The 1959 Cuban revolution triggered a trade embargo by the US. Car imports, besides a few Ladas and Moskvitches from the Soviet Union, were virtually impossible, forcing Cubans to make do with what they had. It?s the reason Cuba has so many Buicks, Chevys, Oldsmobiles and Fords from the Fifties. Cubans have become masters in repairing these cars and now they're able to race them again, as they did before the revolution. http://www.topgear.com/car-news/adventures/road-havanas-street-racers#2
A virtual power station (VPS) is a collection of solar panels, batteries and electrical appliances (such as air conditioners) in a neighbourhood that are intelligently managed to maintain the stability of the power supply. A VPS can help to avoid future blackouts by optimising how, when and where we use energy in our homes. https://blog.csiro.au/energy-intelligence-tackle-blackouts/
While still in the developmental stages, nanopaint is seen as an effective means of dealing with a number of different issues. As an example, the application of nanopaint on the exterior of a building could be used to block infrared rays and thus help to keep the interior of the space cooler, while also making it possible to absorb solar energy on days that are sunny but cool. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-nanopaint.htm
