Kamal Meattle: How to grow your own fresh air

Kamal Meattle: How to grow your own fresh air is a TED talk by Kamal Meattle, an environmental activist in India.  Kamal became allergic to the incredibly polluted air in New Delhi. Which is a problem, since he lives there. With the help of some researcher friends, Kamal found that with 3 species of plants, you can grow all the fresh air you need. In fact, he claims you could live in a stoppped bottle with these plants and not die from lack of air. 

Kamal's speech is very short for TED talk standards, and it is totally worth your 4 minutes and 4 seconds.  He doesn't seem comfortable talking in front of the audience, and his speech ends abruptly without much warning or segue (to the point of unintentional comedy: be the change you want to see in the world!). Nevertheless, the speech is very tightly organized, progressing linearly and logically, with beautiful pictures. The topic is incredible.

This was exactly the kind of information I was looking for 3 years ago, when I (rather paranoid) thought that the air in my apartment was too stale. My mother insisted that plants would kill me, because they release CO2. Which is true, and also proof that a little bit of knowledge can lead to massive misinterpretation about what is good or bad for you.  I wonder if this could combat sick building syndrome. My mind won't stop moving--I digress. Fantastic talk. 

Transparency: How Much Water Do You Use?

I swear I'm not posting this just because it's anti-meat propaganda, but I will admit I was secretly happy to see that beef = a horrible horrible waste of water. //

Transparency: How Much Water Do You Use? is Good Magazine's article by Fogelson-Lubliner on how to reduce your water footprint. It includes direct water usage and virtual water usage (the water used to make the things you eat or consume). Fogelson-Lubliner points out that the "difference in the amount of water it takes to produce a pound of chicken and a pound of beef is enough to fill almost two whole cars."

I'm much more of a tea person myself, and it just made me happy to see that tea is better than coffee.  Although it made me sad to see that wine is worse than beer.  The only beer I really like is Karl Strauss Woodie Gold (as opposed to most wines).  Oh San Diego, I miss you. 

(From Kottke)

Smart Grid

Smart grid is GE sub-website about the Smart Grid, or an updated power grid they launched. Basically, alternative energy can travel well beyond its previous 100 mile radius, and it's more efficient. It's totally intensive to load, but also totally pretty. There are shiny spinny things and so you should see it.

It's so nice, I have a feeling Jack Donaghy (GE's Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming) is behind this. 

My octagenarian computer doesn't have a webcam, but let me know if the "How It Works Section" works. My friend Christina says it's amaaaaaaaazing.

(From my friend Christina)

The Green Microgym

The Green Microgym is a gym that runs on its own power. I often think about the wasted workout energy while working out at the gym, and am glad to see someone made it come true. Go Oregon!

"By generating electricity and conserving space and energy, The Green Microgym will be one of the only fitness facilities in the world running on its own power. We're starting a gym in Portland, Oregon that uses a combination of solar and human power and is just as comfortable and effective as any other gym."

It claims to have Sirius Satellite Radio, flatscreen LCD High Definition televisions, and wireless Internet(!). It's owner and designer is Adam Boesel. The website is clunky, but I think they're doing enough net good in the world to be forgiven that.

(From Buzzfeed )

Extreme Hypermiling Guide

The Extreme Hypermiling Guide is an article on Go Green Travel Green that compiles 450+ ways to increase the fuel efficiency of your car.  Driving enthusiast Wayne Gerdes is credited with coining the term "hypermile," which then gave rise to the neologism hypermiling.  I suppose that rhymes with "smiling", thought I originally mis-read that as hypermilling, which is probably what happens when you give grain-millers a large dose of meth. I digress.

Hypermiling is the act of modifying your car or driving habits in order to increase your miles-per-gallon efficiency, exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel efficiency for your vehicle.

The Extreme Hypermiling Guide has an ugly design, but very useful tips.  I like their commentary on safe versus non-safe techniques, and worthwhile versus non-worthwhile.  

Safe tips: 

• Watch the crosswalk signs (to know if the light is going to change soon)
  
• Leave room in front of your car (to allow for breaking slowly)
  
• Don’t accelerate too quickly.
  
• Don’t brake if you don’t have to.
  
• Minimize running mechanical and electrical accessories (e.g. air conditioning).
  
• Inflate your tires (to the proper psi according to the manual, or just slightly more; too much more and you can be asking for trouble).
  

Unsafe tips:

• Overinflate tires
  
• Place cardboard over the radiator
  
• Tailgate a truck to reduce wind drag
  
• Death turns (turning off the engine when making 25 mph turn going at 50 mph.)
  

Why do people do this?  At Go Green Travel Green, they're aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, since living-off-the-grid is too hard.  Some people are trying to save any money they can with the rising fuel costs, and/or are naturally stingy.  According to My Money Blog, 

"If you went from say a combined city/highway 22 mpg based on your previous habits to 30 mpg (a 36% increase), and you drove 12,000 miles per year with gas at $3.70/gallon, this would save you $538 over a year. Worth it? Your decision."

Other people just like to drive crazy.  It was interesting to see what driving habits increase or decrease efficiency.  Happy driving. 

(From Bilbao58's flickr, and Digg)

Hema

Hema is a Dutch department store and acronym for Hollandse Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam, or "Dutch Standard Prices Company Amsterdam," according to Wikipedia. According to Babel Fish, this is better translated as "Dutch entity prices society Amsterdam." According to Today On The Interwebs, that's not even a real language. Anyway. All you need to know is that it's kind of like a European Muji. Just click on it. Then send it to your kid brother and then tell him he broke the Interwebs.



Runner up:
The Washing Machine Toilet. It reuses your dirty laundry water as a toilet water.

This project did not win at the The 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition but it's a winner in my heart. Judging was based on innovation, clarity of design, originality, form, presentation, and likelihood of scaring the crap out of your grandmother.

It's like the makers of the Wuzzles moved on from their 80s cartoon shenanigans and instead of making cartoons about butterfly-bears or elephant-kangaroos, they moved on to mixing appliances. I love it. Enjoy this blast-to-the past:


(From mom & BoingBoing)