Eco Factor: Sculpture made from recycled plastic.
A group of eco-conscious Japanese artists have crafted a Gundam from grids of plastic leftovers. The structure, christened the RG (Recycle Grade) RX-78-2 Gundam, is three feet tall and has been built entirely from spare plastic runners and part trees from smaller Gundam model kits.
Eco-Factor: sustainable design reduces the need for mechanical heating and cooling thereby saving energy.
Designer Erick Van Egeraat design for the 32,000 m2 Corporate University planned for Russia’s largest and oldest bank, Sberbank has been chosen from 4 other proposals for combining sustainable design tools and technologies. Read the full story
Eco-Factor: Solar powered electric assist bicycle trailer takes a musician on tour.
With Kristin Rule’s new album release round the corner, the cellist who creates music with an environmental edge has planned a music tour with that is equally eco friendly. The lady gets mobile this time using a bicycle accompanied by a solar-powered, electric-assist trailer. Read the full story
Eco Factor: New electric racecar sports lightweight carbon fiber body.
Brigham Young University is on a quest to set a speed record for the E-1 class and its partner to fulfill the dream is an electric streamliner. Unveiled recently, the special racecar sporting lightweight carbon fiber body reached a top speed of 139 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats this month. After nearly six years of designing and building, the over a hundred student team was proud to have a fast, quite and green car that has the ability to turn heads.
Eco Factor: Cellphones made from new form of bio-plastic.
NEC has announced the development of a new kind of bio-plastic that can be used to make mobile phones. The bio-plastic is 70 percent cellulose and cardanol, a primary component of cashew nut shells. While current bio-plastics include large amount of oil-based additives, the new plastic uses cardanol to modify cellulose.
Eco Factor: Urinal and sink combo concept uses gray water to cleanse the urinal basin.
Peeing and washing hands in the same urinal stand sounds a little bizarre to me, but I have no clue how are you guys going to react to this. Designer Yeongwoo Kim has developed a simple green urinal that incorporates a radical hand washing concept to offer a one-stop bathroom. Dubbed the “Eco Urinal”, this urinal and sink combo is designed to save a water flush cycle.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicle powered by an electric engine.
The Follow Me concept electric vehicle has been designed to better postal delivery services in inner city. The compact vehicle helps delivery agencies sneak through congested city lanes. A network of distributed docking stations allows to continuously stock-up deliver vehicles with parcels on the move.
Eco Factor: Temporary water polo venue cloaked in a PVC membrane will reduce water consumption by 40%.
Enthusiasm, excitement, thrill and curiosity is what one experiences during the Olympic Games. But, this time it also gets special venue for experiences that are larger than life. The Olympic Delivery Authority Planning Committee has approved the plans for a temporary London 2012 Water Polo Arena. Designed by David Morley Architects, the temporary water polo venue will boast a state of the art inflatable roof.
Eco Factor: Sustainable mixed-use development generates renewable energy.
The J1 Residential Tower by O1a Architecture has been designed as a sustainable high-rise on the Cornice in Abu Dhabi. The biodynamic project is a mixed-use development that consists of retail spaces in the base, office space and a hotel with amenities located centrally and residential areas that make the upper section of the tower.
Eco Factor: Battery swapping system to make EVs practical.
Better Place, in collaboration with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of Japan’s METI and Nihon Kotsu Co., is testing the viability of battery swapping systems in Tokyo. The trail started last April and will continue until November. While researchers over the globe are working hard to better the credentials of electric batteries, by enabling them to store more charge and support fast charging, Better Place is working on alternative approaches.
I recently spent a few days in Boulder living in a net-zero energy house. The Green House showcased numerous fabulous products. On Day 2, another journalist invited to stay in the house asked me whether my entire wardrobe is made of T-shirts. I couldn’t tell whether she thought I was consistently underdressed or she liked the ones I was wearing.
One of my favorites is the Saddle Up ($39) T-shirt from Topo Ranch. Made of 100% organic jersey cotton, this shirt just gets better with time. I like so many of Topo Ranch’s t-shirts because they’re understated in their messages.
I like to wear environmentally conscious clothing but I don’t like eco-clothing that screams “eco.” Subtlety and style are always appreciated.
Eco Factor: Stone-walled house with mesmerizing sea view.
Designed by Greek firm Deca Architecture, the “Aloni” is a house designed as a dual response to the particular topography of the site and to the rural domestication techniques that in the past shaped the raw Cycladic Island landscape. Situated on the exotic Antiparos Island of Greek, this stunning home appears like it’s naturally camouflaged in its environment.
Eco Factor: LG to put 9.7-inch color, 19-inch flexible e-paper displays into production.
You may soon get to see a new generation of color and flexible e-paper coming from LG Display. According to a recent SEC filing, the company is expecting to begin mass production of 9.7-inch color and 19-inch flexible e-paper by the end of the year. The 9.7-inch color e-paper could go into future generations of e-readers like the Kindle or even multimedia devices like tablets.
Eco Factor: Concept car powered by electricity.
Replacing conventional gas engines from a car gives designers the freedom to test unusual vehicles that can have any shape to please their future owners. We’ve seen a variety of concept electric cars, some of which have been too weird for any practical appeal. Auto designer Mika Becktor is testing out his skills in designing an electric car that includes an energy generating exterior.
Eco Factor: Self-sufficient refrigerator is powered by solar energy.
Refrigerators normally occupy a lot of space in your kitchen, not to mention the amount of energy they consume. Industrial designer Nicolas Hubert has proposed a solution to end both the problems, while adding some more. The designer has come up with a concept refrigerator that runs on clean solar energy. However, as you might have expected, the refrigerator needs to be installed outside your window to harness energy.
Eco Factor: Artwork created from old circuit boards.
With our over dependence on handheld gadgets, which succumb as soon as a better one is available, discarded circuits boards keep on asking more landfill space. While many of us don’t really care about the toxic elements present in discarded electronic equipment, there is no dearth of designers who give these high-end pieces of technology a new life. Theo Kamecke is one such designer who has the ability to give old circuit boards a majestic look.
Eco Factor: Solar power plants to generate 1.25GW of renewable electric power.
Constructing large-scale solar power plants in the deserts makes sense due to the number of sunny days in these arid areas. Recognizing the true potential of solar power in the Californian desert, the US Bureau of Land Management has issued a final environmental impact statement for the 1000MW Blythe Solar Power Project and the 250MW Beacon Solar Energy Project.
Eco Factor: Vegetable Stadium made from reused wooden fruit crates and fruits.
Here’s an interesting idea for all the vegetable vendors on how to best utilize the wooden crate boxes that keep piling alongside on daily basis. Dutch artist Helmut Smits scratched his brains to find utility for the poor crates in his Vegetable Football Stadium’. The stadium is built using fruit crate boxes, fruit, wood, stands, halogen work lights and grass carpet. Read the full story
Eco Factor: Light spheres illuminate Dubai sky using clean energy systems.
Lights and Wings Choreographies in the Sky is a sustainable art form visualized for Site #1 in Dubai, adjacent to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary by Carlos Campos Yamila Zynda Aiub Architects. The design envisions hundreds of light spheres in the Dubai sky that fly in geometrical position using clean energy systems. These installations or the wings use the self controllable Paraglider Technology to stay afloat. Read the full story
Eco Factor: Hybrid gas-wind turbine can increase their performance of existing facilities.
Wouldn’t it be great if one could harness energy even when wind isn’t blowing? This is exactly what Hybrid Turbines Inc., a Colorado-based company promises. Its latest product called the “SmartGen hybrid gas-wind turbine” uses biogas or natural gas to spin wind turbine generators when the wind is not blowing.
Eco Factor: Public composting toilet features green roofs and solar panels.
The Riverside Clay Tennis Association has recently proposed has proposed a carbon-neutral complex that would be the first public bathroom of its kind in a New York City park. Designed by architecture firm Cook + Fox Architects, the bathroom will be built using recycled materials. It will have provision for composting sewage to fertilize park greenery.
Eco Factor: Bus generates renewable solar energy to power interior lighting and air fresheners.
Japanese electronics manufacturer Sanyo has unveiled a futuristic vehicle called the Solarve Bus that’s green both inside and out. The green solar machine uses solar power to provide juice for the bus’ lights and air filters that keep the interiors more comfortable.
Eco Factor: Self-powered robot to monitor long-term impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Liquid Robotics has developed a new gadget for BP, which will be able to measure the long term impacts of the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The robot, called Wave Glider, can cruise through the water on a pre-programmed course for up to a year. Moreover, using the on onboard GPS antenna, the robot can be given new instructions remotely from the shore.
Eco Factor: Researchers develop a mitochondria fuel cell powered by soda pop or vegetable oil.
Shelley Minteer, a Professor of Chemistry at Saint Louis University in Missouri has announced the discovery of a new class of bio fuel cells that could be powered by sugar found in soda pop or vegetable oil. In its first ever demonstration the team showed how a device incorporated with layer of mitochondria cells placed between two electrodes helps in producing electricity using sugar and cooking oil byproducts as fuel. The team believes that if developed further the recent advancement has the potential to replace disposable and rechargeable batteries in wide variety electronic goods. Read the full story
Eco Factor: Portable water turbine to generate energy.
Australian industrial designer Daniel Hull has conceptualized a portable water turbine that can be perfect for all energy requirements when setting up a camp. The portable turbine, dubbed the Vena Microhydro System, can be stored in a backpack case for easy carriage.
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