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- Recycling E-Waste is Profitable for EveryoneToday
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In recent months, there has been quite a bit of buzz surrounding the dangers of e-waste (most notably, releasing toxic components into the environment). However, more and more companies are making their money making you money by paying for your e-waste. The most recent company to join the ranks: Hewlett-Packard.Under HP’s new e-waste recycle program, consumers will receive money for recycling their old PCs, servers, phones, printers, and other electronics, regardless of brand name. The amount of cash given to consumers depends on the resale value of the item being recycled, but even with no resale value, the consumer can have his/her item recycled for free. While recycling these old electronics and PCs is good for the environment, the process also has these companies seeing green.
According to greentechmedia.com, “the worldwide market for electronic recycling will come to $11 billion this year and is growing at around 8.8 percent annually, the fastest segment in solid waste. In the U.S., electronic recycling services will be a $17 billion business.” This creates an ideal situation for all parties involved: the recycler is typically free to keep any money obtained fro
- Toyota’s “Secret” All-Solar Powered Prius a Myth?Yesterday
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According to a recent Huffington Post article, Toyota is “secretly” developing a solar powered green car. Arguably, most folks with any interest in auto technologies have already heard about the Toyota Prius with solar panels that generate enough energy to run the air conditioner, yet this all-solar model, according to The Nikkei, a Japanese newspaper, will get some of its power from solar cells equipped on the vehicle and can be recharged with electricity generated from solar panels on the roofs of homes: “[Toyota] later hopes to develop a model totally powered by solar cells on the vehicle, the newspaper said without citing sources.” One major issue, critics have cited, is that this “secret” solar-mobile can be neither confirmed nor denied. While the Toyota website openly discusses the development of a solar paneled roof for the Prius, this covert all-solar powered Prius is nowhere to be found. Additionally, The Nikkei article that supposedly broke the news does not seem to exist. Is this all-solar powered Prius simply an urban car-myth? Possibly. Would an all-solar powered Prius be an amazing feat of automotive technology? Absolutely. Altho
- A Cost Effective Way To Make Hydrogen?December 19 2008
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Developed by Dr. Alden H. Gajo as a means of creating cost-effective hydrogen, the AS1 Stack-On Electrolyzer appears to be one of the first cost effective ways to produce hydrogen that is available to the public.While other electrolyzers that produce similar hydrogen output can cost over $10,000, the AS1 will cost you fractions of the price as it is selling for less than $400. The AS1 was created with three specific and altruistic goals: (I) to help reduce carbon greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow or stop global warming (2) to reduce or eliminate our country’s dependence on foreign energy sources, specifically crude oil (3) to help create a better and cleaner environment for our children and our grandchildren.
From these objectives came a product that can efficiently and effectively create hydrogen for practical purposes such as: a) creating hydrogen on demand and on a continuous basis for pennies per liter b) combining hydrogen with compressed natural gas (CNG), making this an ideal low cost solution to a CNG refueling station, offering instead a CNG-Hydrogen blend c) use as a home hydrogen refueling station.
With the holidays just around the corner, this could be an excellent gift for those who like to tinker with hydrogen, for researche
- The Mercedes-Benz BlueZERODecember 16 2008
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Mercedes-Benz has promised a gasoline free line-up of automobiles by 2015, and they are on their way to delivering on that promise with the BlueZERO. The BlueZero E-Cell will be the all-electric version of the design, while the BlueZERO E-Cell Plus will feature range-extending hybrid technology. According to the press release, BlueZERO has a “charging capacity of 15 kW, the powerful lithium-ion batteries in the BlueZERO E-CELL and the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS can store enough energy for a range of 50 kilometres within 30 minutes.” Additionally, both of the BlueZERO vehicles incorporate an electronic control unit that supports intelligent charging stations and billing systems to better aid in smart-charging technology.It is incredibly optimistic to see such utilization of advancing technologies, and the BlueZERO is expected to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January. There are no price points yet, but I imagine that a luxury automobile with a 15kW lithium-ion battery will likely be a bit pricey. We can’t forget, though, that it’s a sleek design and Mercedes-Benz is including as many green materials as possible (even down to the lights and paint); it’s an interesting look at the future of automobiles…maybe next year you can
- New Solar-Powered Airport Hangar Opens In CaliforniaDecember 15 2008
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It’s not surprising these days to hear of buildings drawing their power from photovoltaics, but for some reason I still get a kick (or perhaps some hope) everytime something new embraces renewable energy.
Take for instance the new $17 million “Hangar 25″ operated by charter flight operator Avjet at the Bob Hope airport in California. The structure has rooftop solar panels that can provide enough electricity for lights, forklifts and tow vehicles. At over 60,000 sq. ft., the structure has been given LEED Platinum status.
Obviously, the $3 million dollar solar system (1,530 solar panels) isn’t the only feature making this Hangar green. The building also features sustainable landscaping that includes a synlawn (synthetic grass), electric tow vehicles, a chemical-free fire system, bamboo furniture, low-flow plumbing, and plenty of natural lighting. Los Angles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hailed the project as “the greenest aviation facility in the world.”
Love it. Here’s to open more “green” hangars start springing up around the country.