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primarily concerned with the conservation of resources, not simply the rearrangement of them.green feasts
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burning fuel » goodmagazine.com
so, should you walk or drive that mile to the store? walking will take 1.5 calories (or 6,280 joules), while driving would take 19 (or 79,549 joules).
that’s over 12x more cash, pollutants, and resources burned into nothing.
“A new technology developed at Rice University and tested this week at a conference in San Francisco is capable of operating seven times faster than currently existing microchips while using 30 times less power.
The new probabilistic complementary metal oxide semiconductor chip (PCMOS) is based on standard CMOS technology that chipmakers currently use to manufacture microchips, and as a result can be easily incorporated into existing equipment without requiring investments in new technologies.”
[via greenbiztweets]
“Portable fuel cells powered directly by ethanol could soon be practical, thanks to a new catalyst that breaks a strong bond at the heart of ethanol molecules, freeing electrons and generating electricity. Such fuel cells could replace batteries in laptops and cell phones, and could eventually be used to power electric vehicles.”
general treatment of employees & local businesses aside, wal-mart’s sustainability initiatives hold incredible potential. we can quibble about their motives (which, i don’t think matter except inside of such quibbles), but it remains that they are one of the few companies that can singlehandedly bring an otherwise struggling industry into the mainstream.
“Total environmental and health costs of gasoline are about $0.71 per gallon, while an equivalent amount of corn-ethanol fuel costs from $0.72 to about $1.45, depending on the technology used to produce it. An equivalent amount of cellulosic ethanol, however, costs from $0.19 to $0.32, depending on the technology and type of cellulosic materials used.”
“Researchers at Cambridge University have developed a new way to produce highly efficient LEDs, which can reduce the cost of LED bulbs from £20 to just £2. These mercury-free LEDs are 12 times more efficient than conventional tungsten bulbs and three times more efficient than CFLs. Apart from being cheap and efficient, researchers claim that these bulbs have a lifespan of a whopping 60 years or 100,000 hours of operation, which is ten times more than the conventional eco-bulbs available on the shelves today.” (via Ecofriend)
Bonded Logic “takes post-industrial denim and cotton from jean maker’s factories, crushes it down, and uses it for 85% of the “recycled” insulation. It doesn’t itch, doesn’t contain chemicals or carcinogens, you can find it at Home Depot, and best of all, it’s LEED applicable for commercial and residential usage.” you can even watch bill nye demo the product. (via Greener.Ideal)
The Coefficient of FastSkinz - FastSkinz, a dimpled vehicle wrap (golf ball skin for your car), supposedly inmproves fuel efficiency by up to 25% by reducing drag. what i like about this idea is 1) it applies long-known concepts (dimpled golf balls fly farther) to a different knowledge area, and; 2) it rethinks a major system of automobiles that has been consistent since the car’s conception. it makes the car more efficient, not just the engine which is going to have efficiency thresholds based on fuel & type. this method can also be applied immediately to any/every car - no overhaul or conversion necessary and no need for widespread alternate fuel adoption.
key learnings from a zipcar rookie:
It’s harder to be spontaneous
Efficiency is key
Pay close attention when making a reservation
The Fit is go
[via guy]
“By identifying better siting criteria, determining the optimum spacing between turbines, and designing more efficient rotors, we can minimize the harmful impacts of large wind farms,” said Somnath Baidya Roy, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the U. of [Illinois]. “Through careful planning and testing, we can avoid some of the worst pitfalls altogether.”
“ecoRoute, allows any Garmin nüvi user to select an new type of route called “less fuel.” Then, using ecoRoute’s Fuel Report, Mileage Report and fuel-saving tips, you can focus on fuel conservation en route. The software is customizable, and you can select your car type as well as enter your car’s real fuel economy and gas prices. The software will then calculate also how much you could save by taking the eco-route”
California architect Nabih Tahan built a home that uses the heat generated by appliances to heat itself using a ventilator, improving efficiency compared to average homes by 80%-90%.
on a related note, i had an old co-worker who could heat his bedroom with his CPU alone. small room? no. huge CPU.
“KONE the Finish elevator company, will release a range of elevator offerings during 2009 which will reduce energy consumption by 30%, compared to its current volume models, with a target of 50% energy consumption cutback in its elevator offering by the year 2010.
‘Buildings account for approximately 40% of the world’s energy needs and elevators can account for up to 10% of a building’s energy consumption,’ says Jussi Oijala, SVP, KONE Technology. ‘Based on this, we see great potential to further reduce the impact of buildings on the environment by offering innovative and energy-efficient solutions to the market.’”
now this is what i’m talking about. the greatest, most effectual innovations in the way we use energy will come from those who pay attention to where we already use energy & helping us use it better without us even really noticing. now, that’s not to say i think we should expect that we not change our behavior; indeed, that’s foundational to living better. i mean that innovation will enable us to do what we’re already doing and more without affecting the quality of the accomplishment. furthermore, more efficient elevators, roads, and buildings (in a word, infrastructure) benefit those who do not actively choose to live an environmentally-friendly lifestyle as well as those who do. effectively, there is no difference in the way one uses such technology.
