Interests, Questions, Suggestions
(from mid-term check-in)

General

·         What are the major forms of alternative energy?

·         How can I build my house energy efficiently

·         Is the technology moving so fast that buying now means obsolescent in just a few years?

·         Is it getting cheaper”

·         What can we do to increase tax incentives?

·         Biomimicry

·         Turning appliances/trash, etc. into new useful products and/or possibly energy producers.

·         Renewable energy certificates

·         Group project related to consulting, energy, agriculture, transporation, etc.

·         Adams Motor, Zero-point energy/over-unity device

·         Switched reluctance

·         Using vibrations to create energy—particularly boats

·         Sterling engine – concentrating device for a sterling engine

·         AEET 120

·         Battery technology

·         Sound Energy

·         Sustainability at U of M

Jobs

·         Business Environmental/ Sustainability Consultant – what are criteria?  What are qualifications?
http://www.re-news.net/sustainable/job1.htm

·         Which companies already have designated position to examine its environmental impact and long-run sustainability and what has their impact been”

·         Are companies without a position looking to hire?

·         Which ones?

Pollution/Carbon/etc.

·         Carbon Recycling (sequestration) – using algae or other means

·         EPA testing materials

·         How to measure carbon emissions

Solar

·         Solar Cells

·         How are solar cells made?

·         Solar heating options

·         Solar roof shingles

·         Passive solar

Wind

·         Wind turbines

·         What is the hight needed what types of blades are there?

·         Legislation?

·         Windmill blade design
http://users.aber.ac.uk/iri/WIND/TECH/WPcourse/index.html

·         Smaller blades require less wind to make’m spin?

Construction/Heating systems

·         Straw houses

·         Radiant heat

·         Corn and wood furnaces

·         Combined Heat and Power motors (CHP)

Geothermal

·         in Iceland

·         General geothermal

Biomass

·         Methane from manure

·         Sugar beets

·         How to use waste from cows and hogs to produce electricity

·         Potential ethanol from various crops

Alternative-fueled/Electric cars

·         Converting an alt.-fueled vehicle
www.re-news.net/vehicle

·         Why are they not popular?

·         Solar cars

Nuclear Power

·         Is it worth a revisit?

·         What’s going on in Europe (including waste management)?

Tidal Power

·         How does it withstand hurricanes and storms?

·         Why limited in geographic scope?

·         How much energy to they supply?

Projects

·         Building a solar panel out of pop cans

·         Little green home model – where to get parts?  Radio Shack?

·         Convert old windmills

·         Constructing a mini turbine (www.kidwind.org)

·         Piezo Rug

·         Floor that creates energy – What added to carpet fibers to absorb light?  Regulations to help/hinder?

·         Water-powered battery – how do they work/ how long do they last?

·         A miniature tidal generator

·         Demonstration of solar power

·         Water powered battery

Suggestions

·         LCC display – funding or materials

·         More structure

·         Tangible results

·         Share more of instructor’s experiences

·         Use everyone’s ideas to build on and share websites to look at for more ideas