Green Options » Zachary Shahan http://greenoptions.com/author/zshahan/ Post archive of Zachary Shahan Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:54:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en http://greenoptions.com/author/zshahan/ http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3af65bafd82ab5c33087e1e70a5d2e62?s=65&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32 Green Options » Zachary Shahan Smart Plugs (TalkingPlugs) for Your Home http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:54:46 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/
Zerofootprint has created a new “TalkingPlug” that will help you to better monitor the energy usage of different appliances and electronics. How? By making your electrical sockets smarter.

Zerofootprint already helps corporations and governments in evaluating and reducing their carbon emissions through various methods. It also helps households through innovative technologies such as this one. This new TalkingPlug is for corporations or households (or anyone with electrical sockets) and will have an initial price tag of about $50. The price may go down considerably if it can make the product on a larger scale.

How does it work? What are its advantages compared to Google’s PowerMeter and other similar up and coming technologies?

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/feed/ New Zealand Environment Court Says No to Huge Wind Farm http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:26:46 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/
What would have been the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wind farm, a $2 billion NZD ($1.4 billion USD) and 630 MW wind farm in New Zealand, is not happening because New Zealand’s Environment Court says that it would ruin the surrounding landscape.

This project would have powered over a million homes and made a huge dent in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is not happening now because of a group of NIMBY activists and the Environment Court’s ruling.

This is a huge blow, in itself, to renewable and wind energy proponents, but it also brings concerns for future wind energy projects.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/feed/ $4 Million Goes to MIT from French Oil Company for Solar Energy Battery Project http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:02:21 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/
Total, a French oil company, recently agreed to give the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) $4 million for a 5-year research project to develop stationary batteries that can more efficiently store solar energy.

More efficient energy storage has been a difficult issue for scientists to crack. It is a major issue preventing more widespread use of renewable energy, and solar energy in particular.

Is this project, one funded by a true oil giant, the one that will make it happen?

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/feed/ #5 Paris, France: Great Bicycle City Photo Tour http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/05/5-paris-france-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/05/5-paris-france-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:17:13 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/05/5-paris-france-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/

From bicycle lovers to lovers on bikes, bike art to art on bikes, the largest bicycle sharing program in the world to some of the smallest bikers, enjoy this bicycle city photo tour of Paris, France!

Paris doesn’t have a long history as one of the best bicycle cities, but with the introduction of the largest bicycle sharing program in the world, bicycling in Paris has boomed and the city is becoming commonly associated with the bicycle now. Its whole culture is changing due to the bicycle’s increasing relevance in the city’s daily life.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/05/5-paris-france-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/feed/ Maldives Goes from Underwater Meetings to Huge Wind Farm http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:03:15 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/
Maldives, one of the most beautiful nations on earth, held the artistic, theatrical event of an underwater government meeting last month, to try to bring more attention to the threats of climate change. Now, they are getting more practical but still grabbing headlines — they are looking to build a wind farm that will generate 40% of the island nation’s electricity needs.

The wind farm plans were announced earlier this week. The project will include 30 turbines and is expected to provide the nation with 75 MW of power, powering the capital city, their international airport, and more!

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/feed/ China Forgets “China-Only Wind Turbines” Policy, but Why? http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/china-forgets-china-only-wind-turbines-policy-but-why/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/china-forgets-china-only-wind-turbines-policy-but-why/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:18:02 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/china-forgets-china-only-wind-turbines-policy-but-why/
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about China’s new policy to focus on buying (almost entirely) “China-grown” wind turbines and wind turbine technologies with Chinese patents. That policy wasn’t a big hit internationally and China is back-tracking.

However, is it changing its stance out of international moral pressure or a major financial incentive (recent deal) in the US? And who is to benefit the most from this shift?

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/china-forgets-china-only-wind-turbines-policy-but-why/feed/ Robot Fish to Better Monitor Water Quality http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/robot-fish-to-better-monitor-water-quality/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/robot-fish-to-better-monitor-water-quality/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:32:10 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/robot-fish-to-better-monitor-water-quality/
An ecologist and an engineer at Michigan State University are working together to create robot fish that can better monitor various factors in aquatic environments.

Combining the brilliance of nature with some top-notch engineering, these two scientists are on to something and getting the funding for it.

The researchers are breaking ground with this and looking to raise water monitoring to another level.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/03/robot-fish-to-better-monitor-water-quality/feed/ DESERTEC $555 Billion Renewable Energy Project Moving Forward http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/desertec-560-billion-renewable-energy-project-moving-forward/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/desertec-560-billion-renewable-energy-project-moving-forward/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:53:31 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/desertec-560-billion-renewable-energy-project-moving-forward/
The huge project to build a $555 billion renewable energy “belt” in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, funded largely by German companies, moved another step forward a few days ago.

The articles of association for the DESERTEC Industrial Initiative (DII) were signed by the joint venture group of 12 companies and the DESERTEC Foundation in Munich on October 30.

Additionally, a CEO for DII was appointed — Paul van Son.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/desertec-560-billion-renewable-energy-project-moving-forward/feed/ Spanish Solar Company SOLARIG Building 8 PV Parks in Italy http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:15:24 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/
SOLARIG, a company based in Spain that incorporated about four years ago, just began construction of eight photovoltaic parks in Italy this month. The parks will provide 8 MW of energy in total. Over the next few months, it plans to construct photovoltaic projects producing 30 MW throughout different regions of Italy.

But this is just the beginning. SOLARIG has a more global vision.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/feed/ Hawaii Follows California with a Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/30/hawaii-follows-california-with-a-renewable-energy-feed-in-tariff/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/30/hawaii-follows-california-with-a-renewable-energy-feed-in-tariff/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:43:46 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/30/hawaii-follows-california-with-a-renewable-energy-feed-in-tariff/
Earlier this month, Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation to buy solar power from relatively small private generators for rates above market value. Hawaii is next in line with this European-style tariff — the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and Governor Lingle just recently set a similar initiative for Hawaii.

Hawaii’s initiative will make it possible for homeowners and businesses to sell power they generate from small to medium-scale renewable energy projects (i.e. solar panels) to Hawaii’s main power producers at higher than market-value rates.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/30/hawaii-follows-california-with-a-renewable-energy-feed-in-tariff/feed/ #6 Groningen, Netherlands: Great Bicycle City Photo Tour http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/30/6-groningen-netherlands-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/30/6-groningen-netherlands-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:23:27 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/30/6-groningen-netherlands-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/

Groningen would be number one on this list if we were looking at percentage of residents who bicycle for transportation purposes. About 57% of travel in Groningen is by bicycle!

The city has been named the world’s best bicycle city a couple of times (1993 and 2006). It is a university city which is part of the reason why it has so many people bicycling, but it has done amazing things to make the city more bicycle friendly as well. The bicycle facilities you can see on the following pages will probably blow your mind away.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/30/6-groningen-netherlands-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/feed/ Honey is a Health & Fitness Queen http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:07:27 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/

With a lot of great health and fitness benefits, honey should be a common staple in people’s daily diets. Other than its great taste, it has numerous benefits for our bodies, immune systems, weight, and energy which you may not be aware of.

Honey is a source of a variety of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The main vitamins it provides are niacin, riboflavin and pantothetic acid, and the main minerals are calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Importantly, the amount of these substances in honey varies depending on its floral source, just as its color and taste vary.

On top of this, what are the main health benefits of honey?

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/feed/ Is Global Scale Biofuels Production Good or Bad for Climate Change? http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:07:24 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/
There has been a lot of discussion over the last few years about biofuels and whether or not they are actually green, especially when produced on a large, global level.

A new study led by Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) senior scientist Jerry Melillo says no, they aren’t green (when it comes to climate change). However, there are still many important factors to keep in mind before claiming this is the end of a long and complicated discussion.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/feed/ Obama Announces New Recovery Act Smart Grid Funding — $3.4 Billion http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/obama-announces-new-recovery-act-smart-grid-funding-34-billion/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/obama-announces-new-recovery-act-smart-grid-funding-34-billion/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:45:49 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/obama-announces-new-recovery-act-smart-grid-funding-34-billion/
Obama discussed a big project long overdo and sorely needed today — modernizing the US electric grid. But it is more than discussion. $3.4 billion in Recovery Act funding is going towards this new project.

This is the most money ever awarded for clean energy in a single day from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act!

Obama spoke at the opening of the Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center (the nation’s largest PV electricity center) to announce and discuss the various benefits of this project.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/obama-announces-new-recovery-act-smart-grid-funding-34-billion/feed/ New Japanese Prime Minister Offering Indonesia $400 Million in Climate Change Funding http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:50:15 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/
In an effort to help a major developing country (the 4th largest country in the world) deal with climate change appropriately, the new Prime Minister of Japan reportedly agreed to give Indonesia a $400 million loan for this last weekend.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/feed/ #7 Berlin, Germany: Great Bicycle City Photo Tour http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/25/7-berlin-germany-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/25/7-berlin-germany-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:10:05 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/25/7-berlin-germany-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/

Berlin is a great bicycle city! Full of bicyclists, bike art, bicycle infrastructure, and unique bikes for a variety of different purposes, Berlin is #7 on this “great bicycle cities” list.

If you go to Germany, you will probably hear some Germans saying how much they love their cars (i.e. Mercedes, BMW, Audi). However, you will probably be surprised to see how many people actually love their bikes. Berlin is perhaps the best example. You can see people from across the class spectrum using the bicycle for a wide range of purposes. Even the postal service and other delivery services use bicycles.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/25/7-berlin-germany-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/feed/ #8 Barcelona, Spain: Great Bicycle City Photo Tour http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/8-barcelona-spain-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/8-barcelona-spain-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:46:40 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/8-barcelona-spain-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/

Naked bicyclists, folding bikes, balloon bikes, and more — enjoy this bicycle photo tour of Barcelona.

The third B in a row, Barcelona is next on this list of great bicycle cities (right ahead of Basel, Switzerland and Bogota, Columbia). As a dense city with a wonderful climate, Barcelona is naturally a wonderful place for bicyclists. However, a lot has been done to make it more so. The biggest carrot encouraging bicycling, by far, is Barcelona’s relatively new bike sharing program — Bicing. This is perhaps the best or second best bike sharing program in the world. It is one of a new generation of sophisticated, smart bike sharing programs. Read more about it on page 2.

Beyond Bicing, the city is also working on creating new bicycling routes and bike parking and it hosts fun Bike Week celebrations every year in May. Also, it has been creating better infrastructure for bicyclists due to so many more people bicycling within the past few years. It is transforming itself into a truly world-leading bicycle city.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/8-barcelona-spain-great-bicycle-city-photo-tour/feed/ Solarmer Breaks Plastic Solar Cell Efficiency World Record, Again http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:37:57 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/
Solarmer Energy broke the world record for plastic cell efficiency last year. Now, they’ve just broken it again.

The new efficiency record is 7.6% and it breaks 7% for the first time.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/feed/ Solar Report Shows 30% Decrease in Cost of Solar Over 10 Years http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:10:25 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/

Just the other day, I wrote that it was a great time to go solar, especially due to the great rebates and discounts on solar technology. Apparently, I jumped the gun and was a few days early. A new report by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab — “Tracking the Sun II: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the US from 1998-2008” — shows a significant decrease in solar costs over the last ten years and shows that now is a great time to go solar.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/feed/ Photo Tours of 10 Great Bicycle Cities: #9 Bogota, Columbia http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/bicycle-tours-of-10-great-bicycle-cities-9-bogota-columbia/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/bicycle-tours-of-10-great-bicycle-cities-9-bogota-columbia/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:09:15 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/bicycle-tours-of-10-great-bicycle-cities-9-bogota-columbia/

Bogota is a true testament of how a city can be transformed. Through “radical” action for a better city and clean green transportation, Bogota has become a leader in bicycle transportation.

One step ahead of Basel, Switzerland on this list, Bogota boasts an amazing transformation in the transportation infrastructure and alternative transportation usage of a modern city. Unlike many cities that are renovating primarily for cars or, more admirably, mass-transit, Bogota made sure to put a lot of focus on improving their city for bicyclists and pedestrians as well, the greenest transportation modes!

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