Starting a 'Green' Business

I must say its been a long time since I have contributed to this blog. But a lot has been happening the last few weeks. One thing that does deserve a mention here is the conference I attended two weeks back on environment and entrepreneurship. One does wonder if you could build a sustainable business by going green ? Well the conference did open up my eyes!!!

The conference highlighted numerous possible ways in building a business around the 'Green' word. At this moment when there is a huge demand for energy, businesses providing alternate environment sources of energy are thriving big time. If one does a status check you will find numerous such companies around that have sprung up and have been successful. Suzlon is probably the best example. Not just that there are companies that completely run on the business model of saving energy. Few years back no one would have thought of a company having energy leaks prevention for your house as their core business model . Well talking about business models companies that have written off environment of their business model are facing bankruptcy or losses. Examples of companies like Ford and GM does hit my mind at this moment . When Green Car is a buzz word these days these companies have been losing out to Toyota who is already into 3rd generation green cars.

Well venturing into businesses that help the environment does look a viable option. Few interesting green ventures and products:

1. Solar powered Bluetooth Headset
2. RFID enabled garbage bins
3. Making Hydrogen Fuel using Egg Shells
4. Developing storage methods for Solar Energy
5. Garbage management and recycle
6. Using Gym equipment to generate power
7. Using merry go round to pump water

I also have some videos on some cool green products. If you interested in knowing more on any of these let me know I would love to share it with you.

IBM's Zero Emission Data Center Project



Sustainable Design EcoPrinciples Discussed



Ethanol Buses in UK


Vikas

Google And Virgin Team For Human Settlement On Mars

If due to human activities , earth becomes inhabitable than there could still be hope- Move to Mars!!!!!

Richard Branson has announced on the Google Blog Virgle, a joint Google/ Virgin project to establish permanent human settlement on Mars. Richard writes:

Larry Page, Sergey Brin and I feel strongly that contemporary technology is sufficiently advanced to make such an effort both successful and economical, and that it’s high time that humanity moved beyond Earth and began our great, long journey to explore the stars and establish our first lasting foothold on another world…In the years to come, we’ll be sending up a series of spaceships carrying (along with the supplies and tools needed to build the new colony) what eventually will be hundreds of Mars colonists, or Virgle Pioneers — myself among them.

Virgle is currently taking applications on its site here. The official site also includes a 100 year plan for Mars Settlement and a statement explaining the benefits of the project being Open Source

Apply Now but don't forget that the best solution is to SAVE THE EARTH.

Vikas

Air Conditioned Clothes

Worried about global warming but can't live without the air conditioner? don't worry here is a solution that can satisfy both worlds.

Cool Biz, a combination of the English words cool and business, is the catchword in Japan this summer. It is the title of a government campaign to persuade office workers to dispense with their ties and jackets as an environmentally friendly way of staying cool without lowering the air conditioner thermostat. And now an innovation called kuchofuku (air-conditioned clothing) is taking the Cool Biz concept one step further. This new type of garb lets people stay cool even in long sleeves.

Air-conditioned clothes have two small fans about 10 centimeters in diameter attached to the right and left sides of the back of the clothing, just above the waist. The fans draw in a large amount of air and help to vaporize sweat. As the perspiration evaporates, heat is dissipated, bringing down the wearer's body temperature. Sweating is the human body's natural air conditioner, and air-conditioned clothes are designed to give this mechanism a boost, ensuring that it functions properly even on the hottest, most humid days.

Two types of air-conditioned clothing are now on sale: a work jacket, which comes in short- and long-sleeved versions, and a long-sleeved blouson. Though both appear oppressively hot at first glance, they have won rave reviews for being extraordinarily comfortable and capable of keeping even the hardest worker cool.

The work jackets are available in either 100% polyester or 100% cotton, while the blouson is 100% polyester. The fans run on four rechargeable AA-size nickel-hydrogen batteries that can be used again and again, thereby minimizing the impact on the environment. The fans are light and do not weigh the wearer down.

According to Kuchofuku Inc., it is far cheaper to purchase this clothing than a large-scale air conditioning system. The running costs are also minimal, meaning that companies can save on their usually high electricity bills during the summer months. The clothes are not just economical, but they also help boost worker productivity and aid in the fight against global warming.

I guess this is a cool idea. Care for the environment and still stay cool. What say?

Thanks,
Vikas

Hospital Beds can be Fun

I always thought staying at the hospital was a scary thing but a company called Lincor Solutions has come out with a solution that can make it fun.Realizing the need for something more engaging than plain-jane television these days, they have come out with an entertainment system called the MEDIVista. The basic premise is quite simple: a touch screen, LCD display is mounted to the side of a hospital bed which the hospital staff can use to display x-rays or medical information, and the patient can use for entertainment. Users can watch IPTV, listen to the radio or audio books, make VoIP calls, surf the Internet, check email, as well as play web and network based games.

Lincor Solutions Ltd., the Irish software company specialising in Healthcare solutions has successfully tendered to install its innovative MEDIVistaTM solution in the Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. Lincor will install its patented MEDIVistaTM solution providing fully digital triple-play entertainment and information services to patients as well as secure touch screen access to clinical applications such as Electronic Patient Records and X-Ray images at the point of care for medical personnel.

So next time you fall ill first ensure if your Hospital has the MEDIVistaTM before getting admitted.

Thanks,

Vikas

'Super Cool ' Laptop Doctor

My fever and my attempt to save money made me to lookout for any free technology online that can help me measure my temperature and perform some routine tests to help my diagnosis.(This is what your expenses in the US can do to you- make you sound insane). Though my search for an online thermometer and an online lab( an interesting business idea) didn't lead me anywhere it did open a door of hope when I read an article on a Laptop that could do a heart scan, abdomen scan and even a pregnancy test.

The system developed by an Indian firm runs on a standard Apple Macintosh laptop computer, which is integrated with a fusion processor and a unique, custom-designed, integrated ultrasound chip set.

The familiar Windows graphical user interface makes the system intuitive and easy to use. The laptop is designed for general, vascular, and breast imaging, interventional radiology, image-guided intervention, endocrinology, laparoscopy, neuro-sonography and nephrology.

The laptop has collar Doppler for better imaging of a total body scan and weighs around three kilograms. The price varies between $30,000 and $80,000, depending on the type of configuration a doctor wants.

May be I didn't get what I wanted but certainly looks like I might in the near future. This laptop is just a beginning of more things to follow. In the super fast lane this device can save you a lot of money and keep you healthy. May be for now they can start of by adding a thermometer.

Thanks,
Vikas

Gmail's april Fool joke- Google Time machine

Gmail, being a part of Google, invents really convincing and innovative April Fool jokes every year. Last year they came up with Gmail Paper — a service that allows you order printed copies of mails in your inbox along with attachments and this year they have again amused us with Gmail Custom Time.

Given their technical superiority I was really fooled in by Gmail. For a guy like me who always misses out on important dates it was something I would love to have. But was really disappointed to learn that it was just a joke.

But what if Google did really come out with this application. The consequences would be difficult to think of. I can only think of one word at this time - chaos. But still an application like this could open up other opportunities. A limited version of this application wherein you can only date back your birthday, anniversary greetings would make a lot of sense. I am sure I am not the only one who would love to have such an application(Save my face when I forget my wedding anniversary) . Is Yahoo, Microsoft listening ?

Join the Earth Hour Movement

People reading my blog please read this short message from Earth Hour. Its about Global Warming and an effective beginning against the cruel side effects of our advancements. Lets make it a world wide movement and show we care for our nature.

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. View cities involved around the world.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!

Join the Movement and Save the Earth.
I am concerned about the nature- Are you ?

Thanks,

Vikas