Research: What theory, behavior, or norm are you or your team researching that will lead to an improvement in how we generate or use energy?

What theory, behavior, or norm are you or your team researching that will lead to an improvement in how we generate or use energy? New farming technique? New way of educating the public? New chemical to store energy? Blow our minds.

Ideas answering this question

Climate CoLab: Online Citizen Collaboration on Climate Solutions

National Science Foundation

Climate CoLab–a new online forum developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of ... more ...

Climate Change, Green Communities, Science
Reuse, Rebuild & Revive Burlington North Carolina

Maggie Cissel

Communities in Burlington, NC are seeing a lot of new buildings sprout up in their communities, but why are so many ... more ...

Architecture, Colleges and Universities, Economics, EPA P3, Green Building, Green Living, GreenGov
Toward a Low Energy Computer: Efficient Caches

National Science Foundation

In an NSF-sponsored project, computer scientists at the University of Utah have developed techniques to reduce the ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Colleges and Universities, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Communities, Green Living, Science
The Evolution of American Oil Dependency

United States Energy and Security Council

Who better to discuss the evolution of American oil prices than the former president of Shell Oil? John Hofmeister ... more ...

Adaptation, Efficiency, Green Living, Natural Gas, Renewable Energy
Former CIA Director James Woolsey on Refueling our Vehicles

United States Energy and Security Council

Are flex-fuel cars the future? Former CIA Director James Woolsey proposes that we "do like the Brazilians do." See why ... more ...

Adaptation, Biofuels, Efficiency, Green Living, Natural Gas, Renewable Energy
The Earth Pyramid: Keeping a Record of Environmental Progress

Steve Ward

Technology will only get us so far when it comes to sorting out the worlds environmental issues. The Earth Pyramid will ... more ...

Architecture, Art, Climate Change, Education, Engineering, Green Building
Glass Powder Absorbs Oil, Waste from Water and Air

National Science Foundation

NSF-sponsored research at an Ohio college has led to a revolutionary discovery, a new form of silica glass that can ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Economics, Science
Avon: Making Beauty Sustainable

COMMITForum

Can beauty save the rainforest? Susan Arnot of Avon talks about their programs to stop deforestation using less paper ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Education, Green Communities
New Materials Turn Heat Into Electricity

National Science Foundation

Most of today’s power plants–from some of the largest solar arrays to nuclear energy facilities–rely ... more ...

Efficiency, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Science, Solar, Water
Turtles for the Rainforest

Matthew Eastman

A plea from a turtle named Chuck Norris for you to save the Rainforest.
more

Activism, Art, Humor
Use of Plug-in Cars May Increase Due to Smaller Batteries

National Science Foundation

Researchers determined that hybrid and plug-in vehicles with small battery packs could provide cost-effective reduction ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Green Living, Hybrid Vehicles, Science
Mammals Seek Higher Elevations as Climate Warms

National Science Foundation

Many species of mammals in Yosemite National Park have shifted their home ranges to higher elevations over the last ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Science
Ocean Circulation Plays a Major Role in Controlling Greenhouse Gas Fluctuations

National Science Foundation

Over time, warming events in Greenland and the North Atlantic were followed by gradual cooling. These changes correlate ... more ...

Adaptation, Clean Tech, Climate Change, International Climate Negotiations, Oceans, Science, Water
New Technique Rapidly Analyzes Chemical Composition of Organic Aerosols

National Science Foundation

Researchers have developed a new way to monitor organic aerosols (OA)–a sizable class of atmospheric aerosols, ... more ...

Adaptation, Clean Tech, Climate Change, International Climate Negotiations, Science
Plastic Leaf Technology Mimics Trees to Reduce Carbon Levels

energyNOW

New technology could mimic trees by pulling carbon out of the air. The same technology could convert CO2 into ... more ...

Adaptation, Biomimicry, Business, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Engineering
Michigan Researches Remote Medicine to Rescue Rural Communities

University of Michigan College of Engineering

Young University of Michigan engineers take technology to the remote and needy. Michigan Engineering M-HEAL student team ... more ...

Activism, Education, Engineering, Health
Genetic Consequences of Climate Change

National Science Foundation

Recently, multiple NSF-funded researchers have documented genetic changes resulting from climate change. These studies ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Science
“Father of Energy Efficiency” Schools Congress on Cool-Roof Effects

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Retrofit roofs with reflective "cool roof" coatings to keep buildings/cities cool, reduce energy use for a/c, and ... more ...

Climate Change, Education, Efficiency, Green Building, Green Communities, Policy
George Mason Studies Resilience Of Arctic People For Adaptation Research

National Science Foundation

George Mason University researchers are investigating the resilience of Arctic peoples to changes in their local ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Green Communities, Science
New Climate Mode of Variability Links Ocean Climate and Ecosystem Change

National Science Foundation

Decadal fluctuations in ocean salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll, a variety of zooplankton species, and fish stocks in the ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Geothermal, International Climate Negotiations, Oceans, Science, Water
How Climate Change Is Choking Marine Ecosystems

National Science Foundation

While investigating the effects of climate change on nitrogen cycling in temperate coastal systems, Rhode Island ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Science, Water
Thoreau’s Woods Reveal Patterns of Climate Change

National Science Foundation

It is not often that a scientist collaborates with a writer and philosopher, let alone one that lived in a previous ... more ...

Adaptation, Climate Change, Science
Retrofit Canal Structures to Utilize Elevation Changes for Power Generation

Michael Stevens

A ship passing through the Panama canal goes through a series of dramatic elevation changes, 85 feet in total. My idea ... more ...

Renewable Energy, Transportation
Energy Efficient Home Landscapes

American Society of Landscape Architects

Watch an animation that explains how to use the landscape to reduce the energy consumed by a typical suburban home. See ... more ...

Architecture, Business, Climate Change, Economics, Efficiency, Featured Community Blog, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Solar
Microgrids Can Be Used To Integrate Renewable Energy Into The Power Grid

National Science Foundation

Renewable energy sources that power residences and small businesses are usually integrated into small networks known as ... more ...

Clean Tech, Efficiency, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Science
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are developing Conductive Paint for Flexible Solar Panels

National Science Foundation

Researchers at the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Minnesota are ... more ...

Clean Tech, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Science, Solar
This Little Algae Went to Market

OriginOil

OriginOil (originoil.com) CEO Riggs Eckelberry discusses the company’s recent turn from research toward commercial ... more ...

Algae, Biofuels, Business, Clean Tech, Renewable Energy
Solar Energy – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

In this episode of Green Revolution, learn how solar cells capture energy from the sun, and how scientists and engineers ... more ...

Science, Solar
Greening the Academy: Making Higher Education More Sustainable

Second Nature

Question: Who do university presidents turn to for thoughts on sustainability? Frank Sesno of course. Our host will ... more ...

Adaptation, Campus Sustainability, Climate Change, Education, Policy
Powering Up with Smart Grids – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

How we get our energy is as important as how we make it. In this episode of Green Revolution, hear how scientists and ... more ...

Clean Tech, Science
KU Plots Energy Model Makeover

KUEcoHawks

Our idea is to create a smart grid system to enhance and improve the energy infrastructure. Watch the video and learn ... more ...

Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Wind
Microbes! – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

Can bugs save the planet? Join host Lisa Van Pay, PhD (aka a scientist) as she explores exciting alternative energy ... more ...

Biomimicry, Clean Tech, Science
City Car – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

A clean car that you can stack like a shopping cart? That customizes everything from its color to the radio the instant ... more ...

Science, Transportation
Hydrogen as Energy – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

How do we harness the power of hydrogen and turn it into useable energy? This episode of Green Revolution talks to ... more ...

Science, Transportation
Green Roofs – Science Nation

National Science Foundation

Ingenuity sprouting from the rooftops. The rooftops of Manhattan are as varied as the city itself. A glance at the city ... more ...

Agriculture, Science
Biomass – Green Revolution

National Science Foundation

How do we turn biological material into energy? This episode of Green Revolution explores how scientists are studying ... more ...

Algae, Biofuels, Science
Clean Power is a $2.3 Trillion Opportunity

Adam Enatsky

In its latest report, “Global Clean Power: A $2.3 Trillion Opportunity,” the Pew Environment Group describes ... more ...

Biofuels, Business, Clean Tech, Efficiency, Electric Cars, Engineering
Ensure a sustainable supply of rare earth elements for producing renewable energy and other important technologies.

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Critical materials, including rare earth elements (REE) and strategic metals, are essential for technologies used in a ... more ...

Clean Tech, Education, Electric Cars, Energy Storage, Solar, Wind
Science Nation – Green Gasoline from Cellulose

National Science Foundation

Carbon neutral gasoline … from plants! Like everyone else, George Huber knows money doesn’t grow on trees. ... more ...

Biofuels, Science
Green Revolution – Wind Power

National Science Foundation

We just launched a new partnership with NSF to bring you the Science Corner, where you can get all the science you need. ... more ...

Science, Wind
Creating cost effective solutions by combining the priorities of Fortune500 companies & the Government, to find out what drives environmental improvement & sustainability

William Grayson

Billy Grayson Senior Associate at ICF International discusses the importance of prioritizing company and federal needs ... more ...

Uncategorized
Construct Solar Panels from Organic Semiconductor Materials

The University of Texas at Austin

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) are working to develop ... more ...

Clean Tech, Education, Efficiency, Engineering, Science, Solar
Waste not, Want not! Reuse, reuse again and recycle to infinity!

Gary A. Coffing, Sr.

We create waste that can be reused to create the energy, products and foodstuffs we consume. We can divert our entire ... more ...

Agriculture, Biofuels, Efficiency, Geothermal, Green Building, Green Living
Transforming the Public Transportation Experience to Encourage Usage.

rahul saggar

I want to improve the experience on public transportation vehicles, while appealing to people who don’t usually ... more ...

Activism, Engineering, Hydroelectric, Public Transportation, Science, Transportation
Sustainable and Affordable: New Options in Factory-Built Housing

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Factory-built homes have the benefits of being constructed inside a manufacturing plant (avoiding weather-related ... more ...

Architecture, Education, Green Building, Policy
Water: A Commonsense Alternative Energy Source?

Virginia Drago

By conserving water that we normally would waste, such as water from our roofs following a rain storm or tap water that ... more ...

Activism, Efficiency, Green Living, Hydroelectric
The Ethics of Ethanol

School of Public Policy

In the world-wide race to develop energy sources that are seen as “green” because they are renewable and ... more ...

Agriculture, Biofuels, Clean Tech, Policy
Can “Living” Buildings Help Fight Climate Change?

Beth Buczynski

This was originally posted on CrispGreen.com New research suggests protocell “skins” could be the secret to ... more ...

Architecture, Biofuels, Green Living
The Bottom Line on Renewable Energy Tax Credits

World Resources Institute

Jenna Goodward, author of the latest in WRI’s The Bottom Line series, discusses the topic of this issue: the PTC, ... more ...

Activism, Clean Tech, Efficiency
The Power of Trash: Turning Waste into Biofuel

Andrea Vittorio

By Andrea Vittorio and Miranda Green How many times a week do you take out the garbage? That sticky, icky, smelly trash ... more ...

Agriculture, Biofuels, Business, Science
The Quantity C is the Radius of Curvature of All Natural law

Peter Jocis

The radius of curvature concept does not change any current math theories of physics, but ties them together for a far ... more ...

Science
Highlights from Sec. Chu’s “Sputnik” Speech

Planet Forward

At a National Press Club luncheon, Energy Secretary Steven Chu expressed his concern for the United States as it is ... more ...

Business, Clean Tech, Efficiency, Engineering, Science
Sec. Chu – Is the Energy Race our New “Sputnik” Moment?

Planet Forward

Energy Secretary Steven Chu told the National Press Club that time may be running out for the United States to lead in ... more ...

Agriculture, Biofuels, Business, Clean Tech, Education, Efficiency, Electric Cars, Engineering, GreenGov, Nuclear, Policy, Science, Solar
Solar Energy With Ken Zweibel

Dina Hussein

Ken Zweibel, head of The George Washington University's Solar Institute, thinks we can get all the energy we need from ... more ...

Solar
Conservation of Water is Critical to our Future

John Liparelli

Secure more water, curb pollution, end interior flooding and create jobs through a national project that will correct ... more ...

Activism, Agriculture, Business, Efficiency, Engineering, Hydroelectric, Policy
Integrate Oscillation and Vibration into Cold Fusion Research Techniques

johnhodgson

Here is the Cold Fusion Apparatus Mathmatical Proof that is current submitted to the USPTO office; the application ... more ...

Clean Tech, Green Living, Nuclear, Science
Expansion of the Boone Pickens Energy Plan: Conpressed Natural Gas Cars

John Liparelli

My idea works with his push to develop our natural gas resources. To remind you that imported oil cost the US $700 ... more ...

Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Science, Transportation
EcoCradle Growth

ecovative

This time-lapse video condenses 14 days of EcoCradle™ growth into 14 seconds.
more

Agriculture, Architecture, Clean Tech, Engineering, Green Living, Science
Rutgers University Uses Gliders to Research Antarctic Global Warming

Steve Miller

Our students produced a news story examining how Rutgers University researchers are using gliders to determine the ... more ...

Geothermal, Science
We support and lobby for legislation that will provide economic incentives to encourage the construction of district energy and combined heat and power facilities.

IDEA

Improving the efficiency of energy production from existing central power plants or heating plants with combined heat ... more ...

Architecture, Business, Efficiency, Engineering, Science
Tesla and Ball Lightning, fusion.

John B. Gasseling

In the words of Nikola Tesla, “I can now state that I have succeeded in operating a motive device. The air is ... more ...

Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Transportation
There is a third choice in nuclear power: low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR), otherwise known as cold fusion. This science needs to be developed further and given high priority in funding.

Ruby Carat

Cold fusion refers to a safe, clean, decentralized energy source that has no harmful byproducts and could supply 100% of ... more ...

Clean Tech, Green Living, Nuclear, Science
wind farm + hydrogen generator + gas turbine engine generator = clean enviromentally safe cheap electricity

Tom Darter

Build wind farm, 45 units, (plus water source) to manufacture hydrogen via hydrogen generator, to fuel gas turbine ... more ...

Uncategorized
White House GreenGov Opening Plenary

Planet Forward

Catch Secretary Steven Chu’s solar panel announcement and his presentation at the White House’s GreenGov ... more ...

Biomimicry, Clean Tech, Efficiency, GreenGov, Policy, Science
Business Forward Clean Energy Manufacturing Roundtable w/ Ron Bloom

Brad Jenkins

Silicon Valley Manufacturing CEOs, CFOs, and Venture Capital Partners hosted Ron Bloom, Senior Counselor to the U.S. ... more ...

Business, Clean Tech, Policy
Zombie Subdivisions

Assignment Earth

Fall-out from the housing market bubble isn’t just affecting the suburbs of major metropolitan areas. Rural communities ... more ...

Agriculture, Architecture, Green Communities, Policy
Georgetown Energy Hottie

Team #THINKFWD

by M. Ravichandran Check out this entrepreneurial Georgetown undergrad who started a non-profit company that consults ... more ...

Clean Tech, Green Living, Science, Solar
Clean Legislation Creates Clean Energy

David Raish

Due to a bill passed in the fall of 2009 by the Oregon State Legislature, field burning in 2010 has been outlawed. This ... more ...

Green Communities, GreenGov
Oil Independence: Is It Possible?

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Beth Osborne of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other experts speaking at a July ... more ...

Efficiency, GreenGov
The financial rewards of being Sea Sick

Sunshine Menezes

The 2010 Grantham Prize – an annual US$75,000 prize given for works of non-fiction about significant environmental ... more ...

Activism
What are the health costs of fossil fuels?

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environmental health experts speaking at a May 24, 2010 event on Capitol Hill. Are coal and oil really as cheap as we ... more ...

Efficiency, Engineering, Health
What do Americans think about energy and climate change?

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Public polling experts Jon Krosnick and Mark Cooper speaking at a June 10, 2010 event on Capitol Hill. Have ... more ...

Efficiency, Engineering
Cool World Cup Uniforms Aside, Plastic Recycling Is a Waste of Time

Amy Westervelt

The plastic industry folks are really good at using the media to get their message out and they seem to have turned up ... more ...

Activism
Killing the Earth to Save Her

Steve Austin

Here we go! This is the knee-jerk attempts to geoengineer our way out of climate change. When we dummy down all ... more ...

Activism
From ocean to ozone: Earth’s nine life-support systems

Scott Lee

From ocean to ozone: Earth’s nine life-support systems By Fred Pearce Up to now, the Earth has been very kind to ... more ...

Efficiency
Florida Everglades Dying of Thirst

James Edward Mills

A $2 billion initiative to create the world’s largest fresh water reservoir aims to clean up pollutants and restore the ... more ...

Activism
Solar Charging of Battery Electric Vehicles Required

Richard Schoen, FAIA, LEED-AP

To be able to commercilize BEV’s and PHEV’s at the 20 M level within five years as called for on this web ... more ...

Efficiency, Solar
A Low Tech Solution

Frederic Klein


more

Efficiency
Stop Wasting Heat

Pentti Aalto


more

Activism, Efficiency, Engineering
Thrift Stores.mpg

Lane Maxcy


more

Uncategorized
Environmental Research On the Move: Carnegie Mellon’s Mobile Lab

Caitlin Cronkhite

Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies (CAPS) has been taking its environmental ... more ...

Efficiency
A Sustainable Education: The First Textbook on Sustainability

Caitlin Cronkhite

Cliff Davidson, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon ... more ...

Education
Farm Fresh Flying Eggs

Daniel Houghton

Food miles really add up. When you consider the transport of farm inputs in addition to final food products, the total ... more ...

Agriculture
Retrofit Old Homes with Geothermal Earth Sheltering

Ron Nyberg

I do not know why we all think that we need something new to save our way of life! Our homes and business building waste ... more ...

Architecture, Efficiency, Geothermal, Green Living
The New Green Economy Research and Development

Ryder Haske

Research and development is critical to saving the environment and becoming more energy efficient. Innovations that have ... more ...

Uncategorized
Student Activism

Neil Danner

A brief look at where student activism is going.
more

Activism
Green Your Home and Your Wallet: Weatherization

Jackie Faillace

For this project we followed Thomas Hand from Hand Energy Service as he weatherized a restored Vermont farm house. ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living
Fishy

Neil Danner

Phosphorus, an additive in many dish detergents, is not an essential ingredient. It’s soul purpose in the ... more ...

Green Living
Beyond the Car

Leslie Stonebraker

Car and truck usage is responsible for about one-third of the United State’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Since ... more ...

Green Living, Public Transportation, Transportation
Biking to Work

Bryanna Fucci

BRISTOL, RI __ Professor Chris Menton bikes to work nearly every day knowing with every trip he’s reducing his ... more ...

Biking, Green Living, Transportation
Conserve for a Cause: Helping Haiti and the Environment

Shelby Pia Glass

A great idea to help out the environment and Haiti that any college or residence can do by creating a sustainable regiment
more

Activism
Green Buildings

Michael Scully

BRISTOL, RI __ Just by changing our construction habits, our buildings can harvest and store the energy around them. RWU ... more ...

Campus Sustainability, Efficiency, Engineering
No Bike Left Behind

Planet Forward Archive

From the Policy Greenhouse at The George Washington University on July 10, 2009
more

Biking, Transportation
Using Tech to Connect

Planet Forward Archive

Carpooling through social media
more

Activism, Green Living, Transportation
Two Birds, One System

Allan Sanford

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: You can’t conserve what you don’t have. There are dozens of communities and areas ... more ...

Agriculture, Clean Tech