The Next Big Thing … Solar Powered Cellphones
Posted by Wayne X. Young
A few of my friends asked what will be “the next big thing” to hit the public. Something that would generate a buzz or be a “must have” item. I mentioned solar-powered cellphones.
In Kenya, national telecommunications company Safaricom recently released a solar-powered mobile phone that costs no more than $40. This is especially beneficial in the country because electricity is so scarce. The country is under strict power rationing and their main source of energy is hydro-power. The demand is high for power and it is expensive for citizens to go to a third-party vendor to charge their cellphones. It is also difficult to find these vendors in rural areas of Kenya. “Initially, one had to use one’s phone and then the phone would go off and then you could not sell one’s vegetables and do your transactions,” said a Kenyan phone user. “But now with the new solar phone one can talk talk talk and deal with your business. It is much easier now.”
The phone does appear to be the first of its kind to be available commercially in Africa. Who knows when it’s coming to the US.
Some in the mobile phone industry have suggested accessory solar-powered phone chargers are the best avenue to address the phone charging issue in developing regions of the world. Such chargers have been available for a while but have been limited in their reach by a lack of uniformity. The solar-powered cellphone was created by ZTE Corporation from China. A similar phone was also released in June by Samsung in India.
Can you just imagine the impact a phone like that would have in the US? Studies have shown appliances on standby (such as TVs, computers, DVD players, cellphone chargers, game systems like XBOX and Wii) can account for 10% of a home’s total energy consumption. The International Energy Agency even estimated that standby power consumption accounts for 1% of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Some may say that the power use is negligible, but over time and multiplied by the millions of cellphone users, it could have a major impact. A solar powered phone for the “green” energy-conscious community would go over BIG across the globe.
– Wayne X. Young
Hurricanes are coming! Is gas gouging far behind?
Posted by Wayne X. Young
Although its starting late, the US Hurricane Season is finally here. We are currently getting hit with three at once. Although categorized as tropical depressions first, the intensity may increase to storms and eventually hurricanes.
There are 3 active storms currently being monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Tropical Depression Ana is currently over the Dominican Republic and will possibly make its way to the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. Tropical Storm Bill is out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and might hit the Mid-Atlantic region (VA, DC, NJ, MD) coastal states in another week or so. Tropical Storm Claudette is scheduled to hit Panama City Monday morning and cross into Alabama and Tennessee.
Already we have seen a 10 cent increase in gasoline prices since last week. Gas prices have jumped 10% or more since the last month. Last year, pipelines and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were severely damaged due to hurricane force winds. Distribution of gasoline was affected. The Southeast faced a gas drought of major proportions because we get our gas from the companies who owned the platforms in the Gulf. Weeks went by with little or no fuel in major cities. And the gasoline that was available nearly reached $6/gallon. Lines were around the block!
Are we prepared to accept another “wave” of gas gouging based on greed and desperation? Have we, the consumer, maintained our vehicles to utilize as little gas as possible? Is your tire pressure up to standards? Are we making less non-essential trips? Have we taken the excess weight out of our vehicles? Be prepared people, because it will get worse before it gets better.
– Wayne X. Young
