With the temperatures falling outside you may not be getting on your bike as much as you’d like, especially if you haven’t stocked up on your wool clothing. So it’s the perfect time to catch up on your reading. As bike popularity is exploding, so are the number of books written about the love and care of a bicycle. Whether …
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Google Maps – Efficient Commuting With Customized Bicycling Directions
Biking around town is a great way to cut pollution while getting a little exercise, especially now that springtime weather is upon us. So tune up your bike, buckle your helmet, and find a bike-friendly route with the new “Bicycling” option from Google Maps.
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TED 5000 Household Power Meter – Improve Home Energy Efficiency
It’s no secret that cutting your household energy consumption is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. It’s also a great way to save money on your utility bills. But to pinpoint the best places to reduce power use, you need to know exactly where your power is going – no small task considering the number of devices, appliances, …
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Highly Efficient House Uses 80% Less Power and Water
I have to mention this highly optimal house recently completed in California. Jetson Green has all the details, so I won’t repeat them here. Basically, the Margarido House is on its way to being the first home the nation that’s both LEED-H certified and GreenPoint rated. I’m impressed by how many green elements are incorporated in this house, while still …
Trailerbikes: A Review and Buying Guide
A trailer bike is a one-wheeled bike extension that attaches to the back of your bike. They are an efficient way to bring your child on a longer bike ride. Your smaller companion can assist you with pedaling, while you control the steering and speed. This allows your child to become familiar with the process of riding a bike, and …
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First U.S City To Be Lit With 100% LEDs: Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is on its way to being the first U.S. city to light up its downtown with 100% LED-based streetlights. The city expects to install more than 1,000 LED streetlights beginning next month. The city anticipates a 3.8-year payback on its initial investment.
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Groningen City: 57% Of All Trips Are By Bike
The On the Level: Car Free Blog has an interesting first-hand account of the bike-friendly city of Groningen in the Netherlands. According to the report, 57% of all trips are made by bicycle in this student town. The city has just completed a new underground bike park at their railway station. The post continues: The station now has room for …
Inexpensive, Non-Toxic Solvent: Washing Soda
Washing soda is an efficient substitute for conventional toxic solvents. It cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does.
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Color Grown Cotton: Fox Fibre
Some cotton is naturally colored — it grows that way and does not need to be dyed. “Color grown” cotton has its roots in the ancient Americas. Weavers cultivated native white, tan, green, yellow, red, and brown colored cottons for thousands of years. However, the fiber qualities of the cotton was not suited to modern textile machines. Thus, today, most …
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Staber Washer: Highly Efficient
The Staber Washer is good washer if you are interested in saving electricity, water and detergent. It is the only top loading, horizontal-axis clothes washer made in the U.S. It operates in a similar way to an efficient front load washer, but you get top loading convenience. Compared to conventional vertical-axis agitator washers, the Staber uses 66% less water, 50% …
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Ultraminimalist Electricity
By using ultraminimalist electrical configurations, you can lighten your housing arrangements and make them more portable too. Ultraminimalist lighting is straightforward. The most efficient way of lighting a house is to use lamps with compact fluorescent bulbs inside. For example, a 27W compact fluorescent is equivalent to a 100W incandescent bulb. Use LED lights for task lighting and spot lighting. …
Printer Ink From Car Tires
Printer ink can cost as much as vintage champagne, so finding an inexpensive and eco-effective way to make would be great. Now three inventors from Derbyshire, UK, think they have just the solution: extract the carbon from unwanted tires to generate a cheap and plentiful supply.
