Wear It And RECHARGE!

Here is the first outerwear product in the world that can recharge a cell phone, iPod or other device using solar power.

Italian ZEGNA presents the first commercially available jacket with integrated solar solution based on “iSolarX” – a flexible and highly efficient wearable solar technology.

The solar modules are mounted on a neoprene collar; the electricity generated from solar energy is transmitted through conducting textile leads and stored temporarily in a buffer battery or fed directly to a connected device.

The electronic basis of the new “Solar JKT” from Zegna Sport is the iSolarX wearable solar technology platform, developed by Interactive Wear AG in close cooperation with its technology partner SOLARC of Berlin. This enables the easy and convenient integration of solar cells together with their associated leads and miniaturized charging electronics (for e.g. cell phones, mp3 players or other mobile electronic devices with a USB connector) into apparel and accessories of any sort. For iSolarX applications, the main focus is on reliability, ease of use, optimal wearing comfort and high energy efficiency.

The iSolarX solar technology platform is made up of these functional elements: the solar modules, the textile integration kit, and the charging electronics.

The connection technology is implemented using textiles – textile leads and textile connectors are easy to process (sew / bond) and can be secured in items of clothing e.g. with conducting press studs. The customer-specific textile leads connect the solar modules with the charging electronics. In the basic configuration, two small silicon-based, monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar modules (each approx. 9 cm x 5.5 cm) generate a charging power of approximately 1 Watt in direct sunlight. Other form factors as well as flexible or semi-flexible solar modules are optionally available; these do, however, require about twice the surface area for a comparable charging power.

The charging electronics from SOLARC have been developed to convert the varying power output of the solar modules efficiently into a stable power supply with a stable, adjustable output voltage. A maximum input voltage of 10V and a maximum input current of 1A yields an output power of a maximum of 1.5W. Its flat construction (70 mm x 60 mm x 13 mm) and its low weight of less than 100 grams predestines the charging module for integration into textile products. The output voltage can be set to one of two levels (5V for USB devices such as e.g. iPod, 6V for cell phones). Li-ion rechargeable batteries with different capacities, depending on the model, are used for temporary storage of the energy supplied. The state of charge of the battery and the power generation by the solar modules are each signaled by an LED.

Palm Oil And The Effects On Rainforests

First the bad news: As reported by Sky News the demand for palm oil for biodiesel is contributing to the destruction of some of the world's most precious rainforests. I highly recommend the video included with the article. The article focuses on the rainforest in Indonesia where the rainforest could be gone in just 15 years and the orangutan extinct in 10 years, but the threat posed by palm oil is real in every tropical rainforest. And the impacts are not just on wildlife--clearing rainforest for biodiesel makes the resulting fuel dramatically worse than petroleum based diesel from a global warming perspective.

Now the good news: Reuters reports that the Malaysian palm oil industry is blaming environmental groups and their educational efforts around the environmental impacts of palm oil for a 17.5% decline in exports to Europe. More power to our colleagues in Europe. Nothing like a good drop in demand to wake up the market.

This seems like an area where we should be able to influence the market. To paraphrase the closing lines of the Sky News video, the roads to Hell through cleared rainforests are paved with green intentions. So shouldn't we greens be able to warn people off this awful path? They've got a head start on us here in the US, both in terms of using palm oil and recognizing its downside. That's a large part of the reason that we agreed to work with Hawaiian Electric Company--to get an American company to stand up and acknowledge that biofuels can be done right or they can be done wrong and to commit to doing them right.

Ultimately, biodiesel is just speeding up a problem that growing population would create anyway. The Sky News video also points out that China is Indonesia's largest customer. Economics being what they are, we also need international agreements that put a financial and regulatory fence around rainforests and other precious wild places. Only when it is in the financial interest of the people that live in these parts of the world will they be safe.

Fortunately, there's even some good news on that front. This post ran on Biopact back in May and tells how Brazil has cut its rate of deforestation in half and how a policy of "compensated reduction" could be part of the package of international agreements..

But with 10 years to save the orangutan and also to get serious about global warming, we have to step up our efforts now

As Always, Keep it Green

Global Emission Control News

Ever-rising industrial and consumer demand for more power, cheap and abundant coal factories across the world are expected to result in the construction of new coal-fired power plants producing 1,400 GW (Giga-watts) of electricity by 2030. Without the regulations on CO2 emissions, these new plants will increase overall global emissions of CO2 by approximately 7.6 billion metric tons by 2030. These emissions would equal roughly 50% of all fossil fuel emissions over the past 250 years.

The United States solely will account for 145 GW of new power from coal-fired plants are projected to be built by 2030, resulting in CO2 emissions of 790 million metric tons per year. In 2005, the annual emissions of CO2 reported in the United States were 6 billion metric tons.

Policymakers and scientists now recognize that the current growth of greenhouse gas emissions must be reversed and regulated. Scientists also agree that emissions must be reduced substantially in order to help prevent a disastrous climate change. An increase in coal-based power kills off all other efforts to lower emissions and practically ensures that these emissions will continually climb into more deadly levels. This would terminate any chance of stabilizing greenhouse gas levels that would be obtained and prove to be acceptable emission levels in the atmosphere.

On the other hand, in countries experiencing strong economic growth and development, demand for power is dramatic due to the low-cost of coal, and is the primary choice for new power plants. Emissions in these countries are now rising faster than in developed countries like North America and Europe. This means that China will soon be the world’s number one greenhouse gas emitter. Without emission caps for power plants, not only will China fall further behind in controlling CO2 emissions, but so will India. Lack of progress in these countries would ensure failure to control CO2 efforts on a global scale.

Geothermal Energy 101

Geothermal Energy is made up from the heat inside the Earth. Resources of geothermal energy range from hot rocks found in shallow ground to hot water springs. Also, the heat from the inner core of the earth called “magma” can be used as a source for Geothermal Energy

The shallow part of the Earth’s mantle or “crust” (the Earth's surface), maintains a constant temperature of 50° to 60°F (10° and 16°C). Geothermal heat pumps tap into this heat as a resource to energize commercial and residential buildings. A geothermal system consists of a: heat pump, an air delivery system, and a heat exchanger.

During the winter months, the heat pump removes heat from the heat exchanger and pumps it into the indoor air delivery system. In the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat pump moves heat from the indoor air into the heat exchanger. The heat removed from the indoor air during the summer can also be used to provide a free source of hot water.

In the United States, most geothermal reservoirs of hot water are located in the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs for the generation of electricity. Some geothermal power plants use the steam from a reservoir to power a turbine or a generator, while others use the hot water to boil a “working fluid” that is then vaporized which turns a turbine or generator. Hot water close to the Earth’s crust (normally 10 ft below the surface), can be used solely for heating buildings, greenhouses, drying crops, heating water, as well as pasteurizing milk.

The use of hot dry rocks for a geothermal resource is found at 3 to 5 miles beneath the Earth's surface. The process of Geothermal Energy is quite simple. One pump will inject cold water down a well; circulate it through dry hot fractured rocks, and then another well will suck in the heated water or steam.

Currently, though, there are no commercial applications for Geothermal Energy. Existing technology also does not yet allow recovery of heat directly from magma, the most powerful resource of geothermal energy. Rather, just the steam from it can be used.

If you are interested in using Geothermal Energy, check around your town and find out if it’s accessible. This type of reusable energy is still new and it is pricey, but VERY efficient.

As Always, Keep it Green

Lets Look At Those Polls!

A nationwide survey suggests an increasing number of U.S. citizens consider global warming an important threat that calls for drastic action.

The survey by Yale University, The Gallup Organization and the ClearVision Institute showed 40% of respondents said a presidential candidate's position on the issue will strongly influence the vote.

"One of the most surprising findings was the growing sense of urgency," said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change and the study's principal investigator. "Nearly half of Americans now believe global warming is either already having dangerous impacts on people around the world or will in the next 10 years -- a 20-percentage-point increase since 2004."

The survey, among other things, found 62 percent of respondents believe life on Earth will continue without major disruptions only if society takes immediate and drastic action to reduce global warming.

The July 23-26 telephone survey involving interviews with 1,011 adults aged 18 years or older is considered representative of U.S. adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

The complete survey results are available at http://environment.yale.edu/news/5305-american-opinions-on-global-warming/.

A British Broadcasting Corp. poll finds 79% of people in 21 nations believe human activity causes global warming.

The BBC's World Service poll indicates nine of 10 say action is needed to address global warming, with 65% choosing the strongest position, saying, "It is necessary to take major steps starting very soon."

The poll included 14 of the 16 major economic powers invited by President Bush to Washington later this week to discuss climate change and energy security.

73% of respondents in all but two nations want developing countries to limit their emissions in return for financial assistance and technology from developed countries.

The survey, which included telephone and face-to-face interviews, was conducted for the BBC by the international polling firm GlobeScan together with the University of Maryland between May 29 and July 26.

Some 22,182 people in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the United States were interviewed. The margin of error per country ranges from plus or minus 2.3 percent to 3.5 percent

A new survey shows nearly seven out of 10 Chinese consumers prefer to buy products and services from environmentally reputable companies.

The survey -- sponsored by the Oslo-based Tandberg Co. and conducted by the Britain-based research firm Ipsos Mori -- found only 42% of U.S. consumers concurred. Other countries that ranked high include Australia, 52%; Sweden, 48%; and Japan, 40%. Spain trailed with only 18 percent of its consumers preferring to purchase from environmentally friendly businesses.

The Tandberg-Ipsos Mori survey queried 16,823 consumers in 15 nations: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China,
France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

When asked if they were taking personal steps to reduce their carbon footprints, Canadians topped the list with 56%, Australians and Chinese also ranked high at 55 % and 52%, in that order. U.S. residents came in seventh with 41%.

At the other end of the spectrum, only 17% of Italians and 21% of Russians said they were concerned about the
environment and were taking personal measures to be more environmentally responsible.

As Always, Keep it Green