(1) Wind Catcher for summer ventilation (2) Solar Array for electricity and hot water (3) High Level of Insulation (4) Biomass Boiler In the UK, various companies are building cutting-edge green homes as part of the Offsite 2007 Exhibition. Yesterday saw the official launch of a “zero emissions house” called the Lighthouse built by the… [Continue Reading]
Rapid-Charging Electric SUV Demonstrated
June 11, 2007 by 2 Comments
Recently, Phoenix Motorcars demonstrated their plug-in electric SUV that will go on sale in 2008. The SUV uses AltairNano’s fast-charge lithium-ion battery technology for power. The vehicle has a top speed of about 100 miles per hour, and its range is about 250 miles. Here’s a video of the SUV in action.
World’s First Solar-Powered Phone: Now Available
June 7, 2007 by 2 Comments
We’ve seen prototypes for solar-powered cell phones, but now a Chinese company claims to have developed the world’s first commercially available solar-powered cellphone. The company says a scale-like solar panel on the top side of the phone can also be recharged by light from artificial sources. It can provide 40 minutes of talk-time after sitting… [Continue Reading]
First 100% Solar Powered Community In California Opens
June 7, 2007 by 4 Comments
Solara is the first apartment community in California to be fully powered by the sun. The 56-unit apartment community, which opened yesterday, has some pretty impressive green features. The community has rooftop solar arrays that provide 140 kilowatts of power in total. The solar panels provide 100% power for the entire residential complex, and, on… [Continue Reading]
The Midwest’s First Green Tower
June 6, 2007 by 2 Comments
The Roberts Tower, will be the first certified-green high-rise building in the Midwest. It has been designed to achieve a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) Certification by the US Green Building Council. The condos will have bamboo floors, high-efficiency insulated windows and efficient appliances. They will also use geothermal energy for heating and… [Continue Reading]
First Japanese Solar Powered Condo
June 5, 2007 by 2 Comments
This condo complex, called the Grandia Solare, is said to be the first of its kind in Japan. Each apartment gets 1530 watts of solar power from the building’s roof. Apparently the solar cells are owned by a third-party, so the upfront cost of the panels was not passed on to the condo’s residents. The… [Continue Reading]
Energy From Waste Heat: Via Sound!
June 5, 2007 by Leave a Comment
University of Utah physicists developed small devices that turn heat into sound and then into electricity. The technology holds promise for changing waste heat into electricity, harnessing solar energy and cooling computers. “We are converting waste heat to electricity in an efficient, simple way by using sound,” says Orest Symko, a University of Utah physics… [Continue Reading]
HyperGreen Tower Concept
June 3, 2007 by 7 Comments
This is an interesting concept called the HyperGreen Tower by Jacques Ferrier, which was recently submitted to an architectural competition in Paris. The 246 meter tower design has an unusual curving exterior lattice facade made out of concrete that acts as the building’s primary structural system. This allows for adaptable floor plates and vegetated sky… [Continue Reading]
The Tallest Building In Thailand Will Be Green
June 2, 2007 by 1 Comment
Asia generally lags behind the U.S. and Europe as far as the green-buildings movement goes. But there are signs that green architecture is starting to move more into the mainstream. The Ocean One Tower is a 91-story beachfront residential high-rise in the Thai resort town of Pattaya. Designed by Australia-based firm Woods Bagot, the building… [Continue Reading]
Build Your Own High-Performance Hybrid Electric Bike
June 2, 2007 by 7 Comments
We recently featured the high-performance electric Optibike, which was mentioned in a New York Times article. Well, apparently you can build a equivalent electric bike for much less (for around $1,600). See the video for more details, and see notes on the bike’s design after the fold.
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