Solar-Powered Vending Machines Rent out Bicycle Helmets

      

        A Brooklyn-based company, known as Express Biker, has created a self-serve vending machine which helps cyclists in nearby communities purchase bike parts anytime in the day. The aim for this machine is primarily to help cyclists, who may be riding late at night or far distances from bike shops, in conveniently purchasing any biking needs. Examples of such is as follows: tubes, lights, co2, patch kits, various tools and parts.

       Following such an example, a Bostonian company, Helmethub, has also created a vending machine but it contains only bicycle helmets. Their aim is to help keep cyclists safe and without an excuse for riding helmet-less. In July, however, they are launching another vending machine with a twist: powered by solar energy.

         Each solar-powered vending machine holds 36 helmets and features a touchscreen panel like those on Hubway rental kiosks. Rentals costs approximately $2 and riders also hold the option to purchase one. The machine can dispense three different helmet sizes to make sure if the helmet fits the user properly. 

            When a cyclist is finished with using the helmet, the helmet is picked up by the team and sent back to Helmethub headquarters to be inspected and sanitized before being placed back into the vending machine. The machines, in addition, provides real-time information to the team so that they know when each machine needs to be restocked or used helmets need to be picked up. 

Helping Slums in Africa have Better Lifestyles!

     In America, where freedom and an opportunity to live a better life is guaranteed, many American lives may take for granted what we are accustomed to having: electricity. In Sub-Saharan African urban areas, 589 million people are living without access to a public electric facility as well as dwelling in slums. That's where the iShack comes in!

This is the iShack, which was developed by the University of Stellenbosch, where they were able to fund this experimental project using a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It was developed to shelter families from the extreme temperatures in Africa as well as provide them with reliable power to sustain their lifestyles.

       This particular iShack is currently occupied by Plaatje, a domestic worker employed only once a week, and her three children. It is completely equipped with a photovoltaic panel, providing them with enough electricity to power three lights, a mobile phone charger and an outdoor motion spotlight. 

The structure of the iShack was carefully designed in that windows were placed strategically to provide them with better air circulation and sunlight heating as the roof was sloped to harvest rainwater during winter months. 

Upon living in the iShack, Plaatje and her three children claims that her lifestyle has improved drastically from where she used to dwell in, which was a cold, damp shack with a leaky roof and no electricity. Not bad of a transition for a family struggling as well as many others in Africa.

Hi and Welcome to SolarEcon

     Let me introduce myself, the name's Lee and I saw a vision of SolarEcon being the key factor to our everyday life. In our present age, we had been led towards the mobile and tablet world, requiring electricity that we all love and rely on. Why not have a world of infinite renewable energy powering our electronics and appliances?
     Beginning with the use of coals that accompanied the Industrial Revolution, development of solar energy in the 1860's had brought many Americans hope. Though it hadn't lasted long, solar technology had dropped drastically during the 20th century and had been brought back up 20% and has been rising after the 1973 Oil Embargo and the energy crisis.
     Development of solar equipment such as solar panels, solar powered backpacks or even solar powered cars will be the future towards our everyday lifestyle and well being for the health and the beneficial factor to our environment on the earth that we love and live in. Lets bring that lifestyle to the test, shall we?