United States The World's Number One Innovator?

Saabira Chaudhuri — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:04:50 -0500

The Global Innovation Index, a ranking of 130 countries released yesterday, calls the US the world's number one innovator. The index was created by Soumitra Dutta, a professor at French business school INSEAD, along with New Delhi based non-profit organization The Confederation of Indian Industry.

The global index ranks Germany second, Sweden third, the UK fourth and Singapore fifth. Contrary to what some might expect, China comes in relatively low at number 37, while India stands at number 41.

Continental Test Flight Uses Algae as Fuel

Saabira Chaudhuri — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:37:09 -0500

Continental Airlines became the first US carrier to power a plane using algae as fuel yesterday. The flight, which notably took off from Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport, was also the first in the world to use a dual-engine commercial plane rather than a four-engine aircraft to test a biofuel, according to the BBC.

Nation's First Green Gym to Run On Human-Generated Energy

Saabira Chaudhuri — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:18 -0500

Shedding pounds and expending energy is no longer just good for you – it's also a way to give back to the environment.

The Green Microgym, based in Portland, Oregon, is the nation's first gym that aims to use human-generated energy from clients as they work out. Adam Boesel, the gym's owner, hopes that in the future the gym will run entirely on the energy generated by clients.

Innovative Giving: A Collection of Charitable Choices

Saabira Chaudhuri — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:32:54 -0500

‘Tis the season to be jolly – and generous. But with tightened budgets and less spare time on your hands, doing good unto others may prove particularly difficult this year.

Holiday Shoppers Say They're Going Green -- But Are They Really?

Saabira Chaudhuri — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:33:18 -0500

This holiday season, more people are thinking about spending more to gift green, but with the economy tanking and unemployment levels at their highest in 15 years, there's likely to be even more of a gap between consumer attitudes and actions than ever before.

Japan's High-Tech Solution To Bike Clutter [video]

Saabira Chaudhuri — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:42:22 -0500

Japan is known for being one step ahead, with its advanced technology, crazy vending machines and quirky fashion. So a futuristic new scheme for parking bicycles in Tokyo, although a welcome development, isn't out of the ordinary.

Tokyo is home to a large population of bike riders and in recent years there' s been an increasingly urgent need to create a parking solution for the two wheelers that transcends cluttered bike racks.

Enter Eco-Cyle, a multi tiered storage facility that's the product of construction solutions company Giken.

An automated kiosk accepts a rider's bike, storing it in an underground, rotating wheel until the user returns to retrieve it. The service is offered for a monthly fee of about 2600 yen or $29 dollars.

Take a look at Danny Choo's video to see how it works.

Emirates Launches World's Longest Green Flight

Saabira Chaudhuri — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:10:57 -0500

Yesterday, Emirates Airlines launched what it calls the world's longest "green" flight -- a new service from Dubai to San Francisco that saves an estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel and 30,000 pounds of carbon emissions on the 16-hour direct flight.

Beyond Firewood: Alternative Fuel = Safer Women

Saabira Chaudhuri — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:19:08 -0500

Turns out firewood isn't just bad for the environment. There's a straightforward, yet relatively unexplored link between collecting firewood and violence against women. In refugee camps in regions from Sudan and Sri Lanka to Ethiopia and Ecuador, women are often raped, assaulted and even murdered while collecting firewood. Cooking smoke from wood has also been linked to acute respiratory diseases.

Innovative Giving: Tyson Foods For Hunger Relief

Saabira Chaudhuri — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:54:24 -0500

What it is: Over the last few months, Tyson Foods has been using a blogging campaign to attract attention to the issue of hunger, gain brand credibility and send users to their hunger website. While philanthropic efforts on the part of a multinational corporation may smack of a thinly veiled PR campaign to some, in this instance the motive is less important then the outcome.

Innovative Giving: Play It Forward With Akoha

Saabira Chaudhuri — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:56:42 -0500

What it is: Akoha is the world’s first social reality game where you earn points by playing real-world missions. Based on a play it forward model, players register on Akoha’s website and are sent a pack of mission cards which include instructions like "give someone a copy of your favorite book" and "give someone a compact fluorescent lightbulb." Each card has a unique identifier enabling recipients to confirm receipt and order their own pack of cards.