From all the staff at Solar Energy Dream we would like to wish you a Happy New Years! Whether you are going out to party tonight or spending time with the family we hope you enjoy it. Also if you are in the New York area make sure to go see the new and improved ball drop.

Over the course of 2008 we have seen Solar Power Plants popping up left and right. Well just recently Iran has opened up their very first Solar Power Plant. The Energy Minister Parviz Fattah recently told reporters that “The country backs the use of alternative and renewable energy sources. In future alternative energy sources will be greatly developed in the country. The growth of investments in this sphere is expected.” The plant is not a huge one and is being used to see whether or not they see a future in further bigger projects like this one.

It has been the ongoing tradition of Time Square to drop their famous New Years Ball every year at the end of each year. Well this New Years being the 100th anniversary of the tradition researchers have stepped it up to recreate the ball for this special occasion. The ball is made up of 32,256 LED’s, is 15 feet wide and weighs 11,865 pounds! Check out the video and more information below.

This year is almost over with only one day left till New Years so lets take a look back at some of the amazing tree houses that have been popping up through out the past months. In my childhood tree houses where simple and built in the tree in your backyard with nothing to crazy or amazing. Well many years have passed and now people are expanding the way they used to picture tree houses and created the following.

Cocaine can be used to repel insects but in a recent study done researches found out that Honeybees can actually become addicted to the Cocaine and they even show signs of withdrawal. Once on the cocaine they start to dance (which is a way they use to communicate) very energetically. What amazed me was that they actually showed signs of withdrawal and they actually act in the same manner as a Human coke addict would. Check out what The Guardian said about the study below and remember to stop giving your bees coke.

Solar Energy is being used for everything these days and will continue to make it’s way through all the things that we use on a daily basis. Here is a very cool solar powered clock that was designed by Shuo Yang. Not only is this clock solar powered though, it is also made using recycled paper and you can actually see straight through the clock. The empty space in the middle lets you insert a picture behind it or you can just leave it empty making for a very unique and well designed clock. You can check out Shuo Yang’s blog for more information and pictures.

Many times walking through a city have I realized several over flowing trash cans. Well in Palm Springs a company called Big Belly Solar uses solar panels on trash cans to power a compressor which is placed inside. Each trashcan compacts the trash into a nice 40 pound brick therefore making the cleanup easier as well as making the trash cans hold a lot more trash.

The holidays are here and with the whole “Green” subject on many peoples minds here we have for you the World’s First OLED Christmas Tree made by GE. The tree is made with a 6 inch by 15 ft OLED system that is rolled up in the shape of a Christmas tree. Although the tree is quite small this just goes to show how promising OLED technology is becoming. You can check out a video as well as a statement from the team below.

An energy company called Fortum in Scandinavia has just recently made a commercial that features the Tesla Roadster that we previewed you with a couple of weeks ago. The commercial brings us back to the first automobiles made and then ends it with a scene of the Tesla charging up at a charging station on the side of the road. Check out the video above.

Everyday people are putting trash to a better use. Whether it be huge corporations or just people making art it eliminates it from sitting on the streets. Here artist Saimir Strati created a Mosaic using 229,764 corks which earned him the record for the World’s Largest Cork Mosaic. People who stayed at the Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers got to personally see the artist working 14 hours a day until he finally finished on September 4th.