Indoor farms need light—and a lot of it—to grow crops, but that energy adds up big time in terms of cost and environmental impact. A Pinkhouse is a new type of indoor farm that grows crops using pink-colored light. Rather than bathing plants with white light (which has all the colors of the spectrum), a Pinkhouse uses a mix of red and blue light. By not using all the other colors, indoor vertical farms can cut down on their power bill with low-energy LED lights that emit just the right shade of magenta.
Tesla Motors just announced that it has repaid the entire $465 million loan that it received from the Department of Energy a full nine years early. The development makes Tesla the only US car company in history to have fully repaid loans received from the government.
The world is on a crash course to run out of freshwater, according to United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. At yesterday’s UN’s International Day of Biological Diversity, Ban Ki-moon addressed a number of the water security issues facing the planet today. Only a small amount of water on earth is freshwater, and the Secretary General reinforced that there is a delicate relationship between water and biodiversity.
Doctors did not expect newborn Kaiba Gionfridoo to live long when he was found to have a serious tracheal condition that inhibited his ability to breathe. The infant had a collapsed bronchus and had to be resuscitated on a daily basis. At a loss for solutions, his doctors contacted medical researchers at the University of Michigan for help. Glenn Green, M.D. and Scott Hollister, Ph.D. had designed a 3D-printed tracheal splint made of polycaprolactone, a biopolymer that eventually dissolves in the body. 21 days after the splint was implanted Kaiba was taken off breathing support, and 20 months later he continues to breathe on his own.
Electric Vehicle buyers in the US looking for a good deal now have three models to choose from, as General Motors just announced that pricing for the 2014 Chevy Spark EV starts at $27,495. Buyers can also lease the EV for as low as $199 a month, which is the same monthly rate as the Fiat 500e and the Nissan Leaf.
It’s hard to imagine a time when driving cross-country was a challenge, a time when gas stations were infrequent and roads were unreliably paved. But that’s exactly what inspired the people at Moto Electra Racing to attempt to ride their electric motorcycle across the country in a record-breaking three days. With 2,500 miles to cover, that’s an average speed of 70 mph with 20 stops for charging and catnaps — a challenge for any rider.
Lumos Solar just unveiled their newest product: a modular and customizable photovoltaic structure called the SolarScape. Perfect for patio covers, pool awnings, carports, walkways, bus stops and commercial overhead applications, Lumos SolarScapes provide an aesthetic and architectural solution for providing shade and renewable energy. The structures are based around the award-winning LSX Frameless Module System, and their versatile design allows renewable energy to be integrated into everyday life in entirely new ways.
Helvey Design Studio has created a series of furniture built to last a lifetime. Their FIRST Collection has been designed with the principals of simplicity, minimalism and quality craftsmanship. Each piece is handcrafted in San Diego, California, using only sustainable, responsibly sourced goods such as naturally felled Northern California Black Oak, FSC certified Black Walnut from South Carolina, and steel that is 99% recycled and made in America. Want one of the beautiful pieces seen here for yourself? Back Helvey on Kickstater and scoop one up for your home!
The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat? Send us a tip by following this link. Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!
