Sundance Channel

Green tech finds: from solar power to the Super Bowl

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:51:54 +0000

Super Bowl Sunday is coming up, and while I don't pay enough attention to say whether it'll be a good game, it will definitely be a green(er) game. That, plus cooler roofs for more efficient solar power, and a very quick look at over a century of global warming: your green tech finds for the week. Buy renewable energy for your Volt: While the arguments about the energy sources for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are generally really overblown and oversimplified, many EV drivers do want the cleanest power they can get for their vehicles. So, GM is developing a system for its OnStar platform that would notify Volt drivers when there's renewable energy available on the grid so they could plug in at the right time. (via Earth 911) What does global warming look like? If you're thinking big picture in response to that question, the folks at NASA have released a video that shows 131 years of global temperature fluctuations in 26 seconds. (via Climate Central and @NRDC)

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: Architects to the rescue!

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:22:14 +0000

Can good design save the world? Well, maybe the Great Lakes, anyway. That, plus community-based solar, clothing recycling, and more: your green tech finds for the week. The DIY bike seat: Ever wanted a second seat on your bicycle, without investing in a tandem? Or just carrying space without a trailer? Israeli designer Yael Livneh has you covered with his concept made from a used plastic milk crate. He's entered the concept in Designboom's Seoul Cycle Design competition. (via Unconsumption and @dothegreenthing) Occupy the sun: We generally think of solar power as something that individual home and building owners do, but Francesca Rheannon at CSRWire takes a look at community-based efforts to adopt solar technology.

Green tech finds: Earthships and solar get affordable

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:17:11 +0000

Think "green tech" automatically means "expensive?" Nope: costs are dropping on everything from Earthships to solar power. An affordable Earthship: I've been in love with the Earthship building concept for years, but no way I'd ever be able to afford one. That may be changing, though: the "Simple Survival" model Earthship is designed to provide the amenities of these self-sufficient structures without the "mortgage bondage." Check it out above.

Woodstock Jews mark Hanukkah with solar-powered menorah

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:56:14 +0000

No winter holiday lends itself to environmental discussions quite as well as Hanukkah: getting eight days' use out of one day of oil (the miracle on which the celebration is based) inevitably leads to discussions of efficiency and conservation. Numerous Jewish organizations have recognized this connection, and organized a variety of "green Hanukkah" celebrations in recent years involving everything from CFLs to recycled menorahs.

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)

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, 9/15/11

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, 9/8/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:21:05 +0000

Harvesting runner power, turning plastic back into oil and becoming a (virtual) upcycling magnate: your green tech finds for the week. Charge your phone with your shoes: If you run or walk regularly, you're creating mechanical energy that's going to waste. The Instep Nanopower concept offers a way to capture that power and transfer it to electronic devices via wi-fi. (via Inhabitat and @EcoverUS) Become a Trash Tycoon on Facebook: Tired of Farmville? Guerillaapps new Facebook-based social game Trash Tycoon (which is sponsored by upcycling company Terracycle) gives you the opportunity to build a virtual recycling empire. (via Crisp Green)

Green tech finds, 9/1/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:11:45 +0000

Lots of building tech this week, from shipping container "farms" to a net-zero rehab to a "living building" in Seattle. Shipping containers as mini farms?: Is there anything you can't do with used shipping containers? Atlanta-based PodPonics turns them into small hydroponic "farms" for growing food near the point of sale. (via Triplepundit) Solar collector by day, light display by night: Move over, Jumbotron! Industrial designer Meidad Marzan's Urban Tiles concept combines solar panels and OLED panels that can be installed on the outside of buildings in an array, and which "flip" to shift from solar collector to advertising display, big screen television, or even a massive artistic canvas. (via Inhabitat)

Green tech finds: the Quirky edition, 8/25/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:30:42 +0000

Next week, the new series Quirky debuts on the Sundance Channel. We've featured lots of quirky ideas in the weekly green tech finds posts over the past two years, so in anticipation of the show I thought I'd go back to some of our most innovative (or, at least, most unusual) finds. And if you've just got to have the latest, we've got a few new ones, too.

New Chicago green building brings lighter footprint to food distribution

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:47:22 +0000

While I don't have numbers at my fingertips, I'd be willing to bet that most new LEED certified commercial buildings fall into the office space category: corporate headquarters or other buildings in which lots of people work behind desks. There's nothing wrong with that; These structures certainly use plenty of energy and water, and elements of green building such as the focus on daylighting and air quality make for more pleasant and productive workplaces. But what about those buildings where products are manufactured, processed and/or distributed? In many cases, these are the real resource hogs sorely in need of, at the very least, a good green retrofitting. And new structures built around resource efficiency can be real cost savers for their owners.

Green tech finds – 8/18/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:17:46 +0000

Old school shipping, CO2 as a source of fuel and yet another new solar technology for charging your phone: this week's green tech finds. Another recycling robot: While not as directly practical as the ZenRobotics Recycler we mentioned in an earlier post, Florida Robotics' Dr. R.E. Cycler is designed for educational purposes - essentially, to show kids what happens to the aluminum cans that go into those blue bins. Take a quick look at it above. (via Fast Company and @TaigaCompany)

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: 8/4/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:10:21 +0000

Would you live in an old Hummer? Could solar power be available even when the sun's not shining? These and other questions answered in this week's green tech finds. Harvesting ambient energy with paper antennas: Researchers at Georgia Tech are experimenting with pulling electromagnetic energy from the air with "antennas" printed on paper with inkjet technology. (via Grist) Biodegradable sneakers that sprout flowers: Amsterdam-based OAT Shoes creates sneakers that not only biodegrade in soil, they even have wildflower seeds embedded in the tongue, so you can add to your garden once the shoes are worn out. (via Yahoo! Green)

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)

Renewable energy as art: the Bakken Museum’s Green Energy Art Garden

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:12:37 +0000

The Sonic Articulation of Sunbeams from Ben Moren on Vimeo.

A solar array, or a wind farm, can certainly have aesthetic appeal... but the visual interplay between the technology and its surroundings, or the beauty inherent in those panels and turbines themselves, usually isn't high on the priority list of installers. The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis, which is dedicated to "exploring the mysteries of our electric world," thought that beauty needed further exploration... and commissioned local artists to create works that "demonstrate a new, creative approach to using alternative energy sources."

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 (7/7/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:34:32 +0000

Skiing down a Danish incinerator, seaweed for biofuels, and a solar unit that can save the lives of mothers in the developing world… your green tech finds for the week. The solar suitcase: Alexis Madrigal of The Atlantic takes a look at the WE CARE Solar Suitcase, a compact solar power unit designed specifically for [...]

California’s Butte College hits first in the nation solar milestone

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:32:42 +0000

Colleges and universities are hot spots for renewable energy installation and experimentation. From on-site energy generation to educational programs designed to train students for clean energy careers, schools are right up there with start-ups in terms of pushing renewable technology towards mainstream use. Last week, a community college district in Northern California set a new standard for renewable energy use in higher education, though: Butte College became the first "grid positive" school in the nation.

Green tech finds (6/30/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:21:59 +0000

A car designed by teenagers that gets nearly 2000 mpg, white roofs for New York City, and how your DVR is jacking up your electric bill... this week's green tech finds.

Puma's "clever little bag" is biodegradeable: We mentioned Puma's alternative to the shoe box back in April of 2010; PSFK reports that the bags will also be compostable (or, if you're impatient, they'll dissolve in water in a few minutes). (via Environmental Leader)
The 2000 mpg car? OK, not quite... this design by students at Kingdown School in Warminster, UK got a mere 1,980 mpg. That was more than enough for it to win the Mileage Marathon Challenge at Mallory Park track near Leicester. (via Inhabitat)

Green tech finds

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:30:52 +0000

eople-powered gyms, transmitting from turtles in Illinois, and combining flies and poop for good use... your green tech finds for the week.

The open-source solar concentrator: Designer Eerik Wissenz claims that his Solar Fire open source solar concentrator concept can harvest power at ten times cheaper than photovoltaics. Check it out in the video above... (via Earth Techling)
New university trend -- the human-powered gym: Powering exercise and recreation facilities with energy harvested from workout equipment is catching on at universities... the Sustainable Cities Collective takes a closer look at Drexel University's approach.

Green tech finds (6/16/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:00:33 +0000

A pedal-powered helicopter, a very low-tech speaker for your iPhone made from bamboo, and an online map of solar power potential for NYC... your green tech finds for the week.

The pedal-powered helicopter: Think it's impossible to achieve this kind of flight on human power alone? Engineering students at the University of Maryland managed to get off the ground for 4.2 seconds (a US national record) in their Gamera helicopter. See more about the project in the video above. (via Crisp Green)
Reused wine bottles: New company Wine Bottle Renew claims it can clean pre-consumer wine bottles (from tasting rooms and manufacturers) to the point where they're better than new... and cheaper, also. (via Earth 911)

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)

Solar clothing: from the beach to the runway

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:51:57 +0000

Got to have your gadgets with you when you hit the beach? Need your tunes with you while you sunbathe, or don't want to miss calls? Fear not: designer Andrew Schneider's solar bikini (which first received attention in the concept stage) has hit the market (only for custom orders, though). Yes, you can swim in it (though you need to dry off before connecting any gadgets), and yes, there's a version for guys on the way (that includes a solar-powered beer-cooling coozy).

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 (5/26/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:51:52 +0000

Diaper-eating mushrooms, recycled oil booms, and global warming's effects on your wi-fi signal... this week's green tech finds.

Solar and wind power for apartment dwellers: Jonathan Globerson's Greenerator concept allows apartment dwellers to harvest both wind and solar power from their balconies. (via Inhabitat)
GM recycling oil booms into Volt parts: Lots of oil booms left over from last year's BP oil spill. Instead of letting them get tossed into landfills, GM is collecting these materials and recycling them into air-deflecting baffles for the Chevy Volt. (via Earth 911)

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)

DC-area African American church goes solar

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:20:47 +0000

A church installing solar panels... not all that unusual these days, right? Maybe not, but for Washington, DC's Florida Avenue Baptist Church, the recent ribbon-cutting on a 44 panel solar array represents more than "going green" and cutting energy costs: it's also a way to address issues of energy and environmental justice and economic stagnation in the local community.

Green tech finds (5/12/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 12 May 2011 18:15:41 +0000

Car parts made from dandelions, "flying" trains, and power-producing toilets... this week's green tech finds.

A field guide for tree species... on your phone: The new Leafsnap app allows you to identify species of trees simply by taking a picture of a leaf. Users can also share images and locations, making for potentially useful data on tree species. (via Grist and The Guardian)
Car parts made from dandelions: The "milky-white substance that seeps from dandelion roots" may work as a sustainable source of "rubber" for car parts such as cup holders and floor mats. Ford and The Ohio State University are experimenting...

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 (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)

The carbon-neutral, ultra-modern tiny house: The Cube Project

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:07:26 +0000

A tour of the Cube from Mike Page on Vimeo.

Think you could live in 100 square feet? Certainly, you'd have to do without some basic amenities, right... because you couldn't cram a kitchen, bath, bedroom, and living/dining area into that small a space?

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 (4/14/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:33 +0000

Lots of solar news this week... from a new efficiency record, to solar company corporate responsibility rankings, to a DIY solar cooker.

Solar powered washing machines: They're just one part of a test to see if people are ready for the smart grid in Breda, The Netherlands. (via Crisp Green)
ENERGY STAR certification for senior facilities: Living and care facilities for elders are now among new commercial building types eligible for ENERGY STAR certification (via Earth Techling)

Home solar power offers affordable, safe electricity in Cambodia

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:54 +0000

In the developed world, renewable energy technologies have to compete with existing infrastructure based on fossil fuels or nuclear power. In the developing world, however, power grids and centralized power stations are often in poor shape or non-existent, so technologies like solar and wind play on a much more level playing field. Cambodia's grid was relatively primitive from the start, and decades of warfare have degraded it even further; as a result, over 11 million people have no access to it. In this kind of setting, solar power often works as a safe, affordable means of providing the most basic electric "luxury": lighting.

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 (3/3/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:23:30 +0000

An electric unicycle, iPad recycling, and creating your own bike lane on the go... this week's green tech finds.

California farmers leading the way on renewables: According to the USDA's new On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey, "California farms and ranches now make up more than 20 percent of all operations in the nation with solar, wind and methane digester use." (via Calfinder's Residential Solar blog)
Harvesting energy from slow tides: That's the concept behind Minesto UK's Deep Green technology, a "kite-like device [which] is tethered to the seabed and is steered by a rudder, which allows it to adjust the speed at which water enters the turbine." The UK's Carbon Fund has awarded Minesto £350,000 to test the device.

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 (1/13/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:31:54 +0000

From green tech at the auto show in Detroit to a potential standard for eco cell phones... your green tech finds for the week.

Green tech in Detroit: Lots of green technology at the North American International Auto Show; The Street gives a run-down of seven developments worth watching...
Crowdsourced environmental video: Dialogue Earth, an organization tied to the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, has completed a pilot involving "crowdsourcing" environmental science video content (specifically on ocean acidification). See the winner above...

Gabby Giffords: Congress’ voice for solar power

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:32:26 +0000

No doubt most of us are still experiencing some shock after Saturday's mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, which took the lives of six people, and wounded 14, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Dignitaries from President Obama to Arizona governor Jan Brewer have spoken highly of Giffords' work ethic, passion, and common-sense approach to policy.

Green tech finds (1/6/11)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:17:31 +0000

The mother of all electronics trades shows -- CES -- starts today, so lots of new on that front this week... plus another green Groupon, and hornets that harvest solar power.

CES' green cred for real?: CES is promoting itself as green this year; Heather Clancy at GreenTech Pastures and Matthew Wheeland at Greenbiz dig into the claims, and the impact, of the monster trade show.
Bob Marley comes to CES: The House of Marley, a company founded by the legendary musician's family, is debuting its eco-friendly lines of earbuds, headphones, and docks at CES.

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.

Green tech finds (12/23/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:19:26 +0000

Because green tech never takes a holiday... your finds for the week.

Biodegradable Styrofoam: Styrofoam is a great insulating material... but is made from a nasty chemical mix that doesn't break down. AeroClay blends milk proteins and clay to create the insulation benefits of Styrofoam (along with strength and light weight) without the waste impact. (via Springwise)
Are wind turbines good for crops? Preliminary research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory suggest that might be the case... see the video above. (via GreenTech Pastures)

Green tech finds (12/16/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:17:29 +0000

Plastic bottles you can eat, a tiny solar home, and hybrid street sweepers… this week’s green tech finds. Audi’s green history: You likely associate the phrase “green cars” with Toyota and Honda; Denis Duquet at The Car Guide thinks Audi should be on that list, also… More bang from your bike: Fandi Meng’s I-Green battery [...]

Green tech finds (12/9/10)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:44:43 +0000

Fuel cells, iPhone apps, and chicken coops... this week's green tech finds.

The fuel cell that does... everything: Think fuel cells are just for energy? Think again... researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, are working on a microbial fuel cell that desalinates and cleans wastewater... in addition to producing electricity. (via Cleantechnica)
Border checkpoint to feature Living Machine: The US General Services Administration has approved a Living Machine wastewater treatment system for the border crossing point at Otay Mesa, California. That's an artist's rendering above... (via Water and Waste Water)