Eco-Thinker

First we had hybrid-busses and then plug-in hybrid busses, and now a no-plug-in hybrid wirelessly rechargeable bus? Say what? So the terms may need tweaking. From Tokyo, check out this interesting new project by Hino, a subsidiary of Toyota. Before the majority of society can even ingest the news of a prospective electric-car-future, we have a design that can keep a battery charged without having to stop, plug in, and “fill up”. But, as EcoGeek pointed out, the available wireless energy transmission technology is rather inefficient. So to actually make it a truly green project would mean the source of the energy providing the grid would have to be solar power or some other efficient energy production.

As the plant absorbs water, the counterweight causes the plant to lean. Rather self explanatory, which makes this item even more innovative and increases the coolness factor for just how simple it is. Perhaps the plant industry will try and cover up this new technology that threatens to extend the life of plants! We shall see.

Well, this station may not be adding vehicle-to-grid connections for electric cars or offering alternative fuels, but it is doing its part by implementing many green features compared to a typical gas station.

I recently received an email containing a link that I feel is very relevant and worth sharing.Eredux.com, on the surface, has an interactive map that shows your state’s carbon score along with carbon emissions per person. But, for detailed demographic data and information on energy consumption, carbon emissions in your area, contamination levels, local gas prices and so forth just click on a state and fill in your zip code.

I was browsing the mainstream news channels and came across a report on compact fluorescent bulbs containing mercury. And although I was aware of that, to listen to the journalist explain it would have you immediately switch back to the less efficient incandescent bulbs. Even companies marketing CF bulbs were targeted by the fearful report as if they were part of a conspiracy to fill the world with mercury.

Seattle’s King County Metro is set to purchase up to 500 new hybrid buses making the Seattle area one of the greenest bus transits in North America.

Here an incandescent and a compact fluorescent light is connected to a meter to show how much more efficient the fluorescent is than the old incandescent bulbs.

This is a great reminder to those of us with noisy gas guzzling lawn mowers. Until recently I did not have a yard to mow and I still have the same old push mower sitting on empty. No time like the present to make an eco-friendly switch. It is also easier on your hearing. The newer models are not as bulky and heavy as earlier models you might be reminded of, mainly due to plastic parts, but at least it doesn’t burn gasoline.