Honey, I Shrunk the CNC Machine: "Piccolo" Is the World's Smallest CNC Platform
by: Core77, 2012-03-06 23:00:00 UTC

We hadn't heard from the fellas at Diatom since they sent us their Kickstarter project, the Open Source Sketchchair, last spring. Eleven months later and one world tour later, the dynamic design and digital fabrication duo from Down Under (and less-alliterative London) have partnered with a couple of collaborators at Carnegie Mellon's Computational Design Lab to present "Piccolo," a purportedly "pocket-sized stand-alone CNC platform for under $70."

It's essentially a kit to turn your trusty Arduino into a very basic, very small CNC machine. The video below illustrates its functionality (namely, drawing tiny pictures):

(more...)

Anvil Knitwear Chooses CA Technologies Environmental Management Software
by: Environmental Leader, 2012-03-06 15:12:06 UTC
Anvil Knitwear Inc. is implementing CA Technologies’ ecoSoftware to help manage its sustainability program worldwide. The century-old apparel company will be using CA ecoSoftware to measure its waste, water and energy, and eventually other aspects its business, such as the amount of yarn used in the manufacturing of products. Anvil will also use the CA [...]

‘For-Benefit’ Corporations Value Environmental, Social, Financial Impacts
by: Environmental Leader, 2012-03-06 15:11:09 UTC
Fortunately, we’re seeing a plethora of green products flood the market, as well as prolific messaging about decisions that individuals can make to enhance the sustainability of their lifestyles. Sustainability is permeating our business culture as well—the acceptable parameters of capitalism are shifting, causing corporations to evolve beyond a purely profit-driven model to one that [...]

dbRevo wheel injects electric power to your regular bicycle
by: The Design blog, 2012-03-06 13:37:20 UTC
Jaspreet Kaur Walia:

Want to swap your conventional bike into an electric ride? Simply replace the front wheel with a colorful one by DK city and move around in utmost style. Yes, you read it right! DK city, bike manufacturer from Taiwan, has come up with the amazing dbRevo wheel that will inject your ride with electric power.

dbRevo wheel comes with the power to swap any ordinary bicycle into an electric model by just replacing the wheel placed in the front. These wheels are available in a variety of colors, which includes green, gray, blue, white, magenta, red and orange. The addition of such a colorful wheel will make the bicycle look all the more vivacious. The wheels can be fitted in almost all kinds of bicycles and are available in models with sizes 20 inch and 26 inch.

dbRevo wheel comes fitted with a battery, controller and motor, which powers the ride. It comes complete with a small wireless console that can be wedged on the handlebars. This will give an apt information about the ride and will give the rider complete control to tweak the power. The awe-inspiring wheel features a DC motor and a 24V lithium battery. Installing the design is not at all difficult, as it solely requires the replacement of the front wheel.

dbRevo wheel has been shortlisted for the Taipei Cycle d&i awards and won unending praises at the EICMA bike and motorcycle show 2011. So, power your bicycle in an eco friendly way and make heads turn as the bike gets some splash of color with dbRevo wheel.

Via: Designboom

Electric bikes striving to make cities clean and green
by: The Design blog, 2012-03-06 13:53:44 UTC
Jaspreet Kaur Walia:

The current scenario:

Cities are choked with gas guzzling vehicles, which pushes up the pollution levels even further. These alarming levels are forcing people to shift their focus on greener options, which will help keep the surroundings in a healthy state. This is where the electrically operated bikes come in the scene, which will become a common sight on the roads in the near future.

The concept:

Traveling by gasoline driven cars not only pollutes the environment, but also consumes a lot space both on road and inside the parking area. This leads to traffic jams and results in parking woes at the same time. Moreover, the ever increasing fuel prices have made traveling by car everyday nothing less than a luxury. Keeping all these factors in mind, an electric bike or e-bike seems to be the best possible option to bail people all around the world out of this situation. The added responsibility to save the world from the clutches of pollution has even made top notch car and bike manufacturers to come up electric versions, which will bang head on with the gas guzzling rides. Electric bikes will save space and can be maneuvered with ease on the roads. They are just perfect when it comes to intercity rides, where high speeds are not a prerequisite.

The inspiration:

The greatest inspiration that forces designers to come up with better e-bikes every now and then is soaring fuel prices. Charging the battery of an e-bike is not an expensive affair and can be done using a household socket. The eco friendly rides are a hassle free creation and prove to be a better mode of transportation on traffic chocked roads. It further saves from other inconveniences faced, like finding a parking space, which is like searching for water in a desert if a place is thronged by many people at the same time.

The advantages:

Electric bike is a onetime investment, which will prove to be efficient as well as light on the pocket later. These can touch an average speed of 25 to 30 kilometers per hour, which is sufficient when it comes to riding inside the city. This trait also makes it a great vehicle for children as well as adults. Housewives will benefit the most as they can run errands in a much more efficient manner. Since e-bikes make good use of electric power, the need of changing oil gets totally deleted and so does cleaning the residue build up.

What might bother you?

There nothing on the face of this earth that doesn’t come tagged with a few disadvantages and the e-bike is no different. So, there are a few things you should know before you become complete fans of these electrically driven rides. They will never prove to be a perfect partner when it comes to traveling long distances, which is a major drawback. Moreover, don’t expect these rides to take you farther than 20 to 25 kilometers on a single charge, which further confines their usage inside the frame of a city. While there is an option to pedal them if they run of juice, but pedaling the bike uphill will leave you exhausted as the bike is heavy as compared to its conventional counterpart. The e-bikes come stashed with a heavy price tag, which not everyone can afford.

Related trends:

1. Torque: A futuristic, yet realistic e-bike

Torque e-bike by Emil Moller Pedersen has a simple frame. The bike comes smothered with traits that will force people to ditch their gas powered vehicles. The futuristic bike features closed chain box, battery ring and hob rings in its wheels, which make it different from an everyday bike. Torque is very stable and comfortable. The stability is a result of the placement of the matter, which is present at the lower portion hence offering a low center of gravity. The motor can come up with an output of 15.5 mph, which is quite impressive.

2. Electric Bike Concept ver2

EBIQ, designed by Yuji Fujimura, will draw attention not only because of its electric status but also its eccentric shape. The electric bike concept comes fitted with a Lithium ion battery, which will power the ride. The motor will fetch the much required power from the battery, which is of course rechargeable. The most interesting feature is the battery’s tendency to charge other electronic gadgets. The electric bike has a storage compartment that can be used to safely carry gadgets like iPods, cell phones, laptops and tablets. It will not only protect these electronic devices from getting damaged, but will also charge them using the power provided by the battery.

3. OnCycle E-bike

OnCycle E-bike has been specially designed for the American market. It has been fashioned in an aesthetically pleasing way and will prove to be a great alternative for moving around in the city. The motor has been placed at the back of pedal cranks, which powers the ride for a totally exhilarating experience. The electric nature of the bike is made clear with battery level display, embedded lights and a well lit up motor. Apart from this, the eco friendly creation boasts of additional components like rack, lights, pannier and D-lock.

4. City Electric Bicycle

City Electric Bike, as the name suggest, will be perfect for traveling short distance like inside the city without adding poisonous fumes the environment. The bike has been dipped in plain looks and has a battery that has been fitted inside the seat tube. The electric motor, on the other hand, has been placed inside the bottom bracket which in turns helps keeping the bike stable as the weight is kept in the center of the bike.

5. Tharula Electric Bike Concept

Tharula Electric Bike is sure a revolutionary concept, but unique at the same time. The personal electric scooter has been fashioned in a way that will make eyes do a cartwheel in surprise every time it moves on the roads. It comes with a promise to keep the environment in a clean state and save space while you move around on the truly awesome creation. The front wheel is much bigger than the one placed at the rear, which is distinctive in itself. Normally, bikes with such wheels are seen in a circus but this futuristic ride has transported the same feel right in everyday life and that too in an environmentally friendly way.

Haiku: World’s Most Efficient Ceiling Fan
by: Jetson Green, 2012-03-05 00:58:54 UTC

Just as Nest changed the thermostat game, perhaps Haiku will change the residential ceiling fan game.  This is the “world’s most efficient ceiling fan,” the “quietest fan in the world,” and the “most sustainable” fan, according to Big Ass Fan, the company behind the new product.

Haiku is available in a few finishes, including caramel bamboo (above), cocoa bamboo, white matrix composite, and black matrix composite.  The bamboo “airfoils” — not your regular fan blades — are made with moso bamboo, which grows rapidly, and covered in a solvent-free finish.

The fan is powered by a cool-running inverter that delivers an 80% improvement in energy efficiency when compared to conventional ceiling fans.  Haiku is an Energy Star product, according to Big Ass Fan, and the patent-pending blades have been engineered and balanced to deliver smooth airflow without rattling or wobbling.

Haiku has several variable speed settings and adjustments for sleep, timing, reverse, etc.  The fan is available for pre-order — the composite ones at about $825 and the bamboo ones at about $1,045 — and Big Ass Fan will be launching a new website for Haiku this week.  Keep your eyes open for that.

[+] More about Haiku ceiling fan by Big Ass Fans.

Credits: Big Ass Fans. 

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Save Energy with a Modern Ceiling Fan
2. BamDeck is a New Bamboo Deck Option
3. Panasonic Intros New Dual Sensor Fans

KuL Intros Recycled Modular Wall Planters
by: Jetson Green, 2012-03-06 05:26:56 UTC

Along the lines of Urbio or Minigarden, check out these new modular wall planters by KuL Studios made with recycled HDPE plastic.  Called Ballavaz, the planters can be used indoors or outdoors and are available in 10 colors.  KuL offers two sizes, 24″x12″ and 24″x18″, which mount with screws or hooks.  Ballavaz include a concealed recess for drip irrigation — making these just right for herbs, veggies, and maybe a flower or two.

[+] More about Ballavaz modular wall planters by KuL Studios.

Credits: KuL Studios.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Modular Recycled Ditto from 3form
2. Flock Wool Modular Wall Tiles by Hive
3. CalStar Unveils Recycled Thru-Wall Unit

Scientists contrive a way to make hydrogen fuel cells more efficient
by: Ecofriend, 2012-03-06 05:11:14 UTC
Dattatreya Mandal:

The field of hydrogen fuel cells still remains relatively nascent, when it comes to its large scale utilization for generation of power. This certain level of inapplicability is felt more in important sectors like the automotive industry, where there have been no commercially produced hydrogen fueled automobile up till now. Well, all of these can propitiously change, with two researchers at University of Central Florida creating tri metallic electrocatalysts for hydrogen fuel cells. This in turn can remarkably improve upon hydrogen fuel cell’s capacity for efficiency as well as cost effectiveness.

In their current state, hydrogen fuel cells utilize platinum, a very rare and expensive element, in their catalysts. However, in spite of its exclusivity, platinum also poses as one of the very few metals that can withstand the adverse exposure to the fuel cell’s highly acidic solvents. And, it is only because of this that the applicability of hydrogen fuel cells has remained limited in an expansive scope.

In this regard, two scientists Sergey Stolbov and Marisol Alcántara Ortigoza have designed their version of a tri metallic catalyst. Comprising of a three layered sandwich like structure, this catalyst utilizes a few combination of other credible metals in its different layers. The inner working entails redox reactions to take place in the first layer, the tuning of the electronic structure in the second layer and finally the third layer acting as the substrate. The metals used in the combinations include more relatively available gold and palladium, along with other complimentary elements like ruthenium, iron and tungsten.

Finally, and most importantly, the corrosive nature of the acidic solvents is somewhat nullified by the multi layer catalyst, thus countering its effect on substrates like tungsten. This in turn significantly enhances the efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell, and also lowers its cost because of total eschewing of platinum.

Via: Physorg

Researchers combine technologies for energy generation and wastewater treatment
by: Ecofriend, 2012-03-06 06:51:38 UTC
Ishan Sidhu:

Professor Bruce Logan and his team, researchers from Pennsylvania State University have developed a technology which generates energy and treats wastewater at the same time. Developed in Norway and the Netherlands, Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) technology, which collects energy where sea water and fresh water meet, is combined with microbial fuel cells (MFC) that create electricity using organic matter.

According to Penn State researchers, both the technologies have limitations if used individually. For instance, RED technology creates electrochemical charge by collecting saltwater and freshwater in the intermittent chambers of a fuel cell that are separated by a membrane. To do so, large numbers of membranes are required and the power plants need to be set up next to a sea or an ocean so that salt water is easily available. On the other hand, although MFC can create electricity and substitute bicarbonate solution for saltwater by using bacteria in wastewater in such a way that they can be used anywhere but, they operate slowly and the power generated isn’t much.

In their process, as told by Logan, they are using MFC for wastewater treatment and producing energy whereas the RED stack is just being used to boost up the process. By using them together, the two technologies have become much more efficient and the combination is an ultimate solution which can provide water and power to developing countries as well as gulf countries that have limited availability of both.

Via: GreenProphet

Modular Refugee Housing Built from Shipping Pallets for $500 - $3000
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-03-05 14:16:48 UTC
This clever, cheap, modular and recycled refugee housing has been around for years. So why is it not being implemented?