Archive for the ‘green’ Category

Venturi Eclectic

The first fully autonomous vehicle in automobile history.

info at autopark.blogspot

Mass Transit Hybrid

"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the level we need is going to take much more than developing fuel-efficient cars," he said. "Mass transit is going to play an important role, and the cleaner and more sustainable we can make that, the better off we are."

article from plentymag

Solar Power Your iPod, Revisited

Some of you [I hope] saw the post recently about getting a solar charger for your iPod. Well, if the 80 bucks is too much for you, or you’re more of a MacGyver ninja, you can make your own by following this crazy SOB’s directions.

[DISCLAIMER: MNP is not responsible for any foolish things you do to your expensive electronic gear. For instance, if this causes your iPod to explode and ignite your entire dojo…well, that’s what you get for being cheap.]

Link for this DIY craziness, thanks to Joe for the heads-up.

NYC High Line

So this is by no means ‘new’, but pretty ill nonetheless. The High Line in Manhattan is being converted into/used for various new purposes…construction on which began this spring [April]. Check it all out at the Friends of the High Line site.
In particular…

Construction Photos
Design Images/Slideshow

Theres also a related article from last week at Tropolism

TerraPass: Make up for your pollution

[Ah, the post-lunch rush. You know… if you’re bored you can always check out our about page. It’s becoming self-aware. Just a thought.]

Feel like you’re at least a lil bit aware of the impact your lifestyle is having on the environment? Think that you try to lead a somewhat ‘green’ life? Well, put your money where your mouth is and take the TerraPass test to see what your household emissions are. I for one was surprised, and saddened, by my ‘score’…

Find out your score here

Feeling a lil guilty now? [I know I am…]. If you have some money to burn you could purchase a TerraPass, which would fund clean energy systems to ‘balance out’ the emissions from your home. After taking the ‘test’ and finding out your emissions, TerraPass will offer you a payment relative to your individual ‘score’. You can also do it for your car, and for flights.

They’ve got an interesting blog too, check it out.

Brockton MA: Nation’s Largest ‘Brightfield’

Wow. Aparently, Brockton MA is dedicating the largest ‘brightfield’ in the nation today. A ‘brightfield’ is a brownfield that has been converted into an open space for solar arrays. The city even has plans of expanding on the site, moving it across the street to another, similar, site - which would push them upwards of 1 megawatt of power.

Heres more info at Schott, article at Sustainablog
[Ed: This has nothing to do with Brockton, MA,AAnation’s largest crackfield]

0-14: New Commercial Tower in Dubai

Well, for lack of a better way to put it…Dubai is on some crazy ish [check out this gallery of architecture in Dubai]. This new tower, 0-14, was designed by Reiser + Umemoto RUR Architecture P.C. and developer Shahab Lutfi. The 22 story building will house over 300,000 square feet that is enclosed by a facade which is perforated with over 1,000 openings [damn]. Not only is it pretty fly looking, but its also structural, while allowing for natural lighting and ventilation within the highrise [can you say passive solar and chimney effect?].

Interested? Find out more at Archinect, which is where I got these images in the first place…
Link

Stephen Colbert : Monarch ‘On Notice’

As those who frequent the site may have noticed, we have had a few posts [also here & here] about a great American hero and ninja extraordinaire: Stephen Colbert. Well, in an effort to do our part, and fight the good fight, we here at MNP are requesting that Stephen do his civic duty [and maybe give us a shout for the free press he gets here] and place the Monarch Butterfly [at least those in North America] ‘On Notice‘.

While seemingly harmless [and orange] at first glance, the Monarch is a menace to this great nation. Every spring they fly north into the United States from Mexico. Once here, they feed on our plants and flowers, and lay there eggs….only to return again to Mexico for the winter to lamp in the sun while sippin’ margaritas [maybe not] on the beach.
Whats to be done? Well, a giant butterfly net along the border would be good, for starters…

Do your part!! Email Stephen yourself here [don’t forget to link to this post].
Make your own ‘On Notice’ board here.

Solar Power your iPod [among other things]

Going for about 100 bucks [ninja, thats not bad…it powers your gear with the sun, son], the Soldius1 from EarthTech Products is designed to charge you iPod, cell phone, PDA, whatEVER, in about 2-3 hours [once again…ninja, that ain’t long…powered by the sun]. And to top it off, if you buy it from EarthTech, you get 10 free iTunes downloads [which have recently been established as the greener way to cop music_downloads, not just iTunes]. Even comes in various colors, so your iPod, charger, and sneakers can always match [mine always do].
buy yours here
links via Treehugger