Microsoft’s energy management tool; Audi Pushes Clean Diesel on Facebook; $4.5 billion in smart grid grants coming out;Message from Al Gore – Clean Energy Bill (Video); Solar-powered Android cell phone

Microsoft’s energy management tool. While most everyone knows that Google has been developing one, I had no idea that Microsoft was too. Their device, like Google’s, will allow consumers to monitor and manage their own energy consumption online. I wish I could get in on the testing of these tools, but seeing as I live in the boonies I doubt that will happen!

Audi Pushes Clean Diesel on Facebook. As part of a campaign promoting the Audi TDI diesel engines, Audi is donating $1 to The Nature Conservancy’s carbon offset program for every Facebook user who joins their cause. The new clean diesel engines reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent and are 30 percent more fuel efficient.

$4.5 billion in smart grid grants from the economic stimulus package. The DOE will manage the 50-50 grants for smart grid projects established by the stimulus package signed into law in February. Most recently, utilities and companies that want to use the grants to do more expensive projects were cheered when the DOE lifted the caps it had previously proposed. This is such good news that smart grid money was included in the stimulus package!

Message from Al Gore – Clean Energy Bill. Al Gore just put out this announcement in reference to the Passage of the upcoming Clean Energy Bill. “I recorded a video message to describe what’s at stake and how we need your help urgently. Take a moment and please watch it. Some of the smartest ideas on energy and climate — ones that have been aired by countless hearings in our Capitol over the last two decades — are finally getting their due in this bill. And it’s deserving of our strongest support.”

Solar-powered Android cell phone. Back in February, ZTE showed off the first affordable cell phone featuring solar power, and now it looks like the company is planning on releasing a version for Android users. I think solar-powered cell phones are definitely the future, as long as there is still a way to plug them in – after all, not much solar power reaches the inside of my pocket!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!!