CS.no

In view of the new Rationalization in Energy Use law to be implemented in Japan from April 1, 2010, Sanyo is offering two new products called STAIMS and ERMOS. STAIMS offers air conditioning and lighting regulation of a building. It figures out the number of people in a 20 sq. m. area and adjusts the lighting and air conditioning accordingly. The STAIMS system, which is to be implemented in about 100 organizations, will cost around $60,000 to be implemented in a building of gross area 12000 sq. m. The ERMOS offers a facility to record power consumption patterns. The data relating to amount of power consumed is stored in a central server located at Sanyo’s business place in Gunma Prefecture, and can be checked remotely by any client subscribing to the service.

To promote the use of these Energy Management Systems (EMS), Sanyo plans to offer fare paying consulting services to clients purchasing them.
[techon]

Share/Save

Although the use of wind energy, which is cheaper than solar energy on a cost per watt basis, has doubled in recent years, it accounts for only 2% of global energy production. This is due to the high space requirement of turbines harnessing wind energy and when scaled down, they aren’t as effective. The piezoelectric turbines developed to harness wind energy for small energy requirements are also ineffective at high wind velocities. However, Humdinger has recently developed the microBelt, which uses aerostatic flutter and vibration of a membrane instead of turbines to generate energy. The microBelt is capable of generating a power output of 2mW from winds flowing at, as little as, 3-5 m/s. This device has a very effective application in the area of powering wireless sensors which are used to monitor temperature and structural integrity in buildings.

According to company executives the cost of this device, when mass produced, could equal that of a single battery. This device can be used to power devices employed in areas where solar energy cannot be used, like HVAC ducts.
[energyharvestingjournal]

Share/Save

Infinyte offers an eco-friendly solution to the problem of noise and excess fuel consumption of normal outboard motors on boats. It has replaced the normal fuel-guzzling outboard motor with two, two horsepower electric motors resulting in a quieter and green journey. It also replaces the wheel with a simple joystick making maneuvering the boat even simpler. Though this boat is not the fastest one available, it still manages to cruise at 8 knots while boasting of a battery that can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. When compared with the normal motors which return only 5 miles to the gallon while cruising at 20mph, the Infinyte travels at a much slower speed but the saved fuel cost and lesser damage to the environment make it worthwhile. There are 3 sizes of boats available with electric motors; the first two are essentially fishing crafts while the other is big enough to carry a family of five.

Though they offer the greenest possible option available, lack of charging points at docks and high initial cost are the detrimental factors in popularizing the Infinyte series of boats.
[gas2]

Share/Save

Here’s a mobile phone that gives you that closer-to-nature feel. The Touch Wood phone by NTT DoCoMo was recently unveiled at the CTIA Wireless 2010. Now don’t go thinking that these phones resulted in a massive deforestation. They have a body made out of surplus wood obtained from trees cut during forest thinning processes. This apparently helps maintain healthy forests. Using a cypress wood body, the phone is available in its natural wood finish without any artificial colors. For those who choose to confirm to black plastic bodies, this phone isn’t meant for you. It’ll probably give your colleagues the impression of you trying to communicate using a block of wood.

But the green factor stops here. Its body may appeal to nature lovers, but its heart isn’t green at all! Maybe integrated solar cells would help turn this phone into the eco-friendly device that it looks like. Helping forests flourish seems to be a great idea, but saving energy is the need of the hour too!

[Aving]

Share/Save

Hamilton Architects rechristened itself as BFLS recently with a name clubbing the initials of the four founders, Ian Bogle, Jason Flanagan, David Lawrence and John Silver. Changing names isn’t all the company has done though. They have also taken a step greener with an added modification to the 408-apartment tower at Elephant and Castle.

Three wind turbines are currently being installed at this 43 storey tower, each having 15 blades. These turbines will have a 9m diameter rotor plane. The building, the Strata SE1 will be the first with integral wind turbines and will set a green example to companies around the world. These turbines will produce around 50Mwh of power annually and will provide 8% of the towers power consumption. More green buildings like these are sure welcome in our neighborhoods.

[Worldarchitecturenews]

Share/Save

Abu Dhabi is sure keen on setting up its green eco-friendly city soon. The Masdar City (the same city to use electric taxis and robots) is designed to be a zero waste and zero carbon city. That probably means that you won’t see back-alley dumpsters and smoke belching taxis here. This six square meter city will house around 50,000 people who will have their homes power up by solar energy. Masdar will also house a university and 1,000 businesses.

This city will be difficult to spot from a distance, thanks to its no-sky-scrapers policy. The houses will be placed close enough to provide shade to each other (don’t try walking into your neighbor’s window though). The boundary walls make sure the city remains compact and normal gas-guzzling cars will stay out. The futuristic Masdar city will cost around $15 - 30 billion with costs increasing as the sands of time go by.

[Gizmodo And Physorg]

Share/Save

The wind blew its self to glory in 2009 setting records with a cumulative installed wind power capacity growth of 158,000 megawatts. This 31% jump in wind power production helped spark the needs of around 250 million people. Globally, around 70 countries now harvest wind energy and 17 produce at least 1,000 megawatts. China tops the list with 13,000 megawatts by building more than 10,000 megawatts in just one year. China currently has seven more wind farms being chiseled out which together will produce 130,000 megawatts. USA reached a cumulative of 35,000 megawatts with the state of Texas as a leader.

Germany tops the European Union countries while Spain added the maximum wind power capacity of 26,000 megawatts. Italy, France and UK crossed 4,000 megawatts while India added 1,300 megawatts and Canada added 950 megawatts. Looks like the year 2009 had the wind used to its fullest!

[Energymatters]

Share/Save

The new Apple of the tree, the Apple iPad has managed to grab a whole lot of attention with its recent release. However, it has received stiff nods of disapproval from the green community. This is because devices like these depend on cloud computing. Cloud computing burn up a whole lot of fuel to get them working and greedily suck up energy. It requires large data centers to have them work efficiently. According to Greenpeace estimates, in 2020, these data centers will consume more energy than what France, Brazil, Canada, and Germany together use today.

The iPad and devices like it indirectly darken carbon footprints and increase energy consumption. This does make you wonder what powers up the Internet and how much more coal power will the IT industry demand to keep it alive. Hopefully, future iPads come equipped with solar cells to make up for this.

[Crunchgear]

Share/Save

Women love dressing up. As far as dresses are concerned, no number is too high, and there’s always room for more! You can never have enough of unique dresses like the colored sequin sprayed dress, dress made with currency, bandage dress, diamond dress, Swarovski studded LED dress, peacock outfit , just to name afew . But this one I personally would give a pass. Designed by Kim Do, this dress has put together hair from 54 Vietnam heads including those from popular artists like Le Dung, Thanh Lam and Hong Nhung or Ha Kieu Anh. One million meters of hair have been collated, dyed were finally sewn into the dress, the world’s first made with human hair!
The pattern on the dress resembles a dragon pattern, while a complimentary hat resembling Vietnam’s Turtle Tower design comes along with the weird dress.

[Atcrux]

Share/Save

In the summer heat, your patio chairs and tables need a huge beach umbrella to help you enjoy the outdoors. But that doesn’t increase the comfort factor of your furniture any better now, does it? Now you have an option. Check out the patio huts “Ovo” by Alexander Rose. The egg-shaped all-weather hutments come with high-quality Viro synthetic fiber which is interlaced over a powder-coated aluminum frame.
You can laze around on the comfortable bed and cushions. Moreover you can detach the removable top to sunbathe! A perfect companion for your poolside and garden areas. For details visit Alexander Rose’s website.

[Trendir]

Share/Save

Some people just can’t live without bling! And if you don’t have the Midas touch yet, do check out a computer choppers, they seem to be very close to Midas, for sure. After the Blackberry 8900, MacBook Pro, Macbook Pro 17″, Blackberry Bold 9000 and the Playstation 3 Slim go gold thanks to the computer choppers dudes, it’s the turn of the Storz and Bickel Volcano Vaporizer (both the Classic and Digital versions) to get a 24carat gold makeover. And if you don’t prefer gold, they will plate the vaporizer in loads of variations ranging from chrome to platinum. You also can personalize it one notch further by customized engraving and jewelry encrusting.
The vaporizer will be available at start price of $1,495. While you can opt for engraving and plating options of your choice color anodizing is not done by the makers.

[Computer-choppers]

Share/Save

After selling Asian art, Christie’s is turning to Russian Art now. And they are all set to bring some Imperial history under the hammer. Of the several items to be auctioned, the highlight would be on a charger, or bread and salt dishes made with silver and enamel, which were presented on the coronation day of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna in Moscow in 1883. Purchased by a diplomat in 1930, the charger is likely to fetch anything between $400,000 and $600,000.
Other important pieces include two porcelain vase from the Nicholas I era, crafted by the Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg. The estimated price is set between $700,000 and $900,000.

[Artdaily]

Share/Save

As a religious institution churches not only server as a house of prayer to the lord but also have an added responsibility of taking care of its followers too. And whether to follow popular trends or not, is a big decision that the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Paterson, New Jersey has to make. It has an offer for $3million for 13 the stained glass windows installed inside the holy structure. Although the church is not really in need to immediate funds, the money can help them for their after-school program and their community development corporation programs like the food pantry and men’s shelter.As per a report from the Episcopal News Service, Christie’s estimate an auction price that the windows’ can fetch between $1,260,000 and $1,930,000.
However an independent appraiser has set the value at $2,515,000, specifically $1,900,000 to $2,300,000 would be a fair price to earn. The cost of restoration of these windows would come to around $500,000. Of the 13, Louis Tiffany has crafted 12 and the one is the artwork of artist John La Farge.

[Luxist]

Share/Save

The Queen of Pop, Madonna has taken it upon herself to prove to the world that indeed she is the original ‘material girl’. Having no qualms of expressing her love for all things luxurious, the material girl was seen emerging from London’s Heathrow airport with her two adopted children and two porters dragging trolleys laden with the diva’s luggage. Her enormous luggage of 25 pieces indicated the diva definitely does not believe in travelling light. Spotted in her luggage was a cold box (the diva is infamous for being fussy about her food) and various Louis Vuitton cases. The star is reportedly settling in Marylebone in central London for six months.
Going by her insatiable appetite for material things, I won’t be surprised if the number of luggage pieces doubles on her way back.

[Telegraph]

Share/Save

Although many of us dream of owning our very own Ferrari, very few of us can actually afford to convert this dream into a reality. Making do with the next-best-thing is the only choice we have. For all you folks who have no shame to settle for the next best thing or more specifically a replica of their favorite wheels, here is an offer just for you. Bonhams is all set to auction the replica Ferrari, created for the 1986 hit teen movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, at its Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia auction on April 19. The comedy film follows Ferris (who decides to bunk school for a day of fun) and his pals as they borrow the replica Ferrari 250GT Spyder California from one of their fathers. Only around 100 genuine 250GT Spyder Californias were created by Ferrari between 1958 and 1963. Existing examples of the car are ”very rare and expensive” so Paramount chose to commission and build a replica for filming purposes. Described to be in “a ready to drive” condition, this car is expected to fetch £30,000 ($45,000) to £40,000 ($60,000) at the auction.
So if this is as close as you will ever get to owning Ferrari, make sure to be present at the auction that will be held the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London.

[Jalopnik And Telegraph]

Share/Save

The Baselworld has forever been a platform to showcase some of the most creative designs and items. This year’s show was no different either. Besides watch lovers, interior designers too, got a chance to delight in some exquisite pieces. One such creation was the Mystic Forest, a unique musical table that was presented at this show for the first time. A step forward in designer music boxes, the Mystic Forest has been manufactured by Reuge. An exquisite creation, it echoes Reuge’s fundamentals of creating something exclusive yet functional without compromising on style and design. The etched glass of this mystical table allows it to complement beautifully the many interiors of today’s homes. The musical movement like the design of the table is both exquisite and unique. Twelve interchangeable cylinders hidden in the 2 side drawers of the Mystic Forest table each play 3 tunes on 72 notes.
The tunes churned out by this nickel plated movement are sure to please all musical tastes. What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, the Hungarian Dance by Brahms, Giuseppe Verdi’s Aïda and Yesterday by the late John Lennon are all a part of this unique compilation.

A true piece of luxury, this exquisite Mystic Forest music box is a must have in every music loving luxurious abode.

[Worldtempus]

Share/Save

If you are an art collector and looking to invest in another beautiful masterpiece, make sure to be present at Christies Old Masters sale that will be held in London on July 6th. Some of the pieces to be featured at this sale include paintings from Princess Diana’s family estate. The paintings are being offered for sale as part of a £30 million ($45million) clear out of the Spencer family’s Althorp estate. Out of the paintings that the family is offering for sale, includes a painting by the Flemish master Peter Paul Ruben that has hung in the family home for more than 200 years. The painting, “A Commander being armed for Battle”, was painted in 1613 or 1614, and it is reported the bearded figure in the painting is Emperor Charles V. The 200 year-old painting is one of the most important works by the artist to remain in private hands. The painting said to be a museum quality masterpiece is expected to fetch between $12million and $18million. Another painting to be offered for sale by the Spencer family is “King David” by Baroque artist Il Guercino which is expected to fetch between $7.5 million and $12 million.
The trustee of the late Princess’s estate said the clear out is to ensure the financial future of the Althorp estate. So besides, highly priced and treasured paintings, the estate is also offering for sale various pieces of furniture, porcelain and horse-drawn carriages that have been collected over centuries.

[Luxury-insider]

Share/Save

Golf, also known as the sport of the Gentlemen never ceases to be out of the news. Be it for the controversial players or the exquisite high end equipment, it is forever making the headlines. Come the Top Marques Monaco 2010 show and the golfing community can definitely count on feasting their eyes on another news making creation. The aforementioned creation is the Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit car which is touted to be the most expensive golf car ever made by a manufacturer. Made solely for this luxury show to be held in April, this golf car is priced at a whopping $52,000. The high-end car has been made at the same factory that has churned out some of the most luxurious wheels like the Porsche Cayman and the Porsche Boxster. A show stopping creation for the greens, the Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit features carbon roof, one-of custom paint, two-colored hand-stitched luxury seats, alcantara roof lining and numerous hand-made details.
What is more, the Garia features a double wishbone front suspension similar to those found in sports cars and inspired by Formula 1 cars. The car’s drive train as well as aluminum profiles in the frame have been made by some of the top companies who provide their services to various luxurious sports cars.

Sure to be a hit with every luxury loving Golf enthusiast, the Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit car is luxury personified. The price for the base model is $17,499 with various luxury upgrades like built-in refrigerator and color of the car available.

To see this beauty for yourself, make sure to visit the Garia stall at stand A10 at the Top Marques Monaco from April 15-18, 2010.

Share/Save

The most expensive Valentine gift and the flashiest sedan on the road made the wifey very happy, but not for long. It was a chrome painted Mini Cooper bought by Ian Grice, a builder from Nottingham for his wife Toni for £38,000($57,250) a price he didn’t mind paying at the time of purchase. But the astounding revelation here is that the flashy paintjob of the car costs more than the list price of a Mini Cooper which is £17,000($25,650) But the same speedster has caused a Midas-Touch kind of situation for the couple as the Insurance companies won’t provide cover for the pricey sedan on the grounds that it’s too fragile and will get scuffed too easily.
However, the London MINI dealership has provided temporary cover for the vehicle, so it could be driven home. The Association of British Insurers has suggested that they look for a specialist cover and that they should be ready to pay a ‘considerable amount’.

[Yahoo And Dailymail]

Share/Save

This coming weekend, we will witness the official launch of Apple’s all new iPad in the US. We hear that there will only be a handful of dedicated media applications for the device as Apple has allowed only a few publishers- including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to work with the device. The catch here is the Financial Times which will be the initial media offerings available on the iPad with the subscription requirements being the same as FT.com (one of the few websites that charges for news). The iPad app is scheduled to be released in Europe and US in the late April. Now the final twist to the story is that the FT iPad app will be sponsored at launch by Hublot, yes the Swiss watchmaker!

[Perpetuelle]

Share/Save