Energy Seed Street Lamp

Dvice are showing a Street lamp which takes it power from used batteries. The theory is that the batteries we normally discard actually have enough power left to light up a low-energy LED. South Korean designer Sung Woo Park has come up with the Energy Seed, a cool looking but conceptual street lamp powered entirely by discarded batteries. Visit Dvice for more info and photos.

IKEA to Sell Solar Tech

The cleantech group is reporting, that Ikea is planning to sell affordable solar gear for everyday users. This could be a big boost for the industry which could change the cost of these normally expensive solutions. I can only applaud any such move ... lets hope it's more than just hype.

Nano Generators

One of the more interesting bit of news this week was the announcement from scientists at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, that they have demonstrated a nano-scale generator capable of providing electricity to microscopic machines by harvesting different types of energy from the environment. Zhong Lin Wang, professor at Georgia Tech, indicates that the generator can convert mechanical energy from sources such as ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibration or blood flow into continuous direct-current electricity. Some very definite advantages for powering nano-tech and machines without their needing or external power sources. Wang and his group, believe that their nanogenerator could produce as much as 4 watts of power per cubic centimeter. This level of power generation is several orders of magnitude greater than what is achievable on current power generation technologies at that scale. More details about the nanogenerator, which is constructed using an array of zinc oxide nanowires, will be released in the April 6 issue of the journal, Science. For more info before then, visit TG Daily and Georgia Tech.

Solar Tech - Easier Than Ever

Our environmental friends over at HUGG have posted a link to an excellent article and video on the ease with which you can now install solar panels. The Video demonstrates the installation of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) laminates. The Panels are standard metal roofing, onto which the solar film is stuck. I was quite impressed by the ease with which the panels were applied. No idea on cost though.