If you’re a maker just starting out your journey in sustainability, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to get started. From understanding the types of materials to utilize, learning what steps will help reduce waste and emissions, and finding inspiring new ways to explore creativity that don’t have a negative environmental impact. The good news is there are plenty of resources available for DIYers looking for ways to make their projects more sustainable – from simple switches you can make today, big-picture ideas for longterm change, or exciting new ways makers are helping push sustainability into the future. In these blog posts we’ll look at tips tricks and ideas specifically tailored towards diyers and makers on the road to creating projects with greater eco consciousness so that not only will you create something beautiful but also respect its impact on our planet!
Pierre Grand, an architect from Caussens, France, wrote in to share this interesting greenhouse watering system that he created in Sketchup. (B)ased on the fixing system developed by Bill Young (100kgarages.com), the GYRO green house recovers rainwater for broadcast in different vegetable bins arranged circular manner around the central axis. The system is under development […]
We all love car subwoofers that pump out loud, thumping music while you drive, and in the latest issue of MAKE, Volume 23, Henry Herndon explains how he powered his with a solar panel on the car’s roof. Before embarking on a long summer road trip, Henry bolted a standard rooftop solar panel to his […]
By way of Steampunk Workshop comes news of the U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) Team and their attempts to build and race the fastest steam-powered vehicle on Earth. They plan to try for that record on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, as early as August, 2011. The previous land steam speed record is held by […]
In any case, if ever a thing were rightly called bitchin’, it would be this 20″ custom powder-coated steel hood ornament by metal artist and perennial Make: Online favorite Jud Turner, who made it on commission for a very lucky friend.
Inspired by Sam Redfield’s rural alt.energy work in hydro-electric power, featured here on MAKE, “Fishboy,” working out of the Vancouver Hacker Space, created this micro-hydro plant in a plastic bucket. The power generator in the system is a Permanent Magnet Alternator (PMA) with a pelton wheel directly attached to the shaft. Water is sent through […]
One of our most-trafficked original tutorials over the past couple of years has been this simple trick for etching designs on glass bottles by using the label itself as a stencil. It’s a quick, satisfying, inexpensive project that yields long-lasting results with common equipment. In the process of porting the original blog post to our new Make: Projects platform, I took the opportunity to revisit the idea, updating the old images and adding a couple of helpful details, all of which was refreshingly easy using the new interface. Check it out.
First Ray built a minty water valve controller that gave him control over a garden water supply, then he turned it into a shield. For the water valve, I picked the Orbit yard watering valve. It’s widely available in home improvement stores, and it is cheap. It has two pins: applying +24v opens the valve, […]
