The 10 Million Dollar Car

By Brandon :]

The X Prize Foundation officially launched the Automotive X Prize on March 20 and announced Progressive Insurance as its title sponsor for the prize, which will be set at $10 million. The Progressive Automotive X Prize is an international competition that challenges competitors to design, build, and bring to market a car that exceeds 100 MPG, or its energy equivalent fuel efficiency, while meeting market requirements for size, capability, affordability, and safety. To date, more than 60 teams from nine countries have signed up to compete for the prize. Applications to compete for the prize will be taken until mid-year, at which time the applicants will go through a qualification process to confirm that their cars are production-capable and consumer-friendly.

The three-wheeled Alé from FuelVapor Technologies will compete under the alternative vehicle category. Credit: FuelVapor Technologies Inc.

The competition will be divided into two vehicle classes: mainstream and alternative. Mainstream vehicles must carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and travel 200 miles or more without refueling. Alternative vehicles must carry two or more passengers, can have any number of wheels, and must travel 100 miles or more between refueling stops. The mainstream vehicle winner will take home a prize of $7.5 million, while the alternative vehicle winner will garner the remaining $2.5 million.

Qualifying cars will compete in cross-country stage races in 2009 and 2010, and the prize will go to the car that finishes fastest while meeting the fuel economy requirements and strict air emissions requirements. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the first stage of the 2009 cross-country race will start in New York City in September, and race officials will seek proposals for other cities to host additional stages of the race. See the Progressive Automotive X Prize press releases.

So, another instance that a car/ insurance company is caring about the environment and the people. This comes as a surprise to me.

Article Information From: www.eere.energy.gov

Algae Power

By Brandon Bishop :D

Recently, a team of biologists demonstrated that some algae, named Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can produce hydrogen in a specific environment. Normally, these bacterias produce oxygen, but the scientists modified their genes, added copper to block the oxygen production, so the cells’ photosynthesis begins to synthesize hydrogenase and produces hydrogen. The algae also need light in order to produce the H2.

Past methods used sulphur, but the cells died within a few days, because of its depletion
We can call this method in somewhat related to biogas production, but much more powerful. The scientists dream of making large hydrogen production facilities and charge the hydrogen fuel tanks more cheaply. You could also have a bunch of bacterias in your garage and fuel your car with their hydrogen!

So, why not try this? It might be the new generation of fuels?

Batteries Made Out of Paper?

By Brandon :)

“Enfucell”, a Finland-based company, has developed a flexible thin battery named “SoftBattery”. This 0.3 – 1.0 millimeter battery (1.5 or 3.0 V) can produce a peak electric current of 4mA/cm². Enfucell was founded in 2002, after nearly ten years of research on power sources for low-power application conducted at the Automation Laboratory of the Helsinki University of Technology. The Soft Battery has several interesting applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and logistics industries.
Benefits of SoftBattery™ Technology:

Material - Made of low cost industrial environmentally friendly materials from reliable suppliers. Disposal with other household waste.

Processability – SoftBattery™ is manufactured in roll form for easy adaptation into current production lines. Easy-to-convert surface material.

Durability in balance with performance.

Simplicity - Easy to manufacture with a wide range of sizes available.

Flexibility - Custom geometries available to fit with every application with no impact on performance. SoftBattery™ can be slightly bent with no affect on performance.

Wide range of operation: -25°C to +60°C

Moisture/wetness resistant.

SoftBattery, Enfucell’s primary product, is similar to a thin galvanic cell and is made of low-cost environmentally friendly materials. The device was designed to be a disposable provider of low voltage, yet stable power. Because the SoftBattery is manufactured in a roll form, it can be easily integrated into existing production lines. The battery can be manufactured in various sizes, and due to its flexible size and shape will perform well even if it is slightly bent. Capable of operating in a wide range of temperatures (-25˚C to +60˚C), this moisture and wetness resistant battery is very durable.

Here's a Better Understanding of how a Fuel Cell Works

Riley Ruse

Here's an Interesting Fuel Source

Riley Ruse

Bubbles For Purchase

Riley Ruse

How would you like to own a hurricane proof house of 3000 sq. ft. or more that may cost less than conventional construction. Check out this website for more. http://static.monolithic.com/gallery/homes/index.html

Salt Water Powered Car!

by Vinny

Here is a video about a man accidentally making a new way to power cars.

Yet Another Sign of Global Warming?

By Chris

Check out this video of an ice shelf about seven times the size of Manhattan breaking off from Antartica.

Interesting....

by Vinny

I was looking around the internet trying to find something to blog on, and I found this.

It has 100 ways that we can help conserve energy and save the environment! A few have been posted on our site, but they also have some new ideas too.

Solar collecting paint

By Landon

Two researchers in the UK, David Worsley and Maarten Wijdekop, have come up with a paint that can produce electricity by gathering energy from the sun.The paint is planned to be based on dye-sensitized solar cells. Instead of absorbing sunlight using silicon like conventional solar panels,they attatch dye molecules to particles of the titanium dioxide pigment used in paints. This combination gives an energetic boost to the electrons, which go from the dye to a layer of electrolyte. The electrolyte then transfers the extra energy into a collecting circuit, before the electrons cycle around back to the dye. This paint isn't very effective compared to the conventional solar panels, but it is much cheaper than purchasing most expensive silicon.

High gas prices...killing us or saving us?

By Landon

Is the rising of gas prices good for the people of the world, specifically America, or could it cause a very uneven distribution of money? When you hear of prices of something going up, you usually become less inclined to buy it. This could change the opinion of many people in the U.S. If less people buy gas, then the supply will be further protected. We don't need to worry about it now, but in 50-100 years our kids will be faced with the problem. Slowing the distribution of gas could provide more of a cushion to transition over to renewable sources. On the other hand, if people are still intent on living the way they do right now and don't plan to slow their buying of fossil fuels, the rising prices could help the economy. This would put more money back into the systems. The big question is, where will the citizens go?

Airplane Energy-How Are Airplanes Becoming More Efficiant?

Airplanes are becoming more and more fuel efficient than they have ever been. Airplanes are now 70% more efficient than they were 40 years ago. This is good news for the Airplane Industry because now they can use a type of fuel that is good for the enviorment while still keeping up with all the daily flights .

by clarissa

Power To England!

by Vinny

England has announced that they are planning on making a huge wind farm offshore. This wind power, expected to be done by 2020, could make enough power to power all the homes on the island. The power created would average around 25 gigawatts, much more clean energy than what England is using now, which isn't much. They would still need fossil fuel power plants so there won't be power shortages on the days there are no wind. I hope more countries start planning these types of projects so we can clean up our world. For more information, go here.

The Power of Stink

Virgina's largest dairy farm has taken an enexpected turn for clean. Check it out: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2008/02/21/mo.cowpower.cnn

Wind Energy Update

by Wyatt


Renewable energy sources are trendy – there is agreement on that…
But there is an assumed lack of knowledge. Big wind parks follow studies that imply heavy investments out of the range of most citizens. In addition, most citizens have no clue of what they can do and how. However, interest is growing and the number of private users of renewable energy sources is gaining significance.
Mick Sagrillo and Ian Woofenden developed a simple but complete “Wind Turbine Buyer’s Guide” to harvest this opportunity and provide buyers with some basic knowledge that is not always available in the market or easy to reach. The article discusses small wind system components, wind turbine basics, and understanding the ratings. It also shows photos of the small wind turbines and lists several specifications for each.

Wind is simple air in motion. It is caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Since the earth’s surface is made of very different types of land and water, it absorbs the sun’s heat at different rates.
During the day, the air above the land heats up more quickly than the air over water. The warm air over the land expands and rises, and the heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating winds. At night, the winds are reversed because the air cools more rapidly over land than over water.
In the same way, the large atmospheric winds that circle the earth are created because the land near the earth's equator is heated more by the sun than the land near the North and South Poles.
Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity. Wind is called a renewable energy source because the wind will blow as long as the sun shines.

Statements Against Al Gore

By Wyatt



Here are some statements made against Al Gore by scientists and others against global warming.





Scientists refute Gore's "opportunistic lies" on global warming

Issue Alert from Winningreen A061506

By Gretchen Randall

Date: June 15, 2006

Issue: Here are more quotes from scientists refuting the claims Gore's movie
"An Inconvenient Truth" makes:

- "When CO2 levels were over ten times higher than they are now,
about 450 million years ago, the planet was in the depths of the absolute
coldest period in the last half billion years." Carleton University
paleoclimatologist Professor Tim Patterson in the Canada Free Press.

- "...Actual available measurements of Arctic surface air
temperatures and related records do not support the contention of a
predominant role played by anthropogenic CO2 forcing, but instead suggest,
even more simply, strong evidence for multidecadal and longer variations
that are either internally generated and/or externally forced and sustained
by variable solar irradiance. Or as political wags might say: 'It's the
sun, stupid'." Dr. Willie Soon

Dr. Soon will be conducting a seminar for Capitol Hill staff Monday, June 19
on "Arctic temperature and climate change" in both the Longworth House
Office Building and Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact Bob Ferguson at
HYPERLINK "http://farns9.iserver.net/imanager/wizards/mm_compose.cgi?mbox=&mpos=1&send_to=bferguson@ff.org" \t "linkWin" bferguson@ff.org for more information and reservations.

Comment 1: Gore's movie is aptly titled. It is an inconvenient truth Gore
is trying to perpetrate on the American public--- that of manmade global
warming.

Comment 2: We need to examine "why" global warming extremists are pushing
their theories. It's not because of concern for the earth. It is a way to
slow America's growth and let other countries catch us. As European Union
Commissioner for the Environment, Margot Walstrom, said, "Global warming is
not a simple environmental issue where you can say it is an issue where
scientists are not unanimous. This is about international relations, this
is about economy, about trying to create a level playing field for big
businesses throughout the world. You have to understand what is at stake and
that is why it is serious."

Background and links: Read "Scientists respond to Gore's warnings of climate
catastrophe" at HYPERLINK "http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm" \t "linkWin" http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm
<>

Dr. Willie Soon writes and lectures both professionally and publicly on
important issues related to the Sun, other stars, and the Earth as well as
general science topics in astronomy and physics. Dr. Soon's scientific
research results and opinions are his own and do not represent those of the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics -- the principal place he
conducts his scientific research.

Contact: Gretchen Randall
Winningreen LLC
3712 N. Broadway - PMB 279
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: 773-857-5086
e-mail: HYPERLINK "http://farns9.iserver.net/imanager/wizards/mm_compose.cgi?mbox=&mpos=1&send_to=grandall@winningreen.com" \t "linkWin" grandall@winningreen.com

Its About Time

The Orlando International Airport has taken the lead on hydrogen vehicals. They are currently testing and using hydrogen shuttle buses to transport travelers to their desired destination. Passengers say that they enjoy riding it due to its cool, clean, and quiet personality. The airport is unaware as to what the outcome will be but everyone agrees that it is what the world needs.

By: Riley Ruse