Speeding up recycling with lasers; Vodafone solar powered mobile home; Smart ForTwo review; Solar Power from Outer Space: Microwaves and Frickin’ Lasers; Peapod neighborhood EV

Speeding up recycling with lasers. At the Panasonic Eco Technology Center in Kato, Japan, they’ve come up with a way to recycle old CRT TVs three times faster. Typically, workers could only disassemble 24 sets per hour because of the time-consuming task of separating the thick glass contained in the front and backs of the tubes. Now, with a new method that users a powerful laser, workers can disassemble 72 per hour.

Vodafone’s solar powered mobile home. “La casa movil de Vodafone,” or the Vodafone Mobile Home, creatively combines glass house living, tiny house design, loft-like features, sustainable elements, and portable architecture all in one tight package. There is a family of 4 vacationing in the house throughout Spain this summer!

Smart ForTwo review. The Smart ForTwo isn’t for shy people. Even though Smart USA has sold about 30,000 of these tiny two-seaters in the U.S., the little rollerskate attracts a lot of attention. On the road or in a parking lot, the ForTwo is a conversation piece, and people will come up and talk to you. However, even though the ForTwo’s gearbox has been “improved” from the 2008 model, it’s still an unforgivable mess. Yikes!

Solar Power from Outer Space: Microwaves and Frickin’ Lasers. Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) is an idea first voiced by scientist Dr. Peter Glaser over 40 years ago, and during times of high energy costs or crises in fossil fuel supplies, the idea keeps rearing its head. The premise is that large photovoltaic arrays can be assembled in a geosynchronous orbit at 22,000 miles above the Earth, generating electricity that can then be transmitted via microwave or lasers to Earth.

Peapod neighborhood EV. Peapod neighborhood electric vehicles use no gasoline and emit no pollutants. So, whether it’s a trip around the neighborhood or a drive to school or work, the Peapod is the ideal way to contribute to a greener planet and a healthy lifestyle. These are so very cool if you lived in an urban neighborhood. Would you drive one?