A company called Clarian Power has a product in development called "Sunfish Plug-In Solar Power". The product will have several models, ranging from 200 watts at about $700 to $4000 for a 1000 watt unit. From their website:

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The Sunfish plugs directly into an existing electrical outlet and automatically generates power whenever the sun is shining. The Sunfish can be mounted directly on the side of a home, on a deck, or on a rooftop and is modular, allowing you to generate up to 1kW of hassle-free power. And, it can generate up to 30 kWh per month, enough to light an average home using energy efficient light bulbs. Expected to cost between $599 and $799, the Sunfish is a cost-effective option for homeowners and small business owners looking to harness solar power for the first time. Working in tandem with the existing power grid, the Sunfish enables large-scale distributed-generation, delivering power exactly where it's needed, reducing the demand for costly transmission infrastructure. With built-in circuit protection, the Sunfish's unique micro-inverter design ensures years of safe, reliable operation with efficiency comparable to inverters that cost thousands of dollars more. And by mounting the micro-inverter directly to solar panel, the Sunfish reduces line loses and increases output by as much as 10%! Also, by pairing each solar module with a micro-inverter the Sunfish is able to individually optimize the power output of each panel. And the Sunfish can be plugged directly into the existing power grid without special wiring or expensive controls - you literally just plug it into the wall, anywhere there's power. Plus, the anti-islanding features inherent in its design protects local utility workers in the event of a power outage - if the grid shuts down, the Sunfish immediately stops generating power, again without the need for any special wiring or controls. And with onboard networking and optional backup storage, the Sunfish also allow customers to track and monitor production online.
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Follow the related link below to visit their website.

In California, we are used to being trendsetters with energy. However, it isn't often that a community or small scale energy project gets a national spotlight, even for a moment. Right now, the Richmond Plunge is having it's moment. After a 10 year renovation, adding Solar Electric, Solar Thermal and a chlorine free water processing system, the pool is beautiful and sets a new standard for a community.

The solar panels for electricity are expected to produce 30 kilowatts while the solar thermal should maintain a comfortable water temperature.

The water is kept clean and safe with a saline process that also incorporates ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. No chlorine means no harsh chemicals on the skin or in swimmers eyes. The lack of chlorine should also help guest breath a bit easier when they are out of the water.

You can click the image above for a larger view.

The United States used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power according to the most recent energy flow charts released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

A lot of the transition is attributed to the economy and higher efficiency devices and machines. We have also installed more renewable energy sources, in particular wind power during 2009. Many incentive programs for renewable energies kicked in during 2009.

To see a high definition version of the image above, follow the related link below.

Scientists at the Norwegian Academy of Science have designed a new type of hydrogen fuel cell that is inspired by human lungs. The new design can reduce the amount of expensive platinum catalyst, while increasing the efficiency of the cell.

The new approach spreads gases more uniformly across the catalyst than current designs providing a greater surface area and higher efficiency.

Expiration dates on food products can protect our health, but those dates are really more about quality than safety, and if not properly understood, they can also encourage consumers to discard food that is perfectly safe. Keep in mind, the company producing the food item is happy to sell you a replacement.

Which five foods are most often feared as being unsafe after the printed date? According to ShelfLifeAdvice.com, we are most wary of milk, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, yogurt, and eggs, and the site offers these helpful explanations:

- Milk: If properly refrigerated, milk will remain safe, nutritious, and tasty for about a week after the sell-by date and will probably be safe to drink longer than that, though there’s a decline in nutritional value and taste.

- Cottage cheese: Pasteurized cottage cheese lasts for 10-14 days after the date on the carton.

- Mayonnaise: Unopened, refrigerated Kraft mayonnaise can be kept for 30 days after its expiration date or 3-4 months after opening, the company told ShelfLifeAdvice.

- Yogurt: Yogurt will remain good 7-10 days after its sell-by date.

- Eggs: Properly refrigerated eggs should last at least 3-5 weeks after the sell-by date, according to Professor Joe Regenstein, a food scientist at Cornell University. Note: Use of either a sell-by or expiration (EXP) date is not federally required, but may be state required, as defined by the egg laws in the state where the eggs are marketed.

So take this knowledge and save a few dollars as well as reducing your demand on the environment just a bit.