Scotts Contracting - StLouis Renewable Energy

3.30.2011

Solar Technology News-Artifical Leaf

One Artificial 'Solar Leaf' Could Power Entire Household
one prototype work for 45 hours straight without dipping in efficiency
...could actually make it onto the market because of its low cost. It’s created from nickel and cobalt, making large-scale manufacture feasible.
'artificial leaf' is submerged in water under direct sunlight, allowing it to break down the liquid into hydrogen and oxygen.
These gases are then stored in the fuel cell

It’s no surprise that the most notable scientific breakthroughs have come from technology that allows us to do what nature does, well…naturally.

photosynthesis solar leaf

For instance, scientists have spent years trying to replicate photosynthesis, a process so intricate and complicated it took a multitude of trials to figure out. But they have made a breakthrough—and the impact it could have on off-grid living is huge.

The announcement of the breakthrough was made by the American Chemical Society, an organization of researchers that were able to create an “artificial leaf” capable of turning sunlight directly into energy for later use.

So what makes it different from any other solar cell currently on the market? Just like a regular leaf, it uses water.

In fact, the “artificial leaf” is submerged in water under direct sunlight, allowing it to break down the liquid into hydrogen and oxygen. These gases are then stored in the fuel cell.

While the process is impressive, the amount of energy it can produce is even more amazing—one single leaf could power an entire household in a developing area. They’ve already seen one prototype work for 45 hours straight without dipping in efficiency.

While the technology itself has been around for nearly a decade now, this particular model could actually make it onto the market because of its low cost. It’s created from nickel and cobalt, making large-scale manufacture feasible.

Daniel Nocera, Ph.D. and head researcher on the team said it best:

“A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We believe we have done it. The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries. Our goal is to make each home its own power station. One can envision villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology.”

Photo Credit: Yoko Nekonomania via Flickr CC

Posted on March 30th in Solar Products by Kayla.

Contact Scotts Contracting for your Green Building Needs in St Louis

3.29.2011

Re: Will There Be a Clean Air Act Tomorrow?

On Tue, M

March 29, 2011: In This Issue
º Mercury Pollution Near You
º What's Next for Nuclear Power
º Coal Plant for Sale
º You vs. Exxon Mobil
º A Day of Action for Workers

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IN THE NEWS
The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign director, Mary Anne Hitt, recently appeared on Good Morning America to talk about how you can avoid mercury in your diet and get tested for exposure. (Don't miss seeing the show's host get his results on camera).

To learn more about mercury -- and possibly get tested yourself -- sign up at our Stop Polluters website.

EXPLORE

Firm Up Your Vacation Plans
Can't wait for the snow to melt? Warm up for summer on one of the Sierra Club's plentiful spring trips -- or book your summer trip while spots are still available.

Explore the fabulous canyons, lakes, and waterfalls of Northern Yosemite, pitch in on a service project and kayak in Florida's Cayo Costa Island State Park, or whitewater raft spectacular wilderness canyons in Utah and Colorado's Dinosaur National Monument.

Visit our Outings website to find the trip that's right for you. And be sure to sign up for the Explorer newsletter for monthly updates on new and featured trips!

TODAY'S GREEN TIP
When you consider that showering uses 7 gallons of water per minute, it starts to hit home why you'd want to turn off that tap earlier. Low-flow showerheads certainly help — they'll get you down to 2.5 gallons per minute — but the biggest savings occurs when you just jump in, rinse off, then get out.
More tips | Subscribe!

ENJOY

Not-So-Empty Nests
Which feathered lovers regurgitate food during courtship? Which pint-sized bird binds its home together with spiderwebs? Which mother leaves weak hatchlings to die? Learn some strange, true facts about nests and the birds that build them in this Sierra magazine slideshow.

ON THE RADIO
1) Forrest North and Armen Petrosian, founders of a new iPhone app called PlugShare, which helps electric vehicle owners find places they can plug in anywhere in the country 2) Taggart Siegel and Jon Betz, filmmakers of a new documentary about bees called Queen of the Sun 3) Jody Farnham, author of The Joy of Cheesemaking 4) Green cuisine tips from chef Annie Somerville.
Listen | Subscribe

PROTECT

Keep Mountain Streams Clean
Some members of Congress want to make it easier for Big Coal to destroy our mountains and pollute our streams. Their plan is to strip the EPA's ability to protect us from mining pollution -- requiring them to ignore science as Big Coal fills mountain streams with toxic waste.

Tell Congress to let the EPA do its job to protect America from mountaintop-removal mining.

Will There Be a Clean Air Act Tomorrow?

To protect the corporate polluters that got them elected, several U.S. senators are pushing legislation that would gut the Clean Air Act.

The vote could happen any day this week, which is why it's urgent that you call your senators and tell them to stand up to Big Oil and Coal. The Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of protecting our health and saving lives. Contact your senators now before it's too late.

Is There Mercury Pollution Near You?

Mercury is poisonous and every year about 48 tons of it get dumped into our air and water, and winds up in our food. That's because almost two-thirds of coal-fired power plants lack the necessary pollution controls to keep toxic air pollution like mercury, acid gases, and arsenic out of our air and water.

What can you do? Find out if there is a polluting coal plant near you (use our brand new map) and then learn what you can do to help phase out this old, dirty way of generating power.
A Roadless Walk Across California

At 74 years young, Santa Lucia Chapter member Cal French has seen the California landscape change dramatically, with sprawl development and Joshua trees on a collision course. As the climate changes, though, wild plants and animals need secure open-space corridors so they can adjust and adapt.

To highlight the need to save those natural corridors, Cal has pulled on his boots and started a two-month, 530-mile roadless hike all the way from the Colorado River westward to Morro Bay.

Follow his progress as he blogs and posts photos from his trek.
What's Next for Nuclear Power

The tragedy in Japan has suddenly cast the risks of nuclear power in a different light for many of its former supporters, but the Sierra Club has consistently been opposed to nuclear power.

As Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune wrote for Fortune magazine this month: "We shouldn't be throwing good money after bad and using taxpayer dollars to subsidize the construction of new nuclear plants. Instead, we should be deepening our commitment to an aggressive transition toward cleaner energy resources, like solar and wind, that don't cause catastrophic meltdowns, don't cause massive spills on our coastlines, and don't contribute to global warming."

Maybe then we won't need to mine for uranium right next to Grand Canyon National Park.

Coal Plant for Sale

In the market for your own personal outdated energy source? You're in luck -- Santee Cooper is selling all the parts and design for its now-canceled coal plant in South Carolina. Yes, the company has even listed it as "for sale" in Power Engineering magazine. The Sierra Club has been heavily involved in fighting this plant, which is one of more than 150 we've stopped through our Beyond Coal campaign.

Now we're looking for your ideas: What should be done with all those spare parts?

The Difference Between You and Exxon Mobil

The people who created the wonderful "Story of Stuff" video didn't stop there -- they've now released "The Story of Citizens United v. FEC: Why Democracy Only Works When People Are in Charge."

That's a mouthful, but it really comes down to why corporate spending to influence politicians and elections has exploded ever since the Supreme Court granted corporations like Exxon Mobil the same free-speech rights enjoyed by actual human beings. The result: "a democracy in crisis."

Watch it now and then take action to demand reform.
A Day of Action for Workers

As Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune has written, union members and environmentalists share a common vision of creating healthy, safe, prosperous communities across America. Together we fight for policies that ensure clean air, water and lands, and decent wages, health care, and a secure retirement for working families.

On April 4, 2011, citizens across the nation will come together for a Day of Action for human, civil, and environmental rights and a better America. We will not allow corporate polluters and their political friends to take away the rights that Dr. King and thousands of others fought to secure. Find out how you can get involved.

View previous editions at the Insider Archives.

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Energy Efficiency Investments

NEWS RELEASE- ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVESTMENTS WOULD CREATE THOUSANDS OF LOCAL JOBS AND SAVE CUSTOMERS BILLIONS

For Immediate Release

ARKANSAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVESTMENTS WOULD CREATE THOUSANDS OF LOCAL JOBS AND SAVE CUSTOMERS BILLIONS

State Already On Track to Becoming the Most Energy Efficient in Southeast

Washington, D.C. ---- Investments in energy efficiency across all four of Arkansas' economic sectors ---- residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation ---- would create over 11,000 jobs, generate $240 million in revenue for the state, and save consumers $3.2 billion in energy bills by 2025, according to a report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report, Advancing Energy Efficiency in Arkansas: Opportunities for a Clean Energy Economy, examines the potential for greater energy efficiency in Arkansas and suggests a variety of policies to tap into this underused resource.

An interim release of ACEEE's Arkansas report has already been successful in influencing energy efficiency policy in the state. The study was delivered to government officials, including the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC), in June 2010 and utilized during APSC proceedings. On December 10, 2010, the APSC issued 10 orders designed to expand the energy efficiency efforts of Arkansas utilities, making Arkansas the first state in the Southeast to adopt a comprehensive set of policies on utility energy efficiency programs.

Among the programs created by the APSC orders is an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS), which sets a statewide goal for long-term energy savings. In order to meet the EERS targets, the report suggests instituting a number of programs including weatherization assistance for inefficient homes, energy-efficient financing for the Arkansas agricultural sector, and investments in the efficiency of Arkansas' public buildings. The report projects that investments in this suite of programs and policies will not only create jobs and lower energy bills, but will also increase the state's productivity and revenue.

"This study lays the foundation for a future of sustained economic activity and prosperity for Arkansas citizens by recommending a broad suite of policies intended to capture a significant amount of energy savings potential across all of Arkansas' economic sectors," said Max Neubauer, ACEEE Research Associate and lead author of the report. "Investments in these energy efficiency policies will reduce energy consumption, helping to create jobs while saving consumers money that can then be reinvested elsewhere in the state economy."

The report also analyzes Arkansas' transportation sector, making a variety of policy recommendations to reduce fuel use while helping to address congestion and expand transportation options for its growing population. The analysis focused primarily on the state's two major metropolitan areas, Little Rock/North Little Rock and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, and found that the recommendations could cut the state's transportation fuel needs by 10 percent in 2025.

"The orders given by the Arkansas Public Service Commission signify a break from the commonly voiced doctrine in the Southeast that any expense on utility bills is a bane of business and economic growth," said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel. "In fact, it is quite the opposite: energy efficiency encourages economic growth by reducing energy bills and creating a robust, sustainable energy efficiency market that offers new business opportunities and generates jobs."

Steven Nadel and Max Neubauer will be presenting their findings to the state's Joint Energy Committee on March 29^th.

To read the report, click here.

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About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit www.aceee.org.

ACEEE | 529 14th Street., N.W. | Suite 600 | Washington | DC | 20045