Three die as electric taxi explodes.
Concerns are raised about possible fatal design flaw in green vehicles after deadly collision in Shenzhen, China. As we push towards being more green, going with electric vehicles is one concept that has been a desire for most of society for quite a while. Should we be worried now if we’re pushing the boundaries in a faster pace than technology can keep up?
Treehugger gives us a recap of the year in innovative solutions to the sanitation issues facing us here on Earth and in space. The slideshow covers systems purifying human pee so astronauts can stay hydrated, to mushrooms that decompose diapers to the DIY rainwater-flushing toilet.
There’s some cool stuff in that presentation, check it out.
CNET blogger Candace Lombardi alerts us to the fact that Home Depot has a new Wind Power turbine available for installation on your personal property. The unit is called the Skystream 3.7 Personal Wind Turbine by Southwest Windpower and costs between $15-20,000 (includes installation).
This is a nice “little” unit to tell the truth. The rotor diameter is 12 feet, produces power at 8mph wind (3.5m/s), can generate as much as 400kWh/month and has a wireless monitoring system so you can view the health of the system from the house.
Of course, before you venture down this path the first thing you should do is check out their free wind energy assessment for your property. You could do the quick and dirty self assessment by examining a wind map for your region. It seems my locale is a “Poor Resource Potential” based on my property’s location, which is just as well because I don’t think our Home Owner’s Association would take kindly to me erecting a 30-40ft tower in the backyard. 
– View the spec page on the Skystream 3.7.
– Download and read the Spec Sheet (pdf).
Disclosure: I’m very bullish on the Alternative Energy sector and I invest in this area as well (PWND, Wind Energy ETF). Even though my results in the last year have not faired well due to some heavy hitters giving up hope, I shall continue to believe.
From a Discover Magazine blog:
Forget those bulky rooftop solar panels–the hot new thing in solar energy could be rooftop shingles that convert sunlight into electricity, and that blend in seamlessly with the standard asphalt shingles that top most houses. Dow Chemical has announced that it will begin selling its Powerhouse Solar Shingles in limited quantities in 2010, with a full roll-out the following year.
Yes! I’ve been waiting for this, now all I have to do is convince my friendly neighborhood HOA to modify our CCRs to allow Solar Shingles!
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