Fiat is working with Microsoft to promote a way to use a USB to record your driving habits and patterns and use that to reduce your CO2 footprint. I am not sure how useful and effective this would be but its a neat video.

For the first time this winter, bay area residents will not be allowed to burn wood in fireplaces on Spare the Air Days/Nights between November and February. Burning wood can contribute to one-thrid of the total fine particulate matter in the air and can threaten your health. Federal government standards say that the air is harmful if there are 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air from fine particles of 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller over a 24 hour period. There will be an estimated 15-20 days where burning wood will not be allowed. This issue has sparked many complaints but considering that is only about 10% of the four months or so, there are plenty of other days that you can still burn wood as much as you like. For those people who dont like this new rule, get over it and help spare the air.

via SFGate

Boston University’s College of Engineering has launched a program to develop a Smart LIghting system that uses LEDs to trasmit wireless communications. The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center is part of an $18.5 million, multi-year NSF program awarded to Boston University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of New Mexico. The goal of the program is to one day be able to have LED lights replace WiFI access points so that all your computer gadgets and electronics can talk to each other by using the available lighting in the room. It also keeps security limited to being in the room as lighting does not go through walls. However, they don’t mention how it works during the day as the data transmission is done over the electrical wiring but would the light have to be turned on for the signals to communicate? The idea is pretty cool and can be applied to other usages as well such as in cars so that brake lights can trigger cars behind you to slow down when you brake.

via Treehugger and Boston University

In San Francisco, Cubix Yerba Buena is a new condominum complex located conveniently in the heart of the city. There are ninety-eight studio homes designed by SF architect George F. Hauser. The prices start at $259,000. Is that a typo? no, is it a mistake of some kind? no, the reason is because the studios range from 300 – 800 sq ft. That is not just one room either, it includes a kitchen area and a bathroom. The goal of these studio homes is to have an affordable home that appeals to single people who want to be close to everything with easy access to business offices, restaurants, and shops. It is not exactly the best place to have parties, but if you are out all the time and just want a place of your own to go home to, then this could be the perfect solution. The homes are designed as efficient as you can get with space saving kitchens, a common laundry room, and City Car Share vehicles located in the garage.

For people who are used to living in similar situations in Hong Kong or Japan, this would be a perfect move. Obviously, there is a particular market that these homes appeal to, but the prices of homes anywhere in the vicity cost a lot more. The rent in the area is also extremely high and for the price of these homes, owning your own home in the heart of the city can become a reality.