Eco Factor: Wind farm capable of producing 20GW of electrical power.

Three Gorges Dam has made it to the record books, being the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, with a claimed output of 18.2GW, which is destined to be increased to 22.4GW with the addition of six more generators. China is now planning to challenge that output with another green source of energy – Wind Power. The country is planning to develop a huge wind farm in the northwest by 2020, which will have the same energy capacity as the $23 billion hydroelectric plant.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission racecar powered entirely by solar energy.

The defending champion team from the Delft University of Technology is looking forward to winning the World Solar Challenge five times in a row with a new car the Nuna5, which will race across Australia in October this year. This year’s creation by the university team is lighter than the one previously used and the team is expecting much better results this time.

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Eco Factor: Solar-powered mobile home for Vodafone.

Vodafone is promoting its fixed phone and wireless internet service using a transparent mobile home that is powered entirely by the energy of the sun that is harnessed through roof-mounted photovoltaic panels. Designed by Waskman Design Studio, with Creative Space Culdesac, the home is currently being occupied by a blogger and his family of wife and two children, who are presently using the mobile home for a vacation.

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Eco Factor: Recycled artwork made from used Styrofoam.

We all are quite aware of the fact that just like plastic waste Styrofoam too is extremely harmful for the environment. Being lightweight, cheap and strong, the material is still the most feasible choice for packaging products especially electronic items that require an extra degree of protection. That’s the main reason we often see DIYers trying out their skills with Styrofoam and crafting it into various items that includes chandeliers and even robots.

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Eco Factor: Zero emission car powered by lithium-ion batteries.

ExxonMobil, a U.S.-based oil company, has stunned the auto world with the launch of a fully electric car – the Maya 300. Unlike cars manufactured by major players of the auto industry, the Maya 300 feels and looks just like a conventional gasoline car without any superfluous integration. The car is developed in conjunction with Electrovaya, a company dedicated to manufacturing lithium-ion SuperPolymer battery systems.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission motorcycle powered by electricity.

Electricity is slowly by regularly catching on in mainstream transportation, which is why we regularly see electric aircraft and electric cars being developed. Apart from its worth as a green fuel, electricity wins the battle against fossil fuels on the cost front too, which makes it the fuel of the future in mostly all scenarios. Pierre Yohanes Lubis is trying to use electricity in a concept bike designed for the BMW brand which unlike other motorcycles, is propelled by the front wheel.

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Eco Factor: Solar-powered charger for portable devices.

GoBe Solar has launched a new Solar Briefcase and Power Hub, which the company claims can extend your laptop’s battery life for an estimated 3-6 hours. The device is a combination of a 12-pound suitcase carrying the solar panels and a 9-pound power hub that carries the batteries and the power sockets, which include AC, DC and USB outlets.

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Greening a school is a challenging task, but funny enough, it’s rarely the kids that show any trepidation. Once the kids decide that a green school is a smarter way to learn, they dive right in.

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go shopping with the pros? Bahar Shahpar knows clothing, how it’s made, and where it comes from. Wendel knows how to dress celebrities, that’s what he does, day in and day out. Here are three very different perspectives on the vintage clothing market, why vintage is a healthier choice for the planet, and why it can be a lazy fashionista’s dream.

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I recently found a soft rubber giraffe toy lounging, lost and lonely, in the tall grass of my local Brooklyn park. As my child’s current interests include little more than dirt, rocks and the eating of said dirt and rocks, I casually tossed the toy to another mother, hoping her daughter would put it to better use. “A Sophie!” she exclaimed with joy. Turns out that Sophie the Giraffe is the hottest teething toy for the urban baby who has it all. Who knew? Sophie is made in France and is constructed from natural, phthalate-free rubber and non-toxic paint and seems to be supremely satisfying to chew on if you’re acquiring teeth for the first time. And though Sophie’s not cheap (she’ll run you about $20), she’s French and stylish and sure to keep your child occupied for a least seven minutes.

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In this talk I lay out what it means to be a Lazy Environmentalist, how I first came to become one, and what people can do to take lazy environmental action in their own lives.

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Eco Factor: Chicken feathers used to make fuel cells cost-effective.

With the demand for chicken increasing substantially, poultry waste is also on a rise, which mainly consists of chicken feathers basically used up in the landfill or converted into low-grade animal feed. Professor Richard P. Wool of the chemical engineering department of University of Delaware believes he can use all that poultry waste and convert it into fuel cells, hurricane-resistant roofs and even bio-based computer circuit boards.

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Eco Factor: Low-emission bike powered by a gasoline/electric hybrid engine.

Car and bike manufacturers make use of the best of auto shows to showcase their ingenuity in the form of futuristic motorcycles and cars which enthrall our senses. Similar is the case with Yamaha who showed their eye-stopping Gen-Ryu hybrid concept bike at the Tokyo Motor Show way back in 2005. After four years of planning the company is getting ready to take the concept to the production line and make it a part of the streets next year.

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Eco Factor: Recycled glass bottle converted into a bartender calling system.

It’s always exciting to see what green-minded designers do if they’re allowed to use the products others refer to as waste, to design new products. Similar is the case with industrial designer Doyeop Kim, who has designed a great way to recycled old glass bottles as a waiter calling system for a restaurant.

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Eco Factor: Green batteries from Fuji can be disposed through normal waste systems.

We’ve seen some great battery innovations in the past too which included the cool solar recharging batteries and the somewhat unconventional pee-powered batteries. Fuji isn’t a new entrant in the battery market, but their product is absolutely new with some green features making it stand apart from the rest. The company’s newest innovation is the EnviroMAX battery that is one of the most ecofriendly ways to juice up your electronic belongings.

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Eco Factor: Energy-saving technology developed make air conditioners green.

Engineers at the Purdue University have developed a technique that saves energy and servicing costs by indicating when air conditioners are low on refrigerant, preventing the units from working overtime. The new “virtual refrigerant charge sensor” is particularly practical for automotive air conditioners, which tend to leak refrigerant more than other types of units, and also for household central air conditioning units.

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Eco Factor: World’s largest solar power plant to be constructed in Sahara.

Taking advantage of the dryness of Sahara Desert, renewable energy giants are prepping up the installation of the world’s largest solar power plant that collectively will generate a whopping 100GW of concentrating solar power. Promoted by Desertec Foundation, the plant will be built by 20 blue chip German companies, who would be gathering together to discuss plans and investments to create the massive project.

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Eco Factor: Concept phone uses clean energy harnessed from the sun.

Portable gadgets can store a limited amount of energy and demand recharging from time to time. Solar power is one suitable option that can provide renewable energy anywhere and anytime so that you could take maximum advantage of your portable devices. Designer Tryi Yeh’s “Magnet phone” concept sounds ideal in this concern.
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Eco Factor: The energy kit uses ethanol to produce electricity.

Fuel cell technology is viewed as one of the most remarkable sources of energy in the coming future. Researchers are trying their best to develop ways to achieve the maximum of this source through various innovative mechanisms. Among these lines, a small system called “Horizon Bio-energy Kit” is up to using ethane as raw material for producing hydrogen.

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Eco Factor: Futuristic concept tent can harness solar energy to provide electricity to portable gadgets.

Orange, utilizing cutting edge technology in solar harnessing PVs, has revealed a new updated Solar Concept Tent. What make it worth mentioning are its high-tech features that give the freedom of camping with all electronic facilities. Designed in association with American product design consultancy kaleidoscope, this futuristic tent can supply energy harnessed from the sun to power portable gadgets like cellphones and laptops through a wireless charging pouch.

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Eco Factor: The sculpture is made from reused aluminum cans.

It’s easier to join the discussion for anyone and put forth plans theoretically, but some people are born with a pragmatic approach and believe in putting into action what they conceive. An example can be sited of the recycled artwork unveiled at Seven Sisters, East Sussex, which is the largest ever in its category. A fantastic inspiration can be drawn to use the waste instead of throwing it in landfills from this piece of work that is made from 200,000 aluminum cans to mark Recycle Week June 22-28, 2009 on the part of the Coca-Cola Company.

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In the spirit of acquiring a serious collection of luscious, unisex bath products, I recently brought home EO’s Hinoki and Ginger Bubble Bath. Hinoki or Hinoki Cypress is a Japanese tree with an indescribably pleasant fragrance—a little like sandalwood, more masculine than girly, undeniably uplifting. Paired with ginger and backed with organic ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera and white tea this bubble bath transported me from my Brooklyn bathroom—and my Brooklyn stresses—to some calm and easy never-never land where relaxation rules.

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Eco Factor: Hybrid bike powered by electricity.

Yamaha Motor Corporation has announced the launch of a new hybrid-electric bike the PAS Brace-L, as a type of advanced, new product that supports the new standards with the revised regulations on electric-assisted bicycle. “PAS Brace-L” is both sporty in appearance and offers long distance driving. Powered by 8.1Ah lithium-ion battery the bike has a range of 118km on a single charge, which is twice as long as the previous model developed by the company. The new bike is expected to hit stores on July 1 at a price of about $1,500.

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Eco Factor: Kinetic energy generators make people conserve energy.

Energy is hard to come and we all are aware of this fact. Being aware or not, we have to accept that we’re not working according to the needs of the planet. People all over the globe are simply wasting energy in running appliances that are not being used, or not using energy-efficient appliances.

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Eco Factor: Water and energy saving washing machine.

Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a new washing machine, which when fully developed would be able to wash a complete load using just one cup of water. Apart from using less than 10% of the water of conventional washing machines, saves on energy as well by merely using a third of the energy of other washing machines available on the market today.

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