Will Wind Energy For Cars Become A Reality?

February 26, 2010 by SherryD  
Filed under Energy Articles, Saving Gas

When you think about using wind energy for cars, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I see a picture of a car with a bunch of little windmills stuck to the top. Not very practical I am sure. However, someday wind energy may indeed prove to be the best source of energy for hydrogen cars.

All over the world there are companies that are currently investing in the research and design of systems made to capture high altitude winds. Now obviously, cars are not high altitude and we aren’t talking about airplanes, but a tie-in has been made between the ability to harness wind energy from heights of 10,000 feet and higher and use it to electrolyze water into hydrogen. Basically we are talking about wind farms in the sky as opposed to on the land.

Sky WindPower Corporation, is one company that is making strides in the development of a tethered rotorcraft. The unit soars at a level of about 15,000 feet above the ground where it has access to powerful currents of wind, which it in turn uses to generate electricity at a cost of approximately two cents per kilowatt hour. The electricity generated is then used to electrolyze water into hydrogen, which can be used in hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles.

Researchers at Delft University in the Netherlands are working on a flying electrical generator of their own. The Laddermill project uses a series of high altitude “smart” kites to harness the wind energy of the jetstream. The idea behind this is that a single kite can be released to fly high and as it soars, it pulls out it’s tether cable causing rotation that generates energy.

Using smart technology, the kite then descends and the cable is reeled in, only to have the kite soar up once again. When several kites are linked into the electrical generation process, a continual flow of energy is produced and can be used to electrolyze water into hydrogen as a fuel source for cars. It gives a whole new meaning to the expression, “go fly a kite”, doesn’t it.

Magenn Power Inc., based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Washington D.C. has developed their own tethered high flying electrical generator aptly named the Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS). This system employs lighter than air technology plus helium to rise to new heights in electrical generation. The unit rotates on a horizontal axis producing electricity, which is then sent down its tether where it can be used immediately or be stored in batteries for future use.

In addition to meeting Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, this technology is also bird and bat friendly, unlike their grounded windmill counterparts. Its ease of inflation, deflation, and deployment also makes this flying electrical generator a viable resource of electricity in disaster stricken areas.

There is certainly no shortage of ideas when it comes to the development of alternate types of energy to help meet the impending shortage of fossil fuel. Any system that can be used to generate electricity can also be used in the process of electrolyzing water into hydrogen fuel cells, so you see, the idea of wind energy for cars may not be as far fetched as you may have assumed.

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May all your tomorrows be warm and bright,

SherryD
http://energyoldandnew.com


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Green Building

February 25, 2010 by Guest Author  
Filed under Environmental News

A green or sustainable building relies on a special design that emphasizes the efficient use of all the resources from the materials to the heating and the water systems. This means that the sitting, the design, the construction and the maintenance operations as such will have a minimal impact on the environment. Sustainable building construction further needs to rely on high quality work standards that enable the elimination of the polluting waste and toxic agents as well as the efficient use of the resources. Green or sustainable building is also encountered at a smaller scale in natural building.

The use of natural materials means that the building is designed and constructed with local resources. The resulting efficiency in the processes becomes obvious by analyzing the benefits of sustainable building solutions. The operating costs are a lot lower because the energy and the water consume is more effective. There is a considerable impact on the indoor air quality too, meaning that there are fewer chances to get mold inside the house. Balance in architecture and design make sustainable building practical and economical first and foremost.

Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time

If more people take up sustainable building practices, we can expect a serious reduction of the environmental impact of buildings. Statistics indicate that homes take up most of the total energy consume both in the European Union and the United States, and commercial buildings are following close behind. It is with buildings that the highest levels of carbon dioxide are also generated, and pollution levels become critical. Sustainable building may thus provide a solution for the negative impact on the environment that results from massive home constructions.

Rain gardens and solar panels are just two solutions available with sustainable building. Sun light and rain are both natural free resources that allow users to make considerable savings. With rain water collecting systems, you won’t have to use tap water for the garden. Moreover, the architecture specific to sustainable building relies on special materials such as ecology blocks, dimension stones and even wood from forests certified as sustainable managed. Sustainable building also makes use of recycled materials such as calcium sand stone, foundry sand, demolition debris, wood fibers or compressed earth blocks.

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US Homeowners, Call 888-880-6039 Today
For Referral To An Experienced Contractor In Your Local Area!

This has been a Guest Author Submission.
Opinions expressed by Guest Authors do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of the owner/operator of EnergyOldAndNew.com

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