Inspiration for a Brighter Future
July 14, 2018
I do.
And it still shocks me when I look back on that time.
Let me explain.
In those days, it was taken for granted that motorbikes, cars and trucks were all noisy and highly polluting vehicles.
Everywhere these vehicles went, they left a trail of dangerous pollutants that filled our town and cities. Even schools were caught up in this onslaught, with parents regularly idling their cars while waiting or dropping off their kids.
July 8, 2017
A few days ago, my brother sent me a link to a YouTube video that he described as “compelling and thought provoking”. Now, my brother is certainly not the type of person who’s prone to exaggeration or overstatement. So, naturally, his comments piqued my interest, and I quickly found the time to watch the one-hour video.
What did I think?
I was mesmerised. And I think you will be too.
I’ve embedded the video into this post, but let me give you some brief details before you click play…
September 17, 2016
In August 2013, Elon Musk (of Tesla Motors and SpaceX fame) publicly released designs for a revolutionary high-speed transportation system named Hyperloop.
Three years later, it’s clear that his unique concept has captured huge attention from around the world.
So, what is Hyperloop?
February 28, 2016
Do you remember when wind-up radios first hit the market in the 1990s?
They were certainly popular. But, they were also bulky and heavy.
I used to have one of the early Freeplay radios. It was great fun, but it involved far too much winding for my liking!
Twenty years later, technology has moved on in leaps and bounds. Wind-up radios are now cheap, lightweight and feature-packed.
A few months ago, I bought myself a $29.99 Duronic Apex. This is a radio, torch and alarm clock, that can be powered in three ways:
January 24, 2016
As regular readers of Eco Tech Daily will know, I’ve been fascinated by the rapid transformation of lightbulbs in recent years. (Please see my article 2015: The Year of the LED).
Not so long ago, consumers had only three options when choosing a lightbulb.
The traditional incandescent lightbulb. Which offered warm light, but suffered from short lifetimes and expensive running costs.
The halogen lightbulb. This improved on the technology used by incandescents, and offered smaller bulbs with high-intensity light. Halogen lightbulbs also had better energy-efficiency (i.e., were cheaper to run) than incandescents.
January 2, 2016
I’ve always been fascinated by circular buildings.
Think of the elegance of lighthouses, and the robustness of round castle towers.
You’re probably familiar with famous circular buildings such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles.
November 22, 2015
Hydrogen cars promise clean, green driving – but several factors could stop their mainstream adoption.
Firstly, a quick explanation of hydrogen cars.
They are sometimes referred to as Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV), and are cars powered exclusively by oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen.
People tend to be amazed when they hear that hydrogen cars only emit water and heat from their tailpipes. And this is true – these cars emit no nasty pollutants whatsoever.
August 21, 2015
This incredible video got me thinking.
Surely, the immense heat emanating from lava rivers could be captured and transformed into electricity?
The question can be answered in just three words – yes it can.
June 14, 2015
Solar power is typically inconspicuous, as solar panels tend to sit high on the roofs of our buildings. However, this silent power generator is at the tipping point of an energy revolution.
There are various reasons for the burgeoning success of solar power, but let’s take a look at just three of the major trends that are converging right now.
January 1, 2015
If there is one technology that is likely to trend in 2015, then it is LEDs.
LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, have been around for many decades.
However, recent years have seen both a huge reduction in manufacturing costs of LEDs, and impressive enhancements to their lighting output.
While early LEDs were first seen in pocket calculators and watches, they are now cheap and powerful enough to begin replacing existing lighting – and even to create new lighting options.