As part of a general trend toward more efficient energy use, LED (AKA solid state) lighting shows promise.  From EE times.com:
White organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are already producing more light per watt than incandescent bulbs, according to engineering professor Stephen Forrest, but it is trapped inside the device. By fabricating a tandem system of grids [...]

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As part of a general trend toward more efficient energy use, LED (AKA solid state) lighting shows promise.  From EE times.com:
White organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are already producing more light per watt than incandescent bulbs, according to engineering professor Stephen Forrest, but it is trapped inside the device. By fabricating a tandem system of grids [...]

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Filed under: Solar, European Union

Solar energy and submarines might seem like two things that just don’t go together very well. But if a tiny Tango EV can plow snow, then why not give underwater solar a try? A new Swiss project is set to prove that nothing is impossible with a good set of batteries and a solar platform. Project Goldfish, as it’s called, aims to build a submarine powered with electricity obtained from solar power. The energy is captured and stored on a floating platform. This energy is then used to fill the submarine’s batteries, which has enough juice to go dive down to 200 meters in the waters of a Swiss lake. The project is sponsored by Swiss utility company BKW and guess what, they say that such a platform can and should be used to power houses and all sort of electric vehicles. The submarine is set to start operations in 2012. Can a solar-powered Squba be far behind?

[Source: Projekt Goldfisch]

Project Goldfish: world’s first solar-powered submarine originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new coating has been invented that when applied to pvc panels will absorb approx. 95% of sunlight. This new antireflective coating is the result of research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that has branches in Troy NY and Hartforn Connecticut.

Rensselaer Professor Shawn Yu Lin who led the research project says “To get maximum efficiency when converting solar power into electricity, you want a solar panel that can absorb nearly every single photon of light, regardless of the sun’s position in the sky, Our new antireflective coating makes this possible.”

Further, the angle at which the panel is positioned also contributes to how much sun it’s absorbing. Professor Lin’s new coating absorbs light from any angle much more efficiently, allowing much more flexability when it comes to positioning solar panels.

Professor Lin: “At the beginning of the project, we asked, ‘would it be possible to create a single antireflective structure that can work from all angles?’ Then we attacked the problem from a fundamental perspective, tested and fine-tuned our theory, and created a working device,” Lin said. Rensselaer physics graduate student Mei-Ling Kuo played a key role in the investigations.

“Lin’s discovery could antiquate these automated solar arrays, as his antireflective coating absorbs sunlight evenly and equally from all angles. This means that a stationary solar panel treated with the coating would absorb 96.21 percent of sunlight no matter the position of the sun in the sky. So, along with significantly better absorption of sunlight, Lin’s discovery could also enable a new generation of stationary, more cost-efficient solar arrays.”

A regular joe untreated solar panel currently absorbs only 65% of sunlight, so you can see how this new coating, if developed correctly and successfuly will re-energize the solar panel market. The price would come down making more affordable for the average household and small business.

More details on the new coating here at Rensselaer.

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Reply to: jkulczyk@citizenscampaign.org
Date: 2008-12-30, 11:50AM EST

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, with over 90,000 members in NY and CT, is the Actual largest and Most effective environmental organization in Long Island. Since 1985 we have worked successfully, through grassroots organizing, to preserve our land, air, water, public health, and wildlife.
Our most Recent victories include: the defeat of Shell Oil’s (2nd largest oil company worldwide) natural gas proposal in LI Sound, the preservation of our water quality, through legislation, by keeping contaminated NYC reservoir water out of our aquifer, and the outright banning of the carcinogen MTBE from gasoline, which we started in NY and is now nationwide! That’s just naming a few. Check out our website:

www.citizenscampaign.org

Currently, we are urging the Governor, LIPA, and NYPA to finally draft a comprehensive renewable energy policy, focusing on wind and solar power, that will preserve our environment and save us money on utilities. This is long overdue. We are also working to expand recycling (Bottle Bill) to bottled water and sports drinks and to reduce needless usage of plastic bags.
To win on these important issues, we are now hiring more bright and energetic people with good communication skills. Don’t worry if you don’t know alot about the issues of the day, we provide information and training. If you have the will to do good, call us.
The hours are 2-10 pm, Monday through Friday. The pay is $440+/wk. We offer health benefits and paid vacation and personal days to our full-time employees. We also offer part-time positions. Calling for an interview nets a quicker response than simply sending a resume. We can be reached in Farmingdale at:

516-390-7150

Whether you’re on your Winter Break, graduating, taking a break from school, looking for steady work, need a second job, or are an activist and want to get paid for things you do anyhow… call us. Join our impressive, professional team today so that you can start to make a difference in the world!

” A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
– John Lennon

Location: Farmingdale, LI

• Compensation: $440+/WK – health benefits – paid vacation and personal time
• This is at a non-profit organization.
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
• Phone calls about this job are ok.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

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