I don’t know what to say about this product other than “that’s freakin cool!”

This is Nick Foley’s “Pear Light”. It’s an LED lamp, but it’s no ordinary, super-efficient, run-of-the-mill LED lamp. It’s kind of a… tree lamp.

The lamp is modern looking, but organic and tree-like with it’s various branches. Those glowing orbs in the picture are the LEDs.

…but they’re no normal LEDs.

These are removable, rechargable LEDS. The lamp serves as a charging station for these lights which get brighter on the tree as they charge. These pear-like lights connect magnetically, when they’re charged you can remove them and move them around the house.

It’s like picking light off a tree.

via TreeHugger

Popularity: 10% [?]

The UK defense firm Qinetiq has developed an unmanned, solar powered plane which has just broke the world record for the longest unmanned flight.

The plane, named Zephyr stayed in the air for 54 hours, smashing the previous record of 30.
It uses only solar power to stay aloft and the self-recharging system which was the trick to the long flight.

I’m sure you’ve heard by now how bad airplanes are on emissions, but the super-sonic engines used by the military seem like they’d be much worse.

Could the entire military one day be solar powered? This is the first step..

According to a BBC report today, a UK defense firm called Qinetiq has developed and tested a lightweight, solar-powered plane which has just broken the world record for longest unmanned flight. The plane, known as the Zephyr, spent 54 hours in flight using only self-recharging solar power, thus breaking the 30-plus-hour flight of the previous record holder, the US Air Force’s Global Hawk surveillance craft. Although the record has been smashed, the plane won’t be eligible for entrance into the “official” record books due to a late announcement of the feat, though another 33-hour flight might make the cut. The plane — which has a wingspan of 59-feet — is controlled from the ground after a hand liftoff, and is capable of cruising at 58,000 feet. According to the designers, the Zephyr is, “Going to go a lot higher and a lot further,” and added that, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Indeed, ICEMAN, indeed. – Engadget

via Engadget

Popularity: 7% [?]

Two new communities are being built in the SF Bay Area, each unit coming standard with solar panels.

The communities are being built by Lennar Bay Area Homebuilding.

These communities feature Lennar’s SOLARplus program, which means they not only come with a solar system, but also energy-efficient appliances.

The first development is at Sonata at Dublin Ranch, a 67-home community, equipped with a roof integrated solar electric system from PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower Corporation as a standard feature. The solar energy systems in the Sonata and Centre Pointe homes can generate considerable savings on annual utility bills in addition to the current, one-time $2,000 federal tax credit. According to PG&E, homeowners will actually produce renewable power to help supply their own needs while protecting the environment. Any surplus power appears as a credit on the homeowner’s utility bill and reverts back to the PG&E power grid. PG&E then subtracts the energy supplied back to the utility from the consumer’s monthly bill. Unlike solar panels of the past, which were elevated above the roof, the SunPower suntile solar electric system integrates seamlessly into each home’s roofline. Rather than offering upgrades at an additional cost, Lennar researches what customers want in a new home and includes those items as standard features

While it might be a while before the suburbs are all solar-powered, it’s great to see these concept communities springing up, proving it’s both possible, and economically feasible, to have a green-powered home.

via Green Tech

Popularity: 8% [?]

Pictured above is the new plug-in, fully electric Toyota Prius.

The prius hybrids have been all the rage recently, serving both as a status symbol and an important stepping stone to fully green cars.

This latest model, pictured with it’s charging station, will be fully non-reliant on traditional gasoline, and gets all it’s fuel from the power grid. No emissions.

Nice.

While talking about fully electric cars though it’s important to note that they do not actually eliminate emissions, they simply transfer them to the power plant. While this does little to cut actual emissions, it allows us to focus on improving power plant technology rather than improving the vast amounts of different engines (traditional, diesel, ethanol, etc).

It’s still exciting to see the fully electric vehicles coming however, it seems big business is finally taking them seriously!

via AutoblogGreen

Popularity: 9% [?]

We all strive to make green technology cheaper and more publicly accessible. However, with the discount comes the luxury; Surefire has a $499 LED flashlight.

Now, LED flashlights are great, and if you don’t already have one, I highly suggest picking one up. They last longer, they’re a lot brighter, and they’re a lot greener than the traditional bulb.

This LED flashlight however (called the “Titan) takes flashlights to the extreme. Not only are you getting the brightness and longevity of an LED flashlight, but the Titan can control it’s lumen output. All the way from 0 to 65. Useless? Well.. it is a bit control-freakish.

Other than that you get a all-titanium body, a “near-indestructible” LED, scratch resistant window, and a fancy end to easily connect to keychains or lanyards.

Now, if I had millions of dollars to waste I’d definitely pick this one up, but for almost $500, it’s a bit ridiculous

Ultra compact (pinky-sized), mini flashlight that establishes a whole new class of illumination tools: luxury flashlights. The Titan is the world’s only fully variable-output flashlight, with an operating range from zero to 65 lumens and all points in between. No preset levels; just total, seamless control—over 1,000 possible output levels. The Titan features an all-titanium body with an elegant satin finish, a no-look control bezel for precision operation, a virtually indestructible LED, a scratch-resistant sapphire window, an Acme-threaded tailcap, and a quick-connect/disconnect interface that easily attaches to its included lanyard or key ring. -Surefire

via TreeHugger

Popularity: 9% [?]

This is an amazing innovative idea for growing plants indoors.

The table contains several removable tiles, which when flipped provide a little indent which can be used for growing plants. The plants grow right out of the table!

These tiles can be moved around and re-arranged, and because the tiles are just indents, you can use them as bowls, little ponds,or even an m&m jar.

Brilliant design than can bring some greenery to your dining room

via TreeHugger

Popularity: 7% [?]

Green prototypes for new cars have been showing up a lot recently.

The i-Blue is Hyundai’s most recent entry into the hydrogen-powered group. The i-Blue uses hydrogen fuel-cell technology and is 100% emissions free.

Just look at thing too, I’m finally starting to think the future is almost here! From other cars like the telsa roadster and the nissam mixim, it’s evident that big car companies are putting a lot more effort into green technologies.

“The i-Blue is Hyundai’s first-ever model designed from the ground up to incorporate fuel cell technology, marking a tremendous leap forward for our R&D program,” said Dr Hyun-Soon Lee, President of Research and Development. “Our engineering team has successfully designed a more compact fuel cell vehicle, while still realising the safety, comfort, convenience and driving range of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle.” – AutoblogGreen

via AutoblogGreen Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 9% [?]

Whether it’s been a long day at work, or you’re chillin’ in the backyard on Labour Day today, there’s nothing like a nice cold beer.

But can you green your beer?

As a matter of fact, you can!

Green Man brewery in New Zealand brews 100% organic beer, but if you don’t want to order beer all the way from New Zealand, try buying locally brewed beer.

If you’re lucky there will be no preservatives normally used in beer shipped long distances, and it will taste a lot better. You’re also saving emissions used from transporting beer, as well as helping the local economy.

via TreeHugger

Popularity: 13% [?]

How much of a pain is it to get a drink of water from a tap without a glass?

Some people make a bowl with their hands, some try to bend over and lap it up, but either way, you’re letting a lot of water go wasted down the drain.

That wasted water can really add up, especially since this water need not be wasted.

Enter the faucet fountain. This little attachment goes right on your tap. When it’s off, it doesn’t affect the water flow at all, but switch it on and it turns your tap into a fountain, just like in your old highschool!

Makes it a lot easier to get a drink of water, and you don’t have to waste anything trying to make that tiny bowl out of your hands

via TinyLiving

Popularity: 24% [?]