EnviroGadget » Alternative Energy

Homemade USB Bike Generator

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:22 +0000

The DIY USB Bike Generator allows you to create your very own generator for powering your portable electronics from your bicycle. The bike generator can be used to provide power for any device that can be charged through a USB port, allowing those with interest in making their own environmentally friendly devices the ability to charge their electronics from their cycling.

Many readers have been impressed with the Nokia Bike Generator, though there are those out there who do not wish to use a Nokia phone, or wish to charge some of their other portable electronics in this manner. For those that have an interest in Do-It-Yourself projects the answer comes in the form of this guide on how to create your own bike generator.

The DIY USB Bike Generator can provide 5W of power to any of your portable electronics that can use a USB port to charge through. Once created the generator should be able to charge two such devices at once, though with no battery storage as soon as you stop cycling the devices stop charging. To those used to DIY and with a range of tools the generator should be relatively simple and cheap to build, however as a first foray into DIY or DIY electronics the device will be more costly due to tool costs, and does require you to be able to solder.

The bike generator uses the kinetic energy of you cycling to generate electricity using a stepper motor. Cycling at 7mph allows you to provide enough power to start to charge your devices, though speeds of over 12mph are preferable. The bike generator does not provide enough power for the more power hungry portable electronic devices, it can though be used to charge a wide range of devices out there allowing you to power your electronics in an environmentally friendly way.

Source: CrunchGear

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50 Green Projects for the Evil Genius

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:00:05 +0000

The book 50 Green Projects for the Evil Genius is a detailed, step by step guide on ways to make your life more eco-friendly. The book contains many different Do It Yourself projects ranging from ways to improve your cars fuel efficiency to how to build your own solar water heater and many things in between.

50 Green Projects for the Evil Genius provides you with step by step instructions for how you can make your own environmentally friendly life improvements. The projects allow you to make improvements to your car, and even show you how to create other green methods of transportation. The book also provides many projects to help you make your home as eco-friendly as possible. The book covers subjects like transportation, alternative fuels, solar, wind, and hydro power, home insulation and construction and many more to help you achieve a greener way of life.

Each project comes with full instructions on how to design, build and install the creations that can be made to suit your particular needs. Most projects are made out of easy to find parts, and each project lists fully all the parts that will be required to create it. The projects range in complexity, from simple creations like creating a worm compost bin, to more complex projects like creating your own wind turbine. This range helps to make the book of use to anyone, from those wanting easy and quick creations to help make their lives greener in small ways to those who have ambitious green dreams.

50 Green Projects for the Evil Genius s is a book that is suitable for anyone with a passion for green living. Its detailed instructions and lists make it simple to create these home projects that help to make your life more eco-friendly. The book offers a fun way to get more involved with being greener. The book costs just $16.47 and is eligible for free shipping.

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HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine Armband Kit

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:00:02 +0000

The HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine Armband Kit allows you to make full use of your HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine for those who do not wish to hold it or attach it to a bike. The turbine creates and stores electricity produced from wind power to allow you to charge your portable electronic devices anywhere from an eco-friendly energy source.

The HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine Armband Kit allows you to be able to securely attach the HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine to your arm. This previously reviewed gadget allows you to make use of even a small amount of breeze. Only a 9 mile an hour breeze is needed to allow the turbine to start charging. This speed of wind is easily produced when you are walking or even running, though the faster the wind, the better the turbine charges. The problem with the turbine was where to place it when out and about to allow it to charge happily without hindering you.

HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine

This problem is solved by this armband kit. The kit allows you to wear the turbine on your arm, safe in the knowledge that it is secure and able to function fully to provide your portable electronic devices with charge. This armband kit helps to make the turbine easier to use for those who wish to build up charge when out and about, it allows you to use the turbine unhindered while walking, running, or doing any outdoor activity.

The HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine Armband Kit is just £9.97 plus delivery, and is backed by a 30 day money-back guarantee. The armband kit does not come with the turbine itself, so you’ll need to get the HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine separately.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the HY Mini Personal Wind Turbine Armband Kit article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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DynaSolar LED Hand and Solar Powered Torch

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:00:04 +0000

The DynaSolar Dual Powered Torch provides a strong, bright, focused light beam from eco-friendly energy whenever you require it. The torch can use both solar power and wind up hand-cranked energy.

The DynaSolar LED Dual Powered Torch incorporates the two most popular eco-friendly methods for powering a torch in one device. The torch has an inbuilt solar panel allowing the battery to charge through the day when the torch is positioned in a brightly lit spot. The torch additionally has a handle and internal dynamo to allow you to power the torch through winding / cranking the handle. These two eco-friendly power sources allow you to have the confidence that the torch will always have the power to light your way.

The torch uses 3 LED bulbs to produce a bright focused light while using very little energy. By winding the handle of the torch for 2 minutes you provide enough electricity to provide illumination for 15 minutes. The torch measures around 15cm (6 in) in length and is ideal as an emergency light source around the house, or stored in a car or bag. The solar panel allows you to store electricity in the battery for use when needed, though requires some forethought.

By remembering to place the torch in a brightly lit spot you ensure the torch has plenty of electricity stored to provide you with illumination when required. If that does not provide enough lighting time, or if you have forgotten to leave the torch somewhere to charge then simply turning the handle can light your way.

The DynaSolar Dual Powered Torch is yours for just £12.95 plus delivery.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the DynaSolar LED Hand and Solar Powered Torch article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

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Latro Algae-Powered Lamp Concept

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:54 +0000

The Latro Algae Lamp is a concept for a lamp that is powered by algae. The lamp concept was designed from inspiration inspired by a recent scientific discovery that helps to make it possible to draw a small charge of electricity from algae.

The designer Mike Thompson envisaged the Latro Algae Lamp as a new source of sustainable, eco-friendly power for lighting. The scientists at Yansei and Stanford University made the breakthrough this concept is based on, they were able to draw a small electrical charge from algae as it photosynthesized. For the algae to photosynthesize it needs access to water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. As the algae uses these things to provide itself with energy to live and grow the small electrical charge is taken, without harming the algae.

The lamp design allows you to be able to add water easily to the lamp and to be able to blow into it if wanted to add more carbon dioxide into the air in the lamp. The lamp requires placing in a brightly lit spot to allow the algae the ability to photosynthesize. The electricity taken from this process is stored in an internal rechargeable battery, ready to power the lamp when dusk falls. This lamp concept should provide a user with a decorative, modern lamp that can be hung up to light any room and that is powered in a groundbreaking eco-friendly way.

Source: DesignBoom

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Dr. Timmy’s Micro Hand Cranked LED Torch

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:00:05 +0000

The Dr. Timmy’s Micro Hand Cranked LED Torch uses kinetic power to provide you with a bright, focused light. This small but powered LED torch is ready for use when ever you require it, all you need to do is wind it up!

The Dr. Timmy’s Micro Hand Cranked LED Torch is designed to be small enough to be taken anywhere with you. The torch has a key chain attachment to allow you to secure it to your keys, your bag, or any other such suitable area to ensure that whenever you require its light it is there. This tiny torch operates by taking the kinetic energy of you winding or cranking its handle and transforming it into electrical energy through an internal dynamo. The handle can be folded away to the side of the torch to protect it from harm and is easily rotated out for use when required.

Due to the torch using an LED as a light source, the device requires very little electricity to provide you with bright illumination. Only a few turns of the handle are required to light your way. Through using kinetic energy as a power source, the torch ensures that it is ready for use whenever it is required. It does not need the forethought a solar equivalent would require as you simply wind it up to charge it when it is needed. The torch provides you a small and easily portable light that is ready for use at any time, powered by a sustainable eco-friendly power source – you!

The Dr. Timmy’s Micro Hand Cranked LED Torch is very inexpensive little gadget at just $4.99 plus shipping from ThinkGeek.

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Solar Roof Tiles By Tegolasolare

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:18 +0000

These Solar Roof Tiles provide a suitable alternative to large, obvious solar panels for those who wish to preserve the aesthetics of their roof. The solar panels can be placed on every tile or only on a section to provide your home with sustainable eco-friendly electricity.

The Solar Roof Tiles are made by the Italian company Tegolasolare. They create each tile from natural red clay and do not add any chemicals to the clay to help minimise the environmental impact. By using a high temperature spray drying process the tiles they create have increased strength which provides you with a durable tile with a traditional red colouration. The tiles have a greater resistance to weather and knocks and they absorb less water and heat compared to more traditional counterparts.

Each tile can have a solar panel that comprises of 4 photovoltaic cells installed onto it. The solar panel is integrated into the tile, helping it to not be seen except from above. This allows the home owner to retain the aesthetics of the building as from ground level only the red of the tiles is really noticeable. Each tile’s solar panel needs to be connected up by wire strings to the next one. The tiles are all interconnected underneath to form the equivalent of one large power generation system. The wiring bundles lead to an inverter that is used to transform the current from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) which can be then fed into the power grid.

The electricity created by the solar panels that has gone to the power grid is then used as credit against your electrical usage bill. Depending on how many tiles you have with a solar panel integrated this can lead to high savings. The tiles with the integrated solar panels can be put onto any amount of the roof you require, tiles without the panels can be used to tile the rest of the roof. This allows you to target roof areas where maximum advantage of the sun can be taken to save costs, or to cover the whole roof for maximum gain. As each tile is designed to have a solar panel integrated, additional solar panels can be added at a later date if you decide to leave some tiles free from them to begin with. Because each tile is separate each one can be easily replaced and wired back into the system. This allows the roof to be maintained easily and for you to be able to upgrade the solar technology in stages if required for higher performance in the future.

The Solar Roof Tiles provide anyone with the means to benefit from solar energy without having to deal with the ugly large panels commonly used. The tiles can be used with great flexibility as you can increase the amount of solar panels used over time if required and can upgrade the system in stages. The tiles help a building to retain its traditional aesthetics while benefiting from modern technology of solar energy.

Source: iGreenSpot

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Nighthawk – Dynamo LED Torch and Powerbank By Powerplus

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:31 +0000

The Nighthawk is a wind-up LED torch that provides you with a bright, focused light whenever it is required. Because a dynamo is used to produce the electricity for this torch there are no worries over it running out of power when you need a torch most. The torch can also be used to provide charge for your Nokia mobile phone.

The Nighthawk by Powerplus uses both two traditional LED bulbs (5mm) and a ‘new generation’ 0.5W LED bulb. These give the torch a bright focused beam of light that is highly energy efficient. The torch charges its internal battery from the kinetic energy you provide by winding the handle of the torch. This dynamo power allows the torch to be easily and quickly recharged anywhere, with no concerns over sunlight, keeping the torch charged ready for use, or worries over batteries.

The Nighthawk is supplied with a standard Nokia phone adapter cable. This allows you to charge your Nokia phone (or any device that uses a Nokia charger to gain charge) from the electricity you have generated winding up the torch. From winding the handle of the torch for one minute you provide enough electricity to light the 5mm LEDs for 90 minutes, the 0.5w LED for 20 minutes and provide roughly 2-8 minutes of talk time on your phone, or half an hour of standby time. When the torch battery is fully charged it can provide 12 hours of light from the 5mm LEDs and 4 hours of light from the 0.5w LED.

The Nighthawk measures only 15.5cm x 5cm (6.1 in x 2 in) which allows it to be easily carried with you wherever it is needed. The torch provides you with a powerful light whenever it is required. Its use of LED bulbs and dynamo power allow the torch to provide light or phone charge that requires very little effort or forethought.

The Nighthawk Dynamo LED Torch is yours for just £19.95.

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The IllumiCharger – Light-Powered USB Wall Outlet Concept

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:00:48 +0000

The IllumiCharger is a concept that aims to allow everyone the freedom of charging their portable electronic devices from home from eco-friendly electricity. The charger is meant to charge through the day from the ambient light in a room. This electricity is then used to provide a decent nights charge through a USB port to a wide range of devices.

The IllumiCharger concept aims to help people use eco-friendly electricity at home for their portable electronic devices. The charger is designed to be placed onto a wall, much like a traditional power socket. The ambient illumination of the room, be it from daylight or artificial light sources (fluorescent, compact fluorescent, halogen, or incandescent lighting), is used by the solar panel to charge the internal battery. This battery then charges your devices through either of the two USB ports.

The aim of this concept device is to provide a charger that can charge slowly through the day to provide a charge over night, or when required. There is some skepticism to whether the ambient light in a room would provide enough power for devices, however the charger could be positioned near a window to gain a higher amount of sunlight charging, or even used as a portable solar charger left out in a sunny spot if there was a problem. The charger is intended to be constructed from materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. Recycled plastic and cornstarch based plastic alternatives are meant to be used to form the charger itself and recycled cardboard and cornstarch based plastic alternatives are to be used to form the packaging.

The IllumiCharger hopes to provide charge to any device that can be charged through a USB cable. The charger should be able to provide devices with eco-friendly electricity from a 9600 mAh battery at a rate of around 500 mAh. The charger could mean an end to people charging from their laptops, computers or even from mains supplied wall chargers when at home. The IllumiCharger would store electricity continually without any need to plan for when it would be required fully charged ready for use.

Source: IllumiCharger

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Solar Lamp with Light and Radio

Anita (EnviroGadget Writer) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:00:03 +0000

This Solar Lamp with Light and Radio allows you to have a portable, environmentally friendly rechargeable light source which is perfect for when you are out and about in activities like camping. The radio allows you to listen to both AM and FM stations while the light has two methods to provide you with the lighting you require.

This Solar Lamp with Light and Radio by Gama Sonic has an adjustable solar panel. This allows you to be able to take maximum advantage of any natural light around to better charge the device. The lamp has an internal rechargeable Ni-Cd 600mAh battery which when fully charged should provide you with around 6-7 hours of lighting. The lamp will require charging daily to be effectively used each night when out. This can be achieved either by placing the light in a brightly lit area or it can also be charged through an AC / DC power adapter that allows it to be charged from mains electricity. The lamp has a charging indicator to alert you to when the device is successfully charging.

The Solar Lamp with Light and Radio has a handle attached to allow you to both carry the device easily and to be able to hang the lamp up at night. The lamp has two lighting functions, it has both a PL lamp light to provide a powerful light source when required and also a smaller upper torch light which is suitable for purposes such as using the light to read by. The device has an AM / FM radio built-in allowing you to have music or weather reports and news while you are out and about. This solar lamp and radio is a compact device suitable for use when outdoors. Designed to be robust for travel, the lamp allows you to make use of the day’s sunlight to provide a night’s lighting and entertainment.

The Solar Lamp with Light and Radio costs just $48.97 and qualifies for free shipping too!

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