The ocean going cargo ships that deliver many of our consumer products – from cars to electronics – consume millions of gallons of dirty fuel and emit a frightening array of emissions and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Eco Marine Power, a Japan-based technology company, has designed a propulsion system for ocean going vessels that reduces the consumption of dirty fossil fuels. The Aquarius Eco Ship concept incorporates solar and wind power into vessel design to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency.

The center piece of the design is the Aquarius MRE System (more…)

Remember how high the initial demand was for hybrid vehicles? Now the growing demand for pure electric vehicles (EVs), is making things even more hectic. It’s a good thing the number of electric car charging stations is rising too.

Nationwide there are currently twice as many charging stations (roughly 4,500) as there are E-85 ethanol stations, with the government finalizing a proposal to expand the number to nearly 14,000 in the near future. (more…)

A 2008 report by CNN points out that the greenhouse gas emissions from ocean-going ships is a far greater problem than most people realize. The shipping industry emits an astonishing 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year — over twice the amount of the aviation industry! The Australian company, SolarSail, may offer the industry some hope.

Recipient of the Technical Innovation Award at the Sea trade China Awards 2010, SolarSailor specializes in hybrid marine power. Their SolarSail and Hybrid Marine technologies are patented for use on tankers, cruise liners, commercial ferries, private yachts, and unmanned coast guard drones. They have it all covered.

Their website offers this description of how their solar panels function like wings, “Comprising a unique pivotally mounted airfoil and joint it is attached in such a way as to be able to angle to the sun and/or the wind to harness solar power and sail, folding away when not in use.”

• This month SolarSail launched the first of four new hybrid-powered passenger ferries for (more…)

A new set of Android-based smartphone apps can help you get off the fossil fuel merry-go-round. California-based Iconosys, Inc. has created its “Alternative Fuels” apps to provide users a GPS guide to the nearest alternative energy refueling stations along any travel route.

The Alternative Fuels apps include:

• the ‘Alternative Energy Fueling Directory’ which provides essential information for identifying and locating fueling/charging stations
• ‘Where to get Biodiesel’, for those users driving vehicles that burn diesel fuels that want to go green
• ‘Where to get NGV’, for those users driving vehicles running on CNG, LNG, or LPG
• ‘My Plug-In Directory’, for users driving vehicles that only re-fuel from electric charging stations

(more…)

British inventor, Alvin Smith, and the British energy company, Ecotricity, are developing a new wave energy device called the Searaser to create electricity by harnessing the power of ocean swells. The basic device consists of (see the video above) a vertical piston between two buoys — one on the surface of the water, the other suspended underwater and tethered to the seabed.

As the ocean waves activate the buoys up and down, the piston works like a bicycle pump – sending seawater through a pipe either directly to an onshore turbine, or to a coastal water storage reservoir that can then release the water to turn the hydro-electric turbine and generate electricity on demand.

via: bbc.com

The explosive proliferation of smartphones and other small electronic devices has created a growing demand for portable power solutions. One company hoping to feed that hunger for sustainable power is PowerSkin, which is debuting an array of new portable power solutions at this month’s CES. PowerSkin’s battery-boosting skins for mobile gadget users include: SolarCharge, KeyCharge, Gaming Skins for iOS and Nintendo 3DS, as well as new smartphone skins.

Featured will be PowerSkin’s new SolarCharge (pictured above), a 1000 mAh universal charger for use with all types of smartphones and all generations of iPod touch. SolarCharge is said to provide up to 350 minutes of extra talk-time. The SolarCharge charges off of natural light and can also be re-charged indoors via USB.

KeyCharge (at right), is a funky looking charger that attaches to your key chain and packs 750 mAh – extending talk time up to 90 minutes on most smartphones. Users connect their phone directly onto the KeyCharge’s Micro USB to start charging.

Both SolarCharge and KeyCharge will feature blue rubberized skins with LED lights indicating the amount of battery levels left. PowerSkin’s SolarCharge, $69.99, and KeyCharge, $24.99, will both be available beginning February @ Power-Skin.com.

Related: more solar charger and green gadget on The Alternative Consumer

SolarFocus Technology Company’s SolarKindle has been named a CES 2012 Innovation Award Honoree and will be introduced at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show In Las Vegas. The company calls the SolarKindle, the world’s first solar powered e-reader cover. The cover’s integrated solar panel collects and converts solar energy “on the go”, with one hour of charging in direct sunlight providing up to 3 days of reading time.

The product will be the first in SolarFocus’ new solar gadget line. SolarKindle’s design features a flexible, lightweight high performance solar panel built into the cover and a dual-charging (USB/solar) reserve battery that greatly extends reading time. In addition, the built-in 800 lux LED reading lamp can be powered continuously for up to 50 hours without using the Kindle’s main battery.

Related: more green gadget featured on The Alternative Consumer

Phil Pauley, founder of the design agency PAULEY, has a new concept for renewable power generation, the Marine Solar Cell. Marine Solar Cells (MSC) are hybrid solar and wave energy generators with the unique ability to generate photovoltaic solar power and wave energy from a single off shore system.

The solar-wave units – which look a little like bobbing jellyfish – would capture wave energy through natural buoyancy displacement and solar energy through photovoltaic cells – with the added bonus of capturing reflected light off the ocean’s surface that could increase the device’s potential solar capture output by an estimated 20%.

This design contrasts with conventional solar power installations and wave power designs which only harvest one form of power. Pauley envisions the installation of hundreds of low-cost solar-wave units in off-shore floating power arrays, generating sustainable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and creating a new, green economic engine.

Related: alternative energy products on The Alternative Consumer

via: good clean tech

Designers Wan Xuan Lim and Tang Xueling Jane’s award winning Eco-Leaf Curtain/Light is envisioned as a next generation window treatment that reduces energy use during the day and serves as an energy efficient light source after dark.

During the day the product conserves energy by providing shade and allowing for the passage of ambient daylight and cooling fresh air. The curtain captures daytime solar energy with its flexible, integrated solar panels. A small on-board battery can then utilize the stored solar power to transform the curtain into an energy efficient lighting fixture after sundown. The curtain can roll-up like a conventional window shade if desired.

Related: more green gadgets on The Alternative Consumer