Sustain the World's Environment

Image via Wikipedia EnSol AS is situated in Bergen and together with he University of Leicester ( UK ) it is developing a thin film deposition system with nanocrystal source which will hopefully help it turn its patented nanotechnology into a working product. Their aim is to refine their PV cell technology so that it can achieve a cell efficiency of 20% or greater. If they succeed, this will be a significant leap forward in PV technology and could revolutionise the industry . Claiming cost effective production via standard “spray on” magnetron techniques, it claims that this technology can realistically compete with existing established PV cell technology, a claim that isn't that far-fetched. EnSol is aiming to construct a world class thin film deposition facility in Norway , based on experience gained working in collaboration with the Condensed Matter Physics group at the  University of Leicester (UK) . Related articles by Zemanta Spray-on film turns gl...

Image via Wikipedia According to the respected International Energy Agency , China 's use of coal , oil , wind and other sources of power more than doubled in the past decade to reach the equivalent of 2.26bn tonnes of oil in 2009, creeping past the US total of 2.17bn tonnes. This fact is no doubt linked to China's economic growth of almost 9% in GDP last year. Its also the reason why its carbon emissions is growing by around the same amount, at a time when most other nations was static or falling. As to what's driving China's energy use up, well its the same thing that drove up that of the US, UK , Japan and Germany etc. Consumption. More cars, more air conditioning , more electronic consumer products (TV's, Hi-Fi, computers and the like). China's population has a long way to go in order to catch up to the lifestyles that we have enjoyed in the West for so long, but with 1.3 Billion people aiming for the same standard of living , its a worrying tho...

Image via Wikipedia Here in the South-east of England we are experiencing some unusually hot weather with temperatures today (Friday 9th July) reaching 32 Degrees Centigrade! Now, I personally find this level of heat too much, though my wife loves it. She did grow up in Africa , lived in Singapore and Israel for many years so I guess she is used to it! So, when it get this hot I find myself having to do something I try not to... use more energy , in an effort to keep cool. So, out comes the fan in my office, on goes the fan in the kitchen to keep the dog and me cool and I tend to drive with the car windows fully open. We do have Air Conditioning in the car but I think I am correct in saying that using that is even less green than driving with the windows open. We do, I have to confess, use the Air-Con on long journeys (such as holidays) because driving at motorway speeds with the windows open is less fuel-efficient. So, as the temperature climbs I find myself getting the s...

Green Thing is a public service that inspires people to lead a greener life. With the help of brilliant videos and inspiring stories from creative people and community members around the world, Green Thing focuses on seven things you can do - and enjoy doing. Join people from 205 countries doing their green things and making a difference. Why check it out and sign up now at  http://www.dothegreenthing.com Related articles by Zemanta The first Green Airline in Africa:Ethiopian Airlines Flying Greener! (flightafrica.blogspot.com) GreenHomeImprovement.com - Making The World Go Green (killerstartups.com) Families Living and Loving Green Alternative Life Styles (treehugger.com) Green and Greener (fakeplasticsouks.blogspot.com)

Image by now picnic via Flickr The British Government is proposing to offer loans so householders can install solar panels. This is not a new idea, as in the US so companies and local authorities have already started doing this. The cost of installing solar panels on a typical house in the UK costs @ £12,000. This is more than many families can afford in the current economic climate. The loans will repaid with the savings householders make from the electricity they generate . The model relies on the recently announced ‘feed-in tariff’ that will give householders an income from feeding surplus electricity into the National Grid . This could amount to hundreds of pounds a year. The tariff pays up to 36p per kW/hr of electricity generated form not only solar panels but also wind turbines , hydro power or anaerobic digestion. This is paid even if the electricity generated by these means is not fed into the National Grid but used instead by the householder. Any that is fed back i...

Image via Wikipedia The sideshow that was Copenhagen lived up to expectations (or lack of them) and showed how irrelevant in fact it was. Why do I say this... well, for one thing it was unrealistic to expect so many nations and powerful interest groups to work together in perfect harmony (we would all love the song to be true, I know...). Secondly, whenever you get politicians involved, especially so-called 'world leaders' its never going to be anything but a sideshow, full of posturing for the domestic audience. Add to the mix the diverse but ultimately divergent groups of NGO 's, energy companies, scientists of every persuasion, journalists, individual campaigners and a host of others all fighting to gain their 15 minutes of fame and failure to achieve anything of substance was all we could realistically expect. Here's a thought... was more carbon created by the whole thing than will be saved by anything that directly and solely came out of it? I personally woul...

The UN Climate Change Summit is 26 days away. Greenpeace has an online petition for everyone to sign. You can sign the petition at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/leaders-go-to-copenhagen-climate-summit?0 The world needs to change from its addiction to coal and other fossil fuels , preserve forests and agree sustainable targets on reducing carbon emissions . Sign the petition and help persuade world leaders to make real progress, before its too late. Powered by ScribeFire . Related articles by Zemanta Agency Says Emissions Pact Would Ease Fossil-Fuel Use (nytimes.com) Carbon budgets are 'fair' says Lord Smith (telegraph.co.uk) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Is Hurting U.S. Competitiveness (blogs.harvardbusiness.org) Fast-Track Plans For Nuclear Power Stations (news.sky.com) Plenary 1 (Part 2) (slideshare.net) Senate Global Warming Bill Is Seeking to Cushion the Impact on Industry (nytimes.com) Burning The Future: C...