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Articles from NaturalNews In-House Writers: New Lithium Nanowire Technology Boosts Lithium Ion Battery Capacity by 1000 Percent By David Gutierrez, August 1 2008 (NaturalNews) 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 mobile devices such as cell phones, music players and cameras by the same amount, making a typical laptop battery last 40 hours instead of four.. "It's not a small improvement," researcher Yi Cui said. "It's a revolutionary... Biofuels from Switchgrass Offer 540 Percent Return on Energy Inputs By David Gutierrez, June 12 2008 (NaturalNews) 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 Academy of Sciences. Researchers grew switchgrass on 10 different farms, ranging between three and nine hectares in size, for five years. They calculated the energy used to produce the fertilizers, herbicides, diesel... Nanosolar Price Barrier Breakthrough Makes Solar Electricity Cheaper Than Coal By David Gutierrez, June 7 2008 (NaturalNews) 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 (PV) sheets are produced by a machine similar to a printing press, which rolls out the PV ink onto sheets approximately the width of aluminum foil. These PV sheets can be produced at a rate of hundreds of feet per minute... Easy Conversion of Organic Matter to Hydrogen Discovered by Researchers By David Gutierrez, May 21 2008 (NaturalNews) 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 acid, which is produced when glucose or cellulose ferment. Acetic acid is the primary component in vinegar. The researchers added a granulated graphite anode and a cathode of carbon with a platinum catalyst, converting... Government Makes it Illegal for Car Companies to Sell Green Cars to Many Consumers By David Gutierrez, April 16 2008 (NaturalNews) 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, New York and six other Northeast states, have stricter clean air requirements than the federal government. To meet the requirements of those markets, auto makers have developed what California calls "Partial Zero... Sony develops eco-friendly battery powered by carbohydrates By David Gutierrez, December 9 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 any other battery of the same type. Fifty milliwatts is enough energy to power a memory-type Walkman for music playback. The voltaic cells that are used to power home appliances generate electricity and commonly referred... U.S. may phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of energy-efficient lighting products By David Gutierrez, November 26 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 a thin filament. This filament is heated up and, as a consequence, emits light. These bulbs are incredibly inefficient, however, and up to 90 percent of the energy put into them gets released in the form of heat rather... Energizer Batteries Exposed: NewsTarget Investigation Reveals Truth About "D" Rechargeable Batteries By Mike Adams, November 2 2007 A NewsTarget 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 cylinder with air gaps, designed to make it appear physically like a "D" battery while only delivering the performance of an "AA" battery (2500 mAh). Full details are revealed in this NewsTarget Phototour: http://www... Wal-Mart announces major initiative to reduce the mercury content of compact fluorescent lights By David Gutierrez, October 19 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 to sell 100 million CFLs by 2008. The new bulbs are slated to have 33 percent less mercury than products currently on the shelves, at 5 milligrams of mercury each. This reduction amounts to 360 pounds of mercury... Biofuels worse for the environment than fossil fuels, study warns By David Gutierrez, October 11 2007 (NewsTarget) 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, fertilizer use, biodiversity loss and toxicity of agricultural pesticides are taken into account, the overall environmental impacts of ethanol and biodiesel can very easily exceed those of petrol and mineral diesel... Wind industry is booming in the U.S., 1524 new turbines installed last year By David Gutierrez, October 9 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 country, representing a total generating capacity of 2,454 megawatts and an investment of $4 billion. This brings the country's total generating capacity to more than 11,600 megawatts, or enough to power 3 million average... Global switch to biofuels could spike food prices and harm the environment By David Gutierrez, October 2 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 countries. The report, "Sustainable Bioenergy: A Framework for Decision Makers," concludes that biofuels can be beneficial if planned well, but that in the absence of good planning they may lead to serious health, environmental... Lithium-ion power tool batteries may power next generation of electric cars By David Gutierrez, October 1 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 choices was A123 Systems, sole battery supplier for power tool maker Black & Decker. By producing lighter, higher-energy batteries, A123 has managed to corner the market for power tool batteries and may now be poised to... San Francisco to explore renewable energy from tidal power By David Gutierrez, September 27 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 begun, with the initial phases expected to last approximately one year. According to a PG&E press release, the study will assess the energy-generating potential of the bay; existing and emerging technologies for transforming... China's new biofuels project may level forests to make way for "clean" energy farming By David Gutierrez, August 24 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 Administration (SFA) announced an agreement with the oil company PetroChina to develop 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of Jatropha curcas plantations in the southwestern states of Yunnan and Sichuan. The plantations in each... BanTheBulb.org promotes energy efficient lighting, but neglects LED lights By Mike Adams, July 30 2007 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 light bulbs. According to the website, their goal is to ban the sale of incandescent bulbs by specific dates, starting with 60W and 100W incandescent bulbs. The organization promotes energy efficiency and conservation... 3D solar cells capture more sunlight, boost solar panel efficiency By David Gutierrez, July 24 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. According to researchers, the new cell should be vastly more efficient than current photovoltaic panels. Current photovoltaic cells are made in the shape of flat panels... Breaking a compact fluorescent light bulb could cost you $2,000 in toxic mercury cleanup By Mike Adams, June 25 2007 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 than $2,000. According to the newspaper Ellsworth American, Brandy Bridges of Prospect, Maine, has been given a conservative quote of $2,000 for toxic cleanup of one CFL broken in her home. Bridges broke the CFL as... EcoLEDs.com launches energy efficient replacement bulb for 40 watt light bulbs; uses only 5 watts of electricity, lasts 50,000 hours By Mike Adams, June 5 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 produces 135.2 foot-candles of light on a desk surface from a distance of 24 inches (a typical 40-watt incandescent light bulb produces only 10 foot-candles of light on the same surface). The light bulb exploits new technology... Breakthrough on-demand hydrogen fuel generator may make hydrogen cars safe and practical By David Gutierrez, May 28 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 the practical. The Hydratus, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, generates hydrogen from magnesium and water in a chemical reaction that takes place at temperatures... Automakers, Bush administration push flex-fuel cars while ignoring electric vehicles By David Gutierrez, May 22 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 have pledged to double the number of flex-fuel vehicles that they produce by 2010, and to make half of their fleets flex-fuel by 2012. Bush praised these promises as an important step toward weaning the United States off... Citrus peel waste may be used to generate earth-friendly fuel By David Gutierrez, May 1 2007 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 to meet central Florida's demand for fuel additives. Jump directly to: conventional view \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• Companies such as Citrus Energy LLC and... Massive offshore wind farm project now underway in the North Sea By David Gutierrez, April 22 2007 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 its eventual profits. Jump directly to: conventional view \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• The project's $510 million price tag, including construction costs... Solar energy powers water treatment plant in California By David Gutierrez, March 26 2007 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 to: conventional view \| alternative view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• With panels mounted on top of a water storage reservoir, the entire solar... Massive solar cell production facility to be built in Oregon By David Gutierrez, March 16 2007 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 \| alternative view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• SolarWorld purchased the Hillsboro facility from the Japanese Komatsu Group, which had invested approximately... Big Oil invests big in wind power By David Gutierrez, March 15 2007 (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 producing 550 megawatts of electricity - one-sixth of total wind output projected for the United States in 2007. Jump directly to: conventional view \| resources \| bottom line What you need... New solar technology company plans to rent panels to homeowners to make solar more affordable By David Gutierrez, March 7 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 installation, while encouraging a shift to solar power. Jump directly to: conventional view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View • Currently, those wishing... HelioVolt engineers new solar solutions with lower installation costs By David Gutierrez, February 5 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 the cost of a solar electric system is the price of the actual power-generating devices, while the rest goes to installation and the inverter. "[Our new products] will reduce the cost of the inverter and the install... ZAP leaps into the electric car market with plug-in sports car By David Gutierrez, February 1 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 Wrightspeed. The ZAP-X is basically an electric version of Lotus Engineering's Aluminum Performance Crossover (APX) car. By removing many parts that are not necessary for an electric engine, ZAP -- so called because... Next page ->		Articles from Citizen Journalism Writers: After peak oil: Will America survive? By , July 21 2007 (NewsTarget) 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. But most members of the public still don't understand energy very well, and they generally have no idea whether alternative energy sources like solar, wind or CSP (see below) can replace oil. Many people are concerned... Clean energy legislation would require U.S. to shift to 20 percent renewable energy by 2020 By Christian Evans, June 3 2007 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. Jump directly to: conventional view \| alternative view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• The House bill will gradually require utilities to generate 20%... Australia bans incandescent light bulbs with three-year phase-out By M. T. Whitney, May 10 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 directly to: conventional view \| alternative view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View • The move should promote the transition to fluorescent lighting in Australia... Termites may hold the answer to cheap, efficient ethanol fuel production By Christian Evans, March 28 2007 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, pollution-free energy may be developed to help solve the world's imminent energy crisis. Jump directly to: conventional view \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View• The... Solar thermal hot water heater technology gaining momentum in America By M. T. Whitney, March 4 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 What you need to know - Conventional View• Solar thermal heaters, unlike solar panels, directs the sun's heat to the water in the tank, using up to half of the sun's heat directly. • The... Japanese companies ramp up solar panel production to meet accelerating demand By M. T. Whitney, March 1 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 the fray this year. Jump directly to: conventional view \| alternative view \| resources \| bottom line What you need to know - Conventional View • Yano Research Institute Ltd., a market research... California legislator set to introduce new bill to ban incandescent light bulbs By Beau Hodai, February 10 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 Levine, D-Van Nuys, would ban the use of incandescent light bulbs by 2012. “Incandescent light bulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago,” said Levine. “And since that time, they have undergone no major modifications.” “Meanwhile... Energy efficient, micro-combined heat and power systems now available for residential use By Beau Hodai, February 7 2007 (NewsTarget) 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-based company, and is now completing its trial testing period. Basically, “the micro-combined heat and power system”, or micro-CHP replaces an old-fashioned furnace and harvests energy produced while a natural gas-burning... Solar house takes on a temporary resident to test its livability By M.T. Whitney, January 30 2007 (NewsTarget) 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 Tech 2.5 years to design and build, is a small casa situated next to the Science Museum of Virginia, located in Richmond. The 800-square foot house is a creation from 2005 that was relocated to the museum's property so the state... Next page ->

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Articles from NaturalNews In-House Writers:

New Lithium Nanowire Technology Boosts Lithium Ion Battery Capacity by 1000 Percent

Biofuels from Switchgrass Offer 540 Percent Return on Energy Inputs

Nanosolar Price Barrier Breakthrough Makes Solar Electricity Cheaper Than Coal

Easy Conversion of Organic Matter to Hydrogen Discovered by Researchers

Government Makes it Illegal for Car Companies to Sell Green Cars to Many Consumers

Sony develops eco-friendly battery powered by carbohydrates

U.S. may phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of energy-efficient lighting products

Energizer Batteries Exposed: NewsTarget Investigation Reveals Truth About "D" Rechargeable Batteries

Wal-Mart announces major initiative to reduce the mercury content of compact fluorescent lights

Biofuels worse for the environment than fossil fuels, study warns

Wind industry is booming in the U.S., 1524 new turbines installed last year

Global switch to biofuels could spike food prices and harm the environment

Lithium-ion power tool batteries may power next generation of electric cars

San Francisco to explore renewable energy from tidal power

China's new biofuels project may level forests to make way for "clean" energy farming

BanTheBulb.org promotes energy efficient lighting, but neglects LED lights

3D solar cells capture more sunlight, boost solar panel efficiency

Breaking a compact fluorescent light bulb could cost you $2,000 in toxic mercury cleanup

EcoLEDs.com launches energy efficient replacement bulb for 40 watt light bulbs; uses only 5 watts of electricity, lasts 50,000 hours

Breakthrough on-demand hydrogen fuel generator may make hydrogen cars safe and practical

Automakers, Bush administration push flex-fuel cars while ignoring electric vehicles

Citrus peel waste may be used to generate earth-friendly fuel

Massive offshore wind farm project now underway in the North Sea

Solar energy powers water treatment plant in California

Massive solar cell production facility to be built in Oregon

Big Oil invests big in wind power

New solar technology company plans to rent panels to homeowners to make solar more affordable

HelioVolt engineers new solar solutions with lower installation costs

ZAP leaps into the electric car market with plug-in sports car

Articles from Citizen Journalism Writers:

After peak oil: Will America survive?

Clean energy legislation would require U.S. to shift to 20 percent renewable energy by 2020

Australia bans incandescent light bulbs with three-year phase-out

Termites may hold the answer to cheap, efficient ethanol fuel production

Solar thermal hot water heater technology gaining momentum in America

Japanese companies ramp up solar panel production to meet accelerating demand

California legislator set to introduce new bill to ban incandescent light bulbs

Energy efficient, micro-combined heat and power systems now available for residential use

Solar house takes on a temporary resident to test its livability