SteamSHIFT

I often bemoan the lack of a decent art school in Southampton, and that the bulk of the students seem to be involved in Medicine or Engineering. However, now and then, something comes up (thanks Matt), that makes me think that that might not be such a bad thing. Check out the Research and Activities sections for some of the exciting work they are doing in the field of Sustainable Energy.

SteamSHIFT out.

Technorati Tags:
Southampton, ecological, sustainability, green

For those few of you who have been with me for any length of time, you will know that I have been intrigued by the possibilities of concrete for some time now. I have blogged about staining concrete, heating concrete and see through concrete and bendable concrete.

You will probably also know that concrete is really bad environmentally and I have blogged about alternatives like papercrete (concrete made using paper) and Earthskin, a mix of 80% earth and concrete.

So in the vein of the former, if not currently the latter of these possibly incompatible interests, I present: Color Changing Concrete. This is a new innovation that uses heat conduction to enable the display of patterns in the concrete.

SteamSHIFT out.

(Via Gizmodo.)

A super Green Sandwich Bio Panel uses a core made of biomass like rice straw and can be covered in Earthskin, a mix of 80% earth and concrete

Both environmentally friendly and extremely durable? Surely not! Just imagine the environmental benefits if even 1% of new houses in the developed world used this instead of bricks and mortar…

Via TreeHugger

Bulb busting light source invented | The Register

Researchers working on organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) have made a critical jump that could finally call lights out time for the humble bulb.

I have been waiting for news like this since I read that 20% of the US’ energy usage comes from light bulbs. I have tried compact fluorescent bulbs, but they give off a horrible light; and the full spectrum versions are too bright and too much like daylight - very weird when you are indoors (not to mention being really expensive). I have been looking at LED bulbs, but they are not bright enough yet except in groups (and still expensive).

So the 2 big questions about this are … when and how much?

(Via The Register.)

One of the more insane and possible brilliant (but we will see) ways of creating energy I have seen in a long time!

Harnessing artificial tornadoes as an energy source: “The energy released by a large hurricane can exceed the energy consumption of the human race for a whole year, and even an average tornado has a power similar to that of a large power station. Louis Michaud, a Canadian engineer, believes he has devised a way to harness that energy by generating artificial whirlwinds that can be controlled.

(more…)

Bamboo is of the world’s most prolific and fastest-growing plants, and is able to reach maturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species in the U.S. Though most people are generally familiar with this beautiful and graceful plant, the average person is usually astounded when learning that there are more than 1000 documented uses of bamboo.

Bamboosa

Bamboo Textile

For a no more than few pence more than you are paing at the moment, you could be gretting your energy from wind power … Ecotricity : http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/.

Check it out….

Comment: Npower also do green electricity - if you’re already with them it takes 2 minutes to change over, doesn’t cost any more and there is no hassle of changing supplier - they’ve been doing this with Greenpeace since August 2001.

More:

Interesting :- I have been looking into this stuff a little bit more. Whilst the nPower Juice thing promises that 100% of your energy (from them) comes from renewable sources, and Ecotricity only states 10% … there is a catch!

I phoned Ecotricity to find out more:- basically what happens is that they guarantee that 10% of your energy will come from renewable sources (wind) in the first year, increasing by 10% each year - so after 5 years it will be 50%. Now although this still doesn’t seem as good, if you take the Ecotricity as a whole, ALL of their customers are getting at least 10% of their energy from wind power. Whereas nPower, averaged out over their whole customer base, only supply about 3% renewable energy.

Also with no shareholders, profits at Ecotricity are pumped back into a continuous investment program into new turbines.

Either way, we should make the switch, whichever route. Which way, you choose.

Finally one thing that I was really impressed by is that when I phoned Ecotricity for more info, I got through to a person immediately - now that’s what I call progress!!!

Windmall: “The colorful panels that look like books above the entrance of a shopping mall in Nagoya, Japan, are components in an electricity generator developed by Inaba Electric Work.

The structure called ‘Surface of the wall windmill ecological curtain’ is made of 775 vertical windmills and is expected to produce 7,551 kilowatt-hours annually. Combined with solar panels set on the top of the structure, the energy collected will be used to power lighting in the mall building.

Via MDN News.

“

(Via we make money not art.)

I love this - such a fantastic idea - in a completely odd and random way of course!

From Metaefficient.com

This planter can used to tomatoes, other vegetables or even flowers from a small area.

Hang on decks, patios, porches, balconies, or even from a tree.

The manufacturer claims feeding and watering is easy: you pour water or nutrients into the top of the funnel.

Web Site: Clean Air Gardening ($19.95)

(Via An Artsy Fartsy Weblog.)

Welcome to UltraLeds.co.uk: “A low energy LED MR16 led spotlight which is a direct replacement for MR16 Halogen lamps.

48 Leds (Custom Designed) gives the you the first direct replacement bulb at a similar brightness to Halogen bulbs.

This Replacement Led bulb benefits from longer life and cost savings.

CE Approved.

This lamp is made up of 48 LEDs and lamp life of  around 50,000 hours.”