Hasta La Gadget!

One of the biggest problems with electric vehicles is that accessories — things like lighting and heating — can be a significant drain on the battery, which in turn shortens the range of the car. But there is one helpful solution, at least in terms of light: LEDs.

“Just like going from a 75 watt incandescent light bulb down to a 18 watt compact fluorescent has made a significant difference to reduce the nation’s energy consumption in the home, so too can LED lighting make a difference in automobiles, especially once alternators and generators in the cars are right-sized for higher efficiency,” auto bulb manufacturer Osram Sylvania’s David Hulick said.

In fact, by switching to LED headlights, electric vehicles can add around six miles to their range. This is because LEDs draw less than 25 percent of the energy that traditional incandescent bulbs do, making them a much more efficient option, especially for EV owners looking to extend their range.

Via Autoblog Green

Tesla may be best known for its upcoming electric sports cars, the sleek Tesla Roadster and Model S, but the manufacturer is also looking at releasing a pair of more family friendly electric vehicles over the next few years.

At a recent investor summit in California, CEO Elon Musk announced that both an SUV and another mid-range vehicle are in the works. The SUV, currently called the Model X, is actually due to be released at the end of this year, though no other details were revealed. Additionally, in the next four years the company hopes to release a sub-$30,000 electric car, though, again, details are non-existent.

A $30,000 car would be a significant achievement for Tesla, who’s line-up currently consists of very expensive vehicles. Both versions of the Roadster are above the $100,000 range, while the Model S is expected to cost just below $60,000 when it’s available next year.

Via PlugInCars.com

The B.C. government and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation are pledging $17.8 million to outfit a research ship with a new hybrid electric engine. The ship, called the Tsekoa II, will have a brand new propulsion system, powered by a series of batteries, fuel cells, and diesel generators.

The ship will be used by researchers from the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Island University and the University of Alberta, who will be looking into the changing ecosystem along the B.C. coast. Not only will the new engine be better for the environment, but it will also be helpful for research purposes. The quieter electric engine will have less of an effect on the marine animals.

Work will begin on the Tsekoa II over the next few months, and it’s expected to take to the seas once again later this year. However, it will be doing so under a new, as of yet unannounced, name.

Via the CBC

Yesterday we learned about the WindMade label for products, and now yet another label has been announced: the USDA Certified Biobased Product, created by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The label will be placed on products like household cleaners and skin care products that contain bio-based materials. Much like the organic food label that the USDA also oversees, the bio-based product label is hoping to raise consumer interest in greener products. The USDA will be putting in place minimum bio-based levels that products will need to meet in order to get the label. It will also display information such as what percentage of the product is made from renewable sources like corn or soy.

“We know we have consumers who are looking to do better environmentally and are trying to find some way to guide their purchasing decisions,” Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan explained.

You should start seeing USDA Certified Biobased Product labels starting in Spring.

Via USA Today

For nearly 50 years, in a suburb of Madrid in Spain, an old monk has been building a cathedral out of junk.

The structure is almost complete, and currently stands at around 131 feet tall. 85 year old Justo Gallego, known locally as Don Justo, has been collecting discarded building materials, such as broken bricks and tiles, every morning them and using them in the creation of his epic cathedral. Other building materials used in the cathedral’s creation include old oil drums and cut-up plastic food containers. The central dome itself took over two decades to build.

Gallego has no experience as a builder, and given the materials he’s using, the cathedral is likely in violation of plenty of building codes. But the local township has tolerated the structure, in large part because of the tourism it brings in.

Via the BBC