Even the most environmentally-conscious among us use batteries containing toxic heavy metals on a daily basis. But a discovery made by chemists at Oxford University could one day lead to cleaner batteries for everyone. The researchers recently discovered that an enzyme produced by fungi growing on rotten wood can be used as a cheap and efficient catalyst in fuel cells.
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A new software application will make keeping track of your carbon footprint as easy as having a mobile phone in your pocket. A London-based start-up has developed software for mobile phones that uses global positioning systems (GPS) to automatically figure out whether you are walking, driving or flying and then calculate your impact on the environment.
Carbon Diem’s inventors claim that, by using GPS to measure the speed and pattern of movement, their algorithm can identify the mode of transport being used. The software then calculates the amount of carbon dioxide the journey has emitted into the atmosphere – without any need for input from the user. Read the rest of this entry »
A season has passed since we covered the installation of Magco Inc.’s new thin film solar panel installation. The previous article generated a lot of interest and questions, so it’s time to get back on the roof and report on some real-world figures.If you need a refresher on thin film solar technology, check out two of our previous posts. The important thing to remember here is that thin film solar is lighter than silicon panels, and uses different wavelengths of light.
In May of 2008, Magco Inc. installed 27kW of Unisolar’s triple-junction laminate panels. That’s 4,900 sq ft of thin film goodness. The building contains a warehouse and offices, and it has a metal roof. The solar panels were literally glued to the roof.
Total installation cost: US$215,000 (including inverter and hiring a master electrician)
Energy produced each month provides about 1/3 of Magco’s total needs. That may not seem like a lot, but recall that this includes a warehouse with associated heating/cooling, machinery and equipment. Magco anticipates producing about US$9,000 each year from the panels. So let’s do the math: Read the rest of this entry »
Albert Einstein is probably most remembered by the public for his General Theory of Relativity, but how many remember his 1930 invention of a refrigerator that used no electricity? I wasn’t there when it was introduced, but I knew several people who had one, and they weren’t all that happy with it, primarily because it wasn’t that efficient.
The idea was great, it operated without electricity, using ammonia, butane and water. The principle being that water boils at a much lower temperature at high altitudes where air pressure is lower than it does when you’re at sea level, where air pressure is higher.
Malcom McCulloch, an electrical engineer at Oxford University in the U.K., is leading a team in a three year project to produce appliances that can be used in places without electricity. Or, for that matter, places with electricity, why not?. That’s when McCulloch latched on to Einstein’s fridge idea.
Einstein’s concept, shown in the image above, works thusly. At one side is the evaporator, a flask that contains butane. “If you introduce a new vapor above the butane, the liquid boiling temperature decreases and, as it boils off, it takes energy from the surroundings to do so,’ says McCulloch. ‘That’s what makes it cold.” Read the rest of this entry »
The Kanguru Eco Drive ($80) is one of the longest lasting, inexpensive to operate external hard drives currently available according to the company.
It’s also more environmentally friendly than most. Using it’s patented Power Saving mode that has three settings - Power Down, Standby and Idle, it automatically gauges drive usage to reduce energy consumption and prolong the life of hard drive. In addition to the power saving modes, it also comes with power monitoring software to help it use 75% less power than similar hard drives.
Mac and PC compatible, the USB 2.0 drive is 3.5″ and comes in a variety of storage capacities.
One of the hardest things about camping is leaving everything the way you found it. Well, Bushnell is trying to make one part of that as simple as possible with the Bushnell BackTrack GPS Navigation System that lets you digitally mark your starting location and find your way back without leaving a trail of bread crumbs to follow.
Every time I buy a new gadget it’s like welcoming a new pet into the family. You go to the store, select the perfect little tyke, and rush home to introduce it to your existing collection. The best part? No jealousy among your older electronics: they’re made to play together.
The highly anticipated Eee Box from Asus launched last month, giving gadget geeks one more eco-alternative for their computing needs, whether for business or pleasure. Slimmer than a paperback novel, the Eee box mounts onto the back of any VESA LCD display to save space.
Not only is this nifty little set up space saving, but according to the company, it’s time saving as well. They claim that it takes only 7 seconds from booting up to getting online.
I cannot believe that I am actually lusting over a Dell desktop computer - albeit, this is no standard computer.
Dell’s Studio Hybrid taps an energy-efficient Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Mobile Processors to use 70% less power and is Dell’s most environmentally savvy desktop computer to date.
It’s compact size (it’s 81% smaller than a standard desktop tower according to the company) and 6 jewel-toned cases make it perfect for prominent display in your eco-office, but I have to say, the bamboo sleeve is definitely hot.
Attention green gadget lovers: Huddler’s Green Home site is launching a nifty contest for you. In the Gimme Some Action contest, Huddler users submit and vote on pics of green products in action. And yes, that means you have to sign up for Huddler—but don’t worry, it’s free.
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