Green tech finds (6/17/10)
From low-tech lawn mowing to high-speed rail, we’ve got your run-down of some of the cool green tech stories from the week.
- Industrial-strength rainwater harvesting: Seattle-area healthcare laundry service Sterile Surgical Systems has cut their massive water footprint significantly with a combination of rainwater harvesting and water treatment and recycling. (via Seattle Times)
- Low-tech trike mower: PrintCollection uncovered a 1984 patent for a pedal-powered lawn mower… perhaps it’s time to bring this one into production (via Buck’s Weird News Blog)
- Carbon negative ethanol? That’s what ethanol producer Poet claims an independent lifecycle analysis of its new commercial cellulosic ethanol plant shows.
- Military micro-grids: The US Army will be testing out a micro-grid power generation systems produced by Honeywell (via Environmental Leader)
- US high-speed rail no longer a pipe dream? There’s still a ways to go, but the US Department of Transportation is doling out grant money for rail projects in a number of states. (via Earth & Industry)
- Charge your phone… with your boots: Orange Power Wellies generate electricity from foot heat… and can be used to charge up your phone on the go — see how they work in the image above. They’ll be featured at the upcoming Glastonbury Festival. (via GreenUpgrader)
- New homes feature solar leasing: Builder Lannar Homes has introduced a solar leasing option on new homes in central and southern California. (via Calfinders Solar Blog)
- Solar-powered fridge designed to store vaccines: A new solar-powered refrigerator design for storing vaccines in the developing world is competing in the NASA Tech Briefs Create The Future Contest. (via Ecogeek)
Got a good greenie techie story to share? Do it… leave us a comment.
MORE FROM SUSTAINABLOG:
- How energy-saving light bulbs could close hundreds of coal power plants.
- Ready to step up to solar power? Check out our selection of solar panels in the Green Choices product comparison engine.
Image credit: Orange
