Green Options » do-it-yourself http://greenoptions.com/tag/do-it-yourself Posts tagged 'do-it-yourself' Fri, 22 May 2009 19:36:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Guy Builds Electric Motorcycle From Junk http://gas2.org/2009/05/22/guy-builds-electric-motorcycle-from-junk/ http://gas2.org/2009/05/22/guy-builds-electric-motorcycle-from-junk/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 19:36:55 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/05/22/guy-builds-electric-motorcycle-from-junk/ Tony Parker Has Built An Electric Bike Made From Junk. He Also Made A Solar And Wind-Powered Charging Station For The Bike.

Tony Parker has built an electric motorbike completely from found junk.

Why? The laid-off worker found himself with a lot of time and just began tinkering around the house.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/05/22/guy-builds-electric-motorcycle-from-junk/feed/ Man Builds World’s First Fully Solar-Powered Motorcycle http://gas2.org/2009/05/14/man-builds-worlds-first-fully-solar-powered-motorcycle/ http://gas2.org/2009/05/14/man-builds-worlds-first-fully-solar-powered-motorcycle/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 16:14:25 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/05/14/man-builds-worlds-first-fully-solar-powered-motorcycle/

Richard Gryzch has built what he claims is the world’s first fully sun-powered electric motorbike.

A project that has taken him more than two years. In fact, to finance building the bike Cryzch sold his other motorbikes and even a house.

He calls the bike a Solar Flyer. A name inspired by those Radio Flyer wagons.

“Everyone told me I was crazy for doing it,” he said. “But I’m riding it and it works. And it could change everything. No gas, just hit the throttle and go,” he boasted.

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Details about the bike are scarce, but it travels up to 50 miles on a full charge and has a top speed of 90 mph.

“People look at me at the stop light and just say, ‘What is that?” Gryzch said.  “I just shrug my shoulders and tell them, ‘it’s solar powered.”‘

Still, Gryzch plans to outdo himself. He hopes to hit a travel range of 300 miles. I hope he does too!

Source [ABC 15 News] Photo [Inhabitat]

]]> http://gas2.org/2009/05/14/man-builds-worlds-first-fully-solar-powered-motorcycle/feed/ DIY: Solar-Cell Rechargeable Batteries http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/23/diy-solar-cell-rechargeable-batteries/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/23/diy-solar-cell-rechargeable-batteries/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:11:08 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/23/diy-solar-cell-rechargeable-batteries/

Energizer Bunny beware!

Knut Karlsen has created a solar-cell charging battery prototype using flexible solar cells from IFE and some older NiMH rechargeable batteries. The batteries are being coined as “SunCast” batteries and work much like a trickle charger.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/02/23/diy-solar-cell-rechargeable-batteries/feed/ Convert Your Prius to a 100+ MPG Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car http://gas2.org/2008/12/08/convert-your-prius-to-a-100-mpg-plug-in-hybrid-electric-car/ http://gas2.org/2008/12/08/convert-your-prius-to-a-100-mpg-plug-in-hybrid-electric-car/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:40:08 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2008/12/08/convert-your-prius-to-a-100-mpg-plug-in-hybrid-electric-car/ A company based in California has announced that starting in February, they can convert your 2004-2009 model Prius into a plug-in hybrid electric car that can go 40 miles on battery power alone, or get 100+ miles per gallon when driven in “enhanced Prius” mode.

Jungle Motors is already the largest electric vehicle conversion shop in Orange County, California. They can take virtually any car and convert it to all-electric, but specialize in converting old Porsches and PT Cruisers. They’ve actually been converting Priuses into plug-in hybrids for a while using lead-acid batteries. That’s old hat at this point.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/12/08/convert-your-prius-to-a-100-mpg-plug-in-hybrid-electric-car/feed/ How To Charge Up Your Hybrid http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/how-to-charge-up-your-hybrid/ http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/how-to-charge-up-your-hybrid/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:43:24 +0000 Joshua S Hill http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/how-to-charge-up-your-hybrid/ 133697706_ba2f9179e2 Though they may be a little expensive to some of us out there, hybrids are really beginning to flood the market. The darling of them all, the Prius, is finally getting some competition. But what if you wanted to extend the miles per gallon ratio even further, what would you do?

You would follow in the steps of all the nerds and mechanics that came before you, and “do it yourself.”

Plug-In Hybrid kits are becoming more and more prevalent and, as such, a little less expensive (emphasis on the little). Depending on the choice of battery you want to boost your mileage, and reduce your dependency on the fuel in your car, you can pay anywhere between $6,000 and $30,000 and up.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/how-to-charge-up-your-hybrid/feed/ Video: Stream-Fed Micro Hydropower in Action http://ecoscraps.com/2008/03/20/video-stream-fed-micro-hyrdropower/ http://ecoscraps.com/2008/03/20/video-stream-fed-micro-hyrdropower/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:50:21 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://ecoscraps.com/2008/03/20/video-stream-fed-micro-hyrdropower/ Very short and very simple. I am very envious.
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]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2008/03/20/video-stream-fed-micro-hyrdropower/feed/ Green Style How-To: Burda Open Source Sewing http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/09/13/green-style-how-to-burda-open-source-sewing/ http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/09/13/green-style-how-to-burda-open-source-sewing/#comments Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:50:48 +0000 Victoria Everman http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/09/13/green-style-how-to-burda-open-source-sewing/ Prefer to take your personal style into your own hands? Had enough of mass produced cheap fashion? Looking for something unique? Then Burda Style, the newest community-based online do-it-yourself style destination, is for you. According to the site’s "About Us" page,

We like to think of this website as a virtual sewing circle, an open-source hub of ideas, expertise, and amazing patterns you can download and sew at home. We want you to learn something new every time you visit BurdaStyle. We want this website to inspire you. And most importantly, we want you to get involved: We’re offering our ideas, expertise and download-able patterns to the BurdaStyle community, and we hope that you’ll contribute, too.

Though the website has online been online since late January 2007, it has gained popularity in the crafty community quickly.

With users uploading images of their creations, and sharing tips and tricks via the wiki-style Sewpedia and How-To sections, inspiration is only a mouse click away. Though the images in this entry feature skinny, youthful models, nearly all patterns feature a wide range of sizes. As of late, the website’s official blog has featured a number of user’s pattern customizations for pregnancy.

Currently, there are 35 patterns available, with new ones being uploaded at least once a week. Everything from pants and dresses to accessories and lingerie are online in PDF format, easily printable from any home printer. As with any good pattern, difficulty ratings and details on amount of fabric needed are provided for each project, as well as direct feedback from other users who have completed them.

What’s your favorite part of creating your own wardrobe? Where do you prefer to find your stylish patterns?

Leave us your feedback and you could be featured in a future Green Style How-To post!

]]> http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/09/13/green-style-how-to-burda-open-source-sewing/feed/ Green Style How-To: Make Your Own Stylish and Functional Reusable Bag http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/ http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:35:37 +0000 Victoria Everman http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/ Accessories, such as shoes or jewelry, are just as important as the basics of your wardrobe. With all of the reusable bags available on the market (many of which have been covered right here on Green Options), it’s likely that you will be able to find one to your liking. For those of us that prefer a personal, do-it-yourself, advertisement-free touch - this post is for you! In less than an hour, you can whip up a versatile tote made from any fabric you fancy. For pattern ideas, Altered Cloth recently posted a great collection of 7 options from around the web. Even if you are a beginning in the sewing department, these projects are great for first-timers or experienced stitchers.

Out of all 7 projects, my personal favorite it the design from U-handblog, a TypePad-featured blog all about (you guessed it) making handbags. This bag (featured in the accompanying image) has a curved seam and reinforced straps, so no matter how much to put into this sucker, it will still feel comfortable on your shoulders. Don’t let the curved seam scare you off: Lisa does a fantastic job of providing step-by-step instruction and pictures on how to get the job done easily. She also provides directions on how to make a cute little storage pocket, so you can carry your new bag with you all the time (you know, in case that urge to buy some tasty organic peaches comes along). Curious just how much this little bag can carry? A whole heck of a lot: Lisa graciously posted a few images on her blog of the haul she fit into this homemade gem.

Being the greenies we are, using recycled or sustainable fabrics is the first choice when sewing your own creations. You can find a wide range of recycled fabrics just by shopping through any vintage or second-hand store; the drawback here is that you might not be able to find a shirt or pants with enough fabric for this particular projects. For something a bit more modern and colorful, check out my collection of eco-fabric links on my website.

Completed this project? Come back and post some pictures of your creation - we’d love to see them!

Image source: U-handblog 

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