Cake’s New Album Goes Solar

January 5, 2009

Alternative rock band, Cake, will be producing its latest album using solar power. The roof of their Sacramento studio is covered in solar panels. Trumpet player Vince DiFiore estimates that the band only uses 10% of the energy generated during rehearsals which sends the excess back into the grid. The band used Borrego Solar Systems to convert their studio.

Solar ability is only one small step the band has taken to curb their environmental impact. John McCrea has been known to give away trees…

In Oregon: A Gym Powered By Exercise

January 4, 2009

Remember going to the local science museum’s elecricity exhibit? You get on a bike hooked up to a generator and pedal away until soon that generator feeds a light bulb, that flickers and burns bright.

The Green Microgym in Portland is using the same concept to ability the TVs and stereos at the gym. Solar capability feeds the lights. Bikes are linked together using a technology called the Human Dynamo.

The Human Dynamo is a bike connected to a battery that stores the energy society cre…

Car Crash: UK’s Electric Vehicle Sales Plummet in 2008

December 5, 2008

Here at the end of the year, we tend to start looking at everything in terms of numbers — which is, unfortunately, a very painful experience for most of us in 2008. particularly it you work in the auto industry. Just as you might expect, auto sales are slumping in the UK just as they are in the US, and for many of the same reasons. Unfortunately, the events of 2008 have been particularly hard on the UK electric car industry, leaving it on the brink of break down.

Even in London, where…

Video: Solarcentury’s Integrated Solar Roofing Tiles

November 28, 2008

When it comes to bolting on a costly solar array up on your roof, you come across a laundry list of common concerns. For example, some society say they look ugly. Well, innovative solar companies like Solarcentury are listening, and they’re making great progress in overcoming a few of the aesthetic complaints. They’ve created a set of solar roof tiles that actually sit flush with your slate or tiled roof, helping your solar project blend in from ground level.

Being integrated into you a…

Green benefits of the $700 billion bailout plan

October 13, 2008

Whether you think the government spending $700 billion to bailout financial institutions is a good concept or a poor concept, there are some nice little green perks as part of the bill that you may not have heard about.

The Bicycle Commuter Act will give a $20 per month tax credit to employers of bicycling commuters to go towards adding infrastructure items like bike racks and lockers rooms. Hopefully some companies will use that to energize two-wheeled commuting.
The transportation an…

Don’t junk that pumpkin!

October 13, 2008

Every Halloween we would watch as our dad carved our chosen pumpkin. After the innards were disposed of, a face with triangular features arised. For one night our pumpkin shown bright on our porch steps until is was smashed by a neighborhood hooligan or tossed in the trash.

With some families doing entire pumpkin vignettes with half a dozen squash on their steps, that’s a lot of wasted goodness. Here are a few ways to get the most out of your pumpkin.

Dinner in a Pumpkin: whether you …

For the love of trees, stop sending Ringo fan mail

October 13, 2008

There’s no telling how many old growth forests have been axed in the name of Beatles fan mail. I’m guessing that whether we put all of the perfume-scented letters addressed to John, Paul, George, and Ringo in one place, it would build even the toughest lumberjack cry a little. That’s why it’s kind of nice to see one of the remaining Beatles finally putting a stop to it. Through a video posted on his website, Ringo has asked fans to kindly stop sending him their junk.

Starting next week, e…

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