While uncovering top-notch technologies like stimulating algae growth for biofuel production, contra-rotating wind turbines and much more, there were also a number of products that were not only innovative, but can also be easily integrated into the daily lives of the average consumer.
For instance, the Shadow Ebike from Daymak Inc. featured as one of Ontario’s top 20 most innovative and leading-edge technologies at the show.
The e-bike, which made its public debut last April, attracted large crowds throughout Friday’s show. It is the world’s first wireless electric bicycle, meaning no wires, and powered by an electric motor housed in the front wheel. It can go up to more than 32 km per hour and has many interesting functions, like the regenerative braking, which adds a small amount of power back to the battery with each brake.
And then there’s the option of exercising and working up a sweat with the pedal-assist.
"You can use the power to go to work, so you’re fresh when you get to work and when you’re coming back you can pedal it, and these days everyone’s short on time for exercise," said Daymak’s president Yeg Baiocchi. "It’s very economical, in Canada, you don’t need a license, you don’t need insurance, so you can ride it anywhere you want. It costs you about two dollars a week to go back and forth to work."
A Shadow Ebike will run consumers some 2,000 U.S. dollars. Daymak has already sold about 7,000 of them in Europe and North America. Baiocchi says they’re doing so well that they can’t keep up with the demand.
"We have a lot of requests which we can’t keep up with demand. So there are sales that we actually have to say no to, so if we can get some funding from this show that would be fantastic," she said.
While the e-bike has only been on the market for a year, there was another product that was launched in Canada for the very first time at the show. Samsung Electronics Canada Ltd. unveiled its newest kitchen appliance, called the Induction Flex Duo Range, which is basically a combination of two very common household appliances which of course have been adapted with some very high-tech functions.
The oven has a divider separating it into two cooking compartments, which can be heated to two separate temperatures. The function is not only time-efficient but allows users to save energy by heating only one compartment if the plate of food is small.
The induction stove on the other hand uses an electro-magnetic energy to heat up the pot. So the stove top doesn’t actually heat up, but moves the molecules in the pot to create heat and cook the food, which also means that the surface stays cool and won’t burn the fingers.
Andrew Barrett, vice president of marketing for Samsung Electronics Canada, said there are many benefits to this new appliance.
"First of all, it heats things up a lot faster than a regular stove or range to heat up a pot, so you can get to cooking really quickly," he said. "Second advantage is energy use, which uses about 70 percent less energy to actually cook."
A seasoned professional for 37 years, Massimo Capra, also Samsung appliances’ brand ambassador, said the time-efficient aspect is one of his favorite part of the innovation.
"I like induction because it’s quick, if not quicker than fire at times, as a matter of fact there’s a little bit of tweaking you have to get used to," said Capra. "If you’re cooking with gas and you’re moving to induction, you’ll find that induction is even quicker and better."
But making a difference doesn’t always have to get technical. There’s even something for fashionistas. Preloved, a Toronto-based clothing store, creates unique pieces from second-hand material.
"What we do is we take vintage clothing, completely deconstruct it, turn it into fabric and then use that fabric to create our collection each season, and we’ve been doing that for about 17 years now," said the owner Julia Grieve, who added that over a 100,000 vintage sweaters are used each season.
Green Living, North America’s largest green consumer show, has doubled in size since inception. Nearly 35,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event from Friday to Sunday.
Not only do show-goers get to learn a fountain of knowledge, they can also get into the show for free by bringing a piece of electronic waste to recycle, something the show implemented two years ago.
"Over the past two years, we have gathered close to a 100,000 pounds (4536 kg) of it, and so I don’t know how to tell you how much a 100,000 pounds of e-waste is," said Orlovski. "It is an enormous amount, we’re so proud, and this year we’re looking to double that."
