Author: gavril

When it comes to smart and energy efficient homes, no one does it better than ABB. Set up in one of the most exclusive addresses in Dubai, an apartment tower known as Le Rêve, the ABB i-bus KNX system enables residents live in style using cutting edge technology and at the same time saves up on 35% Co2 emissions! Using sleek, wireless touch-screens, the system lets residents of the luxury apartment control their homes. With a touch, they can control their home’s lighting, air conditioning, heating and curtains. The system is smart enough to detect how much lighting and heat your room needs by making use of motion detectors and sensors.

This smart home solution helps conserve heating and cooling energy and helps save up to 35% energy. These goodies packed with the ABB i-bus KNX system makes it one of the most energy-efficient building automation systems on the market.

[Ameinfo]

The Geneva Motor Show saw yet another electric car on its final day. Known as the Eva, this electric concept car by Valmet Automotive will undeniably steal hearts if and when it hits the asphalt. The car uses an advanced aluminum space frame allowing it to adapt to other vehicle types. The car’s drivetrain uses an axial flux induction motor by Axco Motors. This direct drive system can push the car to a sweet and satisfactory 120km/h. It also hooks up to Nokia smartphones through an infotainment system that also throws up vehicle data. The Eva boasts of a navigation system that reads up on terrain types and selects the best possible route for a smooth drive. It also leads you to the nearest charging station when you reach the car’s 160 kilometer range limit.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that this car does make it to our roads. Wouldn’t we all love an electric car whose charger unit can be activated using SMS’s?

[Autoblog]

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory stumbled upon an astonishing fact in 2005 and estimated that around 0.5% Co2 emissions are caused due to gas flaring. That’s not all; the energy produced during natural gas flaring is wasted. Jeff McDaniel, business development director for Velocys states that natural gas enough to actually power Germany is usually flared. However, companies like The Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras, are working on ways to utilize natural gas generated during offshore drilling. Natural gas unlike oil cannot be easily transported due to which it is flared instead. Compact GTL and Velocys are currently working on chemical reactors that will help turn gas into synthetic liquid fuel.

If all goes well, this technology being developed will help save a whole load of energy to be utilized in a better way.

[Treehugger]

London has yet another architectural marvel to brag about. The Strata will be the world’s first skyscraper to have built in wind turbines. Taking the concept of green sustainable architecture to a level above, the Strata tower, nicknamed “the Razor” uses a three wind turbines that will help meet 8% of its total energy needs. Standing 148 meters tall in the London horizon, this building was developed and contracted by Brookfield Europe. The 42 storey structure pops its head above all the other buildings in its vicinity, due to which it can effectively make use of the 35 mph wind speed. Special care was taken in its designing in order to make use of the Venturi effect created by nearby buildings that helps force wind through the turbines at higher speeds.

With a production rate of 50MWh of power annually, this building sure makes a eco-friendly statement in the architectural world.

[NotCot And Inhabitat]

Global warming is a serious matter that will change the world in future, however, exaggerating the situation is something the Government isn’t really pleased with. The Advertising Standards Authority claimed that the ad’s based on Jack and Jill and Rub-A-Dub-Dub went beyond scientific predictions of global warming by stating that the world would environmentally change in the near 25 years. The two nursery-rhyme-based adverts made claims below that extreme weather conditions such as flooding, heat waves and storms will become more frequent and intense and life in 25 years could be very different. Scientists have stated that global warming will affect the world and every living being, however, unlike what these advertisements claim, these events will probably take place after a few hundred years. These ads attracted around 939 complaints. Now that sure adds a bad taste to all the efforts put into saving our environment.

[Telegraph]

While soaking up the sun’s energy, solar panels tend to release a whole load of heat energy, which is wasted. The guys at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology had a brainwave and came up with the Technique Solar Module, a device that uses this heat energy to heat water instead of letting it go waste. Combining a solar electricity system and a water heating system, these panels use a series of channels equipped with concentrating acrylic lens and reflective walls that help focus the sun’s rays on solar cell strips. These cells generate electricity while a heat exchanger placed below these cells heats circulating water stored in a tank.

The company claims that this system requires lesser solar cells than the usual PV arrangement with an increased efficiency of 50% – 60% as compared to the 15% – 18% delivered by flat plate solar panels. Each 3.5 meter module generates around 400 Watts of electricity and 1700 Watts of heat. Why waste heat energy when you can warm up water using it instead?

[Image]

[Energymatters]

Its white, uses solar power to charge and is also a dynamo charger. The Thanko Hybrid Mobile Charger measuring just 70 × 70 × 29mm in width, height and diagonally respectively, this mobile phone charger sucks energy from the sun to charge up your mobile phone. It is portable and can be whipped out of your bag and put to use on the go! That’s not all. Just incase the sun refuses to shine and the clouds take over, this charger can still efficiently power up your phone using its dynamo charger. All you need to do is slip your finger in the little ring at its side and tug at the 18 cm pull type cable. The Thanko Hybrid Mobile Charger is also equipped with three LED lights on its side.

Packed with a separate 30 cm cable for the solar charger with three color connectors, this hybrid mobile phone charger is undeniably a useful little must-have.

[Akihabaranews]

Here’s a piece of furniture that looks like a rock and purifies the air around. Air purifying outdoor seating would have remained unheard of if not for Alexandre Moronnoz’s CCC design. This rock-like seating is made out of a material known as Champignon Carbone Capture, which is where it gets it name from. Using TX Active Cement containing a photocatalyzer, these seats accelerate the oxidation process of pollutants found in natural and artificial light. It then transforms it into milder and less harmful compounds like water, nitrates and carbon dioxide.

These seats will find their place in landscaped gardens and rock gardens working as show pieces, seating arrangements and purifying the air at the same time.

[Inhabitat]

We’ve heard of the Novothink Solar Surge solar panel equipped case for the iPod Touch before. This funky case used a lithium-ion polymer 1500mAH battery to soak up the sun. Here’s another similar case of the same type, this time round, it’ll power up the iPhone instead. It is integrated with a lithium-ion polymer 1320mAH battery. The new Novothink Solar Surge takes around two-hours to charge up the phone for a 30 minute talk time. That’s if you use the 3G version. The 2G version just takes an hour of sunbathing. The case also has a free application for your phone that tells you how much more juice the phone needs from the sun to remain powered up through the day.

LEDs tell you how much power is left. These cases will burn a hole in your pocket though, with the iPod Touch case costing $70 and the new iPhone case for $80.

[Wired]

We all go “Wow!” when a Bentley tolls past us. There’s something more to admire in this super luxury sedan now. The compatny announced at the Geneva Motor Show that all its Continentals will now be fueled with ethanol. The Bentley’s Continental line-up is the most popular so far, and with the release of the all new 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports, the whole series is set to go green. The cars twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 delivers 621 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, enough to push this huge machine to a speed of 60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph.

This announcement will be the company’s baby steps to reaching its future goal of conjuring up an entirely biofuel-capable lineup by the year 2012.

Via – [Luxurylaunches]

Here’s a device that looks like a tree trunk and does your lungs a favor by purposefully pointing out how dirty the air around you is and does a small bit of cleaning and filtering too! Known as the Eco-Green Ring, this hook-onto-your-wall tree trunk-like device uses a series of lights to indicate the purity of air. Those tiny twinkly lights remind us how much just how much pollution we fill our beloved lungs with. Designed by Park Jun Seok and Kwon Hye Rim, the Green Ring uses a red light to denote that the air is dreadful, and green lights to show that it’s as clean as the top of a Himalayan mountain. That’s not all. This environment loving tree trunk also uses recycled materials like recycled plastic and waterbome paint, pushing the green factor upwards. So what powers up this device? Human power! All you need to do is pull the little branch on the side to rev up power supply.

[Yankodesign]

We usually use water from kettles to make ourselves that hot refreshing cup of tea. Well here’s an eco-friendly way to boiling water before you pour it into your mug. Known as the Echo Chrome kettle, this appliance is equipped with a reservoir that holds a full capacity of water ready for your disposal. The measuring button enables your preferred quantity of water to be released in a separate chamber for boiling. This prevents the wastage of water allowing you to boil only the required amount. This stylish kettle with its shiny smooth chrome finish also boasts of the celebrated Recommended mark by the Energy Saving Trust. This was the first time the award was given in the EST newly established kettle category.

This eco friendly shiny appliance helps save an average of around 31% of energy and will cost you around £40.

[Appliancist]

Hybrid cars are finding their place in the market and on the roads now with their evergreen and everclean policies. To push this technology further, here’s a new fuel injection system that will help hybrid cars deliver more than the do today. Developed by Transonic Combustion, this system helps increase fuel efficiency by heating and pressurizing gasoline before injecting it into the combustion chamber. This allows for a very fast and clean combustion which decreases the amount of fuel required to power up the vehicle. The system also uses supercritical fluids and does not require a spark to ignite fuel. Heat and pressure helps the fluid combust without the need of a spark.

The company is currently testing this system with three automakers and plans to set it up in production cars by 2014.

[Physorg]

Transformer fans have something to smile about and drool at. Here’s an Optimus Prime robot from the Transformer series that has a green touch to it, it’s made out of recycled steel. Standing 2.5 meters tall, this replica is made out of bits and pieces pulled out from TVs, cars and a whole sack-load of industrial byproducts that would find their place in a garbage dump instead. Robosteel, the company that gave birth to this smaller and greener version of the Transformers hero has made sure that this green masterpiece stands through time. A layer of lacquer helps protect the replica from the elements and not the Decepticons who this Transformer has spent his eternity fighting with.

So if you seriously love the idea of having this green recycled Optimus Prime replica in your bedroom, make sure you can burn a $7,500 hole in your pocket.

[Walyou]

Toilet systems get smarter and greener with innovations like the NoMix. This system in your bathroom apparatus helps separate urine and solid waste. This helps make the work of municipal waste plants easier and produces more methane to generate electricity. It also helps make the task of extracting phosphorous and nitrogen easier which can be used as fertilizers. Studies and surveys in 7 European countries have shown that around 75−85% of users are well satisfied with the NoMix’s designing, hygiene, smell, seating and comfort. 85% people have considered the use of these fertilizers as a good idea and 70% would purchase such food.

The concept and designing of this system for your bathroom will help create energy and fertilizers every time you answer natures call!

[Treehugger]

The need to use renewable resources and save up on the depleting energy sources is being realized today. The spotlight today is now on the use of green energy sources. Generating electricity using renewable sources may seem ideal, however the question now arises as to how much power can a grid handle and distribute. Take Texas for an example. Just last week, wind power generation reached a record high of 6,242 MW. This may sound pleasant to our ears. Here’s the glitch though, officials had to curb wind power generation since it was too much for the electrical lines to handle and supply to urban areas like Dallas-Fort Worth.

This may not be a usual happening now, though with an increase of production, grids and power lines need to be upgraded to cope with all the extra power that will flow through it without causing additional problems in future.

[Ecogeek]

Planning to throw away the insides of your computer? Think again. You can make yourself a cool chess set instead! The chess board of this set is made out of the underside of a motherboard and 32 microprocessor chips. Bolts press fitted into the chassis helps elevate the board. The pawns are made out of capacitors while power transformers were transformed into rooks. To make the knights, power supplies with plastic encased relays were used with heads made out of inductor coils. Hard disk armatures were used to make the holy bishops while the beautiful queen was made out of a clock battery, RF choke filter ferrite core from data cable, electric motor core from pen-plotter motors and the crown out of hard disk platter washers with LEDs for jewels. The kings were made out of motor cores of two paper shredders with crowns made from hard drive washers, topped with the armature from old Zip drives.

This sure is a nice way to rip the belly out of your old throwaway PC and create a magnificent mind game out of what’s left.

[Instructables]

Now here’s a piece of furniture that lets you exercise, work and lounge at the same time! This contraption was an entry at the Ideation Award 2010. Known as the “Go” this device was designed by Rizki Tarisa. Besides all its “at-one-place” features, it also uses human power to generate electricity. All you need to do is pedal the exercise bike, burn up those extra calories in your body and generate power. The Go let’s you entertain yourself while exercising too. You can browse the Internet and listen to your favorite tracks at the same time in the same place. This awesome invention in a chair lets you fulfill all your entertainment, work and physical exercising needs in one place.

So the next time you plan to buy an exercise bike, do yourself a favor, buy the Go and generate some electricity while exercising.

Via – [Designlaunches]

The South Koreans are taking the concept of greener public transport seriously and are currently working on a way to power up using technology similar to that found in electric toothbrushes and razors! This electric transport system is powered by recharging strips embedded in roads. These transfer energy through magnetic connections. The vehicles have sensor-driven magnetic devices attached below that juice up as the move over the embedded strips. These recharging strips are attached to electric stations which are laid in bus lanes and roads. Meters of these strip segments are laid below the road powering up the vehicles.

This type of energy transfer is known as inductive charging and uses magnets and cables and will cost around 400 million won ($353,500) or perkilometer. Public transport in Korea will have a sharper and greener technological edge with inventions like these.

[Cnet]