Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept car powered by electric motors.
While Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV has already been launched in a couple of variants, auto designer David Cardoso is planning something similar for car manufacturer Renault. The designer has come up with a concept electric vehicle, dubbed Twist, which according to him is a true rival to the i-MiEV.
Eco Factor: Energy storage system could deliver up to 20 percent savings in fuel consumption.
Funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board as part of its Low-Carbon Vehicle Initiative, the “Flybus” consortium is aiming to provide a cost-effective alternative to battery-hybrid buses. The system, which is based on the use of flywheel energy storage system, could deliver up to 20 percent savings in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions during city operations.
Eco Factor: 3G mobile network base station is powered by solar energy.
Ncell, a mobile phone and internet operator in Nepal, has set up a 3G base at an altitude of 5200 meters at the bottom of Mount Everest. The speed of the 3G services will be 3.6MB per second, which can be enhanced to 7.2MB per second when there is demand.
Eco Factor: Low-emission boat powered by an electric engine.
Swedish fuel cell developer Cellkraft has tested the reliability of its PEM fuel cells by powering a small boat with fuel cells for a lengthy trip. The journey was made to test the viability of the company’s fuel cells which run on hydrogen produced from methanol.
Eco Factor: Eco-friendly tower made from sustainable materials.
The Creative Renewable Energy and Efficiency Group has unveiled designs for the world’s tallest wooden tower that has been proposed for Austria. The sustainable high-rise building, dubbed the Lifecycle Tower, will be a 30-story mixed use facility that will focus on energy efficiency.
Eco Factor: Green skyscraper with internal wind farm and hi-end housing.
This skyscraper by Makeka Design Laboratory responds to the relationship between social fabric, cultural framework and sustainable technologies. Exhibiting architectural excellence, the high-rise building includes everything from an internal wind farm to stock exchange to science laboratory to greenhouse. The mixed-use development also includes an Ostrich Farm that provides a healthy habitat to precious animals.
Eco Factor: Nanowire-based fuel cell can generate 5-3 microwatts power using biological fluids.
Blood could produce electricity soon. Researchers in China and the US have developed a miniature fuel cell that can produce electricity from biological fluids. The team at Tsinghua University in Beijing has successfully constructed a fuel cell by coupling two redox enzymes via a nanowire of a polymer composite capable of conducting single protons. This fuel cell was able to generate electricity in human blood and the juice of a watermelon.
Eco Factor: Waste material converted into stunning lamp and coat rack.
If you thought food leftovers were a waste, think again. A Mexican artist has designed something aesthetically innovative using things that would otherwise end up in landfills. Diego Perez has shaped dry grape twigs and local juice stands into an exquisite lamp that goes by the name “Proyector.” The colorful lights illuminate the brown twigs, creating a mesmerizing view.
Eco Factor: Biodegradable garbage bag to encourage people to utilize bio-waste efficiently.
Most of us do not even realize how much energy goes for waste owing to our sluggish behavior to separate the biological waste from residual waste. So, this rubbish bag by Ahha Project of Milano- and Seoul-based group comes to help save energy by forcing us to reconsider our bio-waste disposal habits. Dubbed Energy from Biomass, the biodegradable bag tells how much energy the user can generate with each bag of kitchen waste collected.
Eco Factor: Hydrogen-powered car create its own hydrogen fuel using the sun.
Until now, we have seen many hydrogen-powered vehicles, but none that creates its own fuel. But a hydrogen-powered 1994 Toyota Tercel by an agriscience professor from Middle Tennessee State University promises just that. Christened as “Forces of Nature,” this green car will create its own hydrogen fuel using the sun. Using hydrogen extracted from an onboard water supply using solar power, the car will attempt to complete an over 500 miles journey from Blacksburg, Virginia to Little Rock, Arkansas on November 1.
Eco Factor: Buggy powered by wind energy.
Concept designer Mario Pitsch has envisioned a sustainable beach buggy that connects fun sports and individual travel in an entirely new fashion. Christened the Sandfly, the beach buggy is attached to a kite that harvests wind power to propel the buggy.
Eco Factor: Algae-based biofuel used to power gunboat.
The US Navy has tested a 49ft gunboat that had algae-based fuel in its tank. The test, which has been hailed as a new milestone in the creation of a new, energy-saving strike force, went without a hitch with the gunboat running “just fine”. During the test the experimental boat was powered by a 50/50 mix of algae-based fuel and diesel.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission tractor powered by solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells.
Aiming to bring sustainable machines to urban farms, industrial designer Prithu Paul has conceptualized a zero-emission concept tractor that is powered by hydrogen fuel cells and nano solar cells. Christened the Deuterium, the tractor features an onboard CPU, GPRS and sensor controlled motion path allocation.
Eco Factor: An all-new Honda electric vehicle concept and a plug-in hybrid platform to make its world debut.
Honda has recently announced that its newest electric vehicle concept and a new plug-in hybrid platform will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17, 2010. Joining Honda’s present green car line that includes vehicle like the Insight hybrid, Jazz (Fit) hybrid and the CR-Z, both these new addition is expected to take the company’s green initiative to the next level.
Eco Factor: historical building renewed with new galleries and green roofs.
Looking at the vandalistic acts that most historical building have witnessed, it’s heartening to see a century old maintaining its dignity and honor. The 27 meters high Water Tower in Lozenets/Sofia is presently being used as a place where art expositions fashion reviews and other events are being held. Since it is really small, so getting overcrowded is a problem that is faces usually. To solve this problem that too in an eco-friendly manner, a new design has been proposed that blends architectural excellence, ingenious design and sustainability together.
Eco Factor: Dye-sensitive solar cell uses screen printing technology to affix them onto windows.
The future says “print solar cells onto your window and produce green energy.” Oxford Photovoltaics has developed solar cells that can be printed directly onto glass to make power-generating windows. The Oxford University-affiliated group has won over $150,000 prize money from the U.K. Technology Strategy Board’s “Disruptive Solutions Competition” to commercialize its latest invention.
Eco Factor: Kids design water-saving toilet, green bike and recycled Sibling Soaker for a competition.
In an attempt to encourage kids to take up green practices, PBS Design Squad held a competition where children ages 5 to 19 were asked to create the next great eco-friendly invention using nothing but recycled items. The Trash to Treasure competition looked for designs that fit one of the three categories – mobility, conservation or play. The little angels had to use at least two repurposed materials in their design.
Eco Factor: Electric car covering 372-miles on a single charge.
A yellow and purple colored electric Audi A2 car has set a new world distance record for an everyday vehicle by completing the 600-kilometer journey from Munich in southern Germany to Berlin without recharging its battery. Driven by Mirko Hannemann yesterday, this electric car by German firms lekker Energie and DBM Energy is here to give a new green definition to urban transport.
Eco Factor: Wind driven droplights harness kinetic energy and transforms it into electro-magnetic energy.
Imagine paper-like green light illuminating every corner of your room with soft and harmless beams of light. Oh! sounds so romantic…doesn’t it? Now create a perfect romantic atmosphere with the “Paper Light.” Designed by Wen Jie Zheng, this exquisite ultra-thin light rotates like a paper in the wind during the day and illuminates with sheen green light at night.
Eco Factor: Concept robot relies on methanol fuel cell for carrying out simple weeding.
With the aim to make the weeding process extremely easy and environmentally friendly, the Swiss industrial designer Fabian Zimmerli envisions a concept robot that would rely on a methanol fuel cell to do the task. While a GPS system takes care of navigation, a digital image recognition system helps the robot to differentiate between the plant and weed.
Eco Factor: Thermal spa wrapped with a living wall.
Geothermally heated groundwater, which oozes out of the Earth’s crust in Royat, France, lends a unique curative significance to the entire place. Rheumatic patients keep coming here for the much-needed succor. Just recently, Vincent Callebaut Architectures collaborated with Frederic Magnien Architect to design a thermal spa with an encircling living wall and an enveloping green roof over a site that locates itself on rivers Tiretaine and Liaboux.
Eco Factor: Concept folding bicycle eases carriage.
We have regularly reported about folding bicycles that aim to increase the popularity and usefulness of this zero-emission form of transport. However, many of these folding bikes and concepts have low usage efficiency as they take a lot of time to fold and unfold. The A3 Folding Bicycle concept by designer Vincent Tan is different as it has been designed to be highly efficient and easy to operate.
Eco Factor: Self-powered fridge for use in rural areas of the world.
Emily Cummins, a 23-year-old British inventor, has become the only female to be honored by Nobel Prize winners in an international ceremony. Emily, a Leeds University Graduate, was named among the 10 most outstanding young people in the world and is receiving honors for a couple of inventions that includes a solar-powered fridge and a water carrying device that have been designed to be used in Africa.
Eco Factor: Chair made from leftover pieces of wood.
Industrial designer Hrvoje Vulama wanted to make good use of the leftover pieces of wood that were discarded from his earlier works. Trying not to waste any precious resource, the designer utilized the pieces to make rocking chair.
Eco Factor: Solar powered steam turbines help generate electricity.
Solar Dunes by Designer Khourvy Levit Fong aesthetically re-conceives an ecological solar powered industrial landscape for the Land Art Generator Initiative. Designed for Site #2 in Abu Dhabi, between Saadiyat Island and , the proposal envisages creation of an artificial ‘Dunescape’ covered with brightly polished eye shaped mirrors on the southern side. Read the full story
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