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From the monthly archives:

June 2008

Solar Water Heaters Now Mandatory In Hawaii

June 29, 2008

Hawaii has become the first state to require solar water heaters in new homes. The bill was signed into law by Governor Linda Lingle, a Republican. It requires the energy-saving systems in homes starting in 2010. It prohibits issuing building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. Hawaii relies on imported [...]

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New High Power LED Floor Lamps

June 29, 2008

Koncept has released a new series of their I-Tower LED floor lamps. It’s good to see LED floor lamps becoming widely available. These lamps use the latest generation of high-power LEDs, which means they are brighter than the older I-Tower lamps, but they actually uses less power (8.8 watts). There are two models: a daylight [...]

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Electric Folding Bikes: Ultra-Efficient City Travel

June 26, 2008

Folding bikes are particularly efficient when used in conjunction with public transit. Unlike regular bikes, they can be taken easily on buses, trains or ferries. In fact, some transit systems will only allow folding bikes to be taken on board. I recently reviewed the Best Folding Bikes of 2008. An efficient addition to these bikes [...]

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SolarDucts: Heating Air and Generating Power

June 23, 2008

Solar energy is often used to heat water or generate electricity, but it can also be used to heat air. The SolarDuct is a new device that uses sunlight to heat air before it enter a ventilator. They are modular units that can be installed on buildings with flat roofs.

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Trailerbikes: A 2008 Review and Buying Guide

June 21, 2008

A trailerbike is a one-wheeled bike extension that attaches to the back of your bike. They are an efficient way to bring your child on a longer bike ride. Your smaller companion can assist you with pedaling, while you control the steering and speed. This allows your child to become familiar with the process of [...]

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Geobulb: A LED Bulb That Replaces A 60W Bulb

June 17, 2008

The Geobulb is an 8 watt LED light that replaces a 60 watt incandescent bulb. It generates 800 lumens of light to be exact — either warm white light or cool white. This bulb has a sleeker design than some of the LED lights I’ve seen — check out that aesthetically pleasing heat sink.

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Unusual Green Architecture In Japan: Namba Parks

June 16, 2008

In a city with few green spaces, Namba Parks is a welcome swath of green for the inhabitants of Osaka. Check out this full size photo of this amazing piece of architecture. The complex stands where Osaka’s baseball stadium used to be until 2003, and consists of a 30-floor skyscraper, Parks Tower, and a [...]

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The Tri-L: A Portable LED Work Light

June 15, 2008

I’ve been testing the battery-powered Tri-L LED work light by Altus Lumen. I have to admit that this light has become one of my favorite gadgets. The design of the Tri-L shows great attention to detail. The metal housing is made out of 85% recycled magnesium which is lighter than aluminum, so the Tri-L feels [...]

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Very Efficient Portable Fan: The Seabreeze Turbo Aire

June 13, 2008

This portable fan, the Seabreeze Turbo Aire, has an aerodynamic design inspired by a jet engine. It produces a high velocity airstream through an optimized blade shape and orientation.

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Efficient: Solar Showers

June 12, 2008

A solar shower is a fun and highly efficient device for summer. It operates by attaching a standard garden hose to the shower — water is heated inside an integrated solar-thermal tank. After 1-2 hours the water will be hot enough for a shower. Solar heated shower are also handy for camping — you can [...]

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New Washing Machine Uses Plastic Chips Instead of Water

June 9, 2008

A washing machine that cleans clothes by pounding them with plastic chips could save billions of gallons of water a year, its inventors claim. The Xeros uses less than 2 per cent of the water – and energy – of a conventional model and leaves clothes almost dry, doing away with the need for a [...]

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The Street Enlightened Electric Bicycle From IZip

June 9, 2008

The Street Enlightened electric bike from IZip is a good example of a “stealth” electric bike –the batteries are concealed inside the bike’s frame (in the down tube), and the DC motor is integrated into the rear wheel. You don’t have to mention this fact to your fellow cyclists! The bike has a three hour [...]

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16 Million Color LED Lamps Now Available

June 7, 2008

Last year, Philips showed off their LivingColor lamps at a media event. Each compact light can illuminate 16 million unique colors, all of which can be controlled via an included wireless RF remote. You can set any remote to control up to six fixtures simultaneously, keeping their colors in synchronization for a dramatic effect. Since [...]

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The Best Folding Bikes Of 2008: A Review

June 6, 2008

Folding bikes are useful for anyone interested in taking their bike on a bus, train or ferry. They can also be packed in a car, stowed on a plane, or stored indoors securely. Many owners bring their folding bikes into an apartment or store them under an office desk. Most folding bikes have 16″ or [...]

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The Sony Digital Book Reader

June 3, 2008

I’ve been following the progress of electronic book readers, because they have the potential to revolutionize the efficiency of the book industry. If electronic books were used on a large scale, they would greatly reduce the world’s consumption of paper, and eliminate the energy resources involved in printing, transporting and selling books. I do enjoy [...]

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The Best Electric Scooters Of 2009: A Review

June 2, 2008

Today, electric scooters or electric mopeds are just as powerful as their gasoline-powered counterparts, with the added advantage of being virtually silent, clean machines that can plug into a standard electrical socket to recharge. Typically, a charge will give you enough juice to travel 20-60 miles, depending on the scooter and battery system. Most scooter [...]

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