Sundance Channel

Green tech finds: the power-free kitchen appliances edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:42:39 +0000

Refrigerate and cook food without electricity? We've got finds this week that get you pretty close, along with mushrooms that eat plastic, and plans to reuse dirty diapers (really!). The DIY, electricity-free refrigerator: Ever heard of a zeer pot? This very old concept for keeping food chilled only requires two clay flower pots, and some sand and water to build yourself. (via @dothegreenthing) And then cook that food without power: Well, not exactly, but with a lot less power. The Wonderbag keeps food cooking after the heat's turned off, and was originally designed for very poor people who couldn't afford much fuel. (via Inhabitat)

Green tech finds, 10/20/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:17:25 +0000

Underground skyscrapers, smart windows and more problems with natural gas drilling: Your green tech finds for the week. Charge your car with your phone: Well, not exactly, but a new app developed by IBM and Swiss utility EKZ allows for better management of when your electric vehicle is charged and what sources of energy are used to charge it. Find out more in the video above. (via @greeneconpost) The grain silo hotel: While not as green as it could be (because the structures used were built for the project), Silo Stay, a nine-unit New Zealand hotel built from grain silos...

Green tech finds, 10/13/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:26:05 +0000

Teenagers build a really fast hybrid, GM's got an all-electric vehicle in the works, and Nissan has a concept for charging a car in ten minutes: your green tech finds for the week. Another EV1? Let's hope not. Chevy plans to start selling the Spark EV (above) in limited US markets in...

Green tech finds, 10/6/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:30:29 +0000

A plug-in outdoor table, and how your labtop might contribute to rainforest destruction: this week's green tech finds. Wisconsin as a microgrid hub: There's more than ugly political battles going on in the Badger State. A university-industry consortium announced an initiative to establish "microgrids" at UW campuses in Milwaukee and Madison over the next two years. (via @RepowerAmerica)

Green tech finds, 9/29/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:54:30 +0000

Lots of green tech on wheels this week: Ford's concept e-bike, Peugeot's tiny electric car, and the Air Force's big move towards EV adoption. Ford getting into the bicycle business? Maybe: the company released an e-bike concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The frame weighs in at a very light 5.5 pounds, and the electric assist motor can run for 53 miles. (via Matter Network and Rodale) The printed bicycle: The Aerospace Innovation Centre's bicycle concept on display at the London Design Festival is made from nylon and created by a process similar to 3D printing. The result: a lightweight frame that's supposedly as strong as steel. (via Do the Green Thing)

Green tech finds, 9/22/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:10:28 +0000

Roads that charge your electric car, biofuel from orange peels, and sucking CO2 out of the air - your green tech finds for the week. Look out, Volt! The plug-in Prius is here: Car hackers have been converting the Toyota Prius into a plug-in hybrid (like the Chevy Volt) for years. The Japanese automaker has finally gotten in on the trend and released a plug-in version of its popular hybrid for the 2012 model year. That's it above. (via Greenwala) Charge your electric car while driving it: The concept of "electrified roadways" that could charge electric vehicles while they're moving has been around for decades, and Japanese researchers may have now come up with a viable model. "Electrified metal plates are buried under roads, which 'up-convert' energy via a radio frequency to a steel belt inside a car’s tires, as well as to a plate sitting above the tire." (via smartplanet and @greenamericatv)

Green tech finds, 9/15/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:03:46 +0000

Pig poop, coconuts, and seaweed: all the stuff of good green tech finds this week. An affordable, fast and tip-proof electric motorcycle: Lit Motors CEO Daniel Kim claims all of those qualities come together in the C-1 concept, which could be available as early as 2013. Check it out in the video above. (via GreenTech Pastures)

Green tech finds (8/11/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:27:35 +0000

Lots of news on the car front this week, plus electronic paper, and a (partially) green-powered STAR TREK theme park in Jordan (yeah, Jordan). Lotus' wine and cheese-powered car: Okay, not exactly, but the British automaker's Exige 270E Tri-fuel concept can do 0-60 in under four seconds on ethanol made from "undrinkable wine (whew!), whey (a byproduct of making cheese), and surplus chocolate." Check it out in action above. (via The Discovery Channel) Ford getting into the solar business? Kind of. They're partnering with SunPower to offer future buyers of the company's planned electric vehicles a rooftop solar system that could power the car completely on renewable energy.

Green tech finds (7/14/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:54:37 +0000

"Brown" hybrids, super-efficient wind turbines, and a solar-powered golf bag... your green tech finds for the week.

Not all hybrids are created equal: Yep, the Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid all deliver on the value promised by this vehicle platform. But, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, there are also a number hybrid models that just aren't worth the cost, and do very little in terms of fuel efficiency... check out the video from CNET above to see the top five "brownest" hybrids.
Enterprise, Fed Ex love them some EVs: Yesterday at the National Summit on Energy Security, Andy Taylor, CEO of Enterprise Holdings (which owns Enterprise Rent-a-Car and others) and Fred Smith, CEO of Fed Ex, made impassioned arguments for ramping up vehicle electrification. Marc Gunther has the details...

Green tech finds (6/9/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:00:58 +0000

The original electric cars, a solar-powered train tunnel, and geothermal energy harvesting that also sequesters carbon... your green tech finds for the week.

Big battery breakthrough?: Researchers at MIT are redesigning batteries as "semi-solid flow cells," which could eliminate charging time issues for electric cars, as well as provide viable storage of energy generated from renewable sources. (via Grist)
Solar-powered train tunnel opens in Belgium: A two-mile stretch of train tunnel near Antwerp is now covered with solar panels, and will provide electricity for both high-speed and inter-city rail links, as well as a train station. (via AOL Travel)

Green tech finds (6/2/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:22:39 +0000

Mini electric Hummers, solar-powered prisons, and the climate risk posed by biodegradable products... this week's green tech finds.

Autodesk meets sustainability: Design/engineering software suite Autodesk has now added a tool that allows users to generate environmental impact assessments of their creations.
Biodegradable products may not be climate-friendly: Turns out that biodegradable disposable tableware and such may have a real downside -- the creation of methane in landfills (most of which aren't set up to capture the potent greenhouse gas). (via @conservationval)

Green tech finds (5/19/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:30:22 +0000

Off-grid in the Big Apple, and geothermal energy capture that doesn't cause earthquakes... your green tech finds for the week.

The recycling robot: Finnish start-up ZenRobotics claims its ZenRobotics Recycler, a robot designed to sort recyclables from other waste, has correctly identified half the materials presented to it in tests. See the "trailer" for the robot above. (via Good News from Finland)
Can electric vehicles work in car sharing programs: Electric Vehicle Update discusses the potential issues, and solutions, for incorporating EVs (with their long charging time) into "on-demand" car sharing services. (via Cleantechies)

Green tech finds (4/28/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:26 +0000

Together we all go solar. from Solar Mosaic on Vimeo.

A classic hybrid for sale, more poop to power, and solar kits at Costco... your green tech finds for the week.

Are you ready for an electric vehicle? A new smart phone app and companion website from BMW tracks your current driving habits to show whether you're ready to transition to an EV. (via Crisp Green)
Crowdfunding community solar: Berkeley company Solar Mosaic creates a marketplace for individuals to invest in (and get paid from) community solar installations. See how it works above... (via Care2)

Earth Week green tech finds (4/21/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:41:26 +0000

A new green smart phone, water from diesel, and the dirtiness of your data... your Earth Week green tech finds.

Recyclemania at Dell: The Austin, TX-based computer and electronics maker announced it recycled more than 150 million pounds of e-waste in 2010. (via GreenTech Pastures)
Google, Department of Energy mapping EV charging stations: The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with Google to map electric vehicle charging stations, along with other alternative vehicle fuels. (via Earth Techling)

Green tech finds (3/31/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:05:53 +0000

LSA In Action from Sticky Advertising on Vimeo.

Plastic made from meat wastes, and "self-charging" cell phones... these and more in this week's green tech finds.

Floating solar panels: "Offshore renewables" has generally meant wind or wave power, but an Australian company has developed a prototype for floating solar panels... and Indian company Tata Power is going to give the concept a go. Check out the Liquid Solar Array in action above. (via Calfinder's Residential Solar blog)
Plastic bottle schools: Plastic bottles get recycled into all sorts of consumer products... but the Bottle Schools Project is turning them into literal building blocks for schools in the developing world. (via Springwise and @COSEnergy)

Green tech finds (3/24/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:02:57 +0000

Lots of solar this week... plus an app for Earth Hour, and lighter footprints for U.S. embassies.

Water, water everywhere: It's World Water Week, and this cool new interactive map and tool allows you to explore water supplies and consumption by country, and to see the embodied water in a wide range of products. (via @togethergreen)
The Earth Hour app: Earth Hour 2011 is this Saturday... and this year, while the lights are off, you can check in on activities around the world with the Earth Hour iPhone app. (via The Alternative Consumer)

Green tech finds (3/17/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:43:43 +0000

Raise a glass of Guinness to St. Paddy... and to a couple of Irish green tech finds this week.

Social gaming app for saving energy: JouleBug, a social gaming iPhone app for saving energy, was released this week at SXSW.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings increase by nearly 60%: That's just one finding from this week's release of its third annual report on the top 25 cities for ENERGY STAR certified buildings.

Green tech finds (3/10/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:10:42 +0000

Lots of apps this week... for Freecycling, sharing your juice with electric vehicles drivers, and teaching the kids about rainforest ecosystems.

Organize your Freecycling: Like to search for used treasures on service like Freecycle and Freegle? The Trash Nothing online app allows you to organize your activities at various recycling groups.
i-Tree 4.0 is out: OK, this won't garner the attention of the iPad 2, but the latest update of the US Forest Service's i-Tree online tool for urban and community forest analysis features new applications for tree placement planning for individual land parcels, and "modeling the watershed-scale effects that vegetation has on local hydrology and water quality."

Green tech finds (2/10/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:56:21 +0000

Pyramid power, flying yachts, and solar soup... your green tech finds for the week.

Rent a Volt: St. Louis-based Enterprise Rent-a-Car now offers the Chevy Volt for rental at its Ontario, California branch.
The case for building efficiency: Energy efficiency measures aren't as sexy as solar panels, but Heather Clancy shows how they're paying off... which makes the Obama administration's Better Building Initiative a smart move in today's political climate.

Green tech finds (1/27/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:38:24 +0000

Electric scooters, drainwater heat recovery, and 313 mph... this week's green tech finds.

80% by 2035: Hard to think of any bigger news this week than President Obama's call for massive investment in clean energy technology... with a goal of 80% of the US' energy coming from "clean" sources by 2035. SustainableBusiness.com has some reactions to the POTUS' declaration of a "Sputnik moment."
Green foundry jobs come to Michigan: The small town of Eaton Rapids will be home to a new foundry that will produce castings for wind turbines. (via MLive)

Green tech finds (12/30/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:30:48 +0000

For our last green tech finds of the year, we've got some predictions (of course), as well as new thoughts on tobacco, and high praise for white roofs.

Green tech predictions: IBM's fifth annual "Next Five in Five" list of tech predictions has four items with a green bent, including much more efficient "breathing" batteries, and environmental data collection from all of us via our phones and other devices. (via Information Week)
Green tech hopes: Heather Clancy at GreenTech Pastures isn't going so far as to make predictions, but has a thorough list of stories she'd really like to write in 2011.

Fabio: the new face of the electric vehicle?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:58:36 +0000

If challenged to do so, you'd likely have no trouble coming up with a short list of eco-celebs: Ed Begley, Jr., Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Woody Harrelson, and, oh yeah, Robert Redford may all to come to mind. But Fabio? Yep, the Italian superhunk who's graced the covers of many a romance novel, and pitched butter substitutes, is adding his look (if not his voice) to a green cause: electric vehicles.

Green tech finds (11/11/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:39:23 +0000

Weird green tech (not!), vertical farming for real, and a new entry into the electric vehicles race... your green tech finds for the week.

Rural electrification = solar in the Philippines: The country's Department of Energy is taking bids to provide solar systems to four regions of the country not connected to the electrical grid.
Weird tech?: Newsweek has a slide show up titled "Eco Oddities"... but are wave power, algae-based biofuels, and "poop to power" (among others) really that unusual anymore?

Green tech finds (11/4/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:29:47 +0000

Lots of electric vehicle news this week, plus mushroom plastics and watching watersheds with your iPhone... this week's green tech finds.

Sun-powered transportation... in the Sunshine State: Sarasota-area beachside community Pelican Bay will be using solar-powered trams to move people around the development. (via Cleantechnica)
GE making massive EV purchase: General Electric will not only make components for electric vehicles, but plans to become the largest single purchaser of them.

Green tech finds (9/23/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:20:26 +0000

Poop-powered lighting, a shipping container office building, and the trade-in possibilities for a Chevy Volt battery... your green tech finds for the week.

The affordable EV: Lots of green tech news coming out of this week's meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, including GreenTech Automotive's announcement that it will sell the first 100,ooo of its MyCar neighborhood electric vehicles at a discounted price of $10,000. (via TMCnet)
Dog-powered lamps: Specifically, dog poop powered... part artistic statement, part green tech, the Park Spark Project gives Cambridge, MA, dog walkers the opportunity to power a outdoor lamp with their dog's "leftovers".... (via Green Upgrader)

Green tech finds (9/16/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:07:42 +0000

Sell your e-waste, build your own e-bike, and get your Fritos from electric vehicles... your green tech finds for the week.

Green tech patent information goes online: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched its IPC Green Inventory today, which consolidates information on patents and patent applications involving "environmentally sound technology" into one database. (via eGov Monitor)
Middle Eastern mud buildings: Arwa Aburawa at Green Prophet takes note of some of the phenomenal (and sustainable) mud buildings in the Middle East (like the one above).

Green tech finds (9/9/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:15:06 +0000

A bee beard for David Cameron, subway energy harvesting, and using search technology to identify endangered species... this week's green tech finds.

The Wolverine solar cell: Researchers at MIT actually looked to plants, not the X-Men, when creating a solar cell that "heals" its own UV damage.
Tweet for the honey bees: British marketing firm LBi has created a "twittition" (Twitter petition) to support honey bee populations in the UK. Each tweet added to the petition adds a bee to a "bee beard" on a likeness of Prime Minister David Cameron (shown above).

Green tech finds (9/2/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:59:06 +0000

Lots of energy news and ideas this week, as well as another big green crowdsourcing project, and reviving wetlands with sewage... your green tech finds.

Another cell phone sustainability study: Market research firm IDC came up with quite different results on cell phone sustainability from O2... but focused on companies vs. phones themselves. Apple comes out on top in this one, followed by LG and Nokia. (via The Boston Globe)
Harnessing gravity power: Gravitational Energy Corporation claims its Feltenberger Pendulum works through hand-power and gravity. The company's first product, a water pump, could prove indispensable for areas of the developing world, as well as post-disaster relief. See how it's working in Haiti in the video above...

Green tech finds (8/19/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:52:52 +0000

A zero-emissions race around the world, whiskey biofuel, and more... your green tech finds for the week.

Energy efficient motors mean green jobs in Arkansas: Electrocraft, Inc. has announced it will start producing energy efficient electric motors for heating and air conditioning units in its Searcy, Arkansas plant. This means 55 new green jobs for the small town.
Cell phone tech meets data centers: Data centers (aka server farms) suck up a lot of energy. Start-up Smooth-Stone thinks it can cut that power use by applying "low-power cell phone technology to servers..." A number of VCs think they can do it, and have provided $48 million in funding.

Green tech finds (7/29/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:49:58 +0000

Lots of vehicle news this week... from greener AC to electric vehicles for rent. Here are your green tech finds.

A new model for solar cells -- blowfly eyes: A team of researchers at Penn State thinks blowfly corneas could provide a viable model for solar cells (via Discovery News)
Climate-friendly air conditioning for your car: GM plans to roll out a new air conditioning refrigerant in 2013 which performs 99.7% better in terms of greenhouse gas impact than current HFCs. (via Green Tech Pastures)

Green tech finds (7/15/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:00:43 +0000

Fishy iPhone apps, soy car parts, and another solar Air Force base... this week's green tech finds.

Sustainable seafood and wine? There's an app for that... The Blue Ocean Institute and Brancott have launched the free Fishphone iPhone app, which not only provides sustainable seafood information on the go, but also suggest wine pairings.
The eco-travel planner: The Rainforest Alliance has beta launched its new sustainable travel guide and planner, SustainableTrip.org. Currently focused on south of the border destinations, the site features tour operators, hotels, restaurants and other amenities that have been certified by reputable NGOs.

Green tech finds (7/8/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:04:42 +0000

Industrial hemp... you can't smoke it, but, apparently, you can run your car on it. That and more at this week's green tech finds.

Recycle your iPod, buy an iPhone 4: Apparently, that's what a lot of people are thinking. UK recyclables buyer MoPay has seen a 70% surge in iPod recycling since the release of the new iPhone. (via IT Pro Portal)
The solar smart phone: Puma's new smart phone can run on solar power, and displays how much energy a user is saving when in sun power mode. Unfortunately, it's only available in Europe right now... (via Springwise)

Green tech finds (7/2/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Summer's here, it's hot, and so, naturally, we've got lots of solar news in this week's green tech finds...

Fuel-efficient driving on your iPhone: Consumer Reports' new listing of smart phone apps for drivers includes Greenmeter, an iPhone app that "...monitors your driving and displays your car's mpg, fuel cost, and carbon emissions."
Is that a secret for more efficient solar cells in your pants...? No, not a really bad, geeky joke: researchers at Cornell have discovered a specific molecule "in blue jeans and some ink dyes" that could be used to build frameworks for cheaper solar cells. (via Treehugger)

Green tech finds

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:00:16 +0000

Is the iPhone 4 green? That, and other questions answered, in this week’s green tech finds. Prize-winning biomimicry: Technology Academy Finland has awarded its biannual Millennium Technology Prize to Swiss scientist Michael Grätzel for his development of the dye sensitized solar cell, a cheaper alternative to photovoltaics that mimics photosynthesis. See the video above for details. (via [...]

Green tech finds (5/13/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:05:14 +0000

AbundantWater.org [An Open Source Approach to Clean Drinking Water] from AbundantWater.org on Vimeo.

Cajun-style oil spill clean-up, solar powered iPod speakers, and beer cans that convert to cups... your green tech finds for the week.

Low-tech oil clean-up: Louisiana shrimper Alex Pellegrin didn't wait for others to come up with ideas for cleaning up the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Using shrimp netting and "blue roof" tarp, he designed a prototype for an oil skimmer.
Mayans were the OGBs: That's "Original Green Builders." Archaeologists, with help from NASA, "...have 'unearthed' a complete ancient Mayan city that employed a system of green urban architecture."

Green tech finds (3/25/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:23:39 +0000

Is the solution to carbon capture sitting in your conditioner bottle? This, and more, at this week's green tech finds.

Biomimicry and boat-building: We noted earlier this week that David de Rothschild set sail on the Plastiki. Designer Michael Pawlyn explains how biomimicry played into the creation of this boat made from plastic bottles.
A greener web: Greentouch, a consortium of academic and corporate partners, is exploring methods to make the internet, and other computer networks, much more energy efficient.
Another greener smart phone: Sprint has unveiled its LG Remarq at the International CTIA Wireless Show. The phone features some recycled materials, and meets RoHS standards; its charger is even ENERGY STAR certified. (via TFTS)

Green tech finds (3/11/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:04:29 +0000

Homes wired for electric vehicles, artificial islands, and floating power plants... here are your green tech finds for this week.

Dell's new Optiplex -- most efficient desktop ever? According to Jaymi Heimbach at Treehugger, the new 980 model is, as it features a 90% efficient power supply, meets ENERGY STAR 5.0 standards, and has earned an EPEAT Gold rating.
No more downcycling for plastic? That's what researchers at IBM and Stanford claim their new development in plastic production does: the material can be continuously recycled. See the video above... (via Green Inc.)

Green tech finds (1/21/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:47:18 +0000

Glitter-sized solar panels, green electronics, and cow fat... your green tech finds.

Lubing your engine with cow fat: Green Earth Technologies' G-OIL, a "bio-oil" created from cow fat, has been named the official motor oil of green racing series American Le Mans.
Design your own electric vehicle: Trexa has created a concept platform for electric vehicles, which could allow specialty vehicle developers to create cars much like tech developers create iPhone apps (via Auto Blog Green)

Green tech finds (1/14/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:54:28 +0000

We've still got a ways to go until Spring, but we do have baseball and beer for you at this week's green tech finds:

A green Mercedes on the way?: We'll have to see, but Daimler, the brand's owner, says it plans to challenge BMW's supremacy in the "green luxury" market by putting half of its $6.4 R&D budget for 2010 into green tech.
Rainwater recycling comes to baseball: The Minnesota Twins' new stadium will feature a rainwater collection and purification system. The water will be used for washing down stands and irrigating the fields (see the video above). (via CNET Green Tech)

Sundance environmental films: energy

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:40:19 +0000

CAN YOU DO THIS WITH YOUR TAP WATER? from JOSHFOX on Vimeo.

Imagine receiving a lucrative offer from an energy company to drill for natural gas on property you own. Would you take it? What would that drilling mean in terms of environmental quality for the land itself and the surrounding community? Filmmaker Josh Fox received such an offer, and his documentary GASLAND, which has its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, explores the impact of gas extraction, especially the process of "fracking," and the environmental consequences that can come from the quest for this "clean" energy source.

Green tech finds (12/31/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:34:46 +0000

Your last green tech finds of '09... enjoy!

The obligatory New Year prediction: 2010 will be a banner year for clean technology, according to investment bank Jeffries, and Greentech Media. Places to watch include Finland and South Korea.
Tetris meets SimCity meets urban planning: That's the basic idea between new strategy game City Rain (and that's a screenshot above). (via sustainablog)

Green tech finds (11/19/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:33 +0000

Want your phone to sound like a woodpecker? Got'cha covered... that and more at this week's green tech finds.

Scots get paid to recycle: British supermarket chain Tesco has been testing out Tomra recycling machines (which "pays" recyclers with reward points) at one branch in Edinburgh, and is so happy with the results that its expanding its offerings to another store... with more planned.
Research product sustainability right in the store: GoodGuide has released an iPhone app that "...lets you scan bar codes for what the guide calls "impartial" health, environmental, and social responsibility ratings of not only the products you are scanning but their companies, too." (via CNET Health Tech)

Green tech finds (10/29/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:23:59 +0000

Wind-powered techies, energy-capturing pavement, and DIY hybrid electric sports cars... it's time for your weekly green tech finds.

This light rocks: Literally... kinetic energy from rocking the Murakami chair powers an attached OLED lamp. (via Gizmodo)
Plug-ins aren't so weird: CNET editor Martin LaMonica takes note of the strides automakers are taking to make electric vehicles perform in a similar manner to their gas-powered counterparts.

Green tech finds (8/6/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:34:32 +0000

Green tech galore... here are this week's finds.

Smart car charging comes to San Diego: If you envision freeloading friends trying to charge their cars up at your place in the future, fear not: as a part of its testing of car-charging stations, San Diego will have participants use a Plug Smart "intelligent charger" that makes sure the drivers get the bill for the electricity.
Package delivery by UrbanMole: Both Fed-Ex and UPS (among others) are doing there best to green up their operations. Designer Phillip Hermes' UrbanMole concept would take the trucks off of the street completely with a "capsule-like device ... that travels through an underground pipe network that transports packages of all stripes." (via Cleantechnica)

Green tech finds (7/30/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:13:54 +0000

From Spain to Toledo, green tech stories are popping up everywhere. Here's your round-up for the week.

Electric vehicles are winners on CO2 emissions: DVICE crunches the numbers, and finds that, even when electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, EVs produce less CO2 than gas-powered cars. (via AutoBlog Green)
Solar Mudhens: Rust-belt poster child Toledo, OH, is on its way to reinventing itself as a hub of solar manufacturing.

Green tech finds (7/23/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:09:38 +0000

Beer and gas? Sound like a National Lampoon movie... but it's your green tech finds for the week.

Fart-powered fuel cells? Sort of... Danbury, Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy recently installed two fuel cell power plants at food processor Gills Onions that "...create electricity using old onions and a process that mimics how the human body expels gas"
Solar-powered parking: Austin, Texas is replacing traditional parking meters with "pay stations [that] are solar-powered, take credit cards, debit cards and coins, and will replace the 3,800 outdated single-space parking meters around the city."

Green tech finds (7/10/09)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:53:47 +0000

Techies rejoice! Here's your weekly run-down of some of the cooler green tech stories out there...

Free energy? There's a ton of it out there -- 7 quadrillion BTUs -- in the form of wasted heat. The Department of Energy has announced funding opportunities for R&D on how to tap this massive source of energy. (via Cleantechnica)
NYC -- the wind energy capital? It seems counterintuitive, but the Carnegie Institution and California State University have found that high-altitude winds, which are concentrated over the Big Apple (among other places), "contain enough energy to meet world demand 100 times over." (via Green Living Ideas)