Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicle powered by renewable energy.
The brainchild of designers Ho-young Joo, Soo-han Cho and JinSeok Song, the E-Commuter is what the streets of today will need for a green tomorrow. The concept has been designed to reduce air pollution that is caused by running vehicles on conventional fossil fuel engines.
Eco Factor: Spokeless bicycle designed by mechanical engineering students.
Spokeless bicycles have been envisioned by industrial designers for long. Not only are these bikes designed to look cool, but can also allow the designers to stick an electric motor in the place where the spokes used to be or install a gyroscope for a self-balancing bicycle. What was mostly in papers till date has been attempted by a team of engineering students at Yale.
Eco Factor: Observatory made using recycled materials.
AnL Studio have completed a unique observatory in Incheon, South Korea, which has been made from recycled materials including shipping containers. Called OceanScope, the structure features three shipping containers that are supported at angels of 10, 30 and 50 degrees to allow visitors to ascend inside them and watch the sunset over the harbor.
Eco Factor: Fuel cell system to support mobile networks in off-grid locations.
In an effort to connect the world with mobile communication network, Electro Power Systems has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell system at the Mobile World Congress 2010 that is designed to bring mobile networks to places that are either off-grid or have unreliable power.
Eco Factor: Cellphone powered by renewable energy.
After a long wait, the much anticipated Puma Phone has finally been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress. The sporty-looking phone has been developed by Sagem and features a solar panel for renewable charging. Weighing it at 115gm, the Puma Phone features a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen interface and a 3.2MP camera with LED flash.
Eco Factor: Solar-powered portable device charger.
The latest advancements in solar technology have created a rush of solar-powered chargers on the market. However, most of these devices need long hours under direct sun to recharge the onboard batteries. Unlike most of such devices, XPAL has delivered the Solar Egg, which according to the company can recharge its 500mAh battery to 90% capacity in just four hours of mild sunlight.
Eco Factor: Device made from cardboard lets you breathe fresh even in dense smoke.
In a fire emergency, even if you’re away from the raging flames, you’re never too far from the dangers of asphyxiation. While there are hundreds of smoke protection inhalers available on the market, not many of them are portable for you to carry around anywhere you go. Designed by Dang Jingwei, the Firescuba is what can save hundreds of lives, by enabling its users breathe fresh even in dense smoke.
Eco Factor: Concept chair generates renewable electricity from kinetic energy.
Of all the forms of renewable energy, human power seems the most exciting. We’ve reported about cellphone chargers that allow you to generate energy by rolling or cranking the device, industrial designer Ryan Klinger is envisioning a chair that harvests kinetic energy.
Eco Factor: Environmentally friendly wastewater reclamation centers.
Around the world there is an urgency to find intelligent solutions for diversifying water sources as climate change and global warming have already disrupted the annual water flow cycle. The Hydro-Genic City 2020 by Aershop has been designed to expose and propose a new relationship to waterworks.
Eco Factor: Energy-saving building to be designed by Henning Larsen Architects.
Henning Larsen Architects have won the assignment to design the new building for the University of Southern Denmark, which will be inaugurated in 2013. The building will be built in the town of Kolding, where students and employees will be provided with a study and work environment in a class of its own.
Eco Factor: Energy-efficient light bulbs put out 55 lumens per watt.
Incandescent bulbs waste a major amount of the energy they consume as heat, CFLs save on energy but they pack hazardous chemicals that deplete the environment. RTI International claims to have solved the puzzle with funding from the Department of Energy.
Eco Factor: Hybrid vehicle with a flywheel speed booster system.
Porsche has unveiled its 911 GT3 R Hybrid vehicle that is ready to rock the 24-hour Nurburgring race this May. The supercar will be based on the same 911 production platform that is currently available to consumers. The hybrid car includes a front-wheel drive system that is powered by an electric engine and a conventional 480hp gas engine.
Eco Factor: Walking robots powered by energy-efficient systems.
Boston Dynamics has been awarded a $32 million contract by DARPA to develop walking robots to serve as robotic mules to aid in combat operations by carrying supplies over rough terrain. Dubbed the LS3, the robots will be able to carry about 400 pounds of gear and may be powered by a fuel-efficient internal combustion engine, though hybrid electric power may also be in the mix.
Eco Factor: Concept low-emission car designed to be powered by a hybrid engine.
Electric cars still don’t pack enough charge for a long distance drive, but the need to curb emissions has forced designers and auto makers to think of vehicles that couple electric drives with conventional engines to achieve the needful. American designer James Piatt is working on a similar concept that he calls the MOFO.
Eco Factor: Concept car powered by a hybrid engine.
Malaysian automaker Proton has unveiled the design of a new compact hybrid concept that will be showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle has been designed in partnership with Italdesign Giugiaro. The vehicle features a front-mounted internal combustion engine that will be used to recharge the onboard Li-ion batteries, which are coupled with a fully-electric drive.
Eco Factor: Concept car powered by a zero-emission electric engine.
Designed by Marcos Costa, this oddly named vehicle is designed to run without polluting the environment. Called the “Anything Moves a Bucket of Lillies,” this vehicle is meant to draw attention to the waste involved in the creation of cars, trucks and so forth in today’s auto industry.
Eco Factor: Botanic garden designed to maximize passive solar heat gain/loss.
C.F. Moller Architects earlier designed a hothouse for Aarhus University, which the architecture firm is now planning to restore by converting it into a new botanical knowledge center. The complex will also be extended with a new, 18m high tropical hothouse, in which the public will be able to explore among the treetops.
Eco Factor: Low-emission yacht powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system.
Blohm + Voss has unveiled a new 120m+ yacht that has been designed to combine the capability of worldwide cruising at a maximum possible comfort level for the owner and 16 guests. The propulsion system of the yacht has been designed for low noise and emissions, while offering the highest level of performance and sustainability.
Eco Factor: Mobile device charger powered by solar energy.
Solar Technology has announced the availability of its new solar-powered charger that is capable of charging a range of mobile gadgets on the move. Dubbed the Pico, the charger captures solar energy and transforms it into usable electricity to recharge your electronic gear.
Eco Factor: Thin-film solar cell with an efficiency of 9.6 percent.
IBM has announced the developed of a new solar cell, which according to the company is the world’s most efficient thin-film photovoltaic cell that has been made using earth-abundant materials. The solar cell boasts an efficiency of 9.6 percent, which is 40 percent more than its previous incarnations.