Science Daily Energy & The Environment

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Genetic Modification Turns E. Coli Bacteria Into High Density Biofuel Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST Scientists have successfully pushed nature beyond its limits by genetically modifying Escherichia coli, a bacterium often associated with food poisoning, to produce unusually long-chain alcohols essential in the creation of biofuels.

California Study Shows Shade Trees Reduce Summertime Electricity Use Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST A recent study shows that shade trees on the west and south sides of a house in California can reduce a homeowner's summertime electric bill by about $25.00 a year. The study, conducted last year on 460 single-family homes in Sacramento, is the first large-scale study to use utility billing data to show that trees can reduce energy consumption.

Enhancing Solar Cells With Nanoparticles Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST Deriving plentiful electricity from sunlight at a modest cost is a challenge with immense implications for energy, technology and climate policy. A new article describes a relatively new approach to solar cells: lacing them with nanoscopic metal particles. The method helps solar cells harvest light more efficiently.

Ancient Soil Replenishment Technique Helps In Battle Against Global Warming Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST Former inhabitants of the Amazon Basin enriched their fields with charred organic materials-biochar-and transformed one of the earth's most infertile soils into one of the most productive. These early conservationists disappeared 500 years ago, but centuries later, their soil is still rich in organic matter and nutrients. Now, scientists, environmental groups and policymakers forging the next world climate agreement see biochar not only as an important tool for replenishing soils, but as a powerful tool for combating global warming.

Wave Energy: New System Captures Significantly More Wave Energy Than Existing Systems Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST Scientists have designed a pilot-scale device that will capture significantly more of the energy in ocean waves than existing systems, and have used it to power an electricity-generating turbine.

Answers To Huge Wind-farm Problems Are Blowin' In The Wind Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:00:00 EST While harnessing more energy from the wind could help satisfy growing demands for electricity and reduce emissions of global-warming gases, turbulence from proposed wind farms could adversely affect the growth of crops in the surrounding countryside.

Cap And Trade Policies Limiting Carbon Dioxide Can Increase Value Of Some Electricity Generating Firms Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST A new study explores ways to target the compensation provided by the free allocation of emission allowances under a carbon dioxide cap and trade policy.