Wind energy expert Paul Gipe has posted his thoughts on the Mag-Wind Verticle Wind Turbine (previously). Essentially, Paul deems this device everything but a dream:

Ok, let's take another approach. Mag-Wind says its wind turbine will produce 5 kW at a rated speed of 28 mph (12.5 m/s). To produce that much power at that wind speed it would need to be 281% efficient! Yee ha. That's some windmill. Modern wind turbines, at best, can deliver 40% of the energy in the wind at any specific wind speed. This turbine has a specific rotor loading of 3,360 W/m² of rotor area. Let's compare that to the over rated AirX. The AirX is somewhat smaller so we won't compare actual production, just rotor loading. Remember, the AirX doesn't even deliver what is promised. The specific rotor load for the AirX is about 400 W/m². The Mag-Wind claims to produce from its rotor almost ten times more power than the AirX which can't even meet its performance claims. Ouch. I've never seen such outlandish claims before-and I've seen a lot of them.

Link: Wind-Works.org

Via TreeHugger

Like the popular Kill-a-Watt, the Watts-Up electricity monitor sits between the device whose energy you would like to track and a wall outlet. Both devices present you with a handy display of power comsumption, but the Watts-Up Pro (not the standard) has a USB interface, which allows you to download the stored data onto your PC for further analysis. The data can also be exported to Word or Excel. Conveniently, the Watts-Up displays the cost, in dollars and cents, on the unit's LCD screen.

See also:

Watts-Up and Kill-a-Watt at Amazon.com
The Gadgeteer's review of the Kill-a-Watt

Sunlight Direct's hybrid solar lighting system is an interesting new technology that essentially pipes sunlight into buildings via fibre optics. The system makes use of a GPS aware light collector unit that sits on a building's roof. The unit utilizes GPS along with an onboard processor to orient the light collector to within .1 degrees of the sun to maximize efficiency. The system monitors a room's natural light intensity via photosensors and, during cloudy periods, compensates by increasing the traditional fluorescent or incandescent lighting output.

Here's a YouTube video of the product in action.

Since 30% of electricity used in the US is for lighting (the number grows to 45% in retail), the product would theoretically have a huge potential market, especially commercially. The commercial version will light about 1000 square feet at a cost of about $10,000. That may sound expensive, but that's really only because that's a lot of money. However, if the (hard to believe) claims in the video of retailers seeing a 40% boost in sales when using natural lighting is true, then the $10,000 is largely irrelevant when viewed over the long term. According to the video, the company plans on launching a residential unit in 2008. No word on pricing...

Here's an interview with Duncan Earl, CEO of Sunlight Direct, that's also worth a look.

Instructables has a very thorough howto on building your own wind generator. According to the author, most of the materials can be found in junk piles or purchased at local hardware stores. The site lists parts and tools very well, but is, unfortunately, a little light on construction pictures. Nevertheless, this looks like a fun (and useful) project. The windmills can also be purchased from Vela Creations. Assembled or barebones parts-only kits are available here.

From the site:

The Chispito Wind Generator is a 100W machine. It outputs 14volts at 280 rpm, so it starts putting power into your batteries in low wind speeds (7-10mph). It makes a perfect addition to an existing solar, or other alternative energy, home system. On its own, it will power lights, radio, and conservative use of appliances such as computer, satellite, blender, drill, etc.

It's interesting to see smaller companies attempting to build/improve wind power systems instead of waiting for some of the larger players in the industry to offer products at more affordable price points. Some of the offerings out there are more than a little pricey and would take many years to produce a postive ROI.

Via Digg

MSN offers this handy list of home energy reducing techniques that will not only help make your home a little greener, but will also put some money back in your pocket in the process. Tips cover heating and air conditioning improvements, greener gardening, hardwood floor choices and a few more.

Wikibooks also has a very large page of energy saving tips that should be useful to most of us, including efficient heating and cooling ideas as well as lighting, water, household waste and electricity reducing suggestions.

If you can't tell by the picture, this is, of course, a "Magnetically-Levitated Axial Flux Alternator with Programmable Variable Coil Resistance, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine". It's called the Mag-Wind MW1100 and, thanks to some interesting technical maneuvering, promises 1100 kWh/month in a 13 mph average wind. The unit will cost around 3.5 cents/kW or, put another way, ROI will be reached in 3 years for someone with an average monthly electric bill of $300 - which sounds very high; a 6+ year ROI might be more realistic for home use. Nevertheless, the inventors claim the unit is cheaper than solar or horizontal wind turbines while requiring much less space to operate. The site's page on roof effect describes how the device can produce as much electricity as it does with such a small footprint:

So, how is it possible to make as much electricity as we do with only a 4-foot sweep? We use the roof of a house or other building to extend our reach and increase the volume of air reaching the sails of our VAWT. This gives us the effect of a larger surface area without actually having a larger vane. The great thing is that every house or other building also has a roof. The roof moves the wind, and that wind has a lot of energy.
The two major factors that determine how much energy is available are the vertical rise of the roof and the pitch, or angle, of the roof. The more rise there is, the more wind will hit it and be moved upward towards the VAWT. This is good. However, the steeper the roof is, the more wind energy will be lost in pressure against the roof and wind moving around the roof and the building as a whole. This is not so good.
A roof with a 10-foot vertical rise and a 30% angle will provide nearly a 200% increase in the amount of wind energy that is available to be turned into electricity. Compared to the same turbine just sitting on a pole, the roof effect increases the power yielded by operation of the wind turbine dramatically.

So, although it might be cost prohibitive for some (most), it might be worth looking into if you live in a fairly windy area, as the faster the average windspeed, the quicker it will be to see significant returns on your investment.

Via Greengeek.ca

Canadian electricity generator Bullfrog Power is an environmentally friendly electricity supplier that offsets a home's consumed electricity by generating an equal amount of green power from sources such as "EcoLogo-certified low-impact water and wind power" and pumping it back into the public electricity grid.

Customers will be required to pay a premium for this greening, of course; the company says that a typical household can expect to add about a dollar a day to their electricity bill.

A couple of questions and answers from their FAQ:

How is Bullfrog Power generated?
Bullfrog Power sources all of its electricity from power generation facilities that meet the federal government's Environmental Choice Program EcoLogoM standard for renewable, low-impact electricity. Our energy mix is a blend of clean wind and low-impact hydro power that is 100% renewable, emission-free, and has minimal impact on local habitats.

Will my power source be reliable? What if the wind isn't blowing?
All Bullfrog Power's electricity is sourced from EcoLogoM-certified water and wind generation facilities. The electricity produced by these sources is injected onto the Ontario grid, the common power pool that delivers power to homes and businesses throughout the province. When you sign up for Bullfrog Power, you continue to draw your electricity from the grid, meaning that your power supply is just as reliable as it always was. The difference is that you are now supporting renewable power with your electricity dollars, rather than coal, nuclear, oil and gas.

This sort of green energy offsetting is an interesting concept and it will be interesting to see what kind of public interest it generates over the coming years.

Privacy glass is essentially a regular, transparent glass window system that can be made opaque at the touch of a button. Switchlite.com explains how the glass works:

The secret of the transformation between clear glass and translucent glass is found in the Liquid Crystal sheet. In their non-energized state, the Liquid Crystal molecules disperse light. When voltage is applied, however, these same molecules arrange themselves in a specific direction in a way that permits parallel light to pass through the glass.

How Stuff Works offers some more detail on the technology involved.

The "Smart Glass", as it's also called, promises to be a huge energy saver for homeowners over the coming years, as it won't be long before smart glass is coupled with home automation systems that turn the transparency on and off at optimal times throughout the year.

There are a few companies on the web that offer liquid crystal privacy glass, but finding a price on any of their sites seems to be impossible, which means that this flick-of-a-switch privacy glass, although very cool, is also likely to be ultra expensive.

Here's another privacy glass gallery from a company that understands the subtle power of lightning bolt bullet points.

Home Heartbeat is a notification system that continuously monitors your home's electrical appliances, faucets and other household devices while conveniently sending status data to the "Home Key" keychain, via the ZigBee wireless communication protocol. The system's base station offers internet connectivity that allows for remote monitoring, and the device can also be configured to issue status updates through email or text messages to the homeowner's cell phone.

The system is built in a modular fashion, meaning the device can couple with many different types of (Home Heartbeat) sensors, as they become available. From the site:

The backbone of the Home Heartbeat system is a network of detection sensors: water sensors, open/closed sensors, power sensors, reminder and attention sensors. The sensors can alert the homeowner to a wide range of problems, including pipe leaks and flooding, opened doors and windows, and appliances that are left on. An additional feature is a water shut-off valve that can be controlled and activated by any of the sensors. Reminder and attention sensors can be set to alert homeowners about easy-to-forget tasks, such as changing batteries in smoke detectors or cleaning out the gutters.

According to Fast Company, the basic starter unit offers only one sensor as well as the base unit and keychain and will retail for $149 US.

Looks like the people from Pulsar Advanced Technologies, the inventors of the Vulcanus MK4 (now apparently the "Mark 4")microwave based hot water heater, have updated their website, adding some details on the unit:

The Vulcanus Mark 4, is a state of the art microwave hot water delivery system for the 21st Century. It is a containment field otherwise known as a Faraday box, much like the ones used in your microwave oven at home. The unit size is 24x14x7.5 and weighs only 20lbs. It was designed to save on construction costs, as a boiler room is no longer necessary but was made esthetically appealing so that it could fit as a “stand alone” fixture. Its compact size allows the Contractor, Plumber or Developer the versatility to place the unit as close or as distant to the water outlets as is desirable.

Also, some details from the gas to microwave comparison page:

Electricity used only when required

No storage tank

Can fit on wall or closet

Eliminates possible bacterial growth

Corrosion of elements - nil

Unlimited hot water

Gas infrastructure not required

20 year life span

Weight-20lbs

It looks the company will be showcasing the Mark 4 at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in May, 2006.

Put this one in the "Why didn't I think of that and have tens of thousands of dollars to pursue the idea assuming I had sufficient motivation to actually follow through with something for once in my life?" file.

The PowerSquid is a power bar that will actually allow you to utilise all 5 of its outlets, regardless of the size of any attached power adapters, thanks to its unique, power distributing tentacles. Pure genius for like $12.99.

Here's a nice list of home repair instructions (in PDF format*) that cover topics ranging from novice (how to use a hammer) to intermediate (repairing cracked tile, repairing a defective light switch) to more advanced topics (basement foundation repair). They've also got a nice list of reference materials on topics ranging from the various nail and screw sizes to weights and measures and the metric system.

*Regarding PDFs: it's been said before, but Foxit Reader is a really fast and lightweight alternative to Acrobat Reader that deserves some attention. Give it a shot.

In the original post about the Vulcanus MK4 microwave based water heater, the Pulsar Advanced Technologies website found in the Globe and Mail article turned out to be a work in progress. It looks as though the Pulsar Advanced Technologies people have another website, found here. Website number two has some actual information on the Vulcanus MK4, including a FAQ and a tiny picture, seen here. Apparently PAT, as I call them, are developing two models:

To begin with, we have two models whose function is to deliver two temperatures to several points of use. The first model has the capabilities to go from 35F-140F within seconds and supply multiple outlets concurrently. That is to say that this base model can service a bath/shower, and all other household faucets endlessly. The second model is equally fluid, but through a secondary thermostat control will deliver water at a higher temperature to service dishwashers and washing machines along with the various bathroom and kitchen amenities.

Stay tuned...

Don't you just hate it when you have a gadget with a wallwart so big that it blocks the entire electrical outlet? This product from 360 Electrical aims to eliminate that modern annoyance with the introduction of fully rotating outlets. The device has 18 'click and hold' positions in the rotation and, importantly, does not interrupt power during positioning, allowing devices to be moved as needed.

It's all about instant hot water these days. According to Canada's Globe and Mail, a company called Pulsar Advanced Technologies is about to announce a product that uses microwave technology to instantly heat hot water. According to the article, the Vulcanus MK4 "can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus MK4 is the size of a stereo speaker with a sleek modern look, making it ideal for condos and apartments, while powerful enough to serve the needs of any size family." This is exciting news for anyone tired of being at the mercy of natural gas prices, not to mention those just looking to reduce their energy footprint.

Get a grip on the amount of electricity that your myriad of electronic devices use with the Kill-A-Watt (heh) electricity meter. Plug in any piece of equipment and allow it to project the cost of running the device for up to a year. Until smart energy meters get a foothold in municipalities, devices like this will have to do.

Popular Mechanics has published their 2005 Breakthrough Awards, in which they showcase some of today's most promising and interesting scientific innovations (yeah, they shill, but still interesting). One of the more interesting entries is flexible photovoltaic plastic. The ultra-thin energy producers are being developed by the 2000 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Alan Heeger. The more interesting part: the actual energy harnessing chemistry occurs within the solution of semiconducting polymers that can be painted onto surfaces such as roofs, tents, clothing and pets whatnot. It doesn't hurt that the stuff is easier to mass produce and cheaper than big grandpa solar panel. From the article: 'Solar energy is going to happen,' says Heeger. 'It will happen sooner and on a larger scale if we can provide a lower-cost technology.'

I hope he's right.

Terra Moya Aqua Inc. has a prototype of a wind turbine that they claim harnesses 12-20% more wind power than propeller designs, doesn't kill birds and runs more quietly. The prototype has been in the works for 10 years, and is now ready for market, according to the company. From the site:

Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this new design is the fact that it not only gathers energy from the push on the front side, but actually is pulled forward on the back side through a lift effect, similar to the principle that causes lift on a wing. "The back pressure creates a vortex that pulls it around, turning drag into lift," says Taylor.

The result is that the turbine spins just slightly faster than the wind speed -- 1/100ths faster on average, beginning with winds of about 5 miles per hour.

This facet is the "technology breakthrough" that makes it unique, according to Taylor.

Very cool.