If you live in the United States and value fuel efficiency, you might catch yourself looking longingly overseas at super efficient vehicle fleets and wondering, why not us? One MIT researcher looked into the predicament and found that though it might not look like we are making strides, we are. The average, fuel efficiency for US vehicles actually increased by 60 percent between 1980 and 2006. The problem is that cars in the US got bigger (by 26% on average) and their horsepower increased (by 107 hp on average), which, when factored in, means that the average fuel efficiency of American cars only increased by a mere 15%. Almost all of the new technology went into making cars more efficient per pound of weight so that the cars could get bigger and still fit within average mile per gallon expectations.
Have you ever imagined that one day you’d be able to watch TV shows on your t-shirt? Engineer David Forbes didn’t see any reason why not. In 2009 he created his first prototype for a wearable LED television, and he just unveiled the final design! Scaled down from his initial 50-pound model, the finished version weighs only eight pounds and boasts a 160-by-120-pixel display.
by: mocoloco, 2012-01-03 15:01:43 UTC
Anyone who has played videogames in the 90's (we have!) will recognize the blocky look of, say, SimCity, the result of constraints in processing power and graphics software of the time. It's what life looks like in 16-bit, in other words low resolution.
by: Gizmodo , 2012-01-04 13:00:00 UTC
Developers can make "Energy Internet" apps that gather electricity data and control "smart" networked thermostats and appliances over a cloud-based development platform.
Car designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker made his name in the car industry designing the highest of the high-end luxury cars for BMW and Aston Martin. After making waves in the auto industry with vehicles such as the Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and BMW Z8, he decided to break away from this corner of the auto world imbued with tradition and start his own company, Fisker Automotive. Fisker’s first vehicle to hit the road has been the Karma, an impressively green, extended range electric vehicle with so many curves, your eyes are already driving it before you’ve even gotten behind the wheel. Coming in as loud and clear as the Karma’s sex appeal, Henrik Fisker is on a mission to make green cars cool. We recently had a chance to talk to him about how he’s risen to the top of the electric vehicle pack, and where he plans on taking his cars from there.
We’ve covered robotic exoskeleton prototypes in the past here on Inhabitat, but Ekso Bionics just announced plans to launch a fully-functioning commercial model by the end of the year! Think about it – within 12 months, this exoskeleton will help thousands of paraplegics trade their wheelchairs for the ability to walk again.
by: Ecofriend, 2012-01-02 09:15:43 UTC
Reshu Rathi:
A Singapore startup Eco Wiz has grabbed name for an innovative food waste decomposer. The tool, dubbed Eco Wiz is meant to convert food waste to water. Owner of the company, Renee Mison, a former marketing professional, met the Korean-made food waste-to-water machine in its primitive stage and bought its rights. Eco Wiz later invested over $380,000 in research and development to improve the decomposer into a perfect water management tool.
Food Waste Into Water
As of today, her company Eco Wiz is gaining large traction with this decomposer to turn food waste to clean water, which can be used to clean floors, irrigate plants and many other purposes excluding drinking. It can now produce 267 gallons of sludge water from one ton of food waste. This way, huge quantity of food waste can be managed without moving to the landfill. In return, clean water will be supplied for irrigational purposes.
Talking to The Jakarta Globe, Mison said that in Singapore for every ton of waste a high fee needs to be paid. Clients can now save by 70 percent of their waste disposal fee if the decomposer is used individually. Eco Wiz has recently signed a deal with a Thai research firm to enhance the performance of microbes used in the decomposer to turn food waste to water. It will help the process take place quite faster and more efficiently.
The decomposer is recommended for households, hotels, restaurants, food factories, supermarkets, apartments and others. Indeed, every individual can now dispose their food waste. Being a by-product, they get sludge water to fertilize soil for vegetable gardens, lawns and others.
by: Sustainable Design News, 2012-01-01 20:27:22 UTC Green Professionals Conference is intended to educate, motivate and provide a forum to network and initiate conversations.
More than just a job fair, the conference is designed for corporations, government agencies, elected officials, universities, trade schools and nonprofits to gather under one roof to stimulate economic growth by strengthening the green job workforce.
by: Sustainable Design News, 2012-01-02 03:25:43 UTC Ecobuild is the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.
Combining a 1000+ exhibitor-strong product showcase with more than 100 free conference and seminar sessions and dozens of interactive educational attractions, Ecobuild connects formal learning with practical experience, and with products and suppliers.
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-31 09:23:57 UTC
technology that's simple, fresh and helpful!
The Nest™ Learning Thermostat™ programs itself in a week and adjusts itself to the schedule of the ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-29 11:05:40 UTC
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the commonly accepted methodology to systematically assess the environmental impact of a product or material over the ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-26 05:43:19 UTC
Philips Econova 46PFL6806 ECO Smart LED TV was awarded European Green TV 2011-2012. The EISA judging panel noted: “In its quest for energy efficiency ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-25 08:22:42 UTC
More and more companies are working hard to do the right thing, and more consumers are trying to understand the impact of what they are buying. A company ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-23 12:42:10 UTC
The brand-new Modefabriek area MINT showcases the best in forward fashion and lifestyle: made with respect for people and our environment, without ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-20 11:00:17 UTC
Arenaleaf is a ceramic tile manufactured out of 50% recycled material. It is based on modern interpretations of traditional Japanese building methods. ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-19 08:05:49 UTC
Would you like to access and apply high quality materials property data within Autodesk Inventor? Would you benefit from tools that make it easy to ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-19 07:58:50 UTC
Arenaleaf is a ceramic tile manufactured out of 50% recycled material. It is based on modern interpretations of traditional Japanese building methods. ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-17 07:49:04 UTC
The hides of the ‘Easy Being Green’ collection are produced in a sustainable way and are safe for the environment and human health. The main difference ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-14 08:37:43 UTC
Anne Kyrro Quinn and her studio make bespoke wall coverings from felt. Because of their 3D character they are functioning as sound absorbers. But most ...
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