Water is precious. Just because we have access to water aplenty, we consider it to be a commodity that can be used freely. Unfortunately, this leads to wastage of water to no end. The biggest contributor to water wastage is the activity of bathing. While you wait for the water to get just as warm as you seem fit for a shower, the water flowing into the drain is an absolute waste. That’s where the WaterDrop tote bag comes into play. The bag collects water during the heating process and then allows you to use it for other purposes, thanks to a handy spout. The water that is saved can be used for gardening purposes, to water pets or for any other purpose. The makers estimate that if the water is saved by individuals from Europe and America alone, we will see over 1 trillion liters of water saved.
It’s been the dream of every cyclist and Germany is sure to make it come true with the approval of a bicycle highway. The country is all set to unleash the 100 kilometer highway only for cyclists and has already made the first five kilometers functional. The idea of riding through a highway without worrying about trucks, other vehicles and obstacles such as signals makes it clear as glass that the future is green and much, much fitter. Imagine everyone taking the bicycle highway to work. The route falls in the home-office path of millions and could inspire them to take this fascinating route. One study predicts that the all new highway will get up to 50,000 cars off the road every day! That’s a significant reduction in pollution, noise and costs for the citizens and the government.
Iceland already is as green as a country can get, given the fact that this Nordic island nation runs on 100 percent renewable energy. This however hasn’t stopped these jolly folks for looking for new ways to generate renewable energy. Icelandic inventor Saethor Asgeirsson recently came up with a one-of-a-kind wind turbine that can withstand higher wind speeds, unlike the conventional wind turbines that fair terribly in such situations. Called the IceWind CW1000, this bulky wind turbine is capable of handling Iceland’s high wind speeds that can touch 40 miles per hour on an average day and 112 miles per hour on a stormy day!
Italy has given the planet a Christmas gift by pulling off a rather extreme stunt in two major cities. Both Rome and Milan have banned private cars in daytime in an attempt to reduce pollution levels. Special public transport fares will be announced and users will face a limit on when they can use roads. The ban will be in effect in Milan from December 28th to 30th. From 10 am to 4 pm, citizens will not be allowed to drive their private cars, scooters or motorcycles. This will surely pull down the smog levels in the city. In fact, Milan has gone on to ban fireworks displays so as to reduce the amount of pollution caused, especially during the festive periods. The authorities are making it easier for citizens as they have introduced anti-smog transport tickets that makes tickets available for just $1.65.
There’s a buzz in the air about Volkswagen’s next big move and its coming right at CES 2016 next month. The company will be showing off a cool Microbus Concept at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 next month. The little van-like contraption will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and will promise no emissions, giving the brand the much deserved break it needed after the dieselgate scandal. While some may debate the practicality of an electric bus, we can be rest assured that the Microbus Concept can easily cover any distance between 250 and 300 miles on a single charge.
We earlier heard about Nissan and Renault partnering to create eco-charging zones across Paris. Now, Nissan has tied hands with BMW to deploy 120 dual-port 50 kW DC fast-charging stations across 19 states in the US. This is in promotion of green and clean driving as well as the Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3. The charging stations are equipped with CHAdeMO and CCS Cambo connectors that are compatible with all DC fast-charging capable electric vehicles. Speaking on the initiative, Cliff Fietzek, Manager Connected eMobility, BMW of North America, said, “BMW continues to pursue new ways to support the development of a robust public charging infrastructure that will benefit current and future BMW i3 owners across the country. This BMW-Nissan project builds on BMW’s ongoing commitment to participate in joint partnerships designed to expand DC Fast charging options nationwide for all EV drivers. Together with Nissan, we are focused on facilitating longer distance travel so that even more drivers will choose to experience the convenience of e-mobility for themselves.”
Some sustainable actions may lead to happy community deeds while others simply enforce goodness upon the masses. This is the kind of enforcement the planet could deal with. Vancouver, for instance, has a law that pretty much settles all tree-cutting disputes. The city will collect a $750 security deposit from every person who axes down a tree. The money will be refunded only after the person proves that they have planted and cared for a tree for at least a year. This action has been decided basis an insight that over 25 percent of tree canopy has reduced over the last two decades. Moreover, those pledging to plant a new tree simply plant a sapling or a seed and let it perish. This new rule will ensure that the tree is nurtured till it is in full flourish.
Hamwells has introduced an amazing new means of taking a shower without being too wasteful of water. The shower pumps out recirculating water to make it reusable and safe. This not only cuts down the water usage by 90 percent but also uses 80 percent lesser energy than contemporary showers. The filtration is considered to be so effective that water can be reused up to seven times! You could scrub yourself with the low-pressure classic feature first and then resort to the refresh cycle that splashes water at higher pressure towards you. The idea of an e-Shower also means that it is more intelligent than the soon-to-be-erstwhile faucet-only systems.
To dispel the myth that all sustainable actions are sacrifice and compromise, Dutch renewable energy company Qurrent came up with a novel idea that introduced the element of fun to all sustainable actions. In a collaboration with Jora Entertainment, the company designed a theme park that is complete with exhilarating rides. The park serves as both an educational as well as a recreational zone according to Richard Klatten, CEO of Qurrent. He adds that within the next decade, wind energy will be ubiquitous and we agree that people need to acknowledge and appreciate this. The theme park spans 8,000 square meters and all rides within it are powered by wind turbines that are strategically placed around the park. Among the most thrilling rides here is the Beaufort Buster, which is basically a water slide that spirals around a wind turbine.
China is renowned for its polluting habits and as nature turns against them, many parts of the country are completely soaked in the perils of highly polluted air. Cashing in on this as an opportunity to share the wonders of natural resources, Canada’s Vitality Air has prepared a solution that could offer temporary relief to the Chinese. They will be selling cans of fresh clean air and oxygen to folks in Beijing, which is among the worst hit geographies. The will be leveraging China’s e-commerce site, Taobao and selling the bottles to needy citizens. The first 500 pieces sold out almost immediately. Another 700 bottles will be sent to China.
