New technology uses human power for physical, financial fitness

[caption id="attachment_14121" align="alignleft" width="284"] pedal-powered generator[/caption]

Carol Forsloff --If you’re sedentary, need exercise and also face occasional power outages or need alternative power sources while camping or traveling,  the latest gadget will solve those problems with human energy.

Gizmag magazine reflects on the newest technical device that includes a small,  set of pedals, one often sees in exercise areas of retail stores, designed to fit under a desk or discreetly in a corner, allowing the user to sit comfortably while pedaling.  Now this same type of system can be used to create the kind of power that can actually recharge a laptop, cell phone or virtually any electronic device.

This pedal-powered generator by  K-Tor is part of a set of electronic gadgets that generate enough power for laptops, cell phones and other small electronic devices.  This latest one with pedals has twice the potential of its handheld device that can be used for cell phones and smaller devices.

David Butcher is one of the early innovators in the use of human power, especially of the pedal or crank type.  He has been on the forefront of innovation, he maintains, since 1976 and outlines a number of uses for the system he has developed.  Much of his work focuses on powering devices that use batteries; however, he also examines the potential for human power to be used for powering an entire house.   He tells us he has saved money by using this pedal power.

The future of technology presents opportunities to develop alternative sources of energy, such as this one.  That human energy may well make the difference in times of emergency,  the kind that has happened frequently across the world during hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other weather-created disasters.  They can also be useful for the hiker, camper, or the traveler who runs out of gas on a stretch of deserted highway and the phone runs out of power.  So the practical uses are various.

Ford, PGE move Oregon to the front on alternative energy and electriccars

 PORTLAND: - PR 24/7 - GHN News
--Ford and PGE are working together to share information that will
continue to propel Oregon even more forward in its established
leadership in alternative energy for transportation.

 
These two companies are already
looking at charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid
can support the necessary demand for electric vehicles, as well as partner on consumer education outreach around electric vehicles.



These are some of the collaborations that are going on:



* The partnership between Ford and
PGE also includes working with state and local governments to support
charging station permitting, electric vehicle tax credits and future
legislation or regulations.



* Over the next two years, Ford
will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the
Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two next generation lithium-ion
battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).



* Ford and PGE will work with
universities such as Portland State to further study urban mobility and
the integration of energy and sustainable design.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR)
today announced a collaboration to help prepare the city of Portland
and the Pacific Northwest for the operation of electric vehicles.

Ford and PGE will work together to share information on charging needs
and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary
demand for electric vehicles, as well as partner on consumer education
outreach around electric vehicles.

“Ford
has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market
over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later
this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011,” said Mike Tinskey,
Manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure, Ford Motor
Company. “To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles it is
important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary
infrastructure and grid capability are ready.”

Ford
and PGE have also agreed to work together with state and local
governments to support charging station permitting, electric vehicle incentives and future legislation or regulations.

Vehicle
incentives and an easy charging station permitting process are
considered to be two key to elements to electric vehicle acceptance in
Portland and across the country.

“The
idea of widespread use of electric vehicles in an urban setting is
becoming a reality and we want Oregon to be well-positioned to take
advantage of this new technology and the environmental benefits these automobiles will bring,” said Jim Piro, president and CEO, PGE.

Obama announces recent alternative energy development projects

News Editor - Information on energy alternatives is often not provided in the din of painful noise from the suffering of an oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, but to get past cynicism for awhile, just what are we doing to investigate energy options?

 

While many people express doubt about alternative energy, given the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, there is news to report about some advances in seeking and developing alternative energy.

 In this week’s address, President Barack Obama announced that the Department of Energy is awarding nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments from the Recovery Act to two solar companies. 

Abengoa Solar is one of these companies.  It has agreed to build one of the largest solar plants in the world in Arizona, which will create about 1,600 construction jobs with over 70 percent of the construction components and products manufactured here in the USA.  When completed, this plant will provide enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes is said to be the intention.

 Abound Solar Manufacturing is the other company awarded financial support for its efforts towards creating alternative energy sources.  It is building two new plants, one in Colorado and one in Indiana.  These projects will create more than 2,000 construction jobs, and over 1,500 permanent jobs as the plants produce millions of state of the art solar panels each year. 

So while the oil is spilling into the Gulf of Mexico continuously, the United States is in indeed examining alternative energy sources that may eventually lead to a major reduction in oil dependence.