Month: September 2007

Old World Ways for New World Bays

- Adam Clare

boat I have to admit that whenever I read about “new” ideas that are really improved old ideas that we forgot in this modern age I can’t help but think there is a wealth of historical knowledge we have yet to improve upon. We are learning from the past and combining it with the future though! Take for example the ingenious idea of using a sail on a boat, or a “new” approach to gathering energy (wind). Indeed these new approaches do improve on the original idea and do so while being cheaper than the current finite resource-based approach to energy. They also tend to combine different sources of renewable energy.

A true triumphant of old world techniques like sailing and new technology is floating on the coast of Australia. A boat that has sails that also function as solar panels.

The concept is the brainchild of Robert Dane, an Australian doctor from the small fishing town of Ulladulla in New South Wales. A keen sailor and rower, Dane was watching a solar-powered boat race in Canberra in 1996 and noted that the winning boat used a solar panel inclined towards the sun. The only problem was that as the wind grew stronger the panel became a hazard and had to be pulled down.

“It intrigued me, and I started wondering how one could combine sun and wind to power a modern, seaworthy boat,” Dane says. “And then one day six months later, I woke up one morning and realized that I could use a wing sail that was at the same time a solar collector.

Hope Cube

- Adam Clare

Sometimes all someone needs is a little hope. After seeing people loose hope in their struggles with cancer, poor health, or addictions George Ruann decided to do something about it.

Hope Cube is the result. It’s a social networking site for people who need support in their lives to tackle some difficult aspects of living. You can even ask open-ended questions to the community to solicit support and knowledge.

Paint to Electricity

- Cam Proctor

I don’t propose to understand how this works but apparently Ford is planning to capture the paint fumes from their Oakville plant to power a fuel cell that will convert the fumes into electricity! I knew paint fumes were strong stuff but who knew they could power a 300 kilowatt fuel cell completely eliminating NOX and reducing CO2 by 88%? I’ll tell you who knew, Ford knew.

“The Oakville installation is the first of its kind in the world to harvest emissions from an automotive facility for use in fuel cell,” said Kit Edgeworth, Ford’s abatement equipment technical specialist for Manufacturing. “It is the greenest technology and offers the perfect solution to the industry’s biggest environmental challenge traditionally.”

Rent it Online

- Cam Proctor

How much stuff do you have sitting at home right now that you don’t use….but don’t want to get rid of it cause you might need it? Why not rent it out online? The Ebay for renting is finally here with RentMineOnline.com (still in Alpha testing). When you need a thing for 1 day out of 365 rent instead of buying and save a buck and the planet.

A good example of how this can work is landmovers. Why should everyone has their own mower if they will only use it a couple of hours a week and there is a perfectly good mover a house away? I would love to see streets organize themselves and collectively buy one mover for all residents. So I emplore those of you with needs for landmovers, drills, boats, whatever it maybe to check to rent it before you buy. The more we rent instead of buy, the less environmental impact we have.

Renting your home could save you money, especially if you take advantage of this rental rebate.

Look at The Box in Toronto

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

Shameless promotion (but not self-promotion) of an event happening in Toronto that looks to be really good:

The Box is a quarterly salon night that aims to bring diverse communities and audiences into an environment of artistic and social intermingling. On September 15th, the Box goes to rare heights. We’re perching atop the Wrigley building and you’re invited to a roof-party with words, performance, humour, and music. Featuring: Claire Jenkins avec band, Jess Dobkin, Karl Mohr, Motion, Mike Hoolboom, Leanda Quinquet (About the Music, CIUT 89.5 FM), Josh Thorpe, Tomboyfriend, Bryen Dunn & Jeanette Cabral (Sex City, CIUT 89.5 FM) and Steve Venright. Beverages courtesy of Mill Street Brewery.
Saturday September 15th
7 pm
The Wrigley Building

235 Carlaw, 6th Floor (just north of Queen and Carlaw, accessible by the Queen Streetcar and Pape Bus)

$10-$15 scale donation
no one turned away

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