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Oriens Glider

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation,

It is very kewl to come up with an energy-efficient vehicle like the Hy-Bird, but even better to design one that is recyclable. Roland Cernat’s Oriens Glider combines “an ecological energy concept and sustainable materials, with an organic design language and bionic inspired details.”

Translated, this means a frame of a lightweight flax bio-compound and a body of polycarbonate. The wings have photovoltaic cells and its electric motor has a propeller that retracts when gliding. A fuel engine and generator make the plane a hybrid. Cernat’s prototype was so impressive it recently won the Lucky Strike Junior Designer Competition.

Fuji Subaru Plug-in Stella

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Editorial, Transportation,

Those of us that live around the Motor City hear reports almost every day of American car companies losing workers and factories. Sad to say that they are being replaced by such energy efficient vehicles as the Toyota Prius Hybrid. Now Fuji is celebrating their successful Subaru Plug-in Stella, a combination of the EV system in the R1 and the mini-car. The prototype electric vehicle is set to go into development and test marketing. This is not the first time Fuji has gone green. They also released a horizontally-opposed diesel engine in Europe this past March.

Fuji Electric Solar-Powered Vending Machine

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech,

Fuji Vending Machine While we are on the subject of vending machines, the recent Vendex Japan displayed Fuji Electric’s prototype of a solar-powered machine. It is comprised of panels to supply energy to cool and heat beverages, while the mossy cover not only improves insulation, it will add a touch of green to overly grey cities. Coca-Cola is also working with Fuji to make a 100% hydro fluorocarbon-free machine that will appear this July at the G8 summit in Hokkaido.

d.light Lamps are Inexpensive Alternatives

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,

Nova 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.

DIY Light Bulb Greenhouse

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Misc. Tech, Science,

Light Bulb Greenhouse Now that you are replacing your incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent ones, you can continue to keep the planet green by recycling them. Inspired by a Popular Science ad, LinuxH4x0r gives you instructions to transform them into mini-greenhouses with epoxy glue, a socket, a washer, a small plastic cup, soil, and a plant or seed. Note that cutting open a bulb requires some skill, so don’t make this a project for your kids. And if that’s too difficult, try the ghetto version out of an old soda bottle.

Solar Car for Kids of All Ages

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Toys,

Teach your kidlets early how to save the environment with this Solar Car. Made in Switzerland (duh,) it is handmade of wood, has plexiglass wheels with rubber covers, steel axles, and a solar panel to replace fuel. At a size of 3.25 x 3.25 x 6.25-inches, the mini-vehicle will keep going as long as the sun is out or until the child is smart enough to stop pushing it along. The toy is available for $125.00.

Flogos Take Off

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,

Francisco Guerra, a special effects whiz with the company Snowmasters, has come up with a fine alternative to ugly billboards. His idea, named Flogos, are foamy clouds that can be as large as four feet across and shaped like logos. He does this with a machine that creates and slices them, similar to the Fun Factory used for Play-doh. Because they are made of tiny air-filled bubbles combined with helium, they are also good for the environment. One Flogo can go as far as 30 miles and as high as 20,000 feet, in as little as 15 seconds. The Flogo Machine has already caught the attention of Disney, who will be using one at Florida’s Walt Disney World next month to send Mickey Heads over the park.

Tesla PL Roadster Arrives

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Google, Transportation,

The Tesla PL has finally arrived. The electric motor driven roadster’s store will be open next week in the Westwood neighborhood of LA. Another store will be open in Silicon Valley, where the car was developed with the assistance of Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Chicago, New York and other cities can expect dealerships next year. California Gov Arnie, George Clooney, and Will.i.am have already ordered one. Although we applaud the green sentiment, we can think of better ways to dispense with a spare $100,000.

Poll: Do you skew towards environmentally friendly purchases?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features,

As we wind down Earth Day 2008, we wanted to check in with you guys to see just how environmentally concious you are when making your gadget purchases. We want to know, when you are making a purchase, do you care how environmentally friendly it is? Do you check the EnergyStar rating and compare it to other items? Do you look for packaging that can be recycled? Or do green gadgets not really strike your fancy?

Let me know - and feel free to hit the comments if you feel like explaining yourself a bit more.

Do Something This Earth Day

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Editorial, Science,

Sea Turtle For those who still poo-poo conservation, this is your chance to make amends. Earth Day is Tuesday and all it takes is a little effort on your part to make a contribution. Head over to the official site and punch in a zip code to find events in your area. Sign their sky petition for cleaner air or plant a tree. Buy a cloth bag to replace petroleum-based plastic ones that can injure wildlife and take a decade to break down, or bring Tupperware when you go out to dinner so you don’t have to have styrofoam doggy boxes. Buy an inexpensive filtering bottle and stop using bottled water.
We read that if every person plants two trees, when it matures it will provide enough oxygen for a family of four. A Red Maple sapling that we planted two years ago is now over five feet tall. Is our guilt trip working on you yet?

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