Aesop Aoyama by Schemata Architecture Office
by: Dezeen, 2010-12-23 18:15:28 UTC
Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka of Schemata Architecture Office used materials reclaimed from a demolished house for the interior of this Tokyo shop for Australian skincare brand Aesop. (more…)
Minimalist Effect in the Maximalist Market by Antrepo
by: Dezeen, 2010-12-22 18:44:53 UTC
Designers Antrepo have created conceptual packaging design for well-known supermarket products by stripping back the existing graphics in stages. (more…)
Reforest the Planet
by: Yanko Design, 2010-12-21 08:43:50 UTC
The WaterDisxx makes it possible to plant seeds almost anywhere. It provides the seed with everything it needs to grow, and makes reforrestation of desert areas possible in a economical way. It’s designed to be easy to manufacture, transport and installed. The advertising on the product is a good way to fund it and makes it possible for companies to show environmental effort. It’s based on the work of groasis, the international initiative to re-green the planet.
Designer: Roel Verhagen Kaptein
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What’s next in wind energy harvesting systems
by: Ecofriend, 2010-12-22 11:46:59 UTC
As we know it
With fossil fuel reserves depleting fast, researchers over the globe are focusing their attention on systems that can generate energy from renewable sources of energy such as wind. The trend is catching up fast as in 2005 wind energy generated less than one percent of global energy by producing 58,982MW of power. However, by 2008 eight percent of Europe’s electricity was derived from wind, which was well ahead of coal and natural gas. Moreover, wind power generation in the United States has increased 13 fold from what it was in 2000, and this surge has played a crucial role in propelling the U.S. to the number one position in terms of wind energy production.
According to statistics, about 2 percent of global electricity production comes from wind-powered generators, with capacity increasing manifold in recent years. The cost per watt of wind generated electricity is also less than solar energy in some countries.
Need for a change
Though wind energy does seem perfect for a green future, conventional wind turbines still face certain drawbacks. Wind turbines are expensive and can get damaged when hit by a heavy storm or severe lightning. Moreover, conventional horizontal axis wind turbines are criticized for not being bird-friendly. There is no dearth of people who believe that wind turbines look ugly on the landscape. Wind turbines, on an average make a sound of about 50-60 decibels, which annoys people living near wind farms.
What’s next
1. Flying Electric Generator
• What’s new:
Developed by San Diego-based Sky WindPower, this kite-like 1100lbs structure is capable of producing power for as little as 2 cents per kilowatt hour, while flying at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet. Four rotors at the points of an H-shaped frame provide the necessary lift to keep the platform floating in the air like a kite. Electricity generated by the spinning rotors is transmitted to the ground through aluminum cables tethered to the frame.
• What difference will it make:
The generators will be floating at altitudes where most birds don’t fly. Moreover, some researchers opine that harvesting 1 percent of energy from jet-stream winds could produce enough power for everybody on the planet.
• Problems:
Though the generators are bird-friendly and won’t bother anybody with noise, they will cost much more than conventional wind turbines. Moreover, being heavy, the design also faces stability issues.
2. Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS)
• What’s new:
Developed by Magenn Power, the MARS is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, generating electrical energy. Electricity generated by the system is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or to a set of batteries for later use, or to the power grid. Helium sustains MARS in air and allows it to ascend to a higher altitude than traditional wind turbines.
• What difference will it make:
The Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems. Moreover, wind farms involving MARS can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission losses. The generators are also mobile and can easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns.
• Problems:
The system does promise to generate renewable energy in an efficient manner. However, since the MARS floats in mid air, it is only suitable for relatively remote locations due to air rights and flight paths.
3) Wind Lens Turbines
• What’s new:
Developed by Kyushu University Professor Yuji Ohya, the Wind Lens was unveiled at the Yokohama Renewable Energy International Exhibition 2010. The system features a honeycomb-like structure that triples the amount of wind energy that can be produced by offshore turbines. The Wind Lens works similar to a magnifying glass that intensifies light from the sun, except in this case, the lens is used to intensify wind flow.
• What difference will it make:
Each lens, which measures about 112m in diameter, will be able to provide enough energy for an average household. Moreover, since the system features unique hexagonal bases, it might also win over the many critics of wind turbines who claim that conventional turbines are an ugly blight on the landscape.
• Problems:
Though the system promises to deliver renewable energy at a reduced cost, it may not be easily adopted by countries other than Japan, due to differing intensities and directions of wind conditions.
4) The Aerogenerator
• What’s new:
Developed by Scottish firm called WindPower, the Aerogenerator resembles a giant rotary washing line. The 144-meter high V-shaped structure would be mounted on offshore locations to generate power through a rotating vertical shaft as opposed to the horizontal shafts of the more familiar windmill designs.
• What difference will it make:
The creators of the Aerogenerator claim that it can not only generate as much as 9MW of renewable electric power, but is also capable of harnessing wind from all directions without need for the usual gearing mechanisms needed in regular horizontal axis wind turbines. The developers also claim that the design overcomes the issues associated with large horizontal axis wind turbines.
• Problems:
The weight of the turbine blades could becomes excessive and when they turn they’ll be under enormous stress because gravity compresses them as they rise and stretches them as they fall. The larger the turbine is made the more robust the blades need to be, which will add to the cost of the turbine.
5) Vibro-Wind Setup
• What’s new:
Researchers at Vibro-Wind Research Group have developed a low-cost method of converting vibrations from wind energy to electricity. Similar to solar panels, which grace many rooftops today, the developers hope that soon buildings outfitted with Vibro-Wind panels stores the energy they convert even from the gentlest of breezes.
• What difference will it make:
While traditional wind energy harvesting systems require the use of large, expensive turbines, the Vibro-Wind Setup would require a fraction of the space and cost much less. Moreover, the setup generates electricity from vibration caused by wind rather than wind itself, which increases the efficiency of the setup.
• Problems:
The developing team is currently working on the integration of these energy-harvesting panels into buildings. Once the issues related with installation are sorted out, it will be nice to see how much energy the setup can generate.
Everything I need to know about Toshiba Biblio Leaf solar-powered eReader
by: Ecofriend, 2010-12-22 09:32:14 UTC
What it is
After LG launched its first solar-powered e-book reader over a year ago, we were pretty confident that other companies will soon follow the trend. Justifying our hopes, Toshiba and KDDI have unveiled a uniquely designed e-book reader called the Biblio Leaf. Featuring a 6-inch e-ink display, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, the Biblio Leaf includes 2GB of memory which can be expanded via a microSD card. The device features front-mounted solar panels that juice up the onboard battery using renewable energy.
How much will it cost me?
The device will be made available in Japan from December 25 as part of a two-year 3G wireless $20 monthly contract.
The Look
The device features an electronic paper display – similar to Kindle, with a resolution of 800 X 600 pixels. Measuring about 8.5″ l x 5″ w, the Biblio Leaf has a 6″ tall electronic paper display. The device includes a touch stylus and features buttons to change pages and manipulate the display. The solar panel has also been included in the body itself, which is quite different and better than LG’s solar eReader that included a flip-top solar panel.
Why it matters
Though eReaders don’t require a lot of energy, using them can still add something to your electricity bills. Since eReaders are easy to carry around, including solar panels can make things better for those with green ethics. The company claims that the solar panel will be capable to charging the battery enough for users to read up to 25 books or 7500 pages on a single charge.
The Lowdown
While LG’s solar powered eReader prototype featured a large solar panel that helped the device recharge its battery in just 4 hours of sunshine, the Biblio Leaf’s smaller solar panel might take a lot longer to recharge. Moreover, the device will end up costing more than the Amazon Kindle, which too has similar specifications. Further, the device will presently be made available only in Japan.
Things to watch out for
Since the Biblio Leaf includes a small solar panel on the front side, you’ll have to make sure that your hands are not covering it while you’re reading your favorite book on it. The tiny solar panel could also take a lot of time to recharge the onboard battery, during which the device should be in direct sunlight.
The Alternatives
The solar-powered eReader market is still in its infancy, with only LG developing a prototype solar reader that is scheduled to hit the markets in 2012. However, since the Biblio Leaf too is presently available only in Japan, it could take some more time to reach US markets as well. For all those who need a solar-powered eReader other than the Biblio Leaf, LG’s device could be worth waiting for.
The bottom line
Since the device allows you to read books without worrying much about its battery, it could be a hit in the coming days. However, since the device will soon be competing with other solar-powered eReaders like the LG solar reader, the company will have to make sure that the onboard solar panels don’t take ages of direct sunlight to recharge the batteries.
What’s next in wind energy harvesting systems
by: Ecofriend, 2010-12-22 11:46:59 UTC
As we know it
With fossil fuel reserves depleting fast, researchers over the globe are focusing their attention on systems that can generate energy from renewable sources of energy such as wind. The trend is catching up fast as in 2005 wind energy generated less than one percent of global energy by producing 58,982MW of power. However, by 2008 eight percent of Europe’s electricity was derived from wind, which was well ahead of coal and natural gas. Moreover, wind power generation in the United States has increased 13 fold from what it was in 2000, and this surge has played a crucial role in propelling the U.S. to the number one position in terms of wind energy production.
According to statistics, about 2 percent of global electricity production comes from wind-powered generators, with capacity increasing manifold in recent years. The cost per watt of wind generated electricity is also less than solar energy in some countries.
Need for a change
Though wind energy does seem perfect for a green future, conventional wind turbines still face certain drawbacks. Wind turbines are expensive and can get damaged when hit by a heavy storm or severe lightning. Moreover, conventional horizontal axis wind turbines are criticized for not being bird-friendly. There is no dearth of people who believe that wind turbines look ugly on the landscape. Wind turbines, on an average make a sound of about 50-60 decibels, which annoys people living near wind farms.
What’s next
1. Flying Electric Generator
• What’s new:
Developed by San Diego-based Sky WindPower, this kite-like 1100lbs structure is capable of producing power for as little as 2 cents per kilowatt hour, while flying at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet. Four rotors at the points of an H-shaped frame provide the necessary lift to keep the platform floating in the air like a kite. Electricity generated by the spinning rotors is transmitted to the ground through aluminum cables tethered to the frame.
• What difference will it make:
The generators will be floating at altitudes where most birds don’t fly. Moreover, some researchers opine that harvesting 1 percent of energy from jet-stream winds could produce enough power for everybody on the planet.
• Problems:
Though the generators are bird-friendly and won’t bother anybody with noise, they will cost much more than conventional wind turbines. Moreover, being heavy, the design also faces stability issues.
2. Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS)
• What’s new:
Developed by Magenn Power, the MARS is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, generating electrical energy. Electricity generated by the system is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or to a set of batteries for later use, or to the power grid. Helium sustains MARS in air and allows it to ascend to a higher altitude than traditional wind turbines.
• What difference will it make:
The Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems. Moreover, wind farms involving MARS can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission losses. The generators are also mobile and can easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns.
• Problems:
The system does promise to generate renewable energy in an efficient manner. However, since the MARS floats in mid air, it is only suitable for relatively remote locations due to air rights and flight paths.
3) Wind Lens Turbines
• What’s new:
Developed by Kyushu University Professor Yuji Ohya, the Wind Lens was unveiled at the Yokohama Renewable Energy International Exhibition 2010. The system features a honeycomb-like structure that triples the amount of wind energy that can be produced by offshore turbines. The Wind Lens works similar to a magnifying glass that intensifies light from the sun, except in this case, the lens is used to intensify wind flow.
• What difference will it make:
Each lens, which measures about 112m in diameter, will be able to provide enough energy for an average household. Moreover, since the system features unique hexagonal bases, it might also win over the many critics of wind turbines who claim that conventional turbines are an ugly blight on the landscape.
• Problems:
Though the system promises to deliver renewable energy at a reduced cost, it may not be easily adopted by countries other than Japan, due to differing intensities and directions of wind conditions.
4) The Aerogenerator
• What’s new:
Developed by Scottish firm called WindPower, the Aerogenerator resembles a giant rotary washing line. The 144-meter high V-shaped structure would be mounted on offshore locations to generate power through a rotating vertical shaft as opposed to the horizontal shafts of the more familiar windmill designs.
• What difference will it make:
The creators of the Aerogenerator claim that it can not only generate as much as 9MW of renewable electric power, but is also capable of harnessing wind from all directions without need for the usual gearing mechanisms needed in regular horizontal axis wind turbines. The developers also claim that the design overcomes the issues associated with large horizontal axis wind turbines.
• Problems:
The weight of the turbine blades could becomes excessive and when they turn they’ll be under enormous stress because gravity compresses them as they rise and stretches them as they fall. The larger the turbine is made the more robust the blades need to be, which will add to the cost of the turbine.
5) Vibro-Wind Setup
• What’s new:
Researchers at Vibro-Wind Research Group have developed a low-cost method of converting vibrations from wind energy to electricity. Similar to solar panels, which grace many rooftops today, the developers hope that soon buildings outfitted with Vibro-Wind panels stores the energy they convert even from the gentlest of breezes.
• What difference will it make:
While traditional wind energy harvesting systems require the use of large, expensive turbines, the Vibro-Wind Setup would require a fraction of the space and cost much less. Moreover, the setup generates electricity from vibration caused by wind rather than wind itself, which increases the efficiency of the setup.
• Problems:
The developing team is currently working on the integration of these energy-harvesting panels into buildings. Once the issues related with installation are sorted out, it will be nice to see how much energy the setup can generate.
What’s next in wind energy harvesting systems
by: Ecofriend, 2010-12-22 11:46:59 UTC
As we know it
With fossil fuel reserves depleting fast, researchers over the globe are focusing their attention on systems that can generate energy from renewable sources of energy such as wind. The trend is catching up fast as in 2005 wind energy generated less than one percent of global energy by producing 58,982MW of power. However, by 2008 eight percent of Europe’s electricity was derived from wind, which was well ahead of coal and natural gas. Moreover, wind power generation in the United States has increased 13 fold from what it was in 2000, and this surge has played a crucial role in propelling the U.S. to the number one position in terms of wind energy production.
According to statistics, about 2 percent of global electricity production comes from wind-powered generators, with capacity increasing manifold in recent years. The cost per watt of wind generated electricity is also less than solar energy in some countries.
Need for a change
Though wind energy does seem perfect for a green future, conventional wind turbines still face certain drawbacks. Wind turbines are expensive and can get damaged when hit by a heavy storm or severe lightning. Moreover, conventional horizontal axis wind turbines are criticized for not being bird-friendly. There is no dearth of people who believe that wind turbines look ugly on the landscape. Wind turbines, on an average make a sound of about 50-60 decibels, which annoys people living near wind farms.
What’s next
1. Flying Electric Generator
• What’s new:
Developed by San Diego-based Sky WindPower, this kite-like 1100lbs structure is capable of producing power for as little as 2 cents per kilowatt hour, while flying at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet. Four rotors at the points of an H-shaped frame provide the necessary lift to keep the platform floating in the air like a kite. Electricity generated by the spinning rotors is transmitted to the ground through aluminum cables tethered to the frame.
• What difference will it make:
The generators will be floating at altitudes where most birds don’t fly. Moreover, some researchers opine that harvesting 1 percent of energy from jet-stream winds could produce enough power for everybody on the planet.
• Problems:
Though the generators are bird-friendly and won’t bother anybody with noise, they will cost much more than conventional wind turbines. Moreover, being heavy, the design also faces stability issues.
2. Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS)
• What’s new:
Developed by Magenn Power, the MARS is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, generating electrical energy. Electricity generated by the system is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or to a set of batteries for later use, or to the power grid. Helium sustains MARS in air and allows it to ascend to a higher altitude than traditional wind turbines.
• What difference will it make:
The Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems. Moreover, wind farms involving MARS can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission losses. The generators are also mobile and can easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns.
• Problems:
The system does promise to generate renewable energy in an efficient manner. However, since the MARS floats in mid air, it is only suitable for relatively remote locations due to air rights and flight paths.
3) Wind Lens Turbines
• What’s new:
Developed by Kyushu University Professor Yuji Ohya, the Wind Lens was unveiled at the Yokohama Renewable Energy International Exhibition 2010. The system features a honeycomb-like structure that triples the amount of wind energy that can be produced by offshore turbines. The Wind Lens works similar to a magnifying glass that intensifies light from the sun, except in this case, the lens is used to intensify wind flow.
• What difference will it make:
Each lens, which measures about 112m in diameter, will be able to provide enough energy for an average household. Moreover, since the system features unique hexagonal bases, it might also win over the many critics of wind turbines who claim that conventional turbines are an ugly blight on the landscape.
• Problems:
Though the system promises to deliver renewable energy at a reduced cost, it may not be easily adopted by countries other than Japan, due to differing intensities and directions of wind conditions.
4) The Aerogenerator
• What’s new:
Developed by Scottish firm called WindPower, the Aerogenerator resembles a giant rotary washing line. The 144-meter high V-shaped structure would be mounted on offshore locations to generate power through a rotating vertical shaft as opposed to the horizontal shafts of the more familiar windmill designs.
• What difference will it make:
The creators of the Aerogenerator claim that it can not only generate as much as 9MW of renewable electric power, but is also capable of harnessing wind from all directions without need for the usual gearing mechanisms needed in regular horizontal axis wind turbines. The developers also claim that the design overcomes the issues associated with large horizontal axis wind turbines.
• Problems:
The weight of the turbine blades could becomes excessive and when they turn they’ll be under enormous stress because gravity compresses them as they rise and stretches them as they fall. The larger the turbine is made the more robust the blades need to be, which will add to the cost of the turbine.
5) Vibro-Wind Setup
• What’s new:
Researchers at Vibro-Wind Research Group have developed a low-cost method of converting vibrations from wind energy to electricity. Similar to solar panels, which grace many rooftops today, the developers hope that soon buildings outfitted with Vibro-Wind panels stores the energy they convert even from the gentlest of breezes.
• What difference will it make:
While traditional wind energy harvesting systems require the use of large, expensive turbines, the Vibro-Wind Setup would require a fraction of the space and cost much less. Moreover, the setup generates electricity from vibration caused by wind rather than wind itself, which increases the efficiency of the setup.
• Problems:
The developing team is currently working on the integration of these energy-harvesting panels into buildings. Once the issues related with installation are sorted out, it will be nice to see how much energy the setup can generate.
TEDTalks : Arthur Potts Dawson: A vision for sustainable restaurants - Arthur Potts Dawson (2010)
by: TEDTalks (video), 2010-12-03 15:50:00 UTC
If you've been in a restaurant kitchen, you've seen how much food, water and energy can be wasted there. Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson shares his very personal vision for drastically reducing restaurant, and supermarket, waste -- creating recycling, composting, sustainable engines for good (and good food).
3 Rules for Crowdsourcing Your Sustainability Projects
by: Design & Innovation | Design | GreenBiz.com, 2010-12-20 12:45:02 UTC
GE and eBay have both earned big successes by harnessing the wisdom of the crowd for green innovation, while a leading European retailer found its crowd-sourcing efforts fail. Here's how to make the most of your social sustainability strategies.
Nintendo Wii EPRI’s Choice for Energy Efficiency
by: Environmental Leader, 2010-12-17 17:26:05 UTC
Researchers at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) tested three top-selling game console systems in active mode and found that the Nintendo Wii system uses significantly less power than a Sony PlayStation33 or Microsoft Xbox 360.
“We included only a small sample of the many gaming systems available, but it reveals that the differences in energy use can be significant,” said Mark McGranaghan, vice president of Power Delivery & Utilization for EPRI.
Measuring each system using the same game for one hour of active play, EPRI found that the Wii system used an average of 13.7 watts; the PlayStation 3, 84.8 watts, and the Xbox 360, 87.9 watts.
McGranaghan acknowledges that the Wii does not have the hardware and multimedia capabilities of its competitors. “Obviously there are many considerations when looking at a gaming system, and we’re only talking about energy use,” said McGranaghan.
The lab then calculated annual energy consumption among the “heaviest” console users who play an average of 5 hours and 45 minutes a day. Based on this data, a Wii system would consume 29 kilowatt hours, which is comparable to the power consumed by a linear fluorescent light. The PlayStation 3 system would consume 178 kilowatt hours of energy and the Microsoft Xbox 360 would consume 184 kilowatt hours.
Both Wii and Xbox use “highly efficient” external power supplies with measured efficiencies exceeding 80 percent. The PlayStation 3 power supply could not be removed for testing, according the report.
No doubt with GHG and the power grid of San Diego on their minds, Sony and Microsoft made great strides in energy efficiency with the newer systems (43% and 26% improvement, respectively). EPRI reported that 2007 Sony PlayStation 3 consumed 150.1 watts, and the 2007 Microsoft Xbox consumed 118.8 watts. The 2006 Nintendo Wii used about 2.7 more watts per hour in 2006.
In the past, the NRDC reported that video games in the U.S. consume 16 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a year.
EL has reported in the past on the poor scores video games received in Greenpeace’s Electronics Ratings, as well as the hazardous chemicals found in the units.
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