Eco Factor: Solar charger with dynamo charging capability.
We regularly encourage our readers to ditch socket charging and rely more on solar chargers that are available on the market to power their electronic gear in a clean way. However, most solar chargers come with a wall charging socket for overcast days or use after dark. Japanese manufacturer Thanko is trying to better the ability of solar chargers with a hybrid device that works even when the sun isn’t shining.
Eco Factor: Concept zero-emission electric car.
Finnish company Valmet Automotive has presented the all-electric Eva concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The contract construction fabricates the Th!nk City, the Garia golfcart and will soon furnish Fisker with the Karma. The Eva concept features an attractive 2+2 form built on an advanced aluminum space frame.
Eco Factor: Inflatable bike case makes bike carriage easy.
There are times when you want your bike with you even when you’re on a train or a bus to ease your commute after you get down at the station. Biknd has eased your job with an inflatable carriage case dubbed the Helium. The company has a patent pending for their ingenious invention, which weighs in at a mere 9.5kg.
Eco Factor: Modular homes made from recycled materials.
Affresol has announced that the Welsh company will soon launch a range of eco-friendly modular homes that are to be made from recycled plastic waste. The homes will be constructed of new a new, low-carbon material developed by Affresol called Thermo Poly Rock (TPR).
Eco Factor: Solar-powered iPhone and iPod charging case.
Originally designed to be released in November 2009, Novothink has finally launched its Solar Surge charging cases for the iPhone and the iPod touch. The Solar Surge for the iPhone 3G/3GS version are available for $79.95 and the Solar Surge for the iPod touch costs $69.95.
Eco Factor: Restaurant furniture made using trashed cardboard.
Every new gadget that we all purchase comes stuffed in cardboard to protect the item during transportation. While most of us simply throw away the packaging material, a restaurant owner in Taichung, Taiwan is reusing all that material in a new form that most won’t imagine.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission car powered by electricity.
While most auto fans are waiting in anticipation for Fiat to release an electric variant of the 500, Atomik Cars has taken the Abarth version of the retro-metro machine and have unveiled a cleaner prototype. The company will be showcasing the vehicle at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco in April.
Eco Factor: E-passport eliminates paper use.
German passport manufacturer Bundesdruckerei has unveiled what is being claimed to be the world’s first e-passport. The passport was unveiled at CeBIT 2010 and features an AMOLED display. The passport doesn’t even require a battery to function, as it is powered by radio frequency technology.
Eco Factor: Sustainable skyscraper designed to harvest wind energy.
Polish architecture firm Mode:Lina Architektura & Consulting proposed the Gesterbine skyscraper for the eVolo Skyscraper Competition that has been designed to maximize energy generation using a series of wind turbines, human kinetics and water. The self-sufficient tower is being envisioned for Greater Poland, an area characterized by a small amount of precipitation.
Eco Factor: Concept bicycle with shape shifting capabilities.
Designed by Claudia Baer, Anna Wiesinger and Marlene Klausner, the Big Eye Cruiser is a concept bicycle that has been designed to fit your child perfectly over the years of his growth. Made for the ages between 10 years and 15 years, the bike features a frame that stretches horizontally, while the angle of the frame determines its height.
Eco Factor: Solar power plant to generate up to 72MW of renewable power.
SunEdison has announced that the company will be building Europe’s largest solar power plant in Italy. The power plant is expected to be completed by the end of the year in Rovigo, on an area as large as 120 soccer fields. Once completed, the plant will cover 9.15 million square feet of area and will be able to produce 72MW of green electric power.
Eco Factor: Water Oxidation catalyst generates clean hydrogen from water and sunlight.
Chemists at 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: 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 charge cellphones, portable gaming devices and even notebooks.
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: 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 12-14 mph.
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: Sustainable skyscraper adapts to surrounding climate.
The Nested Skyscraper by American designers Ryohei Koike and Jarod Poenisch has 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: 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: 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: 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.