Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Apple hires former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to boost environmental efforts]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/28/apple-hires-former-epa-administrator-lisa-jackson/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/28/apple-hires-former-epa-administrator-lisa-jackson/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/28/apple-hires-former-epa-administrator-lisa-jackson/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Apple hires EPA veteran Lisa Jackson to boost its environmental efforts

We're used to Apple's CEO teasing product strategies at D Conferences, but not staffing changes. And yet, here we are: Tim Cook has revealed at D11 that former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is joining Apple to coordinate the firm's drive toward eco-friendliness. While there are few specifics at this stage, including Jackson's title, we know that she'll report directly to Cook. There's certainly no shortage of tasks for her to handle: along with Apple's shift toward renewable energy sources, she also has to worry about the environmental impact of the products themselves.

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]]> appled11d112013dmobile2013environmentEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepahiringlisajacksonrecruiting Tue, 28 May 2013 22:17:00 -0400 21|20586628 <![CDATA[Chevy Spark EV rated most efficient retail car with 82-mile range, 119 MPGe]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/chevrolet-spark-ev-rated-most-efficient-by-epa/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/chevrolet-spark-ev-rated-most-efficient-by-epa/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/chevrolet-spark-ev-rated-most-efficient-by-epa/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Chevy Spark EV rated most efficient retail car with 82-mile range, 119 MPGe

All EVs have their own particular merits: some climb, some race, some only have three wheels, and some are even prone to melting. Chevrolet's Spark EV may not have any of these credentials, but now it's found the right feather to fit its cap as the "most efficient" retail car. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the Spark has a combined city / highway range of 82 miles on a full charge of its 21 kWh battery, and has given the vehicle a rating of 119 MPGe (a gasoline-equivalent figure). As Autoblog notes, Honda's Fit EV will go 82 miles on a smaller 20 kWh battery but, once the regulators have done fiddling with digits, it only scores 118 MPGe. That's the efficiency number that matters, and whether you're saving the world or just trying to save money, every mile counts. You'll be able to put that EPA rating to the test this summer when the Spark EV goes on sale in California and Oregon, but until then, check out the official certificate below the fold for more juicy details (read: efficiency stats).

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Via: Autoblog

]]> chevroletchevroletsparkevchevychevysparkevefficiencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepampgesparkev Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:45:00 -0400 21|20548778 <![CDATA[60 kWh 'mid-range' Tesla Model S rated at 95 MPGe with 208 mile range by EPA]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/60-kwh-tesla-model-s-rated-at-95-mpge-with-208-mile-range/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/60-kwh-tesla-model-s-rated-at-95-mpge-with-208-mile-range/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/60-kwh-tesla-model-s-rated-at-95-mpge-with-208-mile-range/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments 60 kWh 'mid-range' Tesla model S

The budget version of the Tesla Model S, with its 60 kWh battery pack has been delayed. But that didn't stop the more wallet-friendly EV from swinging by the EPA. It seems that lighter power source has led to a slightly increased efficiency, though a decreased range. The 60 kWh version will supposedly run out of juice after 208 miles, which translates into 95 MPGe. That's not bad considering the higher-end 85 kWh version clocks in at 89 MPGe, with an EPA estimated range of 265 miles. Then again, it seems that rating is a bit conservative, as one father and son team managed 405 miles on a single 85 kWh charge. At just shy of $70,000, the "mid-range" Tesla S is still quite a pricey proposition. We'll just have to wait and see if "budget" model with its 40 kWh battery and $60,000 price tag is any more of a value.

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Via: AutoblogGreen

Source: Green Car Reports, EPA

]]> carEPAEVmodelsTeslaTeslaModelS Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:24:00 -0500 21|20399666 <![CDATA[Ford C-MAX Hybrid rated for 47MPG across the board, C-MAX Energi hits 85MPH in EV mode]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/ford-c-max-hybrid-rated-for-47mpg-across-the-board/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/ford-c-max-hybrid-rated-for-47mpg-across-the-board/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/ford-c-max-hybrid-rated-for-47mpg-across-the-board/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ford CMAX Hybrid rated for 47MPG on city and highway alike, CMAX Energi hits 85MPH in EV mode

The wait for the Ford C-MAX Hybrid has been a long one, and we'll still be waiting until the fall before the driving public takes a set of keys. In the meantime, there's good news from the EPA for travelers wondering just how far that hybrid MPV will go on its combined power. It should be quite the distance: the now-confirmed fuel economy rating is an even 47MPG, whether it's for putting around the city or cruising the highway. Ford is more than eager to crow about the figures giving its $25,995 ride an edge over Toyota, whose slightly more expensive Prius V peaks at 44MPG on highway stretches and dips to 40MPG in urban areas. The early victory parade is continuing with the C-MAX Energi, too -- the plug-in hybrid variant can peak at a brisk 85MPH in pure EV driving, or more than 20MPH faster than either the regular Hybrid or a Prius plug-in. Toyota does have the slightly important advantage of having a vehicle on the market. Those who have yet to commit to a hybrid family hauler, though, will be glad to know their patience could earn them some extra efficiency or speed.

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]]> c-maxc-max energic-max hybridC-maxEnergiC-maxHybridenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepafordford c-maxford c-max energiford c-max hybridFordC-maxFordC-maxEnergiFordC-maxHybridfuel economyfuel efficiencyFuelEconomyFuelEfficiencyhybridphevplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridprius vPriusVtoyotatransportation Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:38:00 -0400 21|20296560 <![CDATA[Tesla Model S rolls by the EPA, keeps on going, and going]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/21/tesla-model-s-epa-rating/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/21/tesla-model-s-epa-rating/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/21/tesla-model-s-epa-rating/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/21/tesla-model-s-epa-rating/

Sometimes all you want are just the cold hard numbers. With electric vehicles, this means EPA rating. The Tesla Model S just got officially measured up, and scored a reasonable MPGe of 89 (combined), 88 (city) and 90 (highway), plus an impressive single charge range of 265 miles. This isn't all that far off the manufacturer's own (albeit optimistic) early estimates. To get that range, you'll have to trump up $69,900 for the fully loaded, 85-kWh battery totin' version, but if you're planning that once-in-a-lifetime journey, it's probably money well spent.

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]]> all electricAllElectricbenchmarkbenchmarkselectricelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEPAEPA ratingEPA scoreEpaRatingEpaScoreEVmodel sModelSMPGeteslatesla model stesla motorsTesla STeslaModelSTeslaMotorsTeslaS Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:31:00 -0400 21|20263206 <![CDATA[Honda Fit EV rated at 118 MPGe, will get you 82 of those on one charge (update)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/08/honda-fit-ev-rated-at-118-mpge/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/08/honda-fit-ev-rated-at-118-mpge/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/08/honda-fit-ev-rated-at-118-mpge/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Honda Fit EV rated at 118 MPGe will get you 82 of those on one charge

Honda's perky little Fit EV has just been marked and measured by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has rated the dinky 'lectro-wagon at 118 MPGe, which Honda claims is the best ever score. Our friends over at Autoblog aren't so sure, noting that the Tesla Roadster eked out 119 MPGe in its testing. That said, the Fit does best the Roadster on its city rating (132 over 124 MPGe) so perhaps there's some gentle number massaging going on. With performance like that, however, we won't hold it against them. In fact we're off to buy one now. Oh wait.

Update: Honda has been in contact to clarify that its rating of 118 is an official EPA score. The Tesla's 119 was based on internal testing, meaning the Fit does indeed have the top EPA rating.

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]]> electric vehicleElectricVehicleEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyEPAepa ratingEpaRatingevfitfit evFitEvhondahonda fithonda fit evHondaFitHondaFitEvMPGe Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:54:00 -0400 21|20253617 <![CDATA[Spinach-based solar cells get $90,000 development funds from EPA, Popeye delighted]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/spinach-based-solar-cells/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/spinach-based-solar-cells/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/spinach-based-solar-cells/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Spinach-based solar cells get $90,000 development funds from EPA, Popeye delightedA biohybrid solar panel that substitutes expensive silicon components for a spinach protein has been granted some substantial Phase II funding from the EPA. Students from the Vanderbilt School of Engineering managed to stand out from 44 other university teams vying for funding at the National Sustainable Design Expo held in Washington DC. The team's large-scale panel only ekes out a small amount of electricity from the photosynthetic proteins at the moment, but according to Professor Kane Jennings, the cash injection from the EPA will help achieve higher energy conversion ratios over the next few years. Perhaps you could try wrapping them up into giant 3D cubes, Professor.

[Thanks Brandon]

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]]> BioHybridbiohybrid solar panelBiohybridSolarPanelenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyEPAgagagagagagaNational Sustainable Design ExpoNationalSustainableDesignExpopopeyesolar cellssolar powerSolarCellsSolarPowerspinachVanderbiltVanderbilt School of EngineeringVanderbiltSchoolOfEngineering Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:21:00 -0400 21|20224566 <![CDATA[Ford Focus gets EPA rating: 105 MPGe, 76-mile range]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ford-focus-gets-epa-rating-105-mpge-76-mile-range/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ford-focus-gets-epa-rating-105-mpge-76-mile-range/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ford-focus-gets-epa-rating-105-mpge-76-mile-range/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
The EPA has finished its usual gauntlet of tests and has found that this year's Ford Focus Electric is the most efficient five-seater in America. The agency certified that it gets 105 miles to the electric equivalent to the gallon (divided between 110MPGe in the city and 99MPGe on the highway), which is better than Ford's own claim of just 100MPGe. The company's found cause to celebrate the milestone and throw a few jabs at its closest rival, the Nissan Leaf. In fact, you could say that the House that Henry built has a bit of a complex about the leafy EV -- in the press release we've got for you after the break, it mentions the rival vehicle no less than nine times.

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]]> Electric CarElectric VehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyEPAEVEV EfficiencyEV RangeEvEfficiencyEvRangeEVsFordFord Focus ElectricFordFocusElectricMiles Per Gallon EquivalentMilesPerGallonEquivalentMPGeNissanNissan LeafNissanLeafRange AnxietyRangeAnxietyRating Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:35:00 -0500 21|20184740 <![CDATA[Man on vacation confused for a Russian spy, almost restarts cold war]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/man-on-vacation-confused-for-a-russian-spy-almost-restarts-cold/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/man-on-vacation-confused-for-a-russian-spy-almost-restarts-cold/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/man-on-vacation-confused-for-a-russian-spy-almost-restarts-cold/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Threats of Russian espionage can come from the unlikeliest of sources, as Jim Mimlitz, owner of Navionics Research, a small integrator firm, knows only too well. Curran Gardner Public Water District, just outside of Springfield, Illinois, employed Mimlitz's firm to set up its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA), and the spy games began when Mimlitz went on vacation in Russia. While there, he logged into the SCADA system to check some data, then logged off and went back to enjoying Red Square and the finest vodka mother Russia has to offer.

However, five months later a Curran Gardner water pump fails, and an IT contractor eyeballing the logs spots the Russian-based IP address. Fearing stolen credentials, he passes the info up the chain of command to the Environmental Protection Agency (as it governs the water district) without bothering to contact Mimlitz, whose name was in the logs next to the IP address. The EPA then passed along the paranoia to a joint state and federal terrorism intelligence center, which issued a report stating that SCADA had been hacked. Oh boy. A media frenzy followed bringing all the brouhaha to Mimlitz's attention. After speaking with the FBI, the massive oversight was identified, papers were shuffled, and everyone went about their day. So, next time you delete all your company's e-mail, or restart the wrong server, remember: at least you didn't almost start World War III. Tap the source link for the full story.

[Image courtesy Northackton]

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]]> Curran GardnerCurranGardnerdhsepaespionagefalse alarmFalseAlarmfbihackhackerhackingillinoisjim mimlitzJimMimlitzmimlitzmistakeNavionics ResearchNavionicsResearchrussiascadaspiesspywater-pump Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:35:00 -0500 21|20118523 <![CDATA[Fisker Karma gets EPA-certified 52MPGe, sales ready to begin]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/fisker-karma-gets-epa-certified-52mpge-sales-ready-to-begin/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/fisker-karma-gets-epa-certified-52mpge-sales-ready-to-begin/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/fisker-karma-gets-epa-certified-52mpge-sales-ready-to-begin/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It hasn't had the smoothest birth, nor the cheapest, but Fisker can apparently start selling Karmas for real this time. The tantalizing plug-in hybrid that first wowed us nearly four years ago has just cleared US government testing, the final hurdle holding back deliveries. So, how did it fare after being brutalized by the EPA? Not as well as the company had hoped, as the 52MPGe and 32 miles of electric range fell short of the respective 67.2 and 50 figures the company had previously been touting. Not a huge drop, like another plug-in EV we know, yet probably less than you'd been hoping for something that costs over $90,000. And, when you do run out of juice, you'll be looking at just 20MPG while puttering around on gasoline. Actual customer deliveries are scheduled in the following weeks, but until then take a joy ride in one of 39 Karmas being rolled out to dealers.

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]]> certificationdelaydeliveryelectric carElectricCarEPAEPA certificationEPA testingEpaCertificationEpaTestingevfiskerfisker karmafisker karma productionFiskerKarmaFiskerKarmaProductionon saleOnSaleplugin hybridPluginHybridunicornunicorns Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:47:00 -0400 21|20086629 <![CDATA[Report: data centers accounted for just 1 to 1.5 percent of electricity use last year, Google claims less than 1 percent of that]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/report-data-centers-accounted-for-just-1-to-1-5-percent-of-elec/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/report-data-centers-accounted-for-just-1-to-1-5-percent-of-elec/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/report-data-centers-accounted-for-just-1-to-1-5-percent-of-elec/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments You'd think, watching companies like Apple break ground on sprawling data centers, that the number of servers powering our untethered lives was on the rise. In a different decade, you might have been right. But not this one. According to a study prepared at the request of The New York Times, the number of servers in use has declined "significantly" since 2005. That's mostly because of the financial crisis of 2008, says lead researcher Jonathan G. Koomey of Stanford University, but we also can't discount the effect of more efficient technologies. What's more, he says, servers worldwide consume less energy than you might have guessed: they accounted for somewhere between 1 and 1.5 percent of global electricity use in 2010. And while Google, the king of cloud computing, has been cagey about revealing just how many servers house its treasure trove of data, the company said that of that 1 to 1.5 percent, it accounted for less than 1 percent -- meaning, just a hundredth of a percent of all the electricity consumed last year. All told, data centers' energy consumption has risen 56 percent since 2005 -- a far cry from the EPAs 2007 prediction that this figure would double by 2010, with annual costs ballooning to $7.4 billion. Then again, this slower-than-expected growth could well be temporary. Though Koomey can't specify to what extent the financial crisis and technological advancements are to blame, he insists, broadly speaking, that we're primarily seeing fallout from the economic slowdown -- a stay of execution, of sorts, for those of us rooting for energy conservation.

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]]> Appledata centerdata centersDataCenterDataCentersefficiencyefficientelectricityenergyenergy consumptionenergy efficiencyenergy efficientenergy useEnergyConsumptionEnergyEfficiencyEnergyEfficientEnergyUseEPAGooglegreengreen techgreen technologyGreenTechGreenTechnologyJonathan G. KoomeyJonathan KoomeyJonathanG.KoomeyJonathanKoomeyNew York TimesNewYorkTimesNYTimespowerpower consumptionPowerConsumptionserverserversStanfordStanford UniversityStanfordUniversity Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:06:00 -0400 21|20006989 <![CDATA[Mitsubishi i-MiEV goes cheaper and further in Japan, scores 112 MPGe in the US of A]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/mitsubishi-i-miev-goes-cheaper-and-further-in-japan-scores-112/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/mitsubishi-i-miev-goes-cheaper-and-further-in-japan-scores-112/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/mitsubishi-i-miev-goes-cheaper-and-further-in-japan-scores-112/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Mitsubishi i-MiEV We're still waiting for our first i-MiEV deliveries here in the US and in Japan they're already prepping new variations on the tiny electric car for the 2012 model year. One, the M, goes the budget route, slashing 1.38 million yen (about $17,000) off the price of the 2011 model. It does sacrifice some range, 40km worth, to meet that price -- you'll need to plug in about every 120km (75 miles). A second option, the G, weighs in at 3.8 million yen (almost $47,000) but boosts the between charge range to 180km (110 miles). The M will start appearing in Japanese showrooms on July 25 and the i-MiEV G will follow in August. Meanwhile, the American edition, known as the Mitsubishi i, is edging ever closer to release. The all important EPA tests are out of the way, and the i scored the equivalent of 126 MPG in the city and 99 on the highway for an overall rating of 112 MPGe, about 20 MPGe better than the Leaf. Check out the pair of press releases after the break.

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]]> 112 mpge112Mpgeelectric vehicleElectricVehicleepaevjapanmitsubishimitsubishi iMitsubishi i MievMitsubishi i-MIEVMitsubishi i-MIEV GMitsubishi i-MIEV MMitsubishiIMitsubishiI-mievMitsubishiI-mievGMitsubishiI-mievMMitsubishiIMievmpge Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:54:00 -0400 21|19986007 <![CDATA[Tesla Roadster 2.5 gets 119 MPGe rating from EPA, still as expensive as ever (updated)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/tesla-roadster-2-5-gets-119-mpge-rating-from-epa-still-as-expen/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/tesla-roadster-2-5-gets-119-mpge-rating-from-epa-still-as-expen/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/tesla-roadster-2-5-gets-119-mpge-rating-from-epa-still-as-expen/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Move over, Nissan, because there's a new MPGe king in town. Yesterday, the EPA anointed Tesla scored its Roadster 2.5 with an MPGe rating of 119, which would make it the most fuel-efficient car on the market. That places the plug-in ahead of both the Nissan Leaf (99 MPGe) and Chevy Volt (93 MPGe). According to the government-approved mock-up window sticker, Tesla's EV can last for up to 245 miles on a single, eight-hour charge, while getting the equivalent of 112 miles per gallon on the highway and 124 in the city. The original Roadster, meanwhile, received an MPGe score of 111 yesterday, with ratings of 105 on the open road and 116 in the city. Both models scored a perfect 10 for their greenhouse gas and smog emissions, though those ratings probably didn't factor in all the cash you'd have to burn to actually buy one.

Update: We just heard from the EPA, which clarified that this is not their official rating for the Roadster 2.5. These numbers are Tesla's, and the window sticker itself is a mockup - not a legitimate sticker from the EPA. Still, if you'd like to see it, it's down after the break.

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]]> battery electric vehiclebattery lifeBatteryElectricVehicleBatteryLifecarchevy voltChevyVoltElectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleemissionsenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepaepa ratingEpaRatingevfuel economyfuel efficiencyFuelEconomyFuelEfficiencygreenhousegreenhouse gasGreenhouseGasmiles per gallonmiles per gallon equivalentMilesPerGallonMilesPerGallonEquivalentmpgeNissan LeafNissanLeafratingroadsterroadster 2.5Roadster2.5smogTeslatesla roadstertesla roadster 2.5TeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadster2.5 Thu, 26 May 2011 14:32:00 -0400 21|19950825 <![CDATA[Dell to trial mushroom-based packaging on servers, hugs IT hippies]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/dell-to-trial-mushroom-based-packaging-on-servers-hugs-it-hippi/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/dell-to-trial-mushroom-based-packaging-on-servers-hugs-it-hippi/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/dell-to-trial-mushroom-based-packaging-on-servers-hugs-it-hippi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We've already seen Dell embracing the bamboo woods to package its products, so what's next for Round Rock's green fingers? Mushrooms, apparently. Unveiled at the Fortune Brainstorm Green conference yesterday is a biodegradable cushioning tray, which is grown -- yes, grown -- out of a mold stuffed with old cotton hulls, mushroom spawn, and nutritious agricultural waste. While it does take about five to ten days for the mycelium (aka mushroom root) to form the desired shape, the merit of such process is that all the energy required for the manufacture is provided by the recycled waste, thus reducing other energy dependencies. What's more, this fungal packaging has already passed Dell's extensive lab tests "like a champ," and it'll soon be trialed on Multipack packaging shipments for the PowerEdge R710 servers. If you want to thank Michael, he'll be in his usual tree house.

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]]> conferencedellecoeco-friendlyEPAFortuneFortune BrainstormFortune Brainstorm GreenFortuneBrainstormFortuneBrainstormGreengreenmushroommyceliumNational Science FoundationNationalScienceFoundationNSFpackagingpoweredgepoweredge r710PoweredgeR710r710sustainablesustainable packagingSustainablePackagingUSDA Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:33:00 -0400 21|19904196 <![CDATA[Smart Fortwo ED gets official EPA ratings: 94 MPG city, 79 MPG on the highway]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/smart-fortwo-ed-gets-official-epa-ratings-94-mpg-city-79-mpg-o/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/smart-fortwo-ed-gets-official-epa-ratings-94-mpg-city-79-mpg-o/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/smart-fortwo-ed-gets-official-epa-ratings-94-mpg-city-79-mpg-o/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Looks like "Team 250" is primed to add a few new members now that the EPA has revealed its official MPGe ratings for Smart's Fortwo EDs. Rated at 94 miles-per-gallon in the city and 79 on the highway, the car takes motorists 63 miles per charge -- making it slightly less able than Nissan's Leaf with its 73 mile range, 106 MPG in town, and 92 MPG on the open road. Now that the Fortwo ED has its governmental blessing, interested parties can lease one from selected dealers -- sorry folks, buying's not an option -- for a hefty $599 per-month, which seems staggeringly high compared to the $349 monthly lease rate for the larger, more capable Leaf. Perhaps the Smart squad won't be getting many new teammates after all.

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]]> automobilebatterybattery lifeBatteryLifedaimlereco friendlyeco-friendlyEcoFriendlyelectric driveelectric vehicleElectricDriveElectricVehicleepaEVfortwofortwo edFortwoEdfuelfuel economyFuelEconomygasgas mileageGasMileagegreenmercedesmercedes-benzmileagempgmpgesmartsmart fortwosmart fortwo edSmartFortwoSmartFortwoEdteam 250Team250 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:28:00 -0400 21|19894362 <![CDATA[EPA's letter grade automobile stickers could bring QR codes to car windows in 2013]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/epas-letter-grade-automobile-stickers-could-bring-qr-codes-to-c/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/epas-letter-grade-automobile-stickers-could-bring-qr-codes-to-c/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/epas-letter-grade-automobile-stickers-could-bring-qr-codes-to-c/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ever wonder how the world would still turn after MPG stickers were updated to take hybrids and EVs into consideration? Wonder no more. Purportedly, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to decide by July's end whether it'll require "emissions grades" on all new vehicles. We're told that said stickers would resemble those shown above, complete with a QR code that could be scanned by any smartphone for more detailed information on how a grade was decided upon. As the story goes, cars would be graded from A through D, with a score of F presumably omitted for political correctness. If implemented, it wouldn't require automakers to slap these onto their rides until the 2013 model year, but as you'd expect, said car companies aren't exactly pumped about the idea. As of now, 40 percent of the vehicles on American roads would receive Cs or Ds, and Ohio's own Rep. Steven LaTourette had this to say about it: "Those who live in Planet Reality might need a minivan or SUV to haul around four kids in child and booster seats, and have room for luggage and a family dog. Thanks to the EPA, they'll be lucky to find a vehicle that gets a C." In truth, he's dead right, but there's always two sides to every story. To counter the obvious, automakers are instead backing "a more modest labeling redesign" that's not quite so jarring to consumers. Ah, the wonders of compromise.

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]]> eco-friendlyemissionsEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepagas mileageGasMileagegradegradinggreenleterlettermileageqrqr codeqr tagQrCodeQrTag Sun, 06 Feb 2011 02:16:00 -0500 21|19830190 <![CDATA[Chrysler announces battery-free hydraulic hybrid tech, compresses gas to make power]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/chrysler-announces-battery-free-hybrid-technology-compresses-ga/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/chrysler-announces-battery-free-hybrid-technology-compresses-ga/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/chrysler-announces-battery-free-hybrid-technology-compresses-ga/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Chrysler announces battery-free hybrid technology, compresses gas to make power Think of a traditional hybrid and you probably think of a Toyota Prius. Then, after you've woken from your nap, you probably envision some complex system of batteries and electric motors and gears to capture power when braking and spit it back out when accelerating. Chrysler is now looking to deploy a different way, a seemingly much simpler way that's all based on hydraulics. The vehicle is outfitted with a low-pressure reservoir of hydraulic fluid and a high-pressure chamber filled with nitrogen gas. When braking, pumps move the fluid into the nitrogen chamber to compress it and then, when accelerating, that compressed gas is used to push the fluid and drive the wheels. It's a setup that was actually developed by the EPA and is currently in use by some commercial vehicles, most notably UPS trucks, but a hybrid Town & Country minivan could bring it to consumers -- though not until 2012 at the earliest. Now, there's a good chance the idea of a hybrid minivan is threatening to put you back to sleep, so we wish you pleasant dreams.

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]]> chryslerenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepahybridhybrid vehicleHybridVehiclehydraulichydraulic hybridHydraulicHybridminivanseries hybridSeriesHybridtown countryTownCountry Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:35:00 -0500 21|19808203 <![CDATA[Wheego Whip LiFe grabs up EPA certification]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/wheego-whip-life-grabs-up-epa-certification/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/wheego-whip-life-grabs-up-epa-certification/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/wheego-whip-life-grabs-up-epa-certification/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Yes! Another reason to write about the darling and awesomely-named Wheego Whip LiFe! This time, it's good news indeed, as the all electric micro-car has received EPA certification. The cars, which are priced at a reasonably affordable $32,995 (or $25,495 after the Federal tax credit), are now simply waiting for final approval from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration before they can roll into dealerships. It looks like the cars will ship at the beginning of the year now, with production well underway for the past few months. We'll take two, please.

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]]> automobilecarcarsecoeco friendlyEcoFriendlyelectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesepaepa certificationEpaCertificationepsevgreenlifetransportationwheegowheegowhiplifewhip Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:34:00 -0500 21|19780599 <![CDATA[2011 Chevy Volt gets stickered: 93MPG on battery, 37MPG on gasoline]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/2011-chevy-volt-gets-stickered-93mpg-on-battery-37mpg-on-gasol/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/2011-chevy-volt-gets-stickered-93mpg-on-battery-37mpg-on-gasol/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/2011-chevy-volt-gets-stickered-93mpg-on-battery-37mpg-on-gasol/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The poster child for the electric car has just received its official EPA sticker, merely days after Nissan's Leaf received its own. The Volt has been found to have a 93MPG equivalent when running purely on batteries, while one could expect an average of 37MPG when using petrol alone. According to the EPA, the Volt will only be capable of cruising 35 miles on a full charge (here's hoping you've got a socket at your workplace, right?), but the overall range of 379 miles ain't too shabby for a car of this size. The good news here is that this sticker will enable General Motors to finally get these automobiles onto showroom floors, but the bad news is pretty obvious: 93 definitely isn't 230.

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]]> automobilecarchevroletchevychevy voltChevyVolteco-friendlyelectric carElectricCarepafuel economyFuelEconomygasgas mileageGasMileagegreenhybridhybrid carHybridCarmileagempgvolt Fri, 26 Nov 2010 02:50:00 -0500 21|19733511 <![CDATA[Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG 'equivalent' sticker, roundtable arguments ensue]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/nissan-leaf-blessed-with-99mpg-equivalent-sticker-roundtable/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/nissan-leaf-blessed-with-99mpg-equivalent-sticker-roundtable/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/nissan-leaf-blessed-with-99mpg-equivalent-sticker-roundtable/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Cue the pundits. Nissan's incoming Leaf has just nabbed an official EPA sticker, with a mind-melting 99MPG "equivalent" rating set to grace every single window. That'll undoubtedly catch eyes, but it's also likely to spur a huge debate on what "miles per gallon" truly means when you're throwing a battery into the mix. We actually had the pleasure of driving one ourselves late last month, but we weren't able to take off on any extended joyrides to really put MPG claims to the test. At any rate, the 99 rating breaks down to 106MPG in the city and 92MPG on the highway, but there's quite a bit of fuzzy math here that gas guzzlers aren't accustomed to considering. Nissan claims that the EPA uses a formula where 33.7 kWhs are equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy, and that the entity also found the Leaf's efficiency to be 3.4 miles per kWh. Given that the car has a 24 kWh battery pack and can go 73 miles officially, then the EPA says it could theoretically go 99 miles if it had a 33.7 kWh pack. Still, the Leaf has to await its other label from the FTC, but it's apt to show a range of 96 to 110 miles of range. Head on past the break for the full presser.

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]]> automobilebatterybattery lifeBatteryLifecareco-friendlyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEPAEVfuelfuel economyFuelEconomygasgas mileageGasMileagegasolinegovernmentgreenleafmileagempgnissanNissan LeafNissanLeafus Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:23:00 -0500 21|19730640 <![CDATA[iriver Story reviewed, incites rebellion over price]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/iriver-story-reviewed-incites-rebellion-over-price/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/iriver-story-reviewed-incites-rebellion-over-price/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/iriver-story-reviewed-incites-rebellion-over-price/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
If you didn't feel you got the whole Story yesterday, here's a pleasing helping of seconds, this time in the form of a full-on review. The PC Pro team rates iriver's Kindle emulator as a "serious contender," and places its readability on par with Sony's touch-less Readers. While congratulations are also meted out for a decent integrated MP3 player, 3.5mm headphone jack, and the wide variety of supported formats, two issues stood out for the reviewers. One was that the support for Word, Excel and Powerpoint files was somewhat hit-and-miss, with zooming sometimes not working and rendering some files unreadable. But the major gripe related to the asking price of £230 including taxes (around $380), which the Story was not considered capable of justifying. Hit the link below for more -- even if your interest is purely academic.

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]]> e booke bookse readere readerse-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readerE-readersebookebook readerEbookReaderebooksepaexceliriveroggpdfpowerpointreaderreviewstorywmaword Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:37:00 -0500 21|19261360 <![CDATA[Energy Star 3.0 regulations set to impact TV designs]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/energy-star-3-0-regulations-set-to-impact-tv-designs/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/energy-star-3-0-regulations-set-to-impact-tv-designs/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/energy-star-3-0-regulations-set-to-impact-tv-designs/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments If you thought there was a row over the Energy Star 3.0 requirements for TVs, you haven't seen anything yet. Research firm iSuppli rightfully calls out some challenges for even the energy-miserly LCD TVs to duck under the numbers in the draft version of the Tier 2 (effective 2010) and Tier 3 (effective 2012) versions of the standard. For example, a 50-inch TV will have do limbo underneath a 153-Watt peak for Tier 2 compliance and 108-Watts for Tier 3. We're confident that some clever engineering will allow LCD to reach those figures; the real impact might be on plasma TVs, however. It pains us to say it, but plasma's going to have a hard time making that grade; of course, that's assuming that plasma TVs are still being made and marketed towards consumers who value the Energy Star label. For those of us who want efficiency and ultimate image quality, it's time to pull for LED-backlit LCDs.

Read - Energy Star TV requirements draft [Warning: PDF link]
Read - iSuppli predicts change in LCD design

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]]> efficiencyelectricityenergy starEnergyStarepagreenhdisupplipower Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:38:00 -0400 21|19117875 <![CDATA[All Insignia LCD TVs to meet or exceed Energy Star 3.0 spec]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/all-insignia-lcd-tvs-to-meet-or-exceed-energy-star-3-0-spec/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/all-insignia-lcd-tvs-to-meet-or-exceed-energy-star-3-0-spec/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/05/all-insignia-lcd-tvs-to-meet-or-exceed-energy-star-3-0-spec/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
While Best Buy completely failed to issue a press release trumpeting the inability of its latest Profile 2.0 Blu-ray deck to pass Energy Star specifications, it didn't hesitate to pump one out extolling the power-sipping virtues of its Insignia LCD televisions. In case you weren't aware, the Energy Star 3.0 specification went into effect at the beginning of this month, and any Insignia LCD TV manufactured after November 1, 2008 will meet those requirements; in fact, six of the models will exceed the requirements by 15% of more. Um, cookie?

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]]> best buyBestBuyeco-friendlyelectricityenergy starENERGY STAR 3.0EnergyStarEnergyStar3.0epagreenhdInsignialcdpower Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:14:00 -0500 21|1361356 <![CDATA[Updated Energy Star spec goes into effect November 1]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/11/updated-energy-star-spec-goes-into-effect-november-1/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/11/updated-energy-star-spec-goes-into-effect-november-1/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/11/updated-energy-star-spec-goes-into-effect-november-1/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The new Energy Star 3.0 TV specification -- this time including a test for how much electricity televisions use while turned on, not just while off -- goes into effect next month. According to CNET's tests, the difference in power saved by more efficient (but not necessarily ideal PQ) default settings could be as much as a $100 a year, although that will vary based on the TV and the settings. Of course the new rules mean only 25 to 30-percent of TVs are expected to be able to meet the standard, but when you see it on a box, it will actually mean something. Punch the read link for the final draft, we're just going to turn some unnecessary lights off.

[Via Crave]

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]]> electricityenergy starEnergyStarepagreenhdpower Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:30:00 -0400 21|1339124 <![CDATA[Auto-brightness to be the first step in LCD TV green status]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/06/auto-brightness-to-be-the-first-step-in-lcd-tv-green-status/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/06/auto-brightness-to-be-the-first-step-in-lcd-tv-green-status/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/06/auto-brightness-to-be-the-first-step-in-lcd-tv-green-status/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments LCD TV Assoc GreenTV program
Summer is coming, and that means the plasma TV that bathed you in warmth all winter will soon become between you, your air conditioner and comfort. Yes, we love the images that are pumped out by the emissive cells of a plasma display, but as a general rule, LCDs spin the electric meter more slowly. This benefit is not lost on The LCD TV Association, which has launched its GreenTV logo program to tout the fact. The baseline requirement for an LCD TV to wear the badge is ambient light sensors that adjust the backlight brightness, a feature good for at least a 30-percent reduction in electricity consumption. The association has more plans as well, so expect to see environmentally-conscious features like recyclable parts, fewer heavy metals, and LED backlights get billing as well. With the EPA's Energy Star ratings coming to TVs this year, being "green" could be a real differentiator in the market -- and we all know that more badges on the box mean more sales, right?

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]]> energy starEnergyStarepagreen tvgreentvhdlcdlcd tv associationLcdTvAssociationpower consumptionPowerConsumption Tue, 06 May 2008 01:11:00 -0400 21|1185591