Eco Factor: Zero-emission all-electric vehicle fueled by solar energy.
Yokohama Tire Canada is funding the Sunstang car program at the University of Western Ontario. The program, which is being developed by a team of engineering students, will be exploring a new approach in the development of solar-powered vehicles. The students are developing a solar-powered three-wheeled vehicle that can be mass produced.
Eco Factor: Sustainable skyscraper designed to harvest rainwater.
Architectural students of H3AR have received a special mention for their proposal in the 2010 skyscraper competition, for a sustainable skyscraper that maximizes rainwater harvesting. Dubbed Capture The Rain, the skyscraper features an innovative roof and external shell, which consists of a system of gutters to harvest rainwater to meet the daily needs of its inhabitants.
Eco Factor: Low-emission fuel sources discovered in China.
China has discovered new sources of frozen combustible ice on the tundra of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which according to researchers can supply China with 90 years worth of energy. The new reserve equals at least 35 billion tons of oil and is one of the newest sources of energy to be discovered.
Eco Factor: Concept zero-emission electric motorbike.
The HMK 561 by designer Ralf Kittmann is a concept zero-emission electric motorbike that uses its carbon fiber frame for electricity conduction, putting an end to those messy cables that transmit power from the battery to the in-wheel motors via the handlebar.
Eco Factor: Sustainable skyscraper adapts to surrounding climate.
The Nested Skyscraper by American designers Ryohei Koike, Jarod Poenisch has been placed third in the eVolo Skyscraper Competition. The unique tower features the use of advanced materials and robotic construction to enable the tower to interact with the climatic, urban and programmatic conditions and adapt to them accordingly.
Eco Factor: Sustainable residential building powered by renewable energy.
Studio RHE has unveiled the designs of new residential tower for the Borough of Newham, one of London’s poorest boroughs. Dubbed SilverTree, the new residential eco-tower incorporates the latest in environmental design and construction with the use of advanced materials.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission personal transportation vehicle powered by electricity.
If you’re one of those who hates walking even while shopping the Electric Personal Transporter is a must have vehicle for you. The electric four-wheeled vehicle is making every possible effort to feed your laziness. The vehicle is meant to give you a small distance ride at a comfortable speed of 12-14mph.
Eco Factor: Concept zero-emission car powered by electricity.
With most major automakers showcasing their green rides of the future at the Geneva Motor Show, there have been some other names as well, which not many expected at the show. Croatian auto maker DOK-ING has unveiled the XD concept at the show, which like many other vehicles on the stage is powered by an all-electric system.
Eco Factor: Highly efficient fuel cell devices for portable electronic devices.
Kyoto-based Aquafairy has unveiled a new range of fuel cells for portable electronic devices. The affordable fuel cells have been developed in four variants to suit individual requirements. The devices can charger cellphones, portable gaming devices and even notebooks.
Eco Factor: Water Oxidation catalyst generates clean hydrogen from water and sunlight.
Chemists at the Emory University have developed the most potent homogeneous catalyst known for water oxidation, which is being considered a crucial component for generating hydrogen fuel from water using only sunlight. The research team states that in order to be a viable option the water oxidation catalyst (WOC) needs to have selectivity, stability and speed.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission transport system based on OLEV technology.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have unveiled a proof-of-concept OLEV train for public transportation in Seoul’s Grand Park in Gwacheon City. The vehicle is powered by a non-contact magnetic charging method that sources electricity from power cables buried underground.
Eco Factor: Gribble turns abundant wood into biofuel.
Researchers at the University of York in Britain have identified the potential of wood-eating gribble to cheaply convert abundant wood and straw fiber into biofuel. For centuries the gribble has been known to eat holes in ships, docks and piers, but the unique capability of the bug to digest raw wood holds promise of enzymes that can turn wood into sugars, which can then be converted into ethanol.
Eco Factor: Intelligent device changes color to save water.
The Waterpebble by product designer Paul Priestman is a revolutionary device that can encourage individuals to reduce their shower time to conserve water. The intelligent device measures the amount of water going down the plug hole when you shower and memorizes it.
Eco Factor: Thermocell to generate electricity from waste heat.
Apart from developing technology to harvest abundant solar and wind energy, there are a few researchers who are concentrating on waste materials, such as heat, which can be tapped to generate renewable electricity. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have come up with a concept that could generate electricity from waste heat coming out of exhaust pipes.
Eco Factor: Life-preserver keeps the user warm using solar energy.
A Taiwanese student has developed a high-tech life preserver that looks like an ordinary plastic life preserver but has been designed to be charged using solar energy to keep its user warm even in freezing water. Dubbed LIFEON, the life preserver features a chlorophyll solar cell that is automatically charged within 10 seconds after coming in contact with water.
Eco Factor: Sustainable skyscraper to be made using natural materials.
The shortage of water and land has resulted in a political unrest in Sudan for decades. However, the recent discovery of the world’s tenth largest underground lake in the region by scientists from Boston University can end the conflict if the lake is managed correctly. Designers at Polish firm H3AR Architect and Design have proposed a multipurpose Watertower skyscraper that can allow access to underground water through the application of water pumps.
Eco Factor: Roofing made from recycled discs.
The recent advancements in technology have also brought a rise in the problem of e-waste, which is a growing threat in both the developed and the developing world. Instructables member Jayefuu is trying to reduce the clutter of CDs and DVDs in his house by recycling them to design a shimmering roof.
Eco Factor: Renewable energy-harvesting furniture.
The brainchild of Indonesian industrial designer Rizki Tarisa, the GO! is a lounge, a workstation and an exercise bike that also generates renewable electricity to power your gadgets, when you pedal the bike to burn all extra fat on your body. The multifunctional furniture has also been made from sustainable materials such as recycled and biodegradable plastics.
Eco Factor: Electric bicycle to reduce the number of cars on the streets.
Due to increasing urbanization, our cities are getting bigger and have to carry much more people. As a result of this, the living space will run short, same as the traffic area in the near future. The infrastructure can’t be changed, so there have to be some new ways for the mobility of the people. Beside the public transport options like buses and trains, there is a rise in demand for individual transportation, where bicycles could be the answer.
Eco Factor: Sustainable developed city to be made using recycled materials.
Designed by Deric Fourie, Dan Bernos, Michael Menuet and Pablo del Amo, the Tower City in Marseilles envisions the city of Marseilles as a stacked skyscraper that sits on water. The design calls for a city to be built on water, rather than spreading out with the rise in population.
Eco Factor: Generating hydrogen from water using sunlight.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have reported a breakthrough in hydrogen generation from water, with a new system that achieves 60 percent efficiency for a process in which hydrogen is produced from water by the photons striking a specially designed electrode.
Eco Factor: Prototype low-emission car powered by coffee granules.
While the auto world seems dominated by cars running on alternative sources of fuel, predominantly electricity, there are a few who believe that apart from gasoline and biofuel, coffee too is a good fuel. A team from the BBC1 science program “Bang Goes the Theory” has developed a prototype vehicle based on a 1998 Volkswagen Scirocco that runs on coffee granules.
Eco Factor: Concept zero-emission car powered by electricity.
After Ferrari, Lotus and Hyundai, the Geneva Motor Show saw the launch of yet another environmentally friendly concept vehicle – the Kia Venga EV. The vehicle features an electric motor with top power of 80KW and maximum torque of 280Nm. The Venga EV is the same size as the regular Venga B-segment MPV that is on sale in Europe.
Eco Factor: Seeds of Moringa oleifera tree could provide low-cost water purification.
The United Nations states that dirty water causes about 80 percent of diseases in the developing world and kills about 10 million people each year. While those living in the developed world have access to electronic water purifiers, people residing in the developing and the underdeveloped nations don’t have many alternatives.
Eco Factor: Generating electricity from carbon nanotubes.
A team of scientists at MIT have discovered a new way to generate electricity using carbon nanotubes. Described as “Thermopower Waves”, the new phenomenon can cause powerful waves of energy to shoot through carbon nanotubes. Like a collection of flotsam propelled along the surface by waves traveling across the ocean, it turns out that a thermal wave traveling along a microscopic wire can drive electrons along, creating an electrical current.
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