Life Alternate

Batteries have gone dead.

Wispa — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:41:47 +0000

Don’t throw away your batteries just yet. But on developments at the Imperial College in the United Kingdom might see us all with portable products that do not need batteries in the future.

The Brits are working on lightweight materials that can store electricity, but you may be asking is that just a battery. In a sense it is still a battery but a one that can have extra properties. Their idea here is for casings and housing to be made of this carbon fibre material that can doubly act as a power storage medium.

The polymer resin could be moulded in to casings for portable products like mobile phones and mp3 players allowing them to be smaller and lighter as there are no internal batteries needed.

On a larger scale maybe cars and trucks could be made partly from this material reducing the overall weight and thus needing less energy to power the vehicle. Combining this with other interesting developments in solar generating casings and you have quite a brilliant concept. Throw out the batteries and have your portable device casings generate and store the power need to operate your devices.

Net Metering Doubles in California

Wispa — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:47:03 +0000

The State of California is to double the cap on solar energy production by net metering. Currently set at 2.5% of the states peak energy needs this will be raised to 5% if the bill finally becomes law.

Rooftop Solar Panel

The net metering policy will allow small solar energy producers, including home owners, to sell more of their excess electricity back to the utility companies.

Around 50,000 Business, Schools and Homeowners already participate in the scheme that effectively allows their meters to run backwards. Your solar installation is constantly producing electricity when the sun is shining but you are not always consuming that yourself. This excess can be effectively injected in to the utility grid for other consumers and business to use. In return your electrical meter runs backwards reducing your net electrical usage and thus the cost of your electricity.

This bill doubles the total amount of cleaner energy that can be sold and by the nature of solar energy most production takes place during the peak demand.

Do not think that in the future this would be raised to much higher percentages, there is the need for energy security and reliable means of energy production. Having too much irregular solar energy reliance could lead to energy shortages at such times when the sky is just a little bit more cloudy.

As it stands the levels may raise in line with technology advancements, in particular energy storage. There is no doubt that energy consumption will increase in the future. Such developments of electrical vehicles will need less oil and gas but more electricity. Utilizing the excess generation of business and homes might just prevent the need to construct more unwelcome coal fired power stations.

It`s definitely a win win situation, cleaner energy and a reduction in household utility costs. If your not getting paid for your excess solar energy then you are really missing out on free money.

Solar Lantern Water Bottle Thingy

Wispa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:10:31 +0000

The range of solar gadgets coming on to the market never seem to end and this design stands out a little bit. A water bottle that also doubles as a lantern to light your way.

The LightCap 300 combines ideas is something we love, dual use gadgets combining elements of great ideas in to one practical unit. BPA or Bisphenol A is a nasty additive that is used to make plastics and this bottle is BPA free to add that extra bit of ensuring safety.

The light weight water bottle can securely keep liquids safe from leaking out and can double act as a waterproof container. This second use is something we need and like. Too often we are out on the beach and the water seems inviting. With this water proof container we can empty our maps, money or even candy bar in to the waterproof container. Hanging by a strap around our neck or wrist we can enjoy a little cooling off in the sea and keep out belongings safe and dry.

But the primary purpose is a water bottle and it does that well, having a 1 llitre capacity is enough to quench any thirst. In dual purpose mode acting as a lantern this will keep illuminating your camp for up to 10 hours when using white light. Switching this to red light can nearly double the time between charges to 18 hours.

Why Red Light, using red light at night helps to protect your night vision mode. You may have noticed when you enter a dark space such as a cave your eyes take some time to adjust. Red light helps prevent this should you need to wander a little from the lantern then you will still be able to see.

The light source is our favourite, LED. Low energy consumption and bright illumination cut down on the need for larger means of producing the energy. This as you may already have guessed is solar energy. LED lighting and solar energy are a great combination and work well in this water bottle. So out camping or trekking for the adults or as a safe night light for kids this multiuse water bottle might fit your needs.

Mitaki WindUp Radio and FlashLight

Wispa — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:13:01 +0000

Ever wanted a radio that never runs out of batteries or a flashlight that will always give you a shine. The design here from Mitaki Japan combines both these in one unit.

Windup or Clockwork just like those old clocks and watches is making its way in to electronic goods. This radio or is it a torch just needs about one minutes winding and that will let you blast out the tunes or news on your radio for at least 10 minutes. For light power the same amount of winding will last for half and hour. These are not great times, but remember the energy does not come from batteries and as emergency equipments they have an ideal slot.

Having one in your car for that rare event like a flat tyre in the darkness or for those trecking in the outback without the need to carry masses of spare batteries.

Ideally we would want the device to be smaller and perhaps the addition of solar charging and longer lasting between windups.

Currently Haiti is in the mid of an earthquake crisis and reveals how hard is it to get suitable lines of supply and communications to those that need help. In these situations an emergency kit could be airdropped over areas comprising of ration of meals-ready-to-eat, water and including a device such as this combining lighting and a source of information. Each with their own little parachute that could double as a quick shelter or one or two people.

While LA hopes no-one will have to endure such a disaster the windup radio and torch can help us to endure our own little emergencies that may come our way or just as a zero-energy (apart from arm power for winding) radio that frees us from the need of batteries.

Solar Powered Golf Carts

Wispa — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:42:23 +0000

Golfers spending time on the courses are always thinking Green, the Putting Green. Fortunately unknowingly they may also be driving around the links while being environmentally green in a Solar Powered Golf Cart.

Electric vehicles are going to be more common whizzing quietly down our streets in this decade. On the Golf course they have been in action for years. Commonly now both for environmental and cost reasons solar energy is making and impact.

The electric golf buggy still needs a power source and this was achieved by plugging-in to the grid. Some far away coal power station was churning out electricity and pollution as well as charging the course owners for the energy.

Fitting solar panels to golf carts is simple as nearly replacing the canopy as a kit fitted onto the existing buggy or a specifically designed solar cart if buying new. The result is massive saving on energy costs. Courses in Hong Kong have already retrofitted their fleet of golf buggies and are showing large reductions in charging costs. Anytime a buggy is exposed to sunlight they are powering themselves up for absolutely no cost.

Not only the golfer can enjoy these carts. The are commonplace in hotels and resorts. Heavy use of these carts will mean they are not totally charged by solar and will need additional charging. Sunny climates and moderate use could see the total elimination of the costs of charging the vehicles.

While 100% solar powered vehicles may not be commonplace on our roads already many cities are turning to electrical powered vehicles in a bit to reduce inner-city pollution.

Led Lighting Innovation not just a Light Bulb

Wispa — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:51:50 +0000

The year 2010 could just be the year the Light Emitting Diode (LED) Light bulb comes of age.

LED Lighting has been slowly progressing through our town and homes slowly replacing the inefficient incandescent light bulbs that were invented so long ago by a Mr Joseph Swan. Not the name you thought, well history does not always tell the correct story.

Technology and Environmental ideals are pushing the old bulbs out and replacing them with the LED. Your home is full of lighting that can be replaced with more energy efficient bulbs that will save you large amounts on your lighting costs. But that is just the start. Simply replacing a bulb for a bulb is not enough for innovators and designers they want to make your life better.

A hint of what might be can be seen from Yanko Design Segmented LED Light Bulb Concept. Just being energy efficient is not enough here. Instead of lighting up all the room, the design allows just parts, or segments to be illuminated. As well as being able to add ambient lighting effects to your room this would massively lengthen the life of the bulb. LED lights already have a much longer lifespan. Less wasted lighting also means less energy cost. If you thought you were saving a bundle then you could save even more.

Low energy lighting lends itself to lots of uses that will soon be commonplace in this decade. You could imagine Yanko Design taking this a step further. Maybe a pair of house slippers tracking your movement around the home. If its 3am in the morning and your slippers feel your feel slide into them then its a good chance that you might be going to the bathroom. Maybe the lights should be turned on automatically for you. Or it’s just approaching 9pm and you are tracked from the kitchen to the sofa in the living area. How about some nice cosy TV lighting without even thinking about it.

Some day these ideas might come to fruition but in the meantime go and save yourself a bundle and convert your lighting to LED.

Images: YankoDesign

Panasonic Develops High Capacity Battery

Wispa — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:37:14 +0000

Panasonic have revealed snippets of information about their Lithium-Ion storage device which will be suitable for domestic use.

Clean Energy production in the home is dynamic and for the home user the need for storage devices for that excess electricity has been a problem. Large banks of lead-acid batteries can be costly and take up too much space. The Li-on battery are the high capacity storage that we have in out electronic equipment – mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras.

Scaling up the battery is not easy, heat is the major problem and it now seems that Panasonic may have all that solved. In a few years we could have the promise of large capacity rechargeable batteries that will be suitable for home use.

Electrical generation by solar panels can be stored easily now for later use, although any from of electricity can be stored not just what is generated by your renewable source. Occasionally the utility supply has its little problems and the lights go out. The high capacity battery pack will take care of your needs till the power comes back on. Charge up your battery on cheap low rate electricity at night and use it to power your home during that day when the rates go to peak cost.

The uses are not only limited to the home. Electric vehicles which are going to be commonplace by the end of this decade are ideal candidates for these.

The technology of electrical storage should see many developments in both home use and for commercial use. The current problems with renewable energy production like solar and wind is that its not always on. The wind is not always blowing and solar has that little problem with darkness. High capacity and safe batteries could keep that energy stored for when it is needed.

Tuvalu The Death of a Nation

Wispa — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:06:41 +0000

Out in the Pacific Ocean exist the tiny nation of Tuvalu. It’s 11,000 population live on nice coral islands scattered across and area of 1/2 million square miles. Tuvalu may also be the first nation in modern times to become geographically non-existent.

Image: moyak.com

Climate change, Global Warming or just natural events – Whatever you may want to call it, the fate of the island nation is most likely sealed.

The highest point on the island is 4.6 meters with most of the land just 1 meter above seal level. That may seem like quite a large rise in seal level to cover the islands but long before that waves and tidal surges will make life impossible for the inhabitants. The daily high tided along with the storms already bring flooding and water bubbling up around the island.

The catastrophe is going to affect the whole nation and for the people it is not just as simple as driving to another town or state to clear the danger. Long before the end is near some of the population will have emigrated. Maybe those people will be integral parts of the community, like medical, education or just fishermen. Whatever their job and with the population being just 11 thousand, every person leaving will start to create fractures in the nation. Long before the water covers the island the life of the people will become unsustainable.

Ian Fry the is the Tuvalu delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

From: The Wonk Room – Tuvalu To Obama And The Senate

Island and low lying areas of countries around the world are at long term risk and what we do about it is up to you. Leaving the solution to the bickering and deal making of politicians may come up with a solution, but it will also be too late.

No related posts.

Solar Digital Window Thermometer

Wispa — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:43:41 +0000

Still stuck for that idea of a last minute environmentally friend gift. A Solar Powered Digital window thermometer could just be ideal to help you decide what to wear in the mornings.

No installation here, the digital thermometer just sticks on your window and happily juices itself up from the sunlight. While the sun shines it might not always be warm and while sitting inside a glance at this device will let you know instantly if you need a scarf or t-shirt today.

The large LCD display indicates the current temperature and also the Max and Min ranges. Made from recycled plastic and measuring 114mm by 25mm by 97mm the solar digital thermometer should cost around US$25.

The integrated rechargeable battery also means this little device will still work in low light condition and even at night.

This won’t save you any energy but it is a nice self powering gadget that will add a little enhancement to your life. Once you start using it you’ll know exactly the weather conditions outside without opening the door.

US Military Powered by Mobile Solar Generator

Wispa — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:12:39 +0000

Military operating from remote locations for extended periods of time need supplies. Without regular deliveries of food, fuel and other needed necessities, like candy bars, the unit may grind to a halt.

The US Marines have come up with a partial solution to on of those problems and that is the need for electrical energy. Known as the Ground Renewable Expeditionary ENergy System, or GREENS for short. This is a highly portable solar energy generator. Fold out photovoltaic solar panels provide the 1,600 watts of energy which can be stored in rechargeable batteries. The system can supply 300 watts of power for the units needs.

With the battlefield becoming electronic power is much needed and traditionally chargers have needed a regular supply of fuel. Using solar take away the need for regular supplies and allows the unit to become more independent in remote locations.

Deliveries of fuel also consumes fuel so this can be seen a double saving for the military. But whatever way you look at it the military is a war machine and having systems called GREEN should not offset the destruction and pollution that a military machine can cause.

Solar Generators have a more peaceful use outside the military. They have been used in remote locations or in situations where electrical power is not connected such as in building sites to power tools. Disaster relief agencies should have a few of these ready to go for any emergency.