Urban heat island effect occurs in cities as common material such as asphalt and concrete absorb heat from the sun more than trees and vegetation. Cities can often be several degrees higher compared to the rural areas that surround them. This is a problem as heat waves contribute to more …
A zero-carbon economy was thought to be a pipe dream just a decade ago, but now we could achieve this goal by working towards two fundamental steps: decarbonizing the grid and electrifying everything. This fascinating conversation between John Doerr and Hal Harvey explores just how we can begin to do …
Waves are thought to have huge potential in becoming the next big energy source; a wave is a powerful tool that if harnessed properly could create green energy in a more stable manner than other renewables. But the notion of turning the waves into a viable commercial energy source is …
Norway is trying to increase the viability of electric commercial vehicles by introducing a fleet of taxis that charge wirelessly while waiting for fares at taxi ranks. The taxi is charged through induction; charging plates are placed under the road that creates an electric current, the force of this generates …
Oceans absorb 90% of the excess global heat, and in 2020 ocean temperatures reached the highest ever temperatures. Experts say it is expected to continue for at least several decades as ocean response times are slower than air. This report builds on a previous report published in 2019 which found …
In Perth, Australia, solar tech company Power Ledger is in the business of peer-to-peer electricity trading, where you can trade electricity between your neighbours. As you are probably aware, Australia gets lots of sun, and in recent years more and more households have been installing solar panels on their roofs. …
Although renewable energy is the key to combating climate change and greenhouse emissions, there are several critical downsides that cannot be overlooked. The downsides stem from increases in metal demand that occur as these renewable energy sources become more and more omnipresent. Metal mining activities will increase to match demand. …
Buildings account for 1/3 of emissions and 74% of energy consumption in the US, and some cities are already employing building codes to reduce these figures. During the most recent updates to the International Energy Conservation Code, which is used as the baseline for new constructions in the US, zero …
A company named Platio has created an innovative energy harnessing method using plastic waste and people’s footsteps. The plastic waste is first converted into solar panels which are then used as pavements that harness energy as people walk on them. The panels employ a special pressuring method to convert pressure …
Start-up Salient Energy is developing an alternative to lithium batteries using zinc, resulting in a cheaper, longer lasting and safer energy source. The advent of electric vehicles is quickly increasing the need to expand the world’s grids and coupled with the shortage of lithium metal, there is some urgency to …