This week on TreeHugger, wax and soap can save rechargeable batteries, augmented reality on more apps, e-readers make their way into hotels and African school rooms, body heat powers hospitals, and more!
Augmented Reality iPhone App Points You to Every Nearby London Bike-Share Hub Nearby
Thanks to AR, the new app can help people not only find everything from bus stops and Tube stations, but also be visually guided to any London Cycle Hire Docking station within a 1 km radius, making traveling by bike — by bike-share system specifically — that much easier.
Solar Planter Concept Waters Window Garden with Air
Designer Kevin Cheng has come up with an idea that could be the envy of any geek gardener, or anyone who loves plants but can’t keep a cactus alive. It waters your plants with water pulled from the surrounding air.
Wax And Soap May Be Key to Better Rechargeable Batteries
Researchers are working on ways to improve rechargeable batteries without increasing the cost or complexity of the batteries. And it seems, simple wax and soap could hold just the solution.
From Austin to Santa Cruz, NRDC’s Rates the US’s Smarter Cities for Energy
How does your city rank in sustainable energy use?
Fairmont Hotel Brings In e-Readers As Guest Amenity
Fairmont Hotels is one of the most environmentally-minded chains around, and now it has decided to offer guests e-readers so they can leave their books at home.
Artful Transmission Towers Designed to Look Like Us
Who says that transmission towers need to be ugly? In a project entitled “The Land of Giants” those normally stark, utilitarian structures are transformed into more aesthetically pleasing sculptures that folks might not mind having in their backyards.
10 More Ways To Get Rid Of The Bed (Slideshow)
A while back, TreeHugger looked at 7 Ways To Get Rid Of The Bed, which has turned into a favorite. Here are a few more great space-saving ideas.
Worldreader to Boost Literacy in Ghana With Kindle e-Readers
Not only is the idea of bringing Kindles into classrooms growing in the states, but also in developing nations. Worldreader, a non-profit co-founded by ex-Amazon.com VP David Risher, is hoping to boost literacy rates by handing out Kindles.
Body Heat for Powering Medical Devices Helps Off-Grid Hospitals
Powering medical devices with energy sources other than batteries has been an area of interest for some years now. Researchers have looked at everything from harvesting kinetic energy from a person’s breath to their heartbeat. But what about body heat…and what about medical devices beyond pacemakers and other implants? Scientists are experimenting with using body heat to power medical tools for hospitals with unsteady power supplies.
TreeHugger’s EcoModo column appears every Tuesday on Gizmodo.
