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primarily concerned with the conservation of resources, not simply the rearrangement of them.green feasts
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the 5 winners in The Seasteading Institute’s design contest
So awesome.
via io9.com
[h/t coworker Dan]
“The tallest building in the U.S. is about to get a $350 million green makeover as part of a plan to cut electricity use by 80% and save 24 million gallons of water each year. The goal of the project, according to developers, is to turn the Sears Tower into a living laboratory for green retrofits. It’s an ambitious plan for the building, which contains 4.5 million square feet of space, 104 elevators, and 16,000 windows.”
Inhabitat » Living Lawn Chaise is a Grassy Human Transporter
“Talk about bringing the outdoors in! This Chaise Lawn Chair is perfect for citydwellers who want that fresh cut grass feeling without the hassle of a full lawn. Designed by Deger Cengiz, the lounger is sure to elicit a chuckle from your friends. And if you really want to show them a good time, cart them around and take full advantage of the human transporter (wheelbarrow) functionality. Note: It is not recommended for use on stairs.”
What’s the Big Deal About the Wheego Whip?
“At first glance, the Wheego Whip isn’t that exciting. It’s made in China, it only goes up to 25 mph or 35 mph (depending on state laws) and it gets 40 miles on a single charge. But according to Jeff Boyd, the President of Wheego Electric Cars, the Whip takes a world-class vehicle platform and combines it with a top-of-the-line electrical components to create a quality neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV).
“Our primary limitation isn’t technology or the vehicle platform. It’s the availability of lithium ion battery technology. But as demand grows from vehicle manufacturers, production capabilities will increase probably 100-fold over the next two or three years,” Boyd said. Eventually, that means that li-ion battery prices will drop dramatically—a boon for EV manufacturers like Wheego.
At $18,995, the 2009 Whip isn’t cheap for a NEV. But Wheego hopes to sell its highway-ready Whip somewhere in the low $20,000 range (after a $7,500 tax credit). That will make it an reasonably-priced competitor to EVs like the Volt and the more expensive Tesla Model S. So while the NEV Whip might not make a huge splash in the auto world, the 2010 Whip could be a car to watch.”
“An international group of scientists has developed a polymer-based solar cell with an ability not yet seen in similar cells: almost every single photon it absorbs is converted into a pair of electric-charge carriers, and every one of those pairs is collected at the cell’s electrodes.”
“The group’s work is a good sign that it is possible to produce polymer solar cells with efficiencies good enough for commercial production. As alternative-energy media, polymer solar cells are already promising because they would be much cheaper to produce and far more lightweight than conventional solar cells or cells made using other materials. They would also be highly portable and physically flexible, making it possible to place them in locations that standard solar cells cannot go.”
“A new $241 million office building at Portland International Airport will be a showcase for recycling sewage to help sustain the environment.
Starting next spring, travelers will be able to step into the lobby of the 10-story building surrounded by a lush, vibrant ecosystem thriving off human waste.”
[via @inhabitat]