Solar Bud: Garden & Path Lighting from Luceplan
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.18.06
"Organic Minimalist" Ross Lovegrove's designs have found their way to these pages several times before; his Orbit Chair, Bamboo bike, never-go-blunt ceramic razor and solar car prototype are all examples of the industrial designers' TreeHugging designs. He's done some designing for lighting manufacturer Luceplan (we've featured their Artificial Natural Light) that has resulted in more TreeHugger-friendly products. One example is the Solar Bud, a handy garden lamp that needs no wires. Stuck in the ground in a place that gets some sun, the lamp uses sensors to detect when darkness falls, and automatically switches on three high power red LEDs. Entirely solar powered, the Solar Bud saves both on energy and installation: no need for electricity, no need for wiring, and we think it'd go particularly well with the Solar Address Light. Available from ::Surrounding via ::Futureproof/ed
while i think these could be a good, valid green solution, what i have notice is that these and their ilk are popping up *all over the place* where previously there was no light. that doesn't make them green at all. you only have to look in any subdivision in america today and you'll see hundreds of these things scattered over lawns and driveways, serving, frankly, very little purpose.
I have been without a job for over a year and a half and I am looking for ways to cut costs at home. Thanks to my wife and son we have enough money to keep things going.
My question....How can i fine green ideas that will cost next to nothing or allows us to test/demo the products?