Hasta La Gadget!

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

This week we saw renewable energy take the world by storm as Spain announced plans to construct the world’s largest wind turbine and a team of engineers made waves with plans for an underwater turbine modeled after whale flippers. We also saw Boeing shine light on plans to produce a new breed of ultra-efficient solar panels that are suited for space, while researchers in Japan developed a potent new kinetic generator that’s as tiny as a pencil tip.

Innovative eco transportation also picked up the pace as China rolled out plans to produce the first fuel cell powered light rail train and the world’s largest solar-powered boat made its successful maiden voyage across the Atlantic. We also applauded the Nissan Leaf as it took first place as the European Car of the Year and we were wowed by Mercedes’ next-generation concept car, which may one day be grown in a lab.

We also showcased several new ways that technology stands to wire our lives — starting with an electronic smart wallet that curbs spending by clamping shut like a clam. We also looked at Harvard’s plans for a laptop computer powered by biogas and we were impressed by Nike’s next-gen design tools for producing environmentally efficient clothes. Finally, we wrapped up the week with two exciting advances in tablet tech – India is testing a solar-powered I-Slate tablet geared at children in need and Substrata rolled out a gorgeous wooden iPad case that goes light on the earth.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: pencil-tip generators, the Nissan Leaf, and the world’s largest wind turbine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 02:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Popemobile is one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, making it a prime candidate for a green makeover. Pope Benedict XVI has recently stated that he wants to change the car from a standard gas guzzler to a solar powered electric vehicle.

Currently, Pope Benedict drives around in a modified Mercedes Benz M-Class SUV, with a special viewing area on the back, so everyone can see him as he passes. There’s no word yet though on what kind of electric he may be switching to. But the news shouldn’t be that surprising, as Pope Benedict has been in charge of several green initiatives at the Vatican, including adding photovoltaic cells to the building roof in 2008 and the addition of a solar cooling unit in 2009.

Via USA Today

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

This week at Inhabitat, we were thankful to be able to witness the long-awaited unveiling of the futuristic solar-powered Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, and we also heard the exciting news that scientists are developing a project that could have us using the Sahara desert to supply 50% of the world’s energy by 2050.

We were also dazzled by the dynamic “dancing” facade of the Kiefer Technic showroom and this towering greenery-lined pyramid caught our eye with its modern take on ancient Mayan architecture. The world of green tech had a lot to be grateful for too as the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it would award $19 million to modernize the national grid and green transportation saw the first flight powered by jatropha-based biofuel. On a lighter note, this solar-powered wheelchair and its designer prepared to embark on a 200 mile journey to showcase its capabilities.

For those of you on the hunt for Cyber Monday deals, don’t forget to check out our Green Gadget Gift Guide with our picks for the hottest eco-friendly tech out there. We also spotted this ingenious wood speaker system that amplifies music using the properties of the material it’s made of and needs no electricity at all.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: modernizing the US national grid, not to mention deserts and pyramids originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one’s going to be calling Nokero out for falling behind. Just a few short months after revealing its first commercial light bulb for developing nations, the outfit has now rolled out a second version, the predictably titled N200. This guy strikes a vastly different pose compared to the original, with the LED enclosure hanging on a swivel that enables it to be positioned in a way that would optimally catch light. When night falls, users can flip the light north to create a lantern. Nokero claims that this edition is just as rugged and rainproof as the original, but it’s 60 percent brighter and lasts three times as long. A single NiMH battery is included, and that’s what is rejuvenated by the sun — once charged, it’ll provide between 2.5 and 6 hours of light, depending on the mode. It’s on sale now for $20 apiece (bulk prices are less), representing a modest $5 premium over the (still available) N100. Can’t say the Yankees will be looking to decorate their outdoor patio with lighting right about now, but for the nomads trekking to Panama to escape Old Man Winter… well, you know what to do. Vid’s after the break.

[Images courtesy of Larry Bollig]

Continue reading Nokero’s solar-powered, rainproof N200 light bulb: brighter, stronger, more flexible

Nokero’s solar-powered, rainproof N200 light bulb: brighter, stronger, more flexible originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let’s skip right past the cringe-worthy “Declaration of Energy Independence” slogan and look at what the Eagles are actually doing with their pro sports venue. The franchise that dresses in midnight green is aiming to smarten up its eco-green credentials with a new partnership with SolarBlue that will provide all of the Eagles’ stadium energy needs for the next 20 years, after which point the team will be free to resell any surplus electricity back to the grid. 15 percent of the total output with be generated with spiral wind turbines erected around the top rim of Lincoln Financial Field, another 15 will come from 2,500 solar panels to be installed near the stadium, and the rest will be obtained from a biodiesel / natural gas plant. So it’s not all renewable, but a nice step in the right direction, nonetheless.

Philadelphia Eagles going self-sufficient on stadium energy from 2011, 30 percent of it renewable originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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