Algae Can Save the World From Global Warming While Producing Biofuel Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer April 7 - Scientists at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom are conducting research into ways to use algae to not only remove global warming-causing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but also in the synthesis of new biofuels that do not compete with food production. Algae...

Cold Fusion Proven True by U.S. Navy Researchers - Will Suppression of this Science be Repeated? Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor March 25 - The world owes Fleischmann and Pons a huge apology: The cold fusion technology they announced in 1989 -- which was blasted by arrogant hot fusion scientists as a fraud -- has been proven true once again by U.S. Navy Researchers. In papers presented at this year's American...

NASA Research Identifies Areas Suitable For Offshore Wind Farms Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer December 23 - Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., have used global satellite maps to identify the locations on earth that are most suitable for the placement of offshore wind farms, according to paper published in Geophysical Research Letters...

Breakthrough Solar Dye Coating Converts Glass Windows Into Solar Power Plants Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer December 17 - Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a special kind of dye that can transform windows into photovoltaic solar panels, according to an article published in the journal Science. The new technology could be in commercial production...

US Company Turns Pine Waste Into Motor Fuel Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer November 19 - A Wyoming Company called KL Process Design Group has branched out from making corn ethanol and has built a small factory to making the fuel from pine waste instead. "We're still learning and tweaking, and hoping for a little bit of capital infusion," said KL Vice...

Solar Dish Collects, Concentrates Solar Energy by Factor of 1,000 Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 29 - A successful test has been carried out of a new prototype solar dish that concentrates solar rays by 1,000 times, creating what inventor Doug Wood has called "the most efficient solar collector in existence." The device is a 12-foot-wide dish made from thin, mirrored...

The New "Green" Fuel: Algae Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 26 - A new company called Sapphire Energy claims that it has developed a process for turning algae into crude oil, which can then be used to make fuel for automobiles or even jets. According to Sapphire CEO Jason Pyle, the green-colored crude oil is chemically equivalent...

Make Your Own Ethanol for $1 Per Gallon with New Microfueler From E-Fuel Corp Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 21 - A company called E-Fuel Corp. has developed a device to allow consumers to distill their own ethanol at home, and claims that the device will let its customers fuel their automobiles for only $1 per gallon. The EFuel100 MicroFueler, which is about six feet high, six...

General Motors Invests in Alternative Fuel Startup that Makes Ethanol from Waste Products Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer August 3 - General Motors (GM) has invested in a startup company dedicated to the production of ethanol from waste products, chief executive officer (CEO) Rick Wagoner announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Wagoner said that GM has purchased an equity...

New Lithium Nanowire Technology Boosts Lithium Ion Battery Capacity by 1000 Percent Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer August 1 - Researchers at the Stanford University Department of Materials Science and Engineering have developed a technique for making lithium ion batteries that hold ten times more charge than current models. This could extend the driving time of electric cars and the life of...

Biofuels from Switchgrass Offer 540 Percent Return on Energy Inputs Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer June 12 - Biofuel produced from a fast-growing variety of grass can produce 540 percent more energy than is used during its manufacture, according to a study conducted by researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and published in the Proceedings of the National...

Nanosolar Price Barrier Breakthrough Makes Solar Electricity Cheaper Than Coal Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer June 7 - A new combination of nano and solar technology has made it possible for solar electric generation to be cheaper than burning coal. Nanosolar, Inc. has developed a way to produce a type of ink that absorbs solar radiation and converts into electric current. Photovoltaic...

Easy Conversion of Organic Matter to Hydrogen Discovered by Researchers Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer May 21 - Researchers at Penn State have discovered a process for generating hydrogen from the decomposition of a common acid, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers placed naturally occurring bacteria into acetic...

Government Makes it Illegal for Car Companies to Sell Green Cars to Many Consumers Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer April 16 - Although seven major auto companies have developed gasoline-burning cars with lower tailpipe emissions than many hybrids, government regulations make it illegal to purchase or sell such cars in 42 of 50 U.S. states. Eight states in the United States, including California...

Sony develops eco-friendly battery powered by carbohydrates Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer December 9 - Sony Corporation has developed a type of electric cell ("battery") that uses enzymes to generate electricity from sugar in a process similar to that used by living organisms. So far, the test cells have been able to produce an output of up to 50 milliwatts, more than...

U.S. may phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of energy-efficient lighting products Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer November 26 - The Energy Committee of the U.S. Senate is drafting a bill that would phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs in the United States. Incandescent bulbs, the same type of light bulb first developed by Thomas Edison, produce light by forcing an electric current through...

Energizer Batteries Exposed: NaturalNews Investigation Reveals Truth About "D" Rechargeable Batteries Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor November 2 - A NaturalNews photo investigation reveals that Energizer "D" Rechargeable batteries are no more powerful than common "AA" rechargeable batteries. In fact, an off-the-shelf Energizer "D" rechargeable battery is actually made of a much smaller AA-capacity battery wrapped in a cheap plastic...

Wal-Mart announces major initiative to reduce the mercury content of compact fluorescent lights Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 19 - Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has announced plans to drastically reduce the mercury content of the compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) sold in its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. No timeline was given for the change, which is a part of the company's wider campaign...

Biofuels worse for the environment than fossil fuels, study warns Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 11 - Far from being a solution to the global ecological crisis induced by fossil fuels, biofuels may "offer a cure that is worse than the disease they seek to cure," a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has concluded. "When acidification...

Wind industry is booming in the U.S., 1524 new turbines installed last year Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 9 - Wind-power electric generating capacity increased dramatically in the United States in 2006, according to the recently released annual rankings of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA reports that 1,524 new wind-power turbines were installed across the...

Global switch to biofuels could spike food prices and harm the environment Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 2 - A worldwide spike in biofuels production could do more harm than good if managed improperly, according to a report released by UN-Energy, an interagency body of the United Nations devoted to developing plans for sustainable energy systems, particularly in Third World...

Lithium-ion power tool batteries may power next generation of electric cars Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer October 1 - Advances in battery technology have made electric-powered cars more financially feasible than ever, as evidenced by General Motors' (GM's) recent release of a list of preferred battery suppliers for the company's planned hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle. One of GM's...

San Francisco to explore renewable energy from tidal power Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer September 27 - The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the Golden Gate Energy Company and the City and County of San Francisco have signed an agreement to conduct a comprehensive study into the feasibility of tide-generated power in the San Francisco Bay. The study has already...

China's new biofuels project may level forests to make way for "clean" energy farming Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer August 24 - The rapid expansion of the Chinese biofuels industry, along with the government's stated plans to convert huge swaths of forest into biofuels plantations, has many environmentalists worried for southwest China's unique ecologies. In January, China's State Forestry...

BanTheBulb.org promotes energy efficient lighting, but neglects LED lights Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor July 30 - Do you realize how much energy it takes to light your home? In the U.S., the average household spends 20 percent of its electricity bill on lighting. BanTheBulb.org is a website dedicated to teaching consumers how to save money and protect the environment by using energy-efficient...

3D solar cells capture more sunlight, boost solar panel efficiency Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer July 24 - Scientists at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a prototype of a three-dimensional solar panel that is able to capture sunlight from nearly every angle and transform it into electricity, according to a report in the journal JOM, which is published...

After peak oil: Will America survive? Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor July 21 - As public awareness about peak oil continues to grow, and even the big oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp. are now starting to admit that the future supply of oil looks troublesome (see this Boston Globe article), there's an increasing focus on renewable energy solutions...

Breaking a compact fluorescent light bulb could cost you $2,000 in toxic mercury cleanup Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor June 25 - While large-scale marketing efforts tout cost savings of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), few are explaining the real cost -- to the environment and to individuals -- of broken or discarded CFLs. One consumer has learned that accidentally breaking a CFL could cost her more...

EcoLEDs.com launches energy efficient replacement bulb for 40 watt light bulbs; uses only 5 watts of electricity, lasts 50,000 hours Share Tweet By Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor June 5 - EcoLEDs.com, the newly-launched lighting company offering high-brightness, energy-efficient LED lights for home and office use, has announced the availability of an LED replacement for 40-watt light bulbs. Its "E27 3W LED" light uses only 5.2 watts of electricity and...

Breakthrough on-demand hydrogen fuel generator may make hydrogen cars safe and practical Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer May 28 - The Arizona-based company Ecotality has announced plans to produce a device that generates hydrogen on demand for vehicle fuel cells, thus eliminating the many problems associated with hydrogen production and transport and bringing hydrogen cars closer to the realm of...

Automakers, Bush administration push flex-fuel cars while ignoring electric vehicles Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer May 22 - President Bush joined with representatives of Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler earlier this year to highlight "flex-fuel" vehicles that are capable of running on either conventional gasoline or high-ethanol blends. The "Big Three" automakers...

Citrus peel waste may be used to generate earth-friendly fuel Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer May 1 - Companies in Florida are hoping to turn millions of tons of citrus peel waste into a source for cost-efficient, local biofuel. The nearly 5 million tons of citrus waste produced in the state annually could be converted into as much as 60 million gallons of ethanol, possibly enough...

Massive offshore wind farm project now underway in the North Sea Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer April 22 - A 120-megawatt electrical wind farm in the North Sea, 23 kilometers (14 miles) off the coast of the Netherlands, was made possible only through a unique financing scheme in which a group of international banks covered all the costs of the project, and will be paid back entirely from...

Solar energy powers water treatment plant in California Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer March 26 - A municipal water treatment plant in La Mesa, Calif., near San Diego, has installed enough solar panels to generate 20 percent of the electricity that it uses. The move is part of a greater effort by local city governments to produce more energy from renewable sources. Jump directly...

Massive solar cell production facility to be built in Oregon Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer March 16 - The German company SolarWorld AG has announced plans to build North America's largest solar electric component factory in Hillsboro, Ore. By 2009, the plant is expected to be producing 500 megawatts worth of solar silicon wafers and cells. Jump directly to: conventional view |...

Big Oil invests big in wind power Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer March 15 - (ConsumerWellness.org) Shell Oil Co. and BP plc (formerly British Petroleum) recently have become two of the largest investors in commercial wind power in the United States. Shell ranks among the top five wind-power generators, while BP has announced its intent to develop projects...

New solar technology company plans to rent panels to homeowners to make solar more affordable Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer March 7 - A start-up named Citizenre has announced a plan to rent out solar panels rather than selling entire systems, in an attempt to make solar energy more affordable to the average consumer. This would enable consumers to avoid the large up-front costs associated with solar...

HelioVolt engineers new solar solutions with lower installation costs Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer February 5 - Solar technology company HelioVolt is working to reduce the cost of solar electric systems by developing new technology that is cheaper to install than conventional solar panels. According to John Langdon, HelioVolt's vice president of marketing, approximately half...

ZAP leaps into the electric car market with plug-in sports car Share Tweet By David Gutierrez, staff writer February 1 - Electric motorcycle and scooter manufacturer ZAP hopes to introduce an electric sports car by the end of next year, the company has announced. The car is intended to be cheaper and carry a charge longer than the electric sports cars sold by competitors Tesla Motors and...

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Clean energy legislation would require U.S. to shift to 20 percent renewable energy by 2020 By Christian Evans June 3 - The Union of Concerned Scientists has praised the introduction of a House bill that will move the world toward energy independence. With efforts to lessen the nation's reliance on foreign oil, energy bills could soon be voted down in favor of alternative forms of electricity... Share Tweet

Australia bans incandescent light bulbs with three-year phase-out By M. T. Whitney May 10 - Australia has banned incandescent light bulbs, starting in 2009. The country down under, looking to reduce its environmental footprint, raised its energy standards for 2009, making the old style of light bulb too inefficient to be sold in the country. Jump... Share Tweet

Termites may hold the answer to cheap, efficient ethanol fuel production By Christian Evans March 28 - Scientists and several companies are currently experimenting with using termites to convert wood, corn stalks and other plant waste into ethanol in an effective and economic way. The hope is that through the study of a termite's unique digestive processes and selected microbes... Share Tweet

Solar thermal hot water heater technology gaining momentum in America By M. T. Whitney March 4 - Let the sun's energy heat your water: It's an idea that's been around for generations and may be making a comeback in the coming years in the face of rising natural gas prices, predicted experts. Jump directly to: conventional view | resources | bottom line ... Share Tweet

Japanese companies ramp up solar panel production to meet accelerating demand By M. T. Whitney March 1 - The production of solar energy cells has skyrocketed in recent years, and Japanese companies are cashing in on increased demand. Japanese manufacturers are responsible for 50 percent of all solar panel production, and more Nippon companies are going to be entering... Share Tweet

California legislator set to introduce new bill to ban incandescent light bulbs By Beau Hodai February 10 - A California legislator is prepared to place before the state legislature a bill that would ban the use of incandescent light bulbs. The “How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light bulb Act”, which has been drafted by California Assemblyman, Lloyd... Share Tweet

Energy efficient, micro-combined heat and power systems now available for residential use By Beau Hodai February 7 - A technology new to the United States is set to be released next month that will allow people nationwide to slash their electricity bills while heating their homes during cold winter months. The technology was developed in 2000 by Climate Energy, a Massachusetts... Share Tweet

Solar house takes on a temporary resident to test its livability By M.T. Whitney January 30 - A house powered entirely by solar panels in the Commonwealth of Virginia has a new temporary resident: a state senator. State Sen. Frank Wagner, Virginia Beach-R, moved in on January 24. The house, which took engineering students and faculty from Virginia... Share Tweet

Study shows support for wind power in Delaware By M.T. Whitney January 24 - Overwhelming support for adding offshore wind power was the feedback received from a small survey of Delaware residents. In the survey of 949 people, more than 90 percent supported erecting large wind turbines off the Delaware coast to increase the amount... Share Tweet

Liquid fuel from common trash: new technology coverts municipal waste into ethanol By M.T. Whitney January 24 - A new conversion technology takes organic items otherwise headed for the landfill and turns them into usable fuel. The double-punch effect of this technology comes from the fact that it vaporizes organic material, releasing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon... Share Tweet

Ethanol demand spikes U.S. corn prices By Jessica Fraser January 19 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that the price of corn was at a 10-year high, after crop-damaging droughts left worldwide supplies short as ethanol fuel and livestock feed demands increased. Corn prices have gone up 86 percent... Share Tweet

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