What Sound Should Electric Cars Make?
by: fast company, 2011-07-26 21:46:46 UTC

To help prevent pedestrian accidents, otherwise silent electric cars must emit a noise while they drive. What noise? It's up to carmakers. Ford has presented us with some potential options. Behold, the sweet, sweet music of the Spaceship engine.

One of the benefits of electric cars--besides not using any gas--is that they are basically silent, clearing up a lot of the noise pollution inherent in driving giant hulks of metal around everywhere. But there is a problem: blind people use the sound of cars as a warning to not walk into streets. The roar of traffic acts as a safety cue to others, as well: People wearing headphones, little kids, the hard of hearing, smartphone addicts, or simply those not paying attention. When cars are silent, this warning system is gone, and it's a lot easier to accidentally get mowed down. For this reason, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has mandated that all electric cars make an alert noise. What that noise is has been left up to the individual carmakers. For the new electric Ford Focus, Ford has made four potential sounds available online and are asking people to vote:

1: The Spaceship

[youtube qOEuCJfsS8k]

2: The Motorboat

[youtube HyAmfe2Niq4]

3: The Teleporter

[youtube pDsgADWjmT0]

4: The Fighter Jet

[youtube p8XSF3fMv60]

Are you ready for a world where cars whiz by while projecting sound effects from a Flash Gordon movie? If the government can't mandate a standard, then be prepared for every car company to make its own, and perhaps trying to brand their cars using strange sounds. Walking down the street may soon be like wandering around inside a video game.

[Image: Ford]

Morgan Clendaniel can be reached by email or on Twitter.

Turning Diamond-Edged Blades Into Fuel-Saving Plowshares
by: fast company, 2011-07-26 22:59:59 UTC

High-tech materials and farming may seem like an unlikely mix, but new research suggests diamond-edged plows could have serious environmental payoffs.

German researchers have considered the ancient science and art of plowing, and have come up with a novel solution to reduce its environmental impact: Coating the metal blades of a plowshare with diamond-like carbon. 

Diamond-coating is something you're probably familiar with as a high-tech solution to making super sharp, long-lived cutting edges. The breakthrough achieved in the German Fraunhofer Institute has been to use diamond-like coatings instead (DLC). DLC is structurally similar to diamond, meaning it shares some of that material's famous resilience and strength, but it's actually possible to fix it to all sorts of different materials in all sorts of shapes--making it extremely useful as a protective coating in high-stress bearings, where it makes the joint long-lived, and in devices like hard disks, where it protects the surface of the magnetic platter from impact damage.

Plowing is all about friction: The stresses involved in dragging a plow full of large metal blades through many-inches-deep soil--laden with stones and roots--are so evident that don't need a degree in physics to realize how hard a task it is. The German researchers suggest about 50% of the energy put into the plowing process is instantly wasted in overcoming friction, and this accounts for a significant portion of the million liters of fuel the German farming industry uses up each year in working the land.

Hence the new attempt to coat the blades with DLC. This instantly reduces the plow's friction by 50%, and can actually reduce the energy required from a tractor hauling the coated plow by over 30% compared to an uncoated plow.

There are instant payoffs from this innovation, but there are also a lot of secondary ones. Larger farms will consider the fact that with reduced friction, a plow could be made much wider and still require the same tractor power, which could have significant time and fuel pay-offs on large fields. On the other hand, using the same size plow now needs a less powerful tractor, which also translates to fuel payoffs. Meanwhile, since it's easier to pull a plow now, there's less wear and tear on the tractor, and the plow blades themselves last much longer.

Considering the simplicity with which this technology could be exploited, and the considerable environmental benefits it could result in, there's an extra poignancy in reusing the phrase "turning a sword into a plowshare," since DLC can be used to make weapons much stronger, as well, though for much less benefit than when used on plows.

[Image: Flickr user pikerslanefarm]

Chat about this news with Kit Eaton on Twitter and Fast Company too.

skypump electric charging station
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-07-25 09:29:00 UTC

a collaboration between urban green energy and general electric (GE), the wind-powered station charges electric vehicles at rest stops and parking lots, feeding energy back into the grid when not in use.

read more

scoope design: elda chair
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-07-25 10:53:00 UTC

with a hinged construction, this object provides the versatile function of a chair, stepladder or storage unit, configuring itself to the needs of the surrounding space.

read more

Schletter's 'Park @ Sol' offers solar charging while parked in the shade
by: Ecofriend, 2011-07-26 04:39:18 UTC
Babita Sajnani:

Schletter, is a leading provider of solutions for traffic engineering, environmental technology, solar mounting systems - all based around sustainability. The latest solar carport called Part@Sol is a prime example of using clean sustainable energy for charging cars - a futuristic concept.

This carport would make use of a large power generator setup of photovoltaic cells in order to harness solar energy for the carport. The private parking @Sol is a concept carport for smaller number of parking spots catering to small business houses, private parking spaces and so on. Each module, comprising of a single car park slot, is made up of high quality aluminum and steel - hence, it is extremely durable and resistant to wear-and-tear. Apart from solar energy, there is an elaborate usage of LED energy saving lamps along with illumination that is time-controlled. Furthermore, the carport also has great drainage systems that harvest water.

This is a great way to use solar energy and reduce carbon footprint. Hence, e-mobility is what Schletter is promoting since the usage of electric vehicles is increasing and hence the subsequent reduction in CO2 emission. This multipurpose carport with its upcoming P-Charging station for electric vehicles would be a ground-breaking innovation.

Via: Aving

What's next: Sustainable insulation systems for green homes
by: Ecofriend, 2011-07-26 04:58:14 UTC
Sonal Bangia:

As we know it?

Insulation in our houses has become a step towards energy efficiency by regulating the temperatures inside the house. Moreover, some individuals prefer insulation to reduce acoustic interference with the outside world. It also provides protection from molds and corrosion, and is a barrier to lead-based paints and coatings. The need for insulation has also been identified by the government of many countries.

Need for change

Insulation in our house saves us electricity cost a great deal. In future, where electricity charges are going to rise, insulation can help us save money and keep our budget in good control. It has been estimated that every house can save 30 percent of its heating cost, if it is equipped with insulation. This is enough to motivate everyone to install insulation, especially people living in old houses.Insulation comes in many ways like attic insulation, reflective insulation, weather stripping at the windows, etc.

What’s next?

1. Organic-n-sustainable insulation made from mushrooms:

Global warming has become a key issue in everyone’s mind and we are keen to find solutions. This urge has led us to use insulated material that can reduce global warming. But who had thought of producing insulated materials out of flour, water, and mushroom spores?

What’s new:

Elben Bayer from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute thought so. Although this new idea in insulation still has to pick up pace and is not so popular in use, a research proved that it would be considered as one of the list counted for eco friendly items for house. The role that it plays is to suffocate the garbage and also the landfills so that they cannot pollute the house.

What difference will it make:

Though, it is still years away from bringing the insulation available for building an eco friendly home, it will surely be a welcome part of the growing market for eco friendly products, to help the ’suffocating world’ break shackles from its soaring garbage and landfills - its being sustainable, organic and eco-friendly.

2. Wool based insulation:

What’s new?

Did you know that our houses emit enough air pollution to be a concern for the environmentalists? A major contributor to this is central heating and air conditioning in our homes. An eco friendly insulating material made from wool, completely recycled is now available in the markets to lower electricity consumption in both winters and summers. According to statistics about 10 percent of the a dwelling’s heat is lost through floors, walls contribute to 24 percent and an alarming 40 percent is lost through the ceiling. However, wool can stop this energy loss to a high extent thereby saving homeowners’ money and reducing their carbon footprint. Moreover, wool is an eco friendly and non toxic material. Homeowners also have the option to choose recycled wool as an insulation material. Eco insulation using wool can be used in the whole house except for high humidity areas such as swimming pool halls and saunas. It is non- irritant, non-allergenic, non-toxic and odorless. And can easily run for 50 years with minimal maintenance.

3. Styrofoam insulation system:

Styrofoam is light and waterproof and that makes it ideal as building insulation. Its closed cell structure means that Styrofoam insulation has a high R-value. R-value refers to the ability of a material to conduct heat. The higher the value a substance has, the more resistant it is to conducting heat.

What’s new?

Insulation made using Styrofoam does not allow heat to transfer through it and helping in reducing the need for artificial cooling or heating of a house. This insulation also ensures that homes stay warm in winter and cool in summer.

White roofs: An affordable way to keep your house cool
by: Ecofriend, 2011-07-26 10:15:45 UTC
Maitabi Banerjee:

Global warming is literally creating a havoc everywhere. And especially if you are staying near the tropical zone, you cannot escape from scorching sun, which causes profuse sweating. The question is how to keep your room cool in a economic way. One of the most viable options of keeping your room cool is to paint the roof of your house with white paint. The white roof is fast catching up as an easy option to stay cool in hot summer. It is economical as it will save electricity.

Painting the roof of your house with white color is a great idea to beat the summer heat. It not only helps to keep the interiors of the house much cooler but at the same time reduces the urban heat island effect. A useful way of curbing global warming is to paint the black roofs with white color it helps to deflect approximately 70 percent of the sun rays, as a result the rooms stay almost 30 percent more cooler. Many cities in America have taken the initiative of converting all the black roofs of their houses into white.

With Former President Clinton voicing his opinion about the usage of white roofs vehemently, a city backed project ‘NYC Cool Roofs” have collaborated with different property builders to take initiative in introducing this option in all their housing projects. Not only so, also make it an awareness program where in people can be made to understand of this particular initiative along with its great importance on a broader prospect. And also give them an overview of how this can help in curbing environmental issues to a larger extent.

On the whole, a great and economic way of beating the summer heat. Painting the roofs white will not only be a possible solution on a personal level but also a dynamic idea to deal with global warming in more holistic way.

Via: Good

10 Green bikes that have non-metallic frames
by: Ecofriend, 2011-07-26 11:05:04 UTC
Babita Sajnani:

Riding bikes was always considered healthy, but now it is trendy and environmentally friendly too! The soaring oil prices have increased the demand of the humble bicycle which now comes in various stylish forms with a frame that is made of eco friendly materials rather than the usual metal. So go ride a bike, save your gas expenses and spare our earth from CO2 emissions! Here are ten such bike models that are eco friendly:

1. Audi Duo Bike

Audi in collaboration with Renovo Design, which is popular for manufacturing bikes with wooden frames, would be making bikes with “Audi” expertise. Audi plans to roll out eco friendly wooden bikes by creating monocoque frames instead of the Audi trademark material – lightweight aluminum, as wood is a better absorber of vibrations and shocks. Audi plans to add various features to the bike that make it compact apart from offering narrow tires, a 20-speed gear train and a SRAM Red and no fenders. This would surely be a road bike to look forward to and would be priced at $7460.

2. Valetudo – A three-wheeled commuter bike made from recycled plastic

The single piece frame of the Valetudo is made out of plastic that has been recycled. The body of the bike looks uber chic and also helps in hiding the metallic components such as the pedal and gear system from sight and from rusting. There are saddlebags made out of rubber that hang to the sides for storing groceries and other things. This bike is very basic in its mechanism and can also be fixed at home without the need of a specialist. The suspension system that is present at the front wheel not only assures a greater turning radius but also makes the ride very comfortable.

3. SplinterBike - A complete wooden bicycle

The SplinterBike is entirely made of wood. From the wheels to the saddle to the gear – all is made in wood and only wood. Designed by Michael Thompson, this bike makes use of different kinds of wood having different properties. For instance, oily ironwood has been used instead of metal bearing. Hardwood ekki is used for the axles whereas the handlebars and pedals are made from the handle of an old broom. The most astonishing ‘wooden’ feature of this bike is the drivetrain as it is not easy to make a wooden chain which is a massive 128-tooth cog that connects the gear and the chaining onto the rear wheel. The SplinterBike weight 31 kilograms, but is the fastest amongst the wooden bikes till date as it can go up to a maximum speed of 31 miles/hour.

4. Wooden Bicycle by German Students

Some students from a university in Germany designed and built a bike with a timber wood frame, however, they have used rubber tires which are non-biodegradable material. Furthermore, since the students have used timber for the frame, it straightaway leads to deforestation which again does not make this bike eco friendly and green. Hence, this bike can be termed as “semi-green”.

5. ‘Recycle Me’ recyclable plastic folding bike

The “Recycle Me” bike has been designed by Omer Sagiv and is a foldable bicycle made out of molded plastic that can be recycled and hence has no carbon footprint. This is probably the most ‘green’ bike of all, and with its attractive shape and colors, it would become an instant hit with the urban dwellers. The bike also has various features such as dynamo powered lights and inbuilt rear, front and seat suspensions.

6. Izzy Plastic City Bike for green commuting

The Izzy plastic bike is another Omer Sagiv creation and is the ultimate bike made out of plastic that can make bike commuting very cool and comfortable. With various high-end features and stylish look, this bike is truly amazing. The bike has inbuilt 3-D integrated rear suspension and illumination and free standing locking mechanisms, designed for the urban bike rider. However, the fact that the Izzy is made out of plastic, does not reduce its carbon footprint, but at least it is totally emission-free. This bike is surely a great way of promoting green commuting in urban cities.

7. Innervision: Fully recyclable plastic bike

.

The Innervision by Matt Clark is a bike whose frame is entirely made of plastic that can be recycled. The overall look of the bike is cool and since it will be rolled out in huge numbers, it should be affordable. The bike is very light since it is made up of plastic. The prototype is made out of pure plastic. However, the other will be made out of plastic from poluproylene waste and used food containers. This bike would be an affordable two-wheeler.

8. Cardboard Bike

The Cardboard Bike has been designed by a student from Sheffield Hallam University and has been built by Phil Bridge who is a member of the Stockport bike club Wills Wheels. This unique concept of using cardboard for the frame was actually a solution to the increasing bicycle thefts that were happening in England. Cardboard is made with a honeycomb-like structure and is waterproof at the manufacturing stage. The entire frame of a single bike would take only one single sheet of cardboard that comes out to 3 pounds only. Other components of the bike like the chains and tires are purchased separately that takes up the cost to 15 pounds. The cardboard is durable enough to last for at least 6 months if used on a daily basis plus you can also paint advertisements on the frame.

9. Frii Plastic Bike designed by Dror Peleg

Designed by Dror Peleg from Jerusalem, Israel, the ‘Frii‘ bike is made out of various kinds of plastics that have been recycled by making use of the injection molding technology. The designer aims to create a cost-effective bike that can be mass manufactured with fewer resources and with more ease in stark contrast to the traditional metallic bike. The Frii bike has tires that are made of ‘complete’ material that then gets injected on the rims in order to make the tires durable and insusceptible to punctures. The Frii also has bearings that are pre-inserted before injecting the mold. The wheels of the Frii are much smaller in size – 20 inches – which leads to a shorter fork and makes the bike stronger and faster. The frame also has a crank at the bottom for stability.

10. Walnut Bike Designed by Lagomorph Design

This rather expensive bike – priced at $6000 – is a real beauty if luxury is what you’re looking for. The Walnut bike crafted out of black walnut wood is a stylish and intricately crafted bike that is the ultimate in comfort and luxury. This sustainable bike will not only keep the environment green, but will also give a royal look to your two-wheeler ride. This classy bike has been made by Lagomorph Design, who has also given the Walnut Bike additional high-end feature like Diacomp brakes and Mavic rims. You can enjoy your rides through rains and puddles without having to worry about rusting the chains as the chain is rust-free! An expensive luxury bike that gives green luxury to the owner!

10 most ingenious solar powered lighting systems
by: Ecofriend, 2011-07-25 09:48:53 UTC
Munmun Goswami:

The sun has been lighting our houses during the daytime since millions of years. Now, we have technological innovations, which allow the energy of the sun to be tapped and put to various uses. The concept of production of electric energy by using solar energy been an old idea and has been successfully implemented through the world. Today, there are a number of solar powered lighting systems available on the market with various price ranges. These systems promise sustainable illumination that is powered by renewable energy sources and are hence off-the-grid. Check out some of the most ingenious solar powered lighting systems after the break.

1. Night Owl – solar-powered lighting system for sustainable cities

Designed by Edan Kurzweil, this is a futuristic system. The night owl is supposed to power streetlights by converting the solar energy trapped in the large polymer solar films on their tops into electric energy. Clusters of LED would facilitate the process. These lights would be connected to city-powered grid so that any extra unit of solar can be returned to the city. In case of lower sun exposure, the Night Owl can also draw electricity from the city.

2. Light Tree solar-powered lighting system

Omar Huerta has combined hydroponic techniques with solar techniques to produce the unbelievable. He has churned out the Light Tree, a device that can be used to grow plants. All that the device does is to conduct the light generated by its base located LEDs through water up to the plants. Water is also used to feed the seeds. The plants grown can be left untouched or can be transplanted into a separate growing area.

3. Lightimus – Solar-powered night lighting system

Designed by Mustafa Emre Olur, this device used the photovoltaic technology. The uniqueness is the use of a solar cell laden hourglass that turns upside down during night, consequently lighting up the LEDs that are present just beneath it. The device can run for eight hours after being fully charged by sunlight.

4. Luceplan’s Sky solar-powered LED lighting system

Designed by Alfredo Haberli, these lights, known as the Sky, are supposed to light up park areas. Using LEDs and a panel of PVs, they can produce intense lighting and are available in different versions. The PVs trap sunlight during day and light LEDs during night. Named after Luceplan, the Italian manufacturer of the solar lights, this system is a perfect one to make park areas look awesomely lighted during nights.

5. Qnuru debuts solar-powered outdoor light fixtures

Qnuru has taken pleasure in introducing a range of outdoor items, which would specifically be used for outdoor lighting purposes. Considering the fact that quarter of the total energy produced in the world is utilized in outdoor powering purposes, it will help in realizing the importance of this lighting system. Just to add, the system is unique because the fixtures are architecturally designed and are programmable which makes them intelligent power managers.

6. Solar-powered smart traffic light system increases road safety

With a Chilean Origin, this system promises a revolutionised traffic control process through a unique display of changing light patterns apart from the conventional red–yellow–green trio. The changing lights would mean different things, even emergencies like ambulances and fire alarms. To complement, there would be a camera fitted to the pole to trap out road nuances. Pedestrians are also supposed to be kept more cautious regarding the near range vehicles. Truly thoughtful, is it not?

7. Riflessi – solar-powered lighting system

A novel creation by Yana Klimava, these lights are made up of a set of mirror droplets and a fabric that traps sunlight. During day, the fabric just turns the trapped sunlight to the mirrors, which reflect it back so that the room is illuminated. During night, the fabric passes on the daytime generated power to LEDs embedded in it which light up the room in return. Sprinkling some water on the fabric ensures a beautiful pattern of illumination.

8. Solabud solar lighting system offers high output without grid electricity

If you are tired of the dim light produced by your solar power system, it is time you try this wizard. The green LLC has promised that its Solabud would give an output equivalent to the one received by using conventional electricity. Better timers are ingrained that would increase the life of Solabud. Expect to be lit up with glowing illumination by virtue of the sun at night.

9. Solar powered LED park lights for green and bright parks

It uses the same basic technology, the only difference being that the designer, Marcel Kawka, has made use of recyclable material and high-end technology to construct it. Therefore, with this new technology, green park will be on the bloom.

10. Solar-powered outdoor lighting system from Corona

This device is the brainchild of Shane Kohatsu, an industrial designer from Tokyo. It uses the photovoltaic concept and its speciality is that the system is mobile and can be used to light any kind of surface. The LEDs automatically start shining when the sun sets.

The ScrapLab Design Contest
by: Sustainable Design News, 2011-07-24 22:34:20 UTC
The ScrapLab Design Contest is seeking innovative and sustainable designs made of scrap.

The objective is to recycle waste materials in the form of new products such as furniture, accessories or artwork and to bring them back into the economic circle.