Creative Japanese Designer Shigero Ban Wins The 2014 Pritzker Prize For Architecture...

The creative Japanese architect Shigero Ban is a very respected and highly thought of person in New Zealand and a particular favourite in the devastated city of Christchurch which was virtually leveled to the ground after the 2011 earthquakes.
Mr Ban created a stunningly beautiful 'cardboard cathedral' replacing the original iconic structure that was almost totally destroyed.
Shigero Ban's commitment to humanitarian causes is also well known and his designs for disaster relief efforts, highly respected.
One of this extraordinary man's talents is using cardboard and cardboard tubes in particular to form long lasting sustainable designs. His emergency shelters offered safe havens to the victims of Japan's earthquake and tsunami and too in Sri Lanka.
Shigero Ban is making our world a better place...

The World's First Airbourne Wind Turbine Could Bring Renewable Energy To You..

This enormous helium-filled wind turbine known as BAT or Buoyant Airborne Turbine will soon be airborne and float over the city of Fairbanks Alaska but it could just as easily be powering you and your neighbour's homes.
Floating at around one thousand feet the giant wind turbine will generate up to eight times a land based wind turbine produces.
The power will be transferred by cables hanging below the turbine and as well as providing electricity it will also provide weather data and act as a cell tower for internet providers and users. There's more to know about it here.
Designed and built by Altaeros Energies the floating turbine will go through intensive tests during its eighteen month trial but it's hoped the concept will be good enough to provide electricity for remote third world areas and disaster areas...

Greenpeace Brings Emergency Power To The People...

Greenpeace built a mobile solar array attached to a truck some years ago and gave it the very apt name of Rolling Sunlight.
The emergency unit proved its worth in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy recently.
Stationed in one of the worst hit areas, New York's Rockaway's, the truck which can store fifty kilowatt hours of power was truly a ray of sunshine for the residents who were able to charge their mobile phones and other devices. And keep in touch with family and friends.
A great idea to bring emergency power to the people in disaster situations.
Solar panels have never been so inexpensive.
Perhaps you could have your own emergency solar set-up or talk with your community about providing a similar sort of unit...