Home Products

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

Here at Green Daily, we've run across quite a few inventions recently designed to two-wheeling power to the next level, the bike generator, the Green Wheel, etc. -- but the Wind Helmet may just take the prize for originality. This sleek concept, conceived by Malaysian designer Wai Hoong Leng, helps turn your passive safety gear into a renewable energy generator.

By channeling the wind current through the top of the helmet and across a small turbine, the Wind Helmet can generate enough power to recharge you mobile devices as you cruise. While the design may be best suited for those on a scooter -- since it looks a little on the bulky side -- it's definitely stylish enough to have cross over appeal for cyclists; especially if they're cruising on a power-assisted ebike. I'm hoping that Leng has done the safety research necessary to determine whether this hefty helmet won't break our necks at high speeds. That would be thoughtful.

[via AutoblogGreen]

The Wind Helmet Combines Safety and Sustainability originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

It's practically a post-holiday tradition: averting your eco-eyes as you drive past piles of non-recyclable, non-compostable, non-reusable trash crowding the curb, waiting for a ride to the Landfill of Non-biodegradeable Limbo.

Don't look away! Things can be different. We can use that trash for good!

Waste to energy plants take solid trash like non-recyclable plastic, and incinerate it, capturing the energy produced by the burn and sending it into the grid to heat homes and supply electric power.
But burning plastic, that's about as Carbon Awful as you can get, right?

Wrong. We're not talking about setting fire to a bunch of 2 liter soda bottles in an oil drum in the backyard -- that is an egregious act of pollution. And probably also deadly for everyone on the block.

Thanks to sophisticated technology, the emissions of your average waste to energy plant are generally lower than coal or gas powered energy plants. Counter-intuitively, the technology of burning trash helps us reduce greenhouse emissions!

This fascinating video about how a solid waste plant works, from Wheelabrator, which owns and operates several waste to energy plants in the U.S., illustrates the process. You can see the methods used to sort and neutralize the various components -- ferous metals, dioxins, particulate matter -- and capture the energy produced.

It's kind of inspiring to see how much can be recovered from "unusable" trash. Especially since landfills around the world are running out space fast. Many locations have less than 10 years of space left!

Added bonus? Communities that use waste to energy power sources tend to do more recycling, more reusing and generally make more conscious choices about consumption and waste disposal, so waste management improves across the board.

It's Not Waste, it's Energy! originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

Over the last few years, wind and solar proponents have been battling it out to take the top spot in the clean energy discussion. However, when it comes down making a purchase on a smaller scale, solar is king. Solar panels are smaller, more discreet and, most importantly, they're a proven commodity.

Still, that doesn't mean they're always the best option. According to Earth2Tech, the "small" wind turbine market is expected to double by 2013. By the way, I put "small" in quotes because were talking small in terms of output (100KW or less), not size. Look at the 100KW turbine in the picture and you'll see what I'm talking about.

A small wind system might not be as suitable as solar panels for your condo, but it might be better for you condo complex. Likewise, small wind's not ideal for your house in the burbs, but it might out-compete solar at your warehouse, or your farm, or whatever. Says David Link from Pike Research: "Small wind energy is less expensive than solar on a cost per watt basis which is driving more and more businesses and rural consumers to give it a second look."

So, when it comes to answering the question: Should I buy solar panels or a wind turbine for Christmas? You might get more bang for your buck if you go wind ... if you can go wind. There are other factors to consider, size being one of the biggest (pun unintended). You're gonna need a lot of wrapping paper.

There are a few drawbacks to small wind, of course. For example, what if the wind stops blowing while you're trying to watch the Super Bowl? To make small wind systems practical, they're usually used in concert with solar panels or tied into the energy grid. That way, you're not worried about losing power.

Another drawback, as I alluded to before, is finding the right application for a wind turbine. Sure, it's nice to think that your condo board might band together for the planet (and the financial gains) and buy a turbine, but it's not likely. Or, if you own a business, the financial breakdown might look great, but the huge turbine on your property may not.

The upside is, your renewable energy investment would be producing a greater return and in so doing, you're also putting more KW of clean energy back onto the grid -- a win-win. Combine that with the uncapped 30% federal tax credit for renewable energy, and all of the sudden smallish investors can reap larger returns using a small wind system.

While you're out shopping for small scale wind systems, the segment to stay away from is "micro wind." The general rule of thumb (which I just made up) is: If the turbine is smaller than a smart car, it probably won't ever offset the carbon emission used to build it.

Do 'Small' Wind Turbines Make Good Christmas Gifts? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech

GreenDaily's new Green Toolbar is here, it's awesome, and it's available to download. And I know, you're wondering how a toolbar is supposed to help you be more eco-conscious, right?

Easy peasy. It includes the Green Wizard Utility, which is an optional component that will help you fine-tune your computer to save energy. Additionally, it'll give you daily eco-tips, right there in your browser -- getting your green on was never so handy.

Go on and download it today -- it's fast and free, and a great way to make the time you spend on your PC echo the way you live the rest of your life!

Our New Green Toolbar - Dowload it Now! originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments