Laddermill

I'm convinced that alternative sources of energy are absolutely necessary for a greener future. Today I came across a (Dutch) concept called the Laddermill.


Basically it's a derivative of the traditional windmill. The difference is that kite-like objects are used (like in the picture). The line goes up to a height of 30.000 feet and when working fully a power equivalent of 100 megawatts is generated.

That is enough to power 100,000 families.

A big advantage of this new method are the inexpensive materials used. Compared to windmills the kites are a lot cheaper. Besides the Laddermill takes up a relatively small amount of space. And at last the wind speeds at 30,000 feet are higher so more energy can be generated.

-jdh

Solar and Wind Powered Billboard in Times Square!

Sweet!

SuperForester Justin just sent this in. It was originally posted on engadget.

"Ever walk through Times Square and wonder how much electricity all those flashy billboards are soaking up? No? Well, Ricoh has, and now they're doing something about it. Ricoh Company Ltd. of Tokyo is erecting a 47 x 126-foot billboard at Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street that will be completely powered by the sun and wind. Fueled by 45 solar panels and four wind turbines, the billboard won't even need a backup electric generator. On days that the sun and wind aren't enough to power it, it will simply go dark. In the end, the billboard is said to reduce carbon dioxide usage by 18 tons a year. The billboard will go live in December, or just in time for the sun to go dark."

That's triple awesome. One billboard down, many to go.

Little by little, the world shifts and adjusts to the new responsibility.

Full story on engadget.

Blimp Power!

Wind is such an amazing element! It can rustle the savoyed leaves signaling another seasonal change is apon us, it can carry delicate pollen propagating a plant species, it can cradle the smell of a freshly baked pie, it can even power our cities.

We all get a daily perspective of the wind on the surface of the earth. But, I wonder what the wind is like high in the clouds?

The Magenn Air Rotor System is the worlds first EVER floating wind turbine!

This lofty lovely will have us looking to the skies!

LOVE,

tv

Exciting Times!

Hello All,

Environmentally speaking, things seem to be going very well.
Winter is coming to a close, Spring is just around the corner, and there is an unmistakable buzz in the air.

Everywhere I look, I see things that encourage and excite me:

Wind Power in Texas.

(great article here: nytimes.com)

Green skyscrapers and carbon neutral cities popping up around the globe.




(images via inhabitat)

Inhabitat and Treehugger constantly awash with a wealth of inspiring intel.

(image via inhabitat)


(image via treehugger)

Swissmiss and her seemingly endless supply of inspiring design and imagery:





Wonderful times, these.

Love to all,

SFNYC

Wind Turbine Time Lapse

Positively wonderful.

Turbine Power

(from Treehugger.com)


So, how long would a wind turbine have to run before it made up for the energy used in its manufacturing?

6.8 months.

"The life cycle assessment of a 3.0 MW wind turbine indicates that it would have to generate electricity for only 6.8 months , of their assumed 20 year useful life, before it produces as much energy as is used during the manufacturing phase. “This, they say, means the turbine model earns its own worth more than 35 times during its energy production lifetime.”

More wind turbines, less coal and nuclear.

Yay! The present is a very exciting time.

Smarter Solar Panels

Nanosolar in Palo Alto, CA has invented a method of printing thin, flexible, solar panels!

Instead of thick, bulky panels, these panels are as thin as a supermodel, and produce far more electricity!

Check out this short!
kqed.org

nanosolar.com
Nanosolar, Inc.
5521 Hellyer Avenue
San Jose, CA 95138
Fax: 408.365.5965
Email: info@nanosolar.com

Swedish Wind!

Get your minds out of the gutter.

I'm talking about wind power!

The New York Times has a cautious article on Sweden's big push towards an all-renewable energy infrastructure.

Now, wind power does have its naysayers, (although, I've yet to meet one,) but wind power's plusses here so far outweigh its minuses, I say when it comes to nice, clean turbines heating my bath water and providing me light to read, the more the merrier.

Here's the article: nytimes.com



Which would you prefer in your backyard?
Coal Power.


Wind Power.


Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

-Jackson