New fuel standards bill gets passed in Senate but not without some compromise on other key items leaving Democrats with only a mild victory. The Senate took a huge step toward passage of the biggest increase in fuel economy standards for cars and trucks in three decades – but it came at a major cost for Democrats. Backers of tougher …

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Nov. 5, 2007—Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced that it has entered into a 177 megawatt solar thermal power purchasing agreement with Ausra Inc. The project, to be located in central California, is being developed by Ausra. “Today’s agreement between PG&E and Ausra highlights how clean energy will create jobs in California while delivering a reliable source …

The U.S. federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory offers a renewable energy program that studies and disseminates news on the latest in energy efficient building technologies. Recognizing that construction designed around energy efficiency is crucial to growing the countries energy independence, these renewable energy programs research as well as train U.S. residents. They work closely with manufacturers and others in the …

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, almost 50 percent of a typical home’s utility bill is attributed to heating and air conditioning, 30 percent to appliances and lighting, and 20 percent to the water heater and refrigerator. This equates to almost $1,500 in energy bills for a typical household. Following are ways to reduce your utility bills: Tune it. …

You have probably heard it said by environmental groups that we should switch to solar energy as a power source because it is free, there is an unlimited supply, and it is a cleaner source of electrical power because there are no by-products (compared to fossil fuels like oil and gas which release greenhouse gases into the earth's atmosphere when burned for power.) However, can solar energy be a reliable and practical source of electrical power indeed?

For the energy conscious person, this strategy could be called “5 degrees of separation”. Looking to save on your electricity bill, or just concerned about power use in light of environmental issues? Heating and cooling our homes is one of our biggest energy sinks, along with inefficient vehicles. By taking a few steps, you can reduce the amount of electricity …

If you think that we will run out of energy if fossil fuel is depleted, you need to read this article. [tag]Fossil fuel[/tag] is non-renewable energy, that means it will run out a day in future no matter how much it is under our earth’s crust. But nowadays we still heavily rely on fossil fuel as our major energy source. …

New state regulations and increased paperwork seem to be the blame for customers having to wait months and months to get state rebates on [tag-tec]solar energy[/tag-tec] installations in California. The solar business is now booming in California but companies that install systems are being increasingly delayed and frustrated by the months of paperwork they have to submit on behalf of …

DOE Secretary Samuel W. Bodman Names Selected Solar Technology Projects During Visit to Konarka Headquarters, Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell, Mass. – March 8, 2007 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plasticâ„¢, a material that converts light to energy, today announced the company is one of 13 selected industry-led solar technology projects to be awarded funding …

Active solar builds on the same principles as passive solar but uses additional technology such as fans and pumps to maximize the desirable effects and minimize the undesirable ones. It is used to produce energy for heating and cooling spaces, to store [tag]energy[/tag] for later use, and to heat water. Most active [tag]solar energy[/tag] systems use specialized collectors to capture the rays and used the stored power and additional electricity as necessary to run pumps and fans for distribution.

Embed from Getty Images Since fossil fuels are slowly renewable, integration of passive solar design is a strategically correct long-term perspective, as due to heavy dependency on the resource its price over time will be increasing. For countries with limited initial sources of fossil fuels, this can be a too heavy economic burden to carry. When creating price scenarios for …

A bit of humor for you today….In Americas continuing effort to become less oil dependent, wind power is about to receive an enormous boost. Politicians nationwide have agreed to start giving speeches directly in front of the turbines. A bill that seems headed for approval in Congress would require all politicians in the country to set aside at least one …

Honda has been getting its new hydrogen fuel cell test car out on the track and letting the press take a spin. On November 14th they ran the car around Laguna Seca racetrack near Monterey, CA. Here is an excerpt from their release on these test runs: Honda Demonstrates the FCX Concept Vehicle – Fully functional Next-Generation Fuel Cell makes …