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.

The new research aims to mimic natural processes such as photosynthesis to generate clean fuel, with the long term goal to generate hydrogen from water using only sunlight. Hydrogen becomes the fuel and its combustion produces the by-product of water, which flows back into the clean, renewable cycle.

The three main technical challenges involved in the process are developing a light collector, a catalyst to oxidize water to oxygen and a catalyst to reduce water to hydrogen. The research team has duplicated the complex natural process of photosynthesis using a synthetic, carbon-free, homogeneous system using a cobalt-based WOC.

Via: Physorg

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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.

The four new devices include – the micro FC Stick with an output of 0.8W, the FC Stick with an output of 2W, the FC Cube with an output of 3W and the FC Cube Dual with a rated output of 6W. While the first three chargers supply energy using only hydrogen, the FC Cube Dual is connected to a lithium-ion battery and can power a standard notebook for 3 hours.

The company is planning to launch the devices, which includes a power unit and a hydrogen cartridge in Japan later this year. The FC-Stick will be made available for as little as $22 with one cartridge retailing for $1.10.

Via: CrunchGear

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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.

The company claims that the vehicle can reach 100kph in just 7.7 seconds and is powered by 2 or 4 40KW motors. Interested customers will have an option to select either front or a rear-wheel drive. Safety features include 360 degree airbags, an integrated safety system foe electronic stability and ABS brakes. With a 32KWh battery pack onboard, the vehicle is expected to have an operating range of about 250km.

Via: AutoBlogGreen

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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.

Powered by a 500W electric motor encased within the hub of each 16” wheel, the speed of the vehicle can be controlled via the handlebar. Like a normal vehicle, the Electric Personal Transporter includes a horn and a headlight as well. The designers claim that the vehicle can take you up to 20 miles on one hour of charge. Priced at $1995, the Electric Personal Transporter can be purchased from Hammacher.

Via: ArCrux

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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.

The 24-story tower is to be wrapped in colored panels on 2 sides, which not only provide solar shading but also generate renewable energy from onboard photovoltaic panels. The third side of the building reveals a green vertical forest of plantings that encloses the terraces and balconies.

The tower’s distinct façade of curved aluminum bands provide solar and wind protection, while a vast array of solar panels generate renewable energy. Additional renewable energy is also generated by a ground source heat pump that has been built into the foundations of the buildings.

The tower will provide 161 residential units of various sizes with a communal landscaped open deck on the first floor. The lower decks will provide space for offices, retail and cafes.

Via: World Architecture News

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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.

The tower is a composition of multiple layers or louvers which thicken and rotate according to solar and wind exposure. The construction method consists of a series of robots that stretch a network on carbon sleeves that are sprayed with fiber-laced concrete to create a primary structure. Designed to be built in Tokyo, the skyscraper counteracts climate changes and earthquakes with its lightness, flexibility and transparency.

The skyscraper features a dual layer façade that is composed of ETFE which also offers a high degree of transparency to capture natural light and reduce the overall energy demand of the building.

Via: DesignBoom

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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.

Carbon fiber is a highly conductive material that can transmit power to drive the lights and the motors in between the rims of the HMK 561. Moreover, the bike also feature a regenerative braking mechanism that turns the wheels using a counter-turning axle without any gears or chains.

Via: YankoDesign

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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.

Combustible ice is a frozen form of natural gas that has been found in high altitude frozen plateaus as well as underwater in marine sediments. The frozen hydrates can be lit on fire, however, researchers expect that the hydrate will have to go through a phase change process where it will be melted into methane and water before it can be combusted efficiently.

One cubic meter of combustible ice contains 164 cubic meters of natural gas and is considered to have few impurities, which means that the fuel can be combusted with lower emissions.

Via: Inhabitat

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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.

The designers estimate that the average daily consumption of water per person is about 150 liters, out of which 85 liters may be replaced by rainwater. The design team focused on the shape of the roof to capture as much rainwater as possible. Under the roof’s surface, special water reservoirs have been placed in the form of a large funnel and reed fields, which serve as a hydro botanic water treatment unit.

This unit processes water to make it usable before it is transmitted to apartments. A network of gutters on the external surface of the building is designed to capture rainfall flowing down the building. While most of the harvested water is supplied to the apartments, surplus water is stored in a reservoir under the building.

Via: DesignBoom

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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.

The car technology is quite different from the tech being employed by university students to develop solar cars for several competitions. The car by the University of Western Ontario will use solar power for a charger paired with the car. Moreover, the design will use a removable, replaceable battery array that will be able to provide faster charging times.

The solar-powered vehicle will feature a three-phase induction motor that is being claimed to be 97 percent efficient. The team expects to unveil their vehicle in May 2010 and show a drivable model by the end of that month.

Via: Canadian Driver

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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.

The tower is designed to be constructed from natural materials that include sun-baked bricks and a rough mixture of earth, cement and water. The choice of the materials represents the desire to introduce alternative and sustainable technologies within a context that is tied to standardize though not always optimal building practice.

The building also provides space for a water treatment plant, a hospital, a school and a food storage center. Two water circulation processes would be in place, first set will extract water to heat and cool the building in addition to be accessible for the users and the second set will use extracted water for the building’s kitchen and toilets.

Via: DesignBoom

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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.

The device can heat up the lifesaver to human body temperatures for 72 hours. The preserver also features compartments for water and food. It is also equipped with a GPS system to help rescuers located it in the sea.

Via: Arab News

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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.

Unlike conventional thermocells that are made using expensive platinum electrodes, these researchers have replicated the technology using inexpensive carbon nanotubes electrodes, since they pack a huge surface area into a tiny volume to allow electrons to transfer quickly between the electrolyte and the electrodes.

The basic design is simple, with one electrode positioned at the hot end and the other at the cold end with a chemical mix in between. The thermocells, which can be wrapped around exhaust pipes of cars and be used in chemical factories can then generate electricity from heat that is usually emitted into the atmosphere. During tests, the research team generated electricity with an electrode temperature difference of 60 degrees Celsius, which was produce at the cost of $5.14 per watt.

Via: New Scientist

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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.

The first shower use is taken as a benchmark by the device after which it uses a series of “traffic lights” flashing gently from green to red whenever you finish showering. The device allows the user to fractionally reduce shower time to make sure that the device is always flashing green.

Via: Dezeen/Waterpebble

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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.

The current process to produce cellulosic ethanol requires energy-intensive plasma gasification techniques that involve the use of toxic chemicals. However, the gut of the gribble has some pretty amazing enzymes that can replicate the process without consuming electricity. The research team is trying to produce similar enzymes that all by themselves can produce ecologically sound ethanol from wood.

Via: Gas2

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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.

The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) constantly receives electric power from the cables even if it’s not running, which eliminates the need for specialized charging stations. Moreover, it also helps the researchers do away with heavier batteries. The road, which is embedded with underground cables, is divided into several segments which can also benefit electric cars that can also be powered by the same system.

Removing direct contact with charging sources prevents electrical hazards and is completely safe for pedestrians and other conventional vehicles. The proof-of-concept train consists of one engine and three passenger cars and travels a total length of 2.2km.

Via: Gizmag

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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.

The futuristic development is conceived to be built using salvaged materials from the old city and will be powered by renewable energy. With a population of over 1,600,000 and an urban density of 3500 per sq km, the city is in need of next-gen architecture that can be built using less land.

The proposed development will allow the inhabitants of the city to be close to nature and trees in an open space rather than being completely surrounded by urban sprawl for miles and miles.

Via: Inhabitat

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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.

Most commutes in urban areas are shorter than 20km, which is an optimal distance to ride by a bicycle. If you take an electric bicycle, you have an individual means of transport for nearly all ages. If you combine this with a folding bike, you get the benefit to carry the bicycle into your flat or your employment area as well. Designer Thorsten Wickert has tried to realize this concept in a folding bicycle that eases transportation. Since it’s foldable, you can take it through a narrow stairway and into an elevator as well.

The folding mechanism is concentrated around the pedal unit, which serves as the center of rotation. There is no mechanical drive unit, i.e. there is no chain. Therefore, the hub motor makes the whole work and the pedal moving just charges the battery. Nowadays this concept is already being utilized in hybrid cars, where the gas engine just works as a generator to produce electricity. Through an electronic control, the resistance can be changed while pedaling, so a gear shift can be simulated. In a higher gear more electricity is generated, which reduces the external power.

Thanks: [Thorsten Wickert]

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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.

The GO! generates electricity using a technology similar to wind-power technology and kinetic energy powered lamps. The table is designed for the use of a laptop and other gadgets, while the chair has been designed as a comfortable and ergonomic lounge chair. Users can also browse the internet and listen to music while lounging in utmost comfort.

Via: TheDesignBlog

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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.

The roofing concept makes use of about 120 discs per square meter of space, which are then drilled and arranged on a roof that has a wooden board underneath. The author claims that the concept can be used for sheds, lean-tos and porches. The end result is a roof that is hard-wearing, long-lasting, cheap and most importantly – green. Check out the complete DIY at Instructables.

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Product Description
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Eco Factor: Sustainable school building powered by onboard solar panels.

Mikou Design Studio has unveiled the design of a zero energy public school to be building in the City of Saint-Ouen. The zero energy development has been designed in order to be emblematic of the sustainable development of the Zac des Docks project. The development, expected to be complete by 2013 will be built at the cost of €11 million.

The buildings positioning facilitated a south-facing orientation of all the classrooms and playground in order to make the best use of passive solar energy. The spatial disposition also made it possible to increase the surface area on the south required for photovoltaic panels, which have been integrated into the architecture of the covered playground areas.

Via: Mikou design Studio

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Eco Factor: Inflatable membrane façade reduces emissions by 37 percent.

Architect Enric Ruiz-Geli has designed an inflatable membrane façade from the Media-TIC building that will help it save energy and reduce carbon emissions by as much as 37 percent. The building will provide office space for several companies and organizations related to information technology.

The cubical building provides a space of over 24,000 square meters. Designed by Cloud 9, the building features four facades to provide different levels of insulation. The inflatable facades use solar energy for inflation and deflation. The southwestern front of the Media-TIC uses a system that injects nitrogen to the longitudinal ETFE bags that are arranged along the building to generate a fog effect that reduces solar gain.

The roof of the building will also feature a green cover and photovoltaic panels. The green roof collects rainwater, which is then collected in a tank and re-used for sanitation and landscaping.

Via: EPA

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Eco Factor: Energy-saving playhouse harvests solar energy.

Designed by C. F. Møller for Saint-Gobain Isover the Saint-Gobain Playhouse is conceived as a sustainable playhouse for children and adults. According to the designers the house is so well insulated that the even a few candles suffice for heating even during the cold winter months.

The 4.5m long and 3m tall house features intelligent glazing as windows, skylights for natural illumination and photovoltaic panels for renewable electricity. The walls contain glass wool and triple-layer energy glazing which is equivalent to modern passive-house standards. The unique form of the house helps the south façade shade itself from the summer sun to prevent any unnecessary heat gain.

Via: C. F. Møller

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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.

In the new process, carbon nanotubes were coated with a layer of a reactive fuel that can produce heat by decomposing. When ignited with either a laser beam or a high voltage spark, the fast moving heat wave pushes electrons along the tube, creating a substantial electrical current.

After further development, the system now puts out energy, in proportion to its weight, about 100 times greater than an equivalent weight of lithium-ion battery and the amount of power released is much greater than predicted by thermoelectric calculations. The thermal wave, he explains, appears to be entraining the electrical charge carriers (either electrons or electron holes) just as an ocean wave can pick up and carry a collection of debris along the surface.

The researchers suggest that one possible application of the system would be its use in new kinds of ultra-small electronic devices that could also be injected into the body. Moreover, the system could also lead to environmental sensors that could be scattered like dust in the air.

Via: MIT

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