Big Green divestment call

I came across an article by Naomi Klein on The Nation magazine regarding a call for Big Green, that is the large mainstream environmental organisations, to divest in fossil fuels. According to this article, several mainstream environmental have stopped investing in fossil fuel companies, others have not. This article summarises the main points and provides a link to the original article.

Video: Civilisation types

In this lecture, theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku talks about the types of civilisation. A Type 1 civilisation would correspond to a Buck Rogers type civilisation, type 2 which would correspond to a Star Trek type civilisation, and type 3 which would correspond to a Star Wars type civilisation (specifically The Empire).

Apparently we are currently a Type 0 Civilisation, but transitioning towards a Type 1 civilisation, and according to current calculations we will reach Type 1 in approximately 100 years, but that this transition from Type 0 to Type 1 is also the most dangerous phase and that some people fear this transition. More details are in the video itself.

Video: Why batteries are primitive

This is an interesting video I found on batteries. In this video, the theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku explains why current battery technology is primitive, that today's batteries have far less energy per kilogram compared to petrol. The future possibilities look very interesting indeed - including using lots of carbon nanofibres or graphenes (a graphene sheet is a 2-dimensional layer of carbon atoms) to increase storage capacity dramatically, once nanotechnology matures of course.

Video: Future by design

I just came across this video, and thought this is worth sharing.

This documentary is called "Future by design" and looks at the life and designs of futurist, inventor, and architectural designer Jacque Fresco, along with his vision for the future which suggests using automation and technology to benefit people, a high standard of living for all, and no more warfare amongst other things.

Future energy sources

This article looks at future energy sources. This mainly includes sustainable energy sources which do not harm the environment, which we can use today and in the immediate future. In order to safeguard our environment and planet, the non-renewable and highly polluting fossil fuels will need to be phased out as soon as possible, they will run out one day, and nuclear fission will also need to be phased out as soon as possible as it produces radioactive waste which typically takes a very long time to decay, millions if not billions of years.

Long lasting fast charging electric car battery (6 min charge time, 600 km range)

Many people think that battery technology has not advanced much. Indeed, when one thinks of battery electric cars, their batteries are considered slow to charge, and do not last long.

On the 31st October 2010, the website Taranfx (new Geeknizer), along with other websites, reported about an important breakthrough which a Berlin company called DBM Energy has made. DBM Energy already manufacture batteries which allow forklift trucks to operate in warehouses for 28 hours between charges. Working with Berlin energy supplier Lekker Energie, DBM Energy has invented a Lithium Metal Polymer battery, the KOLIBRI, which has had brilliant results when test driven in a car, with just a 6 min charge meant the car was able to travel 600 km, a new world record for an electric vehicle.

Spray-on film to turn windows into solar panels

Using a spray-on solar film, windows can become solar energy sources.  Back in August this year, it was reported that Norwegian company EnSol has patented such a thin film solar technology which can be sprayed onto any glass surface, such as house windows.  EnSol also plan on developing a solar film solution to coat exterior walls or to be used as part of roof tiles.  This can generate solar power for buildings, and a lot more efficiently than existing large solar panels, and this way every house can have solar energy generation.  Working in collaboration with the University of Leicester in the UK, EnSol are aiming to commercialise the solar film solutions from 2016 onwards.

OLED wallpapers could make light bulbs obsolete by 2012

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) wallpapers require very little power to produce light, and uses 2.5 times less power compared even to energy saving light bulbs. At the same time OLED wallpapers can emit almost as much light as a flourescent lamp, if not more, whilst lasting longer than a fluorescent lamp. The OLED surfaces can be printed on walls in homes and businesses, and can even be printed onto road signs (and the lighting for the road signs can be solar powered).  OLED wallpapers can as a result make light bulbs obsolete and benefit the environment in terms of reduced energy needs and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Passive house: Environmentally conscious and comfortable

Buildings account for over 40% of energy consumption in the European Union, and also the United States, even more than either transport or industry.  If insulation in buildings is poor for example, then more energy is required to keep rooms warm, and increasing energy usage and costs for households and businesses, as well as carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. By making buildings as energy efficient as possible we reduce energy consumption drastically, along with CO₂ emissions, and this will help to make a big difference.