412 — Practical Shelter

Life Form That Turns CO2 to Fuel

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“We think we will have fourth-generation fuels in about 18 months, with CO2 as the fuel stock.” Simple organisms can be genetically re-engineered to produce vaccines or octane-based fuels as waste, according to Venter. Biofuel alternatives to oil are third-generation. The next step is life forms that feed on CO2 and give off fuel such … Read more

Ecobuild 2008

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With 500 exhibitors, 100 seminars and 20,000 visitors expected, this year’s Ecobuild, at Earls Cout from February 26-28, promises to be bigger than ever. It will once again be staged alongside Futurebuild, showcasing innovations in construction, and Cityscape, home to the largest indoor representation of landscape design. This underlines the importance of sustainable development to … Read more

The Solar Decathlon

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The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best … Read more

Openfaced Silicon Sandwich

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Several years ago, SunPower, a unit of Cypress Semiconductor, (CY) realized the top metal plate was reflecting the sun’s rays, cutting efficiency by reducing the percentage of sunlight converted to electricity. So the company decided to put both plates beneath the silicon. It now has an industry-high efficiency of 22% vs. an average of 16%, … Read more

Foldable, Bendable Battery Made from Paper

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It is a battery that looks like a piece of paper and can be bent or twisted, trimmed with scissors or molded into any shape needed. While the battery is only a prototype a few inches (centimeters) square right now, U.S. researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who developed it have high hopes for it in … Read more

Upgrading China’s Bike Industry

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China’s bicycle industry has been developed rapidly. In 2006, the total bicycle output has reached 85 million across the country with the export of 56 million, which accounted for 70 percent of the world bicycle trade volume. Electric bicycle industry has grown rapidly during the recent five years, and the annual sales reached 19.5 million … Read more