(click here for the full-sized image at GE) It’s somewhat fitting that a company that’s big lately on EV (electric vehicle) chargers is trying to spur the adoption of electric EVs — and avoid a chicken and egg problem — by committing to replace half its global automotive fleet with EVs by 2015. All told, […]
Rise of the solar-powered gadgets: Is the Energizer Bunny facing joblessness?
Solar-powered devices are nothing new, but they typically reside in the lonely fringes of the gadgetsphere (Yay for made-up words!). Admit it. Given the choice of a sleek iPhone or a Samsung E1107, which would you choose? Lately, however, some electronics makers have been making a concerted push to move beyond niche status and bring […]
Capgemini’s green data center scores a 1.08 PUE rating
Capgemini, a technology consulting and outsourcing firm, today laid claim to the distinction of having the world’s most energy efficient data center with a PUE of 1.08. Named Merlin and located in Swindon, UK, Capgemini took an existing facility and transformed it into a 30,000 square foot, Tier 3 green data center as part of […]
Solar panels are coming back to the White House
President Jimmy Carter had them installed. Reagan’s administration removed them. George Bush Sr. dabbled with a small installation. Now, they’re really making a comeback. At the 2010 GreenGov Symposium, The White House announced that solar panels will be reinstalled on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue along with a solar hot water heater system as part of a […]
Smart Energy: Stuxnet and the smart grid security opportunity
If you’ve been following IT security lately, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Stuxnet. The worm is currently sparking some cybersecurity drama with a sprinkling of geopolitical intrigue. (Iran thinks the presence of the worm in its nuclear plant is an assault from foreign powers.) What sets this episode apart is that the worm targets industrial control […]
Stuxnet attracts mainstream attention
Stuxnet is no stranger to folks interested in computer security, more specifically smart grid security. Long story short: this nasty little piece of malware is very targeted, affecting a suite of software called Siemens Simatic WinCC that manages control systems in industrial facilities and critical infrastructure like power plants. It’s flown under the radar, by […]
Microsoft passes on not-so-green site for massive data center in Virginia
No green energy, no dice. That’s Microsoft’s stance on siting new data centers, according to a story in the Roanoke Times. The company passed on building a nearly half-billion dollar facility in Montgomery County, Virginia. Instead, it settled on Boydton County. The reason: A dearth of renewable energy options. Oh, yeah, and sinkholes. The sinkholes […]
Can we turn the corner on smart meter gloom and doom?
Poor smart meters. Over the past year or so, some high-profile debacles have made them gadgets non grata in some communities, most notably in Bakersfield, California and parts of Texas. Worse, this dark cloud is endangering smart grid roll-outs in other areas. The cause: confusing rate changes, human error and/or meters that were too accurate […]
FTC: We’re watching those LED claims
The New York Times Green Blog reports that the Federal Trade Commission has filed its first suit against a company for LEDs that fall short of their marketing claims. The agency is taking aim at Lights of America for selling bulbs that don’t match the equivalent light output of a 40W bulb. Worse, they last […]
Go paperless: Blood costs less than printer ink
Want another reason to go paperless? How about this interesting stat from an Investopedia article on outrageously overpriced products over at Yahoo Finance: Over the life of your printer, you’ll probably pay more than 500% of the total price of the printer itself on ink refill cartridges. At $30, a 42ml cartridge of black printer […]
