The Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington, is one of the most self-sufficient buildings on the planet. It is net zero energy and, after the water reuse system is approved by city authorities, net zero water. Net zero means that the building uses the same amount as it creates or generates – it is self-sufficient.
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CleanTechies Staff
Eric Hopton for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online For the beautiful “Iron Lady” of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, this year’s fashion color of choice is green, metaphorically speaking that is. In order to reduce her carbon footprint, this elegant lady has had an eco-green makeover, complete with matching accessories in the form of two super-efficient VisionAIR5…
One of the most effective arguments against electric cars right now is their high cost compared to conventional vehicles. Without the $7,500 tax rebate, a Nissan LEAF costs nearly $30,000, making it one of the most expensive compact cars you can buy…and that’s for the base model. But what happens if electric cars actually end up…
StoreDot is a three-year-old startup that specializes in the chemistry behind everyday devices like your smartphone and flash memory sticks. The company’s 30 employees occupy a cramped space in a non-descript building in the non-descript city of Ramat Gan, Israel. And that’s actually surprising. Because if life were a Hollywood movie, StoreDot would be located in…
SunPower Nearing Completion On 579 MW Solar Star Project — “World’s Largest Solar Power Plant”
written by CleanTechies Staff
One of the top solar energy companies in the world, SunPower, is close to completing what will be the “world’s largest solar power plant” in Southern California, according to recent reports. The 579 megawatt (MW) Solar Star project is now mostly online, and is on track for “substantial completion” during Q2, based on recent comments made…
LIVERMORE, Calif. — Google has spent $1.5 billion around the world on clean energy projects cutting the pollution from millions of users clicking on search links, watching YouTube videos and sending emails, but now it’s found a powerful electricity source close to home. The company will announce Wednesday that it is buying power from the Altamont…
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has committed nearly $850 million to help build a solar energy farm that will generate power for its California facilities, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced Tuesday. Speaking at a technology conference hosted by Goldman Sachs, Cook revealed that Apple is partnering with First Solar to construct the 1,300-acre plant, which he hailed…
Tesla Motors is one step closer to being able to sell its electric vehicles direct to consumers in the state of Arizona, based on recent happenings. The Arizona House Commerce Committee apparently saw the ridiculousness of not allowing car manufacturers to sell direct to consumers and approved HB 2216 (a bill allowing direct sales) in a…
Desert Sunlight Solar Farm partners “flip the switch” on photovoltaic power plant DESERT CENTER, Calif., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — US Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell along with about 150 federal, state and local officials, and energy industry leaders, gathered today to commission the 550-megawatt (MW) Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, located in Desert Center, Riverside County,…
The George Washington University Solar Institute has launched a new paper called Bridging the Solar Income Gap. The gap refers to the fact that most low-income Americans have not acquired solar power, because they simply don’t have the money to do so. Many don’t own their homes, so they can’t have solar power systems installed on…
Renewables, Led by Wind and Solar, Provided Half of 2014 US Energy Capacity Additions
written by CleanTechies Staff
U.S. renewable power continued to grow in 2014, with preliminary federal data showing almost exactly half of the year’s new installed capacity coming from renewable sources. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported on Thursday that 15,384 megawatts of new generation went into service in 2014, and 49.9 percent of that came from wind, solar and other…
Back in 2006, Elon Musk published a blog post about his future plans for Tesla and electrification of the environment. It is remarkable how closely this planning has been followed nearly 10 years later. Here’s the entire piece: Background: My day job is running a space transportation company called SpaceX, but on the side I am…
The price of crude oil has crashed in the past few months. That’s bad for the clean energy sector, right? Actually, not necessarily. Not only do falling oil prices have limited impact on clean energy, but the latest price volatility only underscores how unstable petroleum sources remain and so accentuates the value of clean sources. There…
2013 Renewable Energy Data Book Exploring US + Global Statistics Released By NREL
written by CleanTechies Staff
A new report was just released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), on behalf of the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, exploring and illustrating US + global energy statistics over the 2013 calendar year period. The report – the 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book – provides data on renewable electricity generation…