Friday, April 25, 2008
Next generation wind power
Scifi blog io9 looks at a couple of wind power options for domestic use. The micro turbine borders on a joke, but the Phillipe Starck designed transparent turbine is pretty. I'm still not convinced by wind power in suburbia because at least one study has shown that the small windmills erected by house owners don't go high enough to get away from the blocking effects of nearby structures. They might be effective atop taller buildings though.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 11:23 AM
Scifi blog io9 looks at a couple of wind power options for domestic use. The micro turbine borders on a joke, but the Phillipe Starck designed transparent turbine is pretty. I'm still not convinced by wind power in suburbia because at least one study has shown that the small windmills erected by house owners don't go high enough to get away from the blocking effects of nearby structures. They might be effective atop taller buildings though.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Wind Power
posted by Ian at 11:23 AM
Mancat saves £300,000 by going Green
Mancat college in Manchester has cut its fuel bills by almost a half by adopting energy saving technology and techniques on its campus.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 11:19 AM
Mancat college in Manchester has cut its fuel bills by almost a half by adopting energy saving technology and techniques on its campus.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Manchester, schools
posted by Ian at 11:19 AM
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Build your own biosphere
I used to have a biosphere and loved it. It survived a couple of years despite a very slow leak and more than once being stuck in a box for months after a move. As well as being pretty, they're a neat little image of the world. The video above introduces the concept of building your own biosphere in a Kilner jar. The secret ingredient is pond scum.
This page has more biosphere information, including a series of experiments to see what works best.
via BoingBoing
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 8:47 AM
I used to have a biosphere and loved it. It survived a couple of years despite a very slow leak and more than once being stuck in a box for months after a move. As well as being pretty, they're a neat little image of the world. The video above introduces the concept of building your own biosphere in a Kilner jar. The secret ingredient is pond scum.
This page has more biosphere information, including a series of experiments to see what works best.
via BoingBoing
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Biosphere
posted by Ian at 8:47 AM
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Manchester University wins an eco award
Manchester University has won an award for making its student accomodation more environmentally friendly.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 5:31 PM
Manchester University has won an award for making its student accomodation more environmentally friendly.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Manchester
posted by Ian at 5:31 PM
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Virtual Forest
The Virtual Forest is a Spanish endeavour to get people cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by appealing to their wallets. The energy saving questionnaire it offers stresses the financial benefits of saving energy as much as the environmental. They also promise to plant trees for you, in Second Life and real life.
The site is bilingual and there are phrases that seem imperfectly translated, but not as badly as I've seen elsewhere. The questions on your energy consumption are also formed from a Spanish perspective. For example, here in Manchester I find I never have need for any form of sun shade to keep the house cool. The cultural differences don't minimise the message however, and I'd really like a Second Life tree.
This review was paid for through ReviewMe.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 7:58 PM
The Virtual Forest is a Spanish endeavour to get people cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by appealing to their wallets. The energy saving questionnaire it offers stresses the financial benefits of saving energy as much as the environmental. They also promise to plant trees for you, in Second Life and real life.
The site is bilingual and there are phrases that seem imperfectly translated, but not as badly as I've seen elsewhere. The questions on your energy consumption are also formed from a Spanish perspective. For example, here in Manchester I find I never have need for any form of sun shade to keep the house cool. The cultural differences don't minimise the message however, and I'd really like a Second Life tree.
This review was paid for through ReviewMe.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: eco-building, energy saving, Europe
posted by Ian at 7:58 PM
Thursday, March 06, 2008
The Oxford Road Green Corridor
Plans are in place to close sections of Oxford Road to all traffic but special buses (and bikes?). The scheme won't begin for around five years and is dependent upon the introduction of a congestion charge and the access to funds that will allow.
Oxford Road is already officially the busiest bus route in Europe. Perhaps it's time to let them take some of it over. The planned closed section covers the only part of the road that I regularly cycle on, from around the University all the way into the centre, so I hope they intend to stick a cycle lane into the mix.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 12:34 PM
Plans are in place to close sections of Oxford Road to all traffic but special buses (and bikes?). The scheme won't begin for around five years and is dependent upon the introduction of a congestion charge and the access to funds that will allow.
Oxford Road is already officially the busiest bus route in Europe. Perhaps it's time to let them take some of it over. The planned closed section covers the only part of the road that I regularly cycle on, from around the University all the way into the centre, so I hope they intend to stick a cycle lane into the mix.
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Bus lanes, congestion charge, Manchester, transport
posted by Ian at 12:34 PM
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Rural ZED house- affordable eco-homes
ZEDFactory, a design and build consortium, have announced the RuralZED house. It's timber framed modular design and incorporation of recycled materials make it an affordable net-zero energy home that they hope will lead the way for future developments.
chnorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 1:50 PM
ZEDFactory, a design and build consortium, have announced the RuralZED house. It's timber framed modular design and incorporation of recycled materials make it an affordable net-zero energy home that they hope will lead the way for future developments.
chnorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: eco-building, self build, Zero Energy homes
posted by Ian at 1:50 PM
Monday, February 25, 2008
Branson's biofuelled jumbo
A Virgin 747 has flown from Heathrow to Schiphol with one of its fuel tanks filled with 20% biofuel. Richard Branson says that commercial flights will be powered by algal biofuel and is investing in alternative fuel development. However, there are questions about the effectiveness of teh systems Virgin will be using, the biggest of which is why aren't they working to cut flights?
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
posted by Ian at 6:10 PM
A Virgin 747 has flown from Heathrow to Schiphol with one of its fuel tanks filled with 20% biofuel. Richard Branson says that commercial flights will be powered by algal biofuel and is investing in alternative fuel development. However, there are questions about the effectiveness of teh systems Virgin will be using, the biggest of which is why aren't they working to cut flights?
Technorati tag: EcoHouse
Labels: Air travel, Biodiesel
posted by Ian at 6:10 PM
Manchester Arndale to go Green
All the businesses in Manchester's Arndale shopping centre have pledged to go Green, cutting their carbon footprint and increasing recycling. The only problem is that a shopping centre exists to encourage consumption. Before the goods arrive and after they leave they have an impact on the environment, no matter how green the shops that sell them are.
Technorati tag: Shopping
posted by Ian at 5:50 PM
All the businesses in Manchester's Arndale shopping centre have pledged to go Green, cutting their carbon footprint and increasing recycling. The only problem is that a shopping centre exists to encourage consumption. Before the goods arrive and after they leave they have an impact on the environment, no matter how green the shops that sell them are.
Technorati tag: Shopping
Labels: Shopping
posted by Ian at 5:50 PM
