Solar power is growing the fastest in developing countries that don’t have access to electrical grids.  Solar panels are still expensive although cheaper than purchasing fossil fuels for generators.  MIT scientists have come up with a method of creating your own solar cells using grass clippings that will be extremely cheap to make.

Better Place has one of the more unique ways of dealing with exhausted electric car batteries.  While it does offer charging stations which take quite a while to charge your battery, it also offers the option of simply switching it out.  A 100 car fleet of electric vehicles will now begin testing the infrastructure which stretches across Israel.

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.

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.

You have to love it.  Congress in all of its wisdom decided to postpone the enforcement of the new 100 W light bulb standards until next September.  The legislation was passed in 2007 and signed into law by President George W. Bush.  American light bulb manufacturers supported the legislation and have spent millions on new equipment to produce light bulbs that will meet the new standards.  Congresses ban on enforcement opens the door for inferior foreign light bulbs to make a huge killing over the next nine months.

Just about everyone knows that tossing light bulbs, especially CFLs, and batteries into the trash is a no-no.  Batteries and light bulbs have dangerous elements that need to be disposed of properly.  Throwing burned out CFL light bulbs in the trash can break them releasing dangerous mercury vapors that can damage you and your pets.  ReVend Recycling has come up with an easy way to dispose of all of that hazardous waste while giving you a little something in return.

Parisian firm Influx Studio is proposing a radical retrofit of the Marina City towers in Chicago.  The renovation of the buildings would result in a variety of green innovations and architectural features that would result in renewable energy, vertical agriculture and cleaner air.

Using bamboo charcoal rather than forest wood in Africa has the potential to provide an excellent source of heat, economic opportunities, all while saving African forests.  Charcoal is used for both heat and cooking in large areas of Africa and is seen as a major factor in the decimation of forests and the desertification of parts of the continent.

Nokero makes a number of affordable solar products that would make great gifts for people on your Christmas list.  The company also gives you a way to give light as a gift to those in need.

Most electric vehicles (EVs) that have made it to market use rather standard interiors.  They usually seat two or four generally side by side.  Nissan’s Pivo 3 seats three with the middle driver’s seat slightly forward of the other two with the steering wheel in the middle of the car.  This car is one of several candidates considered for future production.