Energy from Nanotechnology

Energy-efficient electronics depend on some form of energy storage so that excess energy can be held for future use and not wasted. In fact power storage makes up one of the three main components of energy management for homes as well as vehicles: power generation, power transmission, and power storage. Lynn E. Foster, author of the book Nanotechnology: Science, Innovation, and Opportunity, opined, “If you can solve the problem of local storage, you’ve basically solved the whole problem. That’s because, by definition, the storage you need is local. You’ve got terawatts [equals one trillion watts or one billion kilowatts] of power moving into the grid. The biggest problem with renewable energy in general, and solar and wind in particular, is that they’re episodic and not dispatchable.” This means that the energy supplied on community power grids comes in pulses rather than in a steady stream, and utilities cannot dispense the energy in doses as needed. Foster continued, “You’ve got to have storage. Storing energy in batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, and some chemical systems like hydrogen depends on nanoscale interactions.” Nanoscale is a general term for the size of things that are no bigger than an atom or a molecule—a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is the science of working with nanoscale-sized devices.

Nanotechnology’s value to science lies in the observation that matter behaves differently at the nanoscale than it does on a larger scale. The DOE has explained this technology and its value: “All the elementary steps of energy conversion (charge transfer, molecular rearrangement, chemical reactions, etc.) take place on the nanoscale. Thus, the development of new nanoscale materials, as well as the methods to characterize, manipulate and assemble them, creates an entirely new paradigm for developing new and revolutionary energy technologies.” Nanotechnology is still in its

Engineers have been using nanotechnology to develop thin layers designed for generating an electrical current and producing light. The next step using nanoscale materials may be to convert solar power directly to light with a solid-state structure such as this one. Engineers also plan to embed tiny solar cells in window glass to produce electricity from sunlight. (Source: Paul Alivisatos, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

infancy, as scientists discover new behaviors of common materials when at the nanoscale level and find ways of applying this knowledge for practical uses. The following table provides a list of the main opportunities in nanotechnology for producing new energy-generation systems for electronics and other items.

Nanotechnology will likely help in the development of the following two energy conservation objectives: inventing future energy generation devices that perform in ways that current devices cannot, and finding new ways to catalyze reactions to minimize energy input and waste output. At present, ideas for new uses of nanotechnology have developed faster than actual methods have developed.

Green Business - Change Your Business Into an Eco-Friendly Business

These days business circles are abuzz with the talks of eco friendly practices. New start ups and small businesses are keen to jump on eco-friendly bandwagon by adapting environment friendly practices like recycling, green manufacturing, sustainable development or renewable energy. Not only these practices provide small businesses with good projection, but the technologies like recycling or renewable energy are also beneficial to the businesses in terms of cost reduction. "Green business" is a recently introduced phenomenon and it is much more than placing a greenish logo on your products or packaging. In actual fact, Green businesses are enterprises that use natural products, reprocess materials and try to be as energy efficient as they can.Efficient Use of Energy:Businesses are keen to minimize energy cost and emissions. Businesses can save a handful on bills by taking initiatives like switching off unnecessary lights or using appliances which are much more energy efficient than the older ones. Energy efficient electronics like computer monitors, cooling systems or lighting systems have in-built programs along together with different kinds of sensors, which helps them save energy in various ways. Buying these appliances or installing new cooling systems may sound a little squandering, however when you look at the amount you can save on bills, it is easily justified.Environment Friendly Manufacturing:Manufacturers are quickly realizing that adapting an eco-friendly approach is actually more beneficial for the business itself than it is for the environment. A green manufacturer will focus on the longevity of the products, it won't pile up unnecessary inventory, it'll think of ways to recycle scrap and it wouldn't be wasting resources in over production. As you can see, these are all commonsensical practices. Therefore, green manufacturing is not some useless hoopla; it is in fact a more sensible approach of doing business.Working for the waste reduction and Recycling:Waste reduction should be added into the job description of managers or supervisors as an added responsibility. Take the example of paper wastage, which can be reduced significantly by taking small steps. For example, using electronic mail for internal communication or printing on both sides of the paper. Stop purchasing or making use of color printers when you can do with black and white copies. Read the instruction manuals of your electronic appliances like Air Conditioners, generators or printers and follow the instructions, it will maximize their performance while increasing their lifespan. Manager or anybody else who is in charge of purchases should make sure that the need exists before authorizing any purchase.

Top Four Principles For a Green Business

To make it simple and concrete for you, each principle is paired with a specific business concern and four explicit green actions you can take. Think of it as a "tasting menu" to celebrate Earth Day. It's like four carefully crafted courses, each paired with a beautiful wine. Each of the four courses has four delicious items on the plate for you to choose from - or you can really indulge and eat them all!The four courses to taste today are the Four Principles for a Green Business:• Appetizer: Aspire to be 100% good, not just "less bad"
• First Course: Act in cycles, rather than linear (waste = food)
• Second Course: Tap into an unlimited source of energy (the sun)
• Dessert: Attract and keep the best employees and customers (celebrate diversity)
The only way to make these real in your business is to taste them, to put them into practice. And, we're going to show you how.We paired four business concerns with each of the Four Principles. For each, the combination of flavors is subtle and unique: There are tastes that you avoid and tastes that you cultivate.Appetizer: Policy & Practices that aspire to be 100% good, not just "less bad"• Avoid: confusion, distraction, wheel-spinning, burn-out
• Cultivate: shared definitions and frameworks, creative teamworkFirst Course: Handle materials in cycles, rather than lines (waste = food)• Avoid: waste, toxics
• Cultivate: reuse, conservation, thoughtful purchasingSecond Course: Energy that taps into an unlimited source, the sun•Avoid: waste, fossil fuel use
•Cultivate: savings, clean energyDessert: Workplace & Community that celebrates diversity, attracts and keeps the best employees and customers• Avoid: isolation, competitiveness
• Cultivate: connection, flexibility, inclusiveness, creativitySo far, we've covered the why and the what - principles and specific business concerns. Now, for the how. I'm going to give you the four delicious tastes for each course on our menu. These are concrete action steps that will allow you to experience greening success in each area of your business.Are you curious about the goodies in the appetizer course? Wait no longer! Here are four specific green actions can you take in your Policy & Practices:• Write your green mission statement and set annual goals to move toward it.
• Establish green policies and practices. These will come in time, as you take more measures to go green. Be conscious to write them down, so you get systems in place that will outlast your current leadership.
• Measure, benchmark, and track progress regularly. This includes conducting audits of your energy and water use, and a waste audit.
• Regularly communicate your mission and progress on your website.Hungry for more? It's time for the First Course, Materials:• Green your supply chain.
• Establish, revive, or enhance your recycling program.
• Avoid paper plates, foam or plastic cups, and plastic utensils in your kitchenette or break room. Instead, provide reusable cups, plates, and silverware.
• Have a no-bottled-water policy. Get a nice reusable dispenser to filter tap water and serve with reusable cups or glasses at your meetings. Some examples: Eco-Chic version from Aqua-Ovo. For us regular folk on the other end of the spectrum is the nice-looking polycarbonate model from Target.By now, you are getting warmed up and ready for the Second Course, right? Good thing that's all about Energy:• Have a Smart Strip Blitz: Go around your office and plug everything into power strips and then turn off the strips with items that aren't in use. Don't forget that cell-phone charger! Then, sit back and count the money you're saving.• Find and use the Energy Star power management settings on your computer and monitor.• Unless you've been time- or space-traveling lately, you've probably heard the suggestion to change all your incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent. Here's a twist on that: even if you've already changed over to CFL's in the office, you can hold an employee CFL giveaway. Or, consider trying the new LED bulbs that save even more energy and last even longer. See what's available at Home Depot:• Energy efficiency isn't just for offices. Your personal energy is a vital part of the picture. It is often closely associated with the metaphor of life as breath - the words 'chi', 'prana', and 'spirit', for instance, are all related in their respective languages to the verb 'to breathe'. The advice here is: establish a daily energy recharge with conscious breathing. This can be very effective in the morning, combined with gentle stretching. Try using the Mindful Clock which chimes at defined intervals throughout the day, reminding you to stop and take a few deep breaths. You'll be amazed at how energizing this simple practice is.Did you skip to Dessert right away? Why not, eh? Life's too short! To wrap up our delicious meal, we have four goodies for your Workplace & Community:• Support local environmental / community groups, both financially and with volunteer time. Some great non-local ones: Earthshare and Kiva.
• Consider a telecommuting policy, ideally coupled with a program to encourage and/or reward use of public transit or bicycling.
• Hold regular Green Team meetings with broad participation and a focus on action and measurable results. (This is where your mission statement and goals from the Appetizer come in handy.)
• Provide or direct people to ongoing training in sustainable business topics. The Natural Step Network's programs are a great resource.