If cost weren’t an issue, would you rely on solar power? For most who don’t live in Seattle, the answer would be yes. Between the environmental benefits, the social credibility, and the grid-free style of living that solar power allows people, it often just comes down to cost as the primary reason that solar isn’t as big in the United States as it is in other countries like Germany. The infographic below goes into great detail about the top solar states in the country. By “great” detail, I mean that as a fan of infographics, it’s enlightening to see one that focuses on a series of useful data sets without…

The sun-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA is the  brainchild of Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg and the futuristic vessel has finally taken it’s first flight. On April 9, 2010, the solar-powered plane took off in Paverne, Switzerland and soared high in the sky for over 87 minutes. The Solar Impulse was flown by pilot Markus Scherdel and climbed its way to over 1,200 meters high. The team who designed and built the aircraft hope to be able to fly the Solar Impulse non-stop around the world. The Solar Impulse has a gigantic wingspan of over 200 feet, which is the same size as a Boeing 747, but weighs…

Going strictly by the chatter on the North American web,  you’d be forgiven for thinking the iPad is going to save the world. But there are also, oh, about a couple of billion people around who, instead of thinking about how the iPad is going to revolutionize media, can’t rely on having small, insignificant luxuries like water and constant electricity. That’s kind of a big deal if you want to do something radical like charging your cell phone, a device that is often a lifeline not just for individuals but sometimes for whole villages. That’s why the Solar Pebble seems like such a step in the right direction….