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This Idea Wasn't All Wet: The Sensing Water-Saving Shower Head Debuts

Cars That Think

In 2012, with California in the midst of a severe drought, Schneider, then a mechanical engineering graduate student at Stanford University , once again tossed out a “cool idea.” He imagined a shower head that would sense when the person showering moved out from under the stream of water. You’d waste more water than you saved.

IDEA 90
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Novozymes launches commercial enzyme technology to convert waste oils into biodiesel

Green Car Congress

waste oils with high FFAs have not been a viable feedstock option. equivalent MeOH, 35°C/95°F, 2% water and 20 to 24 hours reaction time. The significant reduction of harsh chemicals and by-products enhances safety for both personnel and the environment. free fatty acids (FFA). FFA—i.e., Source: Novozymes.

Waste 225
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Autonomous Boats Seem More Solvable Than Autonomous Cars

Cars That Think

Where autonomous vehicles have had the most success is in environments with a lot of predictability and structure, which is why I really like the idea of autonomous urban boats designed for cities with canals. The public demo in Amsterdam kicks off tomorrow, and by the end of 2021, the hope is to have two boats in the water.

MIT 145
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Interim assessment finds Volkswagen’s “Think Blue. Factory.” program reduced resource consumption by average 24.3% since 2011

Green Car Congress

day, representatives from all Volkswagen sites presented their ideas and the measures they have already implemented to reduce the use of resources. The Volkswagen foundry in Hanover uses waste heat from the cooling system in various applications such as heating offices in winter or to heat up drinking water. Earlier post.).

2011 150
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New LLNL membrane bridges operational gap between low- and high-temperature PEM fuel cells; potential for lower cost systems

Green Car Congress

By increasing the operational flexibility, this class of fuel cell can simplify the requirements for heat and water management, and potentially reduce the costs associated with the existing fully functional fuel cell systems. There’s a huge benefit to running fuel cells at the widest possible operating temperature with water tolerance.

Fuel 150
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Renault Trucks’ Optifuel Lab 2 lab vehicle integrates technologies for more efficient big rigs; road test results coming in 2015

Green Car Congress

It is also supported by ADEMA, the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Control. The idea is to take as little energy as possible from the internal combustion engine. We therefore electrically powered several of the vehicle’s auxiliary items of equipment such as the air-conditioning, water pump, fuel pump and the steering pump.

2015 247
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Baker Institute-led group to develop nationwide protocol for paying ranchers and farmers to store carbon

Green Car Congress

This is an exciting idea that has the potential to add a scalable alternative into the portfolio of companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint. The need for a defensible new standard has led to the formation of the group, Blackburn said. —Kenneth Medlock.

Store 170