See on Scoop.it – Green Energy Technologies & Development

  A leading international waste and recycling company, Shanks Group, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with UK-based retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) to supply it with the renewable electricity generated from its anaerobic digester (AD) plant…

See on cleantechnica.com

See on Scoop.it – Green & Sustainable News

It is not simply a matter of city planning in the traditional sense. The very rhythm of Singapore is based on a marvelously efficient data collection process, which feeds the continuous refinement of urban planning. The Singaporean approach to analytical design contains important lessons, as statistics from the United Nations suggest 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. This kind of growth will put immense pressure on urban infrastructures, many of which are already archaic and crumbling.

The cultures of the Southeast Asian region have historically fueled many of the world’s innovations. Many of these advances are the result of the complex interactions between cultures and technology. As we move more deeply into the 21st century, the technology law of accelerating returns is more evident in Asia than in Europe or America. The rate of change in the way people live is increasing at an exponential rate each year in Asia.

Against this backdrop of continuous change driven by data collection technology, Singapore has implemented restoration of green space with astounding results.

See on thisbigcity.net

See on Scoop.it – Green & Sustainable News

Alinta chief executive Jeff Dimery said the company wants to press ahead with an economic study into setting up a solar thermal plant adjacent to its Northern Power Station, but the project would not work without government help.

Mr Dimery argues other either unproven or much more expensive technologies, such as geothermal energy and rooftop solar panels, have been heavily supported by state and federal governments and it was time for proven solar thermal technology to get a look-in.

The $65 million would account for about a third of the expected $200 million cost of building a 40-50 megawatt solar thermal plant at Port Augusta.

The plant would complement the Northern Power Station, which burns coal from Leigh Creek, both extending the life of the Leigh Creek coal resource and ensuring jobs for the local community.

Mr Dimery said unlike geothermal power, which is yet to demonstrate its commercial viability, solar thermal is currently in use around the world.

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See on beyondzeroemissions.org

See on Scoop.it – Green Building Design – Architecture & Engineering

In the wake of a 2007 movie on visionary architect Michael Reynolds, the cheap, deep-green Earthship building model is increasingly a thing in Canada.

” It is the brainchild of architect Michael Reynolds, who characterizes it as a “radically sustainable” method of home building. The Earthship method incorporates about 45 percent recycled materials, and relies largely on the sun for heat.”

See on www.earthtechling.com

See on Scoop.it – Green Building Operations – Systems & Controls, Maintenance & Commissioning

FRAMINGHAM, MA, and PORTLAND, OR – November 7, 2012 – Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today Ameresco Quantum, Inc., has started work on a comprehensive Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) for Reed College in Portland, Oregon. The $5.4 million ESPC is expected to help the college save in excess of $2.7 million over 10 years through campus-wide operational and energy efficient upgrades while reducing its annual CO2 emissions by 2.65 million pounds.

See on www.ameresco.com

See on Scoop.it – Green & Sustainable News

A state agency will begin requiring information from thousands of owners and operators of commercial buildings in the Inland area…

“Along with the typical financial and transaction disclosures during a lease or sale, building owners will soon need to provide the latest 12 months of energy-use information using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.”

See on www.pe.com

See on Scoop.it – Green Energy Technologies & Development

The new energy facility will reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent and save the university an estimated $300 million over the next 35 years.

See on www.stanforddaily.com

See on Scoop.it – Green Energy Technologies & Development

The technology is the brainchild of founder Danielle Fong, who initially wanted to use compressed air to power scooters, but has since turned her attention to a larger order of storage: grid-scale.

While compressed air storage isn’t a new invention, by any means, Fong’s innovations greatly improved the efficiency of this type of system, which has been hampered by efficiency losses of up to 50%. Fong’s improved version uses a mist of water sprayed into the air storage tanks, which acts to absorb and store the heat generated from the compression (and release it on expansion), allowing the LightSail system to achieve a 90% thermodynamic efficiency in the process, and a 70% overall round-trip efficiency.

See on www.treehugger.com

See on Scoop.it – Green Energy Technologies & Development

Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a thermal energy storage system that will work as a viable alternative to current methods used for storing energy collected from solar panels.

“Our work demonstrates that concrete is comparable to the packed-bed thermocline system in terms of energy efficiency,” Selvam says. “But the real benefit of the concrete layers is that they do not cost a lot to produce compared to other media, and they have the unique ability to conduct and store heat without damaging tanks. This factor alone will increase production and decrease operating expenses for concentrated solar power plants.”

See on www.rdmag.com

See on Scoop.it – Green & Sustainable News

US building owners are scaling back the pace of energy-efficiency upgrades, according to the latest Global Sustainability Perspective report from Jones Lang LaSalle.

“Owners favor less expensive projects such as lighting retrofits and temperature controls, rather than HVAC upgrades that would save more energy but be less visible to tenants, says Dan Probst, chairman of energy and sustainability services at Jones Lang LaSalle.”

See on www.environmentalleader.com