U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the release of a new proposed energy efficiency standard for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The standard, as proposed, could save consumers as much as $18.6 billion over thirty years. The Obama Administration has made efficiency standards a major priority as a way to save energy and money for American families and businesses.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved on October 5 the first large-scale solar energy plants ever to be built on U.S. public lands. The approval of two developments in California grants the U.S.-based companies behind the projects access to almost 6,800 acres of public lands for 30 years to build and operate solar plants. The approved plants could produce up to 754 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, or enough to power 226,000–566,000 typical U.S. homes. The projects will generate almost 1,000 new jobs.

It seems that we are finding a new use for solar power everyday. Whether its grid-tie applications, lighting, or backup power, solar is rapidly becoming our green energy alternative of choice. Solar is rapidly evolving as the technology and applications for it are changing daily. In this light, here are 3 great contests that are stretching the limits of what solar can be used for and may just change the way we use energy in our everyday lives.

According to the latest data from the Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's solar industry added another 1,000 MW during July and August. This brings the total for the eight-month period from January through August to 4,900 MW from nearly 175,000 solar installations.

The cells that power the bicycle use sodium silicide, a powder similar to sand. In combination with water, the substance “instantly creates hydrogen gas”, that is further on used to generate energy. Moreover, excess electricity is stored in batteries that are safe and fully recyclable.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) joined China, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States in launching the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) on October 1 at the Paris Motor Show in France. The new initiative will provide a platform for global cooperation on the development and deployment of electric vehicles.

Tocco is a remarkable Italian town, not only for its ancient heritage, but also for its futuristic projects that concern the implementation of renewable energy installations. The town benefits four wind turbines that are more than enough to meet the needs of its 2,700 inhabitants.

Enbridge Inc. and First Solar, Inc. have achieved commercial operation of the 80 MW Sarnia Solar Project, making it the largest operating photovoltaic facility in the world. First Solar, a manufacturer of PV solar panels and provider of solar solutions, will operate and maintain the Sarnia Solar Project for Enbridge under a long-term contract. First Solar developed, engineered, and constructed the facility, using its advanced thin film solar panels.

Beacon Power Corp., a provider of energy storage systems has established a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency to produce parts of a flywheel energy storage over a period of two years.

Ủy viên Năng lượng Liên minh châu Âu (EU) Guenther Oettinger cho rằng châu Âu cần đầu tư 1.000 tỷ euro để cải thiện hệ thống năng lượng nhằm giảm bớt ô nhiễm và đảm bảo nguồn cung.

In fact, Phu Tho Province has implemented 30 models of cleaner production. However, these programs have not attracted participation of industrial and craft production cooperatives and craft villages which have made important contribution to local industrial development and created jobs for local people. Because there is a lack of policies on application of cleaner production in craft villages and cooperatives, therefore, information on cleaner production still remain insufficient.

Each household taking part in the project has been provided with financial assistance worth VND1.2 million to build a biogas plant (of this sum, VND625,000 comes from the project’s budget and the remainder from the provincial budget). In places where the project was developed, people took active part in the construction of biogas plants. Before they were put into use, biogas plants were checked carefully and at the same time users were provided with detailed instructions to ensure effective and safe operation of biogas plants.

Each year, the factory discharges 3.000m3 of untreated waste water and 80 tons of untreated solid waste (waste rattan bark) into the environment. More ominously, waste water also contains many dangerous chemicals such as H2O2, NaOH, SiO2 ... Besides, a large amount of gas and dust dispersed into the air during the production process has also greatly affected the health of workers and the surrounding environment".

Participating in the course, trainees will be equipped with systematic knowledge and management skills and techniques on energy efficiency. With that knowledge, businesses will not only save costs and gain markedly economic benefits but will also be more active when the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation is officially enforced from 01/01/2011.

New technology is the key to the meeting the coalition's pledge to lead the "greenest government ever", David Cameron has said. The prime minister was announcing the publication of an online league table which will be updated daily, to allow the public to see which departments were cutting energy use the most.

Struggling to tackle the acute power crisis in the state, Shobha Karandjale, the new energy minister, is planning to encourage energy conservation as purchasing electricity is proving to be a costly affair. The government spends an average of Rs 350 crore a month to purchase power from private producers to meet the power crisis.

The latest official figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) could provide insight into how energy saving aspirations across the UK have affected power consumption. In its second quarter 2010 report, DECC notes a 24 per cent fall in primary electricity consumption across the country.

British Telecom, Belgacom, France Telecom-Orange, OTE, Telefonica and Turk Telekom among others, have joined heavyweights such as Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Vodafone and Cisco in the voluntary plan to help cut carbon emissions. The new signees bring the number of companies participating to 36.

Norwalk and Darien residents looking to dispose of used compact fluorescent light bulbs, commonly called CFLs, have a variety of options to take advantage of. At a news conference at the Home Depot location on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk Thursday, state Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia detailed the services available to those in the area.

The benefits of energy auditing in providing a means of producing tangible outputs to identify areas where energy consumption and wastage could be minimised. The accumulated results and recommendations from the auditing can assist an organisation in developing effective strategies to reduce their energy consumption and improve energy efficiency within their respective buildings.