Category — URBAN

Shoes, ladies I know you think about them a lot, and some of you guys too, but how many of you wear shoes that would let you down in an emergency situation? Ladies I talking about running around in high heels, or little flip flop sandals…

Now I’m not saying you can’t wear these kinds of shoes, but perhaps you should seriously consider stashing a more suitable pair of shoes that could be quickly accessed in an emergency. (more…)

Phys.org reports on a completely self-sufficient apartment building revealed at the International Housing Exhibition in Hamburg, which produces renewable energy by harvesting micro-algae.

The 15-apartment block has 129 algae filled tanks hanging over the exterior of the south-east and south-west sides of the building— powered exclusively by algae.

The fast-growing algae not only create biofuel, they also produce heat, shade the building, and abate street noise. The algae were retrieved from the nearby Elbe river, and put into large thin rectangular clear cases. Inside, the algae live in a water solution and are provided nutrients and carbon dioxide by an automated system. Each tank was then affixed to the outside walls of the building onto scaffolding that allows for turning the tanks towards the sun—similar to technology used for solar collectors.

In ten years, everyone will be doing it. (more…)

Bangalore, April 22nd — Planting miniature forests in cities sounds like a job for a government department rather than a small entrepreneur. Although these “forests” are on patches of land that lawns or landscaped gardens would otherwise have occupied.
Founded two years ago by industrial engineer Shubhendu Sharma, Afforestt has grown mini-forests for clients ranging from Cisco Systems and the GMR Group to an eco-conscious infotech professional living in an off-the-grid house in Bangalore. (more…)

How secure are your valuables in your home? If you left for a week and someone broke into your home and could leisurely go through your stuff, how much would they find? How much would they be able to walk away with? There are somethings that can’t really be secured, like appliances, TVs, stereos, computers and such, but what about jewelry? Weapons? Money? Precious metals? How do you protect your assets within your home? (more…)

Interesting discussion on the city-data forum, about the safety of single women living in RVs and vans in urban and suburban areas. Is it significantly more dangerous than for aman? Does it depend on exactly which city, or street?

What are you opinions. Below are the original posting, followed by the comment that sparked this debate from someone who admits “Call me an old fogey if you wish. These simply are not the times to go out alone to have a wild and merry adventure. Times are tough all over”.

The original poster says: (more…)

So, you are sitting in your climate controlled home, with lights, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heaters, fans, TVs, computers, home theater systems, running water, sanitary systems and all the other things that go along with modern life. Now, go into your garage, or whatever room where your power panel resides and shut off the main switch. Now walk through your home, look around at all the electronic appliances and gadgets that are now nothing more than lumps of worthless metal and electronics. Now imagine how you would live if none of these things came back on? What if this was not just your home but your neighborhood? City? Country? World? Sounds drastic doesn’t it? Could you live, could you survive without all of these electronics being powered from the grid? (more…)

Even as we own more and more gadgets, and spend increasing amounts of time using them, the average energy consumption in American homes has dropped steadily over the past 30 years thanks to factors like more efficient appliances, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But for some, a little efficiency isn’t enough. “Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid” by Sheri Koones ($15.95) profiles more than 30 prefabricated homes that use minimal energy. The name is a taken from a BC company that actually makes prefab eco-homes.

They have features like heavily insulated walls, wastewater-recovery systems and passive heating; one home has a wind turbine on the roof. Prefabrication minimizes waste (more…)

Service promises to keep energy bills down and an eye on grandma

Is today’s smart home technology, which connects a household’s appliances to the Internet, ready for tomorrow? It’s getting there. Companies are now carrying out pilot projects to determine how much and what other kinds of utility these connections can offer consumers.

Mitsubishi is conducting an experiment to connect its HEMS with the Internet at its Ofuna Smart House, a white-and-gray detached house built near JR Ofuna Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. (more…)

Economising on energy, or water, or other resources comes naturally to people living off the grid. But the off-grid ways of life can also help grid-tied householders reduce consumption and save money.

These simple ideas do not require a big investment: we are not about to recommend you spend a lot of money on something like an energy-efficient heating/cooling system or expensive CFLs for your house. Nor do you have to invest a lot of time researching product ingredient lists and do-it-yourself projects. While these things all play key roles in moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle, there is plenty you can do in your home right now to make it more energy efficient and save you money, shrink your home’s carbon footprint, and it will hardly cost you a dime. You’re probably even doing some of these already without realizing how “green” you really are. (more…)