Name Name
titledescript
The argument that solar energy is too costly for widespread adoption is slowly but surely coming apart at the seams, as creative financing models and technological breakthroughs make harnessing the sun's power less expensive and more attainable for the average Joe. From the tech development category comes news of a breakthrough that could open the door to solar panels made from cheaper, more......read more
For his Brecce collection, Italian designer Marco Stefanelli hit upon the clever idea of combining natural, salvaged materials with future-forward lighting technology. The lamps are made from discarded wood scraps into which Stefanelli embeds LED lights and before covering them in resin. The lights cast a soft and calming glow that warmly define whatever space they're in. Stunning pieces.......read more
At this week's multilateral clean energy meeting in London, the British government announced it will collaborate with the US to develop floating wind turbines that harness the higher wind speeds available over deeper water. The UK's offshore wind potential big; it is estimated to account for about one-third of Europe's overall offshore wind potential. But in order to exploit it, new technology......read more
Solyndra be damned. The well-publicized failure of the solar energy company is but one black mark on an industry that is actually booming. According to the 2012 edition of Clean Edge's Clean Energy Trends report, things look very bright indeed. At Co.Exist, writer Ariel Schwartz sums up the findings: 2011 was the largest year for global wind power installations ever. Wind power is projected......read more
Designed for a local artist, this stunning rural home from Toronto-based studio Altius Architecture near Collingwood, Ontario communicates beautifully with the natural surroundings, with dark-framed glass walls and vertical windows that flood the interiors with natural light. Completed last year, the Clearview Residence features a broad selection of sustainable......read more
Berlin-based architectural outfit Studio Aisslinger has created what may be the most stunning modular home ever built. The conceptual building, dubbed Fincube, is "nomadic" in the sense that it can be easily dismantled and reassembled on a new site. The prototype, pictured above, has been constructed near Bozen in Northern Italy, almost 4,000 feet above sea level, with the Dolomite......read more
"I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky--seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." - Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness The Congo, Africa's volatile beating heart, has for centuries represented a vast unknown to the Western imagination. Irish......read more
Tech breakthroughs in the solar energy industry continue to roll in. The latest, from a study published last week in Science Daily, may allow photovoltaic solar cells to double their efficiency, meaning panels will produce loads more electrical power from regular sunlight. Until now, solar energy efficiency has been hampered by the fact that much of the energy delivered to photovoltaic......read more
In a symbolic gesture, German energy authorities are looking to repurpose old coal mines into wind power storage facilities. The concept involves placing hydroelectric pumps inside decommissioned mines, which would access wind power captured by turbines outside, giving new life to old mining communities and creating a sustainable storage system for the new wave of renewable energy. During......read more
This week, Google announced a $280 million investment in SolarCity, the California-based solar startup company founded by Elon Musk (the man behind Tesla Motors, Space X, and Paypal). The deal is Google's largest clean tech investment yet. SolarCity offers solar leasing, which alleviates the somewhat intimidating upfront costs of buying solar panels and allows homeowners......read more
