the low-cost reliability of existing fossil power plants with the environmental benefit of renewables, and help companies meet federal and state mandates to reduce their emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases with renewable energy.”

The projects will provide a conceptual design study and two detailed case studies. Design options to retrofit existing plants will be analyzed and new plant design options will be identified. EPRI will rely on its expertise in solar technologies, steam cycles, and plant operation, as well as past solar and fossil plant studies. EPRI holds two patents in solar steam cycle optimization.

Currently, 27 states in the U.S. have enacted renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies. Some include specific mandates that a percentage of the requirement be met with solar energy. However, most current solar applications are not cost-competitive with other power generating options. Using solar to augment coal or natural gas potentially might very well become the most cost effective option for adding solar power to the generation fleet, as it utilizes existing plant assets. And because the highest-intensity solar energy typically is within a few hours of peak summer loads, it makes solar augmented steam cycles a particularly attractive renewable energy option.

The First SmartGrid City in the USA

2009-02-10T02:46:00.000-08:00

The first SmartGridCity in underway in the USA, in Boulder, Colorado. SmartGridCity is the nation's first fully integrated smart grid community and will boast the largest and densest concentration of these emerging technologies to date.

Xcel Energy is performing the nation’s first large test of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies as part of its internationally recognized SmartGridCity project. PHEVs with V2G are able to both charge from and discharge power back to the electricity grid, making them sources of distributed generation.

Phase I of the project involves four cars. An Xcel Energy PHEV has already been converted to be V2G capable as part of the SmartGridCity demonstration home project at the University of Colorado (CU) Chancellor’s Residence. In addition, three Boulder County Toyota Prius PHEVs will have special inverters installed that will allow the utility to pull power from the battery of the car during periods of peak power usage. These converted vehicles will become energy storage devices used as part of the technology tests currently underway in Xcel Energy’s SmartGridCity.

Phase 2 of the project involves converting another 60 existing hybrid electric vehicles to PHEVs with V2G technology. The cars are part of the City of Boulder, Boulder County, the University of Colorado fleets. A mix of onboard V2G technology and smart grid charging stations will be used in this part of the project. The smart charging stations will be installed in several Boulder-area locations. In subsequent phases, the goal is to add another 500 PHEVs to the grid in Boulder and to test V2G technology on a significantly larger scale.

In SmartGridCity, there is the unique opportunity to test and demonstrate how plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with V2G capabilities can act as sources of distributed energy storage. The environmental benefits of adding these PHEVs to the SmartGridCity project will be significant. Beyond the overall reduction in emissions associated with transportation, PHEVs are excellent energy storage devices that will allow addition of even more intermittent renewable energy generation to the grid.

Partners for the project include, the City of Boulder, Boulder County, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Governor’s Energy Office and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

http://smartgridcity.xcelenergy.com/news/releases/10-23-2008.html

What is a Smart Grid?

2009-02-10T02:36:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama promised to retrofit America by "updating the way we get our electricity, by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation." To that end, the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Department of Energy to spend $4.5 billion dollars to stimulate the deployment of smart grid technologies.

A smart grid means computerizing the current electric grid using advanced wireless two-way information and communications equipment, deploying an array of sensors to monitor activity, and developing the software to control and track in real time all aspects of electricity generation, transmission, and consumption. Smart-grid technology allows consumers to understand their energy usage, and gives them the option to intelligently manage, monitor and reduce the usage. In additional to smarter energy management, potential benefits include lower bills, better grid reliability, greater energy efficiency and conservation options, increased use of renewable energy sources, and options for using plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and intelligent home appliances.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) describes the current national U.S power grid as the "largest interconnected machine on earth." The U.S. electric power infrastructure is worth over $1 trillion. It consists of more than 9,200 electric generating units with more than 1 million megawatts of generating capacity connected to more than 300,000 miles of high voltage transmission lines and 5.5 million miles of distribution lines.

Modernization would certainly help the current transmission network, which is so overburdened that blackouts are now bigger, lengthier, and more common. The EIA estimates that outages currently cost the economy as much as $150 billion per year. Even as demand for electricity has grown, transmission capacity has been lagging. In addition, Americans are projected to use about 30 percent more electricity by 2030. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the think tank of the utility industry, estimates that smart grid technologies could potentially lowerprojected annual energy consumption in 2030 by 1.2 to 4.3 percent. This would mean that fewer power plants and transmission lines would need to be built in the future.

For many proponents, however, the chief reason to create a smart grid is that it promotes energy conservation. For example, the smart grid concept envisions smart meters in homes or businesses allowing consumers to fine-tune their energy consumption, such as setting dishwashers or washing machines to turn on at night when electric power is relatively cheap and more plentiful. And consumers have the ability to grant utility companies permission to send signals that lower the temperatures on residential hot water heaters or reduce air conditioning when the grid is threatened with an overload on hot summer days. Some pilot projects report that consumers using this technology have cut their energy bills by an average of 10 percent.

Chevy VOLT- The Future is Electrifying

2009-02-09T03:17:00.000-08:00

With huge interest in the market towards Hybrid/Electric vehicles, here is the latest news from Chevrolet - Chevrolet Volt will be the ultimate car of the future!

The Extended-Range Electric Vehicle that is redefining the automotive world is no longer just a rumor. In fact, its propulsion system is so revolutionary, it's unlike any other vehicle or electric car that's ever been introduced. At General Motors, engineers are working hard towards making this remarkable vision a reality, so that one day drivers will have the freedom to drive gas-free.

Chevy Volt is designed to move more than 75 percent of America's daily commuters without a single drop of gas. With a range of 40 miles (when all power equipment has been turned off, including air-conditioner, stereo and headlights), The Chevy Volt is an extended-range electric vehicle, and is equipped with a gasoline engine to create electricity when the lithium-ion battery is empty. That means, for someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions.

Unlike traditional electric cars, Chevy Volt has a revolutionary propulsion system that goes beyond the power of the battery. It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when driven beyond the 40-mile battery range.

Over 200 engineers and 50 designers are working on the Volt alone, and about 200 additional are working on related subcomponents and electrical subsystems.

The latest word from General Motors is the Chevy Volt will cost about $35,000 when it arrives in showrooms at the end of 2010

Source: http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar

President Obama's dream of a Green Tech revolution

2009-02-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

During the Presidential campaign last year, President Obama had set some pretty lofty Energy Goals. It seemed highly optimistic then, and now, after the stock market crashed, it will be interesting to watch if the new administration sticks to the plan, and if they do, HOW the"New Energy for America" plan will be executed...

Reports from August 2008 below....

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Kicking off what campaign advisors have dubbed "energy week," Barack Obama today called for an "end to the age of oil in our time." He backed up his trademark optimism with the most dramatic auto technology proposals of the 2008 campaign cycle. Obama said he hopes to see 1 million plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, a number far beyond the most optimistic forecasts. Obama's vision amounts to more than wide-eyed optimism—or generalized political pandering. Details from an eight-page energy fact-sheet the campaign circulated to the media:

$4 billion in tax credits to American automakers to retool plants for the production of plug-in hybrid cars capable of 150 miles to the gallon.

$7,000 tax credit for consumers who buy early model plug-in vehicles.

Half of all cars purchased by the federal government will be plug-in hybrids or all-electric by 2012.

The new proposals will be folded into Senator Obama's 10-year, $150 billion energy package, which aims to eliminate American dependence on foreign oil by 2019. Obama's vision for energy independence isn't all green. The most widely reported headline from today's energy speech in Lansing, Mich. was Obama's change of heart about offshore drilling and the release of oil from the strategic energy reserves. Many environmentalists view these compromises as unnecessary and ill-advised, especially considering how much easier it will be to get congressional action on the latter two points of his plan.

Could Obama succeed in bringing about a green-tech revolution? Is it feasible to produce 1 million 150-mpg plug-in hybrids by 2015? Is the $4 billion tax credit tantamount to a corporate giveaway to Detroit automakers which have dragged their heels on hybrid technology? As is usually the case with visions of a more fuel efficient future, there's plenty of room for both optimism and skepticism.

What is Cap and Trade?

2009-02-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

In the context of Advanced Renewable Energy Initiatives of the Obama administration, Cap and Trade has come up a number of times. What exactly is it, and how would it work?

Emissions trading is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. It is sometimes called cap and trade. The goal is to steadily reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide in a cost-effective manner.  

The cap: Each large-scale emitter, or company, will have a limit on the amount of greenhouse gas that it can emit. The firm must have an “emissions permit” for every ton of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere. These permits set an enforceable limit, or cap, on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that the company is allowed to emit.   

The trade: It will be relatively cheaper or easier for some companies to reduce their emissions below their required limit than others. These more efficient companies, who emit less than their allowance, can sell their extra permits to companies that are not able to make reductions as easily. This creates a system that guarantees a set level of overall reductions, while rewarding the most efficient companies and ensuring that the cap can be met at the lowest possible cost to the economy. This would generate a revenue stream, some of which should be used to invest in renewable energy, efficiency, low-carbon transportation technologies, green-collar job training, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Revenues from the permit auction would essentially be “recycled” back into the economy to facilitate the transition to an efficient, low-carbon energy economy.

The goal: To limit the rise in global temperature to approximately 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2050 by reducing carbon dioxide and other emissions from companies as part of a larger plan for curbing global warming.   

Extraordinary GREEN LIVING for the ordinary person

2009-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you have heard of GREEN LIVING, but you are not quite sure how you could be a part of it. After all, not everyone is a scientist who is a team member of a high-profile Carbon Sequestration project at MIT Labs, or involved in Solar Panel research or with Wind Farms. So is there anything that an ordinary person can do to make a difference? Absolutely, because LIVING GREEN is about changing an attitude about life, about consciously engaging in responsible behavior, about thinking of the shared destiny with other mankind. It is amazing how the small steps add up when we all work together.

Water: Gallons of water go down the drain every day, in non-value added activities. In letting the faucet run for two full minutes while brushing twice a day, we could be wasting as much as 8.8 gallons. Households waste 6.3 gallons of water per day waiting for it to heat up. The average daily shower lasts 8 minutes 30 seconds. With a 2.5 gallon per minute showerhead that’s 21 gallons for each shower- cut the shower time down to 5 minutes, and you will save nearly 9 gallons. Also, cut the frequency at which you water your lawn and always check the weather for predictions of rain before watering your lawn.

Use gasoline responsibly: Carpool as much as you can, use public transport if available, invest in Hybrid vehicles wherever possible- this will not only lower your gasoline bills, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Combine chores and map them out along the shortest path, Turn off the car instead of idling when waiting in a carpool lane at school. When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it uses more gasoline than when it runs, thereby generating more greenhouse gas pollution.

Natural air: In summer, turn off the air conditioner and open doors and windows. Good ventilation will not only cut down your electricity bills, but also significantly reduce indoor pollution.

Using electrical appliances: Energy used by major appliances add up quickly. Refrigerators alone can consume about 19% of the domestic electricity load. The ENERGY STAR® program identifies appliances that offer superior energy efficiency, such that the en-user can save water, energy, and money.

ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at least 15% less energy than the current federal standard.

ENERGY STAR dishwashers are at least 41% more energy-efficient than the federal minimum standard.

ENERGY STAR washing machines are at least 50% more energy-efficient than the federal minimum standard.

True, ENERGY STAR appliances are more expensive than regular ones, but major appliances can remain in operation for 15 to 20 years, and so a higher initial purchase price is easily offset by years of savings from lower operational costs-the cost of the electricity, gas and water required to run the appliance.

Use Appliances Off-Peak: Try making it a habit of using your dishwasher, washer and other appliances at night to reduce energy demand at "peak" times. This helps reduce the need for new power plants.

Recycle paper: Do not print documents and emails unless absolutely necessary. Recycle your paper. 17 trees can be saved for every ton of recycled paper. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 544,000 trees.

Replace Incandescent bulbs with Fluorescent ones: If every American did, it would reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

Bottled water in plastic bottles: Plastic has many harmful effects on the environment. Trade throw-away plastic bottles for reusable aluminum or glass bottles.

Food: Try, as much as possible, to buy locally grown produce. Buying local produce is a win-win because it helps support local farmers, as well as saves the environment by eliminating the pollution associated with transportation of fresh produce across the country.

If you are able to work one or more of these changes into your lifestyle, you would be making direct contributions to preserving our planet. Consider keeping a journal, so you can track your monthly progress in each of the above-mentioned areas.

Green Cement

2009-02-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

Is there really such a thing as Green Cement?

The cement industry’s contribution to global warming is pretty concrete - it’s responsible for 5% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), fueled by demand from the rapidly industrializing economies of China and India.

Now CEMEX, the Mexican building materials giant, has taken steps to green up its operation. Not by changing the way it makes cement but how it powers the process. Recently Mexican President Felipe Calderón inaugurated the first phase of what will be a $550 million, 250-megawatt Oaxaca wind farm - Latin America’s largest - that will generate the equivalent of a quarter of the electricity CEMEX consumes in Mexico.

The EURUS wind farm is a joint development between CEMEX and Acciona, the Spanish renewable energy powerhouse. The first 25 turbines will go online by March and the final phase will be completed by the end of 2009. A CEMEX spokesman said Acciona will retain ownership of the wind farm and sell the electricity to CEMEX under a 20-year contract. The electricity from EURUS will go into the power grid and CEMEX will receive “electricity credits” for the power produced.

Green Jobs

2009-02-07T05:34:00.000-08:00

It seems that everywhere I turn these days, I meet young people, concerned about finding employment. Between constant reports of lack of new jobs, additional layoffs, more experienced resources back in the job market, and off-shoring of many high-paying jobs, it is truly a hard time for fresh graduates in the U.S.A.

In the midst of all this disappointing statistics, there are some interesting statistics about the Wind Industry.

In the United States, the Wind Industry now employs more people than Coal Mining.

Wind industry jobs jumped to 85,000 in 2008, a 70% increase from the previous year, according to a recent report from the American Wind Energy Association. Wind industry employment includes 13,000 manufacturing jobs concentrated in regions of the country hard hit by the deindustrialization of the past two decades.

The big spike in wind jobs was a result of a record-setting 50% increase in installed wind capacity, with additional 8,358 megawatts in 2008 (enough to power some 2 million homes). That’s a third of the nation’s total 25,170 megawatts of wind power generation. Wind farms generating more than 4,000 megawatts of electricity were completed in the last three months of 2008.

42% of all new U.S. electricity generation in 2008 came from wind farms, the equivalent of building fourteen 600-megawatt coal-fired power plants - without the environmental devastation that comes from strip-mining and releasing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That extraordinary growth in wind power was, until the recession hit, reviving abandoned factories in the industrial Midwest as European turbine makers and their suppliers set up shop close to what has become the world’s largest wind market. Texas continues to lead the country, with 7,116 megawatts of wind capacity but Iowa in 2008 overtook California for the No. 2 spot, with 2,790 megawatts of wind generation. Other new wind powers include Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado and Washington state.

Wind currently supplies 2% of the electricity in the USA, while coal supplies 49%. The U.S. does not have a national power grid and energy generation varies widely by state. (For instance, in-state coal-fired power plants supplied 86% of Ohio’s electricity in 2006, according to the Energy Department, but only 1.1% of California’s , although the Golden State does obtain about 20% of its electricity from out-of-state coal plants.

Owing to the pressing economic problems, it is not likely that we will see last year’s 2008's record number of employment in the wind industry being repeated in 2009. In fact, funding for a number of renewable energy projects has been called up, owing to the economic downturn. However, energy conservation and energy efficiency are key components of our energy future, and it is only a matter of time before these initiatives pick up steam again.

Carbon Capture and Sequestration

2009-02-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

Worldwide increases in energy demand coupled with a continued reliance on fossil fuel resources have contributed to alarming increases in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Carbon capture and Sequestration (CCS) is a broad term that encompasses a number of technologies that can be used to mitigate the effects of fossil fuel emissions on global warminmg, by capturing CO2 from large point sources, such as power plants and other industrial facilities; compressing it; transporting it mainly by pipeline to suitable locations; and injecting it into deep subsurface geological formations for indefinite isolation from the atmosphere. One is a way of scrubbing CO2 from the atmosphere by using a geoengineering technique.

CCS is a critical option in the portfolio of solutions available to combat climate change, because it allows for significant reductions in CO2 emissions from fossil-based systems, enabling it to be used as a bridge to a sustainable energy future.

Renewable Energy Credit and Carbon Offsets

2009-02-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) represent a right to market characteristics associated with a “green” or an environmentally friendly generating facility and energy security.

Producers of “green” power can sell RECs as well as the power itself, increasing their profits, while other organizations can buy or trade RECs for reasons ranging from improving corporate image to satisfying regulatory compliance. When RECs are traded, the entity purchasing the RECs gains the right to claim environmental benefits.

Renewable Energy Certificates are also commonly referred to as Green Tags, Renewable Energy Credits, Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), and environmental attributes.

Carbon offsets represent reductions in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions as a result of project activities. Project types span various categories: methane capture at landfills, in agriculture or at coal mines; forestry; energy efficiency; and renewable projects which displace coal/natural gas generation.

Institutions and individuals purchase offsets for multiple reasons:
To manage carbon liabilities
To advance corporate sustainability goals while minimizing costs
To support the development of a “green” brand

Global Warming- how serious is the issue, and why you should care

2009-02-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

Before the industrial revolution in the mid-eighteenth century, and for the previous 10,000 years, planet earth had roughly 280 parts per million by volume, of CO2 in the atmosphere. That is, if we cut a block of million molecules of air from the atmosphere 200 years back, it would contain 280 molecules of CO2. Today, the same block would roughly contain 384 CO2 molecules.

The explanation for such a large differential in such a short time can be attributed to the emission of carbon from the industrial use of fossil fuels by humans and from deforestation. There are several factors responsible for changes in temperatures, but the correlation with CO2 is linear. Whenever the level of CO2 goes up, temp increase, and vice versa. This has led to a 6 degree Celsius change in global average temperatures.

There are vast stretches of tundra in the arctic, in western Siberia and in Alaska, in which approximately 500 billion tons of carbon- about 1/3rd of carbon in the world’s soils, is trapped in frozen peat bogs. If the permafrost in those bogs were to thaw, much of this carbon would be quickly converted to methane, another greenhouse gas. Because methane is more potent than C02, a massive release could be equivalent to billions of tons of CO2, and provide a substantial short-term kick to climate change.

Approximately 1.6 billion people in the world today are without electricity. But should these 1.6 billion people connect to the power grid based on coal or natural gas or oil, the pollution and subsequent climate change implications would be devastating. If we have already seen a 6 deg temp rise by 75% of the world using fossil-fuel-based electricity, imagine what would happen if we added another 25% to the equation.

----Quoted and Rephrased from Thomas Friedman’s “Hot Flat and Crowded”

Malta- The first nation in the world that is headed towards a complete SMART UTILITY GRID

2009-02-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

The Mediterranean island nation of Malta recently unveiled a deal with IBM to build a “smart utility” system that will digitize the country’s electricity grid and water system.

Granted, Malta is a microstate with a population of 403,500 (smaller than Sacramento; bigger than Iceland). But the world — and utility infrastructure giants like General Electric will be watching closely. Not only is Malta the first country to green its national grid but it will also serve as a test case for whether integrating so-called smart technologies into both electricity and water systems can help mitigate the increasing deleterious effects of global warming on the island.

As with other island states, power and water are intricately linked on Malta. All of the archipelago’s electricity is generated from imported fuel oil while the country depends on energy-intensive desalinization plants for half its water supply. Meanwhile, rising sea levels threaten its underground freshwater supplies.

About 55% of the cost of water on Malta is related to electricity - it’s a pretty staggering amount.
So how can digitizing the grid help? IBM and its partners will replace Malta’s 250,000 utility meters with interactive versions that will allow Malta’s electric utility, Enemalta, to monitor electricity use in real-time and set variable rates that reward customers that cut their power consumption. As part of the $91 million (€70 million) project, a sensor network will be deployed on the grid - along transmission lines, substations and other infrastructure - to provide information that will let the utility more efficiently manage electricity distribution and detect potential problems. IBM will provide the software that will aggregate and analyze all that data so Enemalta can identify opportunities to reduce costs - and emissions from Malta’s carbon-intensive power plants.

A sensor network will also be installed on the water system for Malta’s Water Services Corporation. “They’ll indicate where there is water leakage and provide better information about the water network,” says Robert Aguilera, IBM’s lead executive for the Malta project, which is set to be completed in 2012. “The information that will be collected by the system will allow the government to make decisions on how to save money on water and electricity consumption.”
Cutting the volume of water that must be desalinated would, of course, reduce electricity use in the 122-square-mile (316-square-kilometer) nation.

Malta’s greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise 62% above 1990 levels by 2012, according to the European Environment Agency, and as a member of the European Union the country will be under pressure to cut its carbon. A smart energy grid will help but Malta, like Hawaii and other island states, will have to start replacing carbon-intensive fuel oil with renewable energy.

The island could present opportunities for other types of smart networks. According to the Maltese government, Malta has the second-highest concentration of cars in the world, with 660 vehicles per square kilometer. That also contributes to the country’s dependence on imported oil and its greenhouse gas emissions.

MASDAR- The World's First Carbon Neutral City

2009-02-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is building a US $22 Billion Carbon Neutral city for 50,000 residents with its power plants running on waste. A plot of desert land will be transformed into Masdar City which will produce no waste, emit no carbon and be completed by 2016. It is an initiative by the Government of Abu Dhabi through the Mubadala Development Company (the State-run renewable energy firm).

Masdar City head of development Khaled Awad said: "This will be the city of the future. Zero-carbon and run on totally renewable energy, it will be one of the first and biggest ecoclusters in the world." Non-organic waste will be recycled. Organic waste will be converted into fuel for power plants. Designed by the British architect Lord Foster, the 6.5 kilometre city will be suspended on stilts 20ft above the ground, increasing air circulation and reducing the heat transferred from the hot desert floor. Overall, Masdar City will need about a quarter of the energy of a normal city of comparable size. It will be spilt into three decks that separate transport from residential and public spaces. Automobiles will not be allowed anywhere within city limits. Water will be drawn from dew and a solar-powered desalination plant and electricity will be generated from solar power, utilizing the plentiful energy of the desert sun.

The city will be built with 100% scrap metal, and carbon emissions from building equipment and vehicles will be offset. Masdar chief executive Sultan Al Jaber said he wants to convert the emirate, one of the world's most profligate energy-using petro states, into a model of green technology.

Source: Material Recycling Week - MRW For additional information, visitwww.wihresourcegroup.com