Nissan is really trying to go full bore with its new Leaf electric car. It will allow you to go up to 100 miles on a single charge. But will people buy it?
Archive for 'Green Tech'
It’s staggering how little has been done in solar and wind alternative energy. I think that shows just how apathetic we are when it comes to such ideas. However, some folks have recently come up with a pretty neat idea. It involves making solar cells that look like ivy, as you can see in the flash video above. But this is also a wind generator, as you will see.
The cells look interesting climbing up the side of a building, but they also generate solar power. The interesting twist is that each leaf also carries a piezoelectric generator on the backside. So, when the wind is blowing the leaves, it is generating electricity as well. SMIT_grow as the project is called, is currently producing a lower design, but is working to get this idea into production. I would love to see the energy generation facts on this as well as cost.
Sure, the title is tongue in cheek, but the Xeros really will be a very cool washer. Well, that’s as far as washers go. But, if you are into saving money, cutting energy costs, cutting detergent use, and saving water, then you can get excited about this washer.
The amazing thing is that the Xeros (Greek for dry) washing machine uses 2% of the energy conventional washing machines use. It accomplishes this by using, of all things, nylon polymer balls. It seems that these little nylon wonders have an intrinsic charge that pull the stains away from the clothes. The dirt is then absorbed into the nylon ball and stored. Those stains are loosened with aid from detergents.
The Xeros doesn’t use a spin or rinse cycle, hence the energy conservation. Oh, and you don’t have to worry about gathering all those little nylon balls at the end, the machine will do that for you. And they can be used for up to six months before being replaced. A tiny amount of water needs to be added to the wash. That means that no drying is needed afterward. Again, cost savings.
You should be on the look out for Xeros powered machines within the year. Or at least, that’s what they say.
Having a solar cooker brings cheap, simple cooking to far away places. Whether you are camping or without power at home, the Hot Pot Simple Solar Cooker will suffice. It’s reiterative design has made for a surprisingly hot cooking experience.
The black, steel enameled pot (5 quarts) helps to absorb the sunlight. And sunlight gathering is aided by the foldable, reflective surface. And heat is kept within the cooking area by a glass enclosure. All that adds up to 350-400 degrees of cooking power! Not bad for $60.
Here’s a vid of Frijoles cooking:
