SXSW: Zero Waste: The Future of Green

Live from SXSW in Austin, TX, Sunday March 14, 2010

Sol Design Lab

Sol Design Lab has created solar-powered ‘gas pumps’ in the Austin area, which are 50’s gas pumps that have been retrofitted with solar panels on the top, and outlets below.

First electric vehicle 100 years ago got 100 mph, we’re at 30 mph today, there’s a lot of potential here.

One of their key factors is to “make energy visible”, to help people stay within the means of solar energy. They display how much power is coming in from the sun, and how much is being drawn by whatever is plugged into the pump.  This helps have consumers demand things that are more efficient.

DOE did a study to look at forward demand for energy.  Greatest new energy source that DOE sees - 40% - is to reduce energy consumption.

Rechar creates carbon-negative systems

Build off-grid plants that turn biomass into electricity and biochar (like charcoal in BBQ grills) which can be used for power or buried in soil as a fertilizer and improves crop yield up to 200%.  Can sequester 200B tons of CO2 a year this way.

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