After apparently dealing with a "systems crash" the Kiplinger editors were finally able to respond to my request for additional info on those mysterious "power trees".
Here's what they had to say: *************************************************** > Thank you for your inquiry regarding the solar-wind item > in the March 27th Kiplinger Letter. > NO, we don't do "April Fool's" pieces at Kiplinger. :-) > A company called SolarBotanic is developing this system. > Let me emphasize what we said in the item. The very first > power systems likely will be available within about two years. > It is unlikely that these systems will be in widespread use > (as are wind and solar cell power-gen devices) for another > decade, or so. > You can obtain more information about SolarBotanic and > contact it via the company's web site: http://www.solarbotanic.com/ [snip] *************************************************** From: SolarBotanic: http://www.solarbotanic.com/ excerpt: > Our Nanoleaves convert the complete solar spectrum > converting visible light, infrared and UV in combination > with piezo electric generators that convert wind energy > into electricity providing you with efficient, cost > effective and aesthetic solutions, providing maximum > electric power. The area of combined photothermovoltaic > with piezovoltaic is concerned primarily with converting > sunlight and wind energy into electricity. This task is > accomplished through the use of natures design, > artificial trees shrubs, plants and flowers all equipped > with nanoleaf technology PV cells. ... Comments? Regards Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
