Inexpensive, highly efficient solar cells may be on the way
"Using arrays of long, thin silicon wires embedded in a polymer substrate, a team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has created a new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons. The solar cell does all this using only a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional solar cells."
Read more at http://media.caltech.edu/press_releases/13325
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/28/caltech-gurus-whip-up-highly-efficient-low-cost-flexible-solar/
Apple Resigns From U.S. Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Change Stance
Multiple sources, including the Washington Post, are reporting that Apple has given up its membership in the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the Chamber's stance on climate change legislation.
In a letter to Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Apple's Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs, Catherine A. Novelli, stated Apple's position and submitted Apple's resignation.
Apple is committeed to protecting the environment and the communities in which we operate around the world. We strongly object to the Chamber's recent comments opposing the EPA's effort to limit greenhouse gases.
Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in this effort. We would prefer that the Chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a construtive role in addressing the climate crisis. However, because the Chamber's position differs so sharply with Apple's, we have decided to resign our membership effective immediately.
The Chamber's stance on regulation was stated in its Five Positions on Energy and the Environment and a press release.Apple is not the first organization to resign from the Chamber over this issue. California's largest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and other companies have similarly resigned.
Apple recently launched an environmental publicity initiative to showcase its efforts on such issues.
Heating a whole house with the energy consumption of a hair dryer
The NY Times has an article about a "passive house" in Germany that can be heated with the same amount of energy required to power a hair dryer. Even better -- this type of house is being found in more and more places and isn't very expensive compared to standard construction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/world/europe/27house.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Bush administration weakens endangered-species rules
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/11/bush-administration-weake_0_n_150429.htmlMan "melts" for climate change awareness
Courtesy of the Red Cross of Argentina:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/10/melting-man-red-cross-spo_n_150015.html
Properly disposing of medication
There's a good guide over at wikiHow on the subject, so don't just flush old medication down the toilet or toss it in the garbage.http://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Unused-Medication
About Me
Matt KaufmanI am a philosopher, software engineer, computer geek, Buddhist, vegan and now, expert noun-lister.
My Email: ws.20.mdea at spamgourmet dot com
About Kompato: It means compassion in Esperanto.
My Code:
Teamspeak Monitor - A web application to monitor Teamspeak usage (PHP/MySQL)
tsmonwatcher - A client-side application that works with TeamSpeak Monitor to alert on TeamSpeak events (Python)
