Clean Technologies, the Future?
Clean technologies provide the shining beacon of hope in the dark world issues of climate change, energy security and energy price hikes. We need new solutions and we need them fast. The industry that provides the practical solutions to these problems is fast growing and covers many aspects of sustainable engineering. Smog or air...
Dragon Oven Helps Fire Up Local Food Movement
Possibly the world’s first mobile dragon oven fires up to inspire the local food movement among Angelenos. The Dragon Oven “Sparky” is the creation of artist Ray Cirino and business partner Camille Cimino who both wanted to create a piece of art that was fully functional and supported the city’s food and sustainability efforts. Although southern...
Biofuel Plants Still Have Plenty of Room to Grow More Sustainably
Many different plants are used in the production of biofuels. Palm oil, rapeseed or “canola” vegetable oil, cottonseed oil and soybean oil is common in commercial production. Recycled waste vegetable oils are used in home-scale biofuel production and used to power your car. Experimental feedstocks and even algaes are being used a more sustainable, second...
How to Build Your Own Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great home-scale way for people to generate their own electricity, supplementing what’s coming from the grid, or, in the case of larger, more expensive setups, to take care of their own power needs. If you’re interested in getting into the nitty-gritty of how a solar power system works or are looking...
The Current Status of Second Generation Biofuels
Biofuels are seen as one of the most feasible options for reducing carbon emissions and improving fuel efficiency for the typical lightweight car and truck. For heavy-duty vehicles, marine vessels and airplanes in particular, biofuels will play an increasing role to reduce carbon dioxide emissions since electric vehicles and fuel cells are not feasible for...
The Disadvantages Of Biodiesel
All biofuels are fuels that are made from organic waste and it a more environmentally friendly way of producing and using fuels. Biodiesel is a term that is used very often in green communities and it is any biofuel that is equivalent to diesel. Biodiesel is one of the biofuels we are further developing...
Eco-Friendly Computers a Real Possibility?
You are reading this on a computer which may or may not be your own (perhaps it’s one at the local library or at work). I have been tapping away on my laptop to get this message to you. Though I also confess access to and use of at least four computers – in the...
Biofuel Fuels and Fires Not All the Same
Ethanol and biofuel fires in fireplaces sound like a great proposition: With no ventilation needed, no chimney is required and that means greater heat retention. Also, biofuel fireplaces produce less airborne pollution, in the form of carbon, ash and particulate matter, than wood fires. While they have gained popularity in Europe, they are just now...
Climate Change Solutions: Grassroots and Geo-engineering
Global climate change in an accepted phenomenon by an international community of respected scientists. However, due to a vocal group of corporate interests and their enablers, climate change-deniers, concrete action to combat greenhouse gas production has been slow in coming. An international cap-and-trade system was on the table in climate change talks in Copenhagen, in...
Cobalt Biofuels Banks on Biobutanol
Cobalt Biofuels is a biofuel manufacturer based in Mountain View, California that specializes in the production of biobutanol, an alternative to petroleum-derived industrial products. Butanol is a product used in paints, coatings, jet fuel and other industrial applications. Cobalt, this year, announced plans to build the first cellulosic biobutanol refinery, a process that will take...
Grow Food Indoors with Aeroponics
The idea of a community urban garden just got a facelift. A new innovative company, AeroFarm has been making waves with their unique growing units that use recycled cloth materials instead of soil. There is no need for sunlight or pesticides either. The LED based lighting system is very low energy and much more efficient...
How to Build a Clay Oven
Clay, or “earthen” ovens are simple in design. Using wood to fire them and the insulating properties of bricks and clay to absorb and then radiate heat, you can cook anything in an earthen oven that you could cook in a conventional oven. One easy and common thing to cook in an earthen oven is...