Before I moved, I resided in a second floor apartment that hadn’t been updated since MacGyver went off-air. It was the kind of apartment where you couldn’t operate the microwave and toaster at the same time without tripping the breaker.

The kicker, however, was the thermostat. With Angus (more…)

Planning a solar PV power plant to make them efficient is a complex task, but German researchers have developed a software that makes conceptual design simpler.

Researchers at the Fraunhoger Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM in Kaiserslautern, in conjunction with Siemens Energy Photovoltaics, have a (more…)

Sparing the environment and saving money has become a little bit easier. A new application designed for iOS and Android can help users reduce their carbon footprint by analyzing their use of energy, water and gas.

EnergySaver recognizes energy consumption habits (more…)

There’s been plenty of bad news recently in the world electric vehicles, mostly related to start ups like Fisker and Azure. Adding to the mix, Deloitte has released a survey showing that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are not very popular with Generation Y (ages 19-31).

The reasons appear to be multiple, including high (more…)

Here at Energy Refuge we promote alternative energy tirelessly, but we are also big supporters of energy efficiency, which is one of the first steps toward a more sustainable planet.

With the mass popularity of smartphones, there are millions of applications designed for them, some of (more…)

The success of the cleantech industry will ultimately be measured by two yardsticks. One, of course, is its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver environmentally friendly and sustainable forms of energy. The other is its economic impact and its ability to generate new businesses and new jobs. (more…)

At Greenbiz’s VERGE conference outside Washington, D.C. yesterday morning, Jon Koomey, a professor at Stanford University, put forward a couple of intriguing questions. How efficient can computers get? Is there a Moore’s Law of efficiency?

Moore’s Law, of course, is the idea that the number (more…)

Brazilian designer João Lammoglia has created an ingenious device to produce clean, alternative energy. He named it AIRE and it can convert human breathing into electricity to power small gadgets.

The device is actually a mask featuring minuscule wind turbines. These transform the air we breathe (more…)

By now most readers of this blog probably realize that driving isn’t the most efficient or eco-friendly method of transportation (unless you’ve got one of these) but many of aren’t able or willing to give up our cars. A new app can help by teaching you how to cut out wasteful driving habits, saving money and reducing emissions. (more…)

A recent New York Times article reported that 75% of Americans use mobile devices during bathroom breaks. The number rises to a whopping 91% when you consider those aged among 28-35. The point I’m trying to make, we have a major obsession with our iPhones, Droids and the other not so recognizable smartphone brands. In fact, I can relate. My lunch (more…)