Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/107613
a lte r n at i ve e n e r g y r evi ew Developments in Alternative Energy ROTTERDAM EXPERIMENTS WITH FLOATING PAVILIONS To prepare for rising sea levels, the Dutch city of Rotterdam is experimenting with floating structures that could function as land replacement. The pilot project, the Floating Pavilion, comprises three connected hemispheres that look like bubbles anchored within the Dutch city's old harbor, Rijnhaven. The plan is to create a community of these floating structures and homes, with the newly finished Floating Pavilion serving as the prototype. The Floating Pavilion is a venue for events and exhibitions; it is nearly self-sufficient, and with its flexible and climate-proof design; it could serve a variety of functions. According to weblog Inhabitat's Ana Lisa Alperovich, "Constructed by Dura Vermeer Group, the floating hemispheres are 40 feet tall, and the total floor area is the size of four tennis courts. The translucent shelter is made from a strong, anti-corrosive plastic called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), which is 100 times lighter than glass, making it ideal for a floating structure." The climate control system in the pavilion uses self-supplied solar energy and surface water (the structure can purify water). The pavilion will remain moored in Rotterdam's harbor until 2015, allowing time for it to be extensively tested in calm waters before being tested elsewhere. Says Alperovich, "Rotterdam has plans to build floating urban districts for living, shopping, working, and recreating on the water, and of the 13,000 climateproof homes planned by 2040, 1,200 of them will be on water. A realistic innovative approach to prepare for difficult times ahead, we will soon be able to admire real floating sustainable districts in this Dutch futuristic city." 90 www.resourceworld.com COMPANIES COLLABORATE ON WIRELESS CHARGERS FOR ELECTRIC VANS AMP Holding Inc. [AMPD-OTCQB], located in Loveland, Ohio and Momentum Dynamics Corporation located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, have announced initial testing of an all-electric step van for the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) in Reading, Pennsylvania. These reused electric vehicles (EVs) are charged wirelessly. Provided by Momentum Dynamics, the wireless Freedom Charger system meets the EV consumer need for safe, efficient, cost-optimized charging. They combine proprietary wireless proximity charging with automatic vehicle-to-charger-to-grid communication. Magnetic inductance, the common, fundamental technology around which the Momentum Dynamics' system is designed, is also the technology being used in the recently introduced wireless charging pads for hand-held electronics (cell phones and PDAs), and even stationary household electronics like televisions. The technology is easily adapted to these charging scenarios because the target devices are either placed directly on the charging unit (zero air gap), or they can be mounted, maintaining a consistent distance from the unit. However, to apply magnetic inductance to EV charging, Momentum Dynamics has developed a novel resonance tuning technology that enables this technology to transmit over the distance between the pavement and the vehicle undercarriage without any tricky parking maneuvers. Resonant induction charging uses electromagnetic coils to transmit energy wirelessly to electric vehicles without the risk of electric shock, even in the rain. No metalto-metal contact between the vehicle and charger is required, unlike conventional by Jane Bratun chargers. This technology could be used to extend electric vehicles' range by charging vehicles at stoplights. This improves the viability of even short-range, lower-cost electric vehicles with small battery packs. "We are pleased to work with Momentum on the electrification and wireless charging project for BARTA. Both our companies recognize the importance of collaborating to integrate wireless charging technology to be used in a real-world application for BARTAs' transit vehicles," said Marty Rucidlo, President of AMP The pilot program is . planned for March 2013. BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY CONTROLS HOME LIGHTING Smart Home Labs, headquartered in Los Gatos, California, has introduced its RoboSmart wireless LED lighting system that enables users to control lighting with a smartphone, tablet or computer using Bluetooth Smart wireless technology. The RoboSmart system controls brightness, has timer functionality, and proximity sensors which can detect objects. The key to RoboSmart is the RoboSmart Light Bulb, a Smart enabled LED light bulb that can be controlled by Bluetooth Smart enabled devices. The system is customizable iOS and Android. The RoboSmart Light Bulb installs like a conventional light bulb and utilizes the Smart Lights Application on your smartphone. Users can program lighting to switch off when they leave the house and to switch on again when sensors detect their presence. Lighting levels can also be controlled and scene lighting customized with preprogrammed light levels. Standard light switches can be used to switch on the RoboSmart Light Bulb with a pre-set brightness settings. The Robolight provides energy cost savings, february 2013