Solar is a renewable source of energy, which most people probably don't
associate with electronic waste. But the watchdog group
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is
warning
that if the fast-growing solar business doesn't plan ahead, it risks
repeating the e-waste mistakes of the microelectronics industry. CNET News
reporter Martin LaMonica elaborates.
Solar energy may be one of the most important technologies in the 21st
century, but the rapid pace of technology innovation has us often moving on to
the next thing without a glance at what's been left behind.
New advancements in clean technology can offer extraordinary possibilities,
but often at unpredictable costs.
Less than one year ago, we published
a report about the lack of regulations on nanotechnology
which
can contaminate air and water causing unknown impacts on human health and the
environment.
The green revolution was a major focus Wednesday morning, as it has been
throughout CES so far. LG announced that its 2009 HDTVs are being designed to
achieve the newest Energy Star 3.0 rating. The company is rolling out the
"Life's Green 2020" initiative, which will cut greenhouse gas emissions by two
points in the product lifecycle -- in the manufacturing process, where the
company aims to cut emissions by 150 kilotons/year by 2020, and with the
products themselves, for an additional decrease of 30 megatons/year by 2020.
One of the few products to get more than a few sentences of introduction may
be coming to your town soon, but it's not likely you're in the market. The LG
Skycharger, a solar- and wind-powered charging station, can handle up to 104
phones (of various makes, not only LG) in its lockable cubbyholes, dispensing up
to 1.8 kilowatts of power among them. Drop a gadget off and it'll be charged in
about an hour; unused power goes into the station's battery bank in case it gets
both calm and dark.
Who's buying? Think large outdoor venues...or disaster-recovery agencies. The
Skycharger will, according to the company, be making a US tour in 2009. It's the
first of its kind in the nation.
The LG Eco-Mobilization Program is a free recycling solution for your old mobile phones and accessories, and could help answer your concerns about keeping the environment safe when tossing your phone. The LG Eco-Mobilization Program is a free recycling solution for your old mobile phones and accessories, and could help answer your concerns about keeping the environment safe when tossing your phone.