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Chipotle Goes Solar
Looks like Chipotle has seen the light. Yesterday, the fast-casual Mexican chain announced plans to install solar paneling on 75 of its locations in the next year. The move will make the company the largest direct producer of solar energy in the restaurant industry to date.
Solar Forest Juices Your Car, Looks Cool in the Process
If I had an electric car, this is where I'd want to charge it up. Better than hooking up to a charger that gets its energy from a power plant, charging up at this solar forest lets you save a (real) plant or two. A concept design brought to you by Neville Mars, the solar forest would find a home at your nearest urban concrete parking structure (taking up the entire top open-air level, perhaps?), would create its own energy from the sun, and would shade your car while it's juicing up.
Berkeley Moves to Finance Home Solar Panels: Bright Idea?
Berkeley, CA, has grabbed attention again — this time for starting a pioneering new program to provide city-backed loans for home solar-electric systems. This week the city council approved a new tax district that allows residents to finance solar energy systems through their property taxes.
Here's how the program works: the city provides the money for the installation and materials, and homeowners are able to pay back the loan at a fixed rate over 20 years.
Shady Justice? Court Says Blocking Solar Panels Is Illegal
In an epic showdown of redwood trees and solar panels, two environmentally-conscious families from Northern California met in criminal court for a battle of the shade. One electric car-owning family complained that their Prius-driving neighbors had redwood trees that were preventing the sun from hitting their solar panels. This is not an episode of South Park, but an actual proceeding in California criminal court.
Make Your Own Solar Cells With an Inkjet Printer — No, Really!
In a totally awesome news moment, Konarka Tech, a company that already makes its own light-into-energy-anywhere Power Plastic, successfully demonstrated the ability to print usable solar cells from an inkjet printer! In a report released yesterday, it explains that they used a highly sophisticated inkjet to manufacture the cells — proving that you don't have to be in a clean room environment to produce green energy.
What does this mean for us?
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Have You Gone Solar?
It's hip to be green these days — not only to save the environment, but to save a few bucks while you're at it. Late last week, the Department of Energy made $535 million dollars available to a solar startup in order to stimulate the green tech industry, which will eventually mean more solar options for consumers.
Although investing in solar products can mean an investment in the short term, they can save big bucks for the long haul.
Casa Verde: The Science Behind the Net-Zero Energy House
I recently had the chance to tour South Farm Homes, a “net-zero” community, in Hinesburg, VT. The project is a collaboration between Rolf Kielman, AIA and Lee Grutchfield, AIA of TruexCullins Architects of Burlington, VT and Reiss Building of Hinesburg, VT. One of the goals of this project was to show that green building can be user — and homeowner — friendly, which means that the systems and science behind the home isn't intimidating.
Nice and New: Solio Solar Charger
Wow, well this is unexpected. While I'd expect to find a solar charger for your gadgets at a more eco-oriented store, I never thought I'd see one at Urban Outfitters. However, it makes sense that this company is selling chargers, since so many of their customers have a glut of gadgets that need recharging.
Some Shine Charger Juices Up Gadgets, Decorates Your Home
Unlike some other solar chargers that require special adapters to charge your gadgets, and, you know, the availability of the sun, the Some Shine Solar Charger allows you to juice up your gadgets at any time via a USB connector. How can you solar charge your phone without the sun you ask? Well, I'll tell ya.
Today Is World Vegetarian Day!
Grab your broccoli and tofu because today, Oct. 1, is World Vegetarian Day. It kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month: 31 days devoted to celebrating this plant-based diet and teaching others about its benefits.
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