Does the warmer weather have you thinking about the sun, the waves and the sand? Beach season is getting into full swing and while you may be packing swimsuits and sunscreen, no trip to the coast can be complete without the perfect soundtrack. So what if the sun was all you needed to keep the tunes blasting all day?
Using water from rivers and lakes to create electricity is nothing new, as civilizations have been harnessing the energy generated by moving water since ancient times. But new technologies using wastewater from household drains to produce electricity is making waves in the scientific community.
Historically, treating wastewater doesn’t provide the same renewable energy benefits since treatment plants themselves rely on large amounts of electricity to complete the treatment process. However this could be changing soon, according to a recent article in Popular Mechanics:
“In a study published last week, Penn State University researchers outlined a system called the microbial reverse electrolysis cell (MRC) that uses bacteria to both clean water and creates electricity.” The university’s tests were able to generate 0.94 kWh hours of electricity per kilogram of waste material. Fitted over a wastewater treatment plant, this technology could potentially generate enough electricity for 11,000 people.
While production capacities are not yet ready for market, the MRC technology of converting what goes down your toilet into electricity that powers the lights over your vanity are very appealing.
Read more about MRC technology
Nobody likes to be kept in the dark. It’s disorienting, unnerving and frightening. Whether it’s being kept in the dark without information or kept in the actual dark of your own home, being without the power can lead to a feeling of real powerlessness.
At Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW), it’s our goal to break through the darkness of poverty in order to end poverty. We do this through financial coaching in budgeting, taxes, financial institutions, and insurance, as well as credit counseling, financial assistance, connections to resources and more. We could not do this without TXU Energy.
Years ago, who could have dreamed that you’d be able to control the temperature of your home using your phone or program your thermostat to maintain different temperatures when you’re home versus when you’re away? But it’s true – thermostats are no longer just a dial you turn to adjust the temperature in your home.
Everyone has their top priorities when they’re looking for a new place to live. A cooking enthusiast might be looking for a spacious, updated kitchen. A family of four might place proximity to good schools and parks at the top of the list. With all the exciting possibilities, the potential energy costs that come along with your new home can easily get lost in your list of considerations.
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