Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com/media/feed_logo.gif Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Nokia says you're probably not recycling your old cellphoneshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/11/nokia-says-youre-probably-not-recycling-your-old-cellphones/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/11/nokia-says-youre-probably-not-recycling-your-old-cellphones/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/11/nokia-says-youre-probably-not-recycling-your-old-cellphones/#commentsFiled under:

Nokia recyclingThere are more than 3 billion cellphones in the world today, more than 1 for every 2 people. While cellphones are great for bringing people together and encouraging communication in parts of the world where it's difficult to install telephone wires, that's an awful lot of e-waste waiting to happen (or already happening). Most phones contain plastic, metals, and chemicals that can be recycled, but according to a survey from Nokia, very few people actually do recycle their cellphones.

How few? 3%. Now, there is good news. A lot of people are selling or giving away their old phones, which helps keep them out of landfills. In fact, only 4% are making their way into landfills. What's surprising is that nearly half of all old cellphones aren't going anywhere at all though. They're hanging out in a drawer because people are too lazy to throw them away, give them away, or recycle them.

The top reason people gave for not recycling their old phones is that they didn't know it was possible. But as much as 80% of the materials in some phones can be used to make other products. In the US, many electronics chains collect used cellphones at retail locations. You can also find a list of Nokia's collection points at the company's recycling page.

[via Environmental Leader]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cellphonesnokiarecyclingBrad LinderFri, 11 Jul 2008 17:02:00 ESTPhilly attempts to reduce trash pickup with street trash compactorshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/10/philly-attempts-to-reduce-trash-pickup-with-street-trash-compact/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/10/philly-attempts-to-reduce-trash-pickup-with-street-trash-compact/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/10/philly-attempts-to-reduce-trash-pickup-with-street-trash-compact/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Trash compactorThe city of Philadelphia is on a mission to reform sanitation. Just a few days ago the city launched single stream recycling (no more separating paper, plastic, and glass). And now Philadelphia officials are testing solar-powered trash compactors on city sidewalks.

Here's how it works. You're walking down the street, and you've got a candy wrapper, fast food container, or other piece of trash to throw away. In most cities, you'll be on the lookout for a little trash can on a street corner. In Philly, you might find a trash can, but you also might find a trash compactor which is capable of storing far more trash, thus cutting down on the number of trash pickups.

There's a sensor inside the compactor that notices when you chuck some trash inside and then the machinery springs into action. The receptacles can hold about 200 gallons of waste, or nearly 4 times the amount of trash that the current cans hold.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>solartrash-cantrash-compactorBrad LinderThu, 10 Jul 2008 17:02:00 ESTOffice Depot launches tech recycling services - for a feehttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/25/office-depot-launches-tech-recycling-services-for-a-fee/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/25/office-depot-launches-tech-recycling-services-for-a-fee/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/25/office-depot-launches-tech-recycling-services-for-a-fee/#commentsFiled under:

Office Depot Tech Recycling Services
Following the footsteps of Best Buy, Office Depot is launching a tech recycling program. But there's one major difference: Office Depot will charge you $5, $10, or $15 for each box of electronic recyclables you bring in. The price will help defray the cost of the box, shipping, and recycling your old computer parts and other electronics.

The recycling process will recover glass, plastic, copper, aluminum and other reusable materials. Office Depot, like many other retailers also offers free recycling for PDAs, rechargeable batteries, and ink and toner cartridges.

You can find a complete list of items Office Depot will accept for recycling at the company's Tech Recycling Services web page. But in a nutshell, you can recycle most computer components and peripherals, telephones, cameras, and audio/video equipment including small televisions. Office Depot will not accept appliances, cracked monitors, or items with liquids.

What do you think? Would you be willing to pay up to $15 to recycle a large box of your old gizmos? Or would you rather drive a bit out of your way to find the closest Best Buy offering free recycling?

[via Good Clean Tech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>computerse-cyclingelectronicsoffice-depotrecyclingBrad LinderWed, 25 Jun 2008 10:32:00 ESTHow to make bicycles even greener: Build them from cardboardhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/how-to-make-bicycles-even-greener-build-them-with-cardboard/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/how-to-make-bicycles-even-greener-build-them-with-cardboard/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/how-to-make-bicycles-even-greener-build-them-with-cardboard/#commentsFiled under: ,

cardboard bikeBicycles are already one of the greenest forms of transportation. They don't use gas or an engine, so there are no emissions. So how do you make them even greener? Build them out of cardboard instead of metal.

Cardboard is already a fairly green (OK, brown) product. Two thirds of cardboard is made from recycled fiber. But that's not really what drove 21-year-old Sheffield Hallam University design student Phil Bridge to create a prototype bicycle made from cardboard. The truth is, as a building material cardboard is a lot cheaper than metal. Bridge says his bike could be built for as little as $30. The most expensive parts are the ones that require metal, like the fork and the wheels. If you left them out, the bike would cost just $8 to build.

The bike is designed to withstand rain and other weather. But cardboard obviously isn't as durable as metal. Bridge says the idea is that you would replace the frame every 6 months or so. The tires and some other longer-lasting parts are designed to be slotted into a new frame.

Bridge's bike is still just a prototype and isn't available for purchase yet. And it's not clear if it ever will be. But the concept is pretty cool. You know, if you can live without shock mounting.

[via Matter]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bicyclebikecardboardenglandtransportationBrad LinderMon, 23 Jun 2008 13:58:00 ESTCompostable dishes made from leaveshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/compostable-dishes-made-from-leaves/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/compostable-dishes-made-from-leaves/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/23/compostable-dishes-made-from-leaves/#commentsFiled under: ,

Verterra bowlsIf you feel guilty every time you buy disposable paper plates and cups for a picnic, you might want to check out VerTerra products. The company sells plates, bowls, cups, and other dishes made of compostable plant materials. No chemicals, waxes, or dyes are used.

VerTerra products can stand up to the rigors of the refrigerator, microwave, or even an oven. That means you can use them to store your leftovers and reheate them without using a different container.

It takes 2-3 months for the plant-based dinnerware to biodegrade. And while they're described as single-use products, you can certainly use each item several times before tossing it in the compost bin.

VerTerra makes its dinnerware in South Asia, and says that it pays fair wages. The products will cost you a bit more than the paper plates and plastic cups you can typically find in the grocery aisle. A 10-pack of 6-inch bowls will set you back $8.99, while a 10-pack of 9-inch plates costs $11.99.

[via triplepundit and hugg]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>compostcompostablewarefeaturedverterraBrad LinderMon, 23 Jun 2008 11:08:00 ESTGreenTech: Concept PC is low power, easy to upgradehttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/09/greentech-concept-pc-is-low-power-easy-to-upgrade/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/09/greentech-concept-pc-is-low-power-easy-to-upgrade/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/09/greentech-concept-pc-is-low-power-easy-to-upgrade/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ben Chase concept PC
There are two things that make computers generally pretty lousy for the environment:
  1. They use a lot of energy.
  2. They become obsolete fairly quickly which means they contribute the global e-waste problem.
Design student Ben Chase has designed a concept PC aimed at solving both of these problems. The computer is capable of running Windows (he doesn't say whether it's running Windows Vista or XP), and uses just 27 watts of power, which is pretty low by desktop standards and not too bad by laptop standards either.

The PC is also modular, which means you can upgrade components simply by sliding them in and out. No tools necessary. So if a computer maker were to bring this PC to market, they would offer modules with items like hard drives, DVD drives, or other components. And the easier it is to upgrade a PC, the less likely it is that you'll wind up throwing the whole box out.

[via Engadget]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ben-chasecomputerse-wasteBrad LinderMon, 09 Jun 2008 17:50:00 ESTCould your car exhaust pipe be your new fuel source?http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/05/could-your-car-exhaust-pipe-be-your-new-fuel-source/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/05/could-your-car-exhaust-pipe-be-your-new-fuel-source/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/05/could-your-car-exhaust-pipe-be-your-new-fuel-source/#commentsFiled under: ,

Origo exhaust captureWhen a car burns gasoline, it produces energy and waste. The energy helps your car move, while the waste is let out through an exhaust pipe so that it can slowly kill the planet. But just because your car is spitting out CO2 fumes doesn't mean that they're completely useless.

Origo Industries will be showing off a new system at the Green Car Guide Live! show in the UK next week that can capture CO2 from your exhaust pipe and turn those emissions into fuel. You can then use that fuel to power your house, or even your car.

Basically, you trap the CO2 and then carry it home and dump it into Origo's algae-based system which helps turn the CO2 into "bio-oil." Or you could just get a bicycle.

[via Gizmodo]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bio-oilcarbon-captureco2fuelgasolineorigoorigo-industriesBrad LinderThu, 05 Jun 2008 18:02:00 ESTBest Buy to offer free electronics recycling at 117 storeshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/best-buy-to-offer-free-electronics-recycling-at-117-stores/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/best-buy-to-offer-free-electronics-recycling-at-117-stores/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/best-buy-to-offer-free-electronics-recycling-at-117-stores/#commentsFiled under:

Best Buy recycling
You know you should recycle your old computer, cellphone, or camera. But it can be such a pain trying to find a local non-profit, government, or company that lets you drop off used electronics for recycling. And once you find a location, it might be halfway across the state.

But everybody lives near a Best Buy, right? Well, if you happen to live near one of 117 stores in the Baltimore, San Francisco, and Minnesota areas, Best Buy is launching a new program that lets people drop off used electronics for recycling.

Here's a list of items the participating locations will accept:
  • Television and computer monitors 32 inches or smaller
  • Computers
  • Phones
  • Cameras
  • Other small electronic devices and peripherals
Best Buy will not take TVs or monitors larger than 32 inches, air conditioners, or appliances, although you can pay $100 to have Best Buy pick up your larger television or appliances. Each store nationwide also has a recycling kiosk for ink cartridges, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, PDAs, and CDs or DVDs.

There's no word on if and when the company will expand this program nationwide, but this limited program has pilot project written all over it.

[via Engadget]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>best-buyelectronicsrecyclingBrad LinderMon, 02 Jun 2008 13:57:00 ESTUK's GreenWorks makes old office furniture new againhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/16/uks-greenworks-makes-old-office-furniture-new-again/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/16/uks-greenworks-makes-old-office-furniture-new-again/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/16/uks-greenworks-makes-old-office-furniture-new-again/#commentsFiled under:

GreenWorks

You can recycle bottles, cans, and newspapers. Why not office chairs, desks and conference tables? UK-based GreenWorks does exactly that. If you've got old office furniture (and you live in the UK) that's no use to anybody, GreenWorks will dismantle and separate furniture parts for recycling. But that's just a small portion of what this group does.

GreenWorks also accepts donations of more gently used office furniture, which it helps keep out of landfills by fixing it up and selling or donating it to charities and businesses. The non-profit has been around for 8 years and has helped divert more than 60,000 tons of furniture from landfills in that time.

[via Eco Joe's]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>furnituregreenworksoffice-furniturerecyclingBrad LinderFri, 16 May 2008 18:38:00 ESTNew York City Council adopts E-waste bill over mayor's vetohttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/15/new-york-city-council-adopts-e-waste-bill-over-mayors-veto/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/15/new-york-city-council-adopts-e-waste-bill-over-mayors-veto/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/15/new-york-city-council-adopts-e-waste-bill-over-mayors-veto/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

e-wasteNew York City passed a tough E-waste bill earlier this year that would require electronics makers to get meet recycling benchmarks. Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed the bill, saying it violates interstate commerce laws, but City Council yesterday overrode that veto.

Both Council and the Mayor have already agreed on legislation that requires electronics manufacturers to take back used gadgets and appliance. But Bloomberg balked at setting touch penalties for non-compliance. Now that City Council has overridden his veto, the new bill effectively becomes a law -- but it's up to the mayor's office to enforce that law. And since the law doesn't actually take effect until 2012, when Bloomberg will no longer be in office, it's anybody's guess as to whether the law will actually be enforced or if the issue will be decided in the courts.

If the law does ever actually go into effect, electronics manufacturers would be required to recycle at least 25% of their items that are sold in New York City. If they fail to meet that target, they will have to pay $50,000 for each percentage point they're off by.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bloomberge-wastenew-yorknew-york-cityrecyclingBrad LinderThu, 15 May 2008 17:02:00 ESTGreenTech: The Internet is killing the planet: Slower net traffic could save ithttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/14/greentech-the-internet-is-killing-the-planet-slower-net-traffi/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/14/greentech-the-internet-is-killing-the-planet-slower-net-traffi/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/14/greentech-the-internet-is-killing-the-planet-slower-net-traffi/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sheep slow down

If you've got a computer that was built in the last few years, odds are it's got a processor that scales up when you need an extra performance boost and scales down when you don't. By doing this, your computer uses less electricity. And if you've got a laptop, the battery will last longer.

But most of the network servers and routers that power the internet never get the chance to scale up or down, because they're dealing with a constant flow of internet traffic. They run at pretty much the same speed all the time in order to make sure your YouTube videos start the instant you hit the play button. Researchers are looking into ways to cut the cost of internet traffic by changing the way network hardware processes data.

NewScientist reports that researchers at Intel and the University of California have come up with a method that could cut the electricity usage of network hardware by between 40 and 80% by slowing down the flow of network data just a tiny bit or by changing the way traffic is handled. The first method would let network hardware run at a lower speed, while the second would give it a chance to "sleep" every now and again.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been testing a system that tries to route traffic through servers that are already in use first, allowing the company to put some inactive servers to sleep. In a recent test, Microsoft found it could reduce electricty by about 30% this way.

[via Environmental Leader]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>computerselectricityinternetnetworkserverBrad LinderWed, 14 May 2008 17:09:00 ESTNew Jersey debates bottle deposit lawhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/new-jersey-debates-bottle-deposit-law/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/new-jersey-debates-bottle-deposit-law/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/new-jersey-debates-bottle-deposit-law/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bottled SkyI'll admit it. I live in a state with a bottle deposit law, but I don't take my bottles back to the store to get my deposit back. It's just not what I'm used to doing, and I don't buy a lot of bottled beverages. Of course, I put my used bottles out on the curb for recycling, so the environmental impact of my bottle consumption is the same whether I return my bottles to the store or not. But a lot of people don't recycle their bottles. And there's at least some evidence that bottle deposit laws can help convince them to do so.

Michigan, for example, claims a 97% bottle recycling rate. And Michigian has a statewide bottle deposit law, as do 10 other state. Now New Jersey lawmakers are considering becoming the 12th estate to enact a bottle deposit law. And the usual debate is coming up: would a bottle deposit law actually encourage recycling, or is it just another tax on New Jersey shoppers?

Continue reading New Jersey debates bottle deposit law

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bottle-depositsbottlesnew-jerseyrecyclingBrad LinderTue, 13 May 2008 14:33:00 ESTGlassware made from recycled car partshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/glassware-made-from-recycled-car-parts/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/glassware-made-from-recycled-car-parts/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/13/glassware-made-from-recycled-car-parts/#commentsFiled under:

Recycled Glassware

The EU requires that cars be 85% recyclable. And while there's no such mandate in the US, some American car parts certainly get recycled. But what exactly does that mean? When you trade in your European junker, do its parts wind up in other cars? Do they become aluminum cans? Probably. But it turns out you can also buy attractive glassware made from recycled windshields.

Unccommon Goods sells wine and beer glasses and even a fish bowl (which looks a bit more likg a fish jug to me). A set of two glasses will set you back $20 to $22, and the fish bowl is $65. You can certainly find cheaper glassware. But we gaurantee that these glasses will be a better conversation piece than whatever you find at K-Mart.

[via Autoblog Green and Good Clean Tech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>carsrecycledrecycled-glassrecyclinguncommon-goodswindshield-glasswareBrad LinderTue, 13 May 2008 13:42:00 ESTEFuel100: Make your own Ethanol and fill up your car at homehttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/09/efuel100-make-your-own-ethanol-and-fill-up-your-car-at-home/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/09/efuel100-make-your-own-ethanol-and-fill-up-your-car-at-home/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/09/efuel100-make-your-own-ethanol-and-fill-up-your-car-at-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EFuel10

The jury may still be out on whether Ethanol and biodiesel are the solution to the world's oil addiction. There's some evidence that diverting food crops to fuel production is raising the prices of food, and it's questionable whether you could grow enough fuel crops to power all the vehicles currently relying on gasoline. But what if you could fill up your car with Ethanol produced in your backyard, not in a field in Iowa?

The EFuel100 Micro Fueler is a contraption that will let you do just that. Basically, you add some water, sugar, and yeast, let it sit for a few days and you've got ethanol that you can use to power your car. The Micro Fueler can also take alcohol, and co-founder Thomas Quinn says he sometimes makes ethanol from discarded alcohol picked up from bars and restaurants.

Between supplies and electricity, it costs about $1 to produce a gallon of ethanol. But the up front costs are a bit higher than that. A Micro Fueler will set you back about $10,000, although with government subsidies, you can probably chop a few thousand dollars off that price.

[via Gizmodo]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>e-fuelefuelefuel100ethanolmicro-fuelerBrad LinderFri, 09 May 2008 18:33:00 ESTNew York replace subway tunnel lights with LEDshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/08/new-york-replace-subway-tunnel-lights-with-leds/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/08/new-york-replace-subway-tunnel-lights-with-leds/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/08/new-york-replace-subway-tunnel-lights-with-leds/#commentsFiled under: ,

MTA LEDsSure, changing the light bulbs in your house to compact fluorescents can cut your energy bills a bit and save you a few bucks. But if you're a municipal agency like the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority, with 60,000 lights to replace, those savings can add up fast.

The MTA is in the process of changing the lights in the New York subway system to LEDs. So far, the agency says it's changed 47,000 signal lights. When the upgrades are complete, the change could save the city up to $4.8 million per year, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And the LED lights are 150 percent brighter than the old light bulbs to boot.

The MTA is also replacing incandescent bulbs at subway stations with compact fluorescent lights.

[via Good Clean Tech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>compact fluorescent ...compact-fluourescentCompactFluorescent...ledlightsBrad LinderThu, 08 May 2008 10:33:00 ESTGreenTech: Who needs solar power when you've got pedal power?http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/greentech-who-needs-solar-power-when-youve-got-pedal-power/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/greentech-who-needs-solar-power-when-youve-got-pedal-power/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/greentech-who-needs-solar-power-when-youve-got-pedal-power/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pedal powered thingamajig

Solar powered gadget chargers may be all the rage these days, but what do you do if your iPod runs out of juice while you're spelunking? Well, I certainly hope your solution isn't to pull a pedal powered generator out of your pocket, because that just seems kind of dangerous if you're in a cave. But if you're sitting at home and trying to think of ways to get a bit of exercise while keeping your phone or MP3 player charged, this Chinese pedal powered doohickey could be just what you're looking for.

This little charger packs what looks like a pretty hefty battery, and it even has an LED flashlight on the front in case the power goes out. I wouldn't normally bother to point that out, but there's a big shiny picture on the product homepage showing off the flashlight, so I guess it must be important.

If you get tired of pedaling with your feet, you can also place the charger on a table or desk and use it as a hand crank. This ¥14,800 ($141 US) generator isn't the only pedal powered gadget charger we've seen. But it's certainly the blue-est. That's got to count for something, right?

[via EcoFriend and TFTS]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>chinesegeneratorhand-crankpedalpedal-powerBrad LinderWed, 07 May 2008 18:31:00 ESTGreenTech: Ever wonder what a designer OLED lamp would look like?http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/greentech-ever-wonder-what-a-designer-oled-lamp-would-look-like/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/greentech-ever-wonder-what-a-designer-oled-lamp-would-look-like/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/greentech-ever-wonder-what-a-designer-oled-lamp-would-look-like/#commentsFiled under: ,

Early FutureOrganic LED technology is still in its infancy, which means that while OLED lights are potentially far more energy efficient than anything else out there, right now they're extraordinarily expensive to produce. In other words, don't expect to walk a store and buy an OLED lamp anytime soon.

But if you've been wondering what an OLED lamp might look like, you can stop pulling your hair out and look at the pretty pictures of a prototype designed by lighting artist Ingo Maurer. Basically, Osram, an OLED manufacturer gave Maurer 10 small panels and asked him to design a lamp.

OLEDs use less voltage than traditional lights, operate at low voltages, and don't use mercury. The light is also dispersed evenly over the entire panel instead of emitting from specific points. The press release says the lamp, called Early Future, is "being produced as a limited edition." It's not quite clear if that means you'll actually be able to buy one at some point, or if by limited, the company means the lamp will be one of a kind. Either way, you might want to start putting some money in the piggy bank or raiding your kid's college fund if you actually want to pick one up. You might be better off just marveling at the images and waiting a few years until OLEDs are as common plastic shopping bags.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>early-futureingo-maurerlampoledosramBrad LinderTue, 08 Apr 2008 09:02:00 ESTNew York City congestion pricing plan dies at the state levelhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/07/new-york-city-congestion-pricing-plan-dies-at-the-state-level/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/07/new-york-city-congestion-pricing-plan-dies-at-the-state-level/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/07/new-york-city-congestion-pricing-plan-dies-at-the-state-level/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

PLANYC
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's dream of decreasing New York City traffic and increasing public transit funding by charging drivers entering Manhattan a fee appears to be dead.

After months of lobbying from Bloomberg, New York City Council members approved a plan last week that would have charged drivers entering Manhattan $8 between 6:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening. But this afternoon state lawmakers rejected the proposal. Today's development effectively kills the proposal, since New York City will miss the deadline to qualify for $354 in federal funds for traffic aid.

There's a slight chance that some action could be taken on the measure this evening if Governor David Paterson has his way. The governor supports congestion pricing and has reportedly called leaders of the state legislature into a meeting. But Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver said there's simply not enough support in the state legislature for the measure to pass.

This comes as a pretty major blow to the concept of congestion pricing. New York was the first major US city to consider charging a fee to drive into the city, something which London has been doing for several years now.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>congestion-pricecongestion-pricingnew-yorknew-york-cityBrad LinderMon, 07 Apr 2008 18:56:00 ESTSolar powered headphones = guilt free radiohttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/solar-powered-headphones-guilt-free-radio/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/solar-powered-headphones-guilt-free-radio/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/solar-powered-headphones-guilt-free-radio/#commentsFiled under:

Solar headphonesOK, we know you don't particularly feel guilty about listening to the radio. That little Sony Walkman you've been carrying around since 1987 doesn't exactly eat through batteries like Cookie Monster gobbles umm.. cookies. But wouldn't you feel even better about your gadgets if you never had to put a single battery in them?

That's where these solar powered headphones come in. They've got a built in radio, and built in solar panels. So just position them on your head, go out for a walk on a sunny day, and listen to all the radio you want, guilt free.

Of course, all you get for your £19.95 (about $40 US) is a radio. If you want an MP3 player or tape cassette you'll have to look elsewhere. Actually, you might have to look elsewhere for a little while anyway. The headphones appear to be out of stock at the moment.

[via GoodCleanTech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>headphonesmusicsolar-powerBrad LinderFri, 04 Apr 2008 17:27:00 ESTGreenTech: Supercharger solar panel keeps your gadgets superchargedhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/greentech-supercharger-solar-panel-keeps-your-gadgets-superchar/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/greentech-supercharger-solar-panel-keeps-your-gadgets-superchar/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/04/greentech-supercharger-solar-panel-keeps-your-gadgets-superchar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SuperChargerUK solar power company Solar Technology has released an update to its Freeloader line of portable solar charging stations. The new SuperCharger sports a larger solar panel than the original model. In practical terms, that means you can fully charger the Freeloader's portable battery in about 4 hours using nothing but the sun's rays. You power an iPod for about 18 hours, or a typical cellphone for 44 hours off a single charge.

The SuperCharger is also weather-proofed, which means you can charge your device under any conditions. You know, as long as there's some sunlight. The SuperCharger will set you back £20 or about $40, but you'll need a Freeloader to make use of it. You can also get a "Globe Trotter" bundle with a Freeloader, SuperCharger, and carrying case for £50 or about $100.

[via Engadget]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>freeloadersolarsolar-powersolar-technologysuperchargerBrad LinderFri, 04 Apr 2008 16:02:00 EST