Solar power for less than $2 a day

Imagine a solar panel as affordable as a fancy new bicycle. A panel designed so simply that you can install one (or more) yourself, just outside your windows, in the course of an afternoon.

That’s the concept behind Oakland, Calif.-based Veranda Solar, a start-up founded last year by Capra J’neva and Emilie Fetscher, recent graduates of the product design program at Stanford University. J’neva and Fetscher dreamed up attractive, flower-shaped solar panels as part of their master’s project at the design school. “We created a starter solar system that expands as your budget does,” J’neva says.

Alternative Energy Sources and How it works

Alternative Energy Sources and How it works.

Hometown History: Solar energy pioneer has city ties

He developed a method of using flat-plate collectors that heated hundreds of gallons of water, and then kept the water warm at night by storing it in an insulated basin. Willsie then ran tubes into the heated water, and sent sulfur dioxide through the tubes, transforming it into a high-pressure vapor, which operated the engine. Essentially, Willsie became the first to harness solar energy for use when the sun wasn’t out.

Heat we emit could warm the Earth

Cowern and Ahn’s argument is logical, says Jonathan Gregory, a climate expert at the University of Reading, UK. “Human energy dissipation is currently small compared with other factors, but you can imagine it becoming much bigger.” However, he adds that energy production would need to grow significantly for the effect to kick in. “It’s fair to ask if we could ever produce so much power,” he says.

Los Angeles launches clean-tech website

“Cleantech is the biggest opportunity of the 21st century, and I am committed to making Los Angeles a global clean tech capital,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“Our long-term future depends on our ability to capitalize on the growing opportunities of the new green economy and this site will bring together our partners under one virtual roof.”