It is an issue of good debate in the barbeque world whether meat tastes better when heated over an open flame. Or would the cooking be better when charcoal is used. Some may even prefer Applewood as the heating source. However, history has proved that heating the charcoal grill has been a very frustrating experience. This entire scenario can be changed by using the 60 second charcoal starter.

Principle of work

This charcoal lighter looks more like a light saver. However, rather than using light plasma, it utilizes hot air that has been heated to almost 1300 degrees Fahrenheit. Initially, the wand is buried in the pile of charcoal. This wand continues to heat the coal till the briquettes start to spark. Then, the wand is removed. The sparks which have been created continue to heat the pile of coal till the fire begins. The result of using this lighter is that there is a cleaner flame. Also the dangers of BBQ gas are obviated. This gas cannot be overused to start a serious fire.

Power

This 60 second charcoal starter is given power by 110 AC. Thus, the wand cannot be used for any backpacking trips. However, those travelers which have an RV or generator with an electrical output can use this device. It is possible for such travelers to light the fire for cooking. The only thing necessary in this case is that there must be a decent extension cord. Thus, this product from Hammacher is very useful indoors as well as outdoors.

Popularity: 5%

Solar power has become a highly efficient source for heating water. Combining this technology with underground storage it can create a year round system where the system would cover the heating requirements of people in winter and cooling requirements in summer. Ooms Avenhorn Holding BV, the Dutch company has undertaken this concept and have moved it one step ahead with the Road Energy System.

The Road Energy System (RES) has laid the collection system within the concrete rather than putting the tubes on a rooftop. The tubes would connect the underground storage area. The concept is very simple as the heat on the black asphalt usually goes down to heat the water pipes. This water is then transferred to the storage area. In the cold weather, on demand this hot water is transferred to heat the buildings and the roads are kept above freezing. After the cooling process the water is then moved to the cold storage in order to provide air conditioning during the summer months.

This system makes a perfect solar heating or cooling system for both the building and roads. This reusable combo is a great way to reduce the electricity requirements and the pollution. Apart from this the heating and cooling system also reduces the maintenance of the roads. If the solar energy is collected from a small parking lot and 200 yard stretch of road it would help heat an apartment building of 70 units with four story’s. Apart from this concept, it has already been used in a few areas in Denmark that have proved to be working well.

Popularity: 6%

There is surely no dearth of electronic companies in the world which have already made their own green computers but that was not something that you were sure about how green they are. However, the ever helpful engineers at Ars Technica have given out their new guide that would teach you how to build your own green computer. As you might have expected there is no shortage of companies which are involved in this specific endeavor but Ars Technica have laid out a set of various options to accommodate all the needs including a green gaming box and a tremendous greener box.

This former option would not cost you more than $1,000 as it includes one of the biggest powers saving trade off that comes from the video card which is Radeon HD 3850. This card as we all know is one of the best and largest power hogs in any computer. On the other hand the extreme green box would put up things over the $1,400 point as it includes no comprise options like integrated graphics, VIA C7 processor and obviously the 32GB SSD drive which is the main reason for the huge chunk of your total cost. However, the Ars Technica assumes that you would have to make a few such negotiations in the not very remote future with the things like cheaper SSD drives or even low power VIA and the high performance processor from Isaiah on the prospect.

Popularity: 4%

The Honda Company which is best known for their excellent and smooth motorcycles and cars is now set to promote solar energy in a huge way with their new project with the Honda Soltec Company which makes solar panels. This basically means that Honda that has long been offering eco friendly technology which would now make solar energy as its main source to energize their products. The Honda Soltec Company that was founded in the month of November 2007 is a major solar panels producing enterprise. It would now not be very surprising if the Honda Motor Company launches a solar powered motorcycle or car in the future.

As you might already be familiar that Honda has already launched a hydrogen filing station that is solar powered in Torrence in California, if you were just worried why Honda would produce hydrogen. This would simply be to power their new fuel car called the FCX. The company plans to design and promote solar cells in a variety of purposes like solar powered street lighting, solar powered homes and many more.

Evidently, with an international manufacturing massive company like Honda trying to increase the popularity of solar technology then it would just be a matter of time and idea before other giant manufacturers fall for the same. The future for our easily broken environment is now looking even brighter with companies like Honda promoting solar energy. However, as we all know that the best and easiest way to move forward is to go green.

Popularity: 5%

Combining with the already growing club of car companies who are doing their best to save the already delicate planet, BMW, the German Car giant has taken the censorship of their latest ‘Vision Efficient Dynamics’, at Geneva Motor Show this year. The vision car which at the first look seems like a standard X5 SUV car includes a lot of features under the hood to know all the actions of the car. For a start the car has includes a pair of variable turbo’s including a common rail direct injection which gives out nearly 295 lb of torque and nearly 204 horse power. The torque is more sufficient at the SUV areas and so the BMW has focused on improving their torque level

However, what makes the Beemer a mild hybrid is what BMW would prefer to bring their new X5. The unique feature of this X5 is that it is designed with solar panels mounted on its roof and regenerative braking. Both these sources of renewable energy take the load of the entire engine and leave behind the more powerful and efficient engine to just concentrate on the pushing of the car. The power steering, the engine coolant pumps AC and the compressor uses the stored solar energy from its 120 volt system that is got from regenerative braking and solar power. This then converts into an excellent and leading 8.9 seconds 0 to 60 time and a topping mileage of nearly 6.5 liters every 100 kms. It gives out only 172 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometer.

Popularity: 5%