Sundance Channel

Green tech finds: the monster trade shows edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:44:16 +0000

CES and the Detroit Auto Show are going on this week, and we've got finds from both! The tiny electric pick up: Need to haul stuff? You won't get much into the Smart For-Us, but, as Charis Michelsen at Gas 2.0 points out, it's awfully cute, and may serve the actual hauling needs of most truck drivers. Your plants are Tweeting: And they're thirsty. That's right: the Botanicalls gadget (not sure what else to call it) sends you a tweet when your plants need watering. Only marginally green, but kind of cool. (via Crisp Green)

Green tech finds: Wildlife goes virtual, Farmville gets real

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:09:28 +0000

Assembly lines rolling out the Focus Electric: Think Nissan's the only game in town for a true electric vehicle? Not anymore: Ford's started production of its 2012 Focus Electric in Michigan. (via @edbegleyjr) Ranger Rick comes to the iPhone: Your kids bug you to play games on your smartphone? The National Wildlife Federation has created a way to make sure they're learning something. The new Ranger Rick mobile apps provide games for kids as young as 2 (yes, 2!) to sharpen their knowledge about wild animals.

Green tech finds: Recycled guitars and impromptu speakers

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:46:54 +0000

Cool concept cars and planes, speakers that turn ordinary objects into amplifiers, and the potential environmental cost of washing your jacket: this week's green tech finds. Honda's very cool, very light electric concept vehicle: Unfortunately, "concept" often means we'll never see one on the road. Still, Honda's EV-STER (which rolled out last week at the Tokyo Auto Show, and is pictured above) shows the company combining electric power with light weight (through lots of body elements made from carbon) and sweet styling; maybe they'll keep thinking this way as they work towards new production vehicles. (via Earth Techling)

Can’t afford a hybrid? How about a car conversion?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:20:16 +0000

Gone out to kick the tires, or perhaps test drive a Prius, Volt, or LEAF? In some areas of the country you may not have been able to find one; In those where you could, the sticker price may have you rethinking this whole "going green" thing. Even with various state and federal tax incentives, a new hybrid or electric vehicle will likely set you back over $20,000. So maybe this time you buy the conventional subcompact and hope the prices come down next time you're on the car market?

Green tech finds – 7/28/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:46:54 +0000

(Fe) Catalytic Clothing from Protein® on Vimeo.

We get a little more fashionable than usual in this week's green tech finds: from Linda Loudermilk's compostable bikini, to a cutting-edge design for an RV (really!), to air-purifying clothing. The film set trailer goes green: King Kong Production claims its Helios Solar Hybrid Production Trailer can run a full day on the built-in solar and biodiesel generators. So, no fossil emissions from a pampered celeb who's late to set. The sleek, all-electric RV: Okay, you likely never associate words like "sleek" or "cutting edge" with recreational vehicles, but NAU's Ecco Camper may just change that. (via Crisp Green)

Green tech finds (5/5/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:51:12 +0000

Blimps, chicken feathers, and viruses... your green tech finds for the week.

The 10,000 year heat pump: Heat pumps aren't sexy; they are, however, an incredibly efficient technology means of heating and cooling buildings. Researchers in Norway are experimenting with a new, more simple design framework that they think will create a heat pump with a "dramatically longer life." (via @adamwerbach)
Tracking e-waste: Where do your old electronics end up? The basement? The trash? Or in a developing country for "recycling?" The UN's StEP project wants to find out, and the US EPA has provided them with $2.5 million to track US electronic waste. (via @TerracomChicago)

Green tech finds (2/24/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:57:01 +0000

Going off-grid as economic necessity, quiet compostable chip bags, and green beer... your green tech finds for the week.

Green beer in the Last Frontier: Juneau-based Alaskan Brewing Company faces some relatively unique challenges and costs in making its beer... and has implemented some relatively unique green technology (for a craft brewer, anyway) to keep a lid on both economic and environmental costs. (via Utne Reader)
Adjust the thermostat with your phone: ecobee, the makers of the Smart Thermostat, now offer an Android app that allows you to remotely adjust your home's temperature.

Green tech finds (11/18/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:52:01 +0000

Gardening apps, high-speed rail, and electric vehicles made from electronic waste... this week's green tech finds.

Finnish culture meets green building: Traditional Finnish building involves a lot of wood, and the Luukku House design combines this tradition with solar energy, high-efficiency windows, and other "green" features. The design has won awards from both the Finnish Timber Council and Solar Decathlon Europe. (via Good News from Finland)
Onsite composting for restaurants: GaiaRecycle's new G-30H provides onsite composting for restaurants and schools... no need to have those food scraps hauled away (or -- shudders -- throw them in the trash).

Green tech finds (10/28/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:34:06 +0000

Electricity from beer, DIY electric bikes, and purple wind turbines... it's green tech finds time!

Beer power: Suffolk, UK's Adnam's Brewery will be contributing waste to an anaerobic digestion plant which will create enough power for 235 homes in the area. (via Green Upgrader)
Florida utility offers solar hot water option: Lakeland Electric became the first utility company in the country to offer fixed-rate solar hot water service this week. (via The Ledger)

Green tech finds (8/26/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:19:17 +0000

Hemp cars, pedal-powered submarines, and lots of wave power... this week's green tech finds.

Harnessing the surge: Finnish company AW-Energy is building a test plant in Portugal for its Waveroller concept, which "utilizes the so-called surge phenomenon found on ocean coasts." (via Good News from Finland)
More wave power: Ocean Renewable Power Company is testing out the wave power potential for the US Coast Guard's station in Eastbrook, Maine.

Green tech finds (2/18/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:10:18 +0000

Wave power, robots, and solar roads… it’s time for this week’s green tech finds. Use your iPhone to argue climate science: Gotten into yet another argument with your conservative brother-in-law about the facts surrounding climate change, and need support fast? There’s an app for that… (via The Guardian) Wave power coming to the Pacific Northwest: [...]

Green tech finds (9/11/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:41:34 +0000

Tree-power and homemade submarines... all that and more in your green tech finds for the week.

Google... the solar company?: The company announced on Wednesday that it's "working to develop its own new mirror technology that could reduce the cost of building solar thermal plants by a quarter or more."
Wind power from the air conditioner: Renewable energy company EarthSure has announced its WindAir system, which is designed to "[transform] the exhausted air flow from central air conditioning units into a source of renewable, clean energy."

Project P.U.M.A: a greener solution for urban mobility?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:00:49 +0000

With two seats, two wheels, and a maximum range of 25-35 miles (at 25-35 mph), the P.U.M.A. (which stands for Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) won’t work for your next road trip. But this new concept vehicle, a joint project of GM and Segway, may be just the ticket for the driving most of us [...]

This Week’s BIG IDEAS Webisode: DRIVE

Sundance Channel — Tue, 22 May 2007 23:00:00 +0000

On May 22nd, the theme on THE GREEN is “DRIVE”. Of consummate importance to nearly all Americans, driving motor vehicles has been central to the fulfillment of the “American Dream”. The road trip is a classic tradition that is still going strong today. Now that fossil fuels are tied together with terrorism, the war in [...]