ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY MOLECULE. Should a manufacturer be responsible for emissions only from its end product? Or should a manufacturer have to account for emissions created "upstream" from the manufacturing or processing of all the components, supplies and raw materials used to make that end product? Accounting for every molecule of CO2 emitted during the entire manufacturing process of an automobile would be a daunting task for the manufacturer.

Despite the recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (see ENERGIES 5/23/99) which claims that lighter, aluminum-intensive cars would not realize real greenhouse gas reduction benefits for decades, Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler will go ahead with a plan to accelerate the use of aluminum in motor vehicles.

The Auto Aluminum Alliance will take on new research projects including ways to reduce manufacturing costs, improve mass production and scrap sorting for recycling, and investigating new aluminum sheet forming technologies. Visit the Aluminum Association at http://www.aluminum.org/ .

OFF-THE-SHELF EFFICIENT POWER. Hot exhaust from already efficient micro turbine generators can be tapped for even more efficient cogeneration - heat, hot water and electricity in one package. Turbines, too, can run a variety of fuels, renewable or otherwise.

Capstone Turbine will be selling its MicroTurbines (tm) through a new agreement with New Energy Ventures. NEV Technologies will market the 30 kilowatt Capstone Model 330 to satisfy a variety of power needs for its customers, including off-grid and back-up power supply.

According to Capstone, its MicroTurbine relies on air-foil bearings (the turbine shaft floats on compressed air) and thus doesn't need a complex oiling system. The turbine generator has a low noise level and is self-cooled with air. Visit Capstone at http://www.capstoneturbine.com/ and New Energy Ventures at http://www.newenergy.com/ .

REPLACING INCANDESCENT BULBS. Another big company has jumped into the arena in the quest to replace the inefficient incandescent light bulb. GE Lighting (General Electric) will be working with EMCORE Corporation in a joint venture to develop and market white light and colored high-brightness light emitting diodes (HB LEDs). Products from new company, GELcore, will be aimed as replacements and alternatives for miniature automotive lighting, compact fluorescent, halogen and traditional incandescent bulbs.

GELcore claims HB LEDs can have a lifespan of more than 100,000 hours, enhanced durability, compact design and significantly reduced energy consumption. Exact energy efficiency claims are not known, presumably because the products aren't yet available. GELcore hopes their HB LEDs will be available later this year.

Other companies working on white light LED's are Siemens, Hewlett-Packard and Sharp Microelectronics. Visit EMCORE at http://www.emcore.com.

Back Issues ENERGIES...the free weekly e-letter of products, innovation, issues and education in clean, renewable and efficient energy. Visit Green Energy News on the Web at http://www.nrglink.com for past issues. For free subscription contact bmulliken@nrglink.com. Copyright Green Energy News Inc. 6/5/99 vol.4 no.9.