The Guide To Efficient Living
Gasoline-powered cars are perhaps the most inefficient devices that many of us use daily. The internal combustion engine is inefficient in term of pollution, gas costs and maintenance costs. Electric motors are comparatively simple devices that do not require much maintenance at all. But, as you may know, it’s difficult to obtain an commercial electric… [Continue Reading]
Utility bikes or “work bikes” are very efficient vehicles for transporting cargo (and children too). They are quite popular in bike-friendly places like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and China. Bikes can tow a remarkable amount of weight. Loads in excess of 880 pounds (400 kilograms) have been hauled behind bikes along flat surfaces. Generally though, 300 pounds… [Continue Reading]
It’s a prototype of a diesel-electric hybrid bus from DaimlerChrysler! The company plans to unveil this bus, the Citaro, to the general public sometime this year. The bus has a sophisticated hybrid system, that allows the bus to run in emission-free battery-only mode. Rather than providing continuous driving power, the diesel engine in the Citaro… [Continue Reading]
SmartWool specializes in creating 100% merino wool activewear. I’ve worn some Smartwool clothing for a couple of years now, and it still looks new — it’s hasn’t piled or worn. The merino wool is much softer against the skin than regular wool, it feels similar to thick silk. Here’s some other reasons why I think… [Continue Reading]
Hemp sheets — they’re soft, durable, chemical-free and sustainable. But why choose hemp over organic cotton? Hemp is twice as strong and requires less processing. Even organic cotton requires caustic soda to remove the wax so it can be spun and woven. The waste water produced during this process then requires more chemicals to be… [Continue Reading]
Hemp is more durable and resistant to mildew than pure cotton. It’s also more absorbent: hemp fiber can absorb 150% of its weight in water (as opposed to cotton, which can absorb about 100%). Yet hemp bath towels are difficult to find.
Down is one of nature’s finest insulators. Nothing matches its warmth for weight, compressibility, and resilience. Its ability to absorb perspiration and cozily drape along the contours of your body is unparalleled by synthetic materials. Down is more expensive than other insulating materials. However, when you divide its cost by the number of cozy nights… [Continue Reading]
This newly released Outer340 Clipper jacket from Icebreaker is made out 100% New Zealand merino wool. The “Outer340″ refers the the weight of the wool (340 grams per square centimeter). It costs about $230 USD. See this previous post for details on why we think their clothing is metaefficient. This page has a guide to… [Continue Reading]
This new snow throwing tool, called a “Whovel”, uses your body weight to lift and throw snow and slush. After suffering repeated back injuries, the company founder began working on snow removal designs that could reduce back injuries, while avoiding the many problems associated with gas-powered snow blowers. Available from: Whovel.Com ($119 + $35 shipping)
Zero X Motorcycle: 100% Lithium-Ion Electric, 40 Mile Range, Weighs Only 140 Pounds
The Zero X Motorcycle was designed from the ground up to be a 100% electric bike. What makes this new bike truly different is that it contains 168 individual high-power lithium ion cells and is expected to endure six years of hard riding. Zero Motorcycle’s power grid technology has the highest power density (power storage… [Continue Reading]