• DIY 10 foot axial flux wind turbine kit for eco-friendly energy

    Posted in Alternative Energy on December 2, 2008

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    Since living on alternative energy sources is deemed to be the latest trend, allow me to bring to your attention to the Axial Flux Wind Turbine. Harnessing the wind’s energy with its large 10 foot (diameter) fan blades, it is a complete kit for $1,750 from OtherPower. Though it doesn’t seem to fit the urban scenario, people living on farms, ranches or other wide open airy locations can find a place to fix this DIY wind turbine kit. Inspired by Hugh Piggotts designs, the kit contains the assembled alternator, blades, tail vane, and all necessary hardware to assemble the machine. More importantly, a users manual is also shipped along, without which it can be a daunting task. Custom designed to charge up the batteries of 12, 24 and 48V, this is 10 foot diameter turbine is conservatively rated at 800 Watts. However the alternator has proven to withstand sustained output of 1000 Watts in bench testing.

  • Sanyo’s eneloop electric hybrid bicycle offers effortless green ride

    Posted in Transport on December 2, 2008

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    Since gasoline prices are chewing into our salaries and hybrid cars are far from being affordable for a common person (like me), Sanyo is out to help us move about the town on eneloop bike. Just unveiled, this electric hybrid two-wheeler is fitted with a “Power-up Mode” that helps to reduce the burden on the biker’s legs as well his/her carbon footprints. An ideal blend of a standard bicycle and a moped, this hybrid version augments the rider’s capacity to speed up the roads with ease. This extra power is equivalent to double the rider’s pedal force for going uphill too. Also a new “loop charge function” generates electricity and charges the battery while moving. Though the electric motor fitted on the front wheel renders motion to it, the energy generated by pedaling goes is directed to the rear wheel. And if you are concerned about the safety, then be assured as the two-wheel drive system provides a much stable ride. Even while braking, the system harnesses energy.

    Best Of Designlaunches- November

    Posted in Other Stuff on December 1, 2008

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    As we step into the last month of this year, it’s time to retrospect and pick out the few designs that left a lasting impression on Designlaunches, in the month of November. The pick ranges from everyday things to concepts that we wish were true.
    For the best in design, stay tuned to Designlaunches.com
    Lunar Baby Thermometer
    Fold&Hold Bike is the best seat for your butt
    Exotic mobile phone design
    Nokia concept takes the shimmy route
    Quick! Drown in the Step Bed
    Drag your finger to turn off the lights

    2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is crowned as the 2009 Green Car of the Year

    Posted in Transport on December 1, 2008

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    The countdown for the year 2009 has started and its time to bring your attention to the 2009 Green Car of the Year. Hunting for the most promising fuel efficient and eco-friendly vehicle for the next model year, Green Car Journal has crowned the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI with the green honor at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Beating strong contenders like BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and Smart ForTwo, the Jetta TDI uses a 2-liter, turbocharged, diesel, four-cylinder engine to achieve an EPA-rated 41mpg highway fuel economy and 30mpg city.

    Recycle newspapers to heat the homes of poor

    Posted in Recycle on December 1, 2008

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    In line with our focus on recycling paper, take a look at 75 year olds’ take on it. An old fellow from Japan has cranked up a method to recycle his old newspapers to heat his home. Shigeru Ota has modified the fundamental method of recycling old newspapers into burnable bricks. Starting off by soaking newspapers in water, he uses a 2-inch wide steel pipe to remove water based on a mechanism similar to that of a ratcheting caulk gun. Once thoroughly dried, the plugs of newsprint resemble standard charcoal briquettes in shape and size. Though such a method may not be viable on a larger scale, at least underprivileged folks can utilize heaps of discarded newsprints to heat up their shelters in chilling times.

    RecycleBus – An eco-friendly and economic vehicle for recycling business

    Posted in Recycle on December 1, 2008

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    If you have some nifty, ingenuous or out-of-the-box green ideas to live an eco-firendly lifestyle, simply post on the eco-blogoshpere and the world will know about it. Just like this Instructable user has done. He realized the need to address to all about community recycling, but with minimum cost. Since high cost and less sponsors are the prime reason for failure of eco projects, this fellow has come up with an affordable recycling program. Focusing on the fact that everybody needs to start recycling and reusing, with the RecycleBus, he also wants to clear the myth that recycling is tough. Roll over to understand this green drive…..

    World’s most solar-efficient clock from Seiko for greener times

    Posted in Gadgets and Tech on December 1, 2008

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    Double honors for a solar powered clock from Seiko! Listing the eco honor first, the SeikoHS533W is projected to be the world’s most solar-efficient clock. And secondly it is also touted to be the world’ thinnest too. Seiko has just announced the development of this uber green and uber thin clock to keep a tab on time in an elegantly eco style. Measuring just 8.5mm in thickness, or rather thinness, it is powered with a CR2032 battery for backup. And this backup is substantial enough to keep the clock ticking for two years without sunlight. Other wise on sunny days, just eight hours is enough to keep the hands moving on this solar powered clock from the land of rising sun. For $310, it will be sold in Japan from today onwards. We sincerely hope that it crosses the oceans to see the sun on our side of globe too!

    GreenMobile Solar Chargers power up via sunlight as well as USB

    Posted in Gadgets and Tech on December 1, 2008

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    As the latest iPower SX solar-powered charger is buzzing around the green blogs, allow me to bring your attention to a range of new solar chargers that promise to be render power that knows no boundaries. GreenMobile Solar Charger has lined up three models of green chargers that that have lithium batteries which can be charged by facing its solar panels towards the sun. Also when the sun shies away or you are in no mood to open up your blinds to let the sunshine peek in, this nifty charger gets its juice by plugging into your computer too. Boasting of compatibility with almost all the well known cell phones brands, MP3 players, digital cameras, gaming devices and other portable doodads, these eco chargers have solar panels (made of semiconductors composed of silicon) that directly transform sunlight into electricity.

    Green Obama promises greener White House

    Posted in Awareness and Hype on November 29, 2008

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    White will be the new green in America as the White House will soon be modified to be more eco-friendly. US president-elect Barack Obama intends to change, not the color white of the structure but the energy consumption of this Presidential address. Aiming to pursue ‘Practice before your preach’, Obama is all set to inspire his country men to follow his green footsteps. Stating a few effortless, everyday ways like turning off lights and unplugging chargers for electrical devices when not in use, he wants to demonstrate that it’s not hard to go green. In the past ex-President, Jimmy Carter, put solar panels on the roof of White House but now, Obama is gaining popularity as the greenest American President.

    Eco-Fashion: Step in the Mohop’s eco-friendly footwear to flaunt your green style

    Posted in Other Stuff on November 29, 2008

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    All the fashionistas can put their foot down in an eco-friendly style with a line of chic, green footwear from Mohop. Women of every age can flaunt their love for fashion as well environment by strapping on these sandals. The ergonomically shaped foodbed is handcrafted out of sustainably sourced solid cherry. Plastered with a black recycled rubber sole, the padded footbed also features an umbrella motif on high-end 100% nylon ‘leather’.