solar panels

World's Largest Solar Boat Revealed

The world's largest solar boat has been revealed. Planet Solar is a 102-foot yacht which has a 50-foot beam and weighs around 60 tons. The topside of the ship is covered with 5,300 square feet of solar panels and it can hit a top speed of around 15 knots. Two men Raphaël Domjan and Gerard d'Aboville will take the catamaran around the world starting in April 2011. The voyage is designed to raise awareness of the carbon footprint created by boats used to ship goods. Around 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide (in 2008) were expelled shipping goods. That is 6% of the total carbon dioxide emissions and twice as much as air transport. Check out more images of the yacht in progress and learn more about the mission at the Planet Solar website.

[via Christian Science Monitor]

Tags: planet solar, planet solar yacht, PlanetSolar, PlanetSolarYacht, solar panels, solar power, SolarPanels, SolarPower

Solar-Powered Community Under Construction In Southern California

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green, Real Estate Developments

California has been gradually making inroads into adding solar panels onto homes but it has been slow going. One developer, Comstock Homes, may change all that, developing what they call the nation's first single-builder, solar-powered community. The Villages at Heritage Springs will be located on 54 acres in Sante Fe Springs, California. There will be over 500 homes which will be available from styles ranging from two-story townhouses to three-story free-standing homes.

Homes will have double-pane windows, energy-efficient lighting, heating and air-conditioning, cool roof tiles and a tankless water heater. SunPower solar roof tiles will power their lights, appliances, TV and other electronic devices and can save owners up to 60 percent on their electric bills. Move Trends reported last month that five models of the Villages at Heritage Springs are listed from $534,000 to $569,000. The project should be completed within three years.

[via Springwise]

Tags: community, real estate development, RealEstateDevelopment, santa fe springs, SantaFeSprings, solar panels, SolarPanels

Wally and Hermes Partner On Greenish Yacht Concept

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Green

The last few years brought a flurry of yacht and luxury brand partnerships. Now we are starting to see the output from these collaborations. Hermes and Wally are showing off a model of a 38-meter-wide yacht the WHY 58x38 (it is 58 meters long by 38 meters wide), which was presented in Ancona, Italy. Obviously this is no ordinary sleek vessel but we'd expect nothing less than mad innovation from Wally.

The yacht has 25-meter interior swimming pool, three decks and a 36-meter "beach" along the back. The large solar panels covering the roof and sides of the vessel could save at least 200 tons of diesel fuel a year. The design of the hull means that the yacht uses less power at cruising speed than another boat of equal size. It has a diesel-electric propulsion system and the solar panels power most of the boat's auxiliary system needs. In a press release, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Artistic Director of Hermès said: "The WHY 58X38 yacht looks very unfamiliar but it remains on a human scale. Space is the greatest luxury on the sea, but I believe the new luxury will be the time to enjoy it."

Gallery: WHY 58X38

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Tags: hermes, solar panels, SolarPanels, wally, why 58x38, Why58x38

Voltaic Generator Laptop Bag

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Green

It's not exactly the sexiest laptop bag I've ever seen but if you are out for the day with your laptop and need power it could be your new best friend. The Voltaic Generator bag from Global Satellite USA produces enough solar power to fully charge a laptop from less than a day in the sun. It features a high-efficiency 15 Watt solar panel that can gather a full laptop charge after five hours of full sunshine. Each hour in the sun is equivalent to 20-45 minutes of laptop run time depending on the laptop and it can also be used to charge other devces like phones, mp3 players and cameras., The bag is constructed of fabrics made with recycled soda bottles which are tough, waterproof and UV resistant. The solar panels come in five color options, orange, silver, green, white and black. It sells for $499. Laptop Mag recently reviewed it giving it three out of five stars, finding it cumbersome, heavy and not compatible with all laptops.

[via Synfo]

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Tags: generator, laptop bag, LaptopBag, solar panels, SolarPanels, voltaic

New Zegna Jacket Charges Your Gadgets

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Gadgets

Where high fashion meets pure geekery you have this little number by Ermenegildo Zegna, a jacket that provides power for your gadgets. This jacket has solar modules around the neoprene collar so that it can charge your iPod or cellphone. The coat will be in stores this November and five hours of sunshine can recharge just about any device. It comes in a bomber jacket or a longer style and will sell for $750.

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Tags: coat, ermengildo zegna, ErmengildoZegna, fashion, gadgets, jacket, solar panels, solar power