tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26885932500057584262024-02-20T09:21:20.515-08:00Sustainable ColoradoLibre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-64878038404252020392011-01-19T14:05:00.000-08:002011-01-19T14:05:02.211-08:00Landscape Architect's Office Fits In A Trailer, Follows His Work<h5 class="tagline" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div id="social-media-widgets" style="float: right; height: 20px; margin-top: -20px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="display: inline; height: 20px; list-style-type: none; margin-right: 5px;"><a href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/landscape-architects-office-fits-in-trailer.php&title=Landscape%20Architects%20Office%20Fits%20In%20A%20Trailer,%20Follows%20His%20Work"></a></li>
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</ul></div></h5><div class="entry-content" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="entry-body"><div id="scryve-center-column"><em>Image:<a href="http://www.xs-land.com/selected-projects/mobile-studio/"> XS/LA</a></em><br />
<a href="http://www.treehugger.com/mobile-studio-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mobile office design xs/la photo" border="0" class="mt-image-none" height="327" src="http://www.treehugger.com/mobile-studio-1.jpg" width="468" /></a>Design used to take up a lot of space, with big draughting boards, huge drawings and interns to do all the repetitive and boring stuff. The computer changed everything and reduced the space and staff required to almost nothing. <a href="http://www.xs-land.com/">Andreas Stavropoulos</a> of <a href="http://www.xs-land.com/selected-projects/mobile-studio/">XS/LA</a> tells <a href="http://www.shedworking.co.uk/2010/10/mobile-landscape-architects-office.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Shedworking+%28Shedworking%29">Alex at Shedworking</a> about his mobile office, built into a 2003 cargo trailer.<br />
<div class="entry-more" id="more"><a href="" name="more"></a><img alt="mobile office design xs/la photo interior" class="mt-image-none" height="267" src="http://www.treehugger.com/mobile-studio-2.jpg" width="468" /><br />
Image:<a href="http://www.xs-land.com/selected-projects/mobile-studio/"> XS/LA</a><br />
The landscape architect writes:<br />
<blockquote>The mobile studio is designed to unite the designer with the site. Equipped with a drafting table, small library, solar power, and wifi, the mobile studio doesn't just sit pretty, but it works hard. This original design and fabrication features an translucent skylight, which allows diffuse light to fully and shadowlessly illuminate the interior. The studio is particularly useful during the concept design stages, when clients are invited inside to provide initial feedback on conceptual design sketches.</blockquote>It is a wonderful idea for a design professional, being up close and personal with the site and the trades. According to <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/architecture-design/mobile-home-design-00418000067399/">Sunset Magazine</a>,<br />
<blockquote>This isn't exactly the norm in the modern, virtual reality-driven world of landscape architecture. But Stavropoulos--who earned his MLA from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2007--is a back-to-the-land kind of guy. He wants to ground his garden plans in the realities of the site, and he retrofitted the 6- by 10-foot cargo trailer to help him do that.</blockquote>Oh, and did I mention that he lives in an <a href="http://www.shedworking.co.uk/2009/10/airstream-mobile-studio.html">Airstream trailer.</a><br />
<img alt="bsq-interior-trailer.jpg" class="mt-image-none" height="351" src="http://www.treehugger.com/bsq-interior-trailer.jpg" width="468" /><br />
Image: Lloyd Alter<br />
It is a lot smaller than <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/bsq-shipping-container-office.php">Robert Boltman and Alex Bartlett's BSQ</a> shipping container office, but the principle is the same: Your office is where your work is. The trailer is also more mobile; the Bsq. Container is languishing on a dead construction site right now, while Andreas can tow his office behind his Honda. It is smaller, lighter and ultimately more flexible. More at <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/bsq-shipping-container-office.php">Bsq. Office in a Shipping Container</a><br />
<img alt="nissan van photo" src="http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/NissanNV200MobileOfficeinterior1.jpg" /><br />
Too bad Nissan never produced their <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/nissans_new_mob.php">NV200;</a> It really made the office mobile.</div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-49545219453648490012011-01-19T14:03:00.001-08:002011-01-19T14:03:36.361-08:00ZenithSolar Creates Solar Generator with Incredible 72% Efficiency<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<div id="column1-column2-wrapper"><div id="column1"><div class="post-listing"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 32px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></h1><div class="submit-info"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/20/zenithsolar-creates-record-breaking-solar-generator/zenithsolar/" rel="attachment wp-att-175907"><img alt="zenithsolar, 3rd generation CHP solar energy generator, solar z20
zenithsolar, zenithsolar solar generator, israel solar energy, Ezri
Tarazi zenithsolar, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design," class="alignnone size-full wp-image-175907" height="357" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/zenithsolar.jpg" title="zenithsolar" width="537" /></a></div><div class="post-content">Israel-based energy company <a href="http://www.zenithsolar.com/index.html">ZenithSolar</a> has broken records with its 3rd generation CHP solar energy generator (Solar Z20) that combines heat and power systems to create an incredible 72% solar conversion efficiency. According to <a href="http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/insideviewisrael/ezritarazi.html">Ezri Tarazi</a> at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design and Head of <a href="http://www.tarazistudio.com/" target="_blank">Tarazi Studio</a>, the generator has reached record levels by using a “semi-parabolic optical mirror for collecting solar energy” to power the local community’s electric and hot water use.<br />
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<dt class="gallery-icon">The difference between the new 3rd generation generators and the 2nd generation generators is that the new model is a combined heat and power, concentrated PV and <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CCwQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F03%2F03%2Fportable-hydroelectric-generator-is-a-backpack-power-plant%2F&rct=j&q=solar%20generator%20inhabitat&ei=ZLm-TNrqM47KjAeX8fW-Aw&usg=AFQjCNE8rU5AzoQoIJ_dTFqNFZxq-qQt_A&sig2=P3FLfMxDo4gfC7yG9edOJA&cad=rja">solar thermal system</a>. What this means is that not only does the system convert solar energy into electricity, it also converts any heat captured in the mirror collectors into electrical and thermal power.</dt>
</dl></div><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/20/zenithsolar-creates-record-breaking-solar-generator/zenithsolar2/" rel="attachment wp-att-175909"><img alt="zenithsolar, 3rd generation CHP solar energy generator, solar z20
zenithsolar, zenithsolar solar generator, israel solar energy, Ezri
Tarazi zenithsolar, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design," class="alignnone size-full wp-image-175909" height="242" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/zenithsolar2.jpg" title="zenithsolar2" width="537" /></a><br />
The generators are installed in Kibbutz Yavne in Central Israel and provide hot water and power for the local community while also putting power back in to the back to the national grid. The system the most efficent in the world, and also produces the lowest cost per watt and best potential for energy system cost reduction as well as the highest efficiency in the field (+72%)<br />
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</div></div></div></div></div><span></span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-80265607065890839732011-01-19T14:02:00.000-08:002011-01-19T14:02:54.240-08:00LEED Platinum Boulder House First in US to Use German System<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">LEED Platinum Boulder House First in US to Use German System</span></h1><div class="submit-info"> </div><div class="submit-info"><img alt="Weberhaus, Studio HT, Studio H:T, Bouldger green building, boulder
green house, boulder prefab, Leed homes platinum, green house design,
modular wall, solar electric, solar hot water, grey water" class="alignnone size-full
wp-image-176151" height="459" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/new-174.jpg" title="2002 Alpine" width="537" /></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/20/boulder-leed-platinum-house-first-in-us-to-use-german-system/new-17-19/" rel="attachment wp-att-176151"></a>While a relatively new concept in the US, the German company <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2007/12/28/prefab-friday-option-modular-concept-by-weberhaus/">Weberhaus</a> has long been developing prefab house construction technology for 50 years. Designed by<a href="http://www.studioht.com/"> Studio H:T Architects</a> the <a href="http://www.2002alpine.com/">2002 Alpine House</a> in Boulder CO, is the first to use the state-of-the-art German system in the US. This new LEED Platinum home shows how high-scale design, sustainable principles and prefab can come together to create an attractive home. Additionally, some of the home’s most impressive features include a super-low energy requirement, a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=176152">9kW solar array</a> and a host of other low impact features able to assuage the environmentally aware owners who were looking for the perfect $3.5 million pad built to last a hundred years.<br />
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<span id="more-176135"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/20/boulder-leed-platinum-house-first-in-us-to-use-german-system/new-14-29/" rel="attachment wp-att-176133"></a><br />
The upscale residence is two stories of modular walls and ceilings, complete with windows doors, and electrical and plumbing set on an ICF base. Overall construction reported only 5% in waste materials, compared to the national average of 17%. The shell of the home has reduced the energy demand by 1/5th of the average home, but air quality is improved by low toxic material and fresh air exchange.<br />
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The 4,340 square feet interior is heated with a high efficiency <a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=176127">boiler</a>, lit with LED lighting, and finished in Earth Clay plaster. Water is heated through a solar thermal system and reclaimed as grey water. Outdoor and indoor spaces blend together beautifully, and the overall effect is a clean, highly refined modernist feel with a naturalist bent.</div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-76800915829213052772011-01-19T13:58:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:58:48.831-08:00MIT- solar cells and solar powered water desalination system<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">MIT Unveils Portable Solar-Powered Water Desalination System</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a><span class="233522816-19102010"></span> </div><div class="submit-info"> </div><div class="submit-info"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/18/mit-unveils-compact-solar-powered-water-desalination-system/mit-desal/" rel="attachment wp-att-175162"><img alt="MIT, Field and Space Robotic Laboratory (FSRL), MIT solar power
water desalination system, solar power water desalination, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology solar power water desalination, MIT's
Department of Mechanical Engineering" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-175162" height="403" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/mit-desal.jpg" title="MIT Solar Desalination " width="537" /></a></div><div class="post-content">A team from the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s</a> (MIT) Field and Space Robotic Laboratory (FSRL) has designed a new solar-powered water desalination system to provide drinking water to disaster zones and disadvantaged parts of the planet. The <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F04%2F07%2Fibm-saudi-researchers-team-up-on-solar-powered-desalination-technology%2F&rct=j&q=desalination%20inhabitat&ei=fWq8TLv3G4fQjAeNh8nrDg&usg=AFQjCNFDHEuLmnaRVSkubmM1GUlCxby2zA&sig2=Zltzh66ybgvhNDppRzjDAQ&cad=rja">water desalination system</a> can be easily packed up for delivery to emergency areas and is completely powered by solar energy, so it is able to function in arid and remote off-grid regions.<br />
<span id="more-175097"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/18/mit-unveils-compact-solar-powered-water-desalination-system/mitdesalinationsystem/" rel="attachment wp-att-175109"><img alt="MIT, Field and Space Robotic Laboratory (FSRL), MIT solar power
water desalination system, solar power water desalination, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology solar power water desalination, MIT's
Department of Mechanical Engineering" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-175109" height="333" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/MITdesalinationsystem.jpg" title="MITdesalinationsystem" width="537" /></a><br />
Desalination systems often require a lot of energy, as well as a large infrastructure, to support them but MIT’s compact system is able to cope due to its ingenious design. The system’s <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F08%2F13%2Fphotovoltaic-solar-hot-water-panels-reap-multiple-benefits%2F&rct=j&q=photovoltaic%20panel%20inhabitat&ei=n2q8TJnwDpbKjAfk9rm7Dg&usg=AFQjCNHMBJhXt26FKAzNzOsZJOuyr4UBdA&sig2=WL1fJtVZwY5cm14-dsrvow&cad=rja">photovoltaic panel</a> is able to generate power for the pump, which in turn pushes undrinkable seawater through a permeable membrane. Once the salt and other minerals are removed, the water can then be drunk. The system even has sensors that enable water purification even without high levels of sunlight.<br />
MIT’s prototype can reportedly produce 80 gallons of drinking water per day, depending on weather conditions. A larger version is also being designed, which will cost $8,000 and will be able to provide 1,000 gallons of water daily. The design team also claim that two dozen desalination units could be transported in a single C-130 cargo airplane, providing water for more than 10,000 people.<br />
<div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">MIT Introduces Paper-Thin Solar Cells</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/ariel-schwartz/" title="Posts by Ariel
Schwartz">Ariel Schwartz</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/18/mit-introduces-paper-thin-solar-cells/solarcellairplanelamonica_610x533/" rel="attachment wp-att-175301"><img alt="mit, eni, solar power, solar energy, solar cell, green energy,
green design" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175301" height="469" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/SolarcellAirplaneLaMonica_610x533.jpg" title="solar cell" width="537" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/solarprint-develops-ready-to-print-solar-cells/" target="_blank">Solar cells</a> keep getting thinner and tinier, and thanks to MIT and their research sponsor Eni, we are already seeing cells that can be folded up into paper airplanes! Recently revealed, MIT’s paper <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/20/heliotrope-the-worlds-first-energy-positive-solar-home/" target="_blank">solar</a> cells feature five layers of solid material layered on a paper substrate. When combined, the materials and paper form a solar <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/18/mit-unveils-compact-solar-powered-water-desalination-system/" target="_blank">cell</a>. Albeit weak – each cell has an efficiency level of of just 1%, while most commercial silicon solar cells maintain at least 15% efficiency – the potential for commercial application is incredible.<br />
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While still on the low end researchers are hoping to get the paper <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/06/10/japanese-spacecraft-successfully-deploys-first-solar-sail-in-space/" target="_blank">solar</a> cells up to 4% efficiency. Once this happens, the cheap, flexible cells could be used in all sorts of applications, such as laptop covers, attached to shades or blinds, and even laminated onto roofs by non-professionals.<br />
Although they won’t be hitting shelves tomorrow, certainly stay tuned – these cells could be ready for commercialization within the next five years.<br />
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</div></div><span></span></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-52845913199238732662011-01-19T13:57:00.002-08:002011-01-19T13:57:55.935-08:00water and water filtration<div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010">The six ideas below my signature are all important and worth your additional research ... unclean water kills more people worldwide than anything else! Rotary International has made this a priority to provide clean water sources worldwide and save lives. Any ideas that can be implemented to provide healthy water are very worthwhile.</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010"></span></strong> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010">A few months ago I sent out a concept for water purification worth repeating:</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010"></span></strong><strong><span class="186180216-16102010"><span style="color: green;">"New Nanotech Purifier Filters Water 80,000 Times Faster</span></span></strong></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong></strong></span><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><div class="submit-info">by Cameron Scott</div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/nanofilter-ed/" rel="attachment wp-att-156894" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/nanofilter-ed/"><img alt="nanotechnology, water, drinking water, yi cui, sarah heilshorn,
stanford university, sustainable design, global development, health" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-156894" height="365" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/nanofilter-ed.jpg" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/nanofilter-ed/
nanofilter-ed" width="537" /></a><br />
A new <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/08/04/pure-water-bottle-filters-99-9-of-bacteria-with-uv-light/" title="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/08/04/pure-water-bottle-filters-99-9-of-bacteria-with-uv-light/">water filter</a> that employs cotton dipped in nano-sized silver wires and copper tubes works <b>80,000 times</b> faster than filters that simply block bacteria from getting through. The filter, developed by Stanford University researchers for use in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/global-development/" title="http://inhabitat.com/global-development/">developing countries</a>, efficiently conducts a tiny charge of electricity, zapping <b>98 percent</b> of all bacteria.<br />
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/water-filter2/" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/water-filter2/"></a> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/water-filter2/" rel="attachment wp-att-156928" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/water-filter2/"><img alt="drinking water, nanotechnology, sarah heilshorn, stanford
university, yi cui, sustainable design, global development" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-156928" height="365" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/water-filter2.jpg" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/01/new-nanotech-water-filter-purifies-water-in-a-snap/water-filter2/
water-filter2" width="537" /></a><em>Photo: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PikiWiki_Israel_6040_water_purification.JPG" title="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PikiWiki_Israel_6040_water_purification.JPG">Shai Kessel</a></em></dt>
</dl></div>Millions of people die in rural and undeveloped areas every year from exposure to contaminated drinking <a href="http://inhabitat.com/water/" title="http://inhabitat.com/water/">water</a>. The challenge is to create <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/17/nanotech-tea-bag-purifies-drinking-water-for-less-than-a-penny/" title="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/17/nanotech-tea-bag-purifies-drinking-water-for-less-than-a-penny/">processes that work cheaply</a> and reliably and uses materials that are light enough to transport. The pass-through filter is less likely to fail due to clogging or becoming infested with the bacteria it’s intended to kill: if bacteria cling to it, the silver kills them. And because its <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=nanotechnology" title="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=nanotechnology">nano-materials</a> are especially efficient conductors of electricity, the filter can get the jolt it needs from a small <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-power/" title="http://inhabitat.com/solar-power/">solar panel</a>, a hand crank or 12-volt car batteries.<br />
Unfortunately, when it comes to drinking water, 98 percent isn’t an adequate kill rate, so water would have to be filtered more than once. But since the filter works 80,000 times faster, there’s plenty of time for that.<span class="186180216-16102010">"</span><br />
<span class="186180216-16102010">Thanks and pass it on,</span></div></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010">Mike</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="186180216-16102010"></span></strong> </div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>Mike Fowler</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>P.O. Box 400</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>108 West Live Oak Street</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>Hutto, Texas 78634</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>512-736-2000 cell</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>512-759-2000 home</strong></div><div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="mailto:mfowler16@austin.rr.com"><strong>mfowler16@austin.rr.com</strong></a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Top 6 Life-Saving Designs for Clean Drinking Water</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/bridgette/" title="Posts by Bridgette
Meinhold">Bridgette Meinhold</a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a></div><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a><div class="gallery_extend"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a><div class="gallery_extend-main-item"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a><div class="navigation image-navigation"><a class="alignright" href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/life-saving-clean-water-devices-lifestraw/?extend=1"><span class="image-button-next-extend"></span></a></div><dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"><img alt="" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/12-537x402.jpg" title="" width="537" /></a><div class="gallery-description">Almost a billion people lack access to clean drinking <a href="http://inhabitat.com/water/">water</a>, which is the result of low water supplies and poor sanitation systems around the world. This shocking figure underscores the importance of affordable designs that filter water to make it safe enough to drink, as well as systems that improve sanitation for communities. In honor of this year's <a href="http://blogactionday.change.org/" target="_blank">Blog Action Day</a>, we've rounded up six innovative design solutions that provide clean drinking water - granted that one in eight people in the world don't have access to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2007/09/13/design-for-the-other-90-lifestraw/" target="_blank">water</a>, it's designs like these that help save lives.</div></dt><br />
</div><div class="gallery-extend-link"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/life-saving-clean-water-devices-lifestraw/?extend=1"><span class="gallery-extend-readmore"></span></a> </div><dl class="gallery-item"><dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/top-6-life-saving-designs-for-clean-drinking-water/1-27/?extend=1"></a> <img alt="blog action day, water, water issues, clean drinking water,
life-saving designs, green design, humanitarian design" class="alignnone size-full
wp-image-173561" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/05/Delwara-Community-Toilets-1.jpg" title="Life-Saving Clean Water Devices" /></dt>
</dl></div><a href="http://inhabitat.com/water/">Water</a> has been prevailing theme this last year, especially in the wake of multiple natural disasters that involved <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/09/30/study-shows-bp-oil-spill-could-have-been-prevented-by-regulation/" target="_blank">polluting our oceans</a>, flooding and access to clean water. Not only is it the stuff that makes the world go round, but every person needs access to clean drinking water and a number of designers around the world have been working to produce life-saving devices and designs that can filter or provide clean water for the world.<br />
Architectural projects like this <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/26/locally-built-green-toilet-facilities-provide-safe-sanitation-for-india/" target="_blank">community toilet facility for India</a> would go a long way to improving local water quality, sanitation and reducing disease. NGOs and governments should help invest in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/03/09/ceramic-water-filters-win-iwa-award-for-cambodia/" target="_blank">water filtration devices</a> to disperse among families in third world countries. And we also need to crack down on business and factories polluting our rivers, lakes and oceans.</div><span><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div id="content"><div id="column1-column2-wrapper"><div id="column1-wide"><div class="post-listing"><div class="post-content"><div class="clear"></div><div id="imageDescription" style="margin-top: 20px;"><h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2007/09/13/design-for-the-other-90-lifestraw/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">LifeStraw Water Purifier</span></a></h3>The LifeStraw is a plastic cigar-sized water filter that purifies water by removing potential pathogens like typhoid, cholera, dysentery as well as the parasites. It works as soon as you suck up water from a source, rendering up to 1,000 liters of water fit to drink without electricity or additional attachments.</div><div style="margin-top: 20px;"><div><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/03/05/play-pump-the-merry-go-round-water-pump/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">Play Pump Merry Go-Round Water Pump</span></a></h3><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Since kids always seem to be bustling with extra energy, why not put that energy to good use. The Play Pump Merry Go-Round was designed as a fun water pump for rural villages and schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kids can have fun while providing water for use in cooking, sanitation, drinking, and even growing food. So far over 1,000 pumps have been installed, and PlayPumps International hopes to increase that number to 4,000 by the end of 2010.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span><div><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/29/milan-2008-lifesaver-flask-cleans-and-filters-with-ease/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">LifeSaver Water Filter</span></a></h3><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">The LifeSaver bottle is a personal water filtration device that uses various filters to screen out even the smallest viruses as well as bacteria, contaminants, and pathogens. Over the course of the filter's life it can clean 4,000 liters of water, and it can filter 750 mL of water in less than a minute. The filter isn't cheap, however hopefully economies of scale and research and design will produce more affordable options in the future.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/03/09/ceramic-water-filters-win-iwa-award-for-cambodia/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">Ceramic Water Filters</span></a></h3><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">This simple yet ingenious design for providing Cambodia with ceramic water filters won the 2008 Project Innovation Award Grand Prize. The design consists of a porous ceramic and fired clay pot that sits inside a barrel, collecting water and then relying on gravity filtration to remove microbes and other contaminants. Since 2002, when these filters were first distributed, the regions with the filters are reporting a 50% drop in diarrheal illnesses.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/16/life-sack-solves-drinking-water-issues-for-the-third-world/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">Life Sack</span></a></h3>The Life Sack is a double-duty design that first is used as a grain sack for food transport, and once delivered it can be used to store and filter water. The Life Sack uses SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection Process) technology to purify contaminated water using UV-A radiation. On top of that, the sack can be worn as a backpack for easy transport.<span><br />
<div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/12/pitch-africa-is-a-soccer-field-that-also-produces-clean-drinking-water/"><span style="color: green; font-size: x-large;">Pitch:Africa</span></a></h3>Pitch:<span class="186180216-16102010"> </span>Africa is a creative idea that use a soccer field (or pitch) to collect and filter rainwater. The field and accompanying stands, which seat up to 1,000, are permeable and collect rainwater in cisterns, estimated to be 1.8 million liters for many parts of Africa. That water can then be purified for drinking or used to irrigate nearby crops.<span><br />
</span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-64820932182678232011-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:57:08.328-08:00Ford Developing Biofuel From Algae for Use in Vehicles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Ford Developing Biofuel From Algae for Use in Vehicles</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a></div><div class="submit-info"> </div><div class="submit-info"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/ford-developing-biofuel-from-algae-for-use-in-vehicles/algae-electricity-2-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-174156"><img alt="algae biofuel, ford algae biofuel, wayne university algae biofuel,
ford algae biofuel, vehicle algae biofuel" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-174156" height="380" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/Algae-Electricity-2.jpg" title="Algae-Electricity-2" width="537" /></a></div><div class="post-content">When one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world invests their capital into <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/12/bio-grow-uses-electronic-waste-to-make-algae-for-biodiesel/">algae biofuel</a> research, you know that renewable energy will soon play a major role in the global economy. <a href="http://www.ford.com/">Ford Motor Company </a>has recently hired scientists to look into algae as the major ingredient in their efforts towards bio-fuel production. The company has quickly realized that if their cars are to be relevant in the future, then they will need to find alternatives to gasoline and oil. The company has also been looking at ethanol and butanol biofuels, but at the moment, believe that algae may hold the greatest potential.<br />
<br />
Working with scientists at <a href="http://www.eng.wayne.edu/page.php?id=4765">Wayne State University’s National Biofuels Energy Laboratory</a>, Ford has been researching the potential of algae as a major biomass ingredient in the production of fuel. To aid in their research, the team of scientists have been conducting assorted experiments on algae oil and its potential to power vehicles.<br />
<div><ins><ins></ins></ins></div>And this may come as a shock to many, but this isn’t Ford’s first attempt at using alternative fuels to run their products. According to Tim Wallington, technical leader with the Ford Systems Analytics and Environmental Sciences Department, “Ford has a long history of developing vehicles that run on renewable fuels; and the increased use of biofuels is an important element of our sustainability strategy now and moving forward.”<br />
Sherry Mueller, Research Scientist, Ford Motor Company added, “Algae have some very <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/06/24/versatile-system-by-javier-fernandez-han/">desirable characteristics</a> as a potential biofuel feedstock and Ford wants to show its support for any efforts that could lead to a viable, commercial-scale application of this technology.” Furthermore stating, “At this point, algae researchers are still challenged to find economical and sustainable ways for commercial-scale controlled production and culturing of high oil-producing algae.”</div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-24598215979709301512011-01-19T13:56:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:56:14.142-08:00SolarPrint Develops Ready-To-Print Solar Cells<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">SolarPrint Develops Ready-To-Print Solar Cells</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a></div><div class="submit-info"><strong></strong> </div><div class="submit-info"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/solarprint-develops-ready-to-print-solar-cells/dssc/" rel="attachment wp-att-173093"><img alt="dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), dssc, dye solar cells,
solarprint, solarprint bari, ready to print solar cells, solar cells" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-173093" height="256" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/dssc.jpg" title="dssc" width="537" /></a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://www.solarprint.ie/">Irish company SolarPrint</a> has developed a new type of printable solar cells that can be produced quickly and easily and can even generate energy from fading sunlight. Since the dye-sensitized cells use less raw materials than traditional solar cells, costs can be kept down, and it is hoped that the simple-to-produce solar cells will transform how the world uses energy.<br />
<span id="more-173087"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/15/solarprint-develops-ready-to-print-solar-cells/solarprintfiatdeal/" rel="attachment wp-att-173092"><img alt="dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), dssc, dye solar cells,
solarprint, solarprint bari, ready to print solar cells, solar cells" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-173092" height="357" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/SolarprintFiatDeal.png" title="Solarprint" width="537" /></a><br />
Speaking to <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/irish-start-up-ready-to-print-solar-cells-harvest-low-light-and-drive-effic/">GreenTechMedia</a>, SolarPrint co-founder and CEO Mazhar Bari said, “When you are travelling around the world you suddenly realize, ‘Where are the bloody solar panels?’” With that in mind Bari, an Irish citizen with Pakistani roots and a physics degree from Cambridge, sent out to explore <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/dsc-where-is-it-now/">dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC)</a> technology, that is “part printable, part liquid.”<br />
SolarPrint effectively has eliminated the liquid part of DSSC and replaced it with nanomaterials, so that all of the active elements of SolarPrint’s cells can be applied in the printing process. The SolarPrint cells are also more efficient because they are based on a rounded nanotech structure instead of <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/efficiency-leaders-in-crystalline-silicon-pv/">the traditional angular crystalline structure of silicon materials</a>. Electrons have to hit the crystalline structures “at the right angle” to generate electricity, however in <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Can-a-Disruptive-Solar-Technology-Topple-First-Solar/">nanostructure</a> cells a curved surface makes the angle of absorption much larger.<br />
“There are many components in the cell. One layer is called the electrolyte layer.” As a liquid, that layer is “terrible,” Bari said, who is not one to mince his words. The efficiencies are adequate, he said, but “lab time is crap and it cannibalizes the materials in the cell.” The SolarPrint process replaces that liquid with a printable electrolyte paste made of smart nanomaterials, <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/can-carbon-nanotubes-cut-energy-consumption-4522/">carbon nanotubes</a>, graphene and ionic salts. “And it’s a fully printable device.”<br />
However there is a drawback with the mass manufacturing of dye-sensitized solar cells. More and more consumers demand reliability from solar cells, with lifespans of up to 30 years, so there is concern when the cells can be produced cheaply and easily, especially as many seem to break down in due course.<br />
However Bari believes that SolarPrint’s ability to capture low and overcast light levels both indoors and outside will give his company an edge in the market. “Dye solar cells work very well indoors,” Bari said. “The voltage doesn’t drop like crazy (like silicon) and it is able to produce reasonable power in indoor light — four or five times higher than silicon.” “One day, the whole world will be covered in dye solar cells. That’s our vision,” said B</div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-51480217819149165892011-01-19T13:55:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:55:34.408-08:008 Facts You Might Not Know About Water<h1 class="entry-header" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/8-facts-you-didnt-know-about-water.php"><span style="color: green;">8 Facts You <span class="108362013-18102010">Might N</span><span class="108362013-18102010">o</span>t Know About Water</span></a></h1><h5 class="tagline" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><img alt="rwanda clean water well charity water photo" class="mt-image-none" height="312" src="http://www.treehugger.com/rwanda_clean_well.jpg" width="468" /></span></h5><div class="entry-content" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="entry-body"><div id="scryve-center-column"><em>Image credit: Charity: Water</em><br />
<br />
Every week, <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/">42,000 people die</a> from unsafe drinking water and unhygienic living conditions.<br />
<div class="entry-more" id="more"><ol><li>Students in developing countries lose <a href="http://www.wateradvocates.org/forschools.htm">443 million school days each year</a> due to diseases associated with the lack of water, sanitation and hygiene. Repeated episodes of diarrhea and worm infestations diminish a child's ability to learn and impair cognitive development.</li>
<li><a href="http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/">More people have access to cell phones than to toilets</a>. As a result, tons of untreated human waste make their way to water sources causing a litany of diseases, and even death.</li>
<li>The US, Mexico and China lead the world in bottled water consumption, with people in the US drinking an average of <a href="http://environment.change.org/blog/view/annie_leonard_tackles_our_bottled_water_addiction">200 bottles of water per person</a> each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled.</li>
</ol>These facts are disheartening, but they don't have to be the norm. Even in the darkest depths of the water crisis, we found positive solutions that are already being put in place.<br />
<ol><li>Organizations like <a href="http://water.org/">Water.org</a> and <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/">charity: water</a> are leading the charge in bringing fresh water to communities in the developing world by not only building wells in remote villages but also creating sustainable infrastructure to maintain those wells.</li>
<li>The average person uses 465 liters of water per day. But by <a href="http://www.h2oconserve.org/?page_id=503">educating yourself</a> about where you are most wasteful in your water use, you can begin to reduce that waste.</li>
<li>There are <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/gsteps.asp">small steps we can all take</a> to help keep pollution out of our rivers and streams, like correctly disposing of household wastes.</li>
<li>Communities around the world are <a href="http://food.change.org/blog/view/cities_cut_spending_on_bottled_water">saying no to bottled water</a>. Doing so not only drastically reduces water bottle waste, but also saves taxpayers a pretty penny. For example, the city of San Francisco saved $500,000 per year by terminating all of its bottled water contracts.</li>
</ol>While the <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/water-crisis/">realities of water issues around the world</a> are grim, the organizations and individuals driving positive solutions show us that it doesn't have to be that way. By using Blog Action Day as a unique chance to raise awareness, we are moving toward a world with more and more people committed to ensuring clean water supplies and a more sustainable future for all.<br />
<br />
</div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-5195381888652405312011-01-19T13:54:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:54:24.502-08:00PHATport Solar Awning Provides Outdoor Shade and Solar Power <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/diane-pham/" title="Posts by Diane
Pham">Diane Pham</a></span><br />
<div class="post-content" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="PHAT Energy, PHATport, los angeles, flip your switch, solar
awning, solar powered structures, solar structures, solar power car
ports, solar power patios, Solar Power International in Los Angeles " class="alignnone size-full
wp-image-173401" height="357" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/10/PHATEnergysolar-awning.jpg" title="PHATEnergysolar awning" width="537" /></div><div class="post-content" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.phatenergy.com/">PHAT Energy</a> recently unveiled the PHATport 350, an outdoor solar structure that can serve as everything from a cozy, sun-sheltering patio to an energy-generating car port (imagine plugging your EV into one of these!). The self-contained solar shade will be on display at this year’s <a href="http://www.solarpowerinternational.com/sepa2010/public/enter.aspx">Solar Power International in Los Angeles</a>(which runs today and tomorrow!), and the company has rolled out a quirky ad campaign that features a series of solar power fables sure to <em>Flip Your Switch</em>. Check out their hilarious videos after the jump! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="895305815-14102010">W</span>e couldn’t think of a better place for a <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/30/flexible-lightweight-solar-fabric-by-ftl-solar/">solar awning</a> than perpetually sunny Los Angeles. The videos depict a mythical mermaid who, upon observing the misery of various people in their drab backyards, conjures up the solar gods to bring them a <a href="http://www.phatenergy.com/">PHATport</a>. The campaign was created to bring a jolt of excitement to the drab world of solar marketing.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">As the reps of <a href="http://www.phatenergy.com/">PHAT Energy</a> state, “This is a fun campaign about a product that needs to be de-mystified. Let’s get away from product performance specs and have fun with the life benefits. So we show people kissing, dancing, and celebrating after being touched by solar energy. We have a beautiful spiritual mermaid who alters bad situations that are allegories for confusion, pollution and apathy. It seems completely appropriate to celebrate this fantastic technology with natural and common human emotions of celebration, especially when they occur under a PHATport.”</div><div><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span></span></span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-78549669997637309642011-01-19T13:53:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:53:39.584-08:00Shooting for the Sun<div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="833334702-14102010"></span></strong> <strong><span class="833334702-14102010">My first cousin, Michael Lidell, sent me a link to this fascinating article that appeared in The</span> <span class="833334702-14102010">Atlantic magazine. It is incredible what the human mind will come up with ... and I'm not speaking of the Super Soaker squirt gun.</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="833334702-14102010"></span></strong> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="833334702-14102010">What Lonnie Johnson is on to is a perpetual motion/energy device that only needs solar heat to function. This could be incredible. A good article!</span></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="833334702-14102010"></span></strong> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="nav" id="header"><div class="clearfix" id="headerRight"><strong></strong></div></div><div class="middle"><div class="contentColumn singleContent"><div class="magazineContent"><h1 class="headline"><span style="color: green;">Shooting for the Sun</span></h1><div class="post"><div class="blurb">From his childhood in segregated Mobile, Alabama, to his run-ins with a nay-saying scientific establishment, the engineer Lonnie Johnson has never paid much heed to those who told him what he could and couldn’t accomplish. Best known for creating the state-of-the-art Super Soaker squirt gun, Johnson believes he now holds the key to affordable solar power.</div><iframe allowtransparency="" frameborder="0" id="facebookLike" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Fmagazine%2Farchive%2F2010%2F11%2Fshooting-for-the-sun%2F8268%2F&layout=button_count&width=125&show_faces=false&action=recommend&font&colorscheme=light&height=21" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; float: right; height: 21px; margin-top: -5px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 130px;"></iframe><h5 class="authors">By <span class="authors"><a class="author" href="http://www.theatlantic.com/logan-ward/">Logan Ward</a></span></h5></div><div class="photo"><img src="http://assets.theatlantic.com/static/coma/images/issues/201011/lonnie-johnson-wide.jpg" /></div><div class="credit"></div><div class="articleContent rubricBrave Thinkers"><br />
<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="artsans">IMAGE CREDIT: BEN BAKER/REDUX</span></span><br />
<div icap="on">I<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">N MARCH 2003, </span>the independent inventor Lonnie Johnson faced a roomful of high-level military scientists at the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Virginia. Johnson had traveled there from his home in Atlanta, seeking research funding for an advanced heat engine he calls the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter, or J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> (pronounced “<i>jay</i>-tek”). At the time, the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> was only a set of mathematical equations and the beginnings of a prototype, but Johnson had made the tantalizing claim that his device would be able to turn solar heat into electricity with twice the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell, and the Office of Naval Research wanted to hear more.</div>Projected onto the wall was a PowerPoint collage summing up some highlights of Johnson’s career: risk assessment he’d done for the space shuttle <i>Atlantis</i>; work on the nuclear power source for <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">NASA</span>’s <i>Galileo</i> spacecraft; engineering help on the tests that led to the first flight of the B-2 stealth bomber; the development of an energy-dense ceramic battery; and the invention of a remarkable, game-changing weapon that had made him millions of dollars—a weapon that at least one of the men in the room, the father of two small children, recognized immediately as the Super Soaker squirt gun.<br />
Mild-mannered and bespectacled, Johnson opened his presentation by describing the idea behind the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span>. The device, he explained, would split hydrogen atoms into protons and electrons, and in so doing would convert heat into electricity. Most radically, it would do so without the help of any moving parts. Johnson planned to tell his audience that the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> could produce electricity so efficiently that it might make solar power competitive with coal, and perhaps at last fulfill the promise of renewable solar energy. But before he reached that part of his presentation, Richard Carlin, then the head of the Office of Naval Research’s mechanics and energy conversion division, rose from his chair and dismissed Johnson’s brainchild outright. The whole premise for the device relied on a concept that had proven impractical, Carlin claimed, citing a 1981 report co-written by his mentor, the highly regarded electrochemist Robert Osteryoung. Go read the Osteryoung report, Carlin said, and you will see.<br />
End of meeting.<br />
Concerned about what he might have missed in the literature, Johnson returned home and read the inch-thick report, concluding that it addressed an approach quite different from his own. Carlin, it seems, had rejected the concept before fully comprehending it. (When I reached Carlin by phone recently, he said he did not remember the meeting, but he is familiar with the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> concept and now thinks that the “principles are fine.”) Nor was Carlin alone at the time. Wherever Johnson pitched the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span>, the reaction seemed to be the same: no engine could convert heat to electricity at such high efficiency rates without the use of moving parts.<br />
Johnson believed otherwise. He felt that what had doomed his presentation to the Office of Naval Research—and others as well—was a collective failure of imagination. It didn’t help that he was best known as a toy inventor, nor that he was working outside the usual channels of the scientific establishment. Johnson was stuck in a Catch-22: to prove his idea would work, he needed a more robust prototype, one able to withstand the extreme heat of concentrated sunlight. But he couldn’t build such a prototype without research funding. What he needed was a new pitch. Instead of presenting the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> as an engine, he would frame it as a high-temperature hydrogen fuel cell, a device that produces electricity chemically rather than mechanically, by stripping hydrogen atoms of their electrons. The description was only partially apt: though both devices use similar components, fuel cells require a constant supply of hydrogen; the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span>, by contrast, contains a fixed amount of hydrogen sealed in a chamber, and needs only heat to operate. Still, in the fuel-cell context, the device’s lack of moving parts would no longer be a conceptual stumbling block.<br />
Indeed, Johnson had begun trying out this new pitch two months before his naval presentation, in a written proposal he submitted to the Air Force Research Laboratory’s peer-review panel. The reaction, when it came that May, couldn’t have been more different. “Funded just like that,” he told me, snapping his fingers, “because they understood fuel cells—the technology, the references, the literature. The others couldn’t get past this new engine concept.” The Air Force gave Johnson $100,000 for membrane research, and in August 2003 sent a program manager to Johnson’s Atlanta laboratory. “We make a presentation about the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span>, and he says”—here Johnson, who is black, puts on a Bill-Cosby-doing-a-white-guy voice—“‘Wow, this is exciting!’” A year later, after Johnson had proved he could make a ceramic membrane capable of withstanding temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius, the Air Force gave him an additional $750,000 in funding.<br />
The key to the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> is the second law of thermodynamics. Simply put, the law says that temperature differences tend to even out—for instance, when a hot mug of coffee disperses its heat into the cool air of a room. As the heat levels of the mug and the room come into balance, there is a transfer of energy.<br />
Work can be extracted from that transfer. The most common way of doing this is with some form of heat engine. A steam engine, for example, converts heat into electricity by using steam to spin a turbine. Steam engines—powered predominantly by coal, but also by natural gas, nuclear materials, and other fuels—generate 90 percent of all U.S. electricity. But though they have been refined over the centuries, most are still clanking, hissing, exhaust-spewing machines that rely on moving parts, and so are relatively inefficient and prone to mechanical breakdown.<br />
Johnson’s latest J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> prototype, which looks like a desktop model for a next-generation moonshine still, features two fuel-cell-like stacks, or chambers, filled with hydrogen gas and connected by steel tubes with round pressure gauges. Where a steam engine uses the heat generated by burning coal to create steam pressure and move mechanical elements, the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> uses heat (from the sun, for instance) to expand hydrogen atoms in one stack. The expanding atoms, each made up of a proton and an electron, split apart, and the freed electrons travel through an external circuit as electric current, charging a battery or performing some other useful work. Meanwhile the positively charged protons, also known as ions, squeeze through a specially designed proton-exchange membrane (one of the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC </span>elements borrowed from fuel cells) and combine with the electrons on the other side, reconstituting the hydrogen, which is compressed and pumped back into the hot stack. As long as heat is supplied, the cycle continues indefinitely.<br />
“Lonnie’s using temperature differences to create pressure gradients,” says Paul Werbos, an energy expert and program director of the National Science Foundation. “Only instead of using those pressure gradients to move an axle or a wheel, he’s forcing ions through a membrane.” Werbos, who spent months vetting the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span>and eventually awarded Johnson’s team a $75,000 research grant in 2006, describes the J<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">TEC</span> as “a fundamentally new way, a fundamentally well-grounded way, to convert heat to electricity.” Regarding its potential to revolutionize energy production on a global scale, he says, “It has a darn good chance of being the best thing on Earth.”<br />
<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">JOHNSON IS A MEMBER</span> of what seems to be a vanishing breed: the self-invented inventor. Born the third of six children in Mobile, Alabama, in 1949, he came into the world a black male in the Deep South during the days of lawful segregation. His father, David, who died in 1984, was a World War II veteran and a civilian driver for nearby Air Force bases. According to his mother, Arline, who is 86 and still lives in Mobile (in a house remodeled with Super Soaker profits), the family was poor but happy. All eight lived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house near Mobile Bay, in a neighborhood then being bisected by the construction of Interstate 10.<br />
As a boy, Johnson was quiet and curious, and early on, he developed a fascination with how things worked. “Lonnie tore up his sister’s baby doll to see what made the eyes close,” his mother recalls. As he grew older, he began making things, including rockets powered by fuel cooked up in his mother’s saucepans. At 13, he bolted a discarded lawn-mower engine onto a homemade go-cart and took it atop the I-10 construction site—only to have a bemused policeman escort him back down. It was around then that Johnson learned that “engineers were the people who did the kind of things that I wanted to do.”<br />
It was hardly an obvious career path: then, as now, the profession was dominated by whites. (As recently as 2004, only 1.6 percent of the engineering doctorates awarded in the United States went to blacks.) In high school, a standardized test from the Junior Engineering Technical Society informed Johnson that he had little aptitude for engineering; but he persevered and, as a senior, became the first student from his all-black high school ever to enter the society’s regional engineering fair. The fair was held at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, just five years after then-Governor George Wallace had tried, in 1963, to physically block two black students from enrolling there. Johnson’s entry in the competition was a creation he called Linex: a compressed-air-powered robot assembled from electromagnetic switches he’d salvaged from an old jukebox, and solenoid valves he’d fashioned out of copper tubing and rubber stoppers. The finished product wowed the judges, who awarded him first prize: $250 and a plaque. Unsurprisingly, university officials didn’t trumpet the news that a black boy had won top honors. “The only thing anybody from the university said to us during the entire competition,” Johnson remembers, “was ‘Goodbye, and y’all drive safe, now.’”</div></div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-16136912026211609042011-01-19T13:50:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:50:13.547-08:00Nano Ink Allows Simple Office Paper to Conduct Electricity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<div id="column1-column2-wrapper"><div id="column1"><div class="post-listing"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Nano Ink Allows Simple Office Paper to Conduct Electricity</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/bridgette/" title="Posts by Bridgette
Meinhold">Bridgette Meinhold</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/22/architectural-buckypaper-paves-way-for-buildings-of-the-future/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/30/nano-ink-allows-simple-office-paper-to-conduct-electricity/nanoink-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-167918"><img alt="nanoink, nano ink, conductive paper, decker yeadon, green design,
advanced materials, green technology" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167918" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/NanoINK-3.jpg" title="NanoINK-3" width="537" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/22/architectural-buckypaper-paves-way-for-buildings-of-the-future/" target="_blank">Decker Yeadon</a> is back at it, inventing incredible materials with architectural applications. This time they’ve made simple office paper capable of conducting electricity with ink made out of nanoparticles. Their amazing discovery, which also works with cotton fabric, has the potential to revolutionize buildings, design, textiles and medical applications. The design firm recently <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mpfxpygs3g" target="_blank">demonstrated</a> how they could power an LED bulb with a mere strip of the conductive office paper.<br />
<dl class="gallery-item"><dt class="gallery-icon"></dt>
<dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/30/nano-ink-allows-simple-office-paper-to-conduct-electricity/nanoink-1/"></a> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/30/nano-ink-allows-simple-office-paper-to-conduct-electricity/nanoink-5/" rel="attachment wp-att-167920"><img alt="nanoink, nano ink, conductive paper, decker yeadon, green design,
advanced materials, green technology" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167920" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/NanoINK-5.jpg" title="NanoINK-5" width="537" /></a></dt>
</dl>The New York design firm is known for coming up with innovative and novel applications for advanced materials, including <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/23/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/" target="_blank">nano materials</a> and even <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/22/architectural-buckypaper-paves-way-for-buildings-of-the-future/" target="_blank">architectural Buckypaper</a>. For their latest project, they made a nano solution that they’re calling NanoINK, which consists of carbon nanotubes, deionized water, and a chemical surfactant that helps the nanotubes disperse in the water. The nanotubes are only 1.5 nm in diameter, which is smaller than a DNA molecule.<br />
Then the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/17/duponts-new-ink-can-quickly-print-cheap-oled-displays/" target="_blank">ink</a> was applied to a number of different surfaces, including regular office paper (Decker Yeadon letterhead), cotton fabric and cotton pads, resulting in the areas with ink having electrical properties. First they tested each material with a voltage meter to see if the paper or cotton was conductive, which the video clearly shows to be the case. Afterwards the tester also showed how a single strip of office paper coated in the NanoInk could conduct electricity from batteries to power an LED light.<br />
Decker Yeadon’s discovery could have a wide range of applications from architecture to electronics, textiles, even medicine. If the ink could be controlled properly, it could even be applied by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/09/skin-cell-spraying-bio-printer-can-heal-burn-victims-in-three-weeks/" target="_blank">printers</a> in a specific pattern to yield exact and predetermine electrical circuits.</div></div></div></div><span><br />
</span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-38201024369761662512011-01-19T13:49:00.001-08:002011-01-19T13:49:33.847-08:00Researchers Transform Sewage Sludge Into Power<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Researchers Transform Sewage Sludge Into Power</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/ariel-schwartz/" title="Posts by Ariel
Schwartz">Ariel Schwartz</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/27/researchers-transform-sewage-sludge-into-power/sludge/" rel="attachment wp-att-166289"><img alt="sludge, energy, truckee" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-166289" height="423" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/sludge.jpg" title="sludge" width="537" /></a><br />
Waste treatment plants have to get rid of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/poo-power/" target="_blank">sludge</a> somehow, so why not try to find a way to turn all that muck into energy? That’s what researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are attempting to do at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. If all goes well in Truckee, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/08/waterpebble-reduces-shower-water-waste/" target="_blank">system</a> could be expanded to other reclamation facilities in the state. And with 700,000 metric tons of dried <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/01/biodiesel-from-sewage-sludge-costs-just-10-a-gallon-more-than-petrol/" target="_blank">sludge</a> generated each year in California alone, there’s a huge opportunity to generate low-cost, low-impact energy for widespread use.<br />
<div class="gallery"><br />
<dl class="gallery-item"><dt class="gallery-icon"></dt>
<dt class="gallery-icon">The gasification process developed by the researchers sticks the sludge in a low-temperature bed of sand and salts, as <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/31/companies-transform-scrap-cardboard-into-ethanol/" target="_blank">waste</a> heat from the facility drives the dryer’s electricity and the unsavory mix dries out into a powdered biomass fuel and . So far, researchers have been able to produce three pounds dried powder from 20 pounds <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CB8QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F03%2F22%2Fnew-nuclear-reactors-may-almost-completely-destroy-atomic-waste%2F&rct=j&q=waste%20inhabitat&ei=6B6dTNOyCYe2sAOD5sDWAQ&usg=AFQjCNFFHwtHoQgUlH51-PeIZft4Lw56gw&cad=rja" target="_blank">sludge</a> each hour. Eventually, they hope to develop a full-scale system that could generate 25,000 kilowatt-hours per day–enough to completely power the reclamation facility.</dt>
</dl></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-68792921896309012602011-01-19T13:47:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:47:44.532-08:00Wind Turbines on Garage<div id="titlewrapper_large"><h1 class="title article-title"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-article_image_large" src="http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/windhoriz1.jpg" title="" /></span></h1></div><div class="subcontent clear-block"><div class="node ntype-article" id="node-47941"><div class="page"><div class="content"><div class="associations image-center"><div class="summary"> <span class="img-title">Windy City Wind Turbine</span><span class="img-summary"> Greenway Parking Garage's wind turbine system, viewed from below.</span> <span class="pic-credit">via Fast Company</span> </div></div><!--paging_filter-->Chicago was nicknamed the Windy City because of its blowhard politicians, not the powerful gusts off Lake Michigan. But a new parking garage took the name to heart regardless and installed this amazing helix-shaped wind turbine system inside the building, making <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1683897/let-the-great-wind-spin" target="_blank">urban turbines</a> not only cool, but functional. <br />
This summer, 12 turbines started spinning at Greenway Self-Park, which bills itself, somewhat oxymoronically, as Chicago's first Earth-friendly parking garage.<br />
</div></div></div></div>Open-screen walls on the 11-story garage provide ventilation and reveal the cars inside, but also let passersby marvel at the turbines. The garage also has a cistern rain-collection system, sustainable building materials, a recycling program and an electric car charging station.Lobbies on each floor include information about how to live more sustainably, and the garage has energy-efficient lighting. The garage is pursuing pursuing LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It even has a reversible meter that can measure and return power to Chicago's grid throughout the year. <br />
Architect Todd Halamka, director of design at the Chicago office of HOK, tells <i>Fast Company</i> he wanted to celebrate the building's function, not hide it. <br />
One wonders how green a parking garage can really be, but it's not like cars are going away anytime soon, so garages might as well aim to ameliorate their impact.<br />
And at the very least, it adds to the architecturally interesting experience of parking in downtown Chicago -- you can go underneath trains, curl up through <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/birispaul/3661837701/" target="_blank">Marina City</a>, and now this. <br />
<br />
<div class="image-center"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-article_image_large" src="http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/windvert1.jpg" title="" /><div class="summary"><span class="img-title">Urban Wind Turbines:</span> <span class="pic-credit"> via Fast Company</span></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-89466921554402100662011-01-19T13:45:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:45:01.078-08:00Lumber Made from Newspaper Looks Like Real Wood <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="853293915-10112010">The "newspaper lumber" might be a real possibility for those highly involved in single stream recycling and its by-products by mixing in recycled plastic and even adding a high tech insulation layer. The result could be a very viable alternative to wood stud construction. With the right additives this could be a very strong, termite resistant and fire resistant product.</span></strong></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="853293915-10112010"></span></strong> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span class="853293915-10112010">Some of you may also recall articles on aerogel, papercrete and other very interesting and innovative products that can also be adapted to the building industry.</span></strong></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="submit-info"> </div><div class="submit-info"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/newspaper-wood.jpg"><img alt="faux newspaper, newspaper wood, eco materials, green materials,
sustainable materials, recycled newspaper wood, vij5" class="alignright size-full wp-image-184100" height="328" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/newspaper-wood.jpg" title="newspaper
wood" width="537" /></a></div><div class="post-content">Doesn’t the material in the photo above look just like real wood at first glance? Upon further inspection, the text on the top plank gives away the “lumber’s” true origin – <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/20134/extreme-origami-an-upcycled-gown-made-from-1000-newspaper-cranes/">newspapers</a>! Developed by Mieke Meijer for design firm <a href="http://ontwerplabel.vij5.nl/portfolio/portfolio.aspx?soort=1&id=138">vij5</a>, Kranthout (Dutch for “newspaper wood”) is a new material made of old newspapers that are rolled together and milled into planks. The versatile product even mimics the appearance of wood crain and can be drilled and sanded just like real wood.<br />
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<h2 class="post-title" style="color: #330000; font-size: 1.3em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">xtreme Origami: An Upcycled Gown Made From 1,000 Newspaper Cranes</h2><div class="submit-info" style="color: #999999; margin-bottom: 20px;">by <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/author/yuka/" style="color: #b15008; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Yuka Yoneda">Yuka Yoneda</a>, 07/18/10</div><div class="post-content"><img alt="recycled fashion, upcycled fashion, recycled clothing, upcycled clothing, recycled newspapers, paper clothing, paper fashion, paper dresses, Yuliya Kyrpo, eco-fashion, sustainable fashion, green fashion, sustainable style" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-20140" height="400" src="http://media.ecouterre.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/recycled-paper-crane-dress-6.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;" title="Recycled Newspaper Crane Origami Dress" width="537" /><br />
Hear ye, hear ye, read all about this expertly crafted newspaper gown by Yuliya Kyrpo, now on display at <a href="http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/galleries/antenna.aspx" style="color: #b15008; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">London’s Science Museum</a>. Krypo assembled her headlining bustier dress—complete with a <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/20134/extreme-origami-an-upcycled-dress-made-from-1000-newspaper-cranes/recycled-paper-crane-dress-4/" style="color: #b15008; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">flowing peacock train</a>—from 1,000 paper cranes, which she painstakingly hand-folded from old <em>Metro</em> newspapers. </div></div></span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-19822593261283713022010-10-05T05:53:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:53:59.006-07:00The House that One Man Can Lift. Sanctuary Magazine Showcases This and More.<h1 class="entry-header" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/house-one-man-can-lift-sanctuary-magazine.php"><span style="color: green;">The House that One Man Can Lift. Sanctuary Magazine Showcases This and More.</span></a></h1><h5 class="tagline" style="font-family: Helvetica;">by <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/author/warren-mclaren-sydney-1/">Warren McLaren</a></h5><div class="entry-content" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="entry-body"><div class="cat-indicator"><div class=" fb_reset" id="fb-root"><div style="height: 0pt; position: absolute; top: -10000px; width: 0pt;"></div><fb:like action="recommend" class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment
fb_iframe_widget" colorscheme="light" href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/house-one-man-can-lift-sanctuary-magazine.php" layout="standard" show-faces="true" width="468"><span><strong></strong></span></fb:like></div></div><div id="scryve-center-column"><img alt="Magnetic Island house exterior photo" class="mt-image-none" height="272" src="http://www.treehugger.com/Magnetic-Island-house-exterior.jpg" width="468" /><br />
<em>Magnetic Island house exterior Photo: Robin Gauld for Sanctuary magazine issue 12</em><br />
When it came time for our architecture writer, Lloyd, to select the <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2010/04/best-of-green-design-and-architecture.php?page=16">Best Shelter Magazine</a> for TreeHugger's 2010 Best of Green Awards in Design and Architecture he quickly made his choice: Sanctuary Magazine, from Australia's <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/portable-recycled-house-diy-solar-electric-car-instant-on-induction-lighting.php">Alternative Technology Association</a> (ATA). Indeed he gushed, <em>"so much beautiful stuff -- stunningly photographed and presented I just want to pack up and move to Australia. [...] The magazine's website is full of excerpts and info, but the magazine is a joy to hold."</em><br />
And it is no accident that Lloyd is so enamoured. For TreeHugger was conceived as a vehicle to make green design and sustainable lifestyles attractive to a mainstream audience. Sanctuary magazine does that so effectively for eco-architecture. It's twelveth issue recently hit the news stands, continuing the thread of lush photography and green residential design. We look at some of the highlights below.<br />
<div class="entry-more" id="more"><a href="" name="more"></a><img alt="Sanctuary magazine covers image" class="mt-image-none" height="205" src="http://www.treehugger.com/Sanctuary-magazine-covers.jpg" width="468" /><br />
<em>Images: Sanctuary magazine</em><br />
Six houses are profiled, with sumptuous imagery, informative descriptions and backed up with a simple list of their 'sustainable features' such as the material used, the type of glazing, rainwater harvesting systems, lighting, landscaping, etc.<br />
But probably the nub of info that most intrigues me is that the respective home owners have, in most cases, been trusting enough to provide Sanctuary magazine with project costings. I think this is an important consideration, for it is very easy to throw a barrowload of money at a home, and say "there, look it's 'green.'" It's another matter entirely to achieve sound environmental results on a tight budget. Thus Sanctuary's published costings keep the eye candy honest.<br />
<img alt="Brisbane house interior photo" class="mt-image-none" height="295" src="http://www.treehugger.com/Brisbane-house-interior.jpg" width="468" /><br />
<em>Photo: Christopher Federick Jones for Sanctuary magazine issue 11</em><br />
Similarly, new houses tend to get the lion's share of attention when it comes for green housing media coverage. But Sanctuary consistently has a collection of renovations to show what clever eco thinking can impart to existing dwellings.<br />
And the most recent issues of the magazine have also stepped outside of the pure green house reviews and covered related information. In the current edition you can get up to speed on energy ratings, reupholstering furniture, thermal window blinds, ceiling fans and landscaping. In the previous issue, the focus was on how to make a cool pantry that would give a fridge a run for its money, along with discussions of greener concrete, lawns, how to buy recycled kitchens and understanding housing ventilation.<br />
But all this wonderful information is really just the backdrop to the reviewed houses.<br />
Issue 12 showcases half a dozen homes, but the one that most captured my imagination was a Magnetic Island residence, with corrugated iron cladding, a material so ubiquitous in early Australian buildings. Here it is used in a tropic dwelling that has won a bunch of awards, including from the Australian Institute of Architects. In fact, the team behind its design, <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/Troppo%20Architects">Troppo Architects</a>, were this year, the first Australian firm to win the <a href="http://www.global-award.org/content.htm">Global Award for Sustainable Architecture</a>.<br />
<img alt="Magnetic Island house interior photo" class="mt-image-none" height="386" src="http://www.treehugger.com/Magnetic-Island-house-interior.jpg" width="610" /><br />
<em>Magnetic Island house interior Photo: Robin Gauld for Sanctuary magazine issue 12</em><br />
Although sited in the humid tropics, the house avoids need of any air conditioning, through the judicious placement of three separate buildings connected by passive venting outdoor breezeways and backed up with insect screened adjustable louvre windows, and ceiling fans. Large eaves help keep direct sun at bay, while a lap pool also adds a cooling feature.<br />
There is almost as much outside deck area as there is enclosed house, allowing the dwelling to appear larger than its 107 square metres (1,151 sq ft) suggest.<br />
This three bedroom, two bathroom house was constructed by one man. All the materials are therefore relatively lightweight and easily transportable and managed. The exposed steel frame was bolted together rather than welded, so it can all be disassembled at the end of a useful life. The house itself is raised off the ground to minimise site disturbance (although we're not sure how this design feature applies to the lap pool). The builder used leftover construction materials to create furniture for the house.<br />
The lighting is LED and this is powered via a grid connected 3kW Kyocera polycrystalline photovoltaic solar array. (See more pix on the <a href="http://www.troppoarchitects.com.au/index.php?mode=projects&projectID=54">Troppo Architect's</a> website.)<br />
The other homes highlighted in the twelveth issue of Sanctuary magazine each have their own unique green design features. Like sliding walls that convert otherwise private rooms into expansive open space. An idea similarly explored by another house whose entire eastern wall swings open like a massive door to turn a room into an open air pavilion. Or the house whose internal thermal mass uses rammed earth construction, with the twist of employing recycled concrete aggregate.<br />
<a href="http://www.sanctuarymagazine.org.au/">Sanctuary magazine</a> is a print magazine, not available online, although excerpts of articles from back issues do appear on the magazine's website.</div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-71247333065889243322010-10-05T05:51:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:51:28.952-07:00Stanford Unveils Solar Cells Thinner Than Light Wavelengths<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Stanford Unveils Solar Cells Thinner Than Light Wavelengths</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/28/stanford-unveils-solar-cells-thinner-than-light-wavelengths/solarcell/" rel="attachment wp-att-167101"><img alt="ultra thin solar cells, stanford university solar cells, solar
cells wavelength, stanford solar cell, Shanhui Fan solar cell, Shanhui
Fan wavelength cell" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167101" height="349" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/Solarcell-e1285671180997.jpg" title="Solarcell" width="537" /></a><br />
One problem with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-power/">solar cells</a> is that the thicker and more powerful they are, the more expensive they are to make. However engineers at <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/september/nanoscale-solar-cells-092710.html">Stanford</a> recently announced that they have developed a new type of solar cell <em>thinner than the wavelengths of light</em> that could absorb <b>10 times</b> the amount of sunlight that current cells do. The engineers believe that by configuring the thicknesses of several thin layers of films, an organic polymer cell could transform the solar energy industry.<br />
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<dt class="gallery-icon">Stanford’s new ultra-thin solar cell stops the lights from bouncing around as it would in a conventional cell, allowing it to be absorbed more easily. This technique is called “light trapping”, and it works best in nano-thin cells. Speaking to <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news204827475.html">PhysOrg.com</a>, Shanhui Fan, associate professor of electrical engineering said, “It’s the same as if you were using hamsters running on little wheels to generate your electricity – you’d want each hamster to log as many miles as possible before it jumped off and ran away.”</dt>
</dl>“The longer a photon of light is in the solar cell, the better chance the photon can get absorbed,” Fan added, who is also senior author of the paper describing the work called <em><a href="http://www.physorg.com/tags/proceedings+of+the+national+academy+of+sciences/" rel="tag">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a></em>. “We all used to think of light as going in a straight line,” Fan said. “For example, a ray of light hits a mirror, it bounces and you see another light ray. That is the typical way we think about light in the macroscopic world. But if you go down to the nanoscales that we are interested in, hundreds of millionths of a millimeter in scale, it turns out the wave characteristic really becomes important.”<br />
With that in mind, if a solar cell can be made that is around 400 to 700 nanometers thin (billionths of a meter), it can produce a remarkable amount of energy. The potential for this technology is enormous — not only would nano-thin solar cells save money in materials, but by using <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/17/cambridge-university-produces-cheap-plastic-organic-solar-cell/">organic polymers</a> over silicon they make the cells cheaper to buy and easier to install due to their thickness.<br />
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</div></div><span></span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-3059077592680116362010-10-05T05:50:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:50:51.619-07:00Wave Power Lights Up U.S. Electrical Grid For First Time<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Wave Power Lights Up U.S. Electrical Grid For First Time</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/ariel-schwartz/" title="Posts by Ariel
Schwartz">Ariel Schwartz</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/opt-ed02.jpg"><img alt="sustainable design, renewable energy, opt, wave power, wave
energy, powerbuoy, oaho, marine corps, hawaii" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167506" height="397" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/opt-ed02.jpg" title="Ocean Power
Technologies Powerbuoy" width="537" /></a><br />
We write a lot about <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/19/the-oyster-wave-generator-2-buoyant-wave-power-without-the-turbine/" target="_blank">wave power</a> here at Inhabitat, but <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/22/portugal-wavepower-plant-goes-live/">functional wave farms</a> are few and far between. Now <a href="http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/">Ocean Power Technologies</a> has hooked up its PB40 PowerBuoy to the grid at the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, marking the <b>first time</b> waves have provided energy to the U.S. electrical grid.<br />
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</dl></div><span id="more-167456"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/opt-ed01.jpg"><img alt="sustainable design, renewable energy, opt, wave power, wave
energy, powerbuoy, oaho, marine corps, hawaii" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167505" height="397" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/opt-ed01.jpg" title="Ocean Power
Technologies Powerbuoy" width="537" /></a><br />
Unlike many <a href="http://redirectingat.com/?id=2748X590349&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FWave_power&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F02%2F23%2Foregon-wave-power%2F" target="_blank">tidal power </a>devices, the PowerBuoy generates energy from the rising and falling of the waves. A 10 MW PowerBuoy station occupies 12.5 hectares of ocean.<br />
The Hawaii-based PowerBuoy was first deployed three-quarters of a mile off the Oahu coast in December 2009. With the new Marine Corps hookup, OPT hopes to prove that the PowerBuoy can produce utility-grade renewable energy. If all goes well with the Marine Corps station, we can expect more wave power to hit the U.S. soon — OPT already signed a stakeholder agreement for a utility-scale wave energy <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=155437&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1456110&highlight=">project</a> in <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/23/oregon-wave-power/" target="_blank">Oregon</a>.</div><span><br />
</span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-84876148725148505632010-10-05T05:49:00.003-07:002010-10-05T05:49:54.382-07:00Magnetic Energy Device Could Mean 40% Power Savings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Magnetic Energy Device Could Mean 40% Power Savings</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/brit-liggett/" title="Posts by Brit
Liggett">Brit Liggett</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/24/magnetic-energy-device-could-mean-40-power-savings/magnet-power-saver-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-165881"><img alt="smart grid, components of a smart grid, smart meters, buy smart
meters, new power grid, where to buy smart meters, how smart meters
work, magnetic energy, Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165881" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/Magnet-Power-Saver-3.jpg" title="Magnetic Energy
Device Could Mean 40% Power Savings" width="537" /></a><br />
The US Navy is on their way to having 40% of their power come from renewable sources by 2020 and a big part of that move is helping their buildings save <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/energy/">energy</a>. They’ve got their researchers hard at work devising new <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/green-gadgets/">technology</a> and one solution that recently emerged from the <a href="http://www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/ONR-Global.aspx">U.S. Office of Naval Research Global</a> has us marveling at its ingenuity. It is a magnetic energy regulation device that controls the flow of energy to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interiors/lighting/">lighting sources</a>. The device also captures residual magnetic energy given off by energy transmitters which it redirects back into the lighting — total savings can be up to 40% at peak times.<br />
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/24/magnetic-energy-device-could-mean-40-power-savings/magnet-power-saver-3/"></a> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/24/magnetic-energy-device-could-mean-40-power-savings/magnet-power-saver-1/" rel="attachment wp-att-165883"><img alt="smart grid, components of a smart grid, smart meters, buy smart
meters, new power grid, where to buy smart meters, how smart meters
work, magnetic energy, Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165883" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/Magnet-Power-Saver-1.jpg" title="Magnetic Energy
Device Could Mean 40% Power Savings" width="537" /></a></dt>
</dl></div>“<em>The device not only conserves electricity, but produces far less heat and produces less electromagnetic interference than conventional technologies</em>” said Dr. Chandra Curtis, program officer in ONR Global’s Tokyo office. She noted that she was excited about this device providing savings across the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/energy/">power grid</a>. In practice in barracks at a Navy base in Tokyo, Japan the device proved to work wonderfully in all intended aspects and significantly reduced power consumption over time.<br />
Curtis and her team are working on a proposal for a larger test installation at the same barracks in Tokyo that would include a break room, printing press room, laundry room, gymnasium and several offices. The device was originally tested in an area that required 24 hour <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interiors/lighting/">lighting</a>, but using it in these varied spaces would show its efficacy in different situations. The tests should run into 2011 if approved.<br />
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</div></div><span></span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-85982941053272279822010-10-05T05:49:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:49:12.059-07:00Canada Becomes First Country to Ban Toxic BPA<div id="column1-column2-wrapper" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div id="column1"><div class="post-listing"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Canada Becomes First Country to Ban Toxic BPA</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/ariel-schwartz/" title="Posts by Ariel
Schwartz">Ariel Schwartz</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/08/can-by-Steven-Depolo.jpg"><img alt="bpa, bisphenol a, canada, environment canada, epa, green design" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155381" height="382" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/08/can-by-Steven-Depolo.jpg" title="Can by Steven Depolo" width="537" /></a><em>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3511460735/">Steven Depolo</a></em><br />
As avid Inhabitat readers <a href="http://www.google.com/url?url=http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/14/fungi-could-break-down-toxic-bpa/&rct=j&sa=X&ei=zgl4TIeMMcG88gbxlKicBg&ved=0CB0QzgQoATAA&q=bpa+inhabitat&usg=AFQjCNG-YHOyiWATvggYcYMHdfQtiX4rMg&cad=rja" target="_blank">know</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F08%2F03%2Fsexy-bpa-free-bottle-screws-apart-for-easy-cleanup%2F&rct=j&q=bpa%20inhabitat&ei=zgl4TIeMMcG88gbxlKicBg&usg=AFQjCNEHlZLeO1NXRZFTWJW-zrlKJrH0Sg&cad=rja" target="_blank">BPA</a> is a nasty substance. The organic compound, found in everything from <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/08/22/sigg-scandal-sigg-eco-water-bottles-had-bpa-all-along/">reusable water bottles</a> to soup <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitots.com%2F2010%2F05%2F20%2Fstudy-shows-bpa-found-in-most-canned-foods%2F&rct=j&q=bpa%20inhabitat&ei=zgl4TIeMMcG88gbxlKicBg&usg=AFQjCNHU66Y-BJAD_AGo5Rg-yIBRo_vnJA&cad=rja" target="_blank">cans</a>, is thought to cause both hormonal and neurological issues. But the anti-BPA movement is growing strong — so strong, in fact, that Canada just moved to ban the substance altogether.<br />
<span id="more-155370"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/27/canada-becomes-first-country-to-ban-toxic-bpa/bpa-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-155372"><img alt="bpa, bisphenol a, canada, environment canada, epa, green design" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-155372" height="358" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/08/bpa-3.jpg" title="bpa" width="537" /></a><br />
Canada banned <a href="http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/22/news-alert-sigg-water-bottles-contain-bpa/&rct=j&sa=X&ei=zgl4TIeMMcG88gbxlKicBg&ved=0CBwQzgQoADAA&q=bpa+inhabitat&usg=AFQjCNGcE8rZ0lFhB0S5WUKM23uNtL3a5Q&cad=rja" target="_blank">BPA</a>-containing plastic baby bottles in 2008, but the new move will see BPA removed from all products on store shelves. As a result, Canada will become the first country in the world to declare BPA as a toxic substance. There’s no word on when the ban will take effect, but the North American chemical <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CCkQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Finhabitat.com%2F2010%2F04%2F21%2Fcoke-cans-still-contain-bpa-shareholders-outraged%2F&rct=j&q=%20site%3Ainhabitat.com%20bpa%20inhabitat&ei=EQp4TM7dKsH98AaE_4ivBw&usg=AFQjCNE5Uf3rp0Png1LJjMeI2mCnSIbj1w&cad=rja" target="_blank">industry</a> is <a href="http://www.grist.org/article/food-canada-bans-BPA-why-havent-we/">reportedly</a> angry with Environment Canada’s decision to abolish the stuff.<br />
Even though the U.S. hasn’t made any moves to ban <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CC0QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inhabitat.com%2F2010%2F08%2F02%2Fthe-vapur-water-bottle-comes-flat-foldable-and-bpa-free%2F&rct=j&q=%20site%3Ainhabitat.com%20bpa%20inhabitat&ei=EQp4TM7dKsH98AaE_4ivBw&usg=AFQjCNGubQROIWKi8Y-9IRZhZ2EK2rRmpQ&cad=rja" target="_blank">BPA</a> outright, the Canadian ban could reverberate across the border — and that’s a good thing for anyone concerned about their health.</div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><strong></strong> </div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-28140948790546171492010-10-05T05:48:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:48:42.066-07:00Liquid Energy: New Microbe Tech Turns Sun and CO2 Into Fuel<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Liquid Energy: New Microbe Tech Turns Sun and CO2 Into Fuel</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/15/liquid-energy-scientists-unveil-microbes-that-turn-sun-and-co2-into-fuel/joule-final/" rel="attachment wp-att-161618"><img alt="Joule Biotechnologies, microbes renewable energy fuel, bacteria
renewable energy fuel, bacteria CO2 sunlight fuel, microbes bacteria CO2
sunlight fuel, cyanobacteria" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161618" height="347" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/joule-final-e1284538674571.jpg" title="Joule Unlimited" width="537" /></a><br />
Biofuel startup <a href="http://www.jouleunlimited.com/">Joule Unlimited</a> has announced that it has engineered microbes that require <strong>only sunlight and CO2</strong> to produce ethanol, diesel, or other hydrocarbons. The company formally announced that it has obtained a patent for a genetically <a href="http://www.jouleunlimited.com/news/2010/joule-awarded-patent-renewable-diesel-production-sunlight-and-co2">modified version of cyanobacteria</a> that converts carbon dioxide, dirty water and sunlight into a liquid hydrocarbon that is functionally equivalent to regular diesel.<br />
<span id="more-161617"></span><br />
According to the patent, the engineered cyanobacteria contains “a recombinant acyl ACP reductase (AAR) enzyme and a <a href="http://www.jouleunlimited.com/news/2010/joule-awarded-patent-renewable-diesel-production-sunlight-and-co2">recombinant alkanal decarboxylative monooxygenase (ADM) enzyme</a>.” What this concoction of cyanobacteria and enzymes does is allow for hydrocarbon production in a single step, converting captured sunlight into ‘liquid energy’, that can be either ethanol or diesel.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/15/liquid-energy-scientists-unveil-microbes-that-turn-sun-and-co2-into-fuel/biofuel-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-161623"><img alt="Joule Biotechnologies, microbes renewable energy fuel, bacteria
renewable energy fuel, bacteria CO2 sunlight fuel, microbes bacteria CO2
sunlight fuel, cyanobacteria" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161623" height="447" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/Biofuel-e1284539024387.jpg" title="Biofuel" width="537" /></a><br />
“This patent award represents a critical milestone for our IP strategy and validates the truly revolutionary nature of our process, which has the potential to yield infrastructure-compatible replacements for fossil fuels at meaningful scale and highly-competitive costs, even before subsidies,” said Bill Sims, President and CEO, Joule. “Our vision since inception has been to overcome the limitations of biomass-based technologies, from feedstock costs and logistics to inefficient, <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/energy">energy</a>-intensive processing. The result is the world’s first platform for converting sunlight and waste CO<sub>2</sub> directly into diesel, requiring no costly intermediates, no use of agricultural land or fresh water, and no downstream processing.”<br />
Formerly known as Joule Biotechnologies, the company, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced late last year that it had developed technology which could produce the equivalent of 25,000 gallons of ethanol per acre per year and 15,000 gallons of diesel per acre per year of drop-in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/14/new-super-yeast-will-reduce-crop-usage-in-biofuel-production/">hydrocarbon fuels</a>, using only sunlight, CO<sub>2</sub> and water as inputs. The Solar Converter along with the new bacteria and a technology known as helioculture is the basis of this claim. Pilot production on diesel begins later this year.<br />
While the project is still in its pilot testing phase, it’s already producing 10,000 gallons of ethanol a year, or 40 percent of its goal, on its <strong><span style="color: red;">pilot lines in Leander, Texas.</span></strong> It is expected that production will begin by the end of the year with commercial production commencing in 2012. If it is successful, not only could it mean cheap biofuel (selling at $30 a barrel, compared to $70 for oil), but it could mean a fully sustainable form of fuel that doesn’t need food crops to create it. Fuel could literally be created out of thin air!</div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-62192907905109395982010-10-05T05:47:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:47:45.349-07:00House-in-a-Can Recycles Grain Silos Into Housing<h1 class="entry-header" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/house-in-a-can.php"><span style="color: green;">House-in-a-Can Recycles Grain Silos Into Housing</span></a></h1><h5 class="tagline" style="font-family: Helvetica;">by Lloyd Alter</h5><div class="entry-content" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="entry-body"><div id="scryve-center-column"><img alt="house in a can architecture recycled photo" class="mt-image-none" height="348" src="http://www.treehugger.com/house-in-can-silos.jpg" width="468" /><br />
<em>All images via<a href="http://www.austin-mergold.com/"> Austin-Mergold</a></em><br />
Grain silos, made from corrugated and galvanized steel, are among the cheapest and most efficient enclosures one can buy; that's why Bucky Fuller played with them during World War II, with his<a href="http://designmuseum.org/__entry/4823?style=design_image_popup"> Dymaxion Deployment Units.</a><br />
Updating the idea, Geoff Manaugh of <a href="http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/house-in-can.html">BLDGBLOG </a>brings us <a href="http://www.austin-mergold.com/Work_House-in-Can.html">Austin + Mergold's House-In-A-Can</a>, recycling these grain silos into housing, from single family to condo.<br />
<div class="entry-more" id="more"><a href="" name="more"></a><img alt="house in a can architecture recycled photo silos" class="mt-image-none" height="426" src="http://www.treehugger.com/house-in-can-plans.jpg" width="468" /><br />
The architects describe them with some marketing flair:<br />
<blockquote>36-foot in diameter American grain dryer with 2000 SF single family starter home inside. Instantly assembled off-the-shelf 14 GA galvanized corrugated steel exterior a 2000 SF developer house inside. Optional greenhouse. Buy 5 get one free!!!</blockquote><img alt="house in a can architecture recycled photo plans" class="mt-image-none" height="322" src="http://www.treehugger.com/house-in-can-plan.jpg" width="468" /><br />
They can be arranged in a number of configurations.<br />
<img alt="house in a can architecture recycled photo model" class="mt-image-none" height="595" src="http://www.treehugger.com/house-in-can-silo.jpg" width="468" /><br />
Manaugh calls the models "delightfully absurd and inspiring" and suggests further iterations:<br />
<blockquote>A thesis presentation performed as a series of metal cans extruded outward into models of inhabitable architecture... Cinema-In-A-Can. Library-In-A-Can. Gym-In-A-Can. Dome-In-A-Can Republic.</blockquote>More at <a href="http://www.austin-mergold.com/Work_House-in-Can.html">House-in-a-can</a> via <a href="http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/house-in-can.html">BLDGBLOG</a></div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-23138794718843030282010-10-05T05:46:00.003-07:002010-10-05T05:46:58.726-07:006 Inspiring Examples of Groundbreaking Green Technology<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">6 Inspiring Examples of Groundbreaking Green Technology</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/yuka/" title="Posts by Yuka Yoneda">Yuka Yoneda</a><em><br />
</em></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-gadgets/">Green technology</a> isn’t just about <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/energy/wind">wind turbines</a>, <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/solar-power">solar panels</a> and alternative fuel anymore. A few inspiring individuals out there are breaking new ground with innovative ideas that no one’s ever explored before. From a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/17/3-d-printer-creates-entire-buildings-from-solid-rock/">printer that can spit out whole buildings made of stone</a> to an entire <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/14/science-city-stores-warm-air-from-summer-to-heat-buildings-in-winter/">city that flips the discomfort of the summer heat into an energy-saving advantage for the wintertime</a> to a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/07/02/solar-ivy-photovoltaic-leaves-climb-to-new-heights/">company that decided solar panels don’t have to be ugly</a>, heavy or even rectangular. Read on to check out some of our favorite examples of emerging technology in the field of green!<br />
<span id="more-162190"></span><a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/3d-printer.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162346" height="379" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/3d-printer.jpg" title="3d printer" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/17/3-d-printer-creates-entire-buildings-from-solid-rock/">3-D Printer Creates Entire Buildings From Solid Rock</a></h3>3D printers are nothing new – but how about a printer that can whip up entire life-size stone buildings?! That’s exactly what designer <a href="http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/217-3D-printing-buildings-interview-with-Enrico-Dini-of-D_Shape.html">Enrico Dini</a>’s <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1579263/3-d-printing-whole-buildings-in-stonein-space-this-printer-rocks?partner=design_newsletter">prototype D-Shape printer</a> does. Instead of ink, the device uses layers of sand, and Dini reports that the process is four times faster than conventional building, costs about one-third to one-half the price of Portland cement, and creates much less waste.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/spray-on-solar-panels.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162351" height="351" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/spray-on-solar-panels.jpg" title="Spray on Solar
Panels" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/10/transparent-solar-spray-transforms-windows-into-watts/">Transparent Solar Spray Transforms Windows Into Watts</a></h3>Photovoltaic panels transform the sun’s rays into energy we can use, but they’re bulky and not the most attractive in terms of design. Well one Norwegian company called <a href="http://www.ensol.no/">EnSol AS</a> has cast aside the notion that PVs need to take up extra space — or even be in a solid state. They’ve developed a remarkable new spray-on solar film consisting of metal nanoparticles embedded in a transparent composite matrix that allows you to turn ordinary windows into solar panels. The best part? The spray is clear so you can still see right through your windows!<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/powerleap.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162347" height="300" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/powerleap.jpg" title="Powerleap" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/04/14/powerleap-harnesses-energy-from-foot-steps/">POWERleap Harnesses Energy From Foot Steps!</a></h3>While other green tech companies look to <em>outside</em> sources like the sun and wind when they think about alternative power, <a href="http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/04/14/powerleap-harnesses-energy-from-little-feet/">POWERleap</a> decided to completely flip the script by tapping the energy <em>inside</em> – of ourselves! Their piezoelectric floor tiling system that converts the energy from human foot traffic into electricity could be applied to train stations, sidewalks or even inside homes to harness the wasted energy from our footsteps into power for the grid.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/smitsolarivy-6.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162350" height="302" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/smitsolarivy-6.jpg" title="Solar Ivy" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/07/02/solar-ivy-photovoltaic-leaves-climb-to-new-heights/">‘Solar Ivy’ Photovoltaic Leaves Climb to New Heights</a></h3>Who says photovoltaic panels have to be an eyesore? After all, if they could somehow be integrated as a decorative element on homes and buildings, more people might be willing to install them on more surface area. Well, that’s exactly the approach that Brooklyn-based SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology) took with their “Solar Ivy”, a system of paper-thin, leaf-shaped solar panels that generate energy by sparkling in the sunlight. These pretty PVs consist of layers of thin-film material on top of polyethylene with a piezoelectric generator attached to each one, and are definitely miles away from the big, boxy panels we’re used to seeing.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/walking_picnik.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162689" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/walking_picnik.jpg" title="Shoe Generator" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/27/shoe-generator-harvests-power-from-walking/">Shoe Generator Harvests Power from Walking</a></h3>Walking is already one of the greenest forms of transportation but one researcher at Louisiana Tech University thought it could be made even more eco-friendly — so he designed a shoe that converts the wearer’s footsteps into electricity. The piezo power shoe contains a small generator in its sole that can charge batteries or power small electronics. Bet your Nikes can’t do that.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/science-city.jpg"><img alt="science city, honggerberg campus, green technology, smit, solar
ivy, spray on solar cells, inspiring technology, out of the box
technology, groundbreaking technology, new technology, sustainable
technology, eco technology, powerleap, 3d printer, building printer,
piezoelectric, shoe generator" class="alignright size-full wp-image-162348" height="401" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/science-city.jpg" title="Science City" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/14/science-city-stores-warm-air-from-summer-to-heat-buildings-in-winter/">Science City Stores Warm Air from Summer to Heat Buildings in Winter</a></h3>Isn’t it sad that in many parts of the world people use a ton of energy cooling buildings in the summer and then use almost as much power heating up the same spaces just a few months later? It may sound crazy but what if there was a way to save the summer’s hot air and use it to warm buildings throughout the winter? Well some smart thinkers at <a href="http://www.ethz.ch/about/location/hoengg/index_EN">Honggerberg Campus</a> in Switzerland are doing just that. Their campus, called <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/14/science-city-stores-warm-air-from-summer-to-heat-buildings-in-winter/">Science City</a> is installing systems that will allow it to harness natural heat during the warmer months, pump it underground and store it until the winter when it be pushed back up into buildings and act as a heating system. The system is the first of its kind.</div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-2969006628119951832010-10-05T05:46:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:46:04.939-07:00World’s Largest Wave Energy Site Now Installed in UK<div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">World’s Largest Wave Energy Site Now Installed in UK</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/timon/" title="Posts by Timon Singh">Timon Singh</a></div><div class="post-content"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/07/wave-hub-the-worlds-largest-wave-energy-site/wave_hub/" rel="attachment wp-att-158507"><img alt="wave hub, wave hub wave energy, wave hub RDA, wave hub cornwall,
wave hub installation, wave hub global wave energy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158507" height="402" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/wave_hub-e1283847934225.jpg" title="Wave Hub" width="537" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/working_for_the_region/key_sw_projects/cornwall__the_isles_of_scilly/wave_hub.aspx">The Wave Hub</a>, a groundbreaking renewable <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/energy">energy</a> project that is set to become the UK’s first offshore facility dedicated to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/18/australias-entire-power-grid-could-be-fueled-by-wave-power/">wave energy</a>, has been installed off the North Coast of Cornwall. Four wave energy generation devices will connect their arrays into the Hub, allowing developers to transmit and then sell their renewable <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/energy">energy</a> to the UK’s electricity distribution grid. The total capacity of the hub will be 20 MWe (megawatt electrical).<br />
The project that has cost £42 million ($64 million) will essentially be a ’socket’ sitting on the seabed for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/18/australias-entire-power-grid-could-be-fueled-by-wave-power/">wave energy</a> converters to be plugged into. It is hoped Wave Hub’s construction will make the South West of England a leading player in the global marine energy industry. Wave Hub will also see the construction 0f a sub-station built at Hayle 10 miles away. It will be situated adjacent to a connection point on the distribution network. From there, a cable will be taken through a 200m duct beneath the sand dunes and then across the sea bed to an eight square kilometre area within which the devices will be moored.<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1309502/Worlds-biggest-wave-energy-site-Cornish-coast-set-live.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0ypTu1AGi"></a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/07/wave-hub-the-worlds-largest-wave-energy-site/nnp-28_wave_hub_cables/" rel="attachment wp-att-158506"><img alt="wave hub, wave hub wave energy, wave hub RDA, wave hub cornwall,
wave hub installation, wave hub global wave energy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-158506" height="357" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/wave-hub-chamber-e1283847911966.jpg" title="Wave Hub Chamber" width="537" /></a><br />
The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has put £12.5 million into the project with £20 million coming from the <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/citiesandregions/european/europeanregionaldevelopment/">European Regional Development Fund</a> (ERDF) Convergence Programme. Another £9.5 million will come from the UK government. The scheme is expected to be operational next year and has already signed up its first wave device developer – <a href="http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/">Ocean Power Technologies Limited</a>. Fred Olsen Limited, WestWave and Oceanlinx are said to be the other three companies.<span><br />
</span></div></div></div></strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: black; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Stephen Peacock, executive director of Enterprise and Innovation at the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), said, “This milestone is the culmination of more than six years’ work by the RDA and its partners and will catapult south-west England and the UK to the forefront of wave energy development. Our aim is to create an entirely new low-carbon industry in the south west and hundreds of quality jobs.”<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/energy">Energy</a> and climate change minister, Lord Hunt, welcomed news of the construction and said that it demonstrated huge scope for wave and tidal energy around the UK’s shores. ”The south west is the UK’s first low-carbon economic area, building on its regional business opportunities and skills,” he said. “The combination of its wealth of natural marine resource and its high level of expertise in marine technology makes it an ideal location for the Wave Hub.”<br />
However while Wave Hub may be a source of national pride as well as renewable power, no-one is more proud than the RDA’s Wave Hub General Manager Guy Lavender who said, “Seeing Wave Hub lowered into the water was the culmination of more than seven years’ hard work by hundreds of people and the fact that it was designed and built in this country is testimony to the skills and experience that the UK already has in the fledgling marine renewables industry.”<br />
<span><br />
</span></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-43558551069794443762010-10-05T05:45:00.001-07:002010-10-05T05:45:18.694-07:00Bürstner Trailer Has Lessons For Living In Smaller Spaces<h1 class="entry-header" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/burstner-trailer-has-lessons-for-living-in-smaller-spaces.php"><span style="color: green;">Bürstner Trailer Has Lessons For Living In Smaller Spaces</span></a></h1><h5 class="tagline" style="font-family: Helvetica;">by Lloyd Alter</h5><div class="entry-content" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="entry-body"><div id="fb-like"><fb:like action="recommend" class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment
fb_iframe_widget" colorscheme="light" href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/burstner-trailer-has-lessons-for-living-in-smaller-spaces.php" layout="standard" show-faces="true" width="468"><span></span></fb:like></div><div id="scryve-center-column"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/averso-dining.jpg"><img alt="averso trailer caravan living with less small spaces photo interior
bed up" class="mt-image-none" height="391" src="http://www.treehugger.com/assets_c/2010/09/averso-dining-thumb-468x391-24415.jpg" width="468" /></a><br />
Those designing for small spaces can learn a lot from boats and travel trailers, particularly from European designs. Caravanning is a high-end luxury activity in Europe and some of the models put luxury yachts to shame. This <a href="http://www.buerstner.com/int/caravans/model_overview/averso_plus/overview.html?t=1&page_id=62">Bürstner Averso Plus</a> is pretty luxe, and has is advertised as the first ever with a drop-down bed. The image above is set up for dining, with the bed pulled up to the ceiling and the "chic starry sky" of LEDs visible.<br />
<div class="entry-more" id="more"><a href="" name="more"></a><img alt="averso trailer caravan living with less small spaces photo
bed down" class="mt-image-none" height="428" src="http://www.treehugger.com/averso-bed-down.jpg" width="468" /><br />
Here is is dropped down over the table, which is also on a telescoping base.<br />
<img alt="averso trailer caravan living with less small spaces photo
section" class="mt-image-none" height="253" src="http://www.treehugger.com/averso-section.jpg" width="468" /><br />
A lot of boats and travel trailers have drop-down tables where the cushions from the back of the seating are put on the table, becoming a bed, but this looks a lot more comfortable and faster, too.<br />
<img alt="averso trailer caravan living with less small spaces photo
kitchen" class="mt-image-none" height="310" src="http://www.treehugger.com/averso-to-kichen.jpg" width="468" /><br />
it is all rather nicely fitted out with lots of storage;<br />
<img alt="averso trailer caravan living with less small spaces photo
batrhoom" class="mt-image-none" height="544" src="http://www.treehugger.com/averso-batrhoom.jpg" width="437" /><br />
There are lessons in the bathroom as well, where the entire room becomes the shower stall, saving a lot of space. No idea what the thing costs, but it's on <a href="http://www.bornrich.org/entry/brstner-s-averso-plus-caravan-with-fold-down-bed-and-starry-sky-lighting/">Born Rich</a>, so it is probably expensive. More at <a href="http://www.buerstner.com/int/caravans/model_overview/averso_plus/overview.html">Bürstner</a></div></div></div></div>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688593250005758426.post-43383742331518940122010-10-05T05:44:00.002-07:002010-10-05T05:44:41.715-07:00Inspiring Green Technology That Has the Power to Heal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<div id="column1-column2-wrapper"><div id="column1"><div class="post-listing "><h1 class="post-listing-title"><span style="color: green;">Inspiring Green Technology That Has the Power to Heal</span></h1><div class="submit-info">by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/author/rebecca-paul/" title="Posts by Rebecca
Paul">Rebecca Paul</a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/leadnew/" rel="attachment wp-att-157943"></a></div><div class="post-content">One can’t deny the ever-increasing role that <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-gadgets/">technology</a> plays in our lives. While some people are averse to the spread of technology, many of us recognize the positive impact that it can have on our future and the quality of our lives. In the field of medicine, there are many scientists, doctors, engineers, and designers that are constantly pushing the bounds of what’s possible in terms of human health — and the results are inspiring. Read on for some of our favorite examples of awe-inspiring and green medical revelations!<br />
<div class="gallery"><br />
<dl class="gallery-item"><dt class="gallery-icon"></dt>
<dt class="gallery-icon"><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/leadnew/"></a> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/photovoltaic-cells-mini-solar-device-mini-photovoltaic-cells-photovoltaic-artificial-retina-artificial-retina-implant-device-stanford-university/" rel="attachment wp-att-157757"><img alt="technology, photovoltaics, Solar-powered Chip, medical, design for
health, e-waste, artifical retina implant, solar power, e-waste
recycling" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157757" height="346" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/photovoltaic-cells-mini-solar-device-mini-photovoltaic-cells-photovoltaic-artificial-retina-artificial-retina-implant-device-stanford-university.jpeg" title="photovoltaic
cells, mini solar device, mini photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic
artificial retina, artificial retina, implant device, stanford
university" width="537" /></a></dt>
</dl></div><h3><a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/29/mini-photovoltaic-device-give-sight-to-the-blind/" target="_blank">Photovoltaic Device Gives Sight to the Blind</a></h3>There is no better example of how we can use technology to create a brighter future than using <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/23/amazing-glitter-sized-photovoltaic-cells-look-like-golden-snowflakes/" target="_blank">photovoltaics</a> to help the blind see. Researchers at Stanford University recently developed a new artificial retina implant that actually uses the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-power/" target="_blank">power of the sun</a> to help give sight to the blind. Previous implants were problematic because of the challenges associated with providing enough electricity to the chip. Fortunately, with the development of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/02/organic-semiconductor-may-pave-the-way-for-paintable-electronics/" target="_blank">miniature photovoltaic cells</a>, these new implants now have the power to get the job done.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/ewaste-red-cross-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-157758"><img alt="technology, photovoltaics, Solar-powered Chip, medical, design for
health, e-waste, artifical retina implant, solar power, e-waste
recycling" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157758" height="378" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/ewaste-red-cross.jpg" title="ewaste-red-cross" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/21/lcd-televisions-transformed-into-infection-fighting-medicine/" target="_blank">LCD Televisions Transformed into Infection Fighting Medicine</a></h3>One downfall to adopting new technology is the issue of “disposing” or “not disposing” of the old stuff — e-waste has become a real problem that needs a real solution. Scientists at the <a href="http://www.york.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of York</a> have gone above and beyond finding a way to properly dispose of this waste — they’ve discovered how to recycle discarded LCD televisions into an amazing infection-fighting substance. York’s Department of Chemistry and its team of researchers successfully transformed the key element of LCD television sets – polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) – into an anti-microbial material that can fight infections – now that’s what <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/04/electronics-recycling-101-five-charities-that-accept-old-electronics/" target="_blank">e-waste recycling</a> should be.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/1-21/" rel="attachment wp-att-157759"><img alt="technology, photovoltaics, Solar-powered Chip, medical, design for
health, e-waste, artifical retina implant, solar power, e-waste
recycling" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157759" height="254" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/13.jpg" title="1" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/03/implantable-solar-powered-chip-monitors-blood-sugar-levels/" target="_blank">Implantable Solar-powered Chip Monitors Blood Sugar Levels</a></h3>Most diabetics have forever had to deal with the uncomfortable, but unavoidable need to monitor their own <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/02/new-nanoparticle-tattoos-can-constantly-monitor-glucose-levels-in-diabetics/">glucose levels</a> by drawing blood. Lucky for them, the <a href="http://www.bio-orasis.com/index.php?page=technology-2" target="_blank">Glucowizzard</a> may have eliminated much of the discomfort associated with the finger pricking ritual. This solar-powered device is a rice-sized implantable glucose <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/09/worlds-smallest-solar-powered-sensor-could-run-forever/">sensor</a> that is inserted under the patient’s skin. The device continuously monitors glucose levels and only needs to be replaced once each year.<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/wounddressing-ed02-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-157760"><img alt="technology, photovoltaics, Solar-powered Chip, medical, design for
health, e-waste, artifical retina implant, solar power, e-waste
recycling" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157760" height="422" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/wounddressing-ed02.jpg" title="wounddressing-ed02" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/08/medical-dressing-uses-nanotechnology-to-treat-infection/" target="_blank">Medical Dressing Uses Nanotechnology to Treat Infection</a></h3>Researchers at the University of Bath and the Southwest UK Paediatric Burns Center have redefined the future of wound dressing. Their amazing dressing not only stops you from bleeding…. it can also detect disease-causing pathogens. As soon as these pathogens are detected, nano-capsules in the dressing release antibiotics and change color to indicate that the medicine has been released<br />
<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/inspiring-green-technology-that-has-the-power-to-heal/sustainable-design-green-design-harvard-university-health-lung-chip-lung-on-a-chip-wyss-institute-polymers-toxics-nanotechnology/" rel="attachment wp-att-157765"><img alt="technology, photovoltaics, Solar-powered Chip, medical, design for
health, e-waste, artifical retina implant, solar power, e-waste
recycling" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157765" height="392" src="http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/09/sustainable-design-green-design-harvard-university-health-lung-chip-lung-on-a-chip-wyss-institute-polymers-toxics-nanotechnology.jpeg" title="sustainable
design, green design, harvard university, health, lung chip,
lung-on-a-chip, wyss institute, polymers, toxics, nanotechnology" width="537" /></a><br />
<h3><a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/25/living-breathing-lung-chip-provides-alternative-to-animal-testing/" target="_blank">Living, Breathing “Lung Chip” Provides Alternative to Animal Testing</a></h3>Testing chemicals to determine how safe or unsafe they are for the human body is an important part of ensuring our health. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to go about this, and animal testing is a horrific endeavor altogether. Seeking to provide a solution to this quandary, researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have developed a synthetic human lung-on-a-chip. Their transparent bite-sized device cleverly <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/17/design-inspired-by-nature-biomimicry-for-a-better-planet/">mimics</a> how a real lung breathes, and how it allows pathogens into the blood stream. With access to inspiring gadgets like this one, the ethically dubious practice of animal testing could soon be history.</div></div></div></div><span><br />
</span>Libre Inkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609782495572686299noreply@blogger.com