Triple-junction solar cell design could break 50 percent conversion barrier
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2013-01-17 04:12:00 UTC
The current world record for triple-junction solar cell efficiency is 44 percent, but a collaboration between the U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Imperial College of London, and MicroLink Devices Inc. has led to a multi-junction photovoltaic cell design that could break the 50 percent conversion efficiency barrier under concentrated solar illumination...
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Triple-junction solar cell design could break 50 percent conversion barrier
Section: ecoGizmo
Tags: Efficiency,
Energy,
Naval Research Laboratory,
Photovoltaic,
Solar Cell
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The NanoLight Touts Itself as the World’s Most Efficient LED Light Bulb
by: Inhabitat , 2013-01-16 22:27:54 UTC
When trying to squeeze every last penny out of your utilities, picking the right light bulb could go a long way towards reducing your bills. LED bulbs have exploded in popularity due to their efficiency and longevity – and the new NanoLight claims to be the world’s most energy-efficient light bulb, emitting over 1600 lumens while using only 12 watts of power. While there are many 20-60 watt LED equivalent bulbs on the market, the omnidirectional NanoLight is the first 100 watt comparable device. Completely eliminating the need for a heat sink, the NanoLight claims to be 87% more efficient than a standard incandescent and it uses 50% less energy than a compact fluorescent.
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Post tags: Bulb, christian yan, circuit board, compact fluorescent, efficient, gimmy chu, incandescent, kickstarter, LED, Light, nanolight, tom rodinger, University of Toronto
Holy Cow: Quirky's Moldable Sandpaper
by: Core77, 2013-01-17 15:00:00 UTC
Call me cheap, but I hate the design of the rubber sanding block, mostly because I can't stand that one-third of each sandpaper strip is wasted in the ends that you have to tuck into the spikes. I save the little perforated, untouched bits but never get around to using them.
A product currently under consideration at Quirky looks to replace the sanding block—and the sandpaper—entirely. Sandables are essentially moldable, elastic, claylike objects embedded with grit.
(more...)
Virgin, Ritz-Carlton to Bottle Own Water
by: Environmental Leader, 2013-01-16 15:15:25 UTC
Hospitality brands including Virgin Hotels and Ritz Carlton have signed up to the Whole World Water initiative, through which they will filter, bottle and sell their own water. The spas, hotels, resorts and restaurants that join the program will then contribute 10 percent of the bottled water proceeds to the Whole World Water Fund, which benefits clean [...]
Toyota Prius Dominates Green Vehicle List
by: Environmental Leader, 2013-01-17 15:36:34 UTC
Toyota’s 2013 Prius line dominates this year’s Greenest list, an automotive ranking by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The Toyota Prius C, a compact version of the Prius with a 53 mpg city and 46 mpg highway efficiency, received the highest green score with 58 points. The Honda Fit electric car was ranked [...]
Business Trusted More on Climate Change
by: Environmental Leader, 2013-01-17 15:59:20 UTC
A majority of Americans believe businesses are better suited than the government to cope with climate change, according to a survey by communications group Havas Worldwide. The study “Communities and Citizenship: Redesigned for a New World” found US consumers expect businesses to take on duties that were once the tasks of government. This is partly [...]
Dezeen launches World Design Guide
by: Dezeen, 2013-01-16 12:44:23 UTC
Dezeen has just launched World Design Guide, an online guide to the key architecture and design events around the world in 2013. (more...)
The Quest for an Affordable Dust-Collecting Cyclone, Part 3: More DIY Options and a Clarification
by: Core77, 2013-01-16 15:30:00 UTC
In Part 1 of The Quest for an Affordable Dust-Collecting Cyclone, I got one of the facts backwards; luckily Stuart Deutsch (newly-minted PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, congrats Stu!) over at ToolGuyd wrote in to set the record straight. I'd incorrectly stated that "most of the dust (and particularly the fine particles) gets sucked away by the vortex," but in fact it's the reverse. As Deutsch points out,
Generally, cyclones are more efficient at separating out larger and heavier debris and particles. In terms of woodworking, they're better at trapping chips, shavings, and coarse particles, than lighter and finer dust that often continues on to the dust collector or shop vacuum anyways. Still, separators do greatly cut down on dust collector/shop vacuum maintenance.
Deutsch has also written a more extensive explanation of how dust cyclones work, and in our correspondence, kindly pointed the way towards two other DIY dust cyclone options:
The first, which is pictured at the top of this entry, is the Mini Cyclone Bucket Dust Collector, an Instructable written by a guy named Steli. Parts will run you about US $25 and it's "easy to build in a weekend." Steli lives in Europe, and when American readers commented that they couldn't find the common-in-Europe funnels in the size specified by Steli's design, he came up with an interesting suggestion:
"Buy an emergency street/traffic cone, and cut it down to your diameter size and length."
(more...)
Adital Ela’s Biodegradable Terra Stools are Made of Earth and Cost Zero Energy to Produce
by: Inhabitat , 2013-01-15 22:00:54 UTC
In the last several years eco designer Adital Ela has dedicated her time to the earth by developing Terra – a brand of bio furniture made from compressed earth and agricultural waste. Terra is a series of products that are 100% organic, can be produced everywhere with local earth and agricultural residue, require zero energy to produce and are fully compostable. In her recent talk at TEDxJerusalem, Adital shares the unique story behind Terra.
+ Adital Ela
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NAIAS 2013: Tesla Brings Gullwing Model X to the Detroit Auto Show
by: Inhabitat , 2013-01-15 22:18:04 UTC
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Post tags: 2013 Detroit Auto Show, 2013 NAIAS, detroit auto show, electric car, green cars, green transportation, Laura K. Cowan, Model x, NAIAS, new Tesla concept car, north american international auto show, tesla
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