Green Options » Michael Ratliff http://greenoptions.com/author/mratliff211/ Post archive of Michael Ratliff Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:37:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en http://greenoptions.com/author/mratliff211/ http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b8f48d52393b80412541b616f7641299?s=65&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32 Green Options » Michael Ratliff Thin-Film Solar Cells Get a Boost From Nanotechnology http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/16/thin-film-solar-cells-get-a-boost-from-nanotechnology/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/16/thin-film-solar-cells-get-a-boost-from-nanotechnology/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:37:02 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/16/thin-film-solar-cells-get-a-boost-from-nanotechnology/ Nanotechnology may lead to a thin film solar cell breakthrough

A new European Union funded research project called “ROD-SOL” aims to improve the efficiency of thin-film solar cells using nanotechnology.  The three year project has a budget of EUR 4 million and may yield a breakthrough for solar power.  

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/16/thin-film-solar-cells-get-a-boost-from-nanotechnology/feed/ Who’s At Fault for Coyote Attacks: People or Animals? http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/13/whos-at-fault-for-coyote-attacks-people-or-animals/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/13/whos-at-fault-for-coyote-attacks-people-or-animals/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:46:18 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/13/whos-at-fault-for-coyote-attacks-people-or-animals/ 5 coyotes shot by Colorado Division of Wildlife last week following a coyote attack

Coyote attacks are on the rise in the Denver area this winter.  Unfortunately, the simple solution that people have come up with is to shoot coyotes.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/13/whos-at-fault-for-coyote-attacks-people-or-animals/feed/ Quantum Dots…The Future of Solar? http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/12/quantum-dotsthe-future-of-solar/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/12/quantum-dotsthe-future-of-solar/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:17:41 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/12/quantum-dotsthe-future-of-solar/ What does the future of solar energy hold in store?

A recent discovery shatters the notion that one photon can only excite one electron.  Researchers from the joint SLAC-Stanford Pulse Institute for Ultrafast Energy Science are on the move to boost solar cell efficiencies by confirming that a single photon can indeed excite more than one electron in a quantum dot.  Are we at the cross roads of a new solar age?  

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/12/quantum-dotsthe-future-of-solar/feed/ 13 Asian Black Bears Rescued from ‘Bile Farms’ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/12/13-asian-black-bears-rescued-from-bile-farms/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/12/13-asian-black-bears-rescued-from-bile-farms/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:34:11 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/12/13-asian-black-bears-rescued-from-bile-farms/ An Asiatic Black Bear or \'Moon Bear\', enjoys an apple

Animals Asia successfully rescued 13 Asian black bears (moon bears) from bile farms in the past month. This is a small step in a continuing fight, as an estimated 7,000-10,000 moon bears still suffer in bile farms across China.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/12/13-asian-black-bears-rescued-from-bile-farms/feed/ Critically Endangered Tiger Responsible for 6 Deaths in Past Month, Deforestation Blamed http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/27/endangered-tiger/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/27/endangered-tiger/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:39:51 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/27/endangered-tiger/

The WWF has called for a halt to Indonesian deforestation in light of the recent tiger maulings that have left 6 people dead in less than a month.  The last three victims all appeared to be working at illegal logging camps in protected forests.

The Sumatran tiger (the worlds most endangered tiger subspecies) is having a hard time coping with a diminishing habitat.  Forest destruction and fragmentation have led the tigers to lay claim to woods near populated areas.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/27/endangered-tiger/feed/ Researchers Look to Butterflies for Solar Cell Improvements http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/09/researchers-look-to-butterflies-for-solar-cell-improvements/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/09/researchers-look-to-butterflies-for-solar-cell-improvements/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:09:40 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/09/researchers-look-to-butterflies-for-solar-cell-improvements/

Solar collectors found on butterfly wings are being investigated as a means to improve the efficiency of a type of thin-film solar cells.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/09/researchers-look-to-butterflies-for-solar-cell-improvements/feed/ Innovative ‘Solar Film’ Could Lead to Solar Fabrics and Skyscrapers http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/29/innovative-%e2%80%98solar-film%e2%80%99-could-lead-to-solar-fabrics-and-skyscrapers/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/29/innovative-%e2%80%98solar-film%e2%80%99-could-lead-to-solar-fabrics-and-skyscrapers/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:02:04 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/29/innovative-%e2%80%98solar-film%e2%80%99-could-lead-to-solar-fabrics-and-skyscrapers/

 

 

Massachusetts based solar upstart Konarka has developed a low cost thin-film solar material that may one day revolutionize solar power. 

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/29/innovative-%e2%80%98solar-film%e2%80%99-could-lead-to-solar-fabrics-and-skyscrapers/feed/ Entech Device Harvests the Sun’s Light and Heat Energy http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/18/entech-device-harvests-suns-light-and-heat-energy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/18/entech-device-harvests-suns-light-and-heat-energy/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:59:23 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/18/entech-device-harvests-suns-light-and-heat-energy/

Solar companies are beginning to see the benefits in harvesting both forms of the sun’s energy (heat and light) with a single device. On the forefront of this developing trend is Entech Solar, based out of Ewing, NJ, with their ThermaVolt™ solar hybrid system.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/18/entech-device-harvests-suns-light-and-heat-energy/feed/ Nanotubes to Deliver Thinner and Lighter Solar Cells http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/09/nanotubes-to-deliver-thinner-and-lighter-solar-cells/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/09/nanotubes-to-deliver-thinner-and-lighter-solar-cells/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:16:36 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/09/nanotubes-to-deliver-thinner-and-lighter-solar-cells/

A simple chemical process employed by a Cornell University  and DuPont research team may pave the way to thinner, lighter and more flexible transistors and solar cells. The long term goal of the project is to use nanotubes to create an economical electronics material that is just as good as silicon.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/09/nanotubes-to-deliver-thinner-and-lighter-solar-cells/feed/ Advanced Lithium-Ion Technology to Make Commercial Debut In 2009 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/19/advanced-lithium-ion-technology-makes-commerical-debut-in-2009/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/19/advanced-lithium-ion-technology-makes-commerical-debut-in-2009/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:04:56 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/19/advanced-lithium-ion-technology-makes-commerical-debut-in-2009/

Imara Corp. has announced a new generation of lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries made specifically for high power devices such as lawnmowers, power tools, hybrid vehicles and even grid storage. The company uses unique materials science technology to provide high-power, high-energy and extended cycle-life batteries and battery packs.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/19/advanced-lithium-ion-technology-makes-commerical-debut-in-2009/feed/ California Wave Power Buoy Tests Successful http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/california-wave-power-buoy-tests-successful/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/california-wave-power-buoy-tests-successful/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:23:28 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/california-wave-power-buoy-tests-successful/ buoy

Scientists with research group SRI International recently completed a successful wave power test in the Monterey Bay off the coast of Santa Cruz, CA. While the buoy-like device only generates enough electricity to power a refrigerator light bulb, the design is an improvement on its problem-prone predecessors.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/california-wave-power-buoy-tests-successful/feed/ New Ford Fusion Hybrid Cars to Promote ‘Green’ Driving Habits http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/new-ford-fusion-hybrid-cars-to-promote-green-driving-habits/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/new-ford-fusion-hybrid-cars-to-promote-green-driving-habits/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:36:38 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/new-ford-fusion-hybrid-cars-to-promote-green-driving-habits/

Ford is set to release its first hybrid sedan, the Ford Fusion, early next year. The fuel efficient car includes a novel ‘Smart Gauge’ dashboard designed to improve mileage and encourage greener driving habits.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/new-ford-fusion-hybrid-cars-to-promote-green-driving-habits/feed/ New Generation of Intel Devices Can Measure Air Pollution, “Scavenge” Energy from the Environment http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/08/new-generation-of-intel-devices-can-measure-air-pollution-and-scavenge-energy-from-the-environment/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/08/new-generation-of-intel-devices-can-measure-air-pollution-and-scavenge-energy-from-the-environment/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:37:18 +0000 Michael Ratliff http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/08/new-generation-of-intel-devices-can-measure-air-pollution-and-scavenge-energy-from-the-environment/

Intel has unveiled a new generation of tiny sensors that continuously analyze air quality in an effort to further understand and combat air pollution. The corporation also announced on Friday that it is developing devices that can tap energy from sunlight, body heat and television signals.

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