11.20.2009
Solar power. Solar heating. Solar lighting. Sure, you'd like to fuel your life for free with help from the everlasting sun. Trouble is, it's not really free.
The equipment that can turn sunshine into a warm, well-lit life costs the earth. You can easily spend $20,000 or more for rooftop solar panels, for example.
But there's hope. Alternative financing of solar has begun in the US, in a small way. For example, a few thousand homeowners is California, Arizona, and Oregon are reducing their upfront costs by leasing solar equipment--and paying an estimated 15% less for electricity, equipment included. And the federal government has an assortment of programs that underwrite homeowners' solar projects.
Read all about these and other possibilities for reducing the cost of solar equipment at E, the environmental magazine.
Posted by Tam
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11. 4.2009
Designer Je Sung Park is striving towards the idea of us careless masses being able to throw away our laptops if need be. And yet leave no harmless waste for the environment to deal with.
That maybe an overstatement, but we love that the idea of recyclable laptops is budding in such creative minds. Park's idea is that of a eco-friendly laptop that uses recycled paper or pulp for its external casing instead of metal or plastics. The laptop itself, he proposes, will be designed in "layers" so that you can easily throw away damaged portions without being accused of creating more e-waste. Sounds great, even if only on paper.
Via Yanko Design.
Posted by kanchana
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computers
| design
| eco
Tags: disposable paper laptop eco green recycling
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10.29.2009
I am always intrigued by new designs that aim at energy saving, which is probably why my attention was caught by Switch a power socket designed by Yong-jin Kim. Switch’s purpose is to help users save on their electricity bills that are often affected by the Stand-By power of many appliances and gadgets left plugged in. By making it very easy and effortless to disconnect any type of power-sucking device, the consumer’s “lazy” or “forgetful” behavior can therefore be modified. So, instead of bending down all the way to your power socket and unplug whatever is contributing to both a bad consumer and environmental behavior, you can now bend all the way down but simply turn the plug to turn it off.
And now I wonder, is Switch really making a difference?
I like its concept and sleek design but I am not convinced that it will influence a behavioral pattern for the better. Granted, its fancy style will make my power sockets look a lot nicer and my apartment a lot tidier than if I would have a bunch of unplugged cords lying around, but if I forget or am just too lazy to unplug my appliances I wonder how Switch will make it any easier for me to either remember or make it so effortless to unplug the incriminating device that I will actually go ahead and do it.
Via Yanko Design.
Posted by Camilla
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10.26.2009
Someone apparently doesn't believe in the word "waste". And you bet they are bound to have a few creative genes when they can defy such a powerful word. Well, apparently such creative genes must total much more than one can imagine, for these geniuses from TerraCycle have created the most unique products in their effort to turn waste into something useful.
The company, founded by Tom Szaky, collects waste from groups across the country and turns it into over 100 useful products, in addition to donating money to charities for each "waste" item that it receives. Consider the Frito-Lay Speakers, for example. These funky speakers are made from discarded chip bags. And they are functional. They are foldable speakers that don't require batteries and plug into your mp3 or other portable audio player with a 3.5 mm universal plug. TerraCycle sells them online at $19.99.
So the next time you toss out that used chip bag, think new and send it to over to these sensible folks at TerraCycle - you would have earned $.02 for a non-profit organization or school of your choice, plus the right to brag that you helped create the world's cleanest speakers.
Via Crave.
Posted by kanchana
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09.17.2009
The association between batteries and geeks is like a romance between "two young star-cross'd lovers", to take a little help from Shakespeare. Only, the relationship is most certainly polygamous. For, every geek in his lifetime depends on hundreds of different kinds of 'em lovely batteries to maintain his identity. Now, this is where we want to step in and reduce those that he's not taking seriously - the "disposable" ones, you see.
The Battery Wizard has the same noble intent as it turns out a unique battery recharger - one that can recharge both disposable as well as rechargeable Ni-Cad and Ni-Mh batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9v block). Interesting huh? The Battery Wizard can apparently extend the life of standard alkaline batteries by up to 10 times by "reconditioning" them - a process whereby the "batteries' valuable chemical contents are fully utilized". There is an LCD screen that indicates the status of each one of the 4 batteries that you can load at one time. Faulty batteries are rejected and completely dead ones are ignored, if you will.
And don't you worry - the device has been certified for safe operation according to British Standards. Clap, clap.
Available from Gizoo for around $42.
Via The Red Ferret.
Posted by kanchana
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| eco
| misc gadgets
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09.14.2009
It seems intuitive that predicting the whims of Mother Nature's should be environmentally friendly. The folks at Oregon Scientific have seen to that with their new solar-powered weather station from their +Eco collection.
The +ECO Clima Control monitors current outdoor and indoor temperatures and humidity and includes an atomically-controlled clock. It also features a graphical at-a-glance weather forecast. And, it's all powered by the built-in solar panel which, when fully charged, will power the unit for up to three months. Includes a remote sensor and is capable of monitoring conditions in up to four separate locations inside or outside your home. Backlighting helps you see the easy-to-read display at night and a mold alarm helps you keep tabs on one of the less-than-welcome whims of Mama Earth.
The Clima Control lets you go green and stay on top of the forecast with ease. Now if only we could get one that controls the weather…
Posted by Brian
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09.10.2009
Whoda thunk that there was any use for the paint chip samples they have by the dozens in every home store other than to… well… pick out paint?
The creative talent behind Petra in a bag, has made sure there is an answer to that question… wallets.
Woven from recycled paint chip sample cards, Petra's wallets are not only unique, but the available choice of colors puts your latest J. Crew catalog to shame! The wallets are available in various styles as part of Petra's line of eco-friendly, hand-crafted goods that includes handbags, eye pillows, and newly-to-market cup cozies.
The wallets feature a clear, protective outer layer that adds durability. The larger models also have a color-keyed elastic to keep everything held in place.
If you like unique and like exclusive, a Petra wallet might be just the accessory you have been looking for.
Posted by Brian
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accessories
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08. 6.2009
Recently this famous television journalist caught my attention when he said "Aren't the best things in life always custom made?". And drool I did when he was pampered by the best fashion designers, accessory-makers, perfumeries, and even chefs when each of their products were made specially for this gentleman to be the only one of their kind in the world!
Well, since some of us are neither so affluent nor famous, we should perhaps settle for smaller assets - like this GG2G Foleo laptop sleeve, which promises to be so unique that once you purchase one, it is replaced by another that is completely different in design, so nobody else can ever own the same bag. There is more to be happy about - each of these bags is made from recycled highway billboards and lined with recycled fabric. The outer casing is made from "re-vinylzed" water-repellent material which imparts a stylish, shiny look. Plus, there is a handle on the side and an inner pocket to hold your thumb drive.
Currently, there are four different styles on the site for you to choose from, each costing $56. And oh, I was wondering too - GG2G stands for "Green Goods 2 Give & 2 Get". Nice.
Via Gearlog.
Posted by kanchana
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07.29.2009
Whoever came up with the proverb "Use your enemy's hand to catch a snake" (apparently Persian in origin) was pretty damn smart. And must've caught a lot of snakes too. Jokes apart, this is exactly what the Dutch have invented in their long quest to ward off the danger of rising tides - a new construction project called "New Water" which has created "The Citadel", an apartment complex completely built on water.
The Citadel, designed by Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio, is built on a floating foundation of heavy concrete and will house 60 luxury apartments, a car park, a floating road to access the complex as well as boat docks. Each unit will have its own garden terrace as well as a view of the lake. The building is designed to float perfectly on the rising and falling water, and makes use of the water to cool itself as it pumped out of submerged pipes. Make that a slash of 25% on your electricity bill as water cooling techniques are far more efficient compared to the ones used by a conventional building on land.
And water surfing maybe just as simple as taking a walk around the block.
Via Inhabitat.
Posted by kanchana
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07.28.2009
Isn't it a smart idea that you make use of the scorching sun itself to keep you cool during harsh summers? Why not. And it just seems so perfectly logical, I wonder why solar-powered air-conditioners haven't made themselves loud enough (not literally) to be heard by folks like us who spend shameful amounts on our electricity bills all summer.
The Frost is a concept solar-powered air-conditioner designed by industrial designer Philip Stankard that uses stored solar energy to power its fans, and refrigerator freezer energy to provide a source of low temperature for the fans' breeze to circulate into your home. While the unit itself soaks up the sun and converts that into power to operate the fans, there is a removable freezer pack that you can put into the refrigerator's freezer unit for soaking up the ice. All you then need to do is switch on the unit and insert the freezer pack to get some cold wintry breeze.
Apparently it's not only a breeze on your electricity bill, but also an air-conditioner that looks swell. As there aren't more details available yet, one would assume that since this device doesn't seem to have the luxury of temperature regulation, it would perhaps be more appropriate to term it an air-cooler. Which still doesn't take anything away from how cool a concept this is. This time, literally.
Via Ecofriend.
Posted by kanchana
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home
| appliances
| eco
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