interweb ink » Energy

Biomimicry Your Time Has Come

Jason Patocka — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:42:47 +0000

The American Chemical Society assembled its grand hive mind of chemists for the 239th time in San Francisco last week. Among the 12,000 presentations delivered across a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines, a presentation by doctors Tongxiang Fan, Di Zhang, and Han Zhou of the State Key Lab of Matrix Composites at Shanghai Jiaotong University highlighted a rapidly growing trend in chemical engineering. The group presented efforts towards designing renewable energy systems with a synthetic leaf, where the prototype would capture photons and use them to change water into hydrogen fuel.

The Shanghai Jiaotong University team’s designed system leverages photosynthetic tools to incorporate nature’s efficiency into our everyday insatiable demand for energy. This approach to engineering is part of a larger engineering trend called biomimicry that is starting to dominate peer reviewed publications worldwide.

Global energy demand is only projected to increase, and competition for new energy harvesting methods is going to be fierce in years ahead.

Its exciting to think about where this research will lead. As the threats of peak oil production and climate change loom over the global economy, ideas like this are most welcome. Let us hope that the science can endure the sociopolitical uncertainties of transition, greed, and entrenched special interest.

EPA says Panasonic is officially it’s green buddy for 2010

Savan Thongvanh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:22:55 +0000

EPA NAMES PANASONIC HOME & ENVIRONMENT COMPANY2010 ENERGY STAR® PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Panasonic earns award for protecting the environment through manufacturing energy-efficient products.

Secaucus, NJ (March 1, 2010) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Panasonic Home & Environment Company as a 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and helping to educate consumers about those products. Panasonic’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. Panasonic Home & Environment Company (http://www.panasonic.com/ventfans), an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the ENERGY STAR rating, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. With the highest efficacy (up to 10.1 cubic feet per minute/Watt) of any of the ventilation fan ENERGY STAR partners, Panasonic continues to exceed standards with its entire ventilation fan line where guidelines exist.

“Panasonic is honored to be named an ENERGY STAR partner for 2010 because it validates our efforts related to energy efficiency,” said Anita So, Marketing Manager, Panasonic Home & Environment Company. “The award not only acknowledges our energy-saving ventilation fans and their role in preserving indoor air quality cost-effectively, but it also recognizes our commitment to educating both industry professionals and consumers on the importance of sustainability.”

Last year alone Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards are given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“Today, EPA is recognizing Panasonic for taking the lead in addressing climate change through their commitment to energy efficiency,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “Panasonic is producing and promoting products that have earned the ENERGY STAR, showing customers that together, we can increase our nation’s energy efficiency and reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.”

About Panasonic Home & Environment Company

Panasonic Home & Environment Company, a division of Panasonic Home & Health Company, which is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and is the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. The company has a full line of ventilation fans featuring models for nearly every type of home-building need. All Panasonic ventilation fans are ENERGY STARÒ qualified where guidelines exist. Panasonic is a leader in developing and marketing the most comprehensive lineup of energy-efficient consumer electronics, information technology products, home appliances, and HVAC products, and continues to set the pace for consumer electronics manufacturers.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

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Editorial Contacts: Beth Crisafi, (212) 697-2600 bcrisafi@gibbs-soell.com

MeeJin Annan-Brady, (201) 392-6124 annan-bradym@us.panasonic.com

Maria Vargas, (202) 343-9178 vargas.maria@epa.gov

Source: Panasonic

Piezoelectrics? Yes Please

Jason Patocka — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:07:51 +0000

Battery life is the bane of most people’s existence, including mine. The good news is that there is certainly lots of buzz among materials engineers to develop something with greater capacity and efficiency than the ubiquitous lithium ion battery. Lewei Linat UC Berkeley is taking a different approach to extending battery life by using piezoelectric nanowires to generate electricity. For those of you new to the growing field of piezoelectric engineering, its where scientists and engineers are trying to develop novel materials that harvest kinetic energy. In other words, making a jacket that harvests electricity as a byproduct of your movement.

The energy market is ripe for innovation. Current methods of energy production are extremely inefficient and expensive, and I rather like the idea of charging my iPhone by simply walking to the grocery store. Or better yet, finally being able to take my favorite mobile devices on a 3 month trek in the back-country. Nature abundant, outlet free, GPS enabled, and routinely jamming to Quantic.

Certainly, Nike is rapt with attention.