efficiency

The solar efficiency problem may be solved, not by some amazing new material, but by existing and surprisingly cheap components.

Such were the findings of IBM researchers who recently achieved 9.6 percent efficiency with cells made from copper, tin, zinc, sulfur and/or selenium.

The efficiency of any solar cell refers to its photoelectric conversion rate; in other words, its ability to convert sunlight into electricity. While higher efficiency rates have been posted in the solar world (the highest so far is a 19.3 percent efficiency announced by Mitsubishi today), the IBM cell set a record for solar cells made with such low-cost and readily available materials.

UPS shed 30 million miles from its delivery routes in 2007, and three million gallons of gasoline, after drivers cut back on their left-hand turns.

"The only left turn you make is to come home," says Dan McMackin, a former UPS driver who is now a company spokesman.

Don’t knock life in the right lane until you try it.

For UPS, it produced a giant cut in carbon dioxide emissions of 32,000 metric tons. That’s equivalent to removing 5,300 passenger cars from the roads for an entire year.