Apple Park is powered in part by a 17-megawatt rooftop solar installation. Photo: Apple
Apple has become the world’s first major tech company to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
The company has been investing heavily in renewable energy sources for years, and in a statement today, Apple says it has already achieved its goal to use 100% clean energy to power all of its global facilities.
A Trinity turbine powering a house and an electric car. Photo: Janulus
You’ve spared no expense in creating a smart home. You bought smart lightbulbs, a smart TV and smart appliances. All that’s missing is a device that makes you look smart when the electric bill comes in the mail.
The Agustsson brothers of Iceland may have figured out that part. They are the creators of Trinity, an affordable line of portable wind turbines, some of which can power the entire home.
Taking the windmill concept to a personal level, Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven has created a custom wind-powered charger for his iPhone. Made from a computer cooling fan and a soft rubber bumper case with integrated dock connector, the iFan recharges the phone as you walk around town:
By using a modified computer fan it took me 6 hours to charge my phone, rather long I think… but it works. I can shave off many charging hours by redesigning the fan blades, making it more efficient in catching the wind while sun bathing at the beach, doing walking trips in the mountains or just holding it outside your car window while driving along…
Perhaps not a practical solution for everybody, but it does show creativity and ingenuity in an environmentally friendly package. Keep a good grip on that iPhone while it’s poking out the car window!