Outsmart Waste

Phone Charger Uses Crystal Orbs to Focus the Sun's Rays A $149 solar smartphone charger called Beta.ey features a ball lens and minuscule multi-junction solar cell that can charge a smartphone one and a half times per day. RawLemon The theory underlying the project is that gleaming crystal globes can concentrate diffuse sunlight, or even moonlight, onto a tiny, hyper-efficient photovoltaic cell. The crystal ball is paired with a dual-motion tracking system that keeps the sun's energy focused on the cell throughout the day. The hope is that these innovations will make solar power a practical solution in parts of the world where it's previously been a non-starter.

Save Time Grading with Doctopus & Goobric (Overview of These Two Tools) I’m always on the look out to spend LESS time grading or, at the very least, to feel like the time I do spend grading is productive and efficient. Several months ago I wrote a blog titled “Google Docs: Grading Tips & Tricks” in which I shared some simple strategies for grading more quickly when working with Google documents. In addition to those tips, I recently wrote a blog about the new editing feature in Google Documents, which is making it easier to provide formative feedback. During a training last week, I was surprised that several teachers using Google Apps with students had not experimented with Doctopus, a Google Spreadsheet script developed by Andrew Stillman, and Goobric, a Chrome extension that adds rubric functionality to any document shared using Doctopus.

Social Media & NGOs: Crossing Boundaries & Building Bridges! Can social media help Non-Governmental Organizations achieve their humane goals and reach their charitable objectives? How could social media be utilized efficiently and effectively in order to promote noble causes and humanitarian concerns? Could social media negatively harm the messages that NGOs try to spread throughout the world? A Brief Introduction In one of my recent posts, I discussed, in details, my thoughts about the great power that social media possesses in addition to my sincere faith that it has the ability to pave the path for world peace. The thought reoccurred to me yesterday in a rather different face and form: the power social media has to cross boundaries and build bridges especially in relation to the humanitarian causes that hundreds of NGOs peruse.

Hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy, accounting for 16 percent of global electricity generation – 3,427 terawatt-hours of electricity production in 2010,[1] and is expected to increase about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years. Hydropower is produced in 150 countries, with the Asia-Pacific region generating 32 percent of global hydropower in 2010. China is the largest hydroelectricity producer, with 721 terawatt-hours of production in 2010, representing around 17 percent of domestic electricity use.

Instructables Classes AdWords We use AdWords to deploy digital advertising on sites supported by AdWords. Ads are based on both AdWords data and behavioral data that we collect while you’re on our sites. The data we collect may include pages you’ve visited, trials you’ve initiated, videos you’ve played, purchases you’ve made, and your IP address or device ID. Playing for Change Foundation The Playing For Change Foundation relies entirely on the contributions and donations of its supporters to keep its mission alive. These donations directly help to build, staff and equip new and existing music schools in communities in need of hope and inspiration. Our mission is grounded in inspiration, and in addition to your monetary support, we need your inspiration too.

Creating Plastic Out of Thin Air Newlight Technologies co-founder Mark Herrema shows off AirCarbon pellets | Image credit: Dan MacMedan/USA TODAY We’re hearing more and more often about inventive new ways companies are turning waste into valuable resources — from turning everything from CO2 and methane gases to human and food waste into fuels, and plastic into bacteria-battling “ninja polymers.” This week USA Today explored another breakthrough — a process that extracts carbon molecules from methane gas and turns them into plastic. California-based startup Newlight Technologies is using captured methane gas from dairy farms and turning it into AirCarbon, a durable and versatile plastic that can be used in everything from furniture and food containers to auto parts.

Developers seeing value in rainwater toilets The 22-story apartment tower in Portland, Oregon, has a roof garden that funnels rainwater to its public toilets. Because the water isn’t treated, state law requires “Do Not Drink” warning signs. “Just in case your dog can read,” said Dennis Wilde, chief sustainability officer for Gerding Edlen, the Portland-based builder of the development called Indigo@Twelve West. Gear Generator Animation: * Shift + Enter: Set RPM of the selected gear #0 - N8 - ratio: 1:1 - RPM: 6#1 - N16 - ratio: 2:1 - RPM: 3#2 - N12 - ratio: 2:1 - RPM: 3#3 - N60 - ratio: 10:1 - RPM: 0.6 9 Digital Ways to Make a Difference This Earth Day Are you busy preparing for Earth Day this Sunday? Are you worried that you'll end up being a slacktivist when it comes to saving the planet? Don't fret — there's plenty you can do to make a real difference, even if it's only from your computer or mobile device. Check out the following ways you can use digital channels to get involved this year. 1. Plant Trees Through Catalog Spree

Tabor MakerLab Workshop Handouts - Google Drive One account. All of Google. Sign in to continue to Google Drive Find my account Forgot password? Sign in with a different account Create account Tell President Rousseff to save the Amazon Dilma: save the Amazon, veto the new Forest Code One of our planets largest remaining rainforests is under threat from changes to the laws that govern forest protection in Brazil. The new Forest Code being proposed severely weakens protections for the Amazon rainforest and opens up vast areas to destruction, which would contribute to accelerating climate change. But there is still time.