Inhabitat's Week in Green: algae-powered building, 3D-printing vending machine and the Toyota i-Road concept

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <i>Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.</i><br /><div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP Inhabitat's Week in Green TKTKTK" data-src-height="400" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/toyota-i-road-1362861929.jpg" /></div>Now that green design is entering the mainstream, we're beginning to see the design community tackle larger, more ambitious projects using eco-friendly techniques. Case in point: This week, San Francisco transformed the Bay Bridge into the world's largest light sculpture by outfitting it with 25,000 LED lights. Because the lights are so energy-efficient, it will cost just $15 per night to run the installation. In Hamburg, workers are putting the finishing touches on the world's first algae-powered building, which is set to open this month at the International Building Exhibition. A company in Tokyo recently demonstrated a new skyscraper deconstruction technique that harvests energy from the demolition process and salvages almost every piece of the building for reuse. And in Copenhagen, work has begun on a combined ski resort and waste-to-energy plant, which will convert the city's trash into energy that powers the resort.<br /> The week also saw a number of new advances in the realm of 3D printing. At UC Berkeley, a team of scientists created the Dreambox 3D-printing vending machine, which creates and dispenses objects right before your eyes. Germany-based Nanoscribe GmbH unveiled the world's fastest nano-scale 3D printer, which can produce 3D objects that are smaller than the diameter of a human hair. An 83-year-old inventor designed an open-source machine capable of turning resin pellets into inexpensive filament for 3D printing, and model Dita Von Teese modeled the world's first fully articulated 3D-printed gown.<br /> In Switzerland, the 2013 Geneva Motor Show kicked off as automakers unveiled a wide range of features focused on fuel efficiency and safety. On the luxury side of things, Ferrari unveiled the LaFerrari hybrid supercar, which is the company's first hybrid vehicle. Subaru debuted the Viziv hybrid crossover concept, a sporty two-door car with room for four passengers and a new diesel hybrid powertrain. And Volvo unveiled a new collision-avoidance system that automatically senses when cyclists and pedestrians are in a car's path and brakes for them. In one of the most interesting unveils at the Geneva show, Toyota showed off its new i-Road concept, a fully enclosed, all-electric three-wheeler.<br /> In other green energy and tech news, the city of Lancaster, Calif., will soon require all new homes to come equipped with roof- or ground-mounted solar panels. The world's largest solar thermal plant passed its first test in California, proving that it's ready to enter commercial operation. We shared the inspiring story of 12-year-old Sicily Kolbeck, who's building a fully functional tiny home outfitted with solar panels, and in one of the coolest TED talks in recent memory, a 13-year-old Kenyan boy presented an LED system that prevents lions from killing livestock. Lighting company Cree broke boundaries by launching an affordable new LED light bulb that looks like an incandescent bulb and casts a pleasing light. But the invention we'd most like to try out is the Ocean Wings wetsuit, a new suit designed by Guillaume Binard that allows its wearer to glide through the sea like a manta ray.<br /> </div></div>

Inhabitat's Week in Green: algae-powered building, 3D-printing vending machine and the Toyota i-Road concept

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Wee...

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Toyota signs deal to get Nokia's Here Local Search on its in-car navigation units from 2014

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Toyota signs deal to get Nokias Here Local Search on its incar navigation units from 2014" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/elop-navigation.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Nokia's position in the smartphone market may be precarious (if improving), but its Location and Commerce (read: mapping) division has developed quite the reputation. Toyota is the latest big car manufacturer to pay cash to get Nokia's Here Local Search installed on Mr. Toyoda's in-car infotainment units. The Japanese giant is planning to have the software baked into its vehicles in Europe, Russia and the Middle East by early 2014. At the same time, the duo have agreed to work together on how best they can develop Here's navigation potential even further.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"> <div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"> <strong>HERE Platform from Nokia Powers Toyota Motor Europe's Next Generation of Navigation and Infotainment Systems</strong><br /> <br /> Toyota is the Latest Major Automotive Brand to Leverage Best-in-Class Nokia Mapping Technology using its Local Search for Automotive<br /> <strong>Espoo, Finland - Nokia today</strong> announced that Toyota Motor Europe is the latest automotive brand to select the HERE platform's Nokia Local Search for Automotive to power its next generation Touch & Go navigation and infotainment systems. Nokia Local Search for Automotive is a specifically designed solution developed to fulfill the requirements of the automotive industry.<br /> By leveraging Nokia Local Search for Automotive, Toyota drivers will have fast and easy online access to the latest high-quality industry mapping information and community-generated content - including millions of ratings, reviews and images fed directly into their cars.<br /> The introduction of this service demonstrates how Nokia's HERE business is continuing to extend its industry-leading portfolio of products to meet the needs of its automotive customers.<br /> "The ability to deliver comprehensive and driver-relevant content tailored to automotive requirements makes the Nokia Location Platform an interesting proposition," said Derek Williams, General Manager, Telematics & Multimedia, Toyota Motor Europe. "It is an excellent basis for creative location-centric concepts and we are delighted to bring this technology to our customers. Nokia Local Search for Automotive is expected to be commercially available in Toyota systems from early 2014 in Europe, Russia and the Middle East."<br /> Moving forward, Toyota Motor Europe will collaborate with Nokia to study more services that leverage the Nokia Location Platform, including best-in-class content. Nokia is currently the leading company providing end-to-end mapping, navigation and location solutions for the automotive industry.<br /> "Nokia and Toyota share the same vision of what the in-vehicle location experience should be - immersive, always on. Today's announcement underlines Nokia's commitment to providing fresh content and services to the auto industry so it can deliver innovative consumer solutions," said Eric Fumat, Vice President Sales & Business Development EMEA, Nokia Location & Commerce.<br /> </div></div></div>

Toyota signs deal to get Nokia's Here Local Search on its in-car navigation units from 2014

Nokia's position in the smartphone market may be precarious (if improving), but its Location and ...

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