Two Seats Turn Into One Sofa In Spanish Design Firm's Latest Cardboard Creation
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-03-28 15:37:24 UTC
Space-saving, multi-functional, and made of 100-percent recycled materials -- Sanserif Creatius has gone for the eco-friendly-furniture trifecta with its latest design.

Kettle stick that sticks out to keep your power bills minimal
by: The Design blog, 2012-03-28 13:51:53 UTC
Shallu Sharma:

Great things do come in small packages. Sometimes big is not necessarily beautiful. Rather it’s energy guzzling and inefficient. A common such example is the electric kettle which is a device of quotidian use. We use it day in and day out without realizing the redundant waste of energy it causes. Eventually it “sticks” us with a fat electricity bill. Well, stick it shall no more because here is Kettle Stick to stick it to those exasperating bills.

It’s neat looking, compact yet powerful and uses just enough energy to get you your important beverages hot enough for rejuvenating. The stick is pretty much shaped like a pen, with the on/off switch at the top. There’s a power lamp below the power switch working as an indicator. Below the indicator is situated the lithium ion battery compartment. The entire lower body is dedicated to the heating element which is a ceramic container. The lower tip of the kettle is the charging surface which is capable of magnetic resonance.

Pretty neat eh? It’s a simple device yet cleverly made up. The most impressive little bit about the kettle stick is the efficient power use since it heats according to the volume of the liquid unlike a kettle which heats up in entirety regardless of the volume of liquid to be heated.

Source: Inggoon

Consumers Don’t Trust Green Product Claims, Survey Says
by: Environmental Leader, 2012-03-28 06:52:15 UTC
Eight in ten Americans don’t believe companies are addressing all of their environmental impacts, and only 44 percent trust companies’ green claims, according to research by Cone Communications. This skepticism may affect sales. In fact, as many as 77 percent would be willing to boycott if misled, according to the 2011 Cone Green Gap Trend [...]

All Nippon Group Sets 20% Carbon Reduction Goal
by: Environmental Leader, 2012-03-28 14:05:43 UTC
ANA Group, Japan’s largest airline group, is aiming to cut its carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels. Dubbed ANA Fly Eco 2020, the plan will see the introduction of more fuel efficient aircraft, use of biofuels in place of conventional aviation fuel and more fuel-efficient operating procedures., the group says. [...]

Flatpack Polypropylene Chair by Sina Sohrab
by: mocoloco, 2012-03-26 19:43:55 UTC

SolarCity Expands with Home Energy Loans
by: Jetson Green, 2012-03-28 15:46:17 UTC

California-based SolarCity started out with solar and gradually expanded to energy efficiency services.  Now, with more than 5,000 efficiency projects completed or underway, the company wants to help the typical U.S. family save some of about $1,900 that’s spent every year on home utility bills.  The company just announced a plan to make energy-efficiency improvements more accessible with a new Home Energy Loan.

The Home Energy Loan is provided by Boston-based Admirals Bank and, of course, subject to credit approval.  Right now, there are three main loan products available, the one-year “Save Now, Pay Later” option and a three- or 10-year “Pay As You Go” option.

SolarCity starts off with a customized evaluation of a home and uses its own software to evaluate opportunities for improvement in nine area, including air infiltration, insulation, heating, cooling, and duct leakage.  The company then establishes a priority list with home improvement options based on energy and cost savings.

Homeowners can finance the efficiency upgrades, and SolarCity can implement most of the improvements (or make recommendations).  The point is not just to lower energy bills but it’s to help homeowners obtain the benefits of cleaner indoor air and greater interior comfort.

SolarCity currently has energy efficiency services available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Credit: SolarCity.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Audits, Loans, and a Home Energy Score
2. Getting a Home Energy Assessment
3. Customize Your Energy Efficient Home

Sustainable Innovation 2012: Resource Efficiency, Innovation and Lifestyles
by: Sustainable Design News, 2012-03-26 04:24:15 UTC
Sustainable Innovation 12 will provide a platform to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to resource productivity, innovation and lifestyles related to products, services, technologies, infrastructures and business models.

The conference will include invited and refereed papers from academics, consultants, entrepreneurs, investors, technology providers, designers, innovation, sustainability managers as well as other business functions.



Total: "may be months" to stop North Sea gas cloud
by: Reuters: Green Business News, 2012-03-27 15:36:01 UTC
LONDON/OSLO (Reuters) - A cloud of explosive natural gas boiling out of the North Sea from a leak at Total's abandoned Elgin platform forced wider evacuations off the Scottish coast on Tuesday as the French firm warned it may take six months to halt the flow.

Tesla’s Model X Electric Crossover Was Designed Specifically for Women
by: Inhabitat , 2012-03-27 15:38:26 UTC

After the upcoming Model S sedan, Tesla will release the Model X crossover in early 2014. According to Tesla the Model X, which shares its platform with the Model S, was designed to blend the best of an SUV with the benefits of a minivan. It looks like the Model X was also designed with women and their families in mind as well, since Tesla’s website describes the Model X as a vehicle “built around the driver — and six of her friends.”

Read the rest of Tesla’s Model X Electric Crossover Was Designed Specifically for Women

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Harper Launches Green Modeling Tool for Carbon Fiber Manufacturers
by: Environmental Leader, 2012-03-27 13:30:52 UTC
Thermal processing products firm Harper International has launched Beacon, a program allowing carbon fiber manufacturers to evaluate the carbon footprint of their manufacturing process and identify opportunities for improvement. Beacon can analyze various plant configurations and capacities, precursors, and energy recovery options, and uses them to rank the environmental impact of a manufacturing line. Through [...]