Posts tagged with green

NIX X10A Energy Saving digital photo frame

Posted on November 23, 2009 4:28 AM

Digital photo frames are fine and dandy, but have you ever thought just how much juice they take up in the long run? For those who are concerned about the environment, the NIX X10A Energy Saving digital photo frame comes in handy as it will switch itself off automatically whenever you're no longer within a 2.5 meter line of sight. Apart from that, you get 1GB of internal memory to complement your range of memory cards (SD, SDHC, xD, Sony MS, USB stick), a 10" LCD display and a remote control. The NIX X10A Energy Saving digital photo frame is going for £89.99 a pop.

Piezoelectrics find use in vehicles

Posted on November 23, 2009 3:01 AM

Boffins are finding a way to use piezoelectrics on vehicles in order to convert kinetic energy into electricity, and this could mean piezoelectric devices being mounted on the roof or tail of a car or on an airplane fuselage, where the vibration within a flow would produce an output voltage. While all the juice generated is nary enough to match the power of combustion engines or even come close to it, it could be used to power other systems such as tiny electronic devices and control panels. Could energy scavenging be the new mantra?

Dell includes renewable bamboo in product packaging

Posted on November 18, 2009 6:54 AM

Dell takes another step closer to being greener by throwing in renewable bamboo in its product packaging portfolio, being the first in the PC industry to do so. This applies to all Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and Mini 10v netbooks that are shipped from today onwards, where bamboo is used for the product cushions cradling the Mini within an outer box made from 25% post-consumer materials. From early next year onwards, Dell hopes to expand its use of bamboo packaging to a wider range of products. [Press Release]

SolarVoice i908 Bluetooth headset review

Posted on November 17, 2009 5:08 AM

Bluetooth headsets is something you either love or loathe, and I believe that there is no real middle ground here. After all, you don't see people carrying a Bluetooth headset around but not using it, do you? While the higher end ones like the Aliph Jawbone are priced slightly out of the reach of most folks who are currently running a tight ship, it is nice to see that the mid-range market still has plenty of choices to choose from. By choices, I mean in terms of branding as there is very little to differentiate one from the other in terms of technology and design. The SolarVoice i908 Bluetooth headset takes a slightly different route as its name implies, and you can read more about it right after the jump.

i.Tech SolarCharger 906 review

Posted on November 17, 2009 5:06 AM

Green technology has long been hailed to be the next big thing, and in a recent edition of the TIME magazine, it has singled out how California has been a hotbed for new and emerging technologies for a long time now, with green being the main theme way before the rest of the world caught on. Having said that, with more and more people carrying additional gadgets and gizmos with them wherever they go, making sure all of those will remain charged to the maximum can be quite a task, not to mention packing in their respective chargers into your suitcase whenever you want to head out of the country. Portable multi-device chargers are handy, but those themselves will need to remain juiced up as well in order to function at its best. Enter i.Tech's SolarCharger 906, where it not only holds a 1,260mAh capacity, but comes with a decently sized solar panel on one side to absorb the sun's rays, transforming it into electricity which is stored in the internal battery for future use.

Tio ghost helps teach kids energy conservation

Posted on November 17, 2009 4:38 AM

The Tio ghost concept by designer Tim Holley is meant to teach kids the value of conserving electricity in a fun manner - each switch will remain green whenever the switch has been left on for an hour or less, and the longer they are left switched on, the color will gradually make a switch to yellow, ending up with an angry red in the end. At least it helps those who have not grasped the concept of time in this manner, but that can only happen when it moves beyond the conceptual stage.

Citroen C-ZERO minimizes emissions

Posted on November 16, 2009 9:49 AM

Citroen wants to go green with their C-ZERO car, where it delivers "triple zero" with zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emission and zero engine noise. Running on a permanent magnet synchronous motor that pumps out 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm, Citroen claims that this ride is able to hit a top speed of 130kph (80mph), while boasting an acceleration rate from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 15 seconds and 60-90kph (37-56mph) in six seconds. Each full charge is expected to last for approximately 130km (80 miles). Expect to see the Citroen C-ZERO launch in Q4 2010, with no word on pricing just yet.

Peugeot HYbrid 3 Evolution Scooter concept

Posted on November 13, 2009 9:46 PM

Going green seems to be all the rage, and this fact is not lost on Peugeot with their HYbrid 3 Evolution Scooter concept. Capable of producing low emissions and running on a hybrid engine, this mode of transportation is different from the rest since it will rely on electric motors found in each of its two front wheels, alongside a naturally aspirated engine at the rear backing it up. The motors will be powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged via an onboard regenerative braking mechanism. No idea on whether this will be realized or not, but the world would be better off for it when the former happens.

Peugeot Has A New Electric Car

Posted on November 13, 2009 11:21 AM

Looking to go green with your vehicle? Well, check out Peugeot’s new electric car, the BB1, which is branded as a half scooter and half car. It’ll fit four folks if you need it to. Perhaps we’ll all be driving small mini electric vehicles in the future, eh? Check out the video on it here.

Eco-Twinkle Light concept

Posted on November 13, 2009 7:00 AM

Eco–Twinkle Light concept intends to leave a future for our kids assuming it is actually produced at manufacturing lines from a factory. Why do we say so? Well, it comes with a hand crank that allows you to juice it up, but apart from looking fancy, there really isn't anything groundbreaking that isn't already available today. In fact, you can get cheap hand crank torches from your regular electrical store for under $10.

Toyota working on new Prius

Posted on November 13, 2009 6:57 AM

Toyota's Prius has been a best seller since its inception, with more and more people gaining more awareness about going green. Well, the world's No. 1 automaker is now working on a larger version of its popular Prius hybrid which will also run on a new kind of battery - presumably one that lasts longer, packs in more juice and is lighter (that's the way innovation is supposed to be anyways). This new Prius could be either a station wagon or SUV, and ought to hit the market by the end of 2010. This will also be the first vehicle from Toyota that comes with a lithium-ion battery. It is speculated that the new Prius will retail for around $22,000, but that's about all the details that we are privy to at the moment.

NEC green power strip

Posted on November 12, 2009 8:18 PM

NEC has a heart for the future with their new power strip that boasts an integrated processor and sensor, working in tandem with a remote control that is said to reduce power consumption by up to 15% and above. Dubbed the Green Tap, it comes with a quartet of outlets and can be used in both offices and at home. Targeting all kinds of electrical appliances, the Green Tap will monitor a range of data including luminosity, temperature, humidity or human heat around it. For example, if you move out from the room where your TV is placed, the sensor will send an infrared signal from the power strip to the remote control which sends the TV into standby mode. Talk about a truly sentient home!

Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Mission One Electric Sports Motorcycle

Posted on November 12, 2009 10:10 AM

The current credit crunch not affecting you one bit? Then the Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Mission One Electric Sports Motorcycle might be just the set of wheels for you. Built on a similar concept to that of the original Mission One, this Neiman Marcus exclusive ups the ante with its $73,000 price tag, as it is capable of hitting a cool 150 mph top speed with zero carbon emissions. The battery used is capable of offering a range of 150 miles before a charge is required. There will only be 10 of these available worldwide that will come with numbered NM plaques, exclusive wheels and a special paint job.

Solar bags rely on G24 DSSC solar technology

Posted on November 9, 2009 10:29 AM

Check out the new range of solar bags from Mascotte Industrial Associates of Hong Kong, where it will rely on DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells) technology to make sure that your bag is able to store converted solar power in its internal battery so that you can later juice up thirsty gadgets at your very own time. Our own experience tells us that such solar panels aren't exactly that effective, and you'd do best with a power outlet nearby. Still, some sunlight is always better than none, right?

Sun Drive keychain is unique

Posted on November 9, 2009 9:16 AM

The Sun Drive keychain is very different from most other keychains since this model sports a USB solar charger that allows you to juice up a range of USB-powered devices on-the-go. Even though it is small in size, it is still able to offer up to 35 hours of juice for most portable devices, or roughly the equivalent of 100 minutes of talk time on your cellphone. Apart from that, it can carry vital information within thanks to a choice of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacity within. Prices start from a surprisingly affordable $23 a pop.

Smart Cover goes green

Posted on November 9, 2009 6:56 AM

So you own an iPhone, and want to make sure it remains in pristine condition most of the time through everyday travels. What do you do then? Get the Smart Cover, as this special charging case offers your iPhone or compatible iPod the ability to gain extra bits of juice on your travels for free thanks to a built-in solar panel behind. When fully charged, it supposedly dispenses up to 390 hours of standby time and 9.5 hours of talk time. Apart from that, even your notebooks can benefit since it has a USB port that will transfer power from the Smart Cover to your notebook. Expect to pick up the highly versatile Smart Cover for $139.99.

Stealth wind turbines cannot be detected by radar

Posted on November 4, 2009 6:44 AM

Worldwide installation of wind farms could be delayed or abandoned as objections have been raised from the aviation community or air defense interests. The main reason behind these objections concern low flying aircraft or wind turbines, where conventional radar can't tell the difference between either. The solution? Development of "stealth" turbine technology that might just do the trick. The integration of stealth technology into towers and nacelles as well as blades could potentially enable small remaining radar presence to be factored out of air traffic and air defense systems, essentially turning wind farms invisible to radar.

Carpool LED sign

Posted on October 30, 2009 10:54 AM

In the perfect world, the public transport system is flawless and caters to just about anyone and everyone wherever they are going. Too bad the world is full of imperfections, which would mean ideas like the Carpool LED sign could be the next best thing to consider. All you need to do is place it atop your vehicle and let people know just how many more spaces are available in your set of wheels. Don't worry about its power source - the Carpool LED sign will rely on wind power to keep its innards juice up.

Easy Energy YoGen charger

Posted on October 28, 2009 10:59 AM

Easy Energy will release its YoGen charger come this November 15th, where it will allow you to juice up any exhaused small to mid-size personal electronic device without batteries or requiring to plug the charger in. After all, the charger will obtain its energy as long as you pull the ripcord, kicking the internal alternator into life to generate enough juice so that your other devices are provided with a new lease of life. It relies on a mini USB port for power output, and it does cause us to wonder with consternation as to the number of pulls it will require just to charge a thirsty device.

Savior Bud concept

Posted on October 28, 2009 9:20 AM

The Savior Bud is a pretty simple concept that will harness the power of the trees' natural recycling processes in order to obtain water by latching onto leaves, collecting their moisture while emptying the precious content into containers. Could be a lifesaver in countries such as Africa, but unfortunately that doesn't look too likely at the moment as we wonder about the practicality of its yield.