Brent Vander Werf’s Compliant Shading Enclosure creates a movable mechanism within the air-gap of a glass enclosure to regulate the amount of sun, shade and shadow permitted in a space. Powered by the energy from the sun, the mechanism passively expands or closes to make the opening the correct size to meet the desired comfort level.
The shading system utilizes a bi-metal element that is bonded to high expansion and low expansion alloys. A slight change in temperature makes the alloys produce an opposing force, causing the element to deform and rotate. The system requires no maintenance or user input once installed, and by adjusting the parameters of the alloys, the mechanism can suit a variety of climates.
“By placing the bi-metal element within a sealed glass enclosure, like may double pane window systems, an increased amount of temperature change can be obtained due to the greenhouse effect and a passively actuated heat sensor is achieved with a wide range of rotational motion and force exertion. The actuator is then coupled with a bistable mechanism, or an elastic element which produces spring-like characteristics by storing and releasing kinetic and potential energy, thus snapping the aperture and attached shading membrane closed with maximum heat input and vice versa, snapping the aperture back open as heat input diminishes significantly, opening the aperture once again to what’s beyond the glass,” explained the designer.
Interactive tool layering climate data over Google Earth maps shows the impact of an average global temperature rise of 4C
A new interactive Google Earth map was developed using peer-reviewed science from the Met Office Hadley Centre and other leading impact scientists. Photograph: earth.google.co.uk
Think it's hot this summer? Wait until you see Google's simulation of a world with an average global temperature rise of 4C.
Playing with the layer is surprisingly addictive, mainly thanks to Google Earth's draggable interface. Unlike the static map of last year, it also has the bonus of showing more obviously how temperature rises will differ drastically around the world. The poles glow a red (a potential rise of around 10C) while most of northern Europe escapes with light orange 2-3C rises. Other hotspots, such as Alaska, the Amazon and central Asia, also stand out.
Neatly, you can turn different climate "impacts" on and off. If you just want to see which regions will be worst affected by sea level rises - such as the UK and Netherlands as well as low-lying island states - you can. One limitation is that you have to zoom out to continental level to see the layer: if you're zoomed on your street, you can't see it.
Climate change minister Greg Barker launched the map today alongside the government's chief scientist, Prof John Beddington. Barker said: "This map reinforces our determination to act against dangerous man-made climate change. We know the stakes are high and that's why we want to help secure an ambitious global climate change deal."
An interface and layer (Google Earth) to monitor the evolution of the predictions about climate. Should be updated as knowledge evolves.
Which brings a thought to our recent Arctic Opening project as it shoes that the arctic region will be dramatically hit by the rises of temperatures on the Globe.
Over the weekend, President Obama announced the Department of Energy would be giving almost $2 billion in conditional funding to two solar energy companies, Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar Manufacturing.
Money will come from the $863 billion economic stimulus package. Projects funded by this move are expected to create more than 5,000 construction and permanent jobs.
One of these initiatives is the Solana project, which Abengoa says will be the largest concentrating solar power plant in the world when it’s completed. The Arizona-based plant will produce enough energy to power 70,000 households and will save the environment from about 475,000 tons of CO2 each year. Most of the development and permitting for Solana is already complete, and the project has a green light from the Department of Energy (DOE), as well.
“These are just two of the many clean energy investments in the Recovery Act,” the President said. “Already, I’ve seen the payoff from these investments. I’ve seen once-shuttered factories humming with new workers who are building solar panels and wind turbines; rolling up their sleeves to help America win the race for the clean energy economy.”
Solar power has become an increasingly interesting alternative for providing energy for all kinds of purposes, from our homes to our gadgets, from airplanes to spaceships.
Green and clean tech in general have been surfacing as exciting areas of investment recently; Google recently invested $38 million in wind farms.
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