Solar fuels: A grand challenge of 21st century chemistry (w/video)
Solar army commander leads research group on quest for affordable solar fuels.
Apr 22nd, 2014
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Climate Action Plan steps up sustainability strategy
As the global importance for a low-carbon economy grows urgent, Cornell has posted its most aggressive carbon-reduction strategy to date: the Cornell Climate Action Plan Update and Roadmap 2014-15. The plan focuses on climate neutrality, academic innovation and leadership, clarifies next steps for a dozen future key maneuvers, and highlights five dozen additional carbon reduction actions.
Apr 17th, 2014
Read moreSurprising material could play role in saving energy
Scientists have discovered a surprising material that is the best in the world at converting waste heat to useful electricity. This outstanding property could be exploited in solid-state thermoelectric devices in a variety of industries, with potentially enormous energy savings.
Apr 17th, 2014
Read moreA greener source of polyester - cork trees
On the scale of earth-friendly materials, you'd be hard pressed to find two that are farther apart than polyester (not at all) and cork (very). In an unexpected twist, however, scientists are figuring out how to extract a natural, waterproof, antibacterial version of the first material from the latter.
Apr 16th, 2014
Read moreEnvironmentally compatible organic solar cells
Environmentally compatible production methods for organic solar cells from novel materials are in the focus of MatHero. The new project aims at making organic photovoltaics competitive to their inorganic counterparts by enhancing the efficiency of organic solar cells, reducing their production costs and increasing their life-time.
Apr 16th, 2014
Read moreGenetically modified tobacco plants as an alternative for producing bioethanol
Researchers have conducted a study into genetically modified tobacco plants from which it is possible to produce between 20 and 40 per cent more ethanol; this would increase their viability as a raw material for producing biofuels.
Apr 14th, 2014
Read morePioneering findings on the dual role of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis
Researchers have found that carbon dioxide, in its ionic form bicarbonate, has a regulating function in the splitting of water in photosynthesis. This means that carbon dioxide has an additional role to being reduced to sugar.
Apr 13th, 2014
Read moreOdds that global warming is due to natural factors: Slim to none
An analysis of temperature data since 1500 all but rules out the possibility that global warming in the industrial era is just a natural fluctuation in the earth's climate, according to a new study.
Apr 11th, 2014
Read morePassive houses save lots of energy
Housing is the easiest sector to change if we are to reach the climate targets.
Apr 11th, 2014
Read moreEnergy efficiency is still the cheapest energy resource
Energy efficiency programs aimed at reducing energy waste cost utilities only about three cents per kilowatt hour, while generating the same amount of electricity from sources such as fossil fuels can cost two to three times more.
Apr 10th, 2014
Read moreNew world record for crystalline silicon-based solar cells
Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has achieved a conversion efficiency of 25.6% in its HIT solar cells, a major increase over the previous world record for crystalline silicon-based solar cells.
Apr 10th, 2014
Read moreScientists model a win-win situation: growing crops on photovoltaic farms
A new model for solar farms that co-locates crops and solar panels could result in a harvest of valuable biofuel plants along with solar energy.
Apr 9th, 2014
Read moreDLR tests solar aircraft for round-the-world trip
To fly once around the world, across continents and oceans - powered by the Sun; this is the unprecedented goal of the SolarImpulse project. The flying venture is expected to take place in 2015, using an extremely lightweight aircraft covered with solar cells and powered by four electrically driven propellers.
Apr 9th, 2014
Read moreClimate models underestimate costs to future generations
Future generations will have to pay more for today's carbon emissions than what governments across the world currently understand. The climate models used by policymakers around the world to estimate the economic and social costs of CO2 emissions have to be improved.
Apr 9th, 2014
Read moreGeographers develop a system to track the dynamics of drought
Detecting drought before it causes more catastrophe: the news could go down like a cool drink of water for regions feeling the heat.
Apr 8th, 2014
Read moreTen companies chosen as 2014 New Energy Pioneers
Companies from around the world are recognized as leaders driving change in the energy system.
Apr 8th, 2014
Read moreFree report: Global trends in renewable energy investment 2014
Report from UNEP-Frankfurt School analyses why green energy investment fell last year, and identifies a number of encouraging signs for the future.
Apr 8th, 2014
Read morePilot water conservation project uses treated groundwater for cooling
A pilot project uses a reverse osmosis system to reduce potable water use by using treated groundwater to cool equipment and research facilities.
Apr 8th, 2014
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