Latest Gear Live Videos
d.light Lamps are Inexpensive Alternatives
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
A new start up company from Stanford Business School, d.light, is working to help those who don’t have access to electricity to light up their lives. Based in New Delhi, India, they have designed lamps for those who live on only about $1.00 a day. The Nova comes in both solar and AC chargeable models, and is 30 to 50% more efficient than fluorescent light for up to 40 hours. The company is hoping that the high-powered LED displays will replace dangerous and costly kerosene lanterns. They come at a price of $15.00 to $30.00, if the buyer wants both chargers.
Read More 
| d.light Design
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DIY SUNN Electric/Solar Car Kit
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation,
Art Haines has developed the SUNN electric/solar car that can hit a top speed of 35 mph. You won’t be able to race down the highway, but with the customized kit you will be able to get where you need to go and help save the planet. It comes with windshield wiper, disc brakes, seat belts, turn signals and lights for $4,500.00 in your choice of color. You add the batteries and/or solar panel. The company claims that it will only take about 80 to 120 human-hours to put it together. Initiated as a high school project, they are also working on two pickup trucks.
Read More | SUNN
How this Glowing Electrical Socket Helps Save Energy
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
It’s happened to all of us….you leave for work, and an hour later you’re paralyzed with fear, as you can’t remember if you left the iron plugged in or not. Not so with the Glowing Electrical Socket, which glows a lovely pink color when said outlet is drawing a current! It’s actually a very eco-friendly device, as you are reminded that some of your electronics may be plugged in unnecessarily – and therefore wasting energy. Plus it has an LED, which alerts you when the current is actually growing stronger. And if don’t want the socket to glow, there’s a button to turn that feature off. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, we could not find pricing info, so stay tuned….
Read More | New Idea via Geeksugar
Pay Bills Online and Save .08 Tree
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet,
PayItGreen has produced a study that suggests that if you go paperless and use the Internet for your bills, you would save 6.6 pounds of paper each year, 0.08 trees, and reduce greenhouse gases by 171 lbs. They figure that the average household has about 19 monthly bills and/or statements from utilities, credit cards, and banks. After checking out the site and realizing that Americans alone make 9 billion payments in paper, we figure that takes the concept of saving a tree to a whole ‘nother level. It appears it would be more like saving 9 million of them to go electronic.
Read More | PayItGreen
Join Earth Hour To Save Energy
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Editorial, Google, Science, Videos,
If you want to make your mark on the planet tonight, join the global Earth Hour. Created by the World Wildlife Fund, sign up on the site before 8:00 p.m.your time. Then turn off that computer, light candles, and disconnect any unnecessary appliances. Tell a friend about it, too. Even Google is in on the action if you noticed its background today. Cities include New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, Pasadena, Charlotte, Chicago, Honolulu, San Clemente, Minneapolis, Portland, Montreal, Bogotá, and Montreal. For a complete listing of North American cities, check this Earth Hour site. Think of it as giving some extra energy for your kid’s generation.
Read More | Earth Hour
Bleeding Edge TV 254: Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies - Amazing
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Full Episodes, Gizmatic, CES, CES 2008, Design, Features, Podcasts, Science, Videocasts,
While not the fuel cell battery replacement for gadgets we keep hearing about Horizon is promising some very cool technology nonetheless: portable, enviromentally friendly power on demand - just add water! Their portable generator technology is aimed at disaster relief, outdoor, and developing countries. The totally recyclable cartridges have an infinate shelf life until activated, and can be activated by adding plain old water - no filtration neccesary. Check out the video for more details on this cool new tech.
Bleeding Edge TV 247: Powerbeam wireless laser power
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Design, Features, Podcasts, Science, Videocasts,
Cordless extension cords? Powerbeam has it covered. Right now, Powerbeam is perfecting a wireless, laser-based power transfer system that can act as an extension cord to power devices using a line-of-sight system that will send power as far as you need it to go. The lasers are about the size of pepper flakes, and will transfer tens of watts of power, and in the future could transfer more.
Powerbeam has patented a battery powered safety system on the back end of the product that will stop the laser (which creates a warm feeling where it comes into contact with a person, nothing ray gun-esque here) when someone crosses its path.
Powerbeam estimates that their power transfer system is 12 months out to the consumer market.
Wattson Watches Watts
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
DIY KYOTO’s Wattson is finally ready to meet the world. The Wattson instantly reads how much electricity you use either in Watts or amount of money it is costing you. The information is gathered and stored from a transmitter that you attach to your electric meter or fuse box. With its mood LED, it changes colors depending on how much energy you use, with blue for less and red for high consumption. It also features an internal battery pack to make it portable.
Although it has been out for some time in limited release, the device was recently upgraded to show energy usage in Euros, Dollars, Stirling, Yen, and Pounds. Both Mac and Windows compatible, Wattson is available for £149.50 ($297.00.) A bit pricey, but well worth it when you consider the guilt factor.
Read More | DIY KYOTO
Conserve Energy with these LED Christmas Lights
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Smart Home,
So we recently told you how the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is conserving energy by switching from incandescent to LED lights. If you read the story and found yourself wishing you could do the same…here’s your chance. A company called Green Home is selling LED Christmas bulbs in both the “traditional” and “globe” styles (pictured). The upstart company claims their LED lights are 60 times more efficient than regular bulbs, so you’ll save energy and cash…which you can put towards those holiday gifts. The “traditional” bulbs start at 12.50 USD, while the “globes” begin at $15.
Read More | Green Home via Cool Hunting
SCiB Batteries: The next big thing in portable power
Posted by Sparky Categories: Handhelds, Peripherals, Science,
Toshiba has announced that, as early as March, their new Super Charge ion Batteries will be launching for industrial use. The new SCiB batteries have roughly the same capacity as current generation Lithium Ion batteries, but are able to reach 90% charge in under 5 minutes. Once these filter down to consumer gadgets it will mean laptops and cell phones able to charge in mere minutes rather than the hours that both devices currently take.
The new batteries can be charged 5,000 times without damage (about 10 years of average use) and don’t have any weight or heat disadvantages that existing Lithium Ion batteries. While the new SCiB will be available in March their initial use will be industrial or automotive. It’s currently unknown how long it will be before Toshiba releases smaller form factors aimed at consumer electronics.
Read More | Toshiba press release via Engadget
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