Richmond California has recently opened a community swimming pool that may be one of the most energy efficient in the country. They call it “The Plunge”. It is heated by solar collectors, it’s totally chlorine free and the building is heated by solar panels on the roof. The Plunge is an historic pool- it was first opened in 1926. Now after 10 years of renovations it has recently re opened August 14, 2010.

It’s a huge pool holding 324,000 gallons of water, and measures 60’ x 160’. The water is heated by circulating through eighty Heliodyne Gobi solar collectors on the roof.

Since the pool contains no chlorine, they use instead a saline solution combined with an ultraviolet disinfectant system. The use of natural ventilation and the reduction of chloramines in the water will make swimming in the Plunge a healthy experience.

The pool also has an array of solar electric panels that produce approximately 30 kilowatts for the building.

Heliodyne Gobi solar collectors

Richmond Plunge link

Kinfolk (frame design) and Coat (paint job), with a bag by Nivaldo de Lima, have come up with a bike that breaks down to fit inside a custom bag that can be simply carried or put on a plane as luggage. The leather saddles are made by Brooks. There are 2 models- one has 54 cm wheels, the other has 58cm wheels.

The prices appear to range from $1579 to $1973 USD plus shipping.

See Wallpaper* Magazine for more information

Park Gate is quite an architectural masterpiece. It has 6 curving towers covered with canopies of solar panels to keep the heat out, let in light and cool the building. It takes advantage of the cool breezes from the ocean. It has hanging gardens that have drought tolerant plants (watered with a gray water mist system); as well as plants that are salt water tolerant. The gardens are in abundance. There are thermal salt water reflecting pools that act as a heat sink during the day, and release the heat at night. All of these measures are thought to reduce temperatures by 10-15 degrees.

China has come up with an innovative way to reduce carbon emissions and relieve congested metropolitan areas. They have developed what is being called a “straddling bus” that allows vehicles less than 2 meters tall to pass under the busses. This was first exhibited at the 13^th Beijing International High-Tech Expo in May of this year, with hopes of putting a model into pilot use in Beijing’s Mentougou district in the near future.

These large sized busses have a ground clearance of 4 to 4.5 meters and 6 meters wide, and are comprised of two levels- the upper levels will be designated as passenger space, and the lower level will be for the passage of normal sized vehicles.

The “straddling Bus” will be powered by solar energy and electricity with a top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) carrying a maximum passenger load of 1200 to 1400 in one trip (about 300 per cart). It also has an emergency exit ladder built in, in case evacuation is necessary. It is also estimated that this bus will save approximately 860 tons of fuel each year.

Frying an egg on the sidewalk.

The ‘City of Klamath Falls Geothermal Utility’ is located in a known geothermal activity area  in Oregon, and provides a renewable, non- polluting ‘green’ resource to heat Commercial and Government buildings throughout the downtown core area in addition to geothermal sidewalk and bridge snow melt systems.

Initial construction on the geothermal systems began in 1981.

The snow melt system is designed to provide safety and convenience throughout winter months for sidewalks and bridges. This would be difficult and expensive using other heating methods.

While other heat sources rise in cost, geothermal energy remains low, and has better overall heating efficiency.

City of Klamath Falls Link:

Additional information:

Central Reykjavik (ocean in the distance)

Central Reykjavik

Large natural lake in central Reykjavik

I visited Iceland recently and was amazed at how they really use their natural renewable resources. Their Hydro electricity is on a grid that provides for over 80% of electricity on this huge island. They have a lot of rivers and glaciers melting, waterfalls etc. The Geothermal plants provide for a very large amount of heating & hot water to houses as well as providing hot water for municipal pools. 

I also was fortunate to meet a very nice couple that have a couple of apartments they rent out that are more comfortable than most places that you would normally rent. The apartments are very well equipped, and they also have excursion services. 

They speak English very well, as do many Islanders. Their website for tours is: Iceland Luxury Tours, Apartments: Cosy Reykjavik - Sveinn and Stella are guaranteed to enhance the quality of your visit! 

Link to Geothermal Video

This solar powered boat operates in Sydney Australia as a passenger ferry. Pollution free boats- WOW!

Boats are among the biggest fuel guzzlers of all time… right up there with  Hummers and Tanks.

This is a passenger boat that is powered by wind and solar energy. It has movable wing- like solar panels that act as sails.

Since it is Hybrid, it can run on wind, sun, battery, diesel or any combination of these.

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This is The Solar Shuttle, designed by SolarLab founder Christoph Behling. It is the UK’s largest and most advanced solar boat. It carries 42 passengers in all daylight conditions, has reserve power for night-time running and even generates surplus energy that can be fed back into the national grid.

It operates on the ecologically-fragile Serpentine Lake in one of the oldest parks in the world, London’s Hyde Park.

This is a copy of our recent SCS Certificate (Scientific Certification Systems).

SCS is an independant lab that certifies that a product performs according to its claims. They are known for “setting the standard for sustainability.”

This certificate is for our clear Energy Film.

Our tinted film helps to reduce glare and heat gain more than the clear:

Blocks an average of 98% UV wavelengths (250-380 nm).

Transmits an average of 38% visible light wavelengths (380-750 nm).

Blocks an average of 81% infrared wavelengths (750-2500nm).

And we do not use adhesives, like many other films, making it easy to remove if the need arises.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and Tesla CEO Elon Musk in front of the Tesla model 'S'

Arnold in front of the Tesla model 'S'.

Tesla model 'S' studio shot

Tesla Roadster

Tesla paid $42 million dollars to purchase the former NUMMI pant (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc) in Silicon Valley, and includes 207 acres which is about 55% of the site and includes all manufacturing facilities there. 

As part of the deal with Tesla, Toyota has agreed to buy $50 million worth of stock in Tesla’s IPO (initial public offering). 

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Cornell University has installed a very innovative, yet very basic concept for cooling Ithaca High School and Cornell University. It is a closed loop system that exchanges the cool water from the depths of nearby Cayuga Lake, and expels the warm water into the shallow waters of the same lake. The water is drawn through an intake that comes from water about 2 miles out in water that is 250 feet deep, and the intake sits about 10 feet from the bottom of the lake where the temperature is about 39ºF year round.

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