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Eco Factor: 100% solar-powered home designed by Microsoft is loaded with technology. Microsoft has already shown its worth in designing user-friendly software, and now they have shown how much they care about the environment by designing a 100% solar-powered house which naturally comes with truckloads of technology and gadgets. The software giant, along with a selected team of tech companies, has designed the New American Home on the outskirts of Las Vegas, which comes with 10 Toshiba HDTVs, a 16-zone Nuvo distributed-audio system, Anthem AV processors and bathtubs, and towel warmers that you could control with your cellphone.
The best feature of this $5 million home built on half-acre of land is that all the technologies and gadgets are run on solar panels that mean you don't have to pay even a cent for electricity usage. The team of innovators is planning to build 14 similar homes to develop a community they'd call Marquis Vegas.
The Dark Side: The number of solar panels integrated in the house would have been able to provide some power for the grid if the amount of technology in the home was reduced. Still the efforts are highly commendable, which show tech geeks a way to live the green life. Via: Dvice |
Microsoft’s New American Home is high on sustainability, and of course, technology
Qnuru – Solar goodness to green your home interiors
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Eco Factor: Solar-powered lantern concept. Just replacing the conventional grid system with PVs for electricity is not the only solution to reduce electricity consumption. Go through this lighting design, a portable solar lantern, which along with PVs has a special reflector to enhance light angle to an optimal level. The body is made up of steel, and instead of normal lighting bulbs LEDs have been incorporated. As a result of this blending, this lantern is capable of using peak angular shade to provide maximum nighttime lighting. The glass body ensures better light scattering enabling the lamp to illuminate a maximum area.
The Dark Side: The designer hasn't mentioned anything about the amount of energy it can generate and how long that energy can sustain the LEDs inside the lamp. If ever the product reaches mass production, the cost of the lamp and its energy limitations might pull things down. Via: Galvin Design Studio |
Everywhere Energy makes sure you never run out of green electricity
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Eco Factor: Solar-powered portable mobile charging station. Earlier today we witnessed the launch of a mobile trailer-mounted generator that provides green and clean electricity for events and weddings. The product was great but failed on the portability aspect. Industrial designer Jose Merla Laguna has designed a similar concept that makes sure that solar energy for you is as portable as a suitcase. Dubbed the Everywhere Energy, this stunning solar energy generator comes with foldable solar panels that can be opened to harness the energy of the sun.
The generator has been designed to come with built-in clorophile solar cells that instead of depending on the direct rays of the sun depend more on a chemical reaction to generate solar energy, which enables the device to work without getting the direct rays of the sun. To store the energy collected, the generator makes use of a "flying wheel" system that increases the efficiency of the system and also allows the system to run without lead-acid batteries. The generator can provide electricity for all types of electrical equipment from a refrigerator to a television with ease. Jose claims that such a system can prove its worth for 10 years of continuous operation without needing any type of maintenance. The generator can provide electricity for all types of electrical equipment from a refrigerator to a television with ease.
The Dark Side: The system definitely solves the problems associated with conventional solar generators. Apart from being skeptical about the performance of the "flying wheel" charge storage technology, we don't have any doubts that this system has all the potential to be mass produced. Via: Jose Merla Laguna |
Solar-powered pet waste cleaner aims to green your best friend
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Eco Factor: Pet waste disposal system utilizes solar energy to break down pet waste. Dogs are often referred to as a man's best friend, but all that friendliness comes to a halt when the owner gets to see poop being scattered all over the house right in the morning. Cleaning all that mess is one problem every pet owner wants to put an end to, which eventually tempts a person to buy products and sprays that solidify the whole mess and turn it into a sculpture for everybody to notice. Industrial designer Joe Dougherty wants to put an end to all pet chores in a way as user friendly and nose friendly as possible, with a product he calls the Pet Waste Disposal System.
The conceptual machine has been designed with three sub-systems – a laser pointer to pinpoint the location of the waste, a scooper with a built-in radar system to get the location from the laser pointer and pick up the waste and finally a housing unit that stores the waste in it and uses solar energy and rain harvested water to break down and disperse the waste back into the soil. The laser pointer can be used to set multiple locations that need cleaning at the same time.
The Dark Side: Apart from the high cost fears of the system if its mass produced, we really appreciate the efforts of Joe Dougherty to design a product that not only promises cleaner households but also makes sure that dog and other pets can become environment's best friends too.
[Thanks: Joe Dougherty] |
World's first solar postcard by HYmini
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Eco Factor: Solar-powered battery within to charge your gadgets. HYmini's miniNote is all about expressing your concern for nature and bears an underlying message to spread this awareness among all. It is the world's first solar postcard having a built-in 1,200 mAh lithium ion battery. Now your gadgets will never run out of power. This handheld battery generates enough power to keep your iPod alive for 20 minutes, provided you've charged it fully. It comes with USB adapter tips for handheld devices. Don't you worry about durability! The battery has brass metal corners to ensure that. The recycled cardboard packaging is bio-degradable, which envelops the miniNote.
Via: Greenmuze |
Breathe Easy Aeroponic system
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"Return to nature" seems to be the motif Breathe Easy works on. This fully automated system allows plants to grow without the least need of any human intervention to raise them. Though it's a natural way, still plants' proliferation demands care and empathy. Designer Paul Thomas makes sure that your indoors receive that extra grace owing to the LED lights that illuminate them. Gel-based nutrient substrate provides plants much-needed nourishment. You've got magnetic seals in case you want to fasten these to walls. So, getting rid of environmental pollutants in a natural way and simultaneously standardizing humidity is a great lead indeed!
The Dark Side: It's a novel concept and environmentally-friendly as well. LED lights illuminating the base (where roots are) and avoiding plants hardly makes any sense to me. Via: YankoDesign |
Radiant Solar lamps by miniWiz
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The introduction of eco-friendly devices does exhibit CES's sensitivity towards environment. Amid all sorts of ultra modern gadgets, this solar lamp presented by miniWIZ endows empty plastic and glass bottles with arresting colors. Its 0.18 W solar cells are compelling enough to hand light out for a full 6 hours. And these solar bulbs charge themselves fully in less than 3 to 4 hours.
Via: Inhabitat |
Sun Wall will produce 200 kw of energy
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The AIA-sponsored and funded photovoltaic "Sun Wall" project at the Department of Energy's Washington, DC, headquarters would generate 200 kW of electricity and would be the largest building-integrated solar energy system on any federal building in the U.S. The design also includes a solar thermal installation for hot water along with PV panels.
It was one of the winning designs of "sun wall" competition that was organized in order to show how elements of current technology can can be added to increase the sustainability of buildings. The project was created by SCB in partnership with ARUP New York.
The Dark Side: The area required for the construction of such a huge structure and the cost is not defined. Therefore, nothing can be said about that. Furthermore, the possibility to include other sources to harness natural energy is still there. Via: SCB |
Fridge with simple features saves your energy
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Eco Factor: Fridge helps in cutting energy consumption by having energy-saving features. It doesn't matter how you contribute toward saving the environment from emissions or global warming. What matters is that you contribute by adopting any of the solutions available. Take the example of this fridge, which is counted among the top energy consuming appliances in America. Each time you open the door to look for the contents you need and then to pick it, you lose between 9 to 13 watt/hours. In simple words this amount can light a 60-watt bulb for 10 minutes. This happens because of the temperature loss that the fridge has to patch up after exposures to room temperature. Here is a model that incorporates some simple methods to prevent this energy loss.
First of all, wood material is added to the front instead of metal. You can customize this wooden surface according to the looks of your kitchen. Secondly, a glass door sets you free to locate the contents inside without opening the door. The model is divided into separate sections that make it possible to open only a single section at a time and create different atmospheres in the same fridge. An exhaust at the top of fridge keeps warm air moving up. Therefore, you can save some energy used by the fan to keep it from the cold air.
The Dark Side: No doubt the fridge cuts some energy consumption, but more harmful aspects are still not considered. It will be more advantageous if something is done to reduce chlorofluoro carbon emissions, along with having the energy-saving features. Designer: Mike Hansen |
Eco Transportation: Tempura-oil-powered ship, cruising on Japanese food
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Eco Factor: Bio-diesel-powered cruise ship generates renewable energy too. The Japanese have always been known to develop some of the finest and the most bizarre robots and technologies. To improve their image a bit and tell the world that they do consider the environmental aspect of technology, a new cruise ship has been developed by Biwakokisen to operate in Lake Biwa, which is the largest fresh water lake in Japan and also a very popular tourist destination. This new 34-meter ship car carry 200 tourists on a trip across the lake, and it does so using nothing other than bio-diesel made from recycled oil from restaurants selling tempura – a deep-fried delicacy of Japan. Other than running on recycled fuel, the cruise ship generates its own electricity with solar and wind-powered generators. This renewable electricity feeds power to all the lights, sensors and instruments placed on the ship. The Dark Side: Bio-diesel made from recycled vegetable oils is definitely low on emissions. However it still is not completely emission free. If the amount of electricity the ship is able to harness from natural sources is increased to run the ship on electricity, it would definitely set new standards across the world. Via: Biwakokisen/FiveByFifty |
Kinesis K2 puts solar and wind power generation together in single device
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Eco Factor: A 2-in-1 hybrid device that harnesses both wind and solar energy to generates electricity. While buying a solar powered gadget, one question always pops up in mind. What if clouds didn't let your PVs get their feed from the sun? Well, the Kinesis K2 has got the solution, a 2-in-1 hybrid portable charger that harnesses both sun and wind energy. So now even in the rainy season you can ensure a good backup for your handheld devices. With just one hour of exposure to sun or wind, the K2 is capable of supplying 30 minutes of life to your cellphone battery and with full charge it can do the same for five times. A LED light on the side will let you know the amount of charge left.
It includes a built-in USB port and a screw cap at the bottom to cover all the additional adapters required for charging most portable devices such as the iPod, cellphones and PDAs. There is a clip included that enables you to hang it on your bike or car. Well, this feature at least ensures availability of wind power in case the sun's rays are not available. This useful gadget coast $100 for its services.
The Dark Side: I don't think there is any point left to criticize. The K2 is a brilliant idea. Via: Dvice |
Cherry - Next-gen zero emission concept
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Eco Factor: Portable concept vehicle runs on zero emission electric motors. Like its name, Cherry, the concept is compact and portable. Hundreds of concept designs have flooded the market with foldable and compact features. However, the possibility of touching real roads seems very hard for most of them. Cherry is also foldable and eco-friendly as well. Powered by a zero emission electric motor with a plug-in battery, it might become the next-gen transportation medium. The battery is integrated with a padded seat that keeps it hidden. The direction controller is similar to that of a motorcycle and can be controlled by leaning.
To reduce the space and size, the whole engine is located inside the front wheel. You can also customize it with adjustable driving positions. The brakes lie below the rest provided for your arms. Well, the concept looks cool, but designer Alican Yilmaz should consider the design again. It doesn't looks adorable.
The Dark Side: Some parts, like the wheel cover, include plastic that is no doubt hard on the environment. Moreover, information about the speed, battery back-up and electricity required for operation is not defined.
Via: YankoDesign |
Recycled playground equipment for green fun time
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Eco Factor: High quality playground equipment made out of recycled plastic. We keep bringing to your notice every possible way that can help saving environmental and natural resources. Recycling is one way that can ensure reuse of harmful materials like plastic. Here is one more example of an eco-friendly way to contribute something to the environment. Playmasters Recreation, one of the best manufacturers, provides commercial playground equipment with good quality recycled plastic. Presently their services are available in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Kentucky.
All equipment is claimed to be made of 80 percent post consumer recycled plastics that ensure a long life. In this way even kids will get some education regarding environmentally friendly ways while having fun with this equipment.
The Dark Side: There is hardly any way to get rid of plastic. Even the process of recycling includes burning and mounding. And there we are helpless to stop emissions. Via: Playmasters |
Victor to deliver rice-based-plastic CD/DVD cases
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Eco factor: CD/DVD cases are made up of rice-based-plastic with reduced emissions. There are innumerable objects and acts of daily routine that influence the environment in one way or other. Even small things can contribute a lot toward reducing carbon emissions. Victor Creative Media is a name that is ready to replace normal plastic with a new sort of plastic made with rice-based-plastic. This plastic is specially being used to make CD/DVD cases. Here we are talking about non–food rice and resin, which emits 10% less carbon when incinerated. At present there are four companies, Agri Future Joetsu, Biomass Technology, Nakatani Sangyo and Otoginomori involved and responsible for manufacturing and selling of these cases. The cases are expected to be delivered to the market in January or February this year. The Dark Side: One big problem lies with the production cost of these cases, which is much higher than the cost of other CD/DVD cases. Also, present conditions are asking for zero emissions. Therefore, only 10% reduction in emissions is too low. Via: TechOn |
Eco Transportation: KTM AX- Green Adventure off-road ride
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Eco Factor: Concept vehicle run on hybrid propulsion system and four electric engines. Students from FH Joanneum University came out with six design concepts in collaboration with KTM. One of these concepts, the KTM AX, a four-wheel concept buggy, is worth consideration for eco-conscious geeks who like adventure as well. The concept was designed by Markus Klung and Lucas Fuchs. It's a radical off-road vehicle that is powered by hybrid propulsion in combination with four individually steerable electric engines. The vehicle is perfect for adventure-loving people. A high ground clearance, reinforced tires and a suspensions size generously provide fine off-road capabilities. Individual components are integrated into a lightweight space frame and a built-in rollover ensures the safety aspect for two individuals. After going through the concept it's not hard to guess that the inspiration behind the concept is the KTM-X Bow.
The Dark Side: Many features like speed, backup and energy requirements for the working of electric engines is not known exactly. This makes it a bit hard to comment on the drawbacks of the concept. Even otherwise, such sporty expectations from an off-road vehicle with electric engines seem impractical.
Via: Diseno-Art |
Eco Tech: Sony introduces eco-friendly HDTV series at CES
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Eco Factor: Energy-saving features save up to 40% energy. With the ongoing trend of environmentally conscious electronics, Sony has announced its new eco-friendly KDL-VE5 series at CES. Series presented three models, the 52-inch KDL-52VE5, the 46-inch KDL-46VE5 and the 40-inch KDL-40VE5. A new Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL) backlight, according to the manufacturer, can save up to 40% of energy as compared to others. What makes these new series models innovative is the "Presence Sensor" that automatically turns off the picture when it finds the room empty after a user-set time frame. As soon as any kind of movement or motion is detected, the TV turns itself back on. It also incorporates an energy-saving option that consumes nearly zero watts in standby mode. Other than all this, it includes a light sensor that works in conjunction with an automatic backlight control and dims the backlight in dark environments. With these features, this new series is supposed to exceed Energy Star 3.0 easily. The Dark Side: All three models go with the requirement of time to save energy. However, prices are not available yet, which will help us decide whether these HDTVs are affordable or not. Furthermore, most of the TVs already use less then a watt of energy during standby time, so this feature isn't any exception. Via: Crave |
nPower PEG – Charge your devices anywhere, anytime while on the go
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Eco Factor: Portable device uses kinetic energy to generate clean energy. Tremont Electric, a leader in kinetic energy harvesting, launched its nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) at the 2009 CES. The device sets you free to move anywhere without worrying about the charge of your portable devices like cellphones, MP3 players, handheld gaming devices, handheld GPS and digital cameras. The concept is simple and uses kinetic energy to generate electricity. Once you attach it to your hips or your bag while on the move, the up and down movement of your body provides the required kinetic energy to the device. It can charge your devices at the same rate as your wall chargers do. According to recent independent consumer research, PEG could reduce the energy supply for up to 25.4 million kilowatts from the grid. The market offers this eco-friendly energy to 23.2 million Americans who carry handheld mobile electronic devices and walk for approximately one hour per day. The device is compatible with 90% of handheld devices. PEG can generate up to 4 watts of power and most of the internal components are recyclable. The Dark Side: The device is a brilliant method to provide clean energy that helps in reducing your carbon footprint. There is hardly any drawback in it. However, the storage capacity of the device is questionable, as there is no battery inside it. Thanks Jessica Davis |
21-year-old student invents portable solar-powered fridge
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Eco Factor: Portable fridge doesn't require electricity and works on evaporation method. Emily Cummins is just a 21, but her innovation is much bigger compared to her age. She is a university student, and while working on her project she ended up with portable solar-powered fridge made up of household items. All this took place in her grandfather's potting shed. The portable eco-fridge can keep goods, such as milk or meat, cool for days at a temperature of around 6C. The fridge contains two cylinders in such a way that one lies inside the other and works through evaporation. Emily used metal for the inner cylinder, but she claims that other materials like plastic and wood can replace the metal part. The space between the two cylinders is filled with material like sand and wool capable of soaking water. When the wet material is heated by the sun's rays, it evaporates and the heat is removed from the inner chamber. Now Emily is looking to improve the model further so that it can become useful in the transportation of medical goods in hot regions. This is not her first triumph. She has already been awarded for her toothpaste squeezer for arthritis and for water-carrying devices. This innovation can further prove to be a blessing to the poverty stricken population of Africa.
The Dark Side: This simple innovation is appreciable in all aspects. However, the evaporation method can provide a limited cooling as compared to electric refrigerators and this might make it unsuitable for a few materials that demand much lower temperatures to sustain. Furthermore, for a sophisticated model, some work is still needed.
Via: DailyMail |
Ultra light motorbike - Fast, efficient and cost-effective transportation
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Eco Factor: Lightweight concept bike runs on zero emission electric motors. A new concept might make some difference by providing you with fast, efficient and cost-effective transportation. HMK 561, an ultra light motorbike concept, can save both your money and energy. Two electric motors are integrated between front and rear swing arms designed modularly. Motors transmit the power in a counter-rotor way directly to the rims and during speed reduction the energy is regained. Energy for driving can be stored directly to the frame. This is possible due to the special layer structure of carbon fibers. Storage is loaded inductively during the waiting time at traffic lights or in parking places. Board devices such as a tachometer and lighting are powered by the frame structure itself by using carbon fiber's electrical conductivity. A new drive concept and the latest fiber-composite technology is used in order to continue the environmentally conscious trend. The concept also allows the replacement of less ecological materials with better ones. The Dark Side: The energy requirements of the concept are not defined. In such a condition it's hard to say anything about the speed and backup power. Via: RalfKittmann |
Environmentally friendly ECO Series UPS Systems from Tripp Lite
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Tripp Lite introduced perfect ECO Series UPS systems for those who love to save some cash spent in paying electricity bills. These eco-friendly UPS systems are up to 99% efficient. A special energy-saving feature turns off designated ECO outlets when an USB connected computer is turned off or is put on standby mode. That means elimination from phantom loads. Along with saving about $50 per month on utility bills, conserving 470 kilowatt-hours of electricity, these systems also reduce carbon emissions by 630 pounds per year as compared to basic UPS designs. Special care has been taken that environmentally harmful materials that are common in basic systems like lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) are not used. Three ECO Series systems include 750VA ECO750UPS with total 12 outlets including 4 ECO outlets, 550VA ECO550UPS with total 8 including 3 ECO outlets and 350VA ECO350UPS with 6 total outlets including 2 ECO outlets. Still more, the batteries of all three models are recyclable.
Via: Ecoustics |
Amateur artist built greenhouse from recycled materials
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Eco Factor: Greenhouse made out of recycled material. Fraser Koroluk, who owns a small lodge in Bella Coola, B.C, created this greenhouse from entirely recycled materials. The material includes windows from an old house, and the framing and cedar siding is partly from a big renovation in 2007 and from the deck of the old pool he removed in 2006. The lovely eggplant purple shine on windows came from leftover oil-based paint pots that were collected earlier. Paints were mixed and used again. Even the cedar shingles and the tin on the back side of the roof were constructed of leftovers from the new roof he put on last year. Fraser saw the design of a shed in a magazine that inspired him to create something useful out of discarded materials.
For Fraser, it's a sort of hobby to collect waste material. Although he never had thought of constructing something in particular, still his spirit of reducing consumption and waste led him to end up with such a useful structure. Fraser is very glad after watching his tomatoes, tomatillos, cukes, eggplant, artichokes, beans and habanero peppers growing well inside the greenhouse. The Dark Side: Fraser himself accepts that he became a little lazy with the window glass panes and door. Including these two and foundation material, he used new material instead of recycled. However, the job is appreciable as it was Fraser's first attempt. Via: GardenWiseOnline |
Patio Table doesn't look ugly with PV cells
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Eco Factor: Table covered with high efficiency PV cells produces and stores clean electricity. Solar-paneled gadgets and installations are, no doubt, ethical, but their ugly looks and complicated fitting procedures can make them somewhat less adorable. However, this new table from is designed with a view to provide a revolutionized way of capturing and storing solar energy with classic elegance and beauty. Unlike expensive outdoor furniture, this table is cheaper, and the surface is covered with high efficiency PV solar panels capable of storing a good amount of energy that will provide clean electricity to your home appliances. The inspiration for the style appears to come from Doric Order Greek columns. With top covered in elegant polycrystaline PV cells and a base made out of a solid, carved, black Terrazo piece, the table has a cool look. The designers deserve appreciation for this distinguished effort.
The Dark Side: The efficiency and amount of electricity that it will generate is not defined. Furthermore, the real purpose of a table is to accommodate objects of daily use. In that case the PV cells will lack adequate exposure to sunlight. Via: YankoDesign |
