Solar | greenUPGRADER

The Surge: Solar-Charging iPhone Case Hits Streets

by Tim Hurst on March 15th, 2010

San Leandro, California-based Novothink has finally shipped the Surge, a solar-charging case for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

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Posted in Gear+Gadgets 1 Comment

Solar, Wind and Bicycle-Powered Christmas Tree in Peru [photos]

by Levi Novey on December 15th, 2009

As promised, here are several photos of the eco-friendly Christmas Tree using LED lights, wind power, solar power, and bicycles in Lima, Peru.

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Posted in Innovation, News+Opinion 4 Comments

Swiss CODE-X Solar Luxury Yacht - Green?

by Doug Gunzelmann on June 5th, 2009

At the very least entertaining, the Code-X Yacht is touted as a uber highend and environmentally friendly motor cruiser. It is propelled by either twin solar powered electric engines, driving this razor sharp machine 9 knots through the water, or the slightly less eco-friendly twin Ilmor marine combustion engines pumping out 790hp a piece for a top speed of 80 knots. That is quite some fossil fuel burning mayhem for a company that claims to develop "products with maximum exclusivity that use renewable energy sources."

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Posted in Cars+Tranportation 4 Comments

Bringing Solar to the Masses, 1 Block at a Time

by Beth Buczynski on May 18th, 2009

1bog Renewable energy is the buzz word of the year. From the White House to the greenhouse, people are being told that renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar are the answer to the clunky, dirty fossil fuels we've depended on for so long. The federal government is even offering tax credits for building or renovating homes so that they use energy more efficiently. But saying we need homes powered by the sun, and actually heating your morning shower with it are still, unfortunately, two entirely different things.

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Posted in Innovation 1 Comment

Envision Solar Covered Parking Lots with Solar Groves

by Matt Embrey on March 29th, 2009

The Solar Grove is a highly customizable and efficient system of photovoltaic solar canopies. A Solar Grove installation allows a company to take a parkinglot that is normally an eye sore and a burden on the environment, and use it to harness energy, mitigate the polluting nature of a parking lot and provide an interesting asthetic.

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Posted in Architecture 8 Comments

Greener Gadgets: Lightimus Solar Hourglass

by Doug Gunzelmann on February 23rd, 2009

The design of this solar powered LED hourglass is intended to provide sustainable light, remind us of our limited time on this planet, and the important role we play during out stay here. The Lightimus functions in a cyclical pattern like so many natural processes. During the day the lamp charges through the solar cells [...]

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Posted in Gear+Gadgets 4 Comments

DIY: The SunCat Solar Rechargeable Battery

by Doug Gunzelmann on February 17th, 2009

Knut Karlsen constructed his very own solar rechargeable batteries that can sit out in the light and convert the suns rays into stored power. He has documented this DIY project to create the prototype SunCat battery.

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Posted in DIY, Gear+Gadgets 13 Comments

Save the Economy, Save for Your Future and Save the Planet

by Doug Gunzelmann on February 13th, 2009

The “thrift paradox” describes the problem of spending money to stimulate the economy without continuing down the path of consumerism that led us into our current economic state. The phrase was coined by John Maynard Keynes, yet there is a way to both spend and save at the same time…and you can be green about [...]

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Posted in Money+Finance 0 Comments

Blight: Solar Panel Blinds and Lights

by Doug Gunzelmann on February 13th, 2009

The solar panel Venetian blind design by Vincent Gerkens is a green technology that captures solar energy during the day and gives it back at night. Blight is entered into this years Greener Gadgets Design Competition and melds the old with the new. At the end of the month greenUPGRADER will be visiting the Greener [...]

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Posted in Concept+Design 11 Comments

Solvatten Solar Can: Using the Sun to Clean Drinking Water

by Matt Embrey on January 14th, 2009

We take it for granted but access to clean drinking water is a huge problem in many areas of the world. Particularly 3rd world countries that lack the infrastructure to deliver potable water are forced to deal with what they have, which usually means boiling water before drinking it. This is an effective way of [...]

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Posted in Food+Drink, Gear+Gadgets 9 Comments