“The HDVG system grows plants in closely spaced pockets on clear, vertical panels that are moving on an overhead conveyor system. The system is designed to provide maximum sunlight and precisely correct nutrients to each plant. Ultraviolet light and filter systems exclude the need for herbicides and pesticides. Sophisticated control systems gain optimum growth performance through the correct misting of nutrients, the accurate balancing of PH and the delivery of the correct amount of heat, light and water“.

If you haven’t seen one of the many news stories on TV about Glenn’s system, you can visit the Valcent site and watch a video with Glenn on the High Density Vertical Growth System.

Global warming concerns, government policies, and money-saving efficiency benefits have spurred clean energy systems to spring up all over the world. But a giant wind farm in the middle-of-nowhere North Dakota doesn’t do much good if there aren’t transmission lines to connect the power with the more populated areas that need it.

Europeans are facing similar distribution and reliability issues with their burgeoning renewable energy growth, and some see a continent-wide grid as the solution. Dr. Jurgen Schimd of ISET, a renewable-energy institute at the University of Kassel in Germany, says a transmission system that stretches across Europe is the answer. It could, for example, move electricity generated from a Spanish wind farm to the Netherlands where the wind is not blowing.

Norway is key to Dr. Schmid’s plans, as the Scandinavian nation is well-supplied with hydroelectric plants that can store energy from sources like the wind. For instance, the wind power is used to pump water up into the reservoirs that feed the hydroelectric turbines, so the power is “on tap” when needed. According to Dr. Schmid, even if the wind died and wind farms shut down all across Europe, Norway’s hydropower would leap to action and fill in the gap for up to four weeks.

This continent-wide transmission system for renewable energy has also sparked a renewed interest in direct current (DC). Over 100 years ago, when power grids covered shorter distances, alternating current (AC) transmission was favored because it loses less electricity than DC. However, as transmission lines have grown longer, high-voltage DC lines now suffer lower loses than AC. So using a DC transmission system would allow electric grids to be restructured more efficiently, losing less energy while transmitting it from Point A to Point B.

Some nations have already started work on a DC transmission system. A group of Norgwegian companies have begun building high-voltage DC lines between Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Germany. An Irish wind power company called Airtricity proposes what it calls a Supergrid that would link offshore wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean with customers in northern Europe.

The electric grid in the U.S. is in sore need of an upgrade, and we should consider ideas that utilize the different forms of renewable energy abundant across the country (like hydroelectric in the Northeast, wind in the Midwest, solar in the Southwest). It’s a combination of these renewable sources – along with crucial upgrades in efficiency – that will provide a clean, reliable network of distribution in the 21st century.

Thanks to Working Dad at Housekept for the tip.

The Economist
Wikipedia

Don't touch that thermostat
The magic number is 78 degrees. In most climates this is a comfortable temperature setting. Each degree higher than that will save you 6 to 8 percent in cooling costs. You can also set it a couple degrees higher when you're not home.

Lowering the set temperature won't cool your place any quicker and will only wind up costing you more energy. Keep it at a constant temperature. The AC unit will regulate itself as designed.

Close the curtains
We love natural day light and keeping the lights off reduces the overall heat, but if no one is in a room close the curtains to keep out direct sunlight during the day. This will keep the house cooler naturally so the AC won't have to work as hard. Also, in the evening open the curtains back up to allow heat to escape. If you can't close the curtains consider installing awnings or outdoor landscaping such as trees and shrubs around these windows to provide shade.

Switch on the ceiling fan
When used properly, ceiling fans can help circulate the cool air throughout the house, and can even provide comfort on cooler days if you're able to turn the AC off.

Proper sizing and placement
Make sure your AC unit is properly sized. A bigger air conditioner does not translate into a cooler room and will end up costing you more in the end.

If possible, place your AC unit on the north side to keep it out of the heat of the day. Otherwise look to create landscaping to shade it with trees or shrubs.

Make sure the air flow is not blocked with furniture or other items, and change the filter regularly. If your AC unit is fairly old, consider replacing it with an energy star model. newer units use up to 40% less electricity.

These things will ensure your AC unit is working at maximum efficiency.

Amy says: Last summer my roommate and I bought a window unit for our apartment. Luckily our place is on the ground floor and is shaded on the outside by a few trees, but it can get hot and stuffy in the summer with successive 90 days in New York City. We turn it off on days that aren't as hot and try to create a cross breeze with open windows and a fan. So far this year I haven't put it back in the window just yet and I'm waiting until the last possible moment to do so.

Check out these links for more tips on getting the most from your AC and staying cool:

About.com
Energy Star
Department of Energy
Air-ConditionerStore.com