Subscribe to Gizmag's RSS feed
Follow Gizmag on Twitter
Energy
Energy-generating sOccket soccer ball scores a goal in off-grid villages
By Jeff Salton
21:08 February 8, 2010 PST
What kid doesn’t like kicking around a soccer ball? Imagine if this fun activity could also provide enough energy to power something useful in a modest off-grid African village, like a reliable light to cook by or an emergency mobile phone. The sOccket is a prototype soccer ball that captures kinetic energy when it is kicked or thrown, stores it in an internal battery and makes that energy available for a myriad of small but useful purposes. In other words, it’s a fun, portable energy-harvesting power source that is designed to take a kicking. Read More
Wattbox: Habit-learning device to lower energy bills
By Jeff Salton
16:42 February 7, 2010 PST
The adage “less is more” rings true when discussing energy usage - as energy costs rise, using less saves you more money each year. And studies have shown that householders who know how much energy they use on a daily basis tend to use significantly less. A new device called the Wattbox - a smart control unit for central heating and hot water heaters that learns householders' energy habits and provide immediate feedback on consumption - could deliver home energy savings of up to 20 percent without compromising comfort say UK researchers. A great feature of the Wattbox is that it is retrofittable, meaning it’s suitable for all houses, not just new ones. Read More
Modular SunSine solar panels from GreenRay will generate AC power
By Alan Brandon
20:53 February 3, 2010 PST
Solar power start-up GreenRay Inc. has developed the SunSine AC “solar appliance” that integrates the complex components of conventional solar power systems into modular, plug-and-play panels for easier installation, reduced cost, and increased safety. GreenRay designed the SunSine AC to produce standard alternating current (AC) electricity that is suitable for use in homes and small businesses, and the company hopes that by simplifying the technology and making it more affordable, it can make solar power more accessible to homeowners. Read More
Solar glazing chases sun from dawn until dusk
15:49 February 3, 2010 PST
In the age of green energy we are seeing interesting new developments that marry building materials with the capacity to harness renewable power sources. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) or concentrating PV technologies aren't new, but the ability to concentrate and maximize the capture of energy by tracking sunlight from dawn to dusk is. The Center for Architectural Science and Ecology CASE has unveiled a new Integrated Concentrating (IC) Dynamic Solar Facade which does just that - and it looks great! Read More
World record 1 megajoule laser shot hits target
By Darren Quick
21:16 February 2, 2010 PST
In their quest to be the first to trigger a nuclear fusion reaction using lasers scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have delivered more than one megajoule of laser energy to a target. The peak power of the laser light, which was delivered within a few billionths of a second, was about 500 times that used by the United States at any given time and demonstrates the target drive conditions required to achieve fusion ignition. Read More
Archipod's Pod is an energy efficient, eco-friendly garden office
By Jude Garvey
22:36 January 31, 2010 PST
Are you sick and tired of spending valuable time commuting to work and enduring peak-hour traffic and road rage? Well now that most people have access to mobile phones, email, video conferencing and the Internet - the dream of trading in an office job for working from home can become a reality. However, separating work from home life can sometimes be difficult. That’s where the Pod comes in – it might look like an enormous coconut has landed in your garden, but this is a unique garden office that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, plus it gives you a designated space in which to work. Read More
Raising efficiency - Mitsubishi develops smart control multi-elevator technology
By Mick Webb
17:03 January 28, 2010 PST
In a world that largely relies on elevators to ferry people from one floor of a building to the next, it is remarkable how inefficient current systems are in terms of favoring passenger convenience over the increasingly important aspect of reducing energy consumption. Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric looks set to buck the trend with the announcement of its development of multi–elevator smart control technology that can not only reduce energy use by up to ten percent, but do so while adding a mere few seconds to passenger waiting times. Read More
Rubber sheets harness body movement to power electrical devices
By Darren Quick
23:16 January 27, 2010 PST
Engineers from Princeton University have developed power-generating rubber films that could be used to harness natural body movements such as breathing or walking in order to power electronic devices such as pacemakers or mobile phones. The material, which is composed of ceramic nanoribbons embedded onto silicone rubber sheets, generates electricity when flexed and is highly efficient at converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Read More
Control4 launches new energy-savers, a mobile app, even an app store
By Jeff Salton
01:45 January 23, 2010 PST
At CES 2010, home automation and entertainment company, Control4, released a new energy-saving system, an app that turns Blackberries and Droid handsets into remote control for its system, and even added an app store which it is hoping will have the same impact on home automation that iTunes had on music. Read More
Automotive X PRIZE events to begin in Michigan from April 2010
By Ben Coxworth
20:03 January 17, 2010 PST
Things are beginning to heat up in the race for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, as the kick-off date for the actual on-the-road events approaches. The fun will begin April 26th in Michigan, continue through August, and culminate in a September awards presentation in Washington, DC. A number of the contenders were on hand at the Detroit Auto Show this week, where the official announcement was made. Read More
Intel takes Home Energy Management to a whole new level
By Mick Webb
21:36 January 9, 2010 PST
With home energy consumption and ways to reduce and manage it becoming an increasingly important issue, Intel has at this weeks CES shown its Intelligent Home Energy Management concept. Taking the form of a Wi-Fi enabled 11.5” touchscreen dashboard, the wall mounted system enables users to not only track their household’s monthly energy usage, but offers a host of other features like leaving video memos for other family members and a “goodbye” switch that instantly configures all appliances to their least consumptive setting – as well as reminding the user if they have left the stove on. Read More
Sanyo Eneloop bike up close and personal at CES 2010
By Gizmag Team
11:31 January 9, 2010 PST
We met with Sanyo's David Cabanban Sanyo at CES 2010 and he was kind enough to speak to us about the recent Sanyo-Panasonic alliance as well as Sanyo's new solar panel that is translucent, allowing it to capture solar energy not only from on top of the panel, but also from light reflected off the ground. David also took us through the finer points of the eneloop bike we first spied in December 2008 and we jumped aboard for a test ride. The bike features impressive power-assisted technology that amplifies the rider's pedaling, making cycling up hills or at speeds of up to 15mph that much easier. Read More
Researchers show off tiny piezoelectric energy capture sensor
By Paul Ridden
19:21 January 7, 2010 PST
Working within the Holst Centre program on Micropower Generation and Storage, researchers have developed a small piezoelectric device capable of harvesting 85 microwatts of electricity from vibrations. Fabricated using MEMS technology, the fully autonomous temperature sensor generates enough power to wirelessly measure and transmit environmental data to a base station every 15 seconds. Read More
Toshiba to bring E-CORE energy efficient LED light bulbs to US market
By Mick Webb
19:11 January 7, 2010 PST
Toshiba, was waving the green flag at CES this week in announcing that its E-CORE LED lightbulbs will soon be available in the US market. An E-CORE bulb has a life expectancy of 40,000 hours, which is 40 times longer than traditional incandescant lightbulbs and at the same time it reduces CO2 emissions by 85 percent in comparison. Read More
Sustail clockwork mouse concept
By Paul Ridden
01:59 January 5, 2010 PST
Designer Ahmet Bektes is proposing using centuries-old technology to provide the power for a familiar modern device. Rather than drawing energy from a computer or batteries, a user will need to remove a key from below the Sustail mouse and wind it up before being able to use it. It is hoped that the Bluetooth-connected input device would also encourage users to take regular breaks and have a more responsible attitude towards power consumption. Read More
Roll up, roll up to see the Irish perpetual motion machine!
By Loz Blain
03:06 December 17, 2009 PST
Remember that zany Irish company Steorn, who claimed to have built a working perpetual motion machine that could produce clean, free energy out of a few magnets and some plastic discs? Well, they're back again. Undeterred by the fact that their own hand-picked jury of scientific judges unanimously agreed that the technology didn't work, Steorn has put its Orbo perpetual motion machine out for public display, and set up web feeds through which you can watch the thing in motion. But the demonstration has failed to impress critics, and for good reasons. Read More
Bacteria engineered to convert greenhouse gas into liquid fuel
By Darren Quick
20:38 December 14, 2009 PST
As part of the push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by burning fossil fuels researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a greener way to extract biofuel from bacteria. The team has genetically modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and produce the liquid fuel isobutanol, which holds great potential as a gasoline alternative. As an added bonus that reaction is powered directly by energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis. Read More
This bacteria will self destruct (and improve renewable biofuel production)
By Darren Quick
23:18 December 7, 2009 PST
A key factor is determining the eco-friendliness of any biofuel is how much energy is required to produce it. If the energy expended in producing it, which more often than not comes from fossil fuels, is too high then the environmental benefits of the fuel can be questionable. Researchers have now developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower-cost, renewable biofuels by programming a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct. Read More
California regulators green light space-based solar
By Darren Quick
21:34 December 7, 2009 PST
Earlier this year we reported that California’s biggest power utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), was seeking to buy power generated by space-based solar panels pending regulatory approval from its home state of California. Now, true to the State’s goal of increasing its reliance on a diverse supply of renewable energy resources, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted regulatory approval, with energy start-up Solaren tackling the challenge of making the project work. Read More
New nano-material could lead to self-washing windows and solar panels
By Darren Quick
19:13 December 3, 2009 PST
While attempting to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease researchers have discovered a new nanomaterial that can repel dust and water and could provide a self-cleaning coating for windows or solar panels. Unlike similar dust-busting materials that take inspiration from the surface of the lotus leaf, the new material is actually made up of molecules of peptides that “grow” to resemble small forests of grass. The coating also acts as a super-capacitor, thereby having implications for electric cars in that it could provide an energy boost to batteries. Read More
Thermeleon roof tiles make saving energy as clear as black and white
By Jeff Salton
23:11 November 29, 2009 PST
Prototype roof tiles that turn white to reflect heat when they get hot seem like a pretty cool idea, as do tiles that turn black to absorb heat when it’s cold. That’s why a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduates has won the third annual MIT MADMEC (Making and Designing Materials Engineering Contest) by demonstrating their thermally-activated, color-changing, roofing material called “Thermeleon” (as in chameleon). Read More
Oyster - the world's largest working hydro-electric wave energy device
By Jeff Salton
21:53 November 26, 2009 PST
Rounding off a big week in renewable energy is news that the world’s largest working hydro-electric wave energy device has been officially launched in Scotland. Known as Oyster, the device, stationed at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) Billia Croo site near Stromness, was installed this year and is, at present, the world’s only hydro-electric wave energy device which is producing power. Read More
The world's first osmotic power plant from Statkraft
By Paul Ridden
15:06 November 26, 2009 PST
The principle of harnessing osmosis has the potential to produce enormous amounts of energy anywhere that salt water and fresh water meet. We looked at some of the approaches to turning this theory into reality earlier this year, including Statkraft's plans to build a prototype power plant. The company's plans are now coming to fruition with Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway officially opening the world's first osmotic power plant prototype on November 24. Read More
Harvesting energy from vehicle air flow using piezoelectrics
By Darren Quick
23:03 November 22, 2009 PST
Previously, we’ve looked at technology to generate electricity from roads embedded with piezoelectric crystals that produce electricity when squeezed. Now a group of researchers is looking to shift the technology from the road to the vehicles themselves and use piezoelectrics placed on the vehicles to convert their kinetic energy into electricity. Read More
Using aerospace principles to ride a wave of limitless energy
By Darren Quick
22:45 November 22, 2009 PST
The ocean is a potentially vast source of electric power, yet wave-energy systems are rare as they generally offer limited efficiency, must withstand battering storms, and need to be tethered to the sea floor. But by applying the principles that keep airplanes aloft, a team of aerospace engineers is creating a new wave energy system that is durable, extremely efficient, and can be placed anywhere on the ocean, regardless of depth. Read More
Mr Stiffy
- February 9, 2010 @ 06:26 UTC
