Smart Takes

Archive: 04-2011

• 10 steps toward making your home ‘net zero’

  Earth Day Special Feature 2011: Want a net-zero home? Want your local utility company to pay you, instead of the other way around? Siemens’ Barry Contrael offers 10 tips for getting there.

  April 22, 2011, 9:00 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Welcome to SmartPlanet’s Earth Day Special Feature 2011

  Earth Day Special Feature 2011: What does Earth Day mean to you? In our editorial package, find out why going green suddenly makes sense for corporations and individuals alike.

  April 22, 2011, 6:07 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Porsche unveils Panamera S Hybrid; 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds

  Porsche’s new Panamera S Hybrid, the company’s most fuel-efficient vehicle to date, has 380 horsepower and tops out at 167 miles per hour.

  April 21, 2011, 1:01 PM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Honda to expand availability of Civic Natural Gas model

  Despite promotion for its all-new, more efficient Civic Hybrid, Honda says it will expand U.S. availability of a “green” natural gas version.

  April 21, 2011, 12:47 PM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid ditches NiMH for Li-ion; 35% more efficient

  Honda’s new 2012 Civic Hybrid will ditch the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in its previous two generations for lithium-ion batteries. It manages 44 miles per gallon.

  April 21, 2011, 11:42 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Nissan tunes all-electric Leaf for race track; bestows ‘Nismo’ badge

  To underscore how serious it is about electric powertrains, Japanese automaker Nissan has unveiled the Leaf Nismo RC, a zero-emissions race car.

  April 21, 2011, 11:21 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Honeywell wind turbine hits hardware stores nationwide

  Want your own wind turbine and have $6,000 to burn? Head down to your local hardware store and pick up the WindTronics Honeywell Wind Turbine.

  April 21, 2011, 8:38 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Obama: America should be as inspired by energy, Internet as moon landing

  In a town hall with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, U.S. president Barack Obama underscored the need for STEM education, smart healthcare systems and innovation through immigration.

  April 21, 2011, 6:50 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Ameresco opens 4.3MW biogas facility in Dallas, Texas

  Ameresco is working with the City of Dallas to use a 4.3-megawatt biogas energy recovery facility to put wasted energy back on the grid.

  April 20, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Honeywell, University of Wisconsin partner on green upgrades

  Honeywell is working with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to implement several sustainability-minded facility upgrades, saving the school $620,000 in annual energy costs.

  April 20, 2011, 7:31 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca