Points of Interest | Green Energy News

July 6, 2003 – Vol.8 No.15

POINTS OF INTEREST

A weekly collection of websites worth visiting.

Eletra, a Brazilian developer of hybrid electric buses, claims to be in contract negotiations with officials in Panama for the sale of more than 300 diesel-electric buses. The company says its hybrid technology has 20-30 percent better fuel economy than found in conventional buses. The Eletra technology uses a diesel engine running at constant speed to generate electricity to energize an electric drive motor. A battery pack is used for additional power under acceleration and hill climbing. Eletra, at http://www.eletrabus.com/ .

The Tower Companies, a family-owned residential and commercial developer, has completed a U.S. Green Building Council LEED certified, 78-unit rental town home community in suburban Washington, D.C. To mark its greenness Blair Towns, as the development is known, features double low-e glass windows, building materials acquired within a 500-mile radius, low VOC (volatile organic chemical) paints,sealants, adhesives and carpeting as well as Energy Star branded light fixtures and ceiling fans. A small fleet of hybrid electric cars operated by FlexCar is based at Blair for resident subscribers to use 24/7. Tower at http://www.towercompanies.com/ , Energy Star at http://www.energystar.gov/ and Flexcar at http://www.flexcar.com/

Daystar Technologies is developing polycrystalline thin-film solar cells fabricated on conductive metal foils. The new technology is said to have an efficiency of 15 percent, or better, and is well suited to continuous in-line mass production. The company plans to have a pilot production line ready by the end of 2004. Daystar also develops light-weight solar cells using similar technology for use in aircraft or satellites, as well as a concentrating solar cell package. Daystar at http://www.daystartech.com/ .