Category: Energy systems
VIDEO: Energy & Efficiency, episode 7
Today I take a look at energy saving light bulbs. Sure, we’ve all replaced our old fashioned coal-powered light bulbs with new, efficient nuclear models to save money and/or the world – but now what? Is that it? Is there no more energy to be saved?
Yes! There is lots more energy to be saved! Allow me to tell you how to reduce your electricity bills further still, thanks to a little invention I’m calling “No Light bulbs.”
I can only apologise for the poor picture quality. It’s not a joke, I just cleaned the lens
FAKE SCIENCE: Alternate universe-generation kit, yours for $20
We really haven’t been paying enough attention to the part of science that deals with multiple universes.
Because, from next month, you will be able to buy one of these – a make-your-own-universe kit. It’s based around some fancy science that states there’s an infinite number of possible alternate universes, and more are created each time any kind of measurement is taken that defines one particular place. Or something along those lines…
Ecobee – a Wi-Fi thermostat
We’ve all been there. Sat, just after midnight at your PC, shivering because the heating’s not on. You wrap a blanket around you, but you know that at some point you’ll need to turn the heating on, because you’re nowhere near done with your work for the evening.
What you need is something that will save you getting up, because getting up is cold. You need the Ecobee – a Wi-Fi thermostat. It syncs with a web server, so you can control your heating from afar – turn it on before you leave work, for example. It could even adjust the heating depending on what the weather conditions are like outside – if it knows there’s a cold snap coming, for example…
Sony in yet another burning battery mess – 100,000 laptop batteries recalled in latest safety concern
Poor old Sony is infuriating laptop makers the world over once again, today issuing a recall of over 100,000 batteries it has supplied to numerous portable computer makers.
The recall involves batteries manufactured by Sony in 2004 and 2005, which were supplied to the likes of HP, Toshiba, Acer, Dell and Lenovo. Sony says there have been around 40 overheating incidents involving the batteries, and, like poor workmen the world over, it has blamed the quality of raw materials and factory errors for the problems, rather than just admitting it’s rubbish at making batteries…
Ardica Portable Power – warmth and charging on the go
This is quite nifty – a company called Ardica have created a combo gadget that simultaneously charges your gadgets and warms your cockles. They’re calling it a “portable power and heating system”. Basically, it’s a wearable power pack.
You’ll need a “compatible” jacket to take advantage of the heating. That’s the first time I’ve ever worried about whether my jacket is “compatible” with anything before. You’ll get 3 hours of high heat out of it, and 8.6 hours of low heat. They reckon the device will provide heat up to 100 degrees, which i’m hoping is Fahrenheit, rather than Celsius. Or Kelvin, for that matter…
VIDEO: Energy & Efficiency, episode 6
Today I will reveal how you can save POUNDS by recharging all your gadgets for FREE! Yes, that’s right. For free. How can this be done? Have I invented something? Have I learned how to harness the awesome power of the sea? Have I mastered cold fusion in my fridge?
Or am I just lying to get attention? You’ll have to watch the below video to find out, as there’s no point me saying what the secret to a lifetime of free electricity is here if I’ve spent ages doing a video about it. That’s not how it works.
So there you go. I’m typing this using electricity I didn’t have to pay for…
The battery-powered Mini E – an electric vehicle cool enough to be seen driving by people you know
Finally, an electric car that doesn’t resemble the sort of thing Noddy & Big Ears would drive around the surface of the Moon.
This is the Mini E, a li-ion-powered electric version of the Mini. It’s a rather severely limited edition model, with only 500 being made – and all of them already earmarked for delivery to the sort of companies that fancy having a fleet of electric Minis on the books to make them look good…
Prototype power shoes from NTT – generate electricity everywhere you go
I think I made jokes about power dressing the last time I looked at clothing which harnessed energy for your gadgets, so I’ll just stick to how ridiculous these electricity-generating shoes look…
Make your expensive architect-designed house look RUBBISH with a LEGO radiator
Sarah Beeny would not be impressed. This could take tens of thousands off the value of your home. The terms & conditions of your mortgage would be voided. You’d be out on the street for Christmas. If you let your children be in charge of your internal design decisions, you get what you deserve.
This is a concept radiator (or at least a concept image of a concept radiator) by Italian firm Sciroccoh, made out of component pieces that resemble LEGO. It’s not particularly clever, as all the illustrator has done here is take an existing thing – in this case a household radiator – then imagine what it would look like if it was made out of LEGO…
Shiny Video: Philips Simplicity – Blossom Light
I may be using the Philips Simplicity event for a bit of a laugh but our Susi from Shiny Shiny is actually over there in Moscow and has found a rather nice, clever and pretty looking eco-gadget in the form of the Light Blossom. I’ll allow her to explain.
