Eco Factor: Stuttgart railway station minimizes energy needs using huge skylights and solar power.

Designed way back in 1997 as part of a large rail redevelopment project called Stuttgart 21, the Main Station Stuttgart has begun to see the light of the day. Aimed at restructuring the rail network in Stuttgart and constructing a high speed rail line the project envisages a sustainable underground structure right beneath the city center. This would transform the downtown landscape by effacing the existing rail track clutter and burying the same 12 feet underneath to make way for a sprawling lush green park. Read the full story

Eco Factor: Low-emission concept vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.

Auto designer Frederik Tjellesen has created a concept sports car for an Italian car manufacturer, De Tomaso, which runs on a low-emission hybrid engine. Christened the Ghepardo, the concept is a four-door sports car that boasts Ecoboost technology and methanol fuel cells.

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Eco Factor: Eco-friendly village with photovoltaic arrays and rainwater collection.

In an attempt to preserve and enhance both the culture and the environment of Hawaii, Harrison Architects have come up with preliminary design for a micro-ecovillage. Located in Maunalani Heights, this ecovillage comprises four new houses that will be off the power grid, and eliminate the use of municipal water. Rather, the houses will collect rainwater to meet with its water requirements and photovoltaic arrays on the roof will supply power. In addition, a vertical helix wind generator placed at the edge of the cliff will generate power to be used by the entire village.

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Eco Factor: Eco-friendly house uses solar electrical generation and energy conservation.

If peace, comfort, seclusion and connection with Mother Nature are things you are looking for your next family vacation, then the Nighthawk Retreat is the answer. The V-shaped house cut into the ridge along the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains is off the grid with solar electrical generation and energy conservation being its major aspects. Designed by Eggleston Farkas Architects, the stunning home relies on the use of concrete as finish material for both its exterior and interior.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept truck powered by renewable energy.

Designed for the year 2042, the Scania Motion is a concept truck that can tackle all extreme climatic conditions, while serving as a house for the driver. The zero-emission vehicle will also be able to reliably transport goods in any environmental condition and to any destination. The all-terrain vehicle features onboard renewable energy generating systems.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable house made from eco-friendly materials.

Push Designs has completed constructing the first Hemp House in the U.S. Built in Asheville, NC, the sustainable house, which has been created from a renewable hemp-based material, called Hemcrete, features several green and energy-saving materials on the inside as well. Hemcrete is a sustainable material that has been made from hemp, water and lime. The breathable material purifies air and helps insulate the house.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable living space created from shipping containers.

The Squamish Cargospace Living Project by Zigloo Architects has been designed to answer the client’s demand of an easy to construct living space that can efficiently adapt to the off-grid demands of the property. To be created from discarded shipping containers, the project aims to serve as a short-term residence.

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Eco Factor: House covered with layers of rolled newspapers.

Built in the year 1922 by mechanical engineer Elis Stemnan, the Paper House is one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in Massachusetts. Like many other homes built in that period, the Paper House too was a common wooden house with nothing so special about it, until one day the owner planned to give his house a makeover by wrapping it entirely in old newspapers.

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Eco Factor: Autonomous robots powered by solar energy to clean oil spills.

The Deepwater Horizon disaster triggered a hot market for remedial technologies that can reduce the environmental impact of such a disaster in the future. We’ve reported about next-gen robotic technologies that could help clean oil spills at a fraction of the cost that BP spent. Researchers at MIT’s Senseable City Lab have a plan to unveil a prototype of their SeaSwarm technology that can contain a leak similar in size to the BP spill for just $200 million.

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Eco Factor: Low-emission vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.

Peugeot has announced the technical details of its upcoming hybrid, which is scheduled to hit the market next spring. The 3008 Hybrid4 will be the world’s first diesel “through-the-road” (TtR) hybrid which will be powered by a conventional 163hp 2.0-liter inline-four diesel engine and a 37hp electric motor that propels the rear wheels.

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Eco Factor: Low-cost hydrogen fuel cell to generate clean energy.

Scientists at the Norwegian Academy of Science have designed a new type of hydrogen fuel cell that is inspired by human lungs. The lung-inspired hydrogen fuel cell can reduce the amount of expensive platinum catalyst, while increasing the efficiency of the cell.

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Eco Factor: Morgan will manufacture an electric-diesel hybrid sportscar and a fun weekend vehicle in next three years.

After unveiling the Eva GT at Pebble Beach 2010, the English carmaker Morgan is gearing up to add a new ting of green to its portfolio of sports cars. Morgan Motor Company is planning to put two new cars into production during the next three years. The first vehicle that the carmaker will add to its current range will be called the “LIFEcar 2”, while the second model will be a “fun weekend vehicle.”

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Eco Factor: New Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center will use about 33 percent less fuel per megawatt of power generated.

The Cape Canaveral Power Plant that has a history of 45 years is just on the verge of green replacement. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has demolished the power plant and is gearing up to build a new one that will be designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Being erected on the 42-acres site, the new Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center will use about 33 percent less fuel per megawatt of power generated with advanced combined-cycle, natural gas technology capable.

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Eco Factor: Floating turbine uses flow of water to generate renewable energy.

Designed by American designer Michael Jantzen, the Great River Turbine is a conceptual design for a large stainless steel water turbine that can generate pollution-free electricity for a city. With a diameter of about 100ft, the turbine features 12 massive blades that rotate with the current of the river.

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Eco Factor: Environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries for military uses.

Scientists have developed new wearable lithium-ion batteries that are based on the use of a common virus. The high-performance rechargeable batteries could power portable electronic devices and can be woven into fabrics such as uniforms or ballistic vests.

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Eco Factor: Parking lot generates renewable energy to charge EVs.

With most auto makers racing to develop next-gen electric cars for a green future, recharging electric cars on renewable energy gets even more important. People in Tennessee have just received a new parking lot that features electric car charging points, which run on renewable solar energy generated by onboard photovoltaic panels.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable house powered by solar energy.

GeoSun is all set to unveil sustainable “Green Home” at ENTECH 2010 to be held in Pusan. In addition to the house, the company will also showcase new environmentally-friendly technologies. The Green Home is an eco-friendly greenhouse with low cost and high efficiency where terrestrial heat and solar heat is utilized to reduce energy consumption and sunlight is used to generate renewable electricity.

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Eco Factor: Foss Maritime Company to add second hybrid diesel tugboat to its fleet.

The operator of world’s first tugboat Foss Maritime Company has decided to introduce a second hybrid vessel in its fleet. The company recently got a $1 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to assist the latest addition to its Southern California fleet. The tug boat would be retrofitted with hybrid technology comprising motor generators, batteries, and control systems and will help improve fuel efficiency and operational capabilities. The hybrid tug boat will help reduce nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and carbon emissions given the fact that it saves 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year. Read the full story

Eco Factor: Fuel cell uses urea to generate electricity.

Conventional fuel cells have been marred by the high cost of materials and the challenges involving the transportation and storage of highly flammable hydrogen of toxic methanol. A research team at the Heriot-Watt University is now finding possible ways to use urea to create energy via new, low-cost fuel cells.

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Eco Factor: Researchers develop sensor technology that harvests energy from physical movements.

In a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) scientists at the University of Southampton are developing a technology that would harvest energy from physical movements to generate electricity. Using rapid printing process and active printed links the team is trying to create energy producing films in textiles. These films would be embedded in the clothing or the materials around like carpets and harvest energy generated by movements to produce electricity which could be used to power devices instead of relying on batteries for the same. Read the full story

Eco Factor: Windmill with wings made from bamboo.

The existence of the windmill dates back in the 9th century and has come a long way since then. We’ve seen everyone from big companies to DIYer experiment with them to produce green energy. But, this time around a Dutch designer adds a little more green to this age-old green technology. Gijsbert Koren has developed a windmill by ditching the steel wings and using bamboo ones instead.

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Eco Factor: Hybrid solar/diesel power plant to save 1119 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Horizon Power’s Pippunyah Solar Diesel Power Station has officially been unveiled in the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. The plant, which is being claimed to be the world’s first hybrid solar power plant, incorporates 1350 SunPower Solar Panels that track the sun and produce 1160KW of renewable electric power.

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Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept car powered by electricity.

The Alfa Romeo Essence concept by auto designer Sam Holgate aims to change the brand’s design language by utilizing fabric-inspired surfaces. Intended to be driven in the year 2035, the concept car will be powered by electric motors.

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Eco Factor: Self-dusting solar panels generate more electricity.

We’ve reported about the benefits of installing large-scale solar plants in the deserts. However, in addition to plenty of sunlight the climate there is too dusty, which makes solar panels inefficient. Using water-based self-cleaning systems isn’t feasible because of the lack of freshwater in these areas. Researchers at the Boston University are now planning to use technology developed by NASA for use on Mars to produce self-cleaning solar panels for use on our planet.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable development minimizes energy consumption.

Forster + Partners have unveiled the masterplan for West Kowloon Cultural District that will be built in Hong Kong. The development will make use of a reclaimed harbor-front site and will include a 23-hectare great park and a green avenue that will provide a landscaped setting for a series of spectacular new cultural buildings.

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