On April 20, 2010, the world watched in desperate shock as the Deepwater Horizon oil rig was engulfed in flames. Over the next three months, oil filled the Gulf of Mexico from the seabed below, causing ecological damage that some say will never be fully healed. Today, BP, the company that has been held responsible for the disaster, is trying to focus on the future. The British company is turning its attention towards achieving domestic goodwill in America by pointing to a bright future of more renewable energy, less dependence on imported oil, and a stronger economy as a result of both. Will people…

Energy is all around us. Even the smallest particles that we cannot see without a microscope have the potential to unleash enough energy to destroy large portions of the world. There’s a huge gas ball that rises over our east horizon every morning, unseen wind currents that can turn power-capturing turbines, and good ol’ fossil fuels that are still in abundance beneath our feet despite decades of massive collection processes. With all of these standard energy sources, it’s still refreshing to see that some people are being creative with the ways that we collect the energy around us. It is a collection…

Most people don’t bother to think about how automated our society is. So many basic utilities that are necessary for our society to function are working around the clock without any human assistance. Technological advancements and the growing transition to renewable energy are quickly turning our society into a completely automated mechanism. Power stations that once required a constant stream of fuel can now sit unattended under the sun and still provide us with energy. That energy is then automatically distributed to whatever automatic utility requires it. Notice a pattern? As fascinating…

While popular programs like The Walking Dead let you believe your biggest obstacles during a zombie apocalypse would be biters and unfriendly survivors, in reality it takes a lot more than that! Zombie apocalypse survivors need a lot of skills to make it through the initial onset, as well as the months and years ahead. Perhaps the most important skill is water purification. You might think a large cleaver or baseball bat with nails in the end is vital to survival, but in fact you won’t make it through the first few days without clean, safe water. Knowing how to find and purify water would make you…

The idea of “going green” is to be friendlier to the environment, to utilize renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, and the control man-made emissions that prevent the harmful spread of waste into the environment. A group of scientists at Panasonic are developing artificial photosynthesis technology that can help towards all three green goals. The results are literally green. The concept is not a new one. Scientists have long wanted to reproduce the technique that plants use to survive and thrive, taking elements found on the earth and allowing them to react to sunlight in a way that duplicates…

The environmental movement has long had its sights on the automotive industry as a central point of change. They have pushed the idea that gas-guzzlers are one of the main culprits in the war on the environment and that if we change our ways to alternative energy sources, we can improve the world around us. What about our health? Can EVs improve our health conditions as well? That’s the contention of the study-based infographic below. It came to us from Baker Electric Solar thanks to Milwaukee Ford Dealers. Click to enlarge. …

The product isn’t new. The concept has been around for a while. The need will be around for much longer if we don’t look more closely at it. Power. It’s the one thing that nearly every device, gadget, and piece of equipment in the world needs. We get power from different sources but in most cases the end result is either combustion, electricity, or both. There is no shortage of power potential (between solar, wind, natural gas, and nuclear, potential power is virtually limitless), but there are two things that are preventing us from transcending current power challenges: A reliable and affordable…

There was a lot of excitement surrounding the merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy last year. When the companies agreed to combine forces, it was determined that Progress CEO Bill Johnson would take over the helm of the larger entity as part of a three-year deal. When the merger went into effect on July 2, his new career began. Less than 48 hours later, he resigned. There is speculation that his resignation was actually a firing, but don’t shed a tear for the short-time boss. In the separation, Johnson will receive around $44 million in severance, cash bonuses, and accelerated vesting of his…

It doesn’t take a political pundit to know that the Solyndra scandal has hurt the energy industry’s credibility. Investors are wary, but the same may not be true for direct consumers. One Block of the Grid compiled data from 45,000 solar estimates and put together a visualization that depicts from state to state how much it costs to “go solar” for homeowners. The interest is likely spurred by increased utility prices more than just a desire to be eco-friendly; do-it-yourself energy at the home tends to pay for itself in less than 2 decades. In Louisiana, for example, the cost after state, regional,…

Few developments, notions, or facts relating to green technology surprise us anymore. Alternative energy continues to expand while oil consumption slowly drops (perhaps too slowly for most). The alternative energy industry seems to be heading in the right direction (other than some notable failures recently). It’s for this reason that the huge acceptance of solar power in Germany blindsided us a bit. It’s common knowledge that they lead the world in solar, but the extent of their domination is mind boggling. The infographic below by 1bog looks at the top 10 countries from a solar perspective….