Categories
Green Tech

Parking lot solar system

The Envision Solar Grove is a highly customizable, aesthetically-designed, photovoltaic-integrated parking lot solar system. Originally designed for Kyocera Solar, the simple elegance of the Solar Grove lends itself to a variety of surroundings and terrain that could otherwise prove challenging to more standard designs.

The design is based on a  graceful analogy, known as “biomimicry” — just as a citrus grove absorbs sunlight to produce food, a Solar Grove absorbs sunlight and produces energy. The language of the analogy continues—the frame and modules of the Solar Tree become its “canopy,” the support structure becomes the “limbs” and “trunk,” while the base foundation and wiring beneath the earth is known as the “taproot.”

solar charger parking lot

The Envision Solar Grove can be sized and positioned to meet the needs of the facility, and is particularly useful in sloping parking lots or lining curved edges. The single support column per tree allows for unhindered maneuverability about the parking area. Unique heavy-duty light fixtures turn on automatically at dusk and shine up toward the canopy, which illuminates the parking area for nighttime safety. Eight translucent solar modules, allow light to pass up through the tree to create another visually appealing sight. During the day, these translucent models allow dappled sunlight to pass through to the ground — a bit like leaves on a real tree would allow.

Categories
Internet Tech

17 Tools For Your Website You Can’t Miss

There is some amazing stuff out there on the Web–resources, tools, tricks, and tips. Problem is you spend so much of your time just keeping up with new technologies – learning, playing – and this doesn’t leave much time to go hunting for the latest and greatest tool, or for a better way of doing things. I’ve made this list to make your life easier.

Categories
Franchising

Government Regulation of Franchises

In the United States, all franchisors must abide by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Franchise Rule, which requires franchisors to prepare a disclosure document called the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC ) / Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and give a copy of that document to prospective franchisees prior to their purchase of a franchise.

The UFOC / FDD document consists of 23 different categories, which contain information such as basic investment, franchise fees, a financial statement of the franchisor and earnings claims (if the company discloses that information), how long the franchise will be in effect, bankruptcy and litigation history (including civil judgments and felony convictions) and information about the franchisor’s executives (such as past experience).

Categories
Random

21 accents by Amy Walker

Amy Walker is saying the same thing over and over again with different accents: “hello, I’m Amy Walker, I’m 25 and I’m from…”

Categories
Random

The $175 burger

Its creators admit it is the ultimate in decadence: a $175 hamburger.

The Wall Street Burger Shoppe just raised its price from $150 to assure its designation as the costliest burger in the city as determined by Pocket Change, an online newsletter about the most expensive things in New York.

175 burger

The burger, created by chef and co-owner Kevin O’Connell, seeks to justify its price with a Kobe beef patty, lots of black truffles, seared foie gras, aged Gruyere cheese, wild mushrooms and flecks of gold leaf on a brioche bun.

They sell 20 to 25 per month…

Categories
Internet Tech

Control your home lights from your cellphone with Twitter!

By connecting his cellphone with his Twitter account, this guy is able to turn his lights on/off. Pretty cool isn’t it. One question remains though: why use your cellphone to turn off your lights when you can just get up and switch off the light? Ok, ok, I get it. The result doesn’t matter; what matters is that you can do it.

Categories
iPhone

3G iPhone launch date confirmed for June 9

The folks at Gizmodo confirmed that the new 3G iPhone will launch on June 9, the day of the WWDC keynote.

iphone 3g

Photo Credit: Gizmodo

Categories
Random

Steve Ballmer Gets Egged

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was egged by a protester during a speech he gave at a Hungarian University. As this video shows, the protester rose to his feet to challenge Microsoft for stealing billions in Hungarian taxpayer money, then started hurling eggs at Ballmer, who was forced to take cover behind a desk.

Categories
Health Internet

Google: creeping into your life one step at a time

Google unveiled Google Health, a long-anticipated health information service that combines the leading Web company’s classic search services with a user’s online personal health records.

The password-protected service provides a personalized profile for Google users of their basic medical history and gathers relevant information associated with the user’s health conditions.

One feature includes a link to help users find doctors by location or specialization. The “virtual pillbox” notifies patients when they need to take medications and possible drug interactions between different drugs. Users can also import medical records if they are available in digital form.

Categories
Random

Indiana Jones Lego Boulder

This is what happens when geeks have too much spare time…

Thanks GAS for this post.