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, 2012-01-13 13:52:27 UTC
This week I visited a lecture of Daan Roosengaarde in Shanghai, showing his interactive art/products which are, very often also sustainable. Above ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-10 15:39:25 UTC
When the first plastic chairs were made, they began with fairly simple tools and moulds to form the plastic. The simple tools were easy to adjust and ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-08 15:32:00 UTC
Marjan and I wish you all a happy and creative 2012! With lot's of ideas for beautiful new products that people love and keep for many years and that ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-04 09:10:40 UTC
Since the independence of Namibia in 1990, logging of trees is restricted due to the sensitivity of ecosystems and woodlands. Trees are harder and ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-03 13:43:12 UTC
Tropical hard wood is often used for its durability and its aesthetics. Deforestation in the tropics is however a problem and increases climate changes. ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-02 19:47:16 UTC
Marcel Wanders designed an energymeter for Innovaders.The Wattcher consists of a sensor, a sending unit (both placed in the meter closet on any electricity ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2012-01-02 18:50:10 UTC
Although bamboo in itself is self sustaining, in can grow meters in a year and after cutting it off it continues to grow. Bamboo is however not necessarily ...
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