The Solar Impulse has been making headlines since quite a while now, and for good reason! This aircraft, powered completely by solar energy, is the first of its kind and is a way paver of sorts for a greener aviation industry in the future. A while ago, we had reported on the Solar Impulse’s United States flight. The sun-powered aircraft has now completed an 18-hour flight from San Francisco to Phoenix. This is the first leg of the Solar Impulse’s voyage across the United States.
A school in the United States recently decided to cut short its power bills and came up with a smart strategy to do the same. The Hotchkiss School replaced its oil-burning boiler with woodchip biomass ones, subsequently reducing its energy bills as well as the carbon footprint. The effort reduced the carbon footprint of the school by a sweet 45%. The building also now sports a green-roof, making it an LEED-certified facility.
If you’re a resident of Minnesota and you regularly hop on to your bicycle to commute, we’ve got good tidings for you! Pedal Minnesota teamed up with HealthPartner to unveil this bike-friendly tune-up station that is mobile. The concept has received a tremendous response since its launch and many Minnesota residents have begun using its services to have their bicycles fixed whenever required. Powered by solar energy, these green stations offer air for bicycle tires, a bike rack and tools.
The use of solar energy is indeed catching on quickly and all of this is evident from the increase in business of the solar-power industry. Manufacturers of solar power technology have been enjoying a booming business, particularly in the United States, where more and more individuals and organizations are turning towards the use of solar energy to power up homes, offices, institutions and factories. As per reports by the Solar Foundation, the solar power industry employs more than 119,000 in the United States!
Electric vehicles are slowly but surely replacing their gas-powered counterparts. More and more people have begun opting for these green and energy efficient vehicles that save the environment from chocking to a carbon-soaked death while working in the favor of the owner too, helping owners of save on gas bills. Yet another vehicle powered by electricity to hit city streets is the ElecTrike, a three-wheeled contraption powered by green juice.
IKEA, one of the world’s leading furniture manufacturers, has recently finished adding the final touches to its solar array. The largest in Maryland, the system was completed on the rooftop of the distribution center in Perryville. The solar array is a 2,674.9-kW system with 18,576 panels and is the state’s largest rooftop installation. Covering an area of 768,972-square-feet, this photovoltaic system will produce about 3,397,178 kWh of clean electricity annually and reduce CO2 emissions by a whopping 2,397 tons.
Japanese car manufacturer, Honda, has been known to dish out exceptional pieces of technology in the past. The company has now been crowned as the country’s first car manufacturer to sell solar power! Honda plans to install 0,000 panels on the rooftops of its factory buildings in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture. The panels will begin power generation by August while the assembly line in the factory will kick off operations by July. These panels will generate 2.6 megawatts and generate enough energy to meet 3.7% of the factory’s power needs.
One of the world’s most popular cola manufacturers, Coca-Cola, is bringing greener technology to Africa in order to secure its stance in the African market. The company has joined hands with One Degree Solar to bring solar energy to grid-free grocery kiosks. This in turn will allow these kiosks to stay open for longer hours and increase the sales of Coca-Cola. Using One Degree Solar’s BrightBulb solar kits, thousands of grocery kiosks across Kenya will be powered by solar energy and offer refreshments after the sun has set.
Qatar is making a special effort to have the 2022 FIFA World Cup go as green as possible. The country was elected as the host for the World Cup and is currently developing a state-of-the-art solar-powered cooling technology that will keep visitors cool and away from the Middle Eastern summer heat. The state is also developing stadiums incorporating modular technology for the tournament which will be disassembled after the World Cup completes. The seating will then be donated to countries lacking good sports infrastructure.
The city of Venice seems to have realized that its water ways are slowly though surely turning polluted and could soon become nothing more than thick sludge. So, to keep away the pollution, the city has banned motor boats and any form of polluting transport through its waterways, with a hope that cleaner and more energy-efficient and eco-friendly means of transport will be used. This could indeed include electric boats and hand-powered vessels that require oars or pedals.
