“Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a December press conference. “…This milestone moves us one significant step closer to the possibility of zero carbon abundant fusion energy powering our society. If we can advance fusion energy, we could use it to produce electricity, transportation fuels, power heavy industry, [and] so much more.”

The revolutionary leap forward took place on December 5th in the National Ignition Facility at California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where scientists have been trying to generate fusion since 2009.

“The pursuit of fusion ignition in the laboratory is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity, and achieving it is a triumph of science, engineering, and most of all, people,” says LLNL Director Dr. Kim Budil. “Crossing this threshold is the vision that has driven 60 years of dedicated pursuit — a continual process of learning, building, expanding knowledge and capability, and then finding ways to overcome the new challenges that emerged. These are the problems that the U.S. national laboratories were created to solve.”

The experiment consisted of physicists pointing 192 of the world’s most powerful lasers at a pencil eraser-sized fuel pellet wrapped in a diamond. The pellet, made up of deuterium and tritium (both isotopes of hydrogen), was blasted with 2.05 megajoules of energy and heated up to 3 million degrees Celsius for a fraction of a second. The heat vaporized the hydrogen nub and released a wave of neutron particles that produced 3 megajoules of energy.

This is the first time that scientists have been able to breach the dividing line of “ignition,” the point at which the amount of energy created equals the amount of energy required to start the reaction.

“You see one diagnostic and you think maybe that’s not real and then you start to see more and more diagnostics rolling in, pointing to the same thing,” says Annie Kritcher, a physicist at Livermore who reviewed the data immediately after the experiment. “It’s a great feeling.”

By breaking the ignition barrier, scientists have proved that reproducing the same energy that creates stars is possible and could eventually lead to a sustainable form of energy that doesn’t require harmful carbon dioxide or other polluting byproducts.

Of course, it could still be years before clean energy on is available on a mass scale. “Probably decades,” said Dr. Budil during the press conference. “Not six decades, I don’t think. I think not five decades, which is what we used to say. I think it’s moving into the foreground and probably, with concerted effort and investment, a few decades of research on the underlying technologies could put us in a position to build a power plant.”

To make nuclear fusion viable as a global energy source, scientists will have to develop more efficient lasers and better containment options. Current power plant designs can’t handle the kind of heat and energy created by nuclear fusion.

The December 5th breakthrough in nuclear fusion gives us hope that truly clean energy is in our planet’s future. “This is a great day,” said Energy Secretary Granholm, one that “will go down in the history books.”

The post New Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Could Lead to Limitless Clean Energy first appeared on Dornob.

While their initial napkin drawings and estimates for a prototype in six months were a little shortsighted, the team recently announced that their two-seater electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVOTL) Model A is scheduled for roll out as early as 2025.

The company website shows a simulated version of the car driving in normal road traffic. When it approaches a blocked roadway, it immediately goes into lift mode, flying up and over the obstacle, landing on the other side, and continuing on its drive.

The Model A was specifically intended to be a real driving car for short commutes that could seamlessly transition to flight. “Most commuters typically travel under 30 miles on average,” CEO Jim Dukhovny told Robb Report. “We designed it to be the fastest and most convenient transport ever created for both rural and urban settings.”

Because the wings are built directly into the car’s carbon-fiber chassis, the Model A can takeoff and land virtually anywhere, bypassing airports that are normally required for vehicles with retractable wings. “That can eliminate 50 percent of the travel time,” Dukhovny adds.

Structurally, the wing configuration is similar to a two-wing biplane. When the Model A goes into aircraft mode, the cockpit (i.e. the front two seats) can tilt up to 90 degrees forward, allowing the vehicle to essentially fly on its side with its wheels pointed backward and air flowing through the perforated carbon-fiber body. As Dukhovny says: “the whole car is the wing.”

Boasting a distributed electric propulsion system and eight motors for ample backup power, the Alef flying car is billed as having a 200-mile driving range and a 110-mile flight range. The initial top speed for air travel will cap at 35 mph to comply with U.S. regulations on low-speed electric vehicles. However, the company is sure the speed limit will increase as other flying car models pass through the federal certification process.

Other Model A features include a software flight stabilization program, all-wheel driving, concealed props, obstacle detection and avoidance, and a full-vehicle parachute.

Alef’s progress has attracted some top-tier investors like Tim Draper of Draper Associates, an early investor in both Tesla and SpaceX. Draper has already contributed $3 million in seed money for Alef’s Model A.

“I put more (money in) when I saw that they had created a small drone prototype that did exactly what they told me it would do,” he said in an email. “The design is extraordinary. The sides of the car become the wings when the plane goes horizontal.”

While excited fans can pre-order the first version with a $1,500 deposit on the company website, the $299,999 price tag may be off-putting to most people. However, Alef is already proposing a 2030 release of a middle class-friendly Model Z with a range of 400 driving miles and 200 flight miles that would cost just $35,000, well under the current price of a self-driving Tesla.

The post Flying Car Aims to be the World’s Most Efficient Commuting Vehicle first appeared on Dornob.

India experienced a record high heat wave this past spring, with temperatures reaching upwards of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This led to a massive landfill fire outside of Delhi that burned for weeks, and even caused overheated birds to fall from the skies.

While modern air conditioning systems exist in Indian cities, the majority of the population is still without access to such technology. And since the greenhouse gases emitted by AC units contribute to global warming, trying to blanket the country with them may not be the best solution anyways.

That’s where Ant Studio’s eco-friendly idea comes in: using recirculated water to evaporate and cool the air as it continually flows down a beehive-shaped stack of clay tubes.

Evaporative cooling techniques date back to the ancient Egyptians. They would fan porous jars of water in their chambers, enjoying some temperature relief as the evaporating water took some of the oppressive heat with it. The Romans also employed water and clay to cool their houses, allowing the liquid to course through pipes in their walls.

Building a prototype of their brainchild outside the Deki Electronics factory in Uttar Pradesh, India, Ant Studio inserted cylindrical clay tubes into a rounded steel frame positioned on top of brick and tile basin. The Beehive’s water pump continually sends recycled water from the industrial plant up to the top of the structure, where it then flows down the surface of the clay. The multitude of clay pipes provides a larger surface area, increasing the cooling effect. Temperature measurements showed that the Beehive reduced the surrounding air to 97 degrees Fahrenheit from its previous 107 degrees.

After carefully studying various materials, Ant Studio chose clay as a material for the beehive because of its hygroscopic, or water attracting, properties. The designers found that clay carries a negative charge that bonds with the positive pole of a water molecule, allowing it to absorb water in both vapor and liquid states. Additionally, clay is completely recyclable, as it contains no complex chemicals or components.

The entire system is energy efficient and less expensive than traditional air conditioning. The use of recycled water from the factory’s existing supply minimizes waste. The water tank only needs topping off roughly once a month ,and the recirculating pump uses a small amount of electricity, making the Beehive a very economical cooling mechanism.

In areas where electricity is unavailable, the system could also be converted to a “zero-energy” model, with water being manually poured over the pots once or twice a day. While it would not have the same cooling power, it would have some effect and could still be easily built and maintained from local resources.

Ant Studio is also excited about employing pottery as part of the art/cooling device as a way of reviving what it sees as a fading ancient art. If the Beehive were to gain widespread traction, it could generate more work in the pottery market and help train new artisans in the trade.

The post This Terracotta Pipe Art Doubles as a Sustainable Cooling System first appeared on Dornob.

Candela Electric Hydrofoils Set to Start Stockholm Routes Next Year

Well beyond a cool-sounding concept, the Candela P-12 Shuttle will become a real commuting option in the Stockholm area by next year. Capable of carrying 30 passengers at a time, this 40-foot flying electric boat relies on hydrofoils that lift it out of the water so can zoom along at up to 30 knots (34 mph or 55 km/h). It uses the equivalent of a mere 0.1 kWh of electricity per passenger kilometer, gets a range of 50 nautical miles at typical service speed, and recharges in under an hour using DC fast charging.

Those impressive speeds make the P-12 the fastest electric ship in the world, according to Candela. It’ll also be among the greenest watercraft ever produced, reducing energy usage per passenger kilometer by 95 percent compared to commercial diesel-powered ferries that are currently in use.

“Our shuttles use 80 percent less energy than conventional ships and have the ability to travel far and fast on pure electricity,” Candela states on its website. “This means a 100-percent reduction in local emissions, particulate matter, and NOx. Moreover, there is no need for oil changes and thus no risk of oil leakages. Given the reduced energy consumption, low maintenance needs, and possibility to increase passenger volumes, we estimate that operational costs [in Stockholm] will be reduced by at least 40 percent.”

The P-12 Shuttle will slash commute times between the Stockholm city center and the suburb of Ekerö from 55 minutes by subway, bus, standard ferry, or car down to just 25 minutes. Part of that time savings stems from the fact that the P-12’s hydrofoils produce virtually no wake at all, allowing it to cruise within Stockholm’s no-wake zones, which usually require conventional boats to slow down to 12 knots or less. If Candela’s nine-month trial period with the city is successful, the company will likely make additional ferries available to help free up traffic from Stockholm highways. It could also pave the way for expansion into cities like New York and San Francisco.

The Candela P-12 shuttle features a carbon fiber keel and computer-controlled hydrofoils that make up to 100 micro-adjustments per second for the smoothest possible ride, increasing comfort for passengers. It has a 180 kWh battery and is small enough to easily jet around on the water. Candela also offers a consumer version called the C-8, if you’re interested in buying one of your own (starting at €290,000).

Seagliders Slash Channel Crossings Between England and France

Another interesting idea takes the “flying ferry” name a bit more literally. Brittany Ferries says its battery-powered craft “foils like a hydrofoil, hovers like a hovercraft, and flies like a plane… with the comfort and convenience of a ferry.” This concept glider can carry 150 passengers at a time and travel at speeds of up to 180 mph (290 km/h), quite a bit larger and faster than the P-12 and a whopping six times faster than conventional ferries. Brittany Ferries says it’ll get a battery range of 180 miles (290 km).

This flying ferry works by rising on foils as it departs from a port, taking off and riding a cushion of air just a few meters above the surface of the water until it reaches its destination. The company aims to test the concept by crossing the English Channel between Portsmouth, England and Cherbourg, France in just 40 minutes, a journey that currently takes 5 hours by conventional ship.

Since it’s rising considerably higher above the water than Candela’s hydrofoil ferry, the Brittany Ferries watercraft will face additional technical and regulatory challenges, but the company says it could be operational as soon as 2025. Brittany Ferries brings its proven expertise earned through development of its high-speed catamaran Normandie Express to assist US-based startup Regent Craft with the process.

“We are particularly pleased to contribute now because it means we can bring real-world challenges and potential applications into the company’s early thinking,” says Brittany Ferries’ Ports and Operations Director Frédéric Pouget. “We hope this may help bring commercial success in the years that follow. Who knows, this could well be the birth of ferries that fly across the Channel.”

The post “Flying” Electric Hydrofoil Ferries Could Slash Commutes in Coastal Cities first appeared on Dornob.

Awarding the contract to US-Spanish aerospace firm Skydweller Aero Inc., the Navy is hoping to move away from the airliner-sized MQ-4C Titon drones it currently uses to monitor ships on patrol and eventually triple the amount of time an aircraft could be out before returning to recharge.

Skydweller Areo, founded in Spain with headquarters now in Washington D.C. and Oklahoma City, used the Navy’s piloted Solar Impulse 2 as a starting point, adding new software and improving hardware. They also eliminated the need for a human on board.

“We are currently following our plan to test autonomous flight, then autonomous take-off, then autonomous landing, and finally our first fully autonomous flight,” says Skydweller CEO Robert Miller. “Once all this has been proven, we will move into long-endurance testing with the goal of operating for 90-plus days.”

The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 successfully circumnavigated the globe in 2015 but had to make pit stops every five days to accommodate the human pilot. Turning the plane into an unmanned craft not only allows for much longer continuous flights but also frees up space for more hardware.

“When we remove the cockpit, we are enabling true persistence and providing the opportunity to install up to about 400 kilograms of payload capacity,” Miller explains.

The plans for the new Skydweller aircraft, named after the company, include 72-meter (236-foot) wings lined with solar panels. To boost power and act as a backup in bad weather conditions (a frequent occurrence for navy vessels stationed in stormy seas), the plane will also be outfitted with hydrogen fuel cells.

Skydweller engineers will need to produce a lightweight hydrogen storage system to keep the airplane nimble and energy efficient. The team is also working on adding advanced battery modules and cutting-edge mission management software. Additionally, the aircraft will get a full analysis and possible redesign of its airframe structural components, power system performance, and energy management.

The U.S. military has shown a greater willingness to lean into clean technologies in recent years. The Army already has a net zero goal and the Air Force hopes to go carbon negative someday, having recently encouraged the entire Department of Defense to make similar objectives across all military branches.

The development of smarter, more efficient warcraft is especially relevant in light of Russia’s current war on Ukraine. “Furthering perpetual flight aircraft for solving next-generation government sensing and monitoring solutions is critical to national security. This collaboration will accelerate the development of our platform, providing a viable, carbon-neutral solution which expands the aircraft mission capabilities significantly,” says Miller. “This contract allows Skydweller to continue supporting the Department of Defense by addressing the current needs of our Combatant Commands and creating military-grade unmanned aerial systems that can operate safely and reliably at record endurance in various, changing environmental conditions.”

The post The US Navy Spent $14 Million on This Unmanned Solar Plane first appeared on Dornob.

“When the designs for our newest additions to our Silicon Valley campus evolved into a large canopy structure, we knew we’d have to think beyond traditional rectangular solar panels to create something that balanced form and function,” said Google’s District & Renewable Energy Lead Asim Tahir on the company blog. “…The dragonscale solar roof that will adorn these buildings is the result of years of product development, collaboration with a handful of partners, and examining prototypes from manufacturers all over Europe.”

Google eventually partnered with Swiss company SunStyle, who offered a highly textured glass shingle that could be overlapped to fit the shape of the circus tent-like roofs on the Bay View and Charleston East campuses. The dragonscale’s prismatic surface traps light more efficiently than a traditional flat panel, increasing the energy production. The solar cells are implanted in the flexible polyvinyl acetate (PVAc layer) and then topped with six millimeters of hardened solar glass and backed with fire resistant Tedlar. The edges are also sealed to prevent moisture from seeping in, thereby eliminating the need for aluminum framing.

And the canopy-style roof allows for better efficiency, as well. A flat roof hits its energy-generating peak at the same time each day, but as photons strike the curved dragonscales throughout the day, power can be created almost as long as the sun shines. At full capacity, the two campuses will produce seven megawatts of renewable power, which should cover about 40 percent of the workplace energy needs.

While that is an admirable achievement, it’s still a far cry from being completely carbon-independent. Last year, Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Google and parent company Alphabet Inc., announced his 10-year “moonshot” deadline to have every office and data center run on energy from clean sources 24 hours a day. “I wish we were at this moment a decade earlier. I’m worried and very anxious we’re losing time,” said Pichai. “It’s a bit stressful because we don’t fully have all the answers to get there.”

The company has been making progress, though. In 2020, 67 percent of the 15.1 million megawatt-hours required at Google’s data centers were made with renewable sources on an hourly basis, an improvement of 6 percent from year before. Some of the firm’s facilities, like those in Oklahoma and Oregon, already operate on 90 percent clean fuel.

In addition to the dragonscale solar shingles as one piece of the solution, the tech giant’s research and development lab has been exploring the viability and aesthetic of adding photovoltaics on their building’s facades and windows.

“Investing in sustainable energy innovations will not only get us closer to our goal to be carbon free by 2030, but it will also help our partners and others get there,” said Tahir. “We hope that sharing our approach to blending design, aesthetics, and manufacturing will inspire more projects like it.”

The post Google Covers New Buildings in “Dragonscale” Solar Roof Panels first appeared on Dornob.

The Cagbalete Sand Clusters, designed by Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc., was created for a client looking to build a second home during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020. With a goal of “farm leisure,” the 9.4-acre property will contain a four-bedroom residential unit for the owner, a farm-to-table restaurant, ponds for growing and harvesting mud crabs, a garden for fresh vegetables, a lighthouse, multi-story walkways and performance spaces, and lower-level swimming grottos.

“Since this is an agricultural land, the project has to be built in an ethical way with a faster and less wasteful construction method,” said chief architect and firm founder Carlo Calma in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Looking at the site, we set up a mud crab farm to prevent soil erosion. The mud crabs will eventually be part of the restaurant’s menu.”

Not only will the food be grown and caught on site, but the energy needs will also be self-sustained. Traditional solar panels are incorporated into custom sun umbrellas to generate the power required for the residence. “There are things in market that don’t have quality in design. We are turning these panels into sculptural pieces that are functional and sustainable even on a small scale. Its application of technology starts with the house,” Calma explains. Open-air ventilation will also help keep energy costs to a minimum.

The actual structure is made up of a series of hyperbolic pods that can assembled in multiple configurations. “The units can be stacked like LEGO blocks or pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. One unit consists of five modules that you can rotate, flip, or move around in different ways. You can make different spatial arrangements out of them. Every unit will be unique,” added the London-trained Calma. The curving shape was inspired by the ocean coral found just off-shore from the property.

Each module will be fashioned from noncorrosive materials, including glass fiber reinforced concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymer rebar, to combat the destructive influence of salt air. The design also integrates local hapa nets as shade, sunbathing hammocks, and mosquito protection. “They have elevated the humble hapa net into something beyond its utilitarian origins,” the project’s official press release states. “It is now both part of the structure’s construction membrane, a tool for food production, and a web that facilitates the daily activities of the structure’s inhabitants, enmeshing time, culture, and space.”

Construction of the Cagbalete Sand Clusters is underway, with the residential unit on track to be completed in December 2021. Mud crabs have already been planted in the area for cultivation.

Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc. was founded in 2009 in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Philippines, as an art and architecture firm that aimed “to push boundaries in design thinking, architectural practice, and construction.” The developer has created dozens of residential and commercial buildings to date, best known for their geometric and organic shapes, as well as their art installations throughout the country.

The post Stackable Sand Clusters Blend Farming and Fishing with Tourism first appeared on Dornob.

Last month, temperatures climbed to as high as 115 degrees in typically cloudy places like Seattle, wreaking havoc in the region. Sudden deaths, wildfires, infrastructure damage, and heat-related emergencies were just some of the side effects of this uncharacteristic and dangerous heat wave. Sadly, temps like these will most likely become the norm as climate change continues to cause extreme weather patterns, such as the ridge that centered itself over the region in June.

But how can areas like the Pacific Northwest rethink their infrastructure to better prepare for such devastating weather patterns?

The answer is a new approach to architecture that departs from the standard, combined with a few more familiar design concepts previously used in the region.

Currently, most homes in the region are designed for much cooler weather, with appropriate ventilation and insulation meant to regulate temperatures and cool them more effectively, rendering standard air conditioning mostly unnecessary. However, in light of last month’s record-breaking temperatures, architects in the Pacific Northwest are focusing on ways to depart from the region’s previously successful strategy of little or no-effort temperature control.

Mike Fowler, a Seattle-based architect at the firm Mithun, is just one of many architects who’s looking toward new ways for architecture to evolve – and design approaches historically used in more extreme climates may provide the answer.

These strategies are already being employed in other areas around the world, as architects are forced to rethink design concepts in response to ever-increasing temperatures. Some of these methods, including using new construction materials; employing advanced heat modeling techniques; and incorporating other, more traditional (and even ancient) architectural and design principles, are proving effective in keeping homes cooler, all without the need for air conditioning. That means less energy consumption and a more sustainable way of living and keeping cool.

Another such approach that’s proven successful is the building standard known as Passive House. With (official) origins in 1990s Germany, the Passive House concept has since been modified to accommodate varying climates in countries across the globe. The standard essentially turns homes into sealed energy efficient “envelopes” with extremely high insulation, making them more impervious to the temperatures outdoors. To accomplish this, homes are built with windows that are triple-paned, contain heat pumps that are extremely energy efficient, and have highly insulated wall systems. This idea of “passive building” is nothing new – it’s been used for centuries in hotter climates all over the world. However, with temperatures rising in places like the Pacific Northwest, architects are turning to these concepts for new ways to stay cool while also becoming more energy efficient.

Fowler, for one, is on board with Passive House standards, and works with groups like Passive House Northwest to encourage architects and builders to employ these principles. He says that “the pitch [involves] one chance to invest in your building envelope — the windows, roof, and walls. Do it right so that something you build now is going to be resilient into the future.”

Even without meeting “the official standard,” Passive House design concepts are influencing other architects around the world, including the firm Studio Ma in Phoenix, which focuses on designing elements right into their buildings to keep them passively cool. The use of shading, overhangs, and cantilevers also keeps buildings cool in the desert heat. Combined with lighter materials on the outside of the building that have better insulation (versus heavier stone and masonry), the houses’ temperatures can be managed much more effectively.

Christopher Alt, a co-founder of Studio Ma, says that “some people call it ‘outsulation’ because the insulation is on the outside, but it’s very dependent on the climate you’re in.” He feels that though the solution is different in Arizona, the same kind of thinking applies in regions like the Pacific Northwest. Though the two areas have very different climates, the Passive House standard can still be modified and adapted accordingly to incorporate architecture that addresses any region’s specific cooling needs.

Other architects have found that incorporating passive cooling methods into design concepts from the ground up can be both more affordable and energy-efficient. Marlene Imirzian, who runs an architectural firm with offices in California and Arizona, has been using passive cooling elements in many of her projects, and has found that these practices can significantly cut energy consumption – and costs. “It’s not about highly specialized systems. It’s about using natural flows…and designing [spaces] to allow for air movement,” she says.

In many cases, this means implementing practices from the ground up, and building with the goal of reducing energy use while keeping cooler, as part of the initial design strategy. Imirzian’s firm, who had the winning entry in Phoenix’s zero net energy home competition, proved just that, incorporating passive cooling concepts into a 2,100-square-foot home that would cost about the same as an air conditioned home, but requires way less energy to cool. “If we start doing these single family homes well,” Imirzian says, “we can significantly reduce energy use.”

With temperatures on the rise and predictions that, because of climate change, we can expect more extremes in the coming years, architects and designers are rethinking long-held ideas about how homes are built – by looking to the past. With an eye toward less energy consumption via cooling methods that don’t involve air conditioning, these innovative processes could have long-term implications that extend beyond extremely hot climates. As Imirzian says, “[They could be] very, very transferable around the world.” And that’s great news for our warming planet, which needs sustainable solutions now more than ever.

The post Could This Ancient Design Technique Help Keep Homes Cooler Without A.C.? first appeared on Dornob.

“Tesla Solar Inverter completes the Tesla home solar system,” the company website says. “Tesla’s renowned expertise in power electronics has been combined with robust safety features and a simple installation process to produce an outstanding solar inverter that is compatible with both Solar Roof and traditional solar panels. Once installed, homeowners use the Tesla app to manage their solar system and monitor energy consumption, resulting in a truly unique ecosystem experience.”

For those unfamiliar with the technology behind solar, an inverter is the part of a solar energy system that converts the direct current (DC) power coming in through the rooftop panels into alternating current (AC), the kind of power supported by utility companies and used by household electronics. By adapting the incoming power, homeowners can generate their own electricity and even sell some back to the utility providers where permitted.

Thus far, Tesla, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has been installing third-party inverters with its Solar Roof and Powerwall packages. But with the development of its own proprietary device, the company can have greater command over the full system, including design and monitoring aspects. Plus, this addition could potentially bring down the cost of the complete solar system by tapping into their already extensive charging station and EV power production capabilities.

Here’s what’s under the hood of Tesla’s latest offering:

Power

Built on Powerwall 2 technology, two versions of the new inverter are available: a 3.8 kW type with two maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) and a 7.6 kW edition with four, with the latter being a huge bonus in systems where the solar modules are positioned on different parts of the roof and connected by several strings.

Connectivity

Linking with Wi-Fi, ethernet, and cellular connections, the inverter is capable of over-the-air updates, making it more adaptable than those offered by Tesla’s competitors. This creates the possibility of improved software over the device’s lifetime. It’s also designed to integrate with the Tesla mobile app for full user control and visibility, and with the Tesla Powerwall where applicable.

Efficiency

The product webpage asserts that the new inverter has a 97.5-percent efficiency rating. Unfortunately, it’s not made clear if that’s the maximum efficiency or the California Energy Commission’s weighted rating. If it’s the latter, the company’s inverter can beat out the Delta version with its 97 percent, but not SolarEdge’s 99 percent weighted efficiency (both inverters that Tesla has installed previously with its solar systems).

Safety

The new device is equipped with integrated rapid shutdown capabilities, as well as arc-fault ground protection. It meets all the US-required safety regulations.

Other Device Specifications

The new inverter can handle a broad range of temperatures from -22°F to 113°F (sorry Alaska and Arizona), and can be installed either inside or out. The box measures 26 inches tall by 16 inches wide and six inches deep, which is slightly thinner than many competitors.

Finally, Tesla is offering a 12.5-year warranty on its inverter, besting Delta’s five-year and SolarEdge’s 12-year guarantee. That long-term promise of support – along with the company’s reputation for high quality standards – may help allay any buyer fears about going with a newer, less-tested product.

The post New In-House Tesla Inverter Rounds Out Company’s Home Solar Package first appeared on Dornob.

Today, their new 3,129-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 5-bath residence serves as a prime example of what’s possible when it comes to building fire-resilient structures. The couple achieved this with the help of architect Andrew Wilt, who designed the luxurious home, and Alliance Green Builders, who constructed it.

According to the home’s official website, “the homeowners, architect, and builders made fire-resistance a top priority incorporated into the architecture and material selection.” Fire-resistant construction materials, including stucco and concrete walls, metal roofing, high-impact windows, and stone and tile ground cover serve to make “Casa Águila” even more resilient.

The single-story ranch-style property, completed in 2016, is named after the golden eagles that soar through the surrounding hills, marking the first house in the entire county to be certified by the Passive House Institute US. Passive home design is a building standard that takes factors like energy efficiency, comfort, affordability, and ecological concerns into consideration — all of which are especially important in Southern California, where drought is ongoing and wildfires cause power outages that can last for days.

Fire-Resistant Architecture

The home’s shell is both energy-efficient and fire-resistant. This one-two punch was achieved with help from the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program (ZERH). The wood framing within was treated with borate, a naturally-occuring compound that is commonly used to protect wood from termites, though it also prevents combustion while suppressing smolder.

Additionally, the interior walls and ceilings were fitted with sheets of plastic containing bio-based, phase-changing gel packets, which themselves offer an energy-efficient way to stabilize interior temperatures. More specifically, the gel within them “phases,” cooling the home when it melts and warming it back up when it solidifies.

“Bulletproof” Windows and Doors

You might think that a building’s exterior would be the first thing to catch during a wildfire, but because Southern California’s fierce Santa Ana winds are capable of lifting up debris and breaking windows, embers can actually spark up inside of homes, too. For that reason, Casa Águila has been equipped with Passive House-rated, German-manufactured Unilux windows and doors. The glass on these windows is tempered and protected by a laminated “bulletproof” outer layer, the likes of which should be able to withstand rocks and other wind-blown debris.

Self-Sufficient Means Natural-Disaster-Ready

Casa Águila’s average annual savings compared to that of a standard new home (due primarily to energy efficiency) is $11,700. All California DOE ZERHs are evaluated using the California Energy Design Rating (EDR), and this home received an incredibly low EDR of -92.

A 360-square-foot solar thermal collection system on the roof provides the home with radiant floor heat and hot water. With climate change in mind, two backup systems have been put in place to provide air and water heating and cooling. Builder Jeff Adams explains: “the system has been designed for a climate that could be dramatically different in 100 years or more.”

Drought-resilience and water self-sufficiency were achieved using five 10,000-gallon rainwater-collection tanks. Four more 10,000-gallon tanks collect storm water, while a fifth additional tank collects graywater from the washing machine, sinks, and showers. This water is filtered and reserved for irrigation and fire-suppression purposes. Blackwater from the kitchen sink and toilets is released into a septic tank before being aerated, filtered, and pumped into a final 1,000-gallon tank (also for irrigation use).

474 square feet of photovoltaic panels have been employed for electricity, each of them maximizing efficiency even on the rare cloudy days. The hill above Casa Águila is the site of the home’s other energy-collector, a helical, 45-foot-tall, 3.2-kW wind turbine. In total, the residence runs off of twenty twelve-volt solar batteries and can generate power for over twelve hours a day.

In 2016, the home gained LEED Platinum status and won the 2017 Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Award. The homeowners continue to innovate and educate their community through home tours and workshops.

The post Casa Águila: A Resilient, Self-Sufficient Solution to Wildfires first appeared on Dornob.

These six humidifiers offer an option for virtually every taste and budget, including models that diffuse scents, kill bacteria with UV lights, and work without electricity. Just remember to keep yours hygienic by replacing the water inside every day, cleaning the water tank regularly, and using distilled water to avoid a buildup of minerals.

Best Decorative Option: Objecto W4 Hybrid Humidifier

It’s hard to find electronics that look this good. Objecto’s W4 Hybrid Humidifier essentially looks like a pleasingly shaped vase, and it comes in both wood grain and acrylic to fit into practically any interior design style, from bohemian to ultramodern. Best of all, it features a removable water tank and aroma trays for your favorite essential oils. It’s $169 at Verishop, but you can also pay in installments via Afterpay.

Best Value: Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Priced at just $49.99 at Target, this petite humidifier comes in eight different colors, from unobtrusive white to bright neon pink. Its cool mist adds moisture to the air in rooms measuring up to 500 square feet, and it’s more energy efficient than a household light bulb. But for the price, you get a pretty high capacity, with a whopping one-gallon water tray.

Most Versatile: HoMedics 2-in-1 Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier

HoMedics’ TotalComfort 2-in-1 humidifier lets you choose between cool and warm mist, depending on what’s comfortable for your room, and even between floor use or table use with a “mist extension wand.” An essential oil tray lets you turn it into a scent diffuser if you like, too, and it even comes with a remote control for easy operation.

Best Non-Electric Option: Set of 2 Ceramic Natural Water Humidifiers

No batteries, electricity, or humming sounds here. These natural ceramic humidifiers work by evaporation, and while they won’t have quite the same impact as a more conventional model, they’re great for people who just want a little bit of extra moisture in the air. Bonus: they have a nice minimalist look and can be placed virtually anywhere you like.

Biggest Splurge: Dyson AM10 Humidifier

If you just have to have the best of the best, Dyson’s futuristic-looking humidifier offers three functions in one: air humidification, a high-velocity fan option, and ultraviolet cleanse technology to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria before the air is projected into the room.

Best Rated: Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier

Easy to find at a variety of retailers and highly rated by customers, this Honeywell cool mist humidifier is affordable, too, currently priced at $64 on Amazon. Its evaporative technology blows moisture off a wicking filter so it evaporates into the air quickly, and UV technology kills 99.9 percent of bacteria in the water.

The post The 6 Best Humidifiers to Keep You Breathing Easy During Quarantine first appeared on Dornob.

Those looking for something in between regular old curtains and a custom-installed smart curtain system will find a few interesting options, including the SwitchBot. This add-on device can transform any curtains into smart curtains so you can stick with your favorite brands and fabrics. It’s also surprisingly small and doesn’t require special rods or rails to work.

The wireless SwitchBot installs in thirty seconds without any screws, nuts, or bolts. You just hang it over the curtain rod, set your preferences within the accompanying app, and let it do all the work. You don’t even have to pull out your phone to control it, as the system works seamlessly with Alexa, Google Home, and Siri.

The makers of the SwitchBot claim that “even the most eco-friendly air-conditioning consumes energy to cool your room. We can reduce energy consumption by minimizing temperature fluctuations in your room. Close the curtains to block out sunlight to keep your room cool. The SwitchBot Curtain has a built-in sunlight sensor to detect sunlight. This can help save energy by reducing the workload on your air-conditioning and heating. It can be set to automatically close during the day time in summer to block out the sunlight and keep your room cool. You can also have it automatically open during the day in winter to warm your room with sunlight.”

“You can also install the solar power strip add-on to charge the SwitchBot Curtain’s battery using sunlight, thus eliminating the need to recharge the battery. Don’t worry about ‘charging anxiety’ on the SwitchBot Curtain. Install and forget! Leverage technology to take care of the daily routines through automation and voice control. A ‘Lights Off’ scene turns off the light and draws the curtains [to] brighten the room naturally with sunlight. Or you can just say ‘Alexa/Ok Google/Hey Siri, give me sunlight.’”

Some of the ways you can make the most of the SwitchBot include setting them to open and close automatically at dawn and dusk, putting them on a random schedule to make it look like someone’s home when you’re away, and using them to protect your home against the harshest hours of sunlight, which can make your living spaces unbearably hot during the summer.

Crucially, the SwitchBot is also making it possible to adopt smart home technology without creating too much excess waste. Smart home features aren’t for everyone, of course, and if you don’t need them, great! But don’t knock them flat-out, as they can be especially useful for the elderly and people with disabilities. Products like the SwitchBot also don’t require you to replace things you already own in order to use them, and that’s a huge plus.

Get all the details on the official SwitchBot Kickstarter page.

The post SwitchBot Instantly Turns Any Curtains Into Smart Curtains first appeared on Dornob.

The Leeza SOHO is positioned just above an underground subway service tunnel, with a rails station next door. Though its envelope is shaped like a rounded cylinder, the interior has a dynamic layout, with the atrium twisting to create continuous convex openings all the way up to the ceiling.

“This rotation of the atrium intertwines Leeza SOHO’s two halves in a dynamic ‘pas de deus’ with connecting skybridge on levels 13, 24, 35 and 45, its glazed facade giving panoramic views across the city,” say the architects. “Leeza SOHO’s atrium acts as a public square for the new business district, linking all spaces within the tower and providing varying views due to its twisting, sculptural form, creating a fantastic new civic space for Beijing that is directly connected to the city’s transport network.”

Not only does the atrium draw natural light all the way down to the building’s lowest levels, it also acts as a “thermal chimney” with an integrated ventilation system to maintain positive pressure and keep internal temperatures regulated. The double-insulated glass curtain wall system draws outside air through narrow openings, offering strategic ventilation and protecting the interiors from Beijing’s hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.

It’s also designed to achieve LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council, with features like an advanced energy management system that monitors energy and resource efficiency using pumps, fans, boilers, smart lighting, water collection, and low-flow fixtures. It’s hard to see from outside, but the Leeza SOHO tower also boasts a green roof that helps insulate the building, as well as an array of solar panels.

The architects add: “At the forefront of 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) in design, construction management, and building operations, Zaha Hadid Architects and SOHO China have implemented proven technologies to reduce the energy consumption and emissions at each of their four collaborations, totaling 15 million square feet (1.4 million square meters) of mixed-use urban space in Beijing and Shanghai.”

Everything about the tower aims to appeal to the business community of Beijing, from its prime location adjacent to public transit to its 2,680 bicycle parking spaces, shower facilities, dedicated charging spaces for electric and hybrid vehicles, and impressive views.

It’s also close to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport, which is currently in the process of opening. The Fengtai business district is considered integral to Beijing’s plan to accommodate growth without impacting existing networks of infrastructure.

The exterior of the tower is a bit subdued compared to many of the firm’s typically fluid, dramatic, and sculptural works. But step inside, and there’s no question as to who designed the Leeza SOHO. Check out Zaha Hadid’s ultra-thin concrete pavilion, architectural 3D-printed chairs, kitchenware collection and, of course, the Beijing Daxing airport.

The post Zaha Hadid’s Leeza SOHO Skyscraper Features World’s Tallest Atrium first appeared on Dornob.

The post Laundré: A Place To Do Laundry and Drink Coffee All At Once first appeared on Dornob.

There are a few trademark characteristics that classify earthship buildings, including their ability to effectively heat and cool themselves without using energy, systems for collecting and recycling rainwater, and their reliance on solar power for the energy they do use. Another commonality among earthships is the use of recycled and natural materials in their construction processes. When combined, these features add up to ultra low-energy, eco-friendly, off-grid living.

All earthships are designed to accommodate adequate light and airflow through their interiors. This is achieved using strategically-placed glass windows, which also create a greenhouse effect that’s perfect for indoor gardening. And since sustainability is such a major goal of the earthship community, it seems like the ability to grow fresh food from greenhouse to table only makes for another welcome element.

Water conservation is also at the forefront of earthship design, beginning with rain and snowmelt collection from the roof. The water here is stored and pumped inside for use in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Greywater also goes through the internal greenhouse to water plants and receive natural filtration. Outside, it’s used to maintain landscaping.

In total, each drop of water collected by an earthship is used four times for maximum resource conservation — not to mention no water bill.

Most earthships are also built without any sort of foundation. Instead, their walls are constructed from tires packed with soil and dirt and then covered in an adobe mud. Alternatively, they can be insulated using straw bales. Their interior walls are built using reused aluminum cans, as well as glass and plastic bottles. Earthship showers, fireplaces, and counter supports are also built in this way.

Because the position of each earthship is so important to the amount of interior comfort they can provide, they tend to be most effective in arid, desert environments. Indeed, the largest communities of them are centered in New Mexico and Colorado, but a few others can also be found scattered across the globe.

In addition to offering an off-grid option for remote areas, earthships are also naturally earthquake-resistant due to the flexibility of the rubber within their walls.

There are already a few companies out there that specialize in building earthships, though the initial cost is about the same as that of a traditional construction. In the long run, however, you’ll find that the water and energy fees only run you about a quarter the amount of mainstream designs. Just be sure to check with your local officials before investing in an earthship of your own, as there are some local building ordinances that don’t allow them yet.

The post Earthships Use Recycled Materials to Foster Cozy Off-Grid Living first appeared on Dornob.

If this new spin on the shower head catches on, we might not have to make that choice. The Nebia sells itself as “a modern shower for the modern world,” aiming to create an indulgent experience while simultaneously saving lots of water. Engineered using custom fluid dynamics models to use 65 percent less water than usual, the Nebia looks like something you’d see in fictional tech founder Nathan Bateman’s futuristic house in the movie Ex Machina, and there’s a good reason for that. It was developed by product design engineers who previously worked at companies like NASA, Tesla, and Apple, and its backers include some of the biggest names in tech, such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google’s Eric Schmidt.

Produced in collaboration with the high-end faucet brand Moen, the Nebia first launched in 2015, with a groundbreaking design that could atomize water into millions of tiny particles to make its spray as efficient as possible. Now, the San Francisco-based startup is back with the Nebia Spa Shower 2.0, which incorporates customer feedback on the first model for a host of new improvements.

Ten precision-turned nozzles enshroud the user in a warm mist, delivering ten times more surface area of water to your skin and hair than the average shower head. An adjustable sliding bracket also allows you to customize the water pressure, and the whole thing tilts up to 45 degrees to help you direct the spray. Finally, a fully positionable hand wand with a magnetic dock lets you target those hard-to-reach areas lower on the body.

Users of the previous Nebia model reported that the mist felt hot as it came out but quickly cooled down as it fell. The company reports that the new high pressure shower head feels 29 percent warmer since its droplets fall three times faster and provide two times the coverage, all while saving a whole lot of water. It’s also just as sleek as you’d expect from an item that’s so popular with billionaires and techies. Available in matte black or silver, the Nebia 2.0 would fit right in at an Apple store, and you can get an equally-minimalist shelf to match it and keep all your important toiletries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR3ZFc4YqXI

Installing the Nebia is also quite easy. You can do it yourself without the need to hire a plumber or drill into your shower enclosure. “If you can change a lightbulb, you can install Nebia,” the company says. It can even be done in a matter of minutes, with the parts simply screwing and sliding into place.

“Showers are a vital daily ritual and yet, in the past few decades, there has been very little innovation in the shower industry. we believe a better shower experience and tremendous water savings are not only possible, but absolutely paramount for the future,” says Philip Winter, Nebia co-founder and CEO. “With Nebia 2.0 we re-examined everything under the hood. We spoke with thousands of customers to determine the key features that could be improved. The result is a warmer and more powerful shower that sets a totally new standard — and still saves 65 percent of the water used by conventional showers.”

Nebia 2.0 is currently available for preorder on Kickstarter, with early-bird pledges starting at just $349 and a projected retail price of $499. While it’s certainly no drop in the bucket, that price tag is still a whole lot lower than that of the first Nebia model, which retailed for $650.

The post Nebia 2.0: Luxurious High Pressure Shower Saves 65% More Water first appeared on Dornob.