21st Century Folk Art: Capacitor Robot Charms

Obvious Front has been making Capacitor Figures out of electronic components salvaged from discarded TVs, VCRs, and computers since 1982.

These little figures are very clever, and are supposed to help save your computer from crashing.  Obvious Front's Capacitor Figures are also created to help create awareness about all of the e-junk that is being thrown into our landfills.

You can buy a cool little Capacitor Figure from Obvious Front's Etsy storefront, or you can try something a little more rewarding.

This is how I got my Capacitor Figure - Send a really cool piece of Mail Art to:
ObviousFront
PO BOX 1644
Milan, IL 61264 

Now wait a couple of weeks, and you might just get something great back.  If not, I really recommend that you check out their Etsy store for immediate satisfaction.

New Eco-Friendly Running Shoes By END

When it comes to the composition of running shoes, you will be hard pressed to find a pair that are not made out of livestock, nylon, or petroleum.

That is, until now.

Thanks to the new company, Environmental Neutral Design [END], you will now be able to buy some eco-friendly shoes.

END is a Portland company that was formed in late 2007 by former Columbia Sportswear and Nike Executives. They are focused on creating "a new culture, not a new corporation."

All END shoes use bamboo fibers in their liners, and the laces and webbing of their shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles. Most of the rubber they use contains about 25% recycled material as well.

In an effort to economize the use of materials, end shoes are quite light. They are only about 10 ounces, compared to the standard 12 to 15 ounces a standard running shoe might weigh.

Each pair of END shoes will cost you about $65-$95, and they are now available at REI.

14 Parcels 13 Achitects - Portland's High Density Architecture

High Density Architecture GO! Kevin Cavenaugh's brainchild 14 parcels is Portland's best chance at getting shot into the Uber-Cool-Architecture-Spotlight.

Here is the plan: Cavenaugh will split the design of these 14 parcels between himself and 12 other architects. They are going to be working in cramped quarters, with the smallest of the lots being only 16 feet by 16 feet.

Fortunately, the zoning on this lot allows for structures to be up to 275 feet high. This is going to allow for some amazing high density houses and duplexes to be designed. The first two are going to be made by Cavenaugh - both 256 square foot houses.

The architects building on these 14 parcels are from around the world. Six of them are recent Harvard graduates. The others are from Brazil, Sweden, China, Nicaragua and Austria.
Besides being a global architectural spectacle, this is also an example of very functional land use. These 14 parcels will only be a short walk to the aerial tram that leads directly to Oregon Health and Science University, Portland's largest employer.

Hopefully this project is such a success that others will copy it across the nation. Could you image a world with no more cookie-cutter housing complexes? How sweet it would be.

Wind Power Coming To an Urban Area Near You

Wind Power may be coming to an urban area near you thanks to Oregon Wind (especially if you live in Portland).

Oregon Wind is doing Beta testing of its Helyx HE-40 Urban Turbine. Unlike other bulkier wind turbines the Helyx spins on a vertical axis, allowing it to generate power from any direction with wind speeds as little as 5.5 mph.

The Helyx is also quite small, 42" by 18", and could be placed on top of light posts or other urban structures. Its helix shape makes wildlife safety a non-issue, as birds perceive it as a solid, and it looks rad!

In addition to the fact that this urban turbine is creating clean energy, it is also made of recycled materials. The helix-shaped turbine is made of recycled car bumpers, and the base could be made of recycled steel or aluminum.

The Oregon Wind's Helyx HE-40 is not currently available for sale. However, they are testing 22 of these Urban Turbines in 2009. They will be located on the south end of the Portland Mall Light Rail Project, and will feed energy directly into Portland General Electric's grid.

It is estimated that the 22 turbines will generate up to 275 watts and that an individual turbine could put out 40 watts with a 28 mph wind.

The estimated 275 watts equates to about 12.5 watts per turbine, or enough to power one very small LED light. Though this may be a small amount of wattage for a green power generator, the recycled materials that the turbines are made from are purported to last for several decades. At the estimated future price of $1000, it may make long term sense to buy a turbine (or 100) to lock in your electricity rates (they will surely go up).