Eco Factor: Sustainable prefab house powered by renewable energy.
Joseph Bellomo Architects have unveiled the prototype of their modular prefabricated dwelling that can easily be flat packed for shipping. Dubbed the House Arc, the prototype home can be packed in a box measuring just 4×10×3 feet and is created in a way that would make it easy to assemble.
Eco Factor: Glass-based solar generating system maximizes output.
Researchers at The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) have developed a unique concentrating system that is pleasing to the eye as well. The system is made using rows of pyramid-shaped glass receptors that move with sunlight throughout the day.
Eco Factor: Flywheel system to help renewable energy plants store power efficiently.
Beacon Power is constructing a unique power plant in Stephentown, N.Y., near Albany, which will store energy in flywheels. Storing energy in flywheels isn’t anything new, but Beacon Power claims that their system feature new materials that include carbon fiber as well.
Eco Factor: Fuel-efficient submarine avoids interference with fragile ecosystems.
After owning a mobile phone company, an airline company, a Caribbean island and some luxury restaurants, billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s latest possession is an underwater plane dubbed the Necker Nymph.
Eco Factor: Low-emission car made using recycled materials.
A special edition Chrysler 300C that has been signed by about 300 celebrities who attended the Golden Globe Awards will be auctioned February 20, with the proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross Haiti Relief efforts.
Eco Factor: Environmentally responsible stadium for NFL.
Aedas Sport has designed the first LEED-certified NFL stadium for Majestic Realty, which is anticipated to be completed for the 2013 season. The innovative 75,000-seat stadium will be built at a cost of $800 million, which is about $400 million less than other NFL stadium proposals.
Eco Factor: Ecofriendly house made using recycled shipping containers.
We’ve seen homes built using shipping containers, some of which even claim to provide you with most modern amenities. However, one thing that is common for most shipping container homes it that they’re small, narrow and mostly dark.
Eco Factor: Hummer H2 modified to be pulled by a horse.
While the recent economic downturn may have stopped you from traveling in your Hummer to save fuel, a New York-based artist, Jeremy Dean, still does ride in his Hummer H2, but as a symbol of his efforts against the dependence on polluting fossil fuels, has replaced the conventional 325hp engine with one that produces just 1hp.
Eco Factor: National Convention Center achieves LEED Gold Certification.
While Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leading the world in eco-responsible projects, designers in Qatar don’t want to be left too far behind. Qatar is building a unique convention center, which has already achieved the LEED Gold Certification by promising better use of resources.
Eco Factor: Concrete developed to capture carbon dioxide and store it.
Going by the statistics, cement production accounts for at least 5 percent of the CO2 that is pumped into the atmosphere annually. While there aren’t many substitutes for concrete in building, California-based Calera is trying to develop concrete that doesn’t account for CO2 emissions but rather is carbon-negative.
Eco Factor: Energy-harvesting soccer ball generates renewable energy.
A team of four engineering students at the Harvard University have come up with an ingenious idea that could change the lives of rural African people. The students have designed a unique soccer ball that generates electricity when being kicked around.
Eco Factor: Installation made from recycled plastic water bottles and food wrap.
Today we see streets littered with plastic waste, most of which comes from our efforts to keep ourselves healthy by drinking packaged water that comes in plastic bottles. Plastic waste can take thousands of years to decompose, before which it pollutes water and if burnt it pollutes the air as well.
Eco Factor: Sustainable greenhouse made using recycled materials.
We’ve seen eco-conscious designers create stunning pieces of art from materials that most would regard as trash. Architect Sebastian Ramirez is taking recycling another step forward by designing a fully functional greenhouse from recycled windshield glass.
Eco Factor: Low-emission car powered by a hybrid engine.
BMW has announced that its 5 Series sedan will go on sale in the United States in June. However, the car manufacturer is also planning to release a hybrid car at the Geneva Motor Show, which is expected to be the Activehybrid 5.
Eco Factor: Green wall to clean indoor air naturally.
The rise in air pollution has not only affected air quality on the streets, but the pollutants have also shown their effect on the air we breathe indoors as well. While there is no dearth of air purifiers on the market, we have always encouraged our readers to think green and depend more on natural solutions for most urban problems.
Eco Factor: Eco-friendly urinals reduce waste consumption.
Villeroy & Boch have been developing solutions that promote economical use of water. The designers have teamed up with Viega to develop toilets that save up to 1.5-liters of water each time you use them. Dubbed the Omnia Architecture Greengain, this new water-distribution system sets new standards in terms of ecology and economy.
Eco Factor: Concept portable freezer powered by solar energy.
The Eco Freezer by industrial designer Ruben Iglesias is a concept portable freezer that is ideal for picnics and camping tours. The cover of the freezer features two LED lamps which are equipped with photovoltaic cells.
Eco Factor: House made using sustainable materials harvests renewable energy as well.
Max Pritchard Architects have designed the Bridge House, which is perched on top of a rocky bank, across a “Billabong Creek” to enable the owners live among the trees in a natural setting. The eco-friendly abode has been developed using sustainable materials and its unique design allows for maximum energy savings.
Eco Factor: Toxin-free range of desktops eases recycling.
Wipro Infotech has launched a new range of eco-friendly desktops, which are being claimed to be the first of a kind in India. Dubbed the Wipro Greenware range, the new computers are free from carcinogenic materials, including PVC and BFRs.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric tractor powered by solar energy.
If you think that solar-powered vehicles are no more than a fantasy at the moment, it’s time for you to think again. A bunch of students at the Bonham ISD High School, in Bonham, Texas, are trying to build an E-Tractor as a part of their Electric Vehicle Project for the 2009/2010 school year.