Tag Archive for 'NYC subway'

Yes, harness MY energy, please!

Good Morning,

I had one of those “duh” moments a couple of days ago when I saw an article on Inhabitat titled “The World’s First Energy Generating Revolving Door”.
This article refers to a cafe in the Netherlands that installed revolving doors that generates energy from the people going in and out of the cafe. This energy is then given back to the coffee shop to be used.

Here at SF, we’ve been wondering why this technology, which has been developed for some time now, hasn’t been put into effect in New York City. We have millions and millions of people revolving through subway turnstyles everyday and we could be harnessing our own energy.
Then, yesterday, Inhabitat posted about The East Japan Railway Company installing energy generating floors that will power the Tokyo Subways. They are using a technology called Piezoelectric flooring which they have been testing over the past year. Now, they have installed it in a Tokyo subway station to generate power for the ticket gates and display signs. They hope to generate enough power, in the future, to power their entire system.
I live in a major city where there is tons of waste. We never think about the fact that just by walking though doors, we are wasting energy. But now, with the technology advancing, there is a better way to generate renewable energy! We could harness our own energy by just walking through revolving doors and getting onto the subways.
Now, literally, we possess enough power that can actually make a difference. It’s amazing to see the technology, that we all knew was out there, being utilized. Step by step (pun intended), we can save energy!
Thumbs up to Inhabitat for the news and images!
Thumbs up to progress! Please, bring this technology to New York!
Niki

NYC Subways-Even more sustainable!

Good Afternoon!

We all already know how sustainable it is to ride the subway system and now the MTA is flaunting their efforts (and accomplishments) to be even more sustainable.

Way to go NYC!

For more info on the MTA and their sustainability initiatives, click here. You can also read my previous post about what happens to all the trash on the subway platforms here.

Happy Riding!

Niki

Pixelate-my-bathroom, please!

When New York Times blogger Christopher Niemann finished renovating his Berlin estate he wanted something cool in his bathroom. Something funky, something that gave the entire thing a blast.

After a while an old idea popped up in his brizzle and he decided he wanted to tile his sanitary rooms with small 4×4 colored tiles. Which would give a pixelated effect, as if it were pixel art.

So after lots of studies on classics in art, which he describes carefully in a blogging post at the NYT, Niemann came to the conclusion that old, detailed art isn’t suitable for pixelation. After a stop at the 20th century he came to Warhol. To Warhols Brillo Box, which is seen here.

After some detailed studies, a trip to the tile cutter and an afternoon of tiling this is the result.

Darn, looks good. But personally I also really like what Niemann did to his kids’ bathroom.
On the left there’s a plan, of what it should look like, and on the right there’s a picture of what it is in reality. Now, the design was copied from the NY subway map. I don’t know maybe Niemann’s kids have got something with it, but still it looks pretty awesome! With Central Park nice in the middle and the South point of Manhattan high up on the wall. The whole is very colorful which makes it even cooler.
-jdh

NYC Subway trash-Recycled?

Hello All!

I was on the subway today when I saw these lovely trash cans.

I’ve heard rumors about all our trash being sorted and recycled, but is it true? Why not have separate bins? I did some digging and I thought I’d share what I found out. Apparently, all the trash goes to a place in NJ called All American Recycling in Jersey City. It gets sorted on conveyer belts and 25 people pick out the trash that can get recycled. 40% of the trash can actually be taken out and recycled! Which is about 7100 tons! That’s lots!

Click here to see an interview with a lady who followed the trash to the recycling center and explaining why separate bins wouldn’t help the situation (which is debatable).

So, it’s true! Pretty impressive.

That’s all!
Niki