Contrary to good ol’ George Bush’s opinion on future energy sources, offshore drilling and millions of dollars exploring carbon capture techniques are not the answer to our energy needs. Oil companies are enjoying record-breaking profits and George claims there’s hope for the future of solar power - “in parts of the world where the sun shines a lot.”

The truth is, fossil fuels like coal and oil play a major role in the current state of the planet and there are much cleaner, reliable sources for our energy needs. Check out the latest developments in sustainable energy:

Solar Power - Not Just a Sunny Day Companion

• New research may include titanium in the future of solar panels. The new material harnesses power from both the visible and the infrared spectrum, potentially using as much as 63% of the available energy - an improvement of more than 20% over today’s solar panels.

• The Solar Tree is an artistic and earth-friendly street lamp, designed by Ross Lovegrove. The first solar trees are growing in popularity throughout Europe as Lovegrove works to develop second-generation trees with even more features, including an air purification module and sunflower-like movement. Yes George - even when the sun doesn’t shine “a lot”, these lamps will light the night for at least 4 days on stored energy.

The Power of Garbage

Disposing of the tons and tons of waste we generate each year has been a problem that only continues to grow. New advancements are making the idea of transforming that garbage into energy and fuel more than just a dream. There are plans for at least 2 dozen plants and a few already in operation, like the system shown in the video below.

Save Hundreds with a Gentle Breeze

• This stylish roof ornament does much more than make your neighbor’s ask questions. Designed by French artist Philippe Starck, this windmill could generate 80% of your home’s energy without becoming an eyesore.

• A few simple kites, attached to a generator, could power your neighborhood in the near future. Kites can harness more of the wind’s energy than windmills because of the higher altitude and are nowhere near as costly. Kite farms are not just cost-effective and clean means of creating energy, they’re fascinating!

There are many other sustainable energy options that can improve the planet as well as our wallets. From hydrogen and water to the power of human movement, the future holds much more than oil and coal. Subscribe to Ecoble to stay up to date on the latest advancements.

More and more uses for hydrogen as fuel and power alternatives are being experimented with each year. We’re discovering ways to make hydrogen more efficient, more eco-friendly, and more affordable. The past few years have seen tremendous advancements in fuel cell technology and the use of hydrogen.

Check out 10 of the most impressive hydrogen powered innovations:

1. The Honda FCX Clarity is sleek, fast, and produces zero emissions. Unfortunately it is mega-expensive and dependent on a hydrogen filling station so only a lucky 600 southern California residents will have the luxury of leasing the Clarity.

2.

Photo/Tom Lynn

This colorful float was featured in Racine, Wisconsin’s Fourth of July parade. Created by Racine-based Modine Manufacturing Company, the float uses a fuel cell that converts “hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, water, and heat” to power animations and sounds – like the moving elephant that sprays water from his trunk.

3. Both Orlando International Airport and SeaWorld in Orlando have introduced hydrogen fueled shuttles, eliminating carbon emissions by nearly 100%.

ford.digitalsnippets.com/environment

4. UltraCell Corporation in Livermore, CA has perfected the first micro fuel cell. The XX25 Fuel cell provides a reliable power source for mobile electronics in remote areas and has been used by the US Army for several years.

Photo: US Navy

5. The Tigergen I was created by the Mizzou Hydrogen Car Team at the University of Missouri. The hydrogen fuel cell car will take part in the 2400 mile Solar Car Challenge to demonstrate the possibilities of hydrogen power.

6. This house runs completely on solar and hydrogen power. Owner Mike Strizki also operates a car and a lawnmower powered by hydrogen, as well as an electric motorcycle and speedboat.

Photo: ©DAVID BIELLO

7. Zero to 60 in 3.5 and a tremendous 40 miles to the gallon, the Scorpion Supercar by Ronn Motor Company is the ultimate eco-friendly sports coupe. The Scorpion features a high-performance hybrid engine that uses a Hydrorunner hydrogen on demand injection system to decrease emissions and increase efficiency.

Photo: Ronn Motor Company

8. The Pearl Hydrogen Bike travels up to 25km per hour and conveniently folds for easy storage or transport.

9.  
Photo: Bryan Patrick

California’s environmentally friendly Christmas tree uses LED lights and a hydrogen fuel cell system to eliminate greenhouse emissions.

10. The Hydrastax 5000 is scheduled to be available later this year and can power the average size home on hydrogen.

Photo: SFC

The possibility of a hydrogen economy is becoming more of a reality with each new creation. Subscribe to Ecoble to keep up with the latest in hydrogen news and visit the US Department of Energy to learn more.

Photo: Arichnode Studio

Your daily workout just got greener! This award winning Create a Gym concept was designed by Mitchell Joachim of Archinode Studio with more than fitness in mind. The floating River Gym offers a fabulous view, state of the art exercise equipment, and generates its own power - while purifying the water and propelling other boats as well.

The River Gym is not the first attempt to harness the natural energy of human power. California Fitness in Hong Kong motivates members with human powered treadmills and trainers, powering lights and televisions within the gym.

photo: Frank Hanswijk

The first Sustainable Dance Club converts the energy of party-goers on the dance floor into power for a totally sustainable environment. Created by Enviu, the concept incorporates earth-friendly innovations like toilets flushed with rainwater and rooftop gardens into a trendy hotspot that doesn’t harm the planet.

Cyclecide doesn’t generate energy with their pedal-powered carnival, but it’s definitely plenty of good, clean fun. From pedal-powered carousels to the one of a kind bike rodeo, Cyclecide proves that electronics are not necessary for a good time and designs some of the most innovative human-powered fun park rides ever imagined.

There are hundreds of new human-powered creations emerging each year. Pedal-driven hydrofoils, lightweight people-propelled lawnmowers, and entire shopping centers powered by footsteps are just the beginning of the possibilities of human power. Shave a few dollars off your own electric bill with a pedal-powered generator that can power a lamp, the television, or even your laptop.

Stay up to date on all the latest sustainable innovations - subscribe to Ecoble.

The insane cost of fuel has started pushing people out of their comfort zones. It seems that every day citizens have resorted to downsizing their vehicles, carpooling, and even—gasp!—using public transportation!

But there is another group of innovative greensters who have decided they are not content to simply ride the bus and wait for someone to discover an alternative fuel source.

Take for example Bradford Whipple, an ambitious fellow who has figured out a way to use discarded cooking oil to make his own fuel. On Travelers Notebook , he’s outlined the steps that he used to convert his vehicle and create fuel that he made from used frying oil that he collected from restaurants. Another gentleman by the name of Jeffrey Yago has a similar set of instructions and some additional resources on his page Backwoods Home Magazine. These sites both detail initial investment for materials to process the fuel and convert whatever vehicle you are driving; but according to Whipple, the project will pay for itself in 14 months (if you spend an average of $50 a week on gasoline).

The real obstacle to making your own biodiesel, however, isn’t in the process itself. That’s actually pretty simple and straightforward. Actually, trying to regularly secure discarded cooking oil is what you have to worry about. The amount of oil you need to make the process worthwhile requires that you have some kind of connection with a restaurant that uses it in bulk. Some of these restaurants pay to have their oil taken away and may be happy to let you have it for free, but as interest in making your own fuel increases, restaurant owners will begin (and already have started in some areas) charging for their used oil. Developing a relationship with a restaurant owner can ensure it is worth your while to go through the trouble of buying your supplies and going through the whole process.

If you’re really interested in making a commitment to manufacturing your own fuel, however, the good news is that it can be done, and once you’ve got the hang of it, it is incredibly cheap. Here are some additional online resources for you to check out before you jump in to the barrel:

Biodiesel Community - a nonprofit collaborative group who have combined resources to create an extensive online tutorial for home biodiesel makers.

Make Your Own Biodiesel - a series of five You Tube articles to teach you how to make your own biodiesel at home.

Biodiesel and SVO Discussion Forums - an interactive online community for discussion on making your own fuel.

Biodiesel Basics - a Yahoo Group with over 3000 members discussing how to make biodiesel.

Vehicles that draw their energy from green sources have created an exciting new frontier in the travel industry! At least, that’s what most people think. When it comes to boats, though, alternative energy crafts are nothing new. Back in the day (1902 in fact!), Mary Gordon was an electric-powered boat sporting stained glass windows, silk curtains and luxurious, velvet covered chairs.

So how far have we really come since then?

Pretty damn far.

This is Earthrace, a state-of-the-art speedcraft that runs on human fat, in addition to other biodiesel fuels. The crew of this vessel is currently racing to break the world speed record for circumnavigating the globe.

According to the Guardian, Earthrace is a 24 meter powerboat that runs on 100% renewable biodiesel fuels and has a net zero carbon footprint. Furthermore, Earthrace is the first boat in the world to use hemp composite in the construction of the ship body. Lubricants for the ship are made from vegetable oils, bedding foams are made from canola oils, and the crew even eats organic/local foods and wears hemp and bamboo clothing.

Here’s the 70 ft. Mary Gordon–an electric-powered boat–taking a crowd for a tour in 1902. Note how Earthrace appears to be a direct descendant of ‘Ms Gordon’:).

Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, believes the boat can help advance biodiesel as a genuinely viable alternative to petroleum diesel. Bethune and his family are more than a little invested in promoting fuel alternatives-they sold their home and belongings to fund the boat. Demonstrating further commitment to the cause, Bethune underwent liposuction and donated enough of his personal body fat to produce 100ml of biofuel.

Earthrace is now on pace to break the world speed record. The current record holder is British boat Cable and Wireless Adventurer, which circumnavigated the globe in 75 days a decade ago. The race is going well–after a little trouble in paradise, the crew repaired a broken engine and powered into Palau this week, 2400 miles ahead of schedule. Check here to see where Earthrace is right now.

What`s in the future for Earthrace’s technology? Well, the “greenest” part of Earthrace’s design isn’t its two Cummins Mercruiser QSC 540 engines-it’s the unique and incredibly efficient hull.

Unlike other boats that ride on top of waves, Earthrace pierces through them with its trimaran hull. The design allows this boat to go far faster in rough seas than conventional vessels. The piercing is controlled by pumping up to 2.5 tons of water into a special ballast tank in the bow. The faster the boat is travelling, the more it pierces. The limiting speed factor is the crew’s ability to handle the ride, rather than the capacity of the boat. In rough seas, this boat is fierce. If that doesn’t sound like it’s for you, consider a more relaxed alternative such as a solar powered boat.

When not racing or engaged in publicity events, the crew just likes to have fun with their powerful craft. Check them out whooping it up in this wakeboarding video in Loch Ness, Scotland. Watch out, Nessie!