These smart theories have been made into reality by the Michelle Kaufmann Studio, who has called these houses the Zero Series.

Zero, in this case, is meant as zero waste. When the Studio did the Glidehouse designs, it made everybody wonder if these designs would really be energy efficient and absolutely green.

This time, the Studio has taken this concept a step forward in the form of Zero houses which are better and improved in any possible way.

Just like the Glidehouses, the Zero houses are well-designed, attractive, built using eco-friendly materials, have means to save and conserve water and generally have a healthy atmosphere around them. The print of the house, as the Studio says, is very green and clean.

According to the designer Kaufmann, the six years which have passed between the Glidehouse and the Zero Series were quite helpful in understanding what should be modified and what should be avoided.

Some of these points include that more work needs to be done not on the site but also off site. Also, the client’s needs can be easily accommodated as the designs have more flexibility and can be changed well modifying the construction.

The company has three trademarked variations within the Zero series – the Contours, the Vista and the Ridge.

Zero energy buildings (ZEBs) are not a new thing. These structures, the Zero series are ZEBs, which means that energy from renewable energy can very well run the house. There are photovoltaic panels which help in tapping the solar energy.

In addition to this, there are rainwater harvesting systems and gray water gathering systems. These homes are LEED certified and also qualify for NAHB Green Building Standard and Build It Green certificates.

The Ridge is based on the Passivhaus principles of shading, light and insulation while Contours and Vista allow a lot of natural light and ventilation to pass. The latter duo has outdoor rooms as well as indoor ones.

These eco friendly and energy efficient houses truly represent the need of the day and are available at an affordable cost of $66,500.

Most of the people that already have solar panels are surely people, who can afford it. Recently there is a change that will be extremely useful for anyone – solar power is now available for anyone.

There is a new solar power program that allows to each customer solar power panels through leasing. The so called Solar Power Purchase Agreement is a program that is released by the EPA organization. It is a call for more affordable prices, when it comes to solar panels.

The program is invented and targets the solar companies. They will be given some benefits to provide solar panels and all kind of related services, but leasing them to the customers instead of selling.

The agreement is sort of a contract for transfer between producers, providers and homeowners. The monthly lease payments will ease the customer and it will encourage the solar panel’s purchases.

Another measure is the “Solar Investment Tax Credit”, which will be collected by the solar leasing producers and companies. It will ease the producers and on the other hand, this will increase the sales of the solar panels.

Denmark is perhaps the first European country that provides green energy since long time ago.

The Danish Government has made many efforts to change the old electricity system and to be able to provide clean and sustainable energy. The latest project of the country is again about wind.

Denmark is eminent for its onshore and offshore wind farms. So far the country provides 20 percent of the country power generation only from those farms, but the needs of the consumers grow bigger and bigger, simply because people there want to use only clean energy.

Therefore one designer suggested one bold project – the Green Powered Island. Gottlieb Paludan’s project is an unusual system that represents energy storage.

The Green Powered Island will produce energy not only from the wind, but also using sea water. The concept of the designer isn’t new, but so far no one could combine hydro and wind system in one. Gottlieb did it as the water will comes from the sea.

The system isn’t that difficult. The seawater will be pumped into a lagoon, which will be used like a reservoir, which will be inserted into an artificial island.

The generating of the energy will start at the peak periods with the help of special turbines. As a result, the island will be an eternal source of renewable energy.

Meanwhile in Kenya there is another project that also can be considered as a revolutionary one. Surpassingly the project there will be developed sooner than this one in Denmark.

The project belongs to the designer Austin-Smith as he will probably turn Nairobi into the greenest town in the world. His project is about the railroads and the metro in the city, but it will re-green the city, because it will open and clean the arteries of Nairobi.

According to his project, the town, which has no metro or any official roads, will have roads, rivers and even water ways. The infrastructure, which the designer invented is actually the greenest infrastructure ever made.

It will allow the citizen of Nairobi to use clean water, which will be filtered and meanwhile, part of the energy of the town will be generated by a hydro-energy farm. The project is part of the Kenyan contest for re-building Nairobi and creating green railroads and metro.

We are trying to use more solar and wind energy in our homes and offices. We are working on making hybrid cars more a thing of the present as opposed to a thing of the future. We are growing crops smarter and more efficiently by using fewer chemicals and more natural fertilizers.

We are recycling more. There is even a new airline that is carbon neutral! All of these things are being done in the name of ecology and saving the earth.

What about ships and boats though? You know, that it used to be boats and ships that were not powered by sails and oars did not exist. Actually it is really wasn’t that long ago when you look at the scope of things.

But since the invention of the steam engine and the subsequent engines that power our nautical vessels, sails and oars have become almost novelties of the eccentric.

Apparently people in the boating world have now come to grip with reality and realized that all of the new innovative engines are contributing to the problems we are having as environment is concerned affecting the atmosphere and renewable resources. So, they have decided to do something about it.

Amazingly, one of these new ideas to reclaim our environment via water craft is called the SkySail. Imagine that, new innovation that was in use just 100 years ago. This is being marketed as a kite or parachute type apparatus that uses the power of the wind to draw the boat forward. That sounds awfully familiar, don’t you think?

It is said that when this is used in tandem with the engine it can conserve up to 35% of fuel. Can you guess how much fuel it can conserve when used without the engine?

There is another technology being tested too. This one is being called wave power and uses the power of the waves to make the boat move. Interestingly enough, this boat (Suntory Mermaid) has ‘flippers’ (read oars under the boat) to move through the water and effectively propel the boat forward.

This technology will be tested by the boat during a voyage to Japan from Hawaii.

After discussing those two ‘new and innovative’ technologies, how much of the earth’s resources do you think we could have conserved if we had stuck with the “tired old” technologies like sails and oars?

Remodeling a house

The modern concept encourages the use of energy saving windows and underlines the importance of these in creating the concept of passive housing.

We hear about smart windows, energy saving windows but we do not know the most important fact: that they are fit and recommended for any type of environment whether, the weather there is cold or warm.

It is true that the materials energy saving windows are made of, is also important. Aluminum is the less efficient and the less expensive, fiberglass is a bit better and lighter and also an affordable option, wood is more expensive and mainly recommended for historic rehabilitation while vinyl is the most affordable option comparing to its value as an energy saver.

The type of glass is also important and it should be chosen in report to the climate type you live in and you should know that there is a special type of glass for the perfect window insulation of your house.

What does energy saving windows mean? The large majority of people, when hearing the concept, conclude that the windows of the house need to be replaced which is not entirely true.

It is true that there is different approach on how to create energy smart windows depending on the climate in the area you live in but following a few simple rules you can actually recover the windows of your house which can be considered a sustainable move.

In the cold climate, losing energy and warmth through the windows is something extremely natural. Still keeping the south windows clean so the sun could enter, weatherizing the windows and prevent drafting by installing insulating window shades are smart steps towards a green goal of passive housing.

You can prevent the heat going out during nighttime by keeping the curtains closed. The storm windows on the outside or inside are also a smart addition that will help preventing the cold infiltration through the window area.

The warm climate residents can also use the energy saving windows to prevent the house from overheating. Here is a matter of skill and ability to keep the heat out.

That’s why it is important to consider closing windows curtains on the south and west windows of the house, and apply sun control films that will reflect back the sunlight and heat allowing the house to stay cool for a longer time.

Are you aware that your windows directly contribute to how much you spend on heating and cooling?

Think about it. In the winter, the warm air seeps out through the cracks in and around your windowsills while the thin panes of glass do not do much to keep the cold out. In the summer, when the sun shines through the windows, the place can heat up quite quickly.

Other problems with glass windows can include the fabric on your furniture fading from the sunlight, a glare from the sun on your TV or even just being too bright in your eyes, UV rays from the sun transported through the glass and into your home and last but not least, if a window breaks, you could be severely cut by the glass.

Since we have identified some of the most common problems, what can we do to alleviate all of these issues? Will it be expensive and difficult?

The answer to these questions is a simple one. All of these questions can be answered and solved with the use of glass film. By coating your windows with glass film, you are trapping the air that is inside the house inside.

Therefore your air conditioner will be used only for cooling the inside. It will turn on less because the air in the house will stay at a more constant temperature. The same thing will apply with the heater in the winter.

This will effectively influence a few things. First, by keeping the air at a constant temperature, your heater and AC will not have to work so hard, so not only will you be saving money there, you will also be saving the wear and tear on your equipment which will save you money on maintenance and upgrades in the future.

Also, you will be generating fewer emissions and as a result you will reduce your personal carbon footprint.

Glare will be cut down, UV rays blocked, furniture will be protected and if for some reason the glass in a window breaks, it will be safer because the glass will stick to the film.

When you analyze all the above the glass film can be considered quite a brilliant idea.

The road from completing an idea to its real functioning is long and let’s face it: it depends on the investments in it. The U.S. Department of Transportation is one of the institutions that help for turning an idea into a reality.

The Department has a new goal- to invest into an idea that surely sounds odd enough, but if you think twice, you can find it extremely practical for the environment.

The idea comes from Scott Brusaw, the founder of Solar Roadways. The idea is about to create new smart roads that are going to generate energy, which will power villages, cities and eventually the whole country.

The technology behind the project of Solar Roadways sounds simple and it is easy to be done. Solar Roadways will work through solar panels, made of specific cells and glass, which will be generating energy from the sun. If the project is successful, it will totally replace the asphalt on some roads.

Replacing the asphalt, which is made of petroleum, will be a huge step for the environment and moreover, the project will be 10 times more useful for it will create enough energy to power even the electricity needs of the cities.

Scott Brusaw’s road panels aren’t just simple solar panels. They are going to be made with automatic options, which will ease the driving on the road. For instance, the solar panel roads will be upgraded with travel lines and special options for timely warnings. This will inform the drivers about roadblocks, wildlife and the specifics of the road up ahead.

Meanwhile the founder of Solar Roadways has invented something incredible to insert in his solar road panels. Many are concerned what will happen with this roads in the winter, but Scott will insert heating elements in each panel.

This will block the snow and the ice off the road. The project of the company was awarded with $100,000 U.S., a figure that came from the Department of Transportation.

Scott Brusaw is going to create a prototype of his idea and the funds are only for the startup. If his idea is successful, our roads will be able to generate the whole energy we need.

If you are considering investing in solar energy, here are some solar energy facts you should know:

1. You probably don’t realize it, but one of the solar energy facts is that it’s everywhere around us. The sun is present everywhere, giving life to even the coldest locations on earth. Without it, there would be no life forms, no plants, and this powerful and consistent presence of the sun’s energy should be harnessed.

2. Solar energy can be used for nearly everything we rely on electricity for. One of the most important solar energy facts is that it can indeed power everything from our cars to our offices, providing light, heat, water, and even cooling.

Common uses of the knowledge and solar energy facts include cooling or heating homes, cleaning water, cooking, electricity through solar panels and solar cells, light, and power communication and mobile devices.

3. People have known solar energy facts for centuries know, as ancient civilizations have utilized the sun’s energy long before we have developed the technologies for harnessing and storing it. This is also a reason why many ancient civilizations praised and worshipped the sun for its power and ability to give and sustain life forms.

4. Solar energy can be beneficial to both industrial nations and developing countries, so people of all countries can make use of these solar energy facts.

There are countless ways it can help people live better and more efficient lives at home and at work, and it is something we can take advantage of. Fossil fueled sources of electricity contribute to pollution and climate change, so we should shift our focus to solar energy.

5. Solar energy is also a renewable source. It will never run out, and even if it is nighttime or a very cold season, solar energy can be stored and will still continue to provide sustenance.

One of the most useful solar energy facts is that even if there is a power outage, we can still rely on solar energy as long as we store enough.

6. Once you have bought or invested in any product that runs on solar energy, you will never need to see another electric bill again.

If you are running your household on both solar energy and conventional energy, you will also notice a significant decrease on your electricity bill. It’s also good to know solar energy facts that you can even purchase an entire home nowadays that runs entirely on solar energy.

7. It is one of the solar energy facts that there are many ways to make use of solar energy no matter how big or small your need is.

Because of the countless products and technologies continually being developed, it is no longer something that only the rich can afford. So go on and take advantage of the solar energy facts and make use of the sun!

It is true, if the technology for producing algae biofuels faces its final development, soon we are going to be able to use the algae as a basic fuel.

Alas, the facts are showing that we are not going to use the algae based fuels soon enough.

It will take at least several years, until the scientist’s research how to use the technology. The latest developments in this area at least gave us hope that the process is close to its final test, before releasing the fuel as a product at the market.

The European aerospace agency EADS will be perhaps one of the few companies that is going to surprise us with a new plane, which will be able to fly with algae based fuel.

Their project is now facing tests, but it sure it is the one that is super close to the goal- launching the first aircraft that runs on an algae biofuel. The good news is that an early made test has showed some great results as 5 to 10 percent fuel savings without any loss of performance. EADS will be doing the same tests with Airbus and Boeing.

He is the one behind an unusual invention. The “bad” bacteria are in fact not so bad, because thanks to them we can convert the greenhouse gas into methane.

This sounds impossible, but is actually already a fact. Professor Larter released the results from the research and said that if these microbes are pumped into oil wells, they will convert the crude.

The transformation is amazing, because the crude can be transformed into natural clean gas even while it is in the oil wells. The research also suggests that we can try the same with sequestered CO2.

If we pump it into a container filled with the carbon- devouring bacteria, it could actually be turned into clean and usable fuel.