A professor at the University of Sao Paulo is piloting a project that uses the sun to power self-contained wi-fi units, in hopes of ultimately delivering free wireless internet to poor communities lacking proper power plugs and internet infrastructures. Professor Marcelo Zuffo, the Interactive Electronics Coordinator of the University of Sao Paulo, is testing [...]

Following up on Adam’s down-to-earth post about the basics of installing solar, there’s a great piece out today from The Star about the concrete benefits in using a solar water heater for a pool. For anyone with a pool that they need to worry about heating, getting solar has been a sensible and cost-effective solution [...]

Fox Business reports that Prince Andrew is lending his name and presence to the launch of a solar energy system in California. The system installation is for the firm British Telecommunications. While his role as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment for the United Kingdom obviously leaves such appearances well within his job description [...]

As much as they may frustrate or infuriate us, traffic lights are an indispensable part of urban, and even suburban, transportation. Over the past few weeks, South Africa’s regular blackouts-and incapacitated traffic lights-have tormented motorists: in Johannesburg, for example, they have often prolonged daily commutes to up to three times their normal length. Byproducts of [...]

See: Mass Energy

In Boston last night, the Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance celebrated 25 years of bringing affordable energy solutions to Massachusetts. No, there was no dancing, but there was a pretty cut-throat silent auction (getsolar is trying not to be bitter about losing the guided tour of Deer Island).
Mass Energy is the kind of coalition [...]

Retractable floors, solar-paneled louvres surrounding the entire house, a home so efficient that passive heating and cooling could meet the needs of the occupants almost entirely without support from power sources, not to mention the nifty television that turns into a mirror when it’s not wanted. You have to hand it to the Technische Universitat [...]

Long lines, hot sun, and shrieking hordes of schoolchildren: this is not what getsolar expected of the DOE’s mid-October Solar Decathlon, being held this week on the Mall in Washington, DC, but that’s what we got. Getsolar sort of wished there had been cotton candy and skeeball, too, but we made do with with interactive [...]

News: Associated Press.
An overhaul of the ferry routes to the Statue of Libery, designed to improve visitor experiences, will include green measures. Officials plan for reduced fuel consumption, including the use of solar and batteries to power the boats. One solar-powered ferry will provide a trip around the statue, without a landing, for tourists who [...]

News: Ignite Clean Energy Competition
Since 2004, the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge has sponsored ICE (Ignite Clean Energy), a sustainable business competition with a twist: ICE is judged according to business presentations.
The idea is to encourage companies devoted to reducing the energy sector’s dependence on fossil fuels to develop business plans that might actually attract [...]

Ermenegildo Zegna—the high-fashion Italian menswear company known for its chic sports jackets and made-to-measure suits—has announced the debut of a solar luxury jacket in its Zegna Sport Spring/Summer 2008 collection.
The company claims the jacket is the first of its kind. Considering the international frenzy over the Anya Hindmarch ‘I’m Not a Plastic Bag’ totes, which [...]