Green Thoughts

Compiled by Sally Gilhooley

 

Konarka Technologies, developer of solar plastic films that convert light to energy, makes transparent solar cells that are more aesthetically pleasing than photovoltaic panels. They have contracted with Arch Aluminum & Glass to use the cells in building materials including glass windows. The PV modules can also be tinted. Learn more at Konarka Technologies Inc.

Enter Eco Boats: Sea Raider, a futuristic boat designed by Muhammad Imran to run on solar energy. His design uses roof-mounted solar cells, which can be supplemented by diesel. See a picture at Eco Boats: Sea Raider.

A new study published in Science explores the rise of sea levels as the Antarctic ice sheets melt. New studies show the rise at about 10 feet – not 20 – as previously suggested. Not to worry – climate change won’t melt the West Antarctic Ice Sheet for 4,000 years! Read more at Newyorktimes.earth blog.

In Juneau, Alaska, it seems, climate change is having the opposite effect. Land levels are rising as glaciers melt resulting in a lowered sea level. Tons of glacier weight removed is causing land to resurface like a pillow after someone gets up from it. Read the story at www.nytimes.com

Reverse Osmosis, the hyper-filtration water treatment system, is a convenient and thorough method to filter water and becoming more popular for drinking water systems in homes and offices. Read the technology and check out products at www.freedrinkingwater.com.

According to Nuclear Energy Insight, May, 2009, seven out of 10 U.S. adults favor using nuclear energy to produce electricity and 62% support building new nuclear power plants - the vast majority favoring the use of federal incentives for the new plants. These figures come from a survey by Bisconti Research IncGiK. For more on nuclear news see www.nei.org

 

Green Jobs Spurred by Federal Stimulus Package

If it’s a U.S. industry that has the potential to be cleaner and greener, chances are the Obama administration has already set aside some stimulus money for it. In February 2009, the new president signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Besides creating jobs, the bill promises to spur American companies to greener heights through investments totaling over $75 billion.
According to Environment America, a federation of state-based environmental advocacy groups, the stimulus package includes $32.8 billion for clean energy projects, $26.86 billion for energy efficiency initiatives and $18.95 billion for green transportation. Some of the key green features of the bill include accelerating the deployment of “smart grid” technology (systems of routing power in ways that optimize energy-efficiency), providing energy efficiency funds for schools, offering support for governors and mayors to beef up energy efficiency in private homes and public buildings, and establishing a new loan guarantee program to help renewable energy producers survive in down economic times.

The Solar Energy Industries Association predicts that the stimulus will help create some 119,000 jobs in the American solar sector alone before the end of 2010. Employers from solar cell manufacturers to green building materials retailers to wind farm maintenance firms to recycling haulers to energy auditors will likewise be looking to swell their ranks of employees with relevant skills.
For more information, visit these websites: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, www.recovery.gov; Environment America, www.environmentamerica.org; Solar Energy Industries Association, www.seia.org.

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