Posts by Category: Eco Friendly

All things green and planet saving.

Eco Friendly April 7, 2021 posted by

Biofil – The world’s first chip-fat powered EV charger?

Trust the Aussies to do something different. What you’re looking at here is a ‘standard’ 50kW DC electric vehicle fast charger. What makes the Biofil different is the fact that it’s hooked up to a biodiesel electric generator. Which uses the waste cooking fat from the service station (or rest stop for you Americans) fryers to do the deed. The problem is simple. Many of Australia’s roadside restaurants are so remote they’re off grid, which makes it hard to offer…


Continue Reading »Biofil – The world’s first chip-fat powered EV charger?
Biofil – The world’s first chip-fat powered EV charger?
Eco Friendly April 5, 2021 posted by

Hempearth – world’s first plane made from hemp aims to fly high

Hempearth, a Canadian cannabis company, has announced plans to build an airplane using hemp as a key component.  There’s little argument that hemp is the wonder plant of the ages. Despite being associated with its naughty cousin, marijuana, hemp has been put to thousands of vital uses over the ages. Not only has it been used for rope, but also fabric, medicine and a super food. But this latest incarnation is taking things to a whole new level.


Continue Reading »Hempearth – world’s first plane made from hemp aims to fly high
Hempearth – world’s first plane made from hemp aims to fly high
Eco Friendly April 2, 2021 posted by

Gocycle G4 – the world’s most stylish e-bike continues the trend

Twelve years ago next month, we first reported on a new electric bike which was making waves. The designer, Richard Thorpe, had come out of F1 motor racing design and applied those principles to making the most stylish and downright ‘cool’ e-bike the world had ever seen. It weighed 16kgs, had a range of up to 20 miles and a price tag of £1158.  We road tested it, and then followed up a year later with a comparison test between…


Continue Reading »Gocycle G4 – the world’s most stylish e-bike continues the trend
Gocycle G4 – the world’s most stylish e-bike continues the trend
Eco Friendly March 22, 2021 posted by

Evanesto – from plastic pots to compost lots

There’s just too much plastic in the world. We’re drowning in it. But an enterprising French company hopes to change all that with the invention of a compound called Evanesto. The enzyme based material is added to conventional PLA plastic at the manufacturing stage, which then turns it into something which can be composted in less than 200 days. Proper compost. The company, called Carbiolice, claim that the enzymes can be used for all forms of plastic packaging, tableware or…


Continue Reading »Evanesto – from plastic pots to compost lots
Evanesto – from plastic pots to compost lots
Eco Friendly March 8, 2021 posted by

ZedPods – modular pre built homes designed to be installed above car parks

Zedpods are a clever new take on modular, ready made housing. The blocks are prefabricated in a huge factory warehouse in central England, then shipped on-site for assembly.  What makes them extra interesting is the fact that one version is designed to sit on top of car parks, using a stilt type system. This leaves the car par open for use by the public, while offering affordable eco housing above. Very neat. The first installation has already gone up in…


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ZedPods – modular pre built homes designed to be installed above car parks
Eco Friendly February 25, 2021 posted by

Kill The ECT – before it kills the planet

If you haven’t heard of the Energy Charter Treaty, that should be no surprise. It’s a semi-secret international treaty which grants corporations in the energy sector enormous power to sue states at international investment tribunals for billions of dollars, for example, if a government decides to stop new oil or gas pipelines or to phase out coal.  And boy are they using it. It was set up in the mid 90s and in the last decade alone there have been…


Continue Reading »Kill The ECT – before it kills the planet
Kill The ECT – before it kills the planet
Eco Friendly February 15, 2021 posted by

SQ4D: First robot printed house goes on the open market. Say hello to a new era…?

There’s been no shortage of news about the rise and rise of 3D printed homes over the past few years. But now we have the first commericial real estate sale of one. In New York. no less. The SQ4D 3D printed house has been listed on Zillow.com for a hair under $300,000. Which is apparently less than half the price of its neighbours.  Of course we’re wondering whether being in the middle of a mega pandemic could have some effect,…


Continue Reading »SQ4D: First robot printed house goes on the open market. Say hello to a new era…?
SQ4D: First robot printed house goes on the open market. Say hello to a new era…?
Eco Friendly December 12, 2020 posted by

Monarch Electric Tractor – new driverless $50K smart tractor could be a game changer for small farms

The new Monarch 100% Electric Tractor was launched earlier this week in the USA, and it looks to be a real breakthrough product for farmers. The low cost 3 in 1 workhorse can operate not only as a tractor, but also an ATV and a field generator if remote power is needed (e.g. for on the spot welding). And that’s not to say it lacks in the tractor features either. It offers 10 hours autonomous operation, with a 4-5 hour…


Continue Reading »Monarch Electric Tractor – new driverless $50K smart tractor could be a game changer for small farms
Monarch Electric Tractor – new driverless $50K smart tractor could be a game changer for small farms
Eco Friendly October 16, 2020 posted by

TreeCard – this free debit card plants trees when you shop

OK so we’re not huge fans of clever marketing disguised as environmental action, but the pedigree of this new initiative seems sound. The Ecosia people – who plant trees when you use their search tools – have just released a new free debit card called TreeCard. The idea is that for every $60 you spend, they will plant a tree in your forest. It’s cute, and while some may consider it a gimmick, the fact is that Ecosia has already…


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TreeCard – this free debit card plants trees when you shop
Eco Friendly October 7, 2020 posted by

Maybe some good news on climate change for once?

It’s not often nowadays that we hear good things about climate change and the issues we face, but maybe there is some upbeat news to share after all. Even though this last September has already been declared the hottest ever on record, none other than Professor Michael Mann has come out pitching with some optimistic info. For those who don’t know Dr Mann is one of the foremost climate scientists in the world, and part of the team which created…


Continue Reading »Maybe some good news on climate change for once?
Maybe some good news on climate change for once?
Eco Friendly October 1, 2020 posted by

Beagle Button – helping us shop better through our browser

It’s hard to be a responsible citizen nowadays. No matter how hard we try, there’s always a chance that we’ll buy the wrong product by selecting something which can harm the environment. Here’s where the Beagle Button comes in. Rather like those coupon finding browser extensions that litter the landscape, the Beagle tool is there to help us make better buying decisions. Only it’s not about saving money, but saving the planet. It sits in the browser and pops up…


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Beagle Button – helping us shop better through our browser
Eco Friendly September 24, 2020 posted by

Oceanbird – wind powered cargo vessel is a revolution in the making

The old tea clippers of the 19th century may have been slow, but they had one big advantage over modern freighters. They ran on wind. Now an enterprising Swedish company is attempting to combine modern technology with good old renewable wind energy to turn the environmental cost of shipping goods around the world on its head. The Oceanbird is a huge cargo ship which can carry up to 7000 cars (electric we hope), and will be able to cross the…


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Oceanbird – wind powered cargo vessel is a revolution in the making
Eco Friendly September 8, 2020 posted by

Could Lithium Sulfur batteries be the game changer we’re hoping for?

UK company Oxis Energy is planning to shake up the electric transportation industry with a newly developed lithium sulfur battery. The new technology apparently provides five times the energy density of a conventional Li-Ion battery, as well as being lighter and safer. The company is pushing for its battery to be used in applications where weight is a key factor – such as electric aircraft. This is not pie in the sky stuff either. Back in July the company announced…


Continue Reading »Could Lithium Sulfur batteries be the game changer we’re hoping for?
Could Lithium Sulfur batteries be the game changer we’re hoping for?
Eco Friendly August 12, 2020 posted by

The Lucid Air blows open the EV range war with a huge 517 miles on a single charge

The new Lucid Air electric car just announced a huge estimated range of 517 miles from a single charge. Which means we’re now clearly entering a new phase of the range wars. It’s not enough that EV performance is pushing supercars into red faced retreat, now we’re going to see range numbers which will humble even the most frugal gas guzzler. Remember we’re really only still at the start of this whole game. If they can hit these numbers now,…


Continue Reading »The Lucid Air blows open the EV range war with a huge 517 miles on a single charge
The Lucid Air blows open the EV range war with a huge 517 miles on a single charge
cool tech August 10, 2020 posted by

Emrod – wireless electricity system announced. No more ugly pylons?

New Zealand startup Emrod has started trials of a new wireless electricity system which they say could do away with the need for cables, pylons and all that stuff when delivering electrical power in rural areas. What makes this new project different is the fact that it has attracted the attention – and funding – from one of New Zealand’s biggest power companies. Trials with Powerco will begin in October, although the early prototype will initially only be able to…


Continue Reading »Emrod – wireless electricity system announced. No more ugly pylons?
Emrod – wireless electricity system announced. No more ugly pylons?