Category Archives: Other Stuff
The US Navy just turned a shade greener as work on a new 13.78MW solar PV power system by SunPower was recently begun at the naval air weapons station at China Lake in California. The plant will make use of the SunPower Oasis Power Plant product. This fully integrated, modular solar power block deploys utility-scale solar projects while optimizing land use while each block integrates a T0 Tracker by SunPower and E19 / 425 solar panels. The plant will generate more than 30% of China Lake’s annual energy load and will help reduce costs of up to $13 million over the next 20 years.
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The developing world has its fair share of troubles, owing to the fact that electricity there is more of a luxury than a necessity! People living in areas in far flung developing countries usually have no other light sources besides the sun itself, and after-dark hours are usually spent in darkness. Bringing light to these parts of the world, the LuminAID concept is a thoughtful and innovative device that works as a pillow as well as a source of light. This inflatable plastic pillow sports a solar panel which when exposed to six hours of sunlight shines the LEDs packed in it for a whole 5 hours! Also, this one’s waterproof and can withstand the elements well enough.
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We recently stumbled across the Solar Artworks Project and couldn’t help smiling like the Cheshire cat at the brilliance behind it all! The project essentially encompasses solar-powered artworks from around the world, painstakingly put together by creator of the online compendium, Spanish researcher Nacho Zamora. Also, Zamora interviewed each of the designers behind these various solar-powered art installations to further inform on the inspiration and the effort it took to create these beautifully green statements of art!
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The KOA Convention starting on November 6 in Las Vegas will unveil a unique environmentally friendly park model cottage. The new off-grid solar-powered model cottage by Cavco Industries has Emerald status rated by NTA Inc. The unit is built with 2-by-6 sidewalls and features cork flooring, formaldehyde-free fiberglass wall insulation and phase change insulation in the ceiling, environmentally friendly adhesives, sealants and coatings to maximize insulation and improving indoor air quality as well as composite decking, an instant hot-water heater, a dual flush toilet that uses about 1.2 gallons per flush, Energy Star appliances and energy-saving LED lighting. It comes with solar panels but if there is lack of sun, it can receive electricity from wind turbines and even hydroelectric power. If none of this helps, it also has a 6-KW Generac battery charging system for backup power.
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Bad breath has never been more than a disgusting nuisance before. Now, Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have fashioned into being a device that uses human breath to generate electricity! Engineers Xudong Wang, Chengliang Sun and Jian Shi developed a material known as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) that produces an electric charge whenever low-speed airflow passes over it, causing it to vibrate. The vibrations aide in electricity generation by creating piezoelectricity.
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With the human race forever piling up Co2 emissions in the environment, researchers today are racing against time to develop Co2-soaking sponges that could help remove the smoky toxins from smokestack emissions and the like. These sponges use metal-organic frameworks however, most of which are made from crude oil and contain toxic metals. Now, the guys at the Illinois‘ Northwestern University have come up with a way to soak in Co2 that not only keeps the air clean, but strangely seems to satisfy your hunger too! Made from sugar, salt and alcohol, this sponge is a cleaner MOF that the ones developed before, and given the fact that it uses edible items to manufacture, it’s completely consumable!
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Earning a perfect tan isn’t all that easy, and quite often, the most of us end up looking like badly burnt lobsters. Chuck those tanning lotions away and those artificial tan salon coupons you’ve got. Instead, get that lovely gold-glowing skin with designer Jun-hyeon Kim’s bathing suit that helps your body tan evenly in a green and eco-friendly way! Basically a bikini with an integrated solar panel, the Solar Tan Swimsuit’s unique fabric helps the body tan evenly. All you need to do is don it and lie flat on your back below the sunshine on the sunny seaside and wait for the sun and the suit to do the job.
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Skiing has a seasonal sport that enthusiasts need to wait for an entire year to have a go at those snowy slopes, until now. C.F. Møller recently unveiled the design for a ski-resort in the forests of Stockholm, the Skipark 360°, a one-of-a-kind structure indeed powered by green energy. A man-made ski hill with a vertical drop of 160 meters (525 ft), the complex will also include an arena for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating and a snow park for snowboarding, including a resort and spa. And to power it all up, the complex will use geothermal energy, solar and wind energy as well as hydropower!
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Top of the news this week has been the Ritz-Carlton’s new brand campaign that says “Let Us Stay With You” in a bid to reach out to guests with rare and special things that characterize true luxury. Nothing defines luxury better than an escape, and the Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa is offering some stunning beach escapes, that promises to change you life. If you prefer to stay close to nature, the award-winning Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is offering a spring rejuvenation package, or rekindle the love for your better half with Le Gray Beirut’s Romance packages. There are some new names to look forward to; from the Banyan Tree Macau, to the new towering addition to Caesars Palace, the Park Hyatt Sydney will soon get a brand new look, while maintaining its 21-year history.
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