Gizmodo: conservation

The Best of Samsung's Young Design Award 2009

Sean Fallon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

Like many of the design competitions in recent memory, the theme of Samsung's Young Design Award for 2009 centered around energy conservation and sustainability in the home. These gadgets were voted best of the bunch.

Why Is Japan So Sweaty?

Jack Loftus — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Imagine Slate columnist Daniel Gross's surprise when he arrived at the Nikkei offices in Japan and was greeted by businessmen, sans ties. To appear so casual in the workplace is almost sacrilege in Japan, and yet here it was, happening.

But why?

Simple: It's the environment, stupid. And ironically, in a country obsessed with technology and where "business casual" is rarely allowed, it's a low-tech, remove-your-tie solution to the energy consumption problem that's ultimately to blame for Gross's, well, gross and sweaty Japanese experience.

You see, in 2005, Environment Minister Yuriko Koike, a woman who had once had ~~perspiration~~ aspirations for the prime minister position, was vetting various ways to cut energy consumption. Her brainstorming led to "Cool Biz," a campaign that set all government building thermostats to 82.4 degrees during the summer. I'm sweating just typing that out this morning, but apparently it worked, and soon the business world adopted the practice too.

But since those temps are somewhat unbearable in the summer, Japanese energy scientists set to work on alleviating workers' pain. Their big solution? Suggesting they remove their ties and undo their shirt collars. Fun fact: People feel 4 or so degrees cooler when they do this.

The result is a Japan that consumes less energy at the expense of some ripe-smelling arm pits. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go adjust my air conditioner. [Slate]

Coin Lamp Has an Inevitable Future Date With a Hammer

Jack Loftus — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Coin Lamp has its heart in the right place, but I'm afraid the inevitable path that each of these concept lamps will take, given enough time, is into a garbage can. In pieces. Because your 401k just tanked, you're getting desperate, and you needed the $2.35 in change this simple little lamp contained something fierce. So, it was Coin Lamp, meet hammer, and you could afford your small latte at the expense of not being able to see that night. Kudos to designer Jethro Macey for thinking of it, as anything that keeps us mindful of our energy consumption is a welcome step forward. [Jethro Macey via Presurfer]

Faucet Fountain Eliminates Paper Bathroom Cups, Recreates Grade School

Jack Loftus — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EDT

For only $4, I can see little reason not to get this ingenious little Faucet Fountain attachment for the sink. It eliminates waste (no more paper cups in the bathroom), it saves you from having to wash extra cups in the kitchen, and it recreates those grade school gym class memories all in one. Plus, when not in use, the bottom pops out and allows the faucet to work normally.

[Tiny Living via The Kitchn]

Surge Power Strip: Your Power Wastage In Plain Sight

Kit Eaton — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT

The Climatized Objects Project think there's a simpler way to make you save energy than clever sockets: "Surge" plops your power sockets and thus energy consumption in open view. Shaming you, and dominating your home. Yup: I'd certainly be tempted to unplug my "on standby" devices if this red surge-protecting beast was draped over my desk, behind my TV and down the stairs. Oh, no: wait— of course I wouldn't, because I'd never use this crazy crapness in the first place. I kind of see what they're getting at, but I'm distinctly glad this will remain just an eco-concept. Spilling coffee with it around would be fatal. [Dvice]

Eco Drop Shower Gives You the Boot For Wasting Water

Sean Fallon — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:45:26 EDT

There has been a lot of emphasis in recent years on conserving water, but we all know that for most people self-regulation is damn near impossible. Enter designer Tommaso Colia and his Eco_Drop Shower. When the shower has decided that you have outstayed your welcome, concentric circles on the floor will rise&mdashmaking things too uncomfortable to continue. I don't know if this concept will ever see the light of day, but I vote for modifying it into a moving wall of spikes. Now that would be effective. Additional pic after the break.

[inewidea via BornRich via Trendhunter]

Energy Bill Got You Down? You Need Penguin Power!

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:53:55 EDT

In the universe of gadgets meant to monitor or conserve energy usage, this is the first we've seen that takes an anime approach. The Lifinity ECO is either a thermostat or a energy monitor (or both), using helpful cartoon penguins that keep tabs on your heating and AC settings, as well as the stuff plugged in around the house.

Currently only available in Japan, naturally, under Matsushita's National brand, we hope Panasonic considers bringing it to the US, where energy awareness is getting super serial. My only problem with the Lifinity ECO is this: The penguins I know like the AC cranked to the max. How's that gonna help shrink a guy's carbon footprint? – Wilson Rothman

Penguins at home [Akihabaranews]

Alarm Clock Saves Materials By Coming Packaged in Its Own Casing

Adam Frucci — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:30:00 EDT

This alarm clock is an exercise in efficiency, using the box that it comes packaged in as a casing once you get it home. Made of corrugated cardboard, it would be able to be taken apart and then put back together with a space for the actual clock component.

It's a pretty neat idea, although I can't say I'd want a cardboard alarm clock. –Adam Frucci

Alarm Clock From Its Own Packaging [Yanko Design]