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Daniel Bauen. “Instructables” - and the symbiosis of art and engineering

Jon » 15 November 2008 » In Access to Tools, Appropriate Technology, Best Practices » No Comments

Given our cultural separations - “artists” in one place - “engineers” another - many of us - I’m guilty of this frequently - we forget how intertwined, and sometimes indistinguishable they are. Rather than make the general argument, check out Daniel Bauen, a young Atlanta-based maker and designer of things. You can look at his resume - and some brilliant pieces of work. If anyone thinks they can draw bright lines between the art and the engineering, we might have an interesting discussion. What’s beyond question is that he’s doing marvelous work. Beautiful, practical - and some so fun that I’m tempted to say that he’s a toymaker - who, in order to make what he makes - became an engineer and an artist in the process.

A motorized moving shade system for buildings - that is, roof-mounted solar panels move automatically in order to maximize shade and solar collection: (pictured left); A solar rock spinner - solar-powered when none one feels like pushing it around;

Bauen also - as a student - participated in the design of two bood-drawing devices one for pediatric and one for diabetics, designed to alleviate, if not eliminate the pain of blood drawing.

There’s more at Daniel Bauen’a personal site and even more at his other site- Engineerable.

Tags: Design, Instructables, Renewable, Solar Energy

Artist creates solar/wind powered “emergency respond

Jon » 30 October 2008 » In Emergency Housing, Emergency Power Systems, FEMA » No Comments

(Via Inhabitat) Which may, in fact, exceed FEMA’s exertions - despite the fact that, as Paul Villinski, a New York-based artist has demonstrated, it’s entirely possible to construct livable/usable emergency structures which rely on solar and wind power. From Bridget Steffen at Inhabitat, Solar Powered Mobile Emergency Response Studio: Better yet, make sure you read the whole piece and see the images - the one above the jump, taken alone, doesn’t do it justice.NB: as of this writing - October 30th - Villinski’s bandwidth limit had been exceeded. Waiting and checking back later will, we think, be worth it.

Villinski - main site.

Emergency Response Studio.

Other coverage.

Tags: Alternative energy, Emergency Housing, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Global Warming, Green Tech, Paul Villinski, Solar Energy, sustainable housing, Wind Power

The Popular Logistics Plan for Clean, Renewable, Sustainable Energy for the United States

Larry » 11 August 2008 » In Clean Energy, Climate Change, Global Warming, GreenTechnology, Negawatts, Nuclear Power, Solar, Texas, Wind Power » No Comments

The Gore Energy Challenge: Clean and Green by 2018. Visionary, Reasonable, Achievable. Ask T. Boone Pickens at The Pickens Plan, and Peter Mandelstam at Blue Water Wind.

We could meet the electric power requirements of the United States, estimated at 250 Gigawatts, GW, of generating capacity with wind turbines and photovoltaic solar arrays, for about $811 Billion in 10 years.

Land Based Wind: 100 GW, or 40%, at $2.0 Billion per GW: $200 Billion.
Offshore Wind: 100 GW, or 40%, at $2.86 Billion per GW: $286 Billion.
PV Solar: 50 GW, or 20% at $6.5 Billion per GW: $325 Billion.
Total Cost: $811 Billion. (less than has been squandered on the war in Iraq.)
Saving the earth: Priceless.

Key Benefits:

Good Jobs.
Healthy Economy.
Enhanced Emergency Response Capability.
Stronger National Security.
Clean Environment.
No Toxic Wastes.
No Mercury.
No Radioactive Wastes.
No Coal Mining Disasters.
Less Government Regulation.

This plan doesn’t exploit solar thermal, marine kinetic, geothermal, deep geothermal, cogen, biofuels, or conservation, which will be integrated into this plan in the near future. The plan also focuses on current electricity demand. It does not yet forecast increased electricity demand from population growth, transition from fossil fuels for heating or cooking, or increased reliance on plug-in hybrid cars.

Clean and Green By 2018!

Tags: Add new tag, Al Gore, Clean Energy, Gore Energy Challenge, Solar Energy, Wind Power

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FORD HAS A BETTER IDEA: HYBRIDS
Following General Motors announcement of the Volt, Ford Motor Company has just announced two new hybrids for 2010: The Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybird. They will get 39 to 47 mpg, better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and can operate in battery only mode. The world is changing. (0)

ENERGY POLICY & PUBLIC HEALTH
There really is no such thing as “Clean Coal.” Mining coal destroys mountains, and often kills the miners. Burning coal releases tons of carbon into the atmosphere and the oceans, and even if you could sequester the carbon, burning coal releases other pollutants, including mercury into the biosphere. The mercury makes its way into fish. This is why people, especially children and pregnant women, should not eat a lot of tuna or swordfish. Wind, solar, geothermal, ocean current, and “negawatts,” on the other hand, really are clean energy. Offshore wind turbines don’t release pollution. On the contrary, they create artificial reefs, which enhance fish habitat. This is also good for fishermen, the economy, etc. (0)

TALK MAY BE CHEAP, BUT
when the markets are falling, prices are rising, and credit is tightening, it’s a uniquely affordable indulgence. - Walter Kirn, What’s a Depression, Daddy? New York Times Magazine, Nov 9, 2008 (0)

SIERRA CLUB KILLS KING COAL (mini)
The EPA has ruled ( full text PDF ) that new and proposed coal plants must address their carbon dioxide emissions - essentially killing off the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the foreseeable future. The EPA says “You may burn coal, but you must do it cleanly.” ( Sierra Club Press Release / Full Post ) (0)

FOCUSED SOLAR MELTING STEEL?
Coolstuff and MetaCafe have videos which show the power of a focused solar array melting steel. (Click here for CoolStuff - Here for MetaCafe) It’s basic college mechanics - and also pretty amazing. (0)

CONGRATULATIONS, BARACK OBAMA AND AMERICA!
President-Elect Obama’s campaign was focused, disciplined, and effective. He has shown himself to be bright, calm, and decisive. He listens, and he has good judgment. We at Popular Logistics wish him and the country well. And we know this: If President Obama governs the way President-Elect Obama campaigned, the country will do well. Very well. (0)

SMASHING APPS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Smashings Apps has collected a number of project management tools - most if not all free. For community groups - disaster response-related or other - there’s probably something useful for all but the most tech-savvy (or best-funded) groups.

(0)

ELECTRICITY: 100% CLEAN AND GREEN BY 2018
The Gore Energy Challenge - 100% clean, renewable, sustainable electricity in 10 years, can be described in 3 words. Reasonable, Achievable, Visionary. Here’s how: 40% Land Based Wind = 100 GW: $200 Billion. 40% Offshore Wind = 100 GW: $286 Billion. 20% Solar = 50 GW: $325 Billion. 100% Clean Energy = 250 GW: $811Billion. Save the Earth, and the Economy - Priceless. The Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of stones. And the age of fossil fuels is ending not because we have run out of fossil fuel, but because we have figured out how better technologies. Biofuels, Geothermal, Marine Kinetic, Solar, Wind, and of course, Conservation. (0)

popular logistics

Tag Archive > Solar Energy

Daniel Bauen. “Instructables” - and the symbiosis of art and engineering

Artist creates solar/wind powered “emergency respond

The Popular Logistics Plan for Clean, Renewable, Sustainable Energy for the United States

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