The biggest obstacle to a new Earth, to a  new economy and to a new source of renewable energy is clinging to our rigid view of how the world must be. If we can open our minds to the possible, the universe will provide the solutions.

Source: The Atlantic

Mild-mannered and bespectacled, Johnson opened his presentation by describing the idea behind the JTEC. The device, he explained, would split hydrogen atoms into protons and electrons, and in so doing would convert heat into electricity. Most radically, it would do so without the help of any moving parts. Johnson planned to tell his audience that the JTEC could produce electricity so efficiently that it might make solar power competitive with coal, and perhaps at last fulfill the promise of renewable solar energy. But before he reached that part of his presentation, Richard Carlin, then the head of the Office of Naval Research’s mechanics and energy conversion division, rose from his chair and dismissed Johnson’s brainchild outright. The whole premise for the device relied on a concept that had proven impractical, Carlin claimed, citing a 1981 report co-written by his mentor, the highly regarded electrochemist Robert Osteryoung. Go read the Osteryoung report, Carlin said, and you will see…

Johnson believed otherwise. He felt that what had doomed his presentation to the Office of Naval Research—and others as well—was a collective failure of imagination…

“Lonnie’s using temperature differences to create pressure gradients,” says Paul Werbos, an energy expert and program director of the National Science Foundation. “Only instead of using those pressure gradients to move an axle or a wheel, he’s forcing ions through a membrane.” Werbos, who spent months vetting the JTEC and eventually awarded Johnson’s team a $75,000 research grant in 2006, describes the JTEC as “a fundamentally new way, a fundamentally well-grounded way, to convert heat to electricity.” Regarding its potential to revolutionize energy production on a global scale, he says, “It has a darn good chance of being the best thing on Earth.”

This is what Brian O’Leary Ph.D., a former Princeton professor in astrophysics and NASA astronaut, fervently believes is possible for us and our planet. After hearing his 45 minute Free Energy lecture (right-click to download 38 MB file) on Saturday at the “After the Darkness, Dawns a New Light Conference”, I believe him, too.

For those unfamiliar with the term “Free  Energy”, it is energy derived from a source that violates one of the core principles of modern science, specifically thermodynamics: that energy cannot be created, it  can merely flow from one place to another or change from one form into another.

The most well-known case of Free energy is “cold fusion”. In 1989, two scientists from Utah claimed to have discovered cold fusion which is when two hydrogen atoms combine to form a helium atom. The resulting “fusion” of the atoms releases far more energy than the energy required to create the fusion.

Their claims were forcefully rebuked, but Dr. O’Leary claims that M.I.T. and other institutions fudged data to discredit the discovery. Recently, 60 Minutes examined cold fusion 20 years later and showed that the original cold fusion experiment did produce “free energy”.

The concept of Free Energy is a radical one – far more radical than windmills or solar panels. If you can imagine free energy, you can then imagine a completely different world where scarcity no longer exists and we can all live sustainably. Imagine…

For further reading, I highly recommend his book, “The Energy Solution Revolution” which is a very easy read that tackles all sides of the Free Energy concept: energy politics, control over society, science, spirituality, alternative energy, environmentalists, climate change, academics, flying pigs, the oil cartel, conspiracy theories and much more.

As you can hear in this lecture, Dr. O’Leary is extremely articulate and well-spoken. His book is equally a pleasure to read, particularly if you like to imagine a better tomorrow.

This is a really cool idea. Maybe they can help us organize a development in the Montreal area.

Via: Carbon Busters

Carbon Busters® is excited to announce the design and development of the first ever Carbon Busters® village, a zero carbon sustainable community just outside the City of Edmonton. The intent is to design and develop a pilot sustainable community with a zero carbon environmental impact that will showcase innovative green systems for water, grey water, waste treatment, power generation and green living practices with a focus on research and education for sustainable development. A number of design charrettes have been planned for the coming months that aim to achieve best practice for the village.

With the help of sustainable building & community experts from six countries, and specialists from provincial and municipal departments, Carbon Busters has developed a truly cutting-edge sustainable community design. Some of the features include:

• 256 zero carbon buildings
• Solar heating, solar hot water and solar electrical systems
• Community utility grid-tied wind power
• Early Childhood to Grade 12 sustainable school
• Community food production infrastructure
• Innovative systems for water conservation
• Community green transportation system