Sick of waiting for the government or the Invisible Hand of Commerce, Google’s decided to throw some of its considerable financial weight into developing plug-in hybrid cars.
Test models of Google’s modified Priuses currently get almost 74 miles per gallon, up from the standard model’s 41. And Google wants more.
They’ve offered up $1 million in grants - with another $10 million not far behind - to anyone whose research helps them get the cars up to 100 miles per gallon, or works toward a viable system of Vehicle-to-Grid infrastructure.
To me, better gas mileage is great, but Vehicle-to-Grid is really the revolutionary new energy technology of the future. Granted, it would require a lot of effort on our part to restructure the power grid and the concept of power companies as we know them, but the concept of a decentralized electric economy, where you could drive a clean car around town and sell excess power back to the government from home is pretty amazing.
And why would an internet search engine get involved with something like this? CNN sums it up:
Renewable energy, unlike coal or nuclear, will likely come from thousands or tens of thousands of different locations. Analysts have long said that one of the big challenges will be managing that flow into and out of the nation’s electric grid, and that companies that manage the flow of information are well placed to handle that task.
Keep up to date on Google’s RechargeIT project here.
This may be a bit late, but so goes the tide of the blogosphere.
A video from this year’s TED conference has been making the web-rounds recently, and it’s pretty freakin’ awesome.
It’s a live video demo of some new Microsoft technology called Photosynth. It’s partially a new way to organize and search for photos, but at about 3:50 the demo gets really incredible when it scans tagged Flickr photos to build a fully 3-D model of the Notre Dame cathedral.
They’ve got a very early beta demo available for download, if you’re running a decently powered Windows machine.
Until the final build is released, check this thing out and know we’re one step closer to having fully navigable 3-D trail maps at our keyboard fingertips.
Earlier this week, Apple announced they were in a bit of a recyclin’ mood.
Through the end of July, the House of Jobs will pick up and recycle any old computer equipment from schools, colleges, and universities across the country. All you have to do is 1). Pack up the units yourself. 2). Have at least 25 units to recycle. 3). Let them know you want their help by June 30th.
I love my GPS receiver, but one of my big gripes about my little electronic pathfinder is the lack of on-device map detail.
When I first started shopping around for a GPS, I assumed I’d be able to run some of the superdetailed National Geographic TOPO maps on screen.
Turned out, no.
It seems like no matter what brand of GPS you go with, on-unit maps are pretty much limited to first-party software - most of which are extremely lacking. Garmin’s got a nation-wide 1:100k offering, which is fine for driving to the trailhead, but not all that great once you actually get on the trail.
They also have a much more detailed 1:24k version, but that one’s limited to specific national parks and forests and can leave some big chunks of map off your screen. Their “Western” edition has the Santa Monica Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest, for instance, but leaves out the Cleveland and Angeles National Forests.
Frustrating.
But GPS Tracklog thinks this era might be coming to an end.
The site reports the Italian cartography company Navionics wants to have comprehensive U.S. GPS maps available by the end of the year, and they’re pretty sure they’re going to at least have a 1:24k version offered. Maybe even one that’s so fancy it will require me to purchase a new GPS receiver.
Not that I really need any more encouragement to spend money on electronics…
The lovably strident folks at Greenpeace have been picking on Apple for a long time about greening up their business model. With PC companies like Dell and Lenovo making very vocal environmental claims and trumpeting their recycling (and tree-planting) programs, on the surface, Apple looked like it was lagging a bit behind.
Personally, I always thought that Greenpeace’s claims about Apple were a bit on the exaggerated side. Reading their page on the issue, you’d think Apple was a hulking industrial age behemoth, spewing toxic waste into landfills and willfully ignoring the environment while all their competitors were squeaky-clean. In the March, 2007 Guide to Greener Electronics, Apple ranked dead last among 14 leading tech companies, and they described The Empire of Jobs as “Holding firmly in last place: low scores on almost all criteria and no progress.”
This week, Mr. Jobs wagged his finger at G-Peace with a comprehensive statement on Apple’s environmental record. Turns out, Apple’s actually doing things extremely well.
The info points out that Apple was the first computer manufacturer to completely eliminate CRT monitors, which not only have significant amounts of lead but also use more electricity than those sleek LCD varieties. They also mentioned they are well ahead of their competitors in removing harmful chemicals from their products, as well as stepping up their recycling programs and consumer incentives.
- The world’s most comprehensive PCT trail journal, courtesy Two-Heel Drive. I thought I had a data obsession. Bearcan’t has graphs on top of other graphs, along with some great commentary and inspiring pictures. He did the trail in 2005, when most of my native San Gabriels were covered in much more snow than they are now …
- … which is a worry Robert at End Pavement shares, along with the L.A. Times. This has been one of the driest winters on record in Southern California, which has the potential to make for a nasty fire season later on in the year … not to mention me needing lots more chap stick.
The BASF Chemical Company has gone and made a dreamhouse for everyone: the Near Zero Energy House.
Built in Paterson, New Jersey as a model home for a disadvantaged family, the house manages to be state of the art, inexpensive to build, and ‘normal-looking.’ ‘Cause as cool as we might think they look, no neighborhood is going to let a Jetsons-style space-pod settle down in their cul-de-sac without a fight.
The big selling point for this home, though, is the fact that it uses 80% less energy than a comparable ‘traditional’ house. And that, combined with the efficient construction materials, easy installation, and strong structural elements that can cut down on insurance and maintenance costs, and you’ve got yourself a house that’s both affordable and keeps its value over time.
As such, it’s going to used as a template for a 3,000 unit low-income housing project in New Jersey, which should have a huge impact on the energy consumption of Paterson.
There’s some new military technology that has potential for a big impact on camping. And no, it’s not the TempurPedic mattress.
“Superflex Lighting” is basically a lighting kit that’s woven into fabric, and can be powered by standard AC sources. The military’s been using it to light tent interiors, and the lights can be folded and rolled up with the fabric without damaging it.
While it’s still probably a few years off, I’d love to have some of this stuff on the inside of my tent. I usually like to do a little reading or writing before I hit the sack. Battery lanterns can be awkward to pack and heavy to carry, and holding a flashlight in your mouth probably isn’t good for your teeth. I’m guessing this would be a lot more convenient, and probably wouldn’t add too much weight to tents, either.
Rocky from The Goat sent me a heads up on newly-svelte ACR MicroFix Personal Locater Beacon due out this spring.
In case you don’t know, these little gizmos are basically the outdoorsman’s Ultimate Panic Button. If you’re about to kick the bucket in the Great Outdoors, you activate your beacon and it sends out an S.O.S. that alerts local authorities to your exact location (within about 100m). It doesn’t tell them exactly what the problem is, but it let’s ‘em know you need help.
When I first read this, I - like Rocky - was worried more people would be picking these things up and using them the second they wander twenty feet off-trail and panic. ACR hasn’t published prices yet, but most beacons will run you anywhere from five to seven hundred bucks, so I’m betting the Casual Hiking Crowd isn’t running down to REI for an impulse buy anytime soon.
And as we all know, in technology, the smaller, the pricier.
Boston-based Tech Networks has a line of ultra energy-efficient PCs. Most of the adjustments look like they’re in the cooling systems and power supplies, which are notoriously inefficient in most desktop PCs.
The rigs themselves have that nice faux-Apple sheen all the kids are crazy about, and they claim their standard desktops will save you around 300 bucks a year in energy costs. And if that’s not enough, they’ll also recycle your old computer and make a donation to environmental groups if you make a purchase.
Only one of their current models uses the Intel Core Duo processor, which is significantly more energy-friendly than the Celeron or Pentium 4s on the lower end choices. A model from Dell comparable to Tech Networks’ “Super” costs almost $200 less (and they’ll plant a tree for you), so I’m not sure if the savings are all the company is cracking them up to be … oh, and you even have the option for greener AMD processors on the low-end Dells, too …
Actually, the more I look at this, the more I think you’d still be better off going with Dell if you were in the market for a green PC.
Still, Tech Networks’ heart is in the right place. Probably.
Sick of waiting for the government or the Invisible Hand of Commerce, Google’s decided to throw some of its considerable financial weight into developing plug-in hybrid cars.
Earlier this week, Apple announced they were in a bit of a recyclin’ mood.
I love my GPS receiver, but one of my big gripes about my little electronic pathfinder is the lack of on-device map detail. 
, which is fine for driving to the trailhead, but not all that great once you actually get on the trail. 
… especially if you’re Greenpeace.
The BASF Chemical Company has gone and made a dreamhouse for everyone: the 
Rocky from 
Boston-based 
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