Eco Factor: Concept car designed to be powered by an all-electric engine.
Toyota Link is an affordable and ecofriendly vehicle designed for the year 2030, for students who have high social networking demands. The low-cost vehicle will provide students sustainable means to commute and remain in contact with their friends even when on the move.
Eco Factor: Energy-efficient solar cells capture more light without the use of sun trackers.
The amount of energy produced by a solar cell depends on the amount of incident sunlight. Since the position of the sun changes in the sky, manufacturers have developed sun tracking mirrors that can continuously focus sunlight onto photovoltaic panels, enabling them to produce more energy.
Eco Factor: Self-sufficient skyscraper proposal provides water and energy to surrounding structures.
Visiondivision has proposed a unique skyscraper that won’t house offices or apartments but will provide sustainable living space for animals. Dubbed Costanera Sur, the vertical zoo will be built from debris left over from the construction of Buenos Aires’ decades-old highways and will be self-sufficient in terms of water and energy.
Eco Factor: Mobility concept runs on zero emission electric motors.
The “NewRicksaw” project, a mobility concept, has been especially designed for the urban centers where the problems of space and pollution are growing rapidly. It’s a three-wheel mobility concept and each wheel includes a zero emission electric motor. The electric motors are supplied energy by lithium-ion batteries, which are positioned below the passenger seat. The system of battery charging is available at every station and the vehicle can be charged easily when parked at any station.
Eco Factor: Osmotic power is utilized to generate carbon neutral electricity.
Among various projects that are being established worldwide to provide renewable and carbon neutral energy, Statkraft, one of Europe’s leading renewable energy companies, has added another entrant to the list with the opening of its first osmotic power plant in Norway. According to the company, the project has a limited capacity and is undergoing testing at the moment, but they hope to commercialize it soon. The company estimates that the global potential of osmotic power is equivalent to half of the European Union’s current energy production.
Searching for insights into budget green living or green gift ideas just in time for the holidays? Amazon.com is running an extremely generous special on my latest book – The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. You can purchase it right now for just $2.30. That’s green living on a budget epitomized especially since the book is printed on 100% FSC-certified recycled paper. It was very satisfying to write this book because it forced me to research deeper in order to uncover green products and services that meet our requirements for price, quality and style. To be clear, my green living suggestions typically revolve around products and services. Some take issue with me and say that I’m just condoning consumerism. My perspective is that I’m simply acknowledging the reality that most people like to shop and that in our modern society, we meet our daily needs by purchasing products. Given that reality, I point people toward the best options that fit their lifestyles and also reduce their environmental impact.
What also distinguishes The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget is that I don’t just provide generic advice. For example, to me it’s not good enough to simply recommend to people that they use a low-flow showerhead in order to save money by conserving water (and the energy to heat that water) and then leave the conversation there. I recommend specific products that work well by using the litmus test: would I or someone else want this product even if it weren’t green?
My top showerhead recommendation is the Evolve Roadrunner because it 1) provides a strong, pleasing spray 2) reduces water flow from 2.5 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute and 3) saves further water by reducing the flow to a trickle once the temperature reaches 95 degrees until you release the water by pulling an integrated lever. Evolve recognizes that many people turn on the shower and then go off to finish eating breakfast or making the bed and allow the shower to run for ages before ever getting in. I’m not condoning the fact that that’s how many of us behave (I’m guilty of it too). Instead, I’m acknowledging it in order to recommend products that will truly work for budget-conscious, environmentally minded individuals who want to do the right thing for the planet but in the depths of their soul, secretly know that they aren’t willing to change very much. Since guilt-trips are neither fun nor particular effective, I seek green solutions that fit our lazy ways.
Other chapters delve into: green fashion, transportation, personal care, kids and babies, home furnishings, remodeling, household cleaning, energy savings, and office supplies. There are plenty of cool resources to be found like Toiletrebate.com, a site that helps you locate local and state rebates available on toilets and other water conservation devices, or Gazelle.com, a site that will pay you to recycle your electronics, or Denim Therapy, a service that will repair your coveted designer jeans that make your butt look super awesome so you don’t have to lay out cash for another pair.
There are few pleasures in life as satisfying as strapping on topflight gear. It’s the athletic equivalent of evening wear. You suit up, feeling prepared for whatever the mountain wants to throw at you. You tune in to get the weather report: In the right gear, it hardly matters. That’s confidence, looking good and feeling better. But technical doesn’t have to be flashy, and that might be our favorite aspect of this year’s best ski and snowboard jacket: the combination of technical features with a streamlined, almost understated, look.
What, exactly, makes this jacket such a winner?
Performance and comfort. The 100% recycled polyester lining wicks moisture while allowing proper sliding against the layers underneath, so as not to restrict your movement in any way. The DWR treatment on the outermost layer of the jacket keeps out wind and weather, which allows Patagonia to use a 100% polyester (45% recycled on this layer) shell for maximum breathability. That’s the trick, pushing moisture (namely sweat) out of the jacket without allowing the elements in. And this is the best we’ve seen it done.
Attention to Detail
For extra ventilation, and on the fly core temperature adjustment, you have pit zips that many riders will wear down during runs to avoid overheating. The jacket also has a powder skirt that loops into Patagonia’s snow pants to minimize invasion as well as a helmet-compatible hood. All seems are welded, not stitched, for optimal durability and waterproofing. You get two roomy handwarming pockets and another one up on the left chest that also includes an electronics pocket that keeps your gadgets protected and dry.
The high neck is effective without being “too noticeable.” Velcro the sleeves over your gloves in the morning and after every hot choc/apres and you’re good to go.
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Eco Factor: Sunshine to petrol project generates fuel from thin air.
Researchers at Sandia National Lab have demonstrated a working prototype of their “Sunshine to Petrol” machine, which converts waste CO2 initially to carbon monoxide and later to syngas, using nothing other than solar energy.
Eco Factor: Skyscraper with a solar shading system to prevent unnecessary heat gain.
American architects Studio Gang have designed a modern skyscraper in Chicago, which features a unique solar shading design to reduce solar heat gain. Dubbed Aqua Tower, the sustainable development carries outdoor terraces, which allow the tower to make the best use of natural light and ventilation.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric UAS designed to run on solar energy.
QinetiQ’s breakthrough solar-powered unmanned airplane Zephyr has undergone flight testing and payload evaluations in Yuma, Arizona. This test sequence, jointly sponsored by MOD UK and OSD DDRE JCTD program, focused on evaluating potential payloads as well as advancing the conops for operating long endurance persistent aircraft in excess of five days.
Eco Factor: Towing vehicle allows airplanes to turn off their engines while taxiing.
Taxiing to and from the airport terminal gate requires pilots to run the main engines, which is a highly inefficient way for slow speed ground movements. Ricardo has developed an alternative – a towing vehicle that enables the pilot to turn off the main engines and rely on the pulling force of the tug.
Eco Factor: LED-equipped dress harnesses wind energy for power.
The lightweight and energy-efficient credentials of LEDs have made designers think of countless application areas. Dutch Designer Stijn Ossevoort believes that in addition to illuminating your home in an efficient manner, LEDs can also be used to add some light to your party wear.
Eco Factor: Vertical system designed to harvest rainwater via natural processes.
Designed by Kooho Jung and Hayeon Kelly Choi the Symbiotic Green Wall is a conceptual double-layered wall system that collects, filters and distributes rainwater and wastewater within the construction site. Water is collected between the two layers, which also contribute in absorbing heat and noise around the site.
Eco Factor: Piezoelectric devices to convert kinetic energy into usable electricity.
Researchers at the City College of New York are planning small-scale piezoelectric devices that can be mounted on the roof or tail or a car or on an airplane fuselage and convert the vibrations into usable electricity.
Eco Factor: Low-emission motorboat designed to run on solar energy.
Industrial designer Carl Hagerling has designed a sustainable motorboat for 3 passengers, which runs on a zero-emission solar-powered engine. Dubbed Iron 23, the motorboat features a compact and a flexible design which provides all basic amenities to its users.
Eco Factor: Energy-saving architecture generates solar energy for power.
The future will need buildings that are not only energy-efficient, but in one way or the other generate at least a part of their energy requirements in the form of renewable energy. BIOS Arch has unveiled the designs of a futuristic skyscraper that not only saves energy, but also generates renewable energy using a PV-clad exterior.
Eco Factor: LED-illuminated office building reduces energy consumption.
The Unilever Headquarters has become one of the first office buildings to rely completely on LEDs as a light source. Together with Nimbus Group of Stuttgart, Behnisch Architekten has developed the headquarters, which according to the designers saves up to 70% in energy costs.
Eco Gadgets: Flexible solar panel for rechargeable batteries.
Disposable batteries did transform technology and let to the advent of a range of portable electronic devices that were powered by them. However, since most of these batteries end up in the landfill after they’re discharged, rechargeables are considered a better option for the environment.
Eco Factor: Solid-state rechargeable lithium-air battery reduces risk of explosion.
Engineers at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) have developed the first solar-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery that addresses the fire and explosion risks common with lithium-ion batteries.
Eco Factor: Carbon neutral homes designed to be powered on renewable energy.
After developing the best in solar technology, Sanyo has announced that it will soon be marketing solar-powered sustainable homes in Japan. The Sanyo Home will be equipped with a 3.78KW solar array and a 1.57KW Sanyo lithium-ion battery for backup.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission supercar runs on batteries.
Electric Cars of Springfield (ECOS) has recently unveiled its all-electric supercar at SEMA 2009. The Lamborghini-styled Harbinger™ is designed to reach a speed of 60mph in just 5 seconds and has an electronically-imposed limit of 117mph.
Eco Factor: Pedal-powered energy generators developed by Duracell.
Duracell has kicked off its energy collection system that will power the iconic 2010 numerals on New Year’s Eve. The Power Rovers developed by the company ask visitors to pedal to generate energy, which will be stored for use December 31st.
Eco Factor: Renewable energy storage system provides compressed air to generate energy.
While renewable energy giants are in a race to develop the biggest and the most efficient renewable energy farms, there are few who are thinking of ways to store all that energy in a system that can provide power when the generators aren’t working.
Eco Factor: Sustainable building designed to reduce energy consumption.
NL Architects has proposed SOZAWE, a sustainable development for Groningen City that will provide office spaces, a large interior public space and ample space to park 215 cars. The building carries green areas on every level, which apart from beautifying the structure also reduces the heat gain during daytime.
Eco Factor: Storing renewable energy in ice to reduce peak daytime energy demand.
Of the total amount of electricity generated by all sources, about 75% is used by buildings, a major fraction of which is consumed by air conditioners. With the demand of renewable energy increasing with every passing day, inventors are trying to find the best possible means to store the generated energy during the best time, to provide power when the generators aren’t getting the sources they need.
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