Infineon Raceway in California Greens Up the Racetrack
Infineon Raceway has a number of green indicatives underway including solar power (over 1,600 panels), recycling and using sheep to cut the grass instead of gas powered equipment.
“Since 2004 … has recycled more than 141 tons (282,541 pounds) of materials … “ including 14,000 tires.
“ … partnership with Panasonic Corporation [on a] … major solar installation that accounts for 41-percent of the raceway’s overall energy usage …”
The video below gives more details on the sustainability efforts at Infineon Raceway.
The US DOE is sponsoring the 2011 Solar Decathlon – where 20 colleges and universities bring houses they designed and built to DC to compete in an “energy-off”. 
MIT scientists have found a novel way to use virus' to improve the efficiency of PV cells. The virus' " ... perform detailed assembly work at the microscopic level ... based on findings that carbon nanotubes ... can enhance the efficiency of ... solar cell's surface."
VE.
illion pounds of carbon dioxide over a 25 year period. ...energy created ... equals more than 111 million miles not driven by a medium sized car ... 11 million trees would need to be planted to equal the same level of carbon dioxide reduction."
![43-14-09[1]](http://greentechnolog.com/Windows-Live-Writer/Solar-business-skills_F86D/43-14-09%5B1%5D_2.png "43-14-09[1]")
… “1366’s Direct Wafer technology forms a 156mm multi-crystalline wafer directly from molten silicon in a semi-continuous, capital- and silicon-efficient process. 
Beyond Low Energy homes are Zero Energy Homes (ZEH). Using technology including geothermal heating and cooling, PV panels, heat recovery ventilation and super insulation and high efficiency windows the homes in Green Acres (New Paltz NY) may be the first ZEH in the world.
Solar power for consumers has lots going for it ... renewable energy, clean power, being green ... and one near term stumbling block --- cost. Most systems are EXPENSIVE for the initial capiital outlay.
The UTS Tower in Sydney, Australia is may get a proposed upgrade - a solar skin. This PV "wrap" would turn the tower into a very green and energy efficient structure.
The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products. They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."
The small German town of Dardesheim (fewer than 1,000) and neighbors in Halberstadt in what was East Germany "... want to become 100% renewable using solar, wind, and biomass." 
about a town of about 2,500 residents at any given moment. ..."
