Solyndra, a startup based in Fremont, Calif., has developed a novel type of solar panel that's cheaper to install and produces more power than conventional panels. Unlike conventional solar panels, which are made of flat solar cells, the new panels comprise rows of cylindrical solar cells made of a thin film of semiconductor material. The material is made of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium. More
Shanghai Highrises Could Worsen Threat of Rising Seas
from The New York Times
Shanghai, China's most populous city and an aspiring global financial center, is also among the world's most vulnerable urban areas to a rise in sea levels as global warming melts polar ice. Its location on a low-lying alluvial plain near the mouth of Asia's longest river, the Yangtze, had already left it prone, but researchers warn that forests of skyscrapers sprouting across the ambitious metropolis could compound the threat by causing its marshy ground to sink.
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‘Soft Skills’ to Dominate Workplace, Says Microsoft
from Witan Jardine
Soft skills will "reign supreme" in the U.K. workplace over the next 25 years, according to Jemma Harris, mobile working expert at Microsoft. New research conducted for Microsoft Windows Mobile revealed that the 21st century workplace will be defined by employees, including those doing tax jobs in London, who use the left or "female" side of their brain, as they are "lateral, collaborative, flexible and creative", Onrec.com reports. Ms. Harris commented to the Web site: "We'll see a greater shift towards more equal opportunities for women, and as this research demonstrates, who may even be in a stronger position than their counterparts." More
Dubai to Build World’s Tallest Skyscraper – Again
from Daily Tech
A Dubai development group has released plans for a colossal skyscraper over a full kilometer in height. The building, dubbed Nakheel Towers after its developer, will be the centerpiece of a new harbor development which Nakheel hopes will become the nation's new “unofficial” capital. With the current record holder, the 2700-foot tall Burj Dubai, nearing completion nearby, this new structure would dwarf it by more than 600 feet. The building will have over 200 floors and 150 elevators. Special high-speed elevators will be fast enough to allow residents to view a sunset twice an evening: once from the bottom, and again from the top floor. The air temperature at the top floor could be as much as 18 degrees cooler than at ground level.
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Product Showcase: LogiSon Acoustic Network
 More than 70 percent of employees say they would be more productive if their workplace was quieter. The LogiSon Acoustic Network increases speech privacy and reduces disruptions by introducing a masking sound that makes conversations and noises more difficult, or impossible, to hear. It’s a cost-effective method of improving overall acoustic comfort. More info
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Treat Your Eyes – Take a Screen Break
from Irish Independent
Growing numbers of people are seeking treatment in eye clinics as a result of working on computers for long stretches. Researchers at the University of Ulster showed one of the most common complaints is dry eye, which can affect large numbers of people but particularly those who work at computers indoors, in air-conditioned environments. More
Europe Follows Fusion Twin Track
from BBC
An alternative fusion project has been kicked off in Europe that would seek abundant clean energy using a colossal laser the size of a football stadium. The laser would tap the energy by squeezing together atoms of hydrogen—a process very similar to the one that powers the Sun. Europe is already engaged in the Iter fusion venture that aims for the same outcome but via magnetic compression. More
Prepare to Be More Accommodating
from CFO Magazine
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against disabled people in the workplace and at public facilities, will see major revisions this fall that could translate into big changes—and big costs—for businesses as early as January of next year. If current proposals in Congress and from the Department of Justice (DoJ) stay on track, companies will have to take a hard look at everything from human-resources practices to building codes to make sure they maintain the "equal opportunity employer" designation. More
U.S. Contractors Rush to Become LEED® Experts
from Atlanta Business Chronicle
As demand for sustainable buildings increases, commercial developers, general contractors, architects, designers and others in the industry are looking to increase their knowledge about green building. In the past couple of years, hundreds of Atlanta contractors have achieved accreditation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system that’s become a national benchmark for sustainable building. And the move to get employees LEED-certified has become increasingly important as the green building market expands and becomes more competitive. More
Using IP for Integrating Building Systems
from Electrical Contractor
Internet Protocol (IP) is growing in popularity as a method for integrating building systems. First of all, it is a way of interconnecting every building system. According to Rawlson King of the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), “The idea behind IP-based systems is that all devices should be able to be accessible regardless of function. CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, fire alarms, fire suppression, lighting controls and HVAC can all be integrated in IP-based systems.” In a CABA presentation originally given at the Intelligent Building Summit in 2006 in Toronto, there was a comprehensive listing of building systems that can be monitored and/or controlled through an IP-based system. More
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Younger Workers and the Demise of E-mail
from Network World
We've heard for some time that young people don't use e-mail, but instead use Facebook, MySpace, instant messaging and other social networking and real-time communications tools, and that they just don't use e-mail anymore. Further, we're told that young people entering the workforce just won't use e-mail, and that real-time communications will become the workplace norm as a result. Is that true?
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AgilQuest Corporation
 Most office systems end with hoteling, but that’s just where we get started. We’ll help you make your entire workplace as agile as your workforce. More |
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Solyndra, a startup based in Fremont, Calif., has developed a novel type of solar panel that's cheaper to install and produces more power than conventional panels. Unlike conventional solar panels, which are made of flat solar cells, the new panels comprise rows of cylindrical solar cells made of a thin film of semiconductor material. The material is made of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium. More
