Congealed Electricity

(Cross-posted at EcoFabulous)

"Congealed electricity"?

It sounds very technical but it's actually the nickname they gave aluminum back in the '50s, since it's so incredibly energy-intensive to create. You'll actually find most aluminum smelters near hydroelectric dams (like those in Washington State).

The good news is that we have become such good recyclers that the volume of aluminum cans going into landfills is actually dropping! About half of the reclaimed metal goes straight back into cans; as for the rest, it goes into some very cool products, like this "Louis the Umpteenth side table" from Johnston-Ready, available at fab new online eco-shop greenwithglamour.com.

In place of the usual rococo gilding, the aluminum finish makes for a chic modern twist to Hollywood's most glam, without sacrificing the essential ornateness of the period.

You can also clean up with Eleek's sleek line of aluminum sinks, from the mod waterbox to the useful waterfalling with its built-in strainer (all available with artist patinas and powdercoats).

"Bright" as in "Smart"

(Cross-posted at EcoFabulous.)

Think about light bulbs.

Millions of light bulbs. In scoreboards and moving displays. Think of the trash as they burn out and are replaced.

Now, think of LEDs. Millions of tiny little near-immortal LEDs. All computer-controlled with a degree of precision and sharpness you could never get from light bulbs, and all using 95% less power.

Element Labs is doing it in spectacular fashion, from concerts to sports arenas to homes – check out the 45,000 square foot display that covered the length of the stadium for the Asian Games in Doha. They’ve become a staple of concert tours and music videos, and now they’re moving into high-end restaurants and very high-end homes.

The possibilities are endless: imagine a wall in your living room that’s a non-stop moving art installation… or a display that can give you sunshine on a cloudy day. But beware when you tell your friends and neighbors - they will certainly all want to come over and share the spot light(s)!!