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Environmental impacts of demand-side technologies and strategies for carbon mitigation

Yale journal examines our understanding of implications of energy efficiency technologies.

Apr 25th, 2016

New method enlists electricity for easier, cheaper, greener chemistry

Scientists have found a new and better way to achieve a chemical reaction that is used widely in the pharmaceutical as well as flavor and fragrance industries.

Apr 21st, 2016

How to make cities more energy efficient

Retrofitting a small portion of buildings would have big impact on cities' carbon emissions.

Apr 20th, 2016

From lighting screens to lighting homes

To cut down on the environmental waste and provide storage for rural communities, researchers have proposed a model for recycling unspent lithium ion batteries from smartphones into energy storage units for solar-powered LED lamps.

Apr 19th, 2016

Researchers generate clean energy using bacteria-powered solar panel

For the first time ever, researchers connected nine biological-solar (bio-solar) cells into a bio-solar panel. Then they continuously produced electricity from the panel and generated the most wattage of any existing small-scale bio-solar cells - 5.59 microwatts.

Apr 11th, 2016

Reducing food waste could help mitigate climate change

About a tenth of overall global greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture could be traced back to food waste by mid-century, a new study shows. The findings for the first time provides comprehensive food loss projections for countries around the world while also calculating the associated emissions.

Apr 7th, 2016

Taking the heat out of energy conversion

A more accurate method of modeling heat generation and transfer in electromagnetic machines could lead to more efficient electric motors.

Apr 5th, 2016

'Community solar' systems may add savings to local, cooperative energy projects

New research indicates that an optimal development of neighborhood solar energy might increase the total electricity produced by 5-10 percent, a significant gain by the standards of solar energy efficiency. At the same time, it can reduce the variability and unpredictability of the solar resource.

Mar 30th, 2016

Chemists lay groundwork for countless new, cleaner uses of methane

With a new method, a research team has demonstrated the potential to use methane not as a fossil fuel but as a versatile chemical building block with which to make more complex molecules, such as pharmaceuticals and other value-added substances.

Mar 24th, 2016

New catalyst offers efficient storage of alternative energies

Research team designs world's most efficient catalyst for storing energy as hydrogen by splitting water molecules.

Mar 24th, 2016

New carbon capture membrane boasts CO2 highways (w/video)

Novel hybrid materials could lead to cheaper ways to reduce power plant greenhouse gas emissions.

Mar 24th, 2016

Generating electricity with tomato waste

A team of scientists is exploring an unusual source of electricity - damaged tomatoes that are unsuitable for sale at the grocery store. Their pilot project involves a biological-based fuel cell that uses tomato waste left over from harvests in Florida.

Mar 16th, 2016

Power play

Study shows how more R+D funding can accelerate the world energy revolution.

Mar 15th, 2016

Scientists make renewable plastic from carbon dioxide and plants

Scientists have discovered a novel way to make plastic from carbon dioxide and inedible plant material, such as agricultural waste and grasses. Researchers say the new technology could provide a low-carbon alternative to plastic bottles and other items currently made from petroleum.

Mar 9th, 2016

Personalized energy

The local food movement is booming. Can we do the same for electricity?

Mar 8th, 2016

Modernizing a technology from the vacuum tube era to generate cheap power

Scientists look to thermionic energy conversion to provide clean and efficient power generation.

Mar 4th, 2016