Remember the EcoButton? Well, there’s an upgraded version of a similar save-energy-via-PC-sleep-mode concept that isn’t made of plasticrap. A new free software program has been developed by Verdiem that will help cut PC energy use by allowing users to schedule when their computer goes into sleep mode.

Called – rather unoriginally – Edison, it’s basically a free version of their SURVEYOR software program. A user can decide when their home and work PC slips to sleep so it consumes far less energy. While my computer use tends to be, well, constant, and I shut it down when I head for bed, something like this wouldn’t do much for computer-dependent people like me. But I’m guessing that for people who know exactly when their computer won’t be in use for short enough durations that a full shut down doesn’t make sense, like lunch or dinner hours, then this program could be handy. I blindly hope that people wouldn’t need this for night use, and that they actually shut down their computers at night, but…

The software will also allow users to schedule when to shut down the screen and hard drive, and it lets users see how much electricity, CO2 emissions, and money they’re saving through their use of the software. PCs can be responsible for as much as 10% of a home’s energy bill, and one estimate places Verdiem’s software as saving about 410 kilowatt hours a year, which translates to a few bucks a month (a little less – or more realistic – than the savings projected by 1E and their similar software). Saving $2-3 per month really isn’t bad for just loading up free software and putting the PC to sleep. It even runs on Windows Vista (gasp!).

Via cnet; Photo via Verdiem

Businesses will now be able to get more solar power from rooftop systems with a Sunflower rooftop solar PV concentrator system from Energy Innovations. It is the very first concentrator system to get Underwriters Laboratories certification and is deemed safe for roofs. With the certification comes qualification for much sought after solar rebates, and the company is looking to raise $20 million so they can produce and install more systems in 2009.

By concentrating sunlight more than 1,000 times, the system makes electricity cheaper than traditional PV systems. It is self-powered and doesn’t need to penetrate the roof for installation.

Firsts like this are a pretty big deal because they show the unflagging growth of solar concentration efficiency and how the technology is catching up to coal in cheapness. Underwriters Laboratories recognizes this with the opening of their PV testing lab in San Jose, the largest in North America. The plan for the lab is to open up the bottleneck in testing and certifications for solar products.

The big step forward for Energy Innovations with their certification is hopefully the first of many to come through soon.

Via cnet; Photo via Energy Innovations

Apparently Mitsubishi is confident that the i-MiEV is going to be really popular. Not a bad assumption considering the popularity of the Smart Car, the fact that the i-MiEV is the vehicle of choice for renewable charging station testing, and the small matter of Japan’s postal service itching to go all-electric for their fleet. I wonder if their UK survey brought back signs of high demand as well.

At any rate, the company along with Yuasa have decided that their battery plant needs to be a whole lot bigger…before they’ve even put out a single battery! So Yuasa is now hunting for a space to build this much larger plant.

Their new plant will be open by April of 2009 and can produce 2,000 batteries, but they then plan to boost production to 10,000 a year “shortly afterward.” This along with Toyota’s new battery plant for the Prius goes to underline the consumer push for EVs and electric hybrids. Now we just need to be able to buy the cars…waiting….waiting…waiting…

Via AutoblogGreen, Businessweek

ADC is creating what will be the first Platinum LEED-certified data center hosting facility. They’re able to get this high rating by piping outdoor air inside to cool the datacenters, rather than relying only on air conditioners, taking the load off the AC for 75% of the year. It’ll make it 25-30% more energy efficient, which clearly impresses LEED certifiers.

Because ADC’s billing structure has customers paying a portion of the power bill, customers have a nudge in the side to reduce their energy use as much as possible. Data centers are a known culprit for high energy use, and many companies are looking into creating more efficient servers and ways to make existing data centers more efficient. Additionally, the planning for the building includes options for customers to use water to cool their equipment, on-site power generation through fuel cells, and direct-current wiring to lower electricity use.

And they’re throwing in the now old-hat environmentally friendly building elements like capturing rainwater for landscaping and toilets, non-volatile paints, and reflective materials to reduce heat absorption during the day. The building is under construction and will open early next year.

Via cnet, photo via josjos

Solar bags so far are notoriously expensive. From $1500 for a briefcase, to $300-$400 for a carry-on style bag, to $250 for a beach bag. All of which are fairly ugly. They grasp desperately onto some appeal factor by looking like anything you can pick up at Target, but end up utterly unspectacular except for the sore-thumb solar cells on the sides. Luckily, women - or men exceedingly comfortable with their sexuality - will be able to have their style and solar power too.

Cost competitive for other bags we’ve seen (though still pretty pricy), is the new Solarjo Power Purse. Coming in at $285, it’s about what someone with extra cash would spend on a fancy purse. And this one looks like something you might find at a nicer department store – in fact, it looks really stylish.

The purse is covered in solar cells that can soak up enough sun in two hours to charge a cell phone battery. The PV cells are laminated for protection from scratches, and two batteries held in the lining of the purse hold a full charge that can last for up to a month. A USB port inside the purse can be used for charging most any small device, from phones to cameras, palm pilots to iPods. Basically, someone can just plop it on a window sill at work or some sunny location, wait for a charge, and plug in their doo-dads, all with the purse functioning exactly as a purse should – no obtrusive wires or obnoxiously geeky give-aways.

The purse was designed three years ago by Joe Hynek who recognized just how lame solar accessories can be. It’ll be available by the end of 2008 for people who want to flash their attachment to the green movement with something that won’t clash with their outfit. It definitely has the potential to get picked up by some hip celebrity and then they'll go flying off shelves.

Considering it’ll cost no more than a designer bag already costs, it looks great, and you’ll get free solar power, I think this is a pretty big breakthrough in solar power fashion. Now, we’ll just have to see how well it actually works at collecting energy, and if the price stays at the projected $285 after release.

Via Dailymail

BP has a lot of money, and they want to focus a big chunk into cellulosic ethanol. So, they’re partnering up with Verenium and giving the company $90 million over the next year and a half in order to gain some of Verenium’s technology and hopefully speed up commercialization of cellulosic ethanol.

Looking towards sugar cane, miscanthus, and energy cane, they’re hoping to scale up biofuel’s availability from these and other sources. The $90m will go towards helping put up low-cost production facilities across the US, and will give BP licenses to intellectual property of Verenium.

BP’s president Sue Ellerbusch said that this partnership positions BP as having the best technology in cellulosic ethanol production and makes them leaders in the area. Not surprising since they’re forming other partnerships that help them corner the biofuel industry, including partnerships with DuPont, Tropica BioEnergia and D1 Oils.

BP’s fuel sales during 2007 accounted for 10% of the global biofuels market. So they’re serious about making sure that biofuels become more easily available.

Via Verenium, BP; Photo via Verenium

Hybrids are lovable. They’re cute, kinda awkward looking and much less demanding when it comes to meal times at the fuel pump. One good thing about hybrids is also one of the bad things about these cars: they’re silent and to a concerned group of pedestrians, that silence could be very dangerous.

The National Federation of the Blind have raised their concerns about the hazards posed by hybrids, especially problematic for children, seniors and blind pedestrians who depend on the sound emitted by cars in order to travel safely and independently. The federation is calling on the industry to design an inoffensive sound that will give pedestrians a signal that a car is coming.

Two new solutions may solve the problem of too-silent hybrids. A year ago, Stanford University researchers in electrical engineering, the biosciences and sound engineering founded Enhanced Vehicle Acoustics, which markets external sound systems for hybrids. EVA’s sound system for the Toyota Prius, which runs only on electricity at low speeds, emits sounds similar to that of a regular combustion engine, but at a fraction of the sound level. When the hybrid reaches speeds of 20 to 25 mph the sound produced by the tire noise and wind generated by the car is normally sufficient for bystanders to hear so EVA’s system shuts off.

Now Lotus, one of the premier automakers in the world known for its high-performance vehicles, is also coming up with a similar technology to help give hybrids a bigger voice on the road. It’s outfitting a Prius with a waterproof speaker under the hood of the car giving it the roaring sound of regular vehicles. Lotus says its “safe and sound hybrid technology” simulates a real engine sound making it instantly recognizable that the vehicle is in motion.

To synthesize the engine sound, a road speed signal is taken from the vehicle and the waterproof loudspeaker system emanates the sound from the front of the vehicle. Once the vehicle has passed, the sound is not heard. When the car is operating on the electric motor only, throttle and speed synthesize sounds projects a realistic engine sound. If the hybrid’s engine starts operating, at higher speeds or throttle demands or lower battery levels, the control system automatically stops the external synthesis. When the powertrain control system switches the car back to running on the electric motor only, the synthesis controller instantaneously sets the system running again.

It is all completely automatic and the driver hears almost none of the additional sound. The device kicks in automatically to produce an artificial engine noise when the hybrid car runs on its electric motor. When the car's combustion engine takes over, sensors fitted to the engine and suspension turn off the sound. The engine noise is produced by a waterproof loudspeaker positioned next to the car's radiator, making the sound seem to originate from under the bonnet. The system produces a pitch and frequency designed to help pedestrians identify the car's speed and distance. Lotus adapted the system from technology previously developed to block outside noise from the inside of its cars.

Via WIRED, Enhanced Vehicle Acoustics, Lotus