On a trip to the homecenter store for some PVC doo-dad or other for another project, I found these dome shaped vent caps.

I immediately thought of adding a spinner to the hub. Wow, with that on there, it really looks like a professionally made unit. I’d never be able to convince anyone I built it myself out of junk from my workshop and plumbing parts. They’d all look at me when I said I built it myself and go “Yeah, right.” Then I found a web site that claimed such spinners disrupt the airflow and hurt the efficiency of the blades. I’m not sure I believe the reasoning behind the claim, but I left the spinner off, at least initially.

This photo shows the controller, battery and associated electronics all wired up. I have a 120V inverter connected to the battery and a multimeter to keep track of the battery voltage and wind turbine output voltage. Also my electric shaver and battery charger are plugged into the inverter and running off of 120V AC. Later I plugged a long extension cord into the inverter and stretched it back to my camp site. I know this setup is really messy, but I was in a hurry to get up and running to take advantage of the wind once it started blowing. That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.

There is so much on this site I can only scratch the surface here, so, really, go check it out if you want some awesome information on how to save on your energy bills. Way to go Mike, and thanks for giving us some fantastic directions on how to get off the grid!

Have you incorporated any DIY wizardry to help reduce your carbon footprint and lower your bills? Let’s hear about it!

While I could go into long detail on all these examples (because they are all amazing) I’m going to highlight the ones that most closely follow the theme of extreme natural hideaways and remain true to the idea of protecting nature (while having a very enviable place to perch from)!

This Spiral Treehouse in France was built with Mother Nature in mind – instead of removing branches, the spiral access staircase was built around them! I love the way it looks – but I’m not sure how long I would love going up all those steps!

And for those treehuggers out there, here’s the Tree Pod, a raindrop-shaped tent built by Dutch artist Dre Wapenaar that will sleep four people (it’s got a platform inside – you don’t all roll to the bottom of the pod in case you were wondering!)

 According to Dré Wapenaar, “The story of my tents as they relate to campsites, however, started with the Treetents which were originally designed for the Road Alert Group inEngland. This group of activists fight against the excessive constructing of highways through forests. During their protest they cover themselves and hide and live in the trees to fight as long as possible against the rushing violence of the chain sawers. The Treetents would provide a comfortable place for them to stay during their habitation of the forest and prevent the trees from being cut down.”

And finally, this is where I want to work…too bad this home office treehouse is outside London (the commute would be worth it though!) It has electricity, although I am not sure how they route the power up there…I’m thinking this is a great application for solar panels…hmmmm.

What do you think of these outrageous treehouses? Have any of you built your own treehouse? Please share ideas and of course, pictures!

Since the attack on Pope John Paul 11, “popemobiles” have been used whenever there is a public appearance to be made. Pope Benedict XVI (known as the “green pope” for his environmental awareness–check out some more ways he has incorporated going green), suggested a solar powered popemobile to replace the gas-powered Mercedes currently in use. While this is a very enlightened idea, the Vatican (which is the world’s greenest state) has concerns about the dependability of this type of vehicle in the even of a crisis and has opted to look for a hybrid-type replacement instead.

It appears, however, that fears remain within the Vaticanover the dependability of a fully electric vehicle to escape threats has prompted a compromise. According to the site Whispers in the Loggia, officials have signed with Mercedes-Benz to develop “a hybrid variation on its M Class SUV that’ll be able to run some 16 miles (30km) emission-free thanks to a rechargable lithium-ion battery.”

Still, kudos to the Green Pope for working towards a more energy efficient means of travel!

OK, so now I am sure you want to hear about how a taco stand would use solar power, and, better yet, why?? Well, it seems a Swiss (??) inventor has worked out a solution for street vendors that is more efficient and cost effective than cooking with charcoal or natural gas. Check out the video below and see how they developed this super-green idea!

I really like the solar powered wheelchair, developed by Haidar Taleb (who has had polio since he was 4) – not just because of the DIY factor, but because this guy set a world record for making a 200-mile trip in the same wheelchair! This is not only amazing innovation, but is also incredibly inspiring!

Haider says, “By taking-up this journey, I want to raise awareness about disability and tell people that we, despite our disability can achieve anything as an individual, if we are determined to try and have courage to do so.” With this journey Haider also wants to send out a message to other persons with disabilities like him, who have mobility problem. He wants to tell them, “There are no obstructions because you can do as you think. Given a chance, persons with disabilities can perform miracles.” During the course of his journey, Haider will share the above message to inspire everyone when he talks to both disabled and non-disabled people in schools, colleges and centers working for the disabled.

What motivates you to change the way you perform daily tasks to help the environment? Have you created any DIY solar powered gadgets? Let me hear about your ideas for creating a “greener” world!

According to designer Owen Song:

The main purpose of a bench is seating. But, modern people do something more on the bench. Waiting for somebody would be the one of new functions. I design a bench that frees itself from tradition. It is a new approach of thinking what a bench is. While playing the traditional role, this bench becomes a WIFI hot-spot and night-lighting with the thin-film solar battery. Moreover, it is made out of aluminum and recycled plastic regard of eco-issue.

Designed to be made from recycled aluminum and plastic (more kudos for reusing!), this very cool energy-efficient piece of outdoor furniture would have solar panels installed to generate energy to power an embedded wi-fi unit, lights for evening use, and would cost an estimated $300 per bench. Not sure the parks in my neighborhood would spring for this, but I can see this becoming popular in more urban areas where people could enjoy the fresh air and check their email!

Designer Owen also states:

It is designed by manufacturing possibility and cost, because of its simple structure. Moreover, the thin-film solar battery can gather sunlight and generate electricity regardless of the weather. Snowing or raining is not really matter to this. Also, the size of this bench is similar to the existing benches. This bench can be installed on existing facilities or new places.

I really love the thought that went into this concept, and think it’s something that could be integrated into not only city parks, but urban areas as well with great success! And since this year’s Earth Day goal is to Mobilize the Earth, to demand that we protect our natural resources and “stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part” – I’d love to hear what ideas you have to support this event and further the goal that we should all be participating in…

First on the list is the Solio Magnesium Charger, which offers USB charging for those devices you just can’t go without for a day or two.

Boasting twice the capacity of our previous CLASSIC model, a day of sun gives you three complete charges on your portable electronic devices. The CLASSIC2 now features a full-sized USB port allowing thousands of devices to easily connect, just by using their dedicated charging cable.

The CLASSIC’s iconic design has been updated to be slimmer, while larger solar panels allow for faster solar charging. So what are you waiting for? Go green in style with the Solio CLASSIC2!

Plus it looks cool and you use a pencil to set it up as a sundial to tap the solar energy for keeping your toys available for more geeky pursuits – like updating your Facebook status or taking pictures to add to your Facebook status!

Once you’ve got all your cameras, iPhones, and iPods charged up, you may want to think about an old fashioned item no serious outdoorsman would leave home without – a map! Or in my case, being the true geek that I am, a GPS. If there’s one thing you seriously don’t want to leave home without – it’s a way to find your way back home – and Garmin has the GPSMAP 60CSx will make sure you find your way through the woods without leaving a trail of bread crumbs.

 The 60CSx comes with a blank 64 MB microSD card, so you can store extra maps from optional MapSource® mapping software. Just connect to your computer with the USB cable, and you can load map data or transfer routes and waypoints. You even can purchase microSD cards that are preloaded with MapSource maps, which means you don’t have to connect to your computer. The microSD card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you never have to worry about water getting inside.”

So once you’ve seen all you want to of the wild, you can head back to your Orange Solar Tent – complete with solar powered chargers to keep your phone, cameras and laptop going. But wait, what if you get lost (and the GPS is out of juice??) Not to worry! This tent will lead you back home – simply send a text message to your tent and it will glow!

Specially coated solar threads are woven into conventional fabric and can be folded easily. Because of its light weight, it sets you free from carrying conventional heavy solar panels. The three directional glides can be rotated in any direction to follow the sun the whole day. Not only this, but it incorporates “glo-cation” technology which helps the festival-goers to track the location using either an SMS message or automatic active RFID technology.”

And maybe the best thing about this tent – besides the ultra-cool tech stuff!! – is the heating element embedded in the ground sheet, and controlled by the central hub – no more heating up by the fire when you can cozy up in your tent with the internet! OK so maybe this won’t appeal to those “real” campers – but I think there are a lot of you guys who’ll be able to get out and enjoy some of the beauty of the wilderness – without sacrificing some of the creature comforts of civilization.

These are some of the things I’m putting on my wish list for recreational adventure time…what kind of gadgets do you have – or want to have – when you venture into the great unknown? Let me hear from you!

If you enjoy gardening then you should think about these gizmos – not only will it speed up your work and get you poolside faster, you’ll be the envy of all your neighbors because you’ll have the coolest toys! Black and Decker has once again come up with a couple of great solutions to cultivating those flowerbeds (or weedbeds) and trimming the bushes/small trees. The 20V MAX Lithium Garden Cultivator and the 18V Cordless Alligator Lopper will make quick work of the tedious task that spring clean-up can be. The best thing about these, in my opinion, is the fact that you don’t have to drag around power cords! Seriously, I need the Alligator loppers (think chainsaw meets garden shears) since the last time I trimmed the hedges I cut through my extension cord with the power trimmers…Not good!

While I don’t mind the yard work so much–in fact it is relaxing when it doesn’t take too long–one thing I dread more than anything is cleaning gutters. Besides being just plain disgusting, it becomes an exercise in whether you have enough insurance coverage since you have to get up on a ladder to get this job done! Check out the video on the iRobot Looj – at under $200 this is completely justifiable! And might make a great Father’s Day gift – give him a new toy and get the chores done at the same time.

So, while your gutters and pool are cleaning themselves, you can get the yard trimmed and cultivated. Not only very high-tech but great time management as well! But let’s not forget that we still have to clean the inside of the house! (remember the cat hair??) For that, there are the Roomba vacuums which we’ve looked at before, but those aren’t so great on hardwood flooring. Enter the Mint Floor Cleaner! This little gizmo will sweep and mop your floors without freaking out your cats or other small furry creatures since it operates so quietly. And the crazy, high-tech feature is the Northstar Navigation that works like GPS, so Mint knows where it’s cleaned and doesn’t miss a spot!

And one last gadget that’s gonna be a must have for the indoor clean-up (since the Mint, while exceedingly cool, can’t reach every tiny corner where my cats go) is the Dyson DC35 Multifloor – a lightweight cordless handheld vacuum with a detachable wand that can reach high, low or in between. And this one has gotten great reviews so despite the price tag (Dysons aren’t cheap! This goes for about $325) you can feel confident you’re getting a good product.

Hmmmm, maybe we can cover Mother’s Day gifts here too??

What kind of high-tech toys do you have in your spring cleaning arsenal? I know I’m putting these on my wish list! Let me know if you’ve found any cool cleaning gadgets or even if you have come up with some DIY ideas for getting the dirty work out of the way!

Clover used Arduino, an open-source electronics prototyping platform to automate the controls for keeping her plants watered and happy. Nice job, Clover!

This summer I wanted to combine my two loves of plant science and engineering. Thus I am constructing my very own greenhouse in my backyard. I am an undergrad, and as any former student knows, this means I move around constantly, and I am not always around to take care of my vegetable garden. I love my plants but since I am moving back to school in July, and my family is unreliable, I need a way to make sure that they are taken care of. Enter Arduino!

This is Clover’s first attempt at using Arduino, so she gets kudos not only for that, but also for sharing her idea with Instructables and us! Not only did she come up with a great solution to her dilemma –keeping her plants growing while she was away at school– she housed the controls in the birdhouse on the porch. Very nice finishing touch, I think, on a homemade project that’s not only good for the environment but looks great as well! (Just hope the birds don’t mind that they can’t actually live in that pretty house!).

Have any of you created any cool DIY projects like this? I know when I go on vacation I always worry about my garden being a disaster when I get back – I would love to hear about your ideas and solutions that have a spring-time twist!

This is an absolutely amazing conservatory, featuring an eco-friendly, high-tech design that goes above and beyond your everyday backyard plant sanctuary. Check out the video if you don’t believe me!

One of the most innovative elements of this greenhouse, and a new concept in interior landscaping being introduced by Planterra, is something they call “vertical-scaping” and is basically a living wall of plants! This is geared for folks who don’t have a lot of floor space but want to be closer to nature! It’s totally awesome although I am visualizing my cats climbing up that thing (and destroying it)  if it were in my house (bad kitties!).

Structurally though, this greenhouse is even more green – the building is designed to catch and store rainwater (in an 18,000 gallon cistern) via a gutter system in the roof that diverts the rain through the interior beams of the greenhouse itself, to a pump that sends the water back to the building.

The 23,000 square foot facility even boasts its own weather station that controls water temperature, the shade curtains and the window vents to keep the climate just right for the plants inside. Larry Pliska, the founder and chairman of Planterra, says this is a dream project come true. At a building cost of three million dollars (yikes!!), I guess there isn’t much they left out of the design! The purpose of the greenhouse was to reach retail customers as well as the traditional commercial ventures Planterra has been known for, according to Shane Pliska, Larry’s son and President of the company.

 “The opening of our new retail conservator marks a new beginning for Planterra,” said Shane Pliska, adding the firm will still focus on the company’s commercial customers. “The building materially symbolizes the reinvention of Planterra,” he said, noting the company also brought on new software but also new partners.

I love that these guys have combined some really high-tech systems and design to create a beautiful, efficient environmentally-friendly setting!

What do you think about this interior plant-scaping? Would you want a “wall of plants” in your home?

This impressive 5,000 square foot home in McLean, VA designed and constructed by Greenspur, is not only incredibly environmentally-friendly, but impressively automated as well. The automation is the key to a great deal of the efficiency, since lighting, heating and cooling are monitored and controlled electronically, not only can energy usage be readily observed, it can be significantly reduced by changing how and when these systems are running. If you don’t believe me,get this – “For one month, our electricity bill was $73, and this was in the summer when we had our AC running,” said homeowner David Smith. Compare this to their neighbor’s $700 bill for a 6,000 square foot home nearby. Wow!

Elements like solar panels; solar hot water, geothermal heating and cooling, structural insulated panels (SIPs), LED lights, recycled building materials, low-flow water fixtures, a rainwater harvesting system, and Energy Star-rated appliances and windows all contribute to the savings. But according to GreenSpur president Mark Turner, it’s the home’s automation system that may have the biggest impact. “The most important thing when it comes to saving energy is having people change their behavior,” he says. “It’s more critical, even, than having solar panels.”

The automation designed by Hill Residential Systems  incorporated AMX NetLinx and Lutron HomeWorks systems to create a fantastic place that definitely did not lose anything at all in the translation to being “green”. It’s great to see that people are becoming more environmentally responsible, but at the same time not losing the comforts that create a really great place to live! Check out the rest of the article to see more homes that have used automation – makes me wonder if these folks are the “new” tree-huggers?? These technologies definitely make a positive impact on the environment.

What sort of energy-saving appliances or gadgets do you have in your home? Have you implemented home automation technology in your pad to  reduce your energy bills? I’d love to hear about it, and especially how much you’ve saved!

When it comes to home automation, everyone has their own motivation for the devices they install. The folks in this Chicago home spent 3 years designing their custom contemporary home using some truly amazing systems.

“Our goal from the beginning was to have a house that would celebrate the outdoors and be purposeful in its design,” says our featured Chicagoland homeowner of her family’s three-year-long homebuilding journey. As a result, this ultra-contemporary giant blends in with its wooded surroundings, evokes a relaxing, serene environment, and showcases the use of natural materials like stone and wood.

The 16,700 square foot house (what??) was designed by Wheeler Kearns Architects of Chicago, who suggested incorporating a control system that would allow the homeowners to “live in the house like we wanted to live in it”. (Um…isn’t that usually the idea? LOL) Anyway, Integrisys provided some innovative solutions for reducing the emphasis and appearance of everyday devices such as light switches, thermostats and TV screens. The system is pretty amazing, and allows complete control over the entire house via AMX touchscreen panels.

Four AMX touchpanels, which are part of a complete, custom-programmed, microprocessor-driven AMX home control system, are used to operate 112 loads of lights, a whole-house audio and video system, 22 zones of heating and cooling, plus 65 motorized window shades and drapes. The screens of the touchpanels, most of which are portable, display a menu based on Integrisys’ proprietary LivSystem software that effectively categorizes the controls of the house by system, room and the family’s schedule.

Check out the living room – the 20ft glass walls actually open to the outside! Sweeet. (I must figure out how to put one of these in my house…although would then have to make sure my cats wouldn’t find a way to” accidentally” open them either.)

The level of control available in this house is completely over the top – the LivSystem software (developed by Integrisys) gives you control not only over lighting, shades and windows (I still think the glass walls that open are incredibly cool!) – heating, cooling and of course, audio and visual equipment are also integrated. The flat-panel TVs are hidden inside cabinetry and accessible at the touch of a button. The architect did this so as not to detract from the aesthetic of the natural stone walls and contemporary décor.

There’s also a control panel that sets the house up in “modes” for when the homeowners enter or leave the house. Always comes in handy, and you know how I love automation to help me wake up in the morning.

There’s an away mode that closes the shades and turns off the lights and A/V for the family’s departure, plus a typical evening mode that sets the lights and audio system for a night at home. Other LivModes are room-specific. In the master bedroom, wakeup activates automatically based on a schedule set by the homeowners to open the window shades, brighten the lights, turn the TV to the local news and kick on the radiant floor heating system in the connected bathroom. These and other modes can be accessed on any of the portable AMX touchpanels peppered throughout the house, or from a menu on an iPad.

There are so many really amazing things about how this home is set up that I really think you should take a look at the entire article here. What would you put in your house to create a more “zen” environment? I’d love to hear your thoughts!