Here at EcoGeek we’ve been long-time supporters of e-book readers. The publishing industry (including books, newspapers and magazines) is a serious environmental threat with a huge carbon footprint and raw materials that result in the harvesting of some 125 million tress per year.
So we were excited. But as the realities of ebooks set in, and they actually began to explode in popularity (with Amazon.com now selling more Kindle books than hard-covers) we got apprehensive. Would this new trend really be good for the environment? The answer…thankfully, is a resounding “Yes.”
The Kindle device itself, of course, has a carbon footrprint caused by manufacturing and shipping all of its parts around. And it does use electricity (though, really, a very small amount compared with devices like laptops or even some cell phones.) But while I still love real books for a lot of reasons, I’ve got to give it to the Kindle. […]
Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)
LEED Platinum certification and a modernist appeal make this house a prime example of how sustainable design can be so potent. The OS House was featured in the New York Times for its capricious façade and sustainable amendments that stand out in a very staid neighborhood. Located on Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin the design by Johnsen Schmaling Architects is a striking and playful fusion of green tech– like ground source heating and solar thermal and electricity– with great light, views and skillful construction.
Read the rest of LEED Platinum House With a Brilliant Modernist Designhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed
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Post tags: green home, Green Modernest design, ground source heat pump, Johnsen Schmaling Architects, LEED Platinum House, OS House, Racine Wisconsin home
Giant Turbine Offers 20% Efficiency Boost
Image credit: Mecal Taller Turbines Offer Greater Returns
Sometimes bigger really is better - at least where wind energy is concerned. …Ericsson Crosses Mobile Phone Tower With […]
Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)
Electricity’s most fundamental riddle: How does it form in nature? Even centuries after Ben Franklin so famously harnessed lightning, recreating this natural phenomenon has remained an unsolved mystery to the scientific world. That is until now. Recent laboratory tests conducted by Brazilian scientists at the University of Campinas have shown that water vapor picks up a charge much like the way solar cells capture energy from sunlight. While this discovery sounds slight, it’s a finding that will actually bring us a step closer to capturing electricity from thin air.
Read the rest of Researchers One Step Closer to Capturing Electricity Out of Thin Airhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed
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Post tags: benjamin franklin, fernando galembeck, humidity, hygroelectrcity, lightning, nikola tesla, sustainable design, university of campinas
Unclog Your Bathroom Sink Drain With Natural ProductsIf you want to unclog your bathroom sink drain without using harsh chemicals, here are some hints for you.Original post by contact.us@al…Revamp with […]
Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)
Looking for an instant power boost for your solar panels? Slap on a large, transparent sticker by Genie Lens Technologies to get 10 percent more juice. The polymer film, which can be applied to panels you already have installed, comes riddled with microstructures that bend incoming sunlight for better absorption. More light equals more electricity, which in turn lowers the per-watt cost of solar power.
Read the rest of Light-Bending Polymer Sticker Boosts Solar Panel Output by 10%http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed
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Post tags: Genie Lens Technologies, photovoltaic panels, polymer sticker, solar panels, Solar Power
Typical Life Span of a Car MufflerA car muffler helps to muffle the sounds an exhaust system and its catalytic converter make when a car is accelerating.
A Couple of Inex…How to Recycle Your Car BatteryA car battery will eventually die and need to be replaced.
A Couple of Inexpensive Mothers Day Gifts You Can MakeWe all think […]
Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (BobVila.com)
photo: LBL Assessments of the state of the US and world wind industry are frankly a dime a dozen, however a new one by the Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory offers some insights not found elsewhere–particularly in growth of wind power at the state level, the amount of wind power manufacturing taking place domestically, and the amount of domestic parts used in US wind power projects:…Read the full story on TreeHugger
How to Install Decorative Exterior ShuttersDecorative exterior shutters add ornamental value to a home. These ornaments are actually very easy to install.
Finding The Best Replace…How to Install Composite ShuttersComposite shutters are not only aesthetically appealing to the eyes.
How to Install Decorative Exterior ShuttersDecorative exterior shut…Finding The Best Replacement Glass For CabinetsFollow these tips for finding replacement glass for cabinets: Decide what type of glass you want and need for your cabinets.Original pos…How to Build Cedar […]
Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)