Unique and more effective wind turbines gaining popularity around the world

Wind energy is a growing industry, with wind turbines springing up across the country. As useful as wind energy is, it has a serious downside.

Renewable energy and its real potential for this country

Contrary to what the conservative media continues to focus on, renewable energy is alive and well and holding strong in this country. And its potential to replace fossil fuel-based energy sources looks pretty darn good.

In July, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report examining and applying methods for estimating the current and future economic potential of domestic renewable energy. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which recently crunched the numbers, NREL’s analysis shows that renewable energy sources have the potential to supply anywhere from “35 percent to as much as 10 times the nation’s current power needs.”

Smaller countries like Costa Rica are leading the way to carbon neutrality

Are larger countries in the world at a disadvantage when it comes to embracing renewable energy? In the United States, for example, the monied oil lobby has made itself clear it will do whatever it can to put stumbling blocks in the way of renewable energy being fully adopted nationally.

Google Announces Revolutionary Flying Wind Turbines – but will the cost to wildlife be too high?

Google X’s prototype flying wind turbine. What impact will this have on birds?

Less than 15 percent of land around the world meets the criteria to support wind turbines, namely  where winds routinely reach speeds of between 5-8 meters per second. Astro Teller, the head of Google X, announced a new and innovative solution.

Historic New England village embraces renewable energy

Built in 1743, Horowitz’s historic farmhouse now features solar power and LED lighting.

Adding solar and other renewable energy sources are getting to be easier and cheaper to own than ever before. But how well do these go with historic landmarks and century-old homes?

If you’re in Massachusetts, the answer is pretty well indeed.

Solar-powered Canals – Are They the Future in California?

A solar covered canal system – just not yet here in the United States

Governor Brown’s recently announced plan to have California derive 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 has opened the door for bold ideas to help achieve this.

Carl Weidert, a retired, self-employed biologist who lives in Shingletown, California, has spent years garnering interest in his idea of utilizing California’s canals as solar arrays to generate electricity. Of the five governors he’s proposed his innovative plan to, only Governor Schwarzenegger responding favorably.

Approximately 1,000 miles of canals – managed mainly by government agencies – exist throughout California, covering around 100,000 acres. Weidert wants to cover the canals with moveable covers covered with solar panels.

To learn more about this innovative idea and find out what country has already adopted this, click here.

Sheer Wind’s innovative wind turbine won’t harm birds

Sheer Wind’s new wind turbine is said to produce 600 percent more power than traditional turbines

The news has shouted plenty about the dangers to eagles and other birds from wind turbines.  The problem is that turbines depend on those huge blades to help harvest wind and turn it into renewable energy we can depend on. But there’s a new guy on the block that hopes to change that.

Exciting Renewable Energy Breakthroughs seen in 2013

Solana solar farm’s salt battery lets it keep generating energy when the sun isn’t shining

As we wind down towards the end of the year, it’s worth taking a moment to review some of the remarkable technological and environmental breakthroughs we saw occur during 2013. Here are some of these great innovations.

Easy ways to recycle almost anything! (part 1)

There are still towns across this country that don’t offer curbside recycling. Whether or not your community offers this,  there are a growing number of easy ways you can responsibly recycle almost anything.

Here’s a partial list of suggestions and websites you can check out to help you “clear the decks” and do something that’s gentle on the earth too.

New Generations – a better carbon neutral biofuel

Not all biofuels are alike.

New Generation Biofuels, a renewable fuels provider, offers commercial customers a biofuel with minimal CO2 emissions and more than 40% lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than either diesel or biodiesel.

New Generations’ biofuel comes from a variety of feedstock – vegetable oil, animal fat and/or algae. With water and some proprietary ingredients added to the mix, it’s then blended. The result is a white milky substance with virtually no sulfur, which the company believes provides a lower cost, renewable, sustainable and fully biodegradable alternative energy source.

Originating in Italy, this amazing patent-pending technology has made its way to North America where, says New Generation Biofuels Chief Marketing Officer Phil Wallis,there are several perfect large markets.

“We go after the market with the (largest) need to reduce their emissions,” he said – power generation and the boiler markets. The latter includes institutions, hospitals, and schools.

Currently working with combustion turbines and boilers, Wallis says the biofuel combusts so well, one client – Cleaver Brooks, a leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial boilers – saw a 50% reduction of NOx.

This biofuel has a small carbon footprint compared to alternative existing fuel oil or biodiesel, says Wallis. “Many of the alternatives out there – wind, solar, etc. – require equipment, which comes at a cost.”  No extra equipment is necessary to make the switch to New Generations’ biofuel, Wallis said.

All that’s required is to clean the tank, tune the boiler to this kind of fuel mix (which takes about 1½ hours to do), then put the white liquid in.

“it’s as easy as changing your light bulbs.” Wallis said. This low cost alternative is “a low-hanging fruit for boilers,” he said.