Utilizing the simplest of technologies to brighten communities without electricity, plastic bottles jammed through circular holes in metal rooftops of a Manila slum neighborhood bring light into dim and dreary shanties, thanks to a project called A Liter of Light.
The city of Boulder, Colorado has won the right to take its power supply—and carbon emissions—away from corporate control and redirect it toward the sun. The change for Boulder came in November when voters passed two ballot measures that allow the city to begin the process of forming its own municipal power utility to take advantage of the 300 days of annual sunshine.
A world away from the chaos, violence and abuses of elections under Hosni Mubarak's rule, Egyptian voters queued in huge, orderly lines on Monday, many still in disbelief that they could now play a part in shaping their nation's future.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has claimed a landslide victory in a series of election contests in Burma. The Nobel Peace Prize winner won her own election contest with 99 percent of voter support in the poor Kawhmu township she sought to represent.
Wanting to pay less for fuel now, Virgin America has invested in a remarkable new engine from GE. This is one of these significant breakthroughs in technology and engine efficiency that come along once every 10 to 15 years, David Cush, Virgin America's CEO, tells us.
The world's largest express transportation company continues to bolster its fuel efficiency with a significant expansion this summer of lower polluting, energy efficient vehicles. While doubling the fleet of all-electric vehicles to 43, FedEx is also adding more hybrid-electrics and light composite vehicles.
A solar-powered bikini designed by Brooklyn-based designer Andrew Schneider is now available for charging your cellphone or iPod right on the beach. The high-tech swimsuit comprises thin, flexible photovoltaic film strips and USB connectors.
A Philips LED bulb is the winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's $10 million competition to develop a low-cost, energy efficient, high-performance replacement for the incandescent bulb. The energy-saving L Prize winner uses less than 10 watts of power, providing an energy savings of 83 percent, while still emitting the same amount of light, and with the familiar warm glow.
The Boeing Co Dreamliner, the world's first carbon-composite airliner, flew to Hong Kong from Tokyo carrying its first paying passengers on Wednesday in a flight described as a 'game changer' that could set a new benchmark in air travel.
The world's most valuable company, Apple, has announced plans to build America's largest private onsite solar array at their North Carolina data center. Apple's data center in Maiden is already one of the most energy-efficient of its kind, earning a coveted LEED Platinum certification.
Consumer Reports unveiled its third annual Naughty & Nice List featuring companies whose policies attracted either nasty stares or gleeful praise. The companies were picked based on specific practices that the magazine's editors and subscribers found particularly worthy of either a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday the company will build Macs in Texas using some parts made in Illinois and Florida. Cook said the factory will open later this year.
Home prices surged during the first quarter at their fastest pace in nearly seven years, the latest sign of a sustained economic recovery. Consumer confidence also helped push stocks to a new high on Tuesday.
Canada's economy created a surprising 95,000 jobs in May, the biggest monthly gain in 11 years, and most were full-time positions and in the private sector, Statistics Canada said on Friday in a report showing the economy may be gaining momentum.
The U.S. economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October despite a federal government shutdown that was expected to limit payroll growth. Despite the gains, the unemployment rate edged up to 7.3% from 7.2%.
Increased demand boosted global manufacturing activity last month as U.S. factories expanded at their fastest pace in 2-1/2 years and Chinese output suggested improvement in the world's second largest economy. The 17-country euro zone's manufacturing sector also showed improvement in November, as did Britain's.
General Motors announced plans to invest $1.2 billion in new equipment and expansions at five Midwest factories. GM's investment, mostly in three Michigan plants, will retain or add about 1,000 jobs. The expansion plans were announced Monday, the same day a new study was released, compiled by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, that estimated the rescue of GM and Chrysler saved 2.6 million jobs in 2009 and 1.5 million in 2010.
As we reported recently, the U.S. economy is continuing to gain steam. Housing, manufacturing, auto sales rates have all been rising. This week has also been a great one for workers: The Labor Department said Friday that employers created 203,000 jobs last month, sending the unemployment rate tumbling by three-tenths of a point to 7 percent — the lowest level since 2008.
Orders for jetliners, machinery and other long-lasting durable goods rebounded last month in a positive sign for the important US manufacturing sector, the Commerce Department said Friday.