Saturday, September 27, 2008

Solar Collector Could Change Asphalt Roads Into Renewable Energy Source

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812135702.htm

ScienceDaily (Aug. 14, 2008) — Anyone who has walked barefoot across a parking lot on a hot summer day knows that blacktop is exceptionally good at soaking up the sun’s warmth. Now, a research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has found a way to use that heat-soaking property for an alternative energy source.

Through asphalt, the researchers are developing a solar collector that could turn roads and parking lots into ubiquitous—and inexpensive–sources of electricity and hot water.

The research project, which was undertaken at the request of Michael Hulen, president of Novotech Inc. in Acton, Mass, which holds a patent on the concept of using the heat absorbed by pavements, is being directed by Rajib Mallick, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Posted by Patricia at 5:41 PM
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Patricia,

this is off topic but you might be itnerested to know that I posted the following yesterday and today in response to anne at economistsview:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/opinion/26fri4.html

"Even in tough budget times, there are lines that cannot be crossed. So I was startled by this tidbit reported recently by The Associated Press: When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, the small town began billing sexual-assault victims for the cost of rape kits and forensic exams.

Ms. Palin owes voters an explanation. What was the thinking behind cutting the measly few thousand dollars needed to cover the yearly cost of swabs, specimen containers and medical tests? Whose dumb idea was it to make assault victims and their insurance companies pay instead? Unfortunately, her campaign is shielding the candidate from the press, so Americans may still be waiting for answers on Election Day.

The rape-kit controversy is a troubling matter. The insult to rape victims is obvious. So is the sexism inherent in singling them out to foot the bill for investigating their own case. And the main result of billing rape victims is to protect their attackers by discouraging women from reporting sexual assaults..."

Both posts have disappeared from the blog.

8:15 PM
Patricia said...

Well, I don't think this comment should have been deleted.
But if it was you that just posted the one from "Someone who thinks Mark's a jerk", you shouldn't be surprised that Mark's deleting your comments.

10:01 PM
Anonymous said...

"But if it was you that just posted the one from "Someone who thinks Mark's a jerk""

That's not my language. I am amazed by that suggestion given how long we have shared debates on that blog. Mark has been increasingly sensitive towards criticism of his profession. He takes it personally. If you read my other comment that was deleted, you'd know what this was about. You may not realize this, but it,s an American phenomenon - "I can do on my blog what I want" etc. You can't have it both ways, pretending to be an open discussion forum while unnoticeably exerting censorship. And the fact that Americans have become so used to the "property" argument makes it impossible to challenge this creeping censorship. "The owner must be right". It never ceases to amaze me.

12:40 PM

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