DIY Wind Turbine – Go Green and Save Green at the Same Time!

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Once again, in the spirit of saving energy (and $$$ – both of which are “green” I just realized – I crack myself up sometimes), I wanted to share this very nice instructional site I came across about fabricating an electricity producing wind turbine! It ties in nicely in honor of Earth Day, with what we’ve looked at recently regarding solar powered gadgets and the Pope (now I know you want to look at that link and see how the Pope ties in – in case you haven’t seen it already!)

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Extreme Treehouses – Going Out on a Limb in Style

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In the continuing spirit of Earth Day (don’t forget! It’s this weekend!), and since we have already looked at extreme homes, yachts, outdoor gear and various solar powered contraptions – let’s combine the idea of conservancy and extreme design and see what we can come up with! Anyone? OK, me first! Look at these crazy, over-the-top treehouses! (Not for the faint of wallet to be sure – but certainly worthy of mention!)

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What do the Pope, a Taco Stand, and a Wheelchair Have in Common?

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No, this isn’t some bad joke that will make you groan when you hear the punch line, and it’s not even a rhetorical question! I got very excited about solar power after the last two posts I wrote (on camping gadgets and solar park benches!) and I came across this article on some unusual applications for solar power while I was googling for more ideas to share with you! So I guess I just gave away the answer, yes, it’s Solar Power! Check out how solar power is integrated into these three things (there are a couple more in the original article too)…

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Plug in to your gadgets outside – with a solar-powered park bench!

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In honor of Earth Day 2012, (yes, it’s almost Earth Day, for those of you still working on your taxes and not paying much attention to anything else around you right now) which will be celebrated on Saturday, April 22nd this year, I wanted to share this very green, very earth-friendly concept for a park bench. This amazing design not only addresses the idea of getting out and enjoying nature (in the park where the bench is), but providing solar power for the gadgets that some of us don’t want to leave home without – like those we looked at last time in the cool camping stuff post!

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Super Cool High-Tech Wilderness Toys

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OK, so now that we’ve covered some very high-tech, yet affordable ways to get your house and yard in tip-top shape this spring (with less effort too!) – it’s time to think about what you can do with all that free time you have since all the chores are done! Like a lot of you, I love to get out-of-doors, but I’ve become more than a little reliant on my electronic leash (i.e. cell phone).  I’m also not what you might call a camping “purist”, so these gadgets definitely caught my eye when I was trying to figure out how to achieve the happy balance between communing with nature while avoiding the avalanche of emails that would be waiting for me when I got home (if I got home – without getting lost!)

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Don’t Dread Spring Cleaning – Automate it!

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Well, spring is in full swing, and it’s time to think about something I know you don’t want to (and I certainly don’t want to) – spring cleaning! Not only is Mother Nature hard at work making things outside grow again (which means back in the yard – or jungle! whichever the case may be) and things inside need freshening up as well. Especially if you’re like me and have animals – I think I can make a couple of extra cats from all the hair they’re leaving around lately! So here are a few cool gadgets that will help you get things under control – inside and out!

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DIY Greenhouse – Arduino Style!

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Since most of us can’t afford a greenhouse along the scale of Planterra’s fantastic conservatory that we looked in the last post – ok, that should read all of us? – I thought I’d scale it down to a more reasonable project that can be set up in a backyard, or even a patio if you are limited on space. The Plantduino Greenhouse by Clover features automated water and temperature controls, and was the second prize winner in the Instructable Microcontroller Contest. Check out the video walkthrough on how she did it!

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How Green is Your Greenhouse?

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Spring is in the air, and if you’re like me, you’re feeling the urge to get outside in the fresh air! Yep, I’m fighting Spring Fever and have the outdoors on my mind…so as a follow up on the previous post about that gorgeous, super-efficient home in Virginia, I thought you should take a look at this very cool, very “green” greenhouse in West Bloomfield, Michigan designed and built by Planterra, the leading interior landscape firm in the Midwest.

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Automated Energy Systems With Elegance

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Using automation to make daily living easier or more enjoyable is one of the main reasons most people would probably install high tech control systems in their home. But of course, let’s not forget about efficiency. The trend towards going “green” and saving energy and resources continues, and I’m a huge fan of applying home automation to that goal. But I’m also a fan of sleek and ultra-cool spaces that streamline their gadgets and technology, and especially hidden compartments and tricked-out secret panels. So I was happy to find these homes that prove you don’t have to sacrifice style and elegance for efficiency.

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Zen and the Art of Home Automation

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Spring is in the air and I think it’s the perfect time to check out some amazing technology for the home. Let’s take a look at how one family used automation to create a tranquil and relaxing (yet highly automated!) home.

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