Journey Towards Green Vehicles

Watch the movie and Hulk says, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry just before he turns green. Cut to the real world and some of the biggest car manufactures are trying to make Green cars to cash in on the enormous market share to be gained as the world becomes more ECO conscious. Living in the real world you start to realize that Greed not green is a far better motivator of Human Response to adversity, or maybe its just the cynic in me.
Seldom have we stumbled on to a viable solution at the first attempt, there are a number of possibilities which have so far been created and demonstrated within which we will be replacing the traditional petrol/diesel burning car. Just because a car is running on an alternate fuel does not necessary makes it a solution viable enough to replace the fossil fuel.
There are still a number of factors that will determine how efficiently we can manage resources. It is always wise to remember that there are no miracle cures to a century old ECO problems.
Alternate fuels which replaced fossil fuel in our fuel tanks so far are Electricity, Ethanol & Bio diesel, Hydrogen, kinetic energy, air & steam power...

Let's look at how alternate energy has been fighting its way into the tarry market of fossil fuel.


kinetic energy, air & steam power:

Trams before WW2 were being run on air and steam engine. Paris operated trams that were powered by compressed air using the Mekarski system in 1876. These were replaced in 1911 by cheap fossil fuel based electricity which is now taking its toll on people of Paris with cost of producing electricity using Eco enemy fuels.....trams have been running on steam & kinetically powered engines as well in past. India has been working on Air engine and Tata intends to run taxis powered by air.



Image Above: A bouillotte mounted on the front of a tram built by Mékarski and used in early trials in Paris. (Drawing 1875)


Image Right:La Nature of a New York air loco 1882.


Image Below: German electric car, 1904, with the chauffeur on top.

Electricity:

We all know that our vehicles can be driven on electricity but we are not satisfied with the speed, but electricity is one of the greenest most Eco friendly options we have..provided electricity used for charging our plug-in's has been produced with renewable energy. Electric vehicles also seem to be the most commercially viable option at the moment.


Image Right:The Henney Kilowatt, a 1961 production electric car.


Hydrogen:

A hydrogen vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power. The engines of such vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy either by burning hydrogen through internal combustion , or by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to run electric motors.
Hydrogen fuel does not occur naturally on Earth and thus is not an energy source, but is an energy carrier. Currently it is most frequently made from methane or other fossil fuels. However, it can be produced from a wide range of sources (such as wind, solar, or nuclear) that are intermittent, too diffuse or too cumbersome to directly propel vehicles. Hydrogen as fuel is not commercially viable..at the moment.


Ethanol & Bio diesel:

No good words for Ethanol and Bio diesel from me.... i hate the idea and find it utterly non sustainable. in fact the impact of producing and using Bio diesel & Ethanol is a hundred times deadlier then fossil fuel. Firstly because it is produced from food..... making farming land and agriculture yet another highly captalistable industry....leading to even more food insecurity & deforestation......and lets not forget there are still fumes involved....

Our commitment with electric vehicles & mass transports like Maglev trains from Germany & Japan can lead us to cleaner, breathable future....

Introduction to Eco-Artware.com

Eco-Artware.com is a web-based gallery commitment to selling eco friendly green products since 1999. This eco friendly web site has been showcasing earth friendly gifts made by artists who are committed to sustainability. Eco-Artware.com has been offering products of 25 eco friendly artists who consider the environment into their work. One can find a wide range of beautifully handcrafted items and products made in independent workshops, including handcrafted jewelry, home décor, recycled stationery and eco friendly office products.
Another specialty of Eco-Artware.com is custom designed green business promotions and awards made of recycled or reused materials. My favorite piece on Eco-Artware.com is Grow-A-Note Plantable Cards these unique eco friendly handmade cards are the ultimate in eco-friendly living. Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled fiber printed with soy ink, the notes are embedded with a variety of wildflower seeds: Annual Gaillardia, Baby's Breath, Catchfly, Siberian Wallflower, Chinese Houses, Baby Blue-Eyes and California Bluebells! After the recipient reads and cherishes your note they can plant it and flowers will bloom! Easy planting instructions appear on the back of each card, along with the seed content. Each handmade tree free paper card will recycle naturally into the soil as the seedlings grow. The paper envelopes for these eco cool note cards contain 30 percent post consumer waste. .

Eco-Artware.com has been featured in Time, Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications.

Visit Eco-artware.com

10 of my Favorite Green ideas of 2009

Solar Eye for the Blind:



Researchers at Stanford University recently announced that they have developed a new artificial retina implant that uses photovoltaic power and could help the blind see. The problem with previous implants was that there was no way send power to the chip in order to process light and data inside the eye. Now, miniature photovoltaic cells are being used to provide power to the chip as well as to transmit data through the eye to the brain. The new device has great promise to help people afflicted by the loss of photoreceptor cells by using the power of the sun. The device is placed behind the retina and is essentially an array of mini solar devices. In addition, the system utilizes is an external video camera that captures images, a pocket pc to process the video feed, and a bright near-infrared LCD display built into video goggles, which transmit infrared light pulses to the photovoltaic device in the eye. The light pulses then produce electricity in the device, which transmits data through the eye so the brain can process it into a hazy picture. The implant is built to a width of 3 mm wide and 0.03 mm thick, and includes 3 layers of flexible photovoltaic cells mounted with silicon posts. This new system is capable of producing vision of 20/200, which is beyond what is considered legally blind, but the researchers reasonable expect to achieve 20/100, which would produce a picture clear enough that a person could recognize faces and read large print.



Algae Based Batteries:

Every one talks about producing biofuel using Algae, but creating ultra thin batteries using Algae is pretty revelatory. Algae is often touted as the next big thing in biofuels, but the slimy stuff could also be the key to paper-thin biodegradable batteries according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. Eventually, the bio batteries could compete with commercial lithium-ion batteries. Conducting polymers have long been thought to be a solution in developing lightweight, flexible, nonmetal batteries. But up until now, these polymers have had been impractical because regular paper can?t hold enough of them work effectively. Now Uppsala researcher Maria Stromme and her team has found that the smelly algae species that clumps on beaches, known as Cladophora, can also be used to make a type of cellulose that has 100 times the surface area of cellulose found in paper. That means it can hold enough conducting polymers to effectively recharge and hold electricity for long amounts of time. The algae-based paper sheet batteries hold up to 200% more charge than regular paper-based cellulose batteries, and they can recharge in as little as 11 seconds. Eventually, they could be used in any application that requires flexible electronics for example, clothing or packaging that lights up. Perhaps most importantly, the algae batteries could one day cut down on e-waste from conventional metal batteries.



Japan's Solar Space Post:

Japan is definitely getting in on the action with its latest spacey plan. A $21 billion solar-powered generator in the heavens to produce one gigawatt of energy, or enough to power 294,000 homes. The Japanese government announced the plan back in June, but there has been an important new development Mitsubishi Electric Corp and industrial design company IHI Corp are now teaming up in the race to develop new technology within four years that can beam electricity back to Earth without the use of cables.


Mitsubishi and IHI are joining a research group containing 14 other countries to tackle the daunting task of getting Japan's four square kilometer solar space station up and running in the next three decades. By 2015, the Japanese government hopes to test a small satellite decked out with solar panels that beams power through space and back to Earth.

There are still a number of hurdles to work through before space-based solar power becomes a reality though. Transportation of the solar panels into space is too expensive at the moment to be commercially viable, so Japan has to figure out a way to lower costs. Even if costs are lowered, solar stations will have to worry about damage from micrometeoroids and other flying objects. Still, space-based solar operates perfectly under all weather conditions, unlike Earth-based panels that are at the mercy of the clouds.

Japan isn't the only country in the race for space power. Solaren and California's Pacific Gas and Electric utility are working together on a project to deliver 200 megawatts of power from space over a 15-year period that begins in 2015. The concept of space-based solar power was introduced way back in 1968, but it's only recently that the world has latched on to the idea.



Thin-film solar tubes:


There are hundreds of solar companies developing new materials, new business models, new installation techniques and new manufacturing processes in an effort to bring down the cost and improve the efficiency of solar panels. But there's only one company that has made progress in 2009 with uniquely-designed solar tube-shaped panels: Solyndra. Only founded in 2005, and starting its first shipping in mid-2008, Solyndra has designed its solar panels into a series of skinny tubes that can absorb sun light from all directions, and can be installed flat on a roof (in contrast to traditional panels that need to be nailed down at an angle). That means the panels can be installed more easily and can in theory be cheaper.



Solar windows:

The Queensland University of Technology recently announced that it has been working with Dyesol to develop an innovative solar cell technology that re-envisions windows as clear, clean energy providers. Professor John Bell has said that these dye-infused solar cells would significantly reduce building energy costs, and could even generate surplus energy to be stored or sold. The development has been touted as the most promising advance in solar cell technology since the invention of the silicon cell.

Modern architecture has a love-hate relationship with windows: they contribute light and levity to interior spaces, yet they are the most frequently cited culprits for thermal energy loss. Traditional approaches to the problem have tended towards increasing insular ability, however this new development would imbue windows with power producing capabilities, actually providing energy instead of leaking it.

Dyesol's solar cells use an innovative technology called artificial photosynthesis, wherein a dye analogous to chlorophyll absorbs light to generate electricity. The panels are composed of an electrolyte, a layer of titania (a pigment used in white paints and tooth paste), and ruthenium dye sandwiched between glass. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are absorbed by the titania to become an electric current.

Dye solar cells are cheaper and require less energy to manufacture than silicon cells, since they dont require expensive raw materials. They also produce electricity more efficiently, even in instances of shadowing, where overcast skies and shadows from trees and other buildings can cause a loss in collected power.

These solar windows will offer an enticing new option for skyscrapers and houses looking to break the zero-energy barrier imagine the net power that a floor-to-ceiling glass.



Laser Cut Leaves are Nature?s Unique Business Cards:

If you're in the market for new business cards or a cutting-edge new advertising medium, you should take a look at this brilliant idea your message or logo etched right onto a real leaf, no paint necessary! The resulting leaves are simple, stunning when looked at against the sunlight, and the best part is that if they are thrown away, there is no adverse effect on the environment. Design Firm Tatil Design of Brazil came up with the elegant marketing idea, which they recently used in 2008 during the 55th Cannes Advertising Festival to promote their Designing Naturally workshop. Natural Medium, which is what they call their amazing laser cut leaves, was so popular and well received at the festival that it won the Bronze Award for the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards in Eco Design. Tatil Design came up with a simple idea that not only demonstrated the purpose of their workshop, but was elegant and beautiful to look at. The designers collected fallen leaves and then selected images that expressed the intent of the workshop. Designs varied from animals to dancers, burgers to planes, and ants to a soup can. The images were then laser cut into the dried leaves, which left a beautiful silhouette of the picture and the wording to advertise the workshop. The leaves were a big hit at the festival.



Solar Powered Camel Clinics:

Kenya's camels recently started sporting some unusual apparel eco-friendly refrigerators! Some of the African country's camels are carrying the solar-powered mini fridges on their backs as part of a test project that uses camels as mobile health clinics. Organizers hope the eco-friendly transport system will provide a cheap, reliable way of getting much-needed medicines and vaccines to rural communities in Kenya and Ethiopia. For the past decade, Nomadic Communities Trust has been using camels as mobile health clinics in Kenya's Laikipia and Samburu districts, isolated areas with few roadways. While the camel convoys provide a cost-effective method of traversing the harsh terrain, the group had no way of delivering medicines and vaccines that required refrigeration until now. The mini fridge is housed in a bamboo saddle that is lightweight and durable enough for camels to easily carry it across miles of rough terrain. The device itself is covered with crystalline solar panels that provide power for the compartmented fridge?s generator. The solar panels themselves can also be used by the mobile clinics for lighting and refrigeration in the field. The solar-powered fridges are currently being tested on camels in Kenya and Ethiopia, but Amatullo says the system could be used by any rural communities with access to camels. If the project has secured enough funding, it should be implemented in earnest in 2010. Lets hope the eco-friendly venture received the money it needed in the Laikipia and Samburu districts alone, 300,000 people do not have access to the mobile health clinics.



Trash-Powered Street Lamp:

Think about how much trash goes into a bin in, say, New York City's Times Square on a daily basis. What if all that garbage could be used to generate energy? Thats the thinking behind designer Haneum Lees Gaon Street Light a lamppost powered by garbage! Lee's lamppost features a trash can at its base. Pedestrians toss their old food products inside, where they are composted. Methane from the compost is used to power the lamp, and the entire process begins again. It?s an interesting concept, but there are a few problems with it. How much trash would be needed to keep the lamp turned on and what happens when the inevitable pedestrian throws regular trash into the food waste bin. The Gaon Street Light would undoubtedly work best in areas with heavy foot traffic, but those are the places where people are most likely to toss their regular trash into the wrong bin. Still, Lee's idea is promising, and at the very least, compost waste may one day be able to partially power our street lights.



Electricity Generating Street pavements:


Any one point on a busy street can receive up to 50,000 steps a day, so imagine if you could take all that foot traffic and turn it into something useful. Like energy! A new product designed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems Ltd., can do just that. With a minuscule flex of 5mm, the energy generating pavement is able to absorb the kinetic energy produced by every footstep, creating 2.1 watts of electricity per hour. Every time a rubber Pavegen stone is stepped on it bends, producing kinetic energy that is either stored within lithium polymer batteries or distributed to nearby lights, information displays, and much more. Just five slabs spread over a lively sidewalk has the ability to generate enough energy to illuminate a bus stop throughout the night. But applications are not limited to the street. Extended into other public and private spaces the system has the potential to power lights, computers, automatic doors, ticket machines, refrigerators, shop signs, microwaves's Depending on the usage, the payback period could be as little as one year, and each Pavegen stone has an estimated system life of five years of use, or 20 million steps. Constructed from marine grade stainless steel and recycled materials, the surface (which comes in a variety of choice colors) of each slab features the rubber from old tires, and the internal components are made from recycled aluminium. Whenever a slab is stepped on it emits a glow (which only uses 5% of the total energy produced) this not only informs the passerby of their contribution, but also reinforces a sustainable attitude and an increased awareness of the energy that is continually created and expended by each individual. So far Pavegen has been tested out in East London and will continue onto various destinations in the UK in 2010. If all goes well it will hopefully be jetting off to some of the most trafficked and amazing places all over the world like New York's Times Square, the Eiffel Tower or even Disney World.



Cheap PV's made out of Human hair:


Did you know that melanin, the pigment in hair, is light sensitive and can be used as a conductor? Well, thats what an 18 year old in Nepal recently discovered, and is now using human hair to replace silicon in solar panels. Since the price of hair is considerably cheaper than silicon, this enterprising youth may have just found a breakthrough technology to help bring down the cost of solar and give thousands of people in developing nations access to affordable renewable energy. Karki, who attends school in Kathmandu, started reading a book by Stephan Hawking that discussed ways of creating static energy from hair. From this idea, Karki realized that melanin was one of the factors in energy conversion, and that it could possibly serve as a substitute conductor. He and four other classmates worked on a prototype, which they found could charge a cell phone or a pack of batteries for lighting. The panels themselves are 15 inches square and can produce 9V or 18W of power and cost around $38 to produce. Karki thinks that if they were mass produced though, they would cost half as much. In Nepal, human hair costs about 25c for half a kilo and can last for several months. Hair is also basically a renewable resource and can be replenished by the owner of the solar panel as it wears out. This low cost and low tech device could be a revolutionary step in solar power bringing down the cost of the technology, bringing power to the masses and using materials which are common to everyone in the world.

GLOBAL WARMING

GLOBAL WARMING IS A REALITY.
GLOBAL WARMING IS A CHAIN REACTION.
GLOBAL WARMING IS TAKING IT TOLL ON MANKIND.
GLOBAL WARMING CAN BE STOPPED BY CONSCIOUS DECISIONS.

GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming means increase in the average temperature of Earth’s surface air and oceans. Global warming is basically increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Due to Global Warming Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the last century. According to IPCC natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes produced most of the Global warming from pre-industrial times to 1950. Global warming increases with the increase in human’s carbon foot print. Global warming is a calculated and agreed upon phenomena and many are considering Global Warming as a bigger threat to man kind then a 3rd world war. Accusers accuse irresponsible human developmental and capitalism for Global warming. Honesty demands self accusation for Global warming as every action taken by man kind has a consequence and can contribute towards warming. ECO Watch dogs are blaming Global warming on major industrialized countries. Owing to Global warming an IPCC report indicate that global surface temperature will probably rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century. Increase in Global Warming will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, probably including expansion of subtropical deserts, as Global warming is causing continuous retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice is expected, with the Arctic region being particularly affected. Most studies about Global Warming focus on the period up to 2100. However, Global warming is expected to continue beyond 2100 even if emissions stop, because of the large heat capacity of the oceans and the long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global Warming’s other likely effects include shrinkage of the Amazon rainforest and Boreal forests. Global Warming is being blamed for sudden increases in the intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, tsunamis and acidic rains. Extinctions of many species and changes in agricultural yields are credited on Global Warming too. Global warming continues to be a hot Political and public agenda.

Sustainable living!

Too much emphasis on green living and environment friendliness through Internet & media has created enough awareness among masses all over the world, that administrations are taking environment friendly decisions and we also see legislation being formed on national and international levels to protect environment.
But in this all going green phobia, a lot of confusion and misunderstanding is also developing, many of us now correlate use of green electricity to sustainability, in fact using energy efficiently is sustainability. Most of us think that using canvas bags instead of plastic is an eco friendly gesture, but caring a cloth bag every time we got to shop is being green.
It’s great that world wide huge cooperates are investing in renewable sources of energy, and production of eco friendly products. But sustainability can only be achieved if humans reduce there consumption level, and a line between needs and luxury will be drawn, when need for waste dumps and land fills wont be an issue. Sustainability is harvesting some amount of our food from our backyards, gardens and balconies, which was not irrigated with community water supply but the rain water we harvested. Sustainability is leaving our car at home and walking to the market, making sure suburbs are not turning into city centers and marine life is not contaminated just for a little luxury of no significance.
Giant steps taken by governments and Ngo’s can’t make much of a difference unless Little green steps are taken on individual level.