Babies spend most of their time sleeping, so it makes nothing but sense to outfit their sleeping quarters with the best in bambino bedding. In my world, “best” means the softest, coziest organic cotton possible. And like most gear for the miniature set, organic bedding options are vast and somewhat overwhelming. Whether you’re the traditional type who adheres to the pink-girls/blue-boys paradigm, a non-conformist who seeks out bold gender-neutral colors and patterns or a commitment-phobe who can’t decide on a look and so chooses plain, boring, masking tape-colored sheets (no, I’m not proud), you can easily create an organic cotton dreamland for your little one. Check out these organic options:

You have big goals for the nursery—a Technicolor alphabet hand stenciled on one wall, a freshly painted rocking chair, a carefully selected collection of stuffed animals strategically placed on shelves—but I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to cheat a bit. Really, start cheating. Soon you’re going to need your energy for more important undertakings, like wiping baby vomit off the living room couch. It’s not necessary to race around in search of the perfect sheet, bumper, crib skirt and comforter. Take the easy route with BeBe Star’s 4 Piece Lamb Organic Cotton Crib Set ($255). The color scheme is neutral natural with just a bit of jazzy lamb-themed patterning to spice things up.

Those with racier sensibilities may prefer Q Collection’s Junior Celestial Parade Organic Crib Set ($395, Babyearth.com). The blue, yellow and white collection is clean and modern with a Galileo pattern on one side and an elephant pattern on the other—reversible as you see fit. The set includes a bumper, crib skirt, fitted cream sheet and your choice of an additional blue or pink sheet all made from organic cotton and packed in an incredibly cute reusable organic cotton tote. [Spoiler alert for my pregnant friends: this set is officially at the top of my baby shower gift list.]

If sets aren’t your thing (you’re not alone—we all know there’s no way I could have committed to a set), Pixel Organic makes some killer individual fitted sheets for cribs, toddler beds and big kid beds too. If I could do it again, I would have insisted that W slumber on this super cool orange “Stalk of Wheat” sheet ($59.99) and would have alternated it with “Lions, Tigers and Kitties . . . Oh My.” ($59.99).

Feeling safe and simple? I did. And W’s got six soft, plain organic cotton sheets to show for it. DwellStudio, known for their bright patterns, also makes a solid Organic Natural Fitted Crib Sheet ($44). You just can’t go wrong with neutral natural.

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Eco Factor: Pedal-powered system to increase the awareness on the use of bicycles.

Considering the rise in the cost of fossil fuels and the increase in environmental awareness, people have started thinking more about traditional transportation systems that in one way or the other were based on the use of pedal power. However, tempting people to forget all about horsepower and think about their own power isn’t as easy as it seems. DIYers and inventors have been developing machines that run on pedal power and are in some way or the other promoting the bike culture.

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Eco Factor: Batteries capable of storing over 20KWh of electricity being developed.

You may be possessing the world’s largest rooftop solar array, but all that energy is no good until you possess the world’s largest battery bank as well, which can store all that power and give it some purpose. The amount of energy generated from renewable sources is on a rise, but the conventional battery technology isn’t keeping up the same pace, at least not at the same cost. Researchers in Utah-based Ceramatec have found an answer in a disc-shaped battery that can store up to 20KWh of power – enough to power an average home for most of the day.

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Eco Factor: Low-emission car powered by a gas/electric hybrid engine.

The makers of the world’s fastest car, Shelby SuperCars, have announced its plans to develop the world’s fastest EV, with the development of a hybrid motorhome. The company wants to develop a hybrid vehicle with an all electric range of 150 miles and a combined hybrid range of 500 miles.

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Eco Factor: Rainwater harvesting systems and green walls envisioned for Canada Pavilion.

The vast expanse of Canada Pavilion, which rests at around 6,000 square meters, is being envisioned to be sustainable before it welcomes 30,000 visitors per day during the Shanghai Expo 2010, which will be a six-month long event.

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Eco Factor: India to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by 2050.

Developing countries like India and China are among the most polluting nations of the world. The only thing that can brighten these nations is the use of renewable energy at a scale no one has ever thought of before. Being the seventh largest country of the world, India receives about 5,000 trillion KWhs of solar energy each day, which is put to good use, can well provide more electricity than the country actually requires.

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Eco Factor: Energy-efficient housing complex designed for Europe.

Dutch architect Koen Olthius, of Waterstudio, has envisioned a modern prefabricated housing complex to solve the problem of rising and falling tides, which the Dutch have been fighting for centuries. Instead of expensive means to contain tides and prevent water from flooding the low-lying areas, Koen is working on completely different approach – floating housing complexes.

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Eco Factor: Concept vehicle is driven by electric motors.

British designer Peter Spriggs has come up with a concept vehicle that is friendly to disabled people along with being equally friendly to the environment. The Setra 700 Series vehicle is powered by a 225kw zero emission electric motor producing 400bhp and 600ft/lb (800nm) of torque placed between rear axles in its tri-axle setup. The Lithium-Ion batteries are mounted low down under the luggage compartment, which helps in constant weight distribution.

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Eco Factor: Portable lamp powered by solar energy.

The Lora is a portable lamp that will light your path with power sucked from the sun. The lamp can be placed on the ground or on a table like auxiliary lighting, thereby function both indoors and outdoors. It’s provided with four 3.5V, 20mAh LEDs, emitting white-color heat, which diffuse soft and glossed light. The LEDs are fed by a 3.7V, 650mAh battery which is connected to the flexible photovoltaic panel covered by a plastic layer.

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Eco Factor: Light utility vehicle can be driven by zero emission electric motors and pedal power.

The rapidly increasing urban pollution is a problem which requires attention and demands cautiousness in every step we take. The Road Star-S seems to be an attempt to provide an answer to this problem. It’s a hybrid vehicle, powered by pedal power and an electric motor. In both ways, being a zero emission vehicle, it’s friendly towards the environment. Basically, the vehicle is meant for those who require a transportation medium for their routine rides like to their workplace or for ferrying children to school etc.

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Eco Factor: An organic educational model harness clean solar energy.

Designer Johanna Schönberger’s ‘Solar Grid’ combines the flexible thin-film technology and basalt fibers into a meticulous piece of structure that aims at providing double functionality at a time. The structure not only harness energy from sunlight but also provides an excellent opportunity of learning by working as a free organic model of education. Basalt fiber makes the design cheaper, but ensures durability that of similar to carbon fibers. This is because of the fact that these fibers have better physicomechanical properties than fiberglass.

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During the summer months, women have a huge fashion advantage over men: they can acceptably wear tank tops in public. A tank top is a great way to keep cool in hot weather, however, not all tanks are created equal. So, here are some fashionable eco-minded tank tops and tips to keep you breezy.

For the office or the evening, a basic cami shelf bra tank top, like Patagonia’s Hotline Top 08 in organic cotton, is best worn as a base layer under other tops and tanks. That is, unless, you happen to be wearing a bold skirt or pants, in which case the basic spaghetti strap style balances the look. Heads up, a shelf bra lining is for the smaller breasted woman - A/B or B/C sized. If your size is a large C or bigger, a built-in shelf bra alone will not provide the necessary support.

Baggy casual chic is a major tank trend this summer, like EcoGanik’s Striped Pocket Tank with racer back, made from 45% recycled polyester, 34% organic cotton and 21% bamboo. For an evening look drape long, bold necklaces over the tank, or wrap a skinny belt at your natural waist line for a sexy silhouette.

Speaking of evening looks, how awesome is this organic cotton Larsen Gray Friendship Rock Drop Low Back Cami? The open back and rock detailing make it a fine, formal option for an evening event. But this top, and other backless looks like it, cannot be worn with a bra. So, the smaller chested ladies who can pull this off might also consider nipple covering stickers or use band aids to prevent pokeage.

The trick to dressing up and reinventing old tanks, for all body types, is layering. Made from 100% silk, the Austin Tank by Laeken exemplifies a nicely layered look. While the model wears a black bandeau beneath the voluminous yellow tank, you can pair a shelf tank or a lacy cami underneath, in an alternate color ‘pop’, for extra support.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission off-road car powered by electricity.

With their massive engines trying to eat up dirt, off-roaders are mainly associated with pollution and emissions. Car designer Ryan Skelley, of Sunbeam Tiger fame has thrilled us again with a true off-roader, which runs on clean electricity. Bowler Raptor, as the vehicle has been christened, takes inspiration from both modern architecture and superbikes.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable architecture harnesses solar energy and natural light.

Nottingham University’s plan to expand in Ningbo, China, has seen the development of a new Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies, which is designed by Mario Cucinella Architects. Just like the work the center is expected to perform, the architecture too boasts the use of sustainable sources of energy like photovoltaic energy, solar thermal energy and wind energy.

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Eco Factor: Homes made from natural materials require no air conditioning.

Technology might have provided us with the latest in cooling systems that can allow us to stand the heat of the desert sun without sweating. However, like most electronic products, our beloved air conditioners consume a large amount of electricity, which shows some effect on our electricity bills and the environment. Industrial designers are working on possible uses of solar energy to keep our homes cool, there were times when people didn’t have modern technology at their disposal but still managed to keep their homes cool.

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Eco Factor: Kinetic energy generated from marching soldiers to be converted into energy.

A soldier’s backpack typically weighs about 75kgs, out of which 10kgs is the weight of the batteries that fuel the electronics present in the gear. Scientists at the University of Leeds are focusing on ways to reduce the weight of the backpacks, by not making them carry less gear, but by eliminating batteries from the package.

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Eco Factor: Lamps created from recycled cassette tapes.

Cassette tapes, though obsolete in the era dominated mainly by digital audio players, hold nostalgic value for some. If you too want cassette tapes to always be a part of your living room, here is something special for you. Ooomydesign has crafted gorgeous lamps from old cassette tapes to keep this 80’s technology alive.

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Eco Factor: Low-emission trucks powered by compressed natural gas.

At present, reducing the number of cars on the road or making all of them run on electricity doesn’t quite seem a feasible answer. With trucks and buses sharing the major load of emissions, low-emission trucks could at least delay the global warming strike. Athens is trying to reduce the emissions, which their garbage collecting trucks produced by ordering 108 CNG-powered trucks from Daimler.

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Eco Factor: Concept air conditioner powered by solar energy.

With the summer sun getting hotter each year due to global warming and the rise in pollution, it gets really tough to stand all that heat without turning on the air conditioner. However, like most energy-eating appliances, cooling your interiors using an air conditioner shows its end impact on your electricity bills. Industrial designer Philip Stankard has tried to prove that you can remain comfortable during the summer months without exactly worrying about the utility bills. Philip has designed a concept air conditioner, dubbed Frost, which works by converting solar energy into electricity and using it to keep your home’s interiors cool.

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Eco Factor: Non-electric portable water purifier.

Every day, thousands of people die from lack of access to clean water. With over 80% of all diseases being related to water in some way or the other, designers and manufacturers are trying to eradicate the problems with low-cost water purifiers that carry sophisticated technology to purify water and make it fit for drinking.

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Eco Factor: Car air conditioner made from recycled materials.

While Toyota’s Prius will sport on-board solar panels that will take care of the car’s air conditioning and ventilation needs, Instructables user CameronSS has tried to find a way everybody can flaunt a green AC in their vehicles. CameronSS has made an air conditioner that works on a 12V DC supply from materials that might be present in your garage.

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Eco Factor: Artwork created from recycled materials.

Creativity knows no boundaries, and be it any type of artist each has its own work area and appeals to a unique sector of people and minds. Artwork too depends on the artist’s mind set. While some create it from expensive materials others depend on the use of rejected and refused materials to solve the same purpose. Eco-artists mainly try to show the worth of recycling and materials which are no longer in use.

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It’s simple. There’s only one pair of soft baby shoes that a baby needs: Simple’s Weebit moccasins. W lived in these soft shoes until he started walking. They were the only baby footwear that didn’t hug his chubby baby ankles too tightly and that kept his chubby baby toes neither too hot nor too cold. We started off with a hemp pair and as his feet grew moved onto a pair made with organic cotton and wool.

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Eco Factor: Wind-harnessing device features an alarm clock and a portable electronic gadget charger.

Electricity is almost a necessity to everyone nowadays, not only because we are accustomed to living in illuminated rooms laden with appliances of all sorts, but since it charges our portable gadgets that help us live our digital lives as well. However, electricity is one reason our world is in danger now. With fossil fuel reserves depleting at a fast rate, and pollution already at alarming levels, designers are now focusing on greener gadgets that offer more and pollute less.

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Eco Factor: Light dimmers reduce energy consumption when you don’t need much illumination.

Light dimmers are often used to lighten the mood of your living room to suit your requirements. Lutron Electronics is taking this technique a bit too far to actually reduce the energy being consumed by all the lighting equipment that is used in your house. The company has launched a new range of eco-minders, dubbed Maestro and Meadowlark, which not just dim light but also reduce energy consumption.

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