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Environmental
Sustainable holidays: renewable energy and solar-powered houseboats on the Mississippi
By Loz Blain
07:03 April 24, 2008 PDT
April 24, 2008 Ecologically responsible tourism is becoming big business around the world, particularly with young backpackers who wish to see the glory of nature without contributing to its destruction. The same concept is now starting to trickle through to resort and leisure tourism - such as this block of condos on the Mississippi in Iowa. Using recycled materials, renewable energy and a small fleet of solar-powered houseboats that contribute solar and wind turbine energy back into the grid when they're moored, the Holiday Shores Condo-Tel development will provide 64 suites for the environmentally conscious. Read More
Californian housing estate gets solar as standard
By Emily Clark
17:05 April 23, 2008 PDT
A new housing estate, with solar power to be included as a standard feature in all homes, has been officially opened in San Bernardino County, California. Opened on Earth Day, ‘Harmony’ is a planned residential development and a collaboration between CenterStone Communities and Petersen-Dean Roofing Systems that will lower residents’ utility costs by up to 50%. Read More
eSolar announces funding boost for scaleable, pre-fabricated solar plants
By Emily Clark
00:02 April 22, 2008 PDT
April 22, 2008 eSolar has raised $130 million in funding for the deployment of its solar thermal power plants. The scaleable, pre-fabricated power plants are designed to cut construction costs and deliver renewable energy solutions tailored to the needs of particular communities. Read More
Sunny Day: fold-up solar-electric bicycle concept
By Emily Clark
20:12 April 16, 2008 PDT
April 17, 2008 Featuring an adjustable streamlined solar panel on the front stem, the Sunny Day compact solar electric bicycle design by Larry Chen recently took out the Grand Prize in the 12th annual International Bicycle Design Competition. Read More
AeroVironment awarded patents for wind-power system
By Emily Clark
20:40 April 13, 2008 PDT
April 14, 2008 A name familiar to Gizmag readers through its achievements in the field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AeroVironment is also a developer of efficient electric energy systems, an area in which it has been awarded a series of patents relating to its "Architectural Wind® Building-Integrated Energy Generation System" - a system which takes a new approach to harnessing wind power using low-profile turbines designed to maximize electricity generation by taking advantage of the way wind flows over certain types of buildings. Read More
Prototype energy-saving computer delivers significant efficiency boost
By Darren Quick
19:29 April 13, 2008 PDT
April 14, 2008 Using off the shelf technology researchers have developed a highly energy efficient computer that consumes 70 percent less energy than ENERGY STAR labeled computers. Researchers Peter May-Ostendorp and Nathan Beck of Ecos collaborated with chip makers Intel, AMD and Via Technologies to see how much they could reduce the energy demand of computers operating in today’s business environment by using the hardware makers’ most-efficient computer platforms and adding best-in-class components such as hybrid hard drives and right-sized 80 PLUS power supplies. Read More
Capturing carbon to create greener plastics
00:18 April 10, 2008 PDT
April 10, 2008 Chemists are investigating ways to use carbon dioxide removed from smokestack emissions to make a raw material for the production of DVDs, CD-ROMs, beverage bottles and other products made from polycarbonate plastics. Read More
Power Utility launches energy saving software
By Emily Clark
23:06 April 7, 2008 PDT
South Jersey Gas is now offering its customers the ability to manage their energy consumption, practice energy efficiency and reduce their energy costs using a free web-based service. Developed by Aclara Software, the new service gives customers access to energy information relating to their utility bills. Read More
World's fist commercial scale tidal energy generator nears completion
00:23 April 4, 2008 PDT
Bristol based renewable energy company Marine Current Turbines has completed the first installation phase of the 1.2MW SeaGen Tidal System at Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough - a site chosen for its combination of fast tidal current and ability to provide shelter from bad weather which may hinder the construction process. It is expected that the breakthrough power plant will be operational around mid-year with its massive 16m diameter twin rotors harnessing the tides to produce the equivalent amount of energy it takes to power 1000 homes. After its final assembly at the Harland & Wolff dockyard in Belfast, the crane barge “Rambiz” positioned the 1000 tonne structure onto the seabed 400m from the shoreline where it will be secured by four pins drilled to a depth of around nine meters. Read More
Self-powered eco-switch for hotel rooms
By Emily Clark
17:24 April 3, 2008 PDT
April 4, 2008 This card-operated wireless switch from Echoflex Solutions offers the hotel industry a solution for reducing energy waste by in unoccupied rooms. Read More
Fully electric, 130+mph Tesla Roadster goes into production
By Loz Blain
20:49 March 17, 2008 PDT
March 18, 2008 A very significant milestone in zero-emissions motoring has just occurred as Tesla Motors announced yesterday that its groundbreaking electric sportscar has commenced regular production. The 130mph Tesla Roadster is the first production electric car to boast genuine sports performance coupled with a 210+ mile range between battery charges, which make it both exciting and viable for the vast majority of driving purposes. The fact that it's utterly gorgeous, with hints of the Lotus Elise, doesn't hurt either. All of the 2008 models scheduled for production have already been snapped up for just under US$100,000 each - and reservations are now being taken on the 2009 model. Read More
New Toronto waterfront development will have a “future proof” energy centre
By Jude Garvey
18:43 March 17, 2008 PDT
March 18, 2008 Waterfront Toronto, a 2,000 acre area of largely publicly owned land, is one of the largest urban developments currently underway in North America. As part of the project, a 3500 square meter District Energy Centre is under development which will consist of an interconnected network of underground pipes which that be extended to every area in each of the waterfront precincts. The plant will initially be powered by natural gas but the design will incorporate the necessary features for easy conversion to more sustainable, alternative fuel sources when they are approved for urban use. This "future-proof" system will make the new waterfront neighborhood a more efficient and sustainable user of energy in years to come. Read More
myGreenElectronics: website initiative to reduce impact of electronics
By Emily Clark
17:53 March 17, 2008 PDT
March 18, 2008 Promoting the four R’s of green electronic use (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Rethink), the ‘myGreenElectronics’ website is dedicated to minimizing the impact consumer electronics have on the environment. A simple, clean design, myGreenElectronics provides basic information to help consumers on their path to thinking, buying and acting ‘green’. Read More
Pilot program investigates link between driving behavior and emissions
By Emily Clark
18:07 March 12, 2008 PDT
The City of Denver has launched a pilot programmed designed to quantify the impact of driving behavior on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The Driving Change initiative will identify ways for drivers to reduce their emissions by measuring the environmental impact of driving behavior. Read More
New research promises boost to biofuel production
By Emily Clark
22:43 March 11, 2008 PDT
A new process developed by two professors at the University of Maryland could mean the ability to convert large volumes of all kinds of plant products, from leftover brewer's mash to paper trash, into ethanol and other biofuel alternatives to gasoline. When fully operational, the process could potentially lead to the production of 75 billion gallons of carbon-neutral ethanol each year. Read More
OUiP!: child’s handheld electronic device powered by play
By Jude Garvey
18:59 March 11, 2008 PDT
March 12, 2008 Small children have an uncanny ability to understand and use electronic devices quickly and correctly. You’re happy when your child wants to learn but when their buttery fingers caress your new laptop or digital camera it’s time to introduce them to their own toys! The industrial design company think/thing (designer of the recently featured Nestt car seat), has developed OUiP!, an intuitive, interactive technology interface for children. Read More
Raser Technologies announces two new geothermal energy projects
By Emily Clark
20:34 March 6, 2008 PST
March 7, 2008 Raser Technologies has committed to two new geothermal projects, bringing its total project count to seven and representing 70-75 megawatts (MW) of power projects initiated since April 2007. Read More
Sink or swim: floating Hybrid XPliers
By Emily Clark
23:03 March 5, 2008 PST
March 6, 2008 Robrady is a name most of our readers will associate with bleeding-edge electric motorcycle designs, but the company’s portfolio has several facets including a partnership with marine tool specialists XTools. The latest product to emerge from this collaboration is a pair of rugged hybrid pliers, which like all tools in the range, float when they hit the water. Read More
Microturbines to reduce emissions in NYC
By Emily Clark
23:02 March 4, 2008 PST
March 5, 2008 Installation of microturbines has been completed in New York with the aim of providing clean energy and reducing the City’s residential and commercial carbon emissions. MicroTurbine systems, developed by Capstone, have been installed in four locations around the City and are fueled by clean burning natural gas, and emit very low emissions. Read More
Control4's energy saving wireless light dimmer
By Emily Clark
17:09 March 3, 2008 PST
March 4, 2008 Creating more artificial light than we actually need is a significant contributor to energy waste in the home. The solution - dim the lights. In the case of the Wireless Dimmer from Control4 this is achieved automatically as the device uses ambient light sensors to adjust brightness to an optimum level. Read More
The Krank lamp: funky, functional and eco-friendly
By Jude Garvey
17:11 March 2, 2008 PST
The 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition produced a number of eco-friendly, innovative designs, amongst them was the standout design of the “Krank”, a light-weight lamp which is powered by hand. Read More
Ultraportable ThinkPad X300 Notebook PC
By Darren Quick
16:44 March 1, 2008 PST
The ultra-portable Lenovo ThinkPad X300 measures less than three-quarters of an inch at its thinnest point and combines leading technologies such as solid-state drive storage, enhanced wireless connectivity and an integrated fingerprint reader. Recognized for its superior environmental attributes by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), the versatile ThinkPad X300 can be configured for extreme portability starting at just 2.9 pounds, or maximum battery life of up to 10 hours or a balance between the two. It also offers an optional built-in 7-millimeter slim DVD burner and includes stereo speakers, a digital microphone and an integrated camera. Read More
The eco-friendly Green Cell mobile phone battery
By Jude Garvey
22:52 February 28, 2008 PST
February 29, 2008 The award winning Green Cell battery design concept is a universal format cell phone battery that's safe, environmentally friendly and can be recharged or replaced at a local vending machine. Read More
HI-TEC Enviro golf shoes: going “green” on the green
By Emily Clark
18:16 February 25, 2008 PST
February 26, 2008 In another example of companies targeting those with a “green” conscience, HI-TEC has launched an environmentally friendly golf shoe made from recycled materials. Read More
Architecture students think outside the box to design low-cost, less-waste housing
By Jude Garvey
00:28 February 20, 2008 PST
A non-profit organization has given architecture students a chance to learn about the practical, hands-on elements of their future profession whilst exposing them to the benefits of building low-cost, sustainable housing using materials sourced from the local area. Since 2000, DesignBuildBluff and graduate students from the University of Utah’s College of Architecture & Planning have designed and built energy-efficient, inexpensive houses using natural building methods and materials made of recycled products and locally salvaged waste or by-products. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
