Eco Factor: House made using recycled materials.
We’ve seen temples made from recycled beer bottles and several pieces of art designed using discarded plastic bottles, but one family in Argentina has succeeded in designing and constructing an entire house from discarded plastic bottles, tetra packs and compact disc boxes. Lovingly named La Casa de Botellas or “The Ecological Bottle House,” the dwelling has everything from walls to beds made using the same recycled materials.
Eco Factor: Sustainable architecture designed to conserve energy and generate renewable energy.
H Associates has proposed a stunning building for Korea Electric Power Corporation’s (KEPCO) new headquarters to be built in a city near Naju in South Korea. Providing a space of nearly 120,000sqm, the new complex will host several technologies that enable electricity generation and conservation. Dubbed the Green Energy Theme Park, the development creates an experiential awareness of the green energy life cycle.
Eco Factor: Concept bicycle assisted by electric motor.
The CYOOO is a concept bicycle designed by Andi Klug which features an electrical assist mechanism, making it easy for you to counter harsh terrains. The bicycle also features a unique folding mechanism that makes it a bit more manageable. The bicycle’s saddle folds down, the head tube collapses and the handlebars rotate 90 degrees to reduce the overall size and ease carriage.
Eco Factor: Sensors powered by piezoelectricity.
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created the world’s first self-powered sensors at nanometric scale. The sensors are equipped with thousands of nanowires that generate electricity whenever they are subjected to mechanical strain. These nano-scale generators will be able to power microscopic sensors.
Eco Factor: Electric vehicle grand prix to rev up interest in electric vehicles.
Purdue University will hold the inaugural Electric Vehicle Grand Prix April 18 as part of a program to educate a new generation of highly skilled workers to design, build and service electric vehicles. Researchers at the university state that electric vehicles represent the future, and they’re getting students prepared for the same.
Eco Factor: Cost-efficient charger for EVs churns out 50KW for rapid charging.
Nissan Motor Co Ltd has announced that the company has developed a new rapid charger for electric vehicles that will be available by this summer. The price of the charger is expected to be about half that of other companies’ products. The newly developed charger will initially be placed at about 200 outlet stores, which will be selected so that they will cover all areas of Japan.
Eco Factor: Low-emission fuel-efficient vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.
Volkswagen has unveiled its first hybrid vehicle at the New York International Auto Show. The 2011 Touareg Hybrid is destined to debut this fall at a price of about $100,000. The vehicle will also serve as a test bed for hybrid technologies that will appear in other vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid.
Eco Factor: Concept plug designed to conserve energy.
Designed by industrial designer Young Suk Kim, the Energy Lock is a concept plug that prevents energy from being consumed by appliances that are not being used. The device is a timer style multi-tap plug that can be cranked to a specified time. Once the timer is over, the plug shuts down the appliance, preventing any waste of energy.
Eco Factor: Concept washing machine works without electricity.
Apart from lighting, washing machines also consume a major percentage of the energy requirements of your house. This is why we often see concept and prototype washing machines that allow you to save water and electricity. The newest concept comes from Kristin Mueller that lets you do your laundry with little water and no electricity.
Eco Factor: Aircraft powered by a blend of biofuel.
After being criticized for consuming billions of liters of precious fuel annually, the U.S. Air Force has commenced its efforts toward greener, cleaner fuels. The U.S. Air Force has just announced the successful flight of an A-10C Thunderbolt II using a blend of half camelina and half conventional jet fuel. Moreover, it plans to test the blend on additional aircrafts over the next couple of years.
Eco Factor: Low-emission vehicle powered by a gasoline/electric engine.
After releasing the teaser shots of the Sonata Hybrid last week, Hyundai has unveiled the vehicle at the New York International Auto Show. The Korean manufacturer has given the vehicle some unique looks and hopes that the vehicle can get up to 39MPG. Apart from the visible changes on the front end that are already seen in the teaser image, the vehicle also has new wheels combined with extended rocker panels to improve airflow across the flanks.
Eco Factor: Cellphone made using surplus wood.
NTT DoCoMo has presented a new mobile phone dubbed “Touch Wood” at CTIA Wireless 2010, which features a sustainable body made with the surplus wood of trees culled during thinning operations to maintain healthy forests. Moreover, no artificial colors or paints have been used to ensure that the cypress retains its original appearance and aroma.
Eco Factor: Sustainable hotel absorbs solar and wind energy through an open skin.
Designed by John Naranjo of MRA Design, the Kepos Eco Hotel will strive to encode plant architecture to provide a sustainable and natural environment to its guests by adhering to responsible values that will appeal to quality of life and stay. The emulating natural components that will be used in the hotel will minimize the urban footprint of its location and reclaim its displaced environment.
Eco Factor: Concept pedal-powered tricycle.
We’ve reported about a range of folding bicycles that can be carried with ease and used whenever need be. Industrial designer Gyula Tiszai is taking this a step further by designing a tricycle for urban commuters who hate riding to the office on two wheels. Dubbed the Tringa, the concept tricycle has a collapsible frame that eases carriage.
Eco Factor: Generator to provide renewable electricity from waste heat.
Korean start-up Jaein Industry Technology has developed a unique generator, dubbed the JIT Engine, which will be showcased at the upcoming Green Energy Expo 2010. The generator is the world’s first system that generates power by utilizing the low-temperature thermal sources such as solar thermal energy, geothermal energy and waste heat to provide renewable electricity.
Eco Factor: Sustainable residential complex certified by LEED Gold.
Designers over at David Baker + Partners Architects have unveiled the designs of a new neighborhood, situated on seven-and-a-half acres in the southern end of Oakland. The development features a range of affordable housing solutions that are surrounded by green pathways, pocket parks and open spaces.
Eco Factor: Sustainable development with lush green terraces.
Daniel Libeskind Studio has completed the first tower of the “Reflections” development that is being constructed on Singapore’s waterfront. The development, according to the designers, will redefine Singapore’s southern coast. The development is composed of six glass towers and 11 villa apartment blocks that feature 1129 luxury waterfront apartments along a 750-meter shoreline.
Eco Factor: Solar power project to generate 40 percent of Morocco’s power demands.
As the only North African country with no known oil reserves, the ministers of Morocco are eager to cut dependence on foreign gas and oil imports with an ambitious plan to generate 2000MWs of renewable power by spending $9 billion on a new solar power project. When completed in 2020, the project will be capable of supplying about 40 percent of the country’s entire energy needs by way of the sun.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission boat powered by electric motors.
Infinyte has unveiled a new range of all-electric boats that have been designed to make your weekend cruises green and noise-free. The company offers three different sizes of electric boats, with the first two for fishing and the third one for a family ride. The boat is powered by onboard battery packs.
Eco Factor: Low-emission vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.
Lincoln has officially debuted its first ever hybrid vehicle, the MKZ Hybrid, at the New York Auto Show. The vehicle was showcased on the Ford stand and is being claimed to offer the best fuel efficiency of any luxury sedan in America. Interestingly, the vehicle is stated to reach speeds of 47 miles per hour running solely on electrical power.