Smarter Buildings:
USC architect Doris Kim Sung wants to make buildings that automatically respond to changes in the environment.
Deskbox Is A Minimalist Gem:
The Deskbox is a practical small table/cabinet that is hung onto a wall and it is ideal for settings where there is little space available for furniture. The Deskbox by Yael Mer of Shay Alkalay of Raw-Edges Design Studio, and manufactured by ARCO of the Netherlands.
Singapore’s giant supertrees:
Singapore is in the middle of a project, where 18 “supertrees” do everything that normal trees do, only better. They will stretch up to 164 feet tall, grow 200 species of flowers, ferns, and epiphytes, collect solar energy, harvest rainwater, and work as a natural cooling system. Oh, and one of them has a bistro at its summit.
Biophotovoltaic Moss Table Generates Electricity Through Photosynthesis:
The ‘moss pots‘ in the table act as bio-electrochemical devices converting the chemical energy into electrical energy using biological material such as algea, cyanobacteria, and vascular plants. The ‘Moss Table’ is still in its concept stage, but it can already produce enough electricity to power smaller devices such as digital clocks. Scientists are predicting that future BPV devices will be able to power larger devices such as lamps and even laptops.
Rooftop Solar Chills Massive NJ Food Warehouse:
The terminal is home to the largest on-dock refrigerated warehouse on the East Coast and stores fruits, meats and dairy products around the clock. Its electricity demands are high, but now about 80 percent of the 150-acre terminal’s power demands come from solar power. The Riverside project installed 1.1 million square feet of solar panels. These high-efficiency panels can produce about 9 megawatts (MW) of electricity enough to power more than 1,500 homes. The system is expected to offset the same amount of carbon as planting 400,000 trees.
According to MIT News, the researchers have developed a way to add texture to the surface of glass that eliminates glare and makes water drops bounce right off, taking the dust with it. The inspiration came from nature, as many surfaces such as those of lotus leaves naturally repel water and dirt because of certain textures.
The new “multifunctional” glass, based on surface nanotextures that produce an array of conical features, is self-cleaning and resists fogging and glare, the researchers say. Ultimately, they hope it can be made using an inexpensive manufacturing process that could be applied to optical devices, the screens of smartphones and televisions, solar panels, car windshields and even windows in buildings.
How to Build a Solar-Powered Lawn Mower:
This Instructable will show you how to mow you’re grass using solar power to charge the mowers batteries.
Fair Trade Chocolate, Tea, Spice and Coffee Sales Jump 75 Percent, Study Says:
According to data from SPINS, specializing in natural product research, the Fair Trade Certified label is making a difference with mainstream consumers, with products boasting an impressive 75% increase in the mass market during 2011.
The Fan Table explores the role of tables as the infrastructure for social interaction. Created from over 400 slats the table can be quickly transformed into an array of different shapes and sizes to suit its context or use.
A former software engineer, Joel Allen designed this modest 200-square foot egg-shaped treehouse to include loft sleeping quarters, an outdoor dec.
