ReubenMiller

Lumeta: Peel & Stick Solar

Lumeta PowerPly modules are the world's first commercial-scale, "peel and stick" solar modules. Designed by engineers at California's leading roofing contractor, the Lumeta Powerply uses industry-standard roof adhesives compatible with most commercial roofing systems - making it the easiest-to-install commercial solar module on the market" (via engadget)

Mt. Range Coat Hook

The Mt. Range is a neat coat hook rack by Brave Space of Brooklyn, NY. They make these from off-cuts of wood. The beauty of the FSC-certified maple layers inside is heightened by the irregular angles, giving the rack a very appealing snow-capped mountain range appearance. I love how this can look like a wall sculpture when not in use, but is actually a very functional coat hook rack in disguise.

Continue reading to see more of Brave Space's work and learn more about them.

Repurposing - Gomi Style

Woodworking Leftovers as Fashion Statement

Jason and Lars Dressler, the Canadian twin brothers and woodworkers of Brothers Dressler, make terrific furniture.  Above is a photo showing off the attractive form of their onedge ottoman + lounge. Besides being phenomenal woodworkers (and twins to boot) there is something else special about Brothers Dressler: they use their leftover wood cuttings to make equally attractive jewelry and curious toys.

Off-cuts of plywood from their furniture are turned into one-of-a-kind bangles and small wooden toys called cutlets. I'm not sure if I like their furniture or jewelry better - but why decide? I'd add both to my wish list.

Cardboard Play Kitchen

I'm alway on the lookout for cool repurposing projects. Especially when it comes to kids toys. Why bother running to big box department stores and doling out loads of cash for made-in-china toys?

I think Anna's little kitchen unit built entirely from recycled (as in, salvaged from the dumpster) corrugated cardboard is brilliant. Now I'm wishing her plans might become 'shareware'.

Read more here.

[Thanks GoodyBlog]

Now Veggies are as Cool as Cheetos

A Stanford University study had kids taste food in McDonald packaging and unmarked packaging and asked which they preferred. The kids preferred the McDonald packaged food not realizing that they went for it because they were conditioned to believe "it must taste good."

You can be negative about the effects of advertising and packaging, but I think if you apply the lesson learned from the study noted above, you'll find that you can use this information positively.

After being inspired by the Stanford University study on McDonald's packaging effect on kids, I came up with an idea to get kids to eat their veggies as enthusiastically as 'snack'. If zip-seal bags would be pre-printed with cool graphics like those on national brand snack packaging (which kids love), then they might be more inclined to take, display and eat their healthy snacks in school with zest.

Well, Mobi has already created this product! They make a great array of appealing sandwich bags, pre-printed with various designs that can even give cut-up celery sticks a zap of show-off cool factor.

Mobi's bags would be perfect for influencing kids to see healthy snacks as the 'cool thing'.

As an added bonus, these bags are environmentally friendly. The materials used to make them are recycled and recyclable. Furthermore in 2008 the company plans to use strictly biodegradable films in their products.

In addition to the environment, they are also passionate about helping endangered species and global aid.

(sources: Mobi, Fancy Food & CNN)

SOLAR INGENUITY

It was just a matter of time before someone figured out how to do it: A solar powered electric bicycle. You ride this bicycle down Highway 59 with pure solar power to propel you onward. If you get tired and need a little help, just switch on and let this green electric wonder take over. Who needs cars?

The E-V Sunny Bicycle works by using the energy absorbed by solar panels incorporated in the wheels, which power a battery at the back of the bicycle. Designed by Canadian, Peter Sandler of Therapy Products, this is apparently the first all-solar electric bicycle. 

The bike is propelled by a 500 watt front hub motor. The variable speed electronic controller drives the bike to speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. Overall weight of the bicycle is 75 lbs.

For more info go to Therapy Products.

Spotted at gadgetgarden

                     

Kinetic Energy - Making Energy More Efficient

Recently, Metropolis Magazine featured some alternative energy-conserving ideas that were submitted to the Next Generation competition for 2007. Although these ideas didn't win the award, they were still noteworthy. Pictured above, is part of the submission Yael Miller proposed for Next Generation. This was one of the concepts featured in Daniela Morell's article, A Piece of the Piezoelectric Pie, on Metropolis.com. Of course I'm really proud, since Yael's my wife and we worked on this together!

The general idea is that we can 'capture' energy that's used to store for later use. The sources are as diverse as electricity already in use (like a large appliance) to physical motion from our own bodily activities (like exercising or pushing a stroller.)

For example, while a vacuum cleaner is running, the back-and-forth motion and vibrations can generate small amounts of piezoelectric or hydraulic energy that powers an on-board emergency flashlight.

See more about this proposed concept after the jump.

kawaii grocery bags

Shopping for veggies, fruit and some junk food (shh, don't tell!) couldn't be more fun. Heck, even shopping for just veggies can be fun with Japanese kawaii polyester shopping bags from fredflare. Includes side-zip pocket for small objects like a cell phone. Bonus brownie points: these are reusable - so go ahead and reduce your carbon footprint in style.

Stussy & Wilson box it out.

Stussy & Wilson Brothers have just released the Hextable, “an occasional table for home”.

"The Hextable is made of recycled cardboard, which is popped out of the packaging, folded, and pieced together to create a table. The table was silkscreened with a repeating Stussy pattern all over the top of it as well.

Sadly, the Hextable is only available in Japan and London, and go on sale this weekend for £55, which is $112, or ¥12754."

Via kitsunenoir