Earlier this week Joule Unlimited secured $70 million in funding.  The company happens to have algae facilities that turn carbon dioxide and sunlight into biodiesel and ethanol.  Meanwhile Bio Architecture Lab was able to get seaweed to create chemicals and biofuels.  Both processes use patented organisms to create the biofuel.

As cellphone contracts come up for renewal most people look for a new phone to replace their last one.  One of the top phones to consider is the iPhone and when you purchase a new phone, you always have to get a new case.  INature has developed a fashionable protective case out of biodegradable plastic.

The California Energy Commission has created new standards for battery chargers that would go into effect in February of 2013. The new chargers would contain technology that would shut the charger off once a gadget was fully charged, reducing wasted energy.  That wasted energy is sometimes referred to as vampire draw.

Energy companies are beginning to put Texas’ vast amount of sunshine to use. Having the largest utility scale solar project in the state is something to brag about.  Texas likes things big and Austin Energy’s 30MW solar farm fits that the bill while also providing clean energy to thousands of homes.

Many automakers unveil concept cars at the various auto shows around the world and every now and then they actually make it into production.  Mostly they showcase new technology and design ideas.  Tata Motors will be showcasing the eMO at this years Detroit Auto Show in the Michelin Challenge Design.  Unlike many concept cars, Tata has basically said that this car won’t ever see a production line but the company has built a nice little imaginary retail experience around the car.

Add Chevy Volt to the list of environmentally friendly cars that are being recalled this year.  The reason for the recall however, has less to do with the safety of the passengers than the safety of the junkyards where totaled cars are stowed.

Installing solar panels is one way to get off the grid and free yourself from your local electric company.  Solar energy is renewable, free (except for the cost of the panels and installation) and doesn’t spew CO2 into the atmosphere.  But it still costs more per watt than grid provided electricity.  However that is going to change starting in 2013.

Built in 1889 for the World Exhibition, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures of Paris, France. It is frequently used in movies to let audiences know that particular scene takes place in Paris.  It is a 984 foot tall iron structure that could become a green vertical garden if one French firm has its way.

A store in Vietnam came up with a great way to use old cell phones this holiday season.  It created a Christmas tree out of old used phones.  It took 10 workers two weeks to create the tree.

You wouldn’t go swimming in a cesspool and surfers don’t like surfing among trash. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), located in the UK, decided to make the point during Christmas to venders who were leaving trash behind on beaches.  So they carefully constructed a couple of Christmas plans to get their point across.