Eco Factor: Piezoelectric devices installed on highways to harvest energy from passing vehicles. Researchers at the Techion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa hope to convert open highways into renewable energy generators using the technology that has always made some heads turn – piezoelectricity. Developed by Haim Abramovich, the plan intends to place piezoelectric crystals under the asphalt that convert vibrations of passing vehicles into electricity. Abramovich says that the crystals can produce up to 400 kilowatts from a 1-kilometer stretch of four-lane highway. Abramovich’s spin-out company, Innowattech, will begin testing the system on a 100-meter stretch of road in...
The list now includes Israel, Denmark, Australia, California, and Hawaii. “Hawaii, with its ready access to renewable energy resources like solar, wind, wave, and geothermal, is the ideal location to serve as a blueprint for the rest of the U.S. in terms of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, growing our renewable energy portfolio and creating an infrastructure that will stabilize our economy,” Agassi said in a statement to the press. Read full story here. Posted in Automobiles ...
Governor Paterson continued his vow of silence regarding who he'll appoint to take Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. In a statement, he said, "I expect to announce Senator Clinton’s replacement when the position becomes officially vacant.” In others, we've got about two more months of speculation (RFK Jr? Cuomo? Reps. Velazquez, Gillibrand, Israel, Higgins, Meeks, Lowey? Brown (Mayor of Buffalo)? ). Paterson also said of Secretary of State-designate Clinton, "She is the leader we need to partner with President-Elect Obama to confront the international challenges we face today. I can think of no one more qualified for the position at this...
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The complicated world of wireless HD delivery just got a little more interesting today, as Panasonic and Samsung both made strategic investments in chipmaker SiBEAM. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. The financial support of the two consumer electronics giants gives a boost not only to SiBEAM but to the WirelessHD standard, which uses the 60GHz spectrum to wirelessly beam HD video in the home. It’s just one of many wireless options vying to become the de facto HD transmission standard, including Wi-Fi, Ultra-wideband and WHDI. But consumer electronics companies are hedging their bets as the standards process...
