Environmentally Friendly Speed Bumps?
In the name of road safety, speed bumps – or sleeping policemen as they are otherwise known – help to reduce the number of road traffic accidents caused by speeding vehicles in densely populated urban zones. Whilst many motorists consider them to be inconveniences that are unable to deter the determined boy racer in his pointlessly fast car with modified suspension, speed bumps pretty much do the job for which they were designed. Nevertheless, these ‘guardians of the streets’ are set to take on an entirely new role. Indeed, the latest generation of speed bumps are designed to not only reduce the speed of cars but also to generate electricity. Currently in development by New Energy Technologies, the MotionPowerT Speed Bump looks more like a temporary manhole cover than an actual speed bump, which is in part due to the fact that it comprises flat metal plates. However, these plates are designed to harness the massive energy that is transferred whenever a vehicle rides over them. In fact, it is estimated that some 2,000W of electricity can be generated every time an average sized car travels overthe MotionPowerT speed bump, which is why New Energy Technologies are investing in mini-fly wheel and capacitor solutions that are aimed at harnessing and storing the electricity. The MotionPowerT speed bump is a truly ingenious concept and one that serves to remind everyone that free, green energy is abundantly available almost anywhere. Of course, if the MotionPowerT speed bump (or something similar) were to make its way on to major roads throughout the world, its impact could go far beyond generating electricity for nearby street lamps.
The Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Radiator Vent
Many eco-friendly products are designed to improve existing technologies that are not in themselves all that good for the environment. This is where environmental awareness meets everyday practicality, as it would be uneconomical to replace everything that is not environmentally inefficient with eco-friendly alternatives or substitutes. Of course, in an ideal world there would be virtually no carbon emissions brought about by human activity, but it is fair to say that mankind is neither at this stage nor anywhere close to it. Thus, making improvements on existing technology is sometimes the best cure, at least for the time being.
The Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Radiator Vent is one such eco-friendly product that serves to reduce environmental inefficiency. The device itself is nothing special to look at and, contrary to its name, this is no genie in a lamp. Nevertheless, a genie-like effect could be produced by using the Aladdin vent, as it aims to solve the frequently occurring problem of trapped air in radiators. Indeed, radiator cold zones are common in domestic central heating systems and they can reduce the efficiency of radiators by as much as 60%. Obviously, if radiators are performing inadequately then people tend to turn up the thermostat before they considering manually bleeding each radiator, which can be an awkward task. Fixing onto the side of radiators and costing a little over £10 per unit in most retail outlets, the Aladdin Auto-Bleeding Vent is designed to automatically regulate the air pressure in radiators. In fact, the Aladdin vent will continually bleed the radiator whenever cold zones emerge, so equipped radiators ought to run at their optimal efficiency for longer.
The £23 Solar Panel: a Hair Raising Idea?
An 18 year old Nepalese science student studying in the country’s capital, Kathmandu, has created a stir this week by announcing details of his inexpensive solar panel solution. Whereas traditional solar panel installations are costly, Milan Karki’s invention costs as little as £23 to produce a single fully functional solar panel. As to the main reason why it costs so little, the answer may surprise some people as it is, in fact, hair. Rather than using expensive silicon components that are necessary to conduct electricity in standard solar panels, Karki’s invention uses human hair, which is an excellent conductor of electricity.
Milan Karki’s ingenious solution demonstrates how eco-friendly products can be driven down in costs. Furthermore, it shows natural products can be used to harness renewable solar energy, which reduces the manufacturing process, in turn reducing the carbon footprint left by producing such devices. Moreover, human hair is already exported in massive quantities from countries such as India and China as it is used by a number of farmers (typically to help tomatoes grow bigger) and, somewhat perversely, by the food industry (typically to make pizza doughs) – presumably this has something to do with the amino acid, Lysine, contained in the hair.
Thus, it would appear the somewhat improbable hair business is set to increase further if Karki’s idea can be turned into a sustainable and viable eco-friendly product. Indeed, what started out as a greener solution to generate green power for his home village may just enable communities all over the world to do exactly the same. Of course, in the meantime, if you want to use solar power, there are a number of less ‘hair-raising’ solutions readily available in this country, including easy to use solar panel kits.
The Nissan Leaf: the Next Generation of Electric Car
Electric cars are not a new phenomenon, having been in development for at least 50 years. However, eco-friendly consumers will note many of the current models of so-called electric cars in today’s market are just hybrids, which means they use a combination of electric and gas power. If everybody adopted a high performance hybrid then the world would undoubtedly be a greener place. However, it would not be a totally green world. Indeed, the present crop of hybrid and electric cars is not as innovative in terms of environmental efficiency as it perhaps ought to be. In fact, whilst the hybrid designs offer more savings and produce less carbon emissions, they are not perfect. They are not solutions to the problem of global warming. They are cynical efforts to commercialise the evolution of the green electric car. In other words, introducing an environmentally-friendly car can be seen as a deliberately slow process in order to maximise profits.
However, the Nissan Leaf is due to be launched in markets across the world in 2010 and features the manufacturer’s very first zero emission electric car. Powered entirely by battery, the Leaf is thought to be capable of performance similar to a V6 engine and offers speeds of up to 90mph. The Leaf’s rechargeable lithium ion battery, when fully charged, will boast up to 100 miles of driving and efforts are being made to deploy charging stations across the country in time for its launch. Environmental enthusiasts can expect the Leaf to usher in a new generation of zero emission electric cars.
Cut down on your waste and your energy bills with a Log Maker
The latest gadget for those who have a slow-combustion stove or wood burner, is a newspaper Log Maker. This fantastic eco product, retailing at under £20, could provide you with an hour’s worth of heat, per newspaper!
Not for the faint hearted, or more specifically, those afraid of putting in some effort, the Log Maker is a superb way to recycle your old newspapers to generate heat for your home, in an environmentally friendly way. Yes, of course burning paper does release some Carbon Dioxide, but let’s face it, it is going to be a much smaller footprint than having logs imported from some far flung country! (Or maybe even driving to your local Log Supplier!).
The Log Maker works as such – get around twelve newspapers, tear into strips, put them in a big bucket (or bin), mix with water and leave for two days. Stir occasionally! Then, when it is all a nice pulpy mess, fill the log maker with the pulp, let the excess water drain out, then hey presto, you have a log. Well, sort of. They need about a week to dry off sufficiently (obviously, they will dry out quicker in the sunshine). Mixed with conventional fire fillings (i.e. wood logs), these Newspaper Logs should burn for around one hour each. They solve the problem of what to do with your old newspapers (and your neighbours and friends papers as well!) and they should help save you money, whilst doing your bit to save the environment.
Monitoring Home Electricity Usage the Easy Way
If there are two things the average home energy user has learned during the past few years, it is that the Earth needs saving and nobody (except high-profile bankers) has any money. Environmental concerns are growing more pressing as the effects of global warming have already begun to take their toll on the climate, whilst the credit crunch and recession have picked from many a pocket. However, the point of saving the planet is an unfortunate misconception, as Earth will no doubt survive the damaging legacy of industrialized humanity. In fact, it is humanity itself that is at risk of being destroyed. Notwithstanding this, consumers are still fairly sceptical about greener forms of energy because of the increased cost that is associated with them.
Nevertheless, consumers ought to appreciate that green energy is the way of the future. In fact, it is the way of the present, too, as many of the predicted effects of global warming are transpiring earlier than
anticipated. Therefore, switching to green energy is important for everybody, although the financial concerns ought not to be discounted entirely. Indeed, in a world in which fuel poverty has become a social norm, there is every reason to think carefully about energy costs.
The Maplin Electricity Monitoring Meter, which is available for under £30, enables customers to monitor their electricity consumption by simply clamping the device around a mains cable. With a capacity to store data for 2 years, the Maplin device is perfect for assessing the energy usage of all appliances in the home – even those on standby.
Green Britain Day, which was on the 10th July 2009, was a deemed a triumphant success throughout the country! With more than 600 schools taking part in the EDF run initiative, all resolving to make Britain Greener.
Led all the way by Team Green Britain, and in conjunction with the Eden Project, the Green Britain Project strides confidently towards the 2012 Olympics, with an initiative to clean up the sources of energy Britain uses.
Getting school children involved was an inspired idea. Team Green Britain allows the younger generations to become involved in making Britain Greener, while also raising their social consciousness to a level whereby caring for the environment becomes second nature.
School children were invited to attend school wearing items of green clothing. Each child was also given a ‘foot print’. The foot print allowed each child to fill in their pledge, enabling them to express their intention
of contributing towards a more green way of life. Prints were then displayed throughout schools, and each child awarded with the team Green Britain sticker.
The Eco ethos has spread throughout many schools in Britain. Many strive to be awarded the coveted Green Flag, which is a symbol that denotes that the school has met Eco friendly targets and initiatives – such as recycling and gardening.
The Team Green Britain website has a plethora of ‘green ideas’ at the ready, for anyone looking for more ways to become Eco friendly. There are also up to date interviews, and the latest breaking news regarding events and products which promote a greener way of life.
Eco-Friendly Batteries from Fuji – The Fuji EnviroMAX
Many people recognise the harm that conventional disposal batteries can inflict upon the planet, although they are rarely disposed of safely. Comprising heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and nickel,
single-use batteries must always be discarded in special battery disposal units. If simply thrown out with normal waste, which will invariably end up on a land fill site somewhere, conventional batteries can contaminate the surrounding area once they have degraded, especially if they find their way into the water supply or into lakes, streams and rivers, where they prove toxic to fish and other marine life. In turn, this affects human consumption and causes great harm to the delicate eco-system.
Furthermore, when such batteries are incinerated, a common process of waste disposal, the hazardous toxins can be released into the atmosphere to contribute towards general air pollution. Moreover, degrading batteries are invariably corrosive, bad news for animals and young children who may be inclined to eat or touch them.
Fortunately, the science behind conventional batteries – not forgetting that rechargeable batteries have a limited shelf-life – is improving all the time and it was only a year or so ago that Sony marked the first prototype sugar-powered battery, which is entirely eco-friendly in so much as sugar is a natural by-product of plant photosynthesis. Nevertheless, Fuji has proved to be one of the first companies to have successfully made a 100 per cent eco-friendly battery for the mass markets. Indeed, the Fuji EnviroMax Eco-Respectful battery comprises no harmful heavy metal compounds and is packaged in fully degradable materials, making them kind on the planet.
You can pick up Fuji EnviroMAX batteries at Amazon.com
