Green Daily

Terracycle and Kimberly-Clark Team Up to Eliminate Plastic Wrap Guilt

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Gadgets and Tech, Activism

TerraCycle bow made from Cliff Bar wrappers. Photo: TerraCycle.com

If you are a dedicated recycler and composter like I am, you've probably experienced the maxi-green level of waste management guilt: plastic wrap remorse.

It's what happens to The Eco People when we remove all of the recyclables and food waste from our trash. The only things left are dirty ziplock bags that no one will ever convince me to wash our and reuse, and a bunch of the flexible plastic that covers things like paper towels and toilet paper. When waste is segregated like that, you get a very visual understanding of what you use, and how much you're sending to landfill.

Kimberly-Clark (fresh from their lovefest make-up with Greenpeace) is teaming with "upcycling" geniuses TerraCycle to save us from this guilt, and more importantly, to divert all of that plastic wrap away from a pit in the ground.

The two companies have started a program to collect every piece of plastic packaging associated with Scott or Huggies brand products. That includes tissue, towels, napkins and moist wipes, and Huggies brand diapers.

They're basing the program on TerraCycle's proven "brigade" model. Schools, churches, or organizations set up collection stations and "brigades" of people donate their Kimberly-Clark plastic waste. For every piece of plastic, each brigade earns two cents for a school or non-profit of their choice.

TerraCycle then takes the plastic and "upcycles" it into cool products. Some past and current brigades are collecting former waste that gets upcycled into neat backpacks made from Capri Sun packs, surprisingly pretty pencil cases made from Chips Ahoy cookie bags, and an amazing gift bow from Cliff Bar packaging. Clearly we can count on them to come up with an exciting use for plastic wrap.

Once again, TerraCycle is changing how we look at trash, plus demonstrating that the green economy creates jobs. And big kudos to Kimberly-Clark for taking a leadership role to manage the waste created by their products. Nice job setting an example, and creating a model that smaller companies can (and hopefully will) now follow!

If more marquee companies -- yes, like Starbucks and their wasteful VIA packaging and failure to recycle in stores and billions of non-recyclable cups that go to landfill every year -- took responsibility for the waste created by their success, it would become the standard and not the exception. Imagine how much less waste and pollution we'd have then!

It's important to encourage the brands that are doing it, like Kimberly-Clark, Elmer's Glue and Aveeno. Do you want to get involved in a brigade, or just contribute to one? Check out the full list of TerraCycle brigades and brands and start "selling" your trash for money while saving the planet!

Terracycle and Kimberly-Clark Team Up to Eliminate Plastic Wrap Guilt originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EcoUsable - Filtered Water, Wherever You Go

Kristen Seymour — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Gadgets and Tech

Photo: EcoUsable.com

I do my best to avoid drinking bottled water, but every once in a while, I find myself someplace where the tap water just tastes (or smells, or looks) bad. But I have a solution now -- EcoUsable Ech20 filtered water bottles.

The stainless steel bottles aren't just BPA-free -- they also have a personal filtration system, so you can take icky, gross water and turn it into clean, tasty agua in seconds (seriously, I took part in a demo of this at Surf Expo and the water went from brown to crystal clear, and tasted great).

They offer multiple sizes and colors, and are priced reasonably -- the 18 oz. filtered water bottles are $34.99, and the 25 oz. version is $39.99. Replacement filters are offered on the site as well, for $24.99. Bottoms up!

EcoUsable - Filtered Water, Wherever You Go originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our New Green Toolbar - Dowload it Now!

Kristen Seymour — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:56:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech

(Photo by tuexperto com5 on flickr)

My computer uses up more energy than I'd like to admit, but I don't have a choice -- my job requires me to be online. I know plenty of you are in the same boat. And, while I can't completely fix the problem, I do have one way to make your impact a little smaller.

GreenDaily's new Green Toolbar is here, it's awesome, and it's available to download. And I know, you're wondering how a toolbar is supposed to help you be more eco-conscious, right?

Easy peasy. It includes the Green Wizard Utility, which is an optional component that will help you fine-tune your computer to save energy. Additionally, it'll give you daily eco-tips, right there in your browser -- getting your green on was never so handy.

Go on and download it today -- it's fast and free, and a great way to make the time you spend on your PC echo the way you live the rest of your life!

Our New Green Toolbar - Dowload it Now! originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GreenDaily's Green Toolbar

Kristen Seymour — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech

(Photo by tuexperto com5 on flickr)

I know your secret -- you spend too much time on your computer. I understand/ I spend many, many hours on mine (my job kind of requires it). But now, there's a way you can make those hours just a little more green!

GreenDaily's Green Toolbar originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 29 May 2009 09:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cool Green Apps for Your iPhone

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:09:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, GreenTech

(Photo by Getty Images)

I've had my iPhone for more than a year, but I've been slow to load up on apps, mainly depending on my friends to tip me off to hidden gems.

Then last week I saw an Earth Day commercial for green iPhone apps (or a commercial on Earth Day for iPhone stuff ... it could have been a coincidence) and suddenly had an urge to find out more.

At this point there's no good way to search the iTunes store -- or if there is, I'm not smart enough/young enough to figure it out. Instead I did some internet research and read a bunch of reviews. These are some of the highest rated green iPhone apps, with the biggest buzz and in some cases the most potential to grow:

greenMeter ($5.99) -- do you know how fuel efficient your car is? How about your driving? This app measures how much fuel you're using, and your driving style. Then it gives you feedback to help you reduce your fuel consumption and impact on the environment.
Get Green ($.99) -- get daily reminders delivered to your phone every day.
iGreen ($.99) -- all the green news, all in one place, right when it happens.
GasBag (free) and GasBag Pro (a little faster, no ads, $.99) -- find the closest and cheapest gas station in your vicinity. Worth it if you've ever driven around outside of an airport, looking for a gas station before dropping off a rental car. It will also help you avoid the extra emissions and gas guzzling of making the rounds of your local gas stations.
3rdwhaleMobile (free) -- a location based directory that helps you find green businesses. You can also rate and add reviews. It's in beta, but it's the kind of app that has a lot of potential as it grows.

FYI, I didn't include any of those dumb apps that let you grow a tree on your phone, and they plant one (!) tree when you buy it. That just seems dumb. If you want to donate money to plant a tree, go right to the source and donate to something like the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees. Your phone doesn't need to get involved.

Sure, iPhone apps are cool, but sometimes the old fashioned way still works best.

Cool Green Apps for Your iPhone originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenify Your PC!

Kristen Seymour — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, GreenTech

(Photo by Ed Yourdon on flickr)

Ideally, to celebrate Earth Day, I'd have my computer turned off and unplugged. However, like many of you, that's just not a possibility -- my job sort of calls for a computer to be used all day, every day, you know? But there is something really simple you and I can do to green our machines.

AOL's new Green Toolbar is here, it's awesome, and it's available to download. And I know, you're wondering how a toolbar is supposed to help you be more eco-conscious, right?

Easy peasy. It includes the Green Wizard Utility, which is an optional component that will help you fine-tune your computer to save energy. Additionally, it'll give you daily eco-tips, right there in your browser -- getting your green on was never so handy.

Go on and download it today -- it's fast and free, and a great way to make the time you spend on your PC echo the way you live the rest of your life!

Greenify Your PC! originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have You Experienced Compact Fluorescent Failure?

Josh Loposer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home

As CFLs continue on the path towards mass adoption (or bridging the gap until LED bulbs become more affordable) prices are going down, bulbs are being mass-produced, and consumer groups are complaining that the quality standards are deteriorating rapidly. Has the aggressive push to make CFLs more affordable hurt quality and therefore damaged some of the CFL's hard-earned reputation?
A well-manufactured CFL is supposed to last 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb, reduce emissions, and save up to $5.40 a year per bulb. Unfortunately, the push to produce these things cheaply -- CFLs can now be had for as little as $1, as opposed to $10+ years ago -- has resulted in an inferior crop of bulbs, many of which apparently fail immediately or after a few days of use.

The explanation for why this is happening appears to be in the complexity of the bulbs themselves. As explained by Alan Feit, president of Feit Electric:

"There are 40 to 50 components that go into these things. While manufacturers try to inspect all incoming materials, one little mistake may cause a performance problem."

Here's what I want to know, since I haven't bought any CFLs in the last year or more (mine are a few years old and still working thankfully): have any of you received a bum CFL recently? Is there a real problem with quality going on, or is this piece in the NYT just hype?

[via Gawker]

Have You Experienced Compact Fluorescent Failure? originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tesla Model S Unveiled Today

Josh Loposer — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Gadgets and Tech

It's finally here, Tesla's first foray into affordability and practicality -- and it looks/sounds pretty awesome. The annoying car cover from that teaser photo was thrown off today at Tesla's press event today in Hawthorne, CA, where the Model S -- which seats seven, charges in 45 minutes, and has a range of up to 300 miles -- made it's first public appearance.

Gallery: Tesla's Model S

Tesla's press release calls it "the first mass-prouced electric car," though I think Tesla might be jumping the gun a little bit. The Model S isn't slated to go into production until Q3 of 2011. Still, I've got to say, all the specs are outstanding (almost a little unbelievable), it's got a great look, and with a price tag of $49,900 (after tax rebates) the price is much more competitive with the rivals like the Volt.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the features:

The base Model S gets 160 miles on a charge, with an optional upgrade to 230 miles or even 300 miles if you're willing to throw down the cha-ching.
The Model S seats five adults (like a normal sedan) and two children in rear-facing seats with room for luggage in the trunk.
Charging time is 4 hours on a 220V outlet, 45 minutes at a 440V charging station.

PRESS RELEASE:

At a Glance: Production Model S

With a 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge, the $49,900 Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort - and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World's first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility with twice the energy-efficiency of hybrids, making Model S the only car you'll ever need.

Convenience and utility bullet points:

o. Up to 300-mile range
o. 45-minute QuickCharge
o. 5-minute battery swap
o. Charges from 110V, 220V or 440V
o. Seating for 5 adults + 2 child seats
o. Unique hatch for oversized items
o. 60/40 flat-folding rear seat
o. 2nd trunk under hood
o. EPA Roominess Index 121.6
o. More room than station wagons
o. 17-inch infotainment touchscreen
o. 3G wireless connectivity

Model S powertrain includes a liquid-cooled 9-inch motor, floor-mounted battery pack and a single-speed gearbox, delivering effortless acceleration, responsive handling and quiet simplicity -- no fancy clutchwork or gear-shifting required. Model S costs as little as $4 to fully charge - a bargain even if gasoline dropped to $1 per gallon. You can have affordable fun while being socially responsible.

Technical specs:

o. 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
o. ¼ mile in 14 seconds
o. 120 mph top speed
o. Braking 60-0 mph 135 feet
o. 42 kWh battery storage system standard
o. 70 kWh and greater battery storage systems optional
o. 9- inch liquid cooled electric motor
o. Single-speed transaxle gearbox
o. Curb Weight 3825 lbs
o. Overall Length 196"
o. Wheelbase 116.5"
o. All-wheel-drive available (option available in future production models)
o. Right hand drive available

At a Glance: Model S Show Car

The Model S Show Car is a drivable vehicle that exemplifies Tesla's "no compromises" philosophy - an elegantly refined luxury sedan delivering optimal performance without sacrificing efficiency. Designed by Franz von Holzhausen, the car's aggressive stance gives way to a modern silhouette, with minimal front and rear overhangs for maximum space efficiency. The car's mature face defines the future of the Tesla brand and incorporates the touches from the Tesla Roadster. Environmentally friendly materials are incorporated throughout, including water-based paint for the exterior, chrome-free vegetable tanned Italian leather on interior, and 100 percent recycled PET carpeting from Futuris.

Other details:

o. Panoramic roof with sliding moon roof
o. Retracting door handles for improved aerodynamics
o. Full-time 3G connectivity with Internet, HD and satellite radio
o. Push button "gear" selector
o. Brembo brakes
o. Automatic rear lift gate
o. 21-inch wheels, Front Tires 245/35ZR21, Rear Tires 285/30ZR21
o. 17-inch haptic touchscreen and customizable vehicle information display
o. Fully digital instrument cluster
o. LED and neon headlight and taillights, with xenon Hella low beams
o. Smart-key power and push button gear selector
o. Brembo brake system with new one-piece monobloc calipers and integral stiffening bridge to optimize performance
Front brake system:
o. Brembo Gran Turismo
o. Brembo 6-piston Monobloc Calipers
o. Brembo 405x34mm 2-Piece Floating Slotted Discs with Billet Aluminum Hats
Rear brake system:
o. Brembo Gran Turismo
o. Brembo 4-piston Monobloc Calipers
o. Brembo 380x28mm 2-Piece Slotted Discs with Billet Aluminum Hats

Tesla unveils world's first mass-produced, highway-capable EV
Model S sedan has anticipated base price of $49,900, up to 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge capability

March 26, 2009

HAWTHORNE , Calif.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -Tesla Motors is now taking orders for the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge.

The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.

The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.

"Model S doesn't compromise on performance, efficiency or utility -- it's truly the only car you need," said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. "Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we're developing."

Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.

Building on Proven Technology

Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe . With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list.

Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles - a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.

The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.

"Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it's a better value than much cheaper cars," Musk said. "The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. I'm positive this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers."

The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.

Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California . Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.

About Tesla Motors

San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors Inc. designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds and a base price of $101,500 after a federal tax credit, is the only highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011.

[via AutoblogGreen]

The Tesla Model S Unveiled Today originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Eco Drain Makes Your Water Heat 40% More Efficient

Josh Loposer — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home

How can a drain make your water heater more efficient? Well, it's actually pretty simple. The Eco Drain recaptures your refreshing morning shower's excess hot water and uses it to reduce the load on your water heater. With no moving parts and a supposedly clog-proof coating, the hot water from your drain is channeled into a mixing valve which transfers heat from your sudsy waste water to incoming municipal water.

If you're like me, you're probably wondering about exactly how the heat is exchanged between the two water sources. Apparently, the design maximizes the surface area of the two channels, allowing heat transfer as the water runs through the Eco Drain. According to Eco Drain, the waste water and fresh water are separated by a "double wall," so there's virtually no chance for them to mix. By their estimations, this completely sanitary heating method could cut your water heater use by up to 40%. Nice.

Now, to tackle the dilemma of whether or not to turn your water heater down below 140°F.

[via Inhabitat]

The Eco Drain Makes Your Water Heat 40% More Efficient originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine

Josh Loposer — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Alternative Energy

There are so many good things going on with small-scale wind turbines -- they're a beacon of good intentions, affordable, and now super easy to install -- it's a shame that in practice, micro wind's benefits are infamously dubious. Potential counter-productiveness aside, the Jellyfish Wind Appliance is bar none the coolest and weirdest-looking micro turbine to draw major league attention -- and that's saying something.

The Jellyfish's odd design and plug-and-play installation has taken it all the way to the semi finals in Google's Project 10 to the 100th contest. What's so special about this thing? Well, it's mostly two things: it's only going to cost $400 and it plugs directly into a standard wall outlet -- dumping power back onto the grid.

If the prospect of hooking up a vertical axis wind turbine for $400 ($199 with tax rebates) has you salivating, you might want to consider the bigger picture. The Jellyfish will net you all of 40kWh a month -- supposedly enough to power the lights in a home with energy efficient LED lighting. At that rate, you would break even in 7 years.

Would the turbine ever offset its own carbon footprint? I hope so, but I'm a little bit skeptical. You could see the Jellyfish in stores in as soon as 12 months.

[via Treehugger]

The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Power-Hog Piggy Bank Teaches Kids About Money and Power

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Kids and Parenting

You know what they say: money is the root of all evil and power corrupts. So, you might as well start educating your children about both at an early age. Coming in at second place in this year's Greener Gadgets Conference is the Power Hog -- a toy that teaches children how annoying it would be if everything in the world was coin-operated. Just kidding, of course, the Power Hog is designed to teach children about the energy costs associated with their electrical devices.

This gadget is basically a energy-monitoring piggy bank attached to an extension cord that requires a donation to power your child's TV, Nintendo Wii, etc. As long as children feed the piggy meter, their device stays on and the dollar sign on the side glows green. As the Power-Hog begins to run out of funds, the dollar sign flashes red faster and faster. Kinda weird, right?

Gallery: The Power-Hog

Look, everybody's got their own parenting style, and that's cool -- but something about making your kids pay to play Wii really makes me bust out laughing. On the upside, it's a sneaky way to force your children to supplement the electric bill with their allowance.

[via DesignMilk]

Power-Hog Piggy Bank Teaches Kids About Money and Power originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP's New Enviro Series Notebook Battery

Josh Loposer — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, News, GreenTech

Just this week, HP started shipping their new Ecolabel-certified HP Enviro Series Notebook Battery, which can get 4 hours between charges and rocks a full charge for at least 3 years. The 4-hour Sonata battery pack, developed by start-up Boston Power, is easily an improvement over the somewhat disappointing performance of most batteries. Also, the Enviro Series battery boasts a charge that will fade less over time -- something you can appreciate if you have an old laptop that literally dies after being unplugged for 15 minutes.

With most consumers looking at the bottom line to guide most of their purchasing decisions -- I know I am -- do you think many consumers are willing to throw down $150 on a super efficient lithium-ion "sustainable" laptop battery? Considering that even my Energy Star laptop can only go about an hour off the cord, I think it's probably well worth the price.

[via Earth2Tech]

HP's New Enviro Series Notebook Battery originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sustainability Focus of Art & Design College

Sea Stachura — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Gadgets and Tech, Home

It's true you can turn your shower liner into a tarp, and your tea tins into q-tip receptacles. You can even turn your bath mat into a chamois for your car and replace it with a mat of green moss. But can you turn a used fire hose into a back pack?

Not without some training and an industrial sewing machine. The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena has made sustainability a focus of its entire school. Every program focuses on creating and processing sustainable, frequently recycled products. And the gear is already making its way to market.

Take for example Spencer Nikosey's designer messenger bags and totes. The student has designed ruggedly chic bags from surplus army tarps and discarded fire hoses. He has already found an unnamed company to produce the bags along with numbered dog tags.

Radhika Bhalla has designed multipurpose bicycle carts that women in India can build easily out of common materials. The project would reduce back breaking labor on the women's part and use sustainable materials to build something useful.

Leslie Evans designed the "Vespera Hairdryer," a hair dryer that is easy to disassemble, repair and recycle. Hair dryers are known to be unfriendly to both. And Joseph Choi designed a single-serving tea set that saves energy usually spent heating more water than needed. That's a big deal in countries like India and England.

The school has embraced the concept as a challenge. Designers have long thought of eco-friendliness as an afterthought or an impediment to attractive, smartly designed products. Classes in sustainability are required, and the goal, and so far the achievement, is to create smarter, more effective and attractive stuff sustainably.

[via LA Times]

Sustainability Focus of Art & Design College originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VegaWatt Converts Fast Food Grease into Power

Josh Loposer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

Imagine a world where nobody steals used cooking oil, because there's no grease trap. Instead, every fast food place in town reuses their grease to heat and power their restaurant with a VegaWatt cogeneration system. About the size of a washer/dryer combo, the VegaWatt disposes of used fry oil by running it through a 4-stage cleaning process and burning it in an EPA Tier 4 diesel generator to supplement 10-25% of a restaurant's power, and it's fully automated.

The VegaWatt has the capacity to guzzle the grease of restaurants equipped with 3-5 fryers -- and if you've got more than 5 fryers ... wow, you really must like deep fried food. Unlike putting up a wind turbine, solar panels, etc. the VegaWatt not only provides you with clean power, but it also saves you money in other areas. The VegaWatt's coling system pumps water throught the contraption and then back out to your water heater, lightening the load on your water heater. Even better, you don't have to pay a service to come pump your grease trap. In a lot of ways, it's similar to that trash gobbling dumpster.

[via Inhabitat]

VegaWatt Converts Fast Food Grease into Power originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar-Powered Blinds Save the Light for Later

Rigel Celeste — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech

One of the most frustrating things about a lot of solar powered gadgets is the fact that it's so hard to get them into the sun often enough, and for long enough periods of time, to be sure they're always fully charged when you need them to be. This solar Venetian blind concept, called "Blight" by Vincent Gerkens, solves not only that problem but it also helps save energy. It works by saving up solar energy during the day and then replacing a lamp or two during the night when it uses that energy to light up.

Not the most attractive light fixture (a little 'rave party' or something), but definitely a cool idea.

[via DVICE]

Gallery: Blight by Vincent Gerkens

Solar-Powered Blinds Save the Light for Later originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wind Helmet Combines Safety and Sustainability

Josh Loposer — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

Here at Green Daily, we've run across quite a few inventions recently designed to two-wheeling power to the next level, the bike generator, the Green Wheel, etc. -- but the Wind Helmet may just take the prize for originality. This sleek concept, conceived by Malaysian designer Wai Hoong Leng, helps turn your passive safety gear into a renewable energy generator.

By channeling the wind current through the top of the helmet and across a small turbine, the Wind Helmet can generate enough power to recharge you mobile devices as you cruise. While the design may be best suited for those on a scooter -- since it looks a little on the bulky side -- it's definitely stylish enough to have cross over appeal for cyclists; especially if they're cruising on a power-assisted ebike. I'm hoping that Leng has done the safety research necessary to determine whether this hefty helmet won't break our necks at high speeds. That would be thoughtful.

Gallery: The Wind Helmet

[via AutoblogGreen]

The Wind Helmet Combines Safety and Sustainability originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are Those Ikea Solar Powered Lightsabers in Your Flower Bed?

Josh Loposer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Alternative Energy

To help you harness the power of the sun cheaply this summer, Ikea will be rolling out a lineup of kitschy outdoor lighting products -- complete with solar panels and rechargeable batteries -- to add a little mood/safety lighting to your backyard gardenscape. While Ikea has yet to start selling cheap flat-pack DIY rooftop solar arrays, they seem to be wholeheartedly embracing off-the-grid outdoor lighting. Though they're not on sale yet, you can check out the products online here.

One of the coolest features of Ikea's solar collection -- aside from the fact that some of them look like lightsabers -- is that they allow you to move away from wires and plugs, replacing old incadescents with low-energy LEDS that last four times longer. I like using solar powered LEDs for lighting outdoor pathways, because there are no wires to deal with and you can rearrange them whenever you want with a low hassle factor. Unfortunately, some of Ikea's setups will have wires connecting your domes or lightsabers to a central panel. Still, they look cool and perhaps more importantly: they're cheap.

Gallery: Ikea's Upcoming Solar Lamps

[via Inhabitat]

Are Those Ikea Solar Powered Lightsabers in Your Flower Bed? originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pollution Mapping Goes Live in UK

Josh Loposer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Gadgets and Tech, Local

In addition to the ridiculous number of real time traffic and weather monitoring apps you can get on your iPhone, you may soon be able to able to add street by street pollution updates. As part of the MESSAGE project (Mobile Environmental Sensing System Across Grid Environments) researchers at Imperial College London have set up a network of pollution sensors in the town of Gateshead to demonstrate the awesome power of live pollution mapping.

The project, which combines the efforts of Imperial College, Leeds, Newcastle, and Southampton Univeristies, is aimed at helping city planners and average joes monitor pollution hot spots. And thus, rethink the way they travel. According to Professor Bill Blythe of Newcastle: "The sensors we've deployed in Gateshead are small and low-cost. Other cities in the UK and around the world, such as New York and New Delhi, are interested in replicating what we're doing here." Sounds like I might have a new application to obsess over on Google Earth.

As a biker/pedestrian, would you alter your route if you noticed that you were going to walk through a steamy cloud of fumes?

[via Earth2Tech]

Pollution Mapping Goes Live in UK originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terracycle - Pens Made of Paper and Corn

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home

Terracylce is a super cool company that takes trash -- and worse, i.e. worm poop -- and turns it into useful items, like bags, lawn and garden items, and fertilizer from the worm poop.

I was in Office Max the other day and discovered the latest addition, a line of recycled office products. In many cases the items, themselves are recyclable. In other cases, like the binder which is made of paper and recycled steel, they ask you to send the product back for repurposing when you're done with them. Talk about a dedication to keeping materials out of landfills!

In addition to binders, pencil cases and folders, they have pens and pencils made of paper and corn. There are a few different styles, including colored pencils made from newspaper, for the creative environmentalist that lives inside of you!

Gallery: Terracycle Office Products

Terracycle - Pens Made of Paper and Corn originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Use the Sun to Run Your A/C - Coolerado

Josh Loposer — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Alternative Energy

Lots of people with rooftop solar arrays are making a significant dent in their A/C's power consumption. Unfortunately, few of us can afford enough panels to completely power even a high-efficiency unit. If you think the answer is more photovoltaics, you might be looking at the wrong side of the equation. The Denver-based start-up Coolerado has designed a super low-energy, CFC-free A/C unit that can operate entirely from a small-scale solar array, and even boost generation.
Reportedly, Coolerado's air-conditioners use about 10% as much energy as a conventional system. Their latest innovation is to equip these energy-saving badboys to integrate with small-scale solar systems. Coolerado's six-ton unit -- which cools about 3,000 sq ft. -- consumes only 600W and can run entirely from the power generated by four 200W PV panels.

If you're wondering why it takes 800W to run a 600W machine, it's because scorching hot panels don't reach their maximum efficiency. Coolerado actually runs the exhaust blower to the back of PV panels to cool them down and boost capacity. They also offer a computer that controls fan speed to use only the power generated by your solar panels.

[via CleanTechnica]

Use the Sun to Run Your A/C - Coolerado originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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