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Computers and Gadgets

EPA Data and Google Earth Create Map of Green Potential Across U.S.

Find a renewable site near you!

It seems that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken advantage of Web 2.0. They have recently released an interactive site that uses Google Earth as a platform to map out places across the US that have high potential for renewable energy development. The information for this map comes from EPA databases.

The program allows the user to choose from a sidebar list of renewable energy types – various categories of solar, biomass and wind power. When one or several of these categories are checked, the map displays colored dots indicating locations that have shown high potential to produce the indicated type of energy. The dots are different colors depending on if they represent abandoned mine lands, brownfields, RCRA sites or Superfund sites.

Lands that fall into the above categories are potentially contaminated, and are generally unfit for traditional forms of development. In other words, it’s land that is not in the highest demand. For renewable energy projects, such pieces of real estate are attractive because they allow the renewable energy developers to avoid competing with developers and getting stalled by NIBMY complaints.

It was very exciting to get a visual impression of all the potential we have in this country. Some energy sources, such as utility-scale wind and solar power, are mostly available in the West/Southwest. But community-scale power and biomass power is available all across the country. So what are we waiting for?

Via Cleantechnica
Image Via Google Earth

 

Dell Laptops Going 100% LED

You know how compact fluorescent light bulbs have been so prominent in this early stage of this green technology revolution? Well, it turns out that flat screen displays have been using fluorescents from the beginning. Obviously, incandscents wouldn't work, so thin, cold-cathode fluorescent lights were used as LCD back lights.

But here at EcoGeek we've moved so far beyond CFLs that they're starting to seem like antiques. And we were glad today when we got an e-mail from Dell saying they felt the same way.

Dell is officially switching all of the back lights in their laptop screens from fluorescents to LEDs. LEDs are more efficient, allow for higher contrast ratios and they don't contain mercury like current fluorescents do.

The shift at Dell is certainly a signal that pretty much all flat screen monitors will soon be LED lit. And hopefully that means home applications won't be too far behind.

Full press release below

 

Shuttle D10: A Lot of Computer in a Little Space

We recently learned that Japan's landfills are full of precious metals that are locked up in discarded electronics, from cell phones to computers. So anytime something comes out of Japan that uses less material, it's a step in the right direction.

That's why the Shuttle D10 deserves a shout-out. Mini laptops are common but there?s never been a good reason that made sense to me why desktops can?t be minaturized. The Shuttle D10 uses a built-in 7-inch LCD touch screen and makes a keyboard, mouse and monitor unnecessary.

The system uses Intel Core 2 Duo,Core 2 Duo E4000 series, Dual-Core E2000 series, Celeron 400 series support FSB 800/1066/1333 (65W only) MHz support. The screen resolution at 800 x 480 resolution may require a monitor to be hooked up if it's your only computer, but it makes sense as a PC for a car or where space is a problem. At under $500, it's also a good price and will be released in Japan at the end of this week.

Via: Crunchgear

 

Tiny Bamboo Notebook is More than Just Pretty

Ah! A beautiful bamboo notebook that isn’t calling itself green just because it is made of some sustainable wood product. Asus has finally launched their Bamboo Series notebooks, featuring 12.1” and 11.1” models.

The company has taken eco-friendliness to heart, especially with this model. The series uses energy-efficient Super Hybrid Engine technology, that can extend battery life by 35-70% of other similar notebooks that don’t utilize the technology. Users can choose what level of performance they need at the time, saving battery power or boosting performance by as much as 23%. If a user doesn’t want to manually set a power option, the system can intelligently monitor what the user is doing, and adjust power levels accordingly. ASUS states that this technology can reduce yearly CO2 emissions by 12.3kg each notebook, and with the company shipping about 6 million notebooks a year, that’s a significant CO2 savings.

While bamboo-covered efficient desktops and hard drives abound, it’s about time a company made a notebook that combines a gorgeous earthy look with efficient power usage. It is tough to find that combination. And at just about 12”, you can practically put it in your pocket!

Via GoodCleanTech

 

Shuttle's Teensy Tiny PC Uses Eensy Weensy Wattage

Desktop PCs are getting tiny, but Shuttle is putting out one of the smallest I’ve seen around. Just 10” long x 7” wide x less than 3” tall, the X27 mini-PC uses a proportionately tiny amount of energy. It consumes just 36 watts when active and 23 when idle, compared to the 70-250 watts regular-sized desktops use. So it is like having a laptop without the keyboard, mouse, or monitor. It will use Intel’s Atom low-power chip, and runs nearly inaudibly.

The new model will be shown off at the consumer electronics show IFA in Berlin, which starts Friday, and we might hear word about pricing after that. This could be competition with Dell’s (way, way cooler looking) new Studio Hybrid, though we don’t know the EPEAT status on the Shuttle X27 yet.

Via GoodCleanTech

 
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