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Natural Building Links

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Build Recycle:  a free information exchange for companies and individuals to buy, sell, and trade used building materials

Building for Health Catalog:  a full catalog of natural and healthy building materials and home appliances

Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse:  comprehensive information on plant matter-based products and the companies and cooperatives producing them (created by The Institute for Local Self-Reliance)

Cool Roofing Materials Database:  assists in the selection of roofing materials that reflect, or otherwise reject, the sun’s radiant energy (prepared by the Heat Island Project within Berkeley Laboratory’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division)

Eco-House, Inc:  natural chemistry products for healthier homes, farms and gardens, and a safer environment

EcoMall:  "Earth’s Largest Environmental Shopping Center"

EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines:  recycled content product listings and product fact sheets, including recommended recycled content

Forest World:  a portal for several wood product related searchable databases, as well as classified ads for buying and selling wood-related products

Friedman & Sun Catalog of Earth-Friendly Alternatives:  catalog contains ecologically-minded building materials and home products

Green Guide:  gives photos and information on featured green building materials, as well as a salvage building material exchange; order CD-ROM or printed catalog for complete listing

Green Pages:  Publishes "National Green Pages", a listing of products and services that promote environmental and social responsibility

Green Spec:  environmentally preferable building products available online with a paid subscription

Harris Directory:  subscription-based, searchable online directory of pollution prevention products for home, office, and garden

Hudson Valley Materials Exchange:  online exchange of used/surplus materials for art, education, and construction located in Hudson Valley, NY

Natural Building Technologies:  a range of natural products (including plasters, insulation, and paints)

Real Goods:  products dealing primarily with home furnishings, but also stressing renewable energy systems and natural building accessories

Recycled Content Product Database:  Searchable database of recycled-content products, including a used material exchange

REDI Guide:  one of the first searchable online databases of environmentally responsible building products

The Gallery of Environmentally Preferable Goods and Services:  listing of innovative examples of environmental practices and green products found in various industries (sponsored by MIT’s Center for Environmental Initiatives)

Living Green in the Garden — Organic Gardening Newsletters

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Avant-Gardening Tid-Bytes:  Inspirational insights into the creative and spiritual aspects of gardening.  (added 7/06)

Backyard Gardener Newsletter:  Sign up for a free email newsletter (added 7/06)

Common Ground in Palo Alto Newsletters:  Common Ground’s mission is to support and grow the local organic gardening and sustainable agriculture communities, through providing materials and education to home organic gardeners and mini-farmers… (added 7/06)

The UpBeet Gardener Newsletter :  Greetings from Kodiak, Alaska where I publish the UpBeet Gardener. Here you’ll find an upbeat view of life, including unique recipes and news clips that doesn’t make the headlines. You’re part of a community of subscribers in 70 countries, … (added 7/06)

Energy Saving Appliances

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What is an Energy Star® Appliance?

The Energy Star® may be found on clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and room air conditioners. An appliance receives the Energy Star® rating when it is significantly surpasses than the minimum government standards for energy efficiency.  Energy Star® rated products are always among the most efficient available today.

Energy Star®-labeled appliances save money by using less electricity and water than other appliances. Although energy efficient models sometimes cost more to purchase initially, any extra up-front cost can often be made up with savings on your utility bill.
 

  • Always buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment – they’re up to 40% more efficient.

  • Always read the Energy Guide label carefully, and make sure you’re comparing "apples to apples." Energy use can range significantly even within a single brand. 

  • Choose the capacity that’s right for your family. Whether it’s a furnace or a refrigerator, it doesn’t pay to purchase a unit that’s too large or too small. 

  • In almost every case, a natural gas appliance is more economical to use than an electric model. The $50-75 price difference can be paid back in energy savings in less than a year. 

  • Replace inefficient appliances – even if they’re still working. An aging water heater or refrigerator could be costing you much more than you think. If your central air conditioner is more than 10 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency new unit will cut your summer electric bills by about one-third. 

  • Shop during the off-season. Many heating and cooling manufacturers offer significant rebates during seasonal sales promotions, and dealers may charge less for installation. 

  • Investigate new technology carefully. Some innovations, like convection ovens or argon-filled windows, may save energy and make life more convenient; others, such as commercial-grade kitchen appliances, might be merely expensive cosmetic enhancements. 

  • Look for the "EnergyStar" logo. This designation from the Environmental Protection Agency means that the appliance exceeds minimum federal energy- use standards, usually by a significant amount. 

  • Don’t forget to ask about warranties, service contracts, and delivery and installation costs. 

  • Be sure to choose a reputable and knowledgeable dealer. A good dealer should be able to help you calculate energy savings and the payback period, and he or she should offer you a range of brands and prices.

Please suggest additional links     

Education – University Programs

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Links to University Programs on Renewable or Alternative Energy
Aalborg University Denmark :  Provider of information regarding use of water as a renewable energy resource in the Northwest. Website includes tour of a hydroelectric project.
Agricultural University of Norway:   
Aprovecho Research Center:   
Biomass Pyrolysis Network:   
Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research:   a non-profit school research center public demonstration site and public education center dedicated to the design research and dissemination of sustainable living practices
Center For Sustainable Systems:  University of Wisconsin Forest Products Laboratory. A resource for bioenergy, bioconversion, and bioprocess technology.
CWPR:  Watson Institute for International Studies Project plans to incorporate green objectives. 
Energy Group:  The University of Iowa’s CGRER promotes research efforts that focus on the multiple aspects of global environmental change. Their web site outlines CGRER goals and offers links to research and reports done by the group on a multitude of environmental issues. Their web site also offers a section aimed towards K-12 students interested in atmospherics and related sciences.
Fossil Fuels :  Institute at the University of Michigan promoting sustainable development through education. Includes research on buildings, agriculture, transportation, renewable energy, and packaging, as well as methodologies, projects, publications, statistics, and educational resources.
Fox Maple School of Building:  A university-based multidisciplinary organisation dedicated to problems of transportation. 
Georgia Tech:  Based at University of East Anglia. The latest information on global climate change.
Information Center for the Environment:  The Centre for Waste and Pollution Research web site has been established to disseminate information within the general field of waste and pollution. This site contains information about waste management, waste policy and regulation, composting and contaminated land.
Institute of Energy Conversion (Delaware):   
International Economic Platform for Renewable Energies :  Department of Engineering at Reading University, UK 
National Fuel Cells Research Center (NFCRC) :   
Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory :  University of California Davis
Purdue University :  Provider of information and free emails regarding renewable energies in Europe including solar, hydropower, wind, and bioenergy.
Real Goods Institute for Solar Living:   
San Francisco Institute of Architecture:  University of California, Irvine, center promotes and supports the genesis of a fuel cell industry by providing technological leadership within a vigorous program of research, development and demonstration.
Standby Power :   
Texas A&M School of Irrigation:  Provider of solar racing is a student organization services devoted to pushing the limits of solar technology by designing, building, and racing competitive solar powered vehicles.
The Ecosa Institute:   
The Fox Maple School of Building:  Evening and Saturday courses in: Ecological Design, Nature-Based Architecture, Visionary Creativity
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extensions AZMET  :  Provider of research in solar thermal, building analysis, and HVAC systems. Colorado State University
The University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Lab  :  Research and educational programs supporting the Texas Irrigation Industry 
The Weatherization Training Center:   
UC Davis biodiesel study:   
UC Davis biodiesel study:   
University College Dublin:   
University of Agriculture:  Home page of the University of Newcastle Wind Energy Group contains some papers online.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extensions AZMET  :  
University of California White Mountain Research Station:   at The Pennsylvania College of Technology
University of Central Florida:   
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University of Idaho:  new link — Energy Research Group Carry out research on low-energy and passive solar building design and host the site for the European Solar Industry Federation ESIF. Many excellent well-illustrated reports on EU funded research projects are available in pdf format but you’ll need a fast link to deal with the monster file sizes!
University of New Mexico School of Architecture:  University website 
University of New South Wales :   
University of Oregon :  University of California White Mountain Research Station
University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Lab  :  Distributed learning, Florida Solar Energy Center, admissions, and campus life.
University Of South Floridas Clean Energy Research Center:  Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory
University of Texas Solar Energy Laboratory:  shares up-to-date information about biodiesel production, availability and use
University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center:  Resource site for renewable and efficient technologies, publications, contacts and Internet resources.
University of Wisconsin Solar Energy Lab (SEL) :  an overview of the clean energy research center’s activities at the university of south Florida. Our focus is on hydrogen and photovoltaic research.
Virginia Tech Geothermal Data:  Provider of wind energy research website from the University of Utah.
Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program :  Supplier of computer program containing information including feasibility studies and optimization of micro-hydro power installations.
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Water Resources Research Center:   
Weatherization Training Center:  Laboratory established to educate students through research experiences in solar and conventional energy utilization.
Yestermorrow Design Build School:  Energy Systems Research Unit

Please suggest additional links       

Education Links

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For  Kids
Energy Kids Page   Solar Energy:  new link — An online, interactive educational Web site that encourages students in grades 3-7 to become Energy Hog Busters, teaching them about energy efficiency. (Developed by the Advertising Council and Energy Outreach Colorado)
Learning About Electricity:  new link — As we have seen, it’s important that we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. To do this, we need to limit the amount of fossil fuels that we burn in our factories and power stations. We also need to cut down on the amount of fuel that we burn in our cars and other transport. From the Solar School
Solar Energy: Become a Sun Chef!:  new link — School gardening projects fit easily into the curriculum and enhance studies in a wide range of subjects, but they also have a special value all their own. Some schools have always had gardens, but gardens for teaching have a more recent history.  A small visitor to our garden — he was fascinated with the pots of green pepper plants (Midori Hiraga) Over the last 30 years many thousands of schools have incorporated gardening into the curriculum. With the growing experience of school gardening has come a great deal of evidence of the multiple benefits to be gained.
Wind with Miller: Activities:  new link — Famous gothic horror characters present educational activities relating to different forms of energy, as well as energy conservation, for grades K-12. (Developed by the Miami Museum of Science)

more For Kids links    

For Teachers
Renewable Energy Sources:  new link — geology and history of oil. It is aimed at 13-15 year olds, but should be useful to children and adults of all ages. Various topics provide information on the history of oil, the geology basis for oil, its uses, tools used to find oil, the steps that need to occur for there to be an economic accumulation of oil underground, and so forth.
Teachers: FREE Hands-on, Multidisciplinary Lesson Plans:  new link — Study the rotation rate of the Sun and the planets. This lesson includes several hands-on activities to familiarize yourself with the concept of rotation. You will then use movies made with actual solar images to study the rotation rate of the Sun.
Tidal:  new link — a treasure-trove of information and activities to support energy studies in UK schools. Energy Chest has been developed for pupils aged 8-14 years 
Wind Energy Study Unit for Kids:  new links — The latest science news. Their “Science Education/Science Pages for Kids” links are mostly very general.

more For Teachers links    

University Programs
Centre for Research on Transportation (CRT)  :  new link — at the University of Minnesota includes information about seminar series and other resources. It features a biocatalysts database for bioconversion.
Please see our Contractor Training Guide:  new link — The (IEC) at the University of Delaware is a multi-disciplinary laboratory devoted to research and development of thin-film photovoltaic cells. An educational mission that enables both undergraduate and graduate students to obtain degrees while working with professionals engaged in solar cell research complements IEC’s research program. 
The University of Newcastle Wind Turbine Group :  new link — A Berkley Laboratory project, The Standby Power web site educates the benefits of reducing standby power that is power used while a product is providing no function. Their web site provides statistics and publications relating to the field. 
University of Idaho:  new link — Energy Research Group Carry out research on low-energy and passive solar building design and host the site for the European Solar Industry Federation ESIF. Many excellent well-illustrated reports on EU funded research projects are available in pdf format but you’ll need a fast link to deal with the monster file sizes!

more University Programs links    

What are Fuel Cells?

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A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product.  As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to generate power.  Since the conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion, the process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.

No other energy generation technology offers the combination of benefits that fuel cells do.  In addition to low or zero emissions, benefits include high efficiency and reliability, multi-fuel capability, sitting flexibility, durability, sand ease of maintenance.  Fuel cells are also scalable and can be stacked until the desired power output is reached.  Since fuel cells operate silently, they reduce noise pollution as well as air pollution and the waste heat from a fuel cell can be used to provide hot water or space heating for a home or office. 

Read more of the Article    

Hotlinks to Additional Internet Resources:
A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition: Geothermal resource data for the southeastern U.S. through the Regional Geophysics Laboratory; summary of geothermal resources, technology, and potential of geothermal heat pumps in the southeastern U.S
Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Resource Guide:  Manufacturers of fuel cells and solar hydrogen systems for education and demonstration. Many PDF files describing the company and its products. German based, site in English.
T/J Technologies:Michigan-based research and consulting firm. Specializes in hydrogen purifiers and membrane reactors for electronics and fuel cells. Consultants on hydrogen extraction, purification, sorption (gettering), transport and transport barriers.

More Fuel Cell Links   

Overview of Bioenergy

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Bioenergy is stored energy from the sun contained in materials such as plant matter and animal waste, known as biomass. Biomass is plant matter and animal waste that can be harvested to create bioenergy in the form of electricity, heat, steam and fuels.  Biomass is considered renewable because it is replenished more quickly when compared to the millions of years required to replenish fossil fuels.

Bioenergy is one of the oldest energy sources. It all started when humans learned how to control fire to provide heat from the elements.  Ancient civilizations also used animal fats or vegetable oils for their lamps – this is an example of biofuels.

By definition, Bioenergy technologies use renewable resources to create energy such as electricity or fuels. According to the US Department of Energy, bioenergy ranks second (to hydropower) in renewable U.S. primary energy production and accounts for 3% of the primary energy production in the United States.

  • Biomass, simply, is material derived from recently living organisms.  It includes dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.  The wide variety of biomass fuel sources includes algae; biogas made from anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste and animal waste; wood such as pulp/paper mill residue, urban wood waste, and forest residue; and energy crops.

    Biomass is grown from several plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow and sugarcane
     

  • Biofuel can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass. Biofuels help meet transportation fuel needs. The most common types of biofuels are biodiesel; ethanol; methanol; methane from landfills and animal waste; and hydrogen.
     
  • Alternative fuels, as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), include ethanol, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, biodiesel, electricity, methanol, and p-series fuels. These fuels are being used worldwide in a variety of vehicle applications.

Hotlinks to Fuel Cell – Internet Resources

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A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition :  new link — Geothermal resource data for the southeastern U.S. through the Regional Geophysics Laboratory; summary of geothermal resources, technology, and potential of geothermal heat pumps in the southeastern U.S. 
ASME:  Provider of energy programs and services within the transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
BCS Technology :   
Bellona of Norway: Fuel Cells :  University of Arizona research center 
BMW:   at The Pennsylvania College of Technology
Cellennium :  The Yestermorrow Design/Build School is a dynamic learning community exploring and teaching the integrated creative process of designing and building a sustainable future. 
Celsius :  PDF-144k — T99-07, This paper illustrates how the careful coordination of fuel-cell commercialization in stationary and transportation applications, the use of small-scale, distributed fueling appliances, and Hypercar® vehicles combine to offer leapfrog opportunities for climate protection and the transition to hydrogen (1999).
Ceramatec :  new performance test code for fuel cells 
Cetiner Engineering Corporation :  Developer of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits :   
Comparative study of fuel cell vehicles and vehicles with internalcombustion engines:   
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas :  Commercializing new designs of regenerative fuel cells using vanadium salts as electrolytes.
DailmerChrysler:   
DaimlerChrysler Fuel Cell Car:   
DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel-Cell Vehicle :  Provides tips on feasibility studies, design, engineering, project services and operations support for methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and fuel cells.
Dais-Analytic :  new link — PDF-1.5 MB — U02-02, This research paper explores the cost-effectiveness of fuel cells as an electrical generation source to provide domestic, commercial and industrial power. Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits finds that, over the next decade, the once-centralized electric power industry will evolve toward a more competitive and heterogeneous structure. In this new environment, the use of fuel cells will become economical if their proponents can capture their benefits as small, decentralized power sources. Fuel cells and other distributed generation sources require less power distribution infrastructure (wires and transformers) because they can be sited close to where power is used. They are cleaner and quieter than conventional power generation sources, so they can be located near or inside buildings where their output is used. Because fuel cells are modular and flexible in size, they don’t result in overbuilding of capacity as do large power plants. Also, they can provide power with better reliability than conventional systems (2002).
EBARA Ballard Corporation :   
Element 1 Power Systems (E1PS) :   
Elf Atochem North America :   
E-TEK Inc :  hydrogen-powered NECAR 2 prototype uses fuel cell technology to generate electricity and water vapor. 
Eye for fuel cells:  ENN News article on DaimlerChrysler’s unveiling of its NECAR 4 fuel cell vehicle, March 1999.
Ford Motorcompany:  Developing PEM fuel cell based portable and stationary power products.
Fuel Cell Bus Club:  www.ebara.co.jp
Fuel Cell Commercialization Group :  Maker of fuel cells and fuel cell learning kits.
Fuel Cell Markets :  www.elf-atochem.com
Fuel Cells – Frequently Asked Questions :  www.etek-inc.com
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Energy:  Subscription based FC market analysis
Fuel Cells for Electricity:   
Fuel Cells UK:  comprises the participants of the fuel cell bus projects who intend to introduce fuel cell transit buses to their fleets and establish a hydrogen refueling infrastructure in their cities
Gaskatel GmbH :  Focus is on the commercialization of carbonate fuel cells for power generation, with history, applications, research and demonstration programs, publications and resource information.
Gaz De France :  The "Personals" page of the FC newspaper
GE Energy and Environmental Research Corp :  Answers to frequently asked questions about fuel cells, courtesy of The American Hydrogen Association.
General Electric (GE) MicroGen :   
General Motors:  From the California Energy Commission, explains what fuel cells are, and lists the various types of fuel cells. 
H tec Hydrogen Energy Systems:  established to foster the development of the U.K. fuel cell industry, elevate the U.K. industry in the international arena, and raise the profile of U.K. fuel cell activity. 
Honda:  members.aol.com
Honeywell International Inc / Research and Technology Center :  www.gazdefrance.com
Hydride Information Center :   
Hydro Quebec Research Institute :  Distributes the HomeGen 7000s, a residential fuel cell power generation system, through qualified energy-industry retail resellers.
HydroCell UK Ltd :   
Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Resource Guide :  new link — Manufacturers of fuel cells and solar hydrogen systems for education and demonstration. Many PDF files describing the company and its products. German based, site in English.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells:   
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells :  Researcher and developer of engineered materials. Specific areas of research include catalysts, separation processes and media, enzyme systems and bioprocessing, specialty chemicals and advanced materials. The company performs research for al..
Hydrogen Benefits Page :  hydpark.ca.sandia.gov
Hydrogen Economy: Not So Difficult—Without Nuclear Power :  www.ireq.ca
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive:  www.fuelcells.co.uk
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Program :  www.afdc.doe.gov
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastucture Programs:  source of information on types of fuel cell devices, with animations, links, and downloads. 
Hydrogen: The Future of Energy :   
HyGen Industries :  www.hydrogenus.com
Hypercars, Hydrogen, and Distributed Utilities: Disruptive Technologies and Gas-Industry Strategy :  PDF-136k  —  E03-07, RMI’s CEO Amory Lovins replies to a Nature article by EPRI’s Paul Grant, who claimed that a hydrogen economy would be impractical (taking too much land, capital, fossil fuel, etc.)…except with nuclear power, whose dismal economics he conveniently ignored (23 August 2003).
ICP-CSIC :  engineering students team up to research and create a new fuel cell stack that will power an amusement park train. 
ICTP-CSIC :  Desert Research Institute’s fuel cell site, with information on technologies, vehicle designs, global efforts and renewable fuel options.
ICV-CSIC :  Hydrogen and fuel cells have the potential to solve several major challenges facing America today: dependence on petroleum imports, poor air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. The Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program is working with partners to accelerate the development and successful market introduction of these technologies. 
Inflating Hydrogen Needs :  PDF-1.3 MB — E03-15, Public interest in hydrogen as a fuel for the future has reached an all-time high. Yet conflicting, confusing, and often ill-informed commentary accompanies the excitement. This PowerPoint presentation explains basic hydrogen facts and fallacies. This presentation was given by Amory Lovins at the Given Institute, Aspen, Colorado (06 August 2003).
Intelligent Optical Systems :  Develop, manufacture and market systems for on-site hydrogen production, convert fleets to run on hydrogen, market vehicle conversion kits, and develop comprehensive educational products. / (added 09/2005)
International Fuel Cell Workshop:  PDF-1.5 MB — E00-25, This PowerPoint presentation informed the American Gas Association’s joint marketing/operations conference of how Hypercars’ multiple roles, in transportation and power generation, could profoundly affect fuel markets (09 May 2000).
Japan Automobile Research Institute Inc :   
Lund Institute of Technology :   
Massachusetts Institute of Technology :   
Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) :  PDF-64k  —  E04-05, In an unpublished letter to Science, Amory Lovins points out that CalTech researchers overstated by about tenfold the amount of hydrogen that would be needed to run the U.S. economy. This continues a series of technical errors by the same group, including its famous two-order-of-magnitude overestimate of how much hydrogen might leak from a hydrogen-based energy system, ostensibly endangering the ozone layer. See E03-02 – (02 February 2004).
McDermott Technology Inc / Alliance Research Center :  Specializes in the design and development of proprietary optical communications, monitoring and signal-processing technologies, including sensors for fuel cell technologies.
Metallic Power :  international conference on polymer electrolyte fuel cells for electric vehicles. November 12-14, 2001, in Yamanashi, Japan.  / (added 09/2005)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries :   
More Energy Ltd :   
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH : 
National Aerospace Laboratory :  Research and development corporation focused on advanced composites, powders, coatings and fullerenes, as well as energy conversion systems that include batteries, fuel cells and gas storage.
Netherlands Energy Research Foundation :  Provider of defense, energy and electronic R&D services and nuclear power plant services. Services are provided to the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Electric Power Research Institute, Gas Research Institute, Nuclear Regulatory Co..
News and Trends :  Company developing a zinc-air fuel cell.
Northwest Power Systems :   
Ocean Power :   
ONSI Corporation :   
Pinnacle VRB :   
Power+Energy Inc :   
Powerball Technologies LLC :  Trends and investment news in hydrogen production, storage and infrastructure.
Procyon Power Systems Inc :  A subsidiary of IDACORP Technologies, Inc., a non-regulated member of the IDACORP, Inc., family of energy-related companies. This Oregon company manufactures and sells patented PEM fuel cell components, subsystems and fully integrated systems.
REB Research & Consulting :  Designs and manufactures modular, water desalination and renewable power generation systems powered by fuel cells.
Rebuttal to Tromp et al’s Response in Science, Science magazine :  The manufacturing arm of International Fuel Cell (IFC), both of South Windsor, Connecticut. Both are subsidiaries of United Technologies Corporation. Manufactures, markets and supports fuel cells for stationary power applications. IFC also is d..
Renewable Energy Information: Hydrogen & Fuel Cells:  Manufacture new energy storage system allowing electricity to be stored via fuel cells using redox flow cell technology.
Report: Role of Fuel Cells in New York :   
Schafer Corporation :   
Siemens Westinghouse :   
T/J Technologies :  new link — Michigan-based research and consulting firm. Specializes in hydrogen purifiers and membrane reactors for electronics and fuel cells. Consultants on hydrogen extraction, purification, sorption (gettering), transport and transport barriers.
The Fuel Cell Bus Club:  PDF-136k  —  E03-02, Amory Lovins argues that the authors of the erroneous Science (www.sciencemag.org) article claiming enormous hydrogen leaks have misinterpreted their references (again) in an effort to conceal their original mistake (13 October 2003).
Toyota:   
Twenty Hydrogen Myths :  National Resources Defense Council’s report on the role fuel cells can play in New York State.
US DOE Fuel Cell Technologies :   
UTC Fuel Cells : About Fuel Cells:  siemens.com
WestinghouseSavannah River Company :  Designs, develops and manufactures advanced materials and devices for electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
What are fuel cells? :  comprises the participants of the fuel cell bus projects who intend to introduce fuel cell transit buses to their fleets and establish a hydrogen refueling infrastructure in their cities
What is a Fuel Cell? :   
What types of fuel cells are there? :  PDF-350k  —  E03-05, This documented white paper demystifies hydrogen energy, debunks popular misconceptions, and proposes a surprisingly easy, attractive, and profitable path to the hydrogen economy (23 June 2003). / (added 09/2005)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute :  Information on the achievements of the U.S. Laboratories work on fuel cell technologies. Also resource information and links.
Xcellsis :  This explains how a fuel cell works, shows the systems that are available, lists the types of fuel cells, tells why they are beneficial, and gives related links. 

What is Hydrogen?

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Hydrogen is the most plentiful element on Earth and is found in combination with oxygen in water, and in organic matter including living plants, petroleum, coal, natural gas and other hydrocarbon compounds. The great attraction of hydrogen is that, once isolated, it is a clean burning fuel that produces neither carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) nor toxic emissions and can be used for electricity production, transportation, and other energy needs.

Many see a movement to a hydrogen economy as the long-run solution to the environmental and security problems associated with fossil fuels. However, before hydrogen can be used as fuel it must first be extracted from hydrogen-bearing compounds either through electrolysis or high temperature reformation of organic compounds like coal. Many of the extraction processes can create substantial pollution and so for hydrogen to be truly pollution free the extraction process must be pollution free.

If the problems of extracting hydrogen can be solved in a pollution free, cost effective manner and if technologies such as fuel cells can be made cost effective, then hydrogen has the potential to provide clean, alternative energy for a number of uses, including lighting, heating, cooling, and transportation.

Read more of the Article    

Hotlinks to Additional Internet Resources:
California Hydrogen Highway: Provider of technology education and research in the areas of biotechnology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, electric and computer engineering and mechanical engineering. Services are provided to multiple industries.
Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits: This Hydrogen Powered World site is run by The Clean Energy Educational Trust to promote the concept of a hydrogen-powered world. The aim is to raise general awareness of the possibility of changing the source of the world’s energy supplies from fossil fuels and nuclear power to a pollution-free energy system based on renewable energy sources and hydrogen.  Has news, views and articles about hydrogen and its role in a sustainable future.
Inflating Hydrogen Needs: Provider of energy industry consulting services. Parent/Holding company with high-tech operating units which manufacture industrial gas generation systems and fuel cells. Products and services are sold to the fuel and industrial industries.
The University Of Calgary Hydrogen Program:  E04-05, In an unpublished letter to Science, Amory Lovins points out that CalTech researchers overstated by about tenfold the amount of hydrogen that would be needed to run the U.S. economy. This continues a series of technical errors by the same group, including its famous two-order-of-magnitude overestimate of how much hydrogen might leak from a hydrogen-based energy system, ostensibly endangering the ozone layer. See E03-02 (02 February 2004).

More Hydrogen Links   

Discover Solar Energy,

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A Hydrogen Powered World:   
A New Way To Make Hydrogen:  E-sources online description of fuel cell technology.
A Strategy For The Hydrogen Transition :  A detailed review of fuel cell technology from the Fuel Cell Commercialization Group. / (added 09/2005)
California Alternative Fuels :  E-sources online description of various types of fuel cells.
California Hydrogen Highway :  new link — Provider of technology education and research in the areas of biotechnology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, electric and computer engineering and mechanical engineering. Services are provided to multiple industries.
Canmet (National Resources Of Canada):  Our Mission is to develop fuel cell power as a practical alternative to internal combustion automotive engines
Centre Energetique De Lecole Des Mines De Paris :   through technology leadership.
Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits :  new link — This Hydrogen Powered World site is run by The Clean Energy Educational Trust to promote the concept of a hydrogen-powered world. The aim is to raise general awareness of the possibility of changing the source of the world’s energy supplies from fossil fuels and nuclear power to a pollution-free energy system based on renewable energy sources and hydrogen.  Has news, views and articles about hydrogen and its role in a sustainable future.
Cordis :  A new startup is trying a new way to make hydrogen with a process using stabailised sodium.
H2carsbiz:  PDF-144k — T99-07, This paper illustrates how the careful coordination of fuel-cell commercialization in stationary and transportation applications, the use of small-scale, distributed fueling appliances, and Hypercar® vehicles combine to offer leapfrog opportunities for climate protection and the transition to hydrogen (1999).
Handling Hydrogen Safely :  gov’t site
Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Resource Guide :   
Hydrogen Burner Technology Inc :   Fuel Cells and Alternative Energy Technology Branch
Hydrogen Economy: Not So Difficult—Without Nuclear Power :   / (added 09/2005)
Hydrogen Exonerated In Hindenburg Disaster :  PDF-1.5 MB — U02-02, This research paper explores the cost-effectiveness of fuel cells as an electrical generation source to provide domestic, commercial and industrial power. Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits finds that, over the next decade, the once-centralized electric power industry will evolve toward a more competitive and heterogeneous structure. In this new environment, the use of fuel cells will become economical if their proponents can capture their benefits as small, decentralized power sources. Fuel cells and other distributed generation sources require less power distribution infrastructure (wires and transformers) because they can be sited close to where power is used. They are cleaner and quieter than conventional power generation sources, so they can be located near or inside buildings where their output is used. Because fuel cells are modular and flexible in size, they don’t result in overbuilding of capacity as do large power plants. Also, they can provide power with better reliability than conventional systems (2002).
Hydrogen Production And Utilisation:  Information on R & D programs of the European Union.
Hydrogen Vehicles :  H2CARSBIZ features international news about the hydrogen economy, including its infrastructure, markets, financing, investment, car manufacturers, and hydrogen providers. It’s published by Zero Emission Energy Systems in Denmark. / (added 09/2005)
Hydrogen: The Future Of Energy :  www.hydrogenus.com / (added 09/2005)
Hypercars, Hydrogen, And Distributed Utilities: Disruptive Technologies And Gas-Industry Strategy :  www.afdc.doe.gov / (added 09/2005)
Inflating Hydrogen Needs :  new link — Provider of energy industry consulting services. Parent/Holding company with high-tech operating units which manufacture industrial gas generation systems and fuel cells. Products and services are sold to the fuel and industrial industries. T..
National Hydrogen Association Hydrogen:  PDF-136k  —  E03-07, RMI’s CEO Amory Lovins replies to a Nature article by EPRI’s Paul Grant, who claimed that a hydrogen economy would be impractical (taking too much land, capital, fossil fuel, etc.)…except with nuclear power, whose dismal economics he conveniently ignored (23 August 2003).
New Energy Solutions :  A review of the 1937 Hindenburg accident and the inaccurate blame placed upon hydrogen.
Rebuttal To Tromp Et Al’s Response In Science, Science Magazine :  Today, hydrogen is primarily used as a chemical feedstock in the petrochemical, food, electronics, and metallurgical processing industries, but is rapidly emerging as a major component of clean sustainable energy systems. It is relevant to all the energy sectors—transportation, buildings, utilities, and industry. Hydrogen can provide storage options for intermittent renewable technologies such as solar and wind and, when combined with emerging decarbonization technologies, can reduce the climate impacts of continued fossil fuel utilization.
Royal Military College Of Canada:  The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) page on hydrogen and hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
Schatz Energy Research Center:  PDF-1.3 MB — E03-15, Public interest in hydrogen as a fuel for the future has reached an all-time high. Yet conflicting, confusing, and often ill-informed commentary accompanies the excitement. This PowerPoint presentation explains basic hydrogen facts and fallacies. This presentation was given by Amory Lovins at the Given Institute, Aspen, Colorado (06 August 2003).
The University Of Calgary Hydrogen Program:  PDF-1.5 MB — E00-25, This PowerPoint presentation informed the American Gas Association’s joint marketing/operations conference of how Hypercars’ multiple roles, in transportation and power generation, could profoundly affect fuel markets (09 May 2000).
The University Of Calgary Hydrogen Program:  new link — PDF-64k  —  E04-05, In an unpublished letter to Science, Amory Lovins points out that CalTech researchers overstated by about tenfold the amount of hydrogen that would be needed to run the U.S. economy. This continues a series of technical errors by the same group, including its famous two-order-of-magnitude overestimate of how much hydrogen might leak from a hydrogen-based energy system, ostensibly endangering the ozone layer. See E03-02 (02 February 2004).
Twenty Hydrogen Myths :   
U S  Department Of Energy Wind And Hydropower Technologies:  Val Maston’s consultancy on alternative and backup energy systems. / (added 09/2005)