Archive for May 14th, 2010

Having access to electricity is taken for granted by every person in the US.  And, unless a natural disaster strikes, it is assumed that hospitals and medical facilities will have power.  While power outages are rare occurrences here, they are common occurrences in third world countries where electricity is rationed and that can mean the difference between life and death. But, solar power requires panels and batteries and can be difficult to transport to the world’s neediest people. A couple in CA are looking to change that with their handmade “solar suitcases” that can provide health care workers in developing regions with reliable lighting, mobile communications and blood bank refrigeration. WE CARE Solar arose out of the work of Dr. Laura Stachel, and obstetrician, and her husband Hal Aronson, a solar engineer. After witnessing the trauma of birthing complications and the effect power outages had on the outcomes of patients, the couple began creating the portable solar units to supply reliable power  to the remotest clinics in the world. The suitcases cost approximately $1,000 for the materials and are being assembled by high-school and U.C. Berkeley students and solar hobbyists.  For more information on WE CARE Solar, please see http://wecaresolar.com/index.html.

The U.S. EPA and the USDA have announced a new joint agreement to promote renewable energy generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from America’s livestock operations. Expanding the work of the AgSTAR program, the collaboration will provide up to $3.9 million over the next five years to help farms overcome obstacles preventing them from recovering and using biogas. Read the rest of this entry »