Eco Factor: Sustainable zero-energy submarine propelled by pedals.
The Scubster project was born from a collaboration between the EndlessFlyers association and two technology universities of Toulan (France) – SUPMECA et ISITV. The team aims to be the first French team to enter the next International Submarine Race, scheduled to take place in the USA in July 2011.
Eco Factor: Portable wind energy generator to power wireless sensors.
According to statistics, about 2 percent of global electricity comes from wind-powered generators, and their capacity has doubled in the past three years. However, scaling down wind turbines for use as an electronic device charger hasn’t proved fruitful, as conventional wind turbines require rotating fins and gears, which add bulk, making the device inefficient when scaled down.
Eco Factor: Process developed to harvest raw electricity from algae.
Harvesting biofuel from algae isn’t a new concept and that biofuel can also be used to generate electricity via a variety of systems. However, a team of researchers from Korea and California have for the first time developed a process that allows them to harvest raw electricity directly from algae.
Eco Factor: Off-grid energy-saving house powered by solar energy.
A team of student designers at Tianjin University have unveiled their futuristic home that doesn’t need to be connected with the grid for electrical power. Dubbed “Sunflower”, the sustainable house has been designed to participate in the Solar Decathlon 2010 competition to be held in Spain in June.
Eco Factor: Sustainable low-energy house developed by Studio Aisslinger.
German design firm Studio Aisslinger has unveiled the Fincube, a concept sustainable and transportable low-energy house. The Fincube has been created 1200m above sea level near Bozen in Northern Italy. The sustainable dwelling has been made entirely of locally sourced wood and provides 47sqm of living space.
Eco Factor: Biogas plant converts manure to methane and electricity.
Cargill has built and is operating an anaerobic digester on the Bettencourt Dairy B6 Farm that is converting manure from the farm’s 6000 cows into 1 million KWh of electricity per month, which is enough to power 1100 typical homes. The anaerobic digester from Cargill’s Environmental Finance group operates by feeding manure into a large, sealed, in-ground, oxygen-free vessel. Bacteria break down the waste, creating methane biogas. The gas is then captured and burned in a series of generators which produce electricity that is sent to the grid.
Eco Factor: Sustainable development to convert parking lots into urban forests.
As the auto industry is struggling, concrete-covered expanses where car dealerships used to thrive have been converted into desolate wastelands. In California, a mile-long corridor known as the Brand Boulevard of Cars consumes over 33 acres for the exhibition, storage and maintenance of new and used cars. Osborn Architects is proposing to face-lift this prime real estate by converting it into an energy generating urban forest.
Eco Factor: Prototype vehicle with a highly fuel-efficient engine.
While 50mpg might sound wonderful to some, check out this vehicle built by a team of student designers from Laval University in Quebec, Canada. The vehicle which took the grand prize at this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon gets a jaw-dropping 2487.5 miles per gallon of fuel. The team took the crown last year as well with a vehicle that achieved 2757.1mpg.
The rise in the demand for renewable energy has made researchers think about alternatives for solar and wind generators, which can provide continuous energy to the proposed “Smart Grids” of the future. Harvesting solar power from space might be a feasible option, but there is no shortage of plans that propose to harvest energy from living creatures, right here on earth, in a manner that most won’t even believe. Here we’ve put together a list of some of the most interesting ways to generate energy from natural resources beyond conventions:
Eco Factor: Solar installation to generate up to 1.84MW of renewable energy.
Toyota has officially inaugurated the solar panel park on the roof of Toyota Parts Center Europe (TPCE). Covering about 80,000sqm, the solar installation is the one of the largest thin-film solar panel rooftop installations in Belgium. Built at a cost of over €7 million, the installation will be able to provide between 15 to 20 percent of the annual electricity requirements of the facility.
Eco Factor: Concept generator creates electricity from wind.
Designed by Embossed Design, the Zephyr wind generator has been conceptualized to cater to the ever growing demand for electricity. The wind generator provides electricity in a cleaner way, without producing much noise as well. The vertical-axis wind generator has been designed and created to produce electrical energy using renewable sources which are available all year round.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept car powered by electric motors.
The BMW Sequence GT by Seungmo Lim, a graduate student at Pforzheim University in Germany, is an all-electric concept vehicle that takes only a minute to refuel. The vehicle’s electric motor-wheel drive gives the designer the freedom to work on the form of the machine, giving it a unique front end with double noses for better aerodynamic performance.
Eco Factor: Solar cells to capture sunlight from any direction or angle.
Kyosemi Corporation has unveiled tiny spherical solar cells that can be used to create energy harvesting windows in the not-so-distant future. The Sphelar solar cells are solidified drops of silicon measuring 1.8mm in diameter and are highly transparent.
Eco Factor: Scientist estimates a 3 degree decline in global temperatures by blowing bubbles in oceans.
The steep rise in global temperatures has made scientists all over the globe think about possible ways to reduce the effects of global warming. While most of these geoengineering schemes seem too unrealistic and expensive, a physicist from Harvard University thinks that he’s found a solution that may help curb the rate of global warming.
Eco Factor: Sustainable garden office better energy-efficiency.
The O-Pod is a energy-efficient structure developed by the designers behind the EcoHab super efficient dome-shaped house. The O-Pod offers a sustainable space for a garden office, studio, play are or a meeting room. Built from coated box section steel frame, the O-Pod includes plasterboard insulation and a breathable membrane with external cladding.
Eco Factor: Megayacht propelled by a solar hybrid engine.
We frequently report about yachts that have adopted new technologies to reduce their carbon footprint. While most of them just aim to reduce emissions, this one from Sauter Zero Carbon Design promises to be the first zero carbon footprint megayacht in the world. Dubbed the Supernova, the 60m Solar Hybrid Megayacht boasts wingsails half as tall as sails found in conventional monohulls that promises to reduce drag and provide a much greater thrust.
Eco Factor: Low-emission hybrid vehicle for merchandise delivery.
Designed by industrial designer Guadalupe Ciocchini, the Triblade is an urban tricycle for merchandise delivery and transportation. The low-emission hybrid vehicle is developed for factories, postmen and other forms of transportation including the transport of administrative materials for important centers like airports and shopping malls.
Eco Factor: Sustainable prefabricated homes made using earth-friendly materials.
Fabulous Cabin (FabCab) has unveiled new prefabricated homes for those who’re looking for a sustainable place to live. The company’s first home, which was on display at the Seattle Home Show last month has an open kitchen, living space, bedroom and bathroom for a price of about $85,000.
Eco Factor: Technology developed to convert residual power from Wi-Fi signal for electricity.
A new technology developed by RCA could end the woes of all those individuals who are often looking for ways to keep their cellphones buzzing. The company initially developed a technology as an emergency power supply, but little modifications could enable it to keep cellphones charger without ever being plugged in to the wall socket.
Eco Factor: Power plant to generate 500MW of electric power from renewable sources.
India’s largest power generation company, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), is planning to generate about 500MW of electric power from solar and wind energy projects in the Indian state of Orissa. The company has signed an MOU with the Orissa government in order to obtain approval for setting up the power plant.