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Comment by dawn hilton on August 27, 2008 at 11:37am

Researchers measure ways to transfer heat from a source, such as this lamp shining over asphalt, to water.
(Credit: Worcester Polytechnic Institute)


Pavement, it turns out, is a pretty good place to look for free energy.

A handful of Massachusetts researchers on Monday published a paper detailing a technique for using water-carrying pipes to convert the built-up heat in asphalt roads into usable energy.


Released at the International Symposium on Asphalt Pavements and Environment in Zurich, Switzerland, the paper argues that asphalt roads have a number of advantages over solar-electric panels as a source of distributed energy.

"The significance of this concept lies in the fact that the massive installed base of parking lots and roadways creates a low-cost solar collector an order of magnitude more productive than traditional solar cells. The significantly high surface area can offset the expected lower efficiency (compared to traditional solar cells) by several orders of magnitude, and hence result in significantly lower cost per unit of power produced," according to the paper.

Blacktops can continue to generate energy after the sun goes down, and upgrades with heat exchangers could be fit into road constructions, which are done every 10 to 12 years, Rajib Mallick, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said in a statement.

Also, wicking heat away from roads could reduce the "heat island" effect in densely populated areas where temperatures rise when buildings and pavement release heat accumulated during the day.

The researchers used computer modeling and small-scale prototypes to test alternatives to pipes for transferring asphalt heat to water.

It found that the depth of the heat exchanger was critical and that a material with higher heat conductivity, such as quartzite, can be added to asphalt to improve heat transfer.

The hot water from the roads could be used in neighboring buildings, something that has already been done in the Netherlands. A more sophisticated approach would be to convert the heat into electricity using thermoelectric modules.

"Our preliminary results provide a promising proof of concept for what could be a very important future source of renewable, pollution-free energy for our nation. And it has been there all along, right under our feet," Mallick said.

Comment by dawn hilton on August 27, 2008 at 10:57am

WATCH THE SKIN PEEL OFF THIS GUYS FEET AFTER RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD.

Comment by dawn hilton on August 20, 2008 at 12:55pm

POST CONSUMED
The Landscape of Waste in Los Angeles



Garbage is the effluent of our consumption, and it flows backwards through the landscape of Los Angeles. Unlike liquid wastes, which drain down slope to the sea, the tiny tributaries of trash, from millions of homesteads, collected by a fleet of thousands of trucks circulating in constant motion, hauling to nodes of sorting, distribution, reuse, and, finally disposal, flow up the canyons and crevices to the edge of the basin.

http://www.clui.org/clui_4_1/pro_pro/exhibits/postconsumed.html

Comment by dawn hilton on July 13, 2008 at 11:15pm

THIS IS SIX WEEKS OF ART WORK THAT HAVE EITHER CREATED WITH PAINT OR CAMERA, THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.

I WANT THE VIEWER TO THINK OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE ARE ALL DOING.

ON SOME OF THE IMAGES, IT LOOKED LIKE THE WALLS WERE CRYING, YET OTHERS LOOKED LIKE WATER COLOUR PAINTINGS.

SOME ARE FUN, BUT WITH A SERIOUS SIDE, A REMINDER OF WHAT 'WE' ALL ARE TAKING FROM EARTH, FROM OURSELVES AND FROM THE FUTURE OF MANKIND, LET ALONE NATURE.

Comment by Pierre Tavlitzki on July 13, 2008 at 8:03am

If your art is good, your art is your voice, on the condition that it is exhibited at the right place at the right time.
Tell us what is your art (digital, drawing, installation, painting, photo, ready-mades, sculpture, video, watercolour, other) and what is your preferred size for your art (miniature, paper sheet size, monumental, other definition).
I give you a recommendation : to have your voice (art) being heard, do monumental art. Your art is the visible artefact on how YOU are considering the civilization of today. It must be viewed from far away in a suitable environment for what it expresses (whatever it is).

Comment by J.X.Coudrille on July 12, 2008 at 10:33pm

Dear Dawn,
you certainly are a mover and shaker (no, the Shakers were celibate...) what happens next?
X
J

Comment by dawn hilton on July 12, 2008 at 10:11pm

Tree of Life.

Comment by Evrensel on July 12, 2008 at 7:46pm

Global Warming Festival !! http://www.iacfestival.com
1-7 August I will be participating with this work.


peace&respect

evros