Eco Factor: Dale Vince to attempt electric land speed record.
Dale Vince, the founder of green energy supplier Ecotricity, will be attempting to break the land speed record in an all-electric vehicle dubbed the Nemesis. The record currently stands at 137mph, which will be challenged by the wind-powered electric vehicle.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission car powered by electric batteries.
The Micron is an all-electric four-wheeled vehicle designed by Exid for young individuals. The car is designed as a simple, smart, clean and economical answer to rising pollution levels and congested city lanes.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission trike harvests solar power.
Designed by Tim Tobola, the Urban Commuter Trike aims to solve the mains issues in transportation today, which include the over-dependence on polluting fossil-fuel-powered cars. The easiest way to reduce the carbon footprint of individuals is to reduce this dependence and increase the use of renewable energy powered vehicles.
Eco Factor: Sustainable office building designed to reduce energy consumption.
Hufft Projects has designed a sustainable office building for R.B. Murray Company that serves to demonstrate the client’s values of ecofriendly architecture. The office building features various energy-saving technologies to reduce the ecological impact of the office building.
Eco Factor: Low-emission car powered by a hybrid engine.
Audi has confirmed that a hybrid version of its Q5 will hit the market by 2011. The vehicle will be first mass-market hybrid vehicle for a German brand. The company however hasn’t made any commitment to manufacture a right-hand drive model, which could leave Australian customers waiting for some more time.
Eco Factor: Double-sided PV modules generate energy from waste light.
Sanyo Canada Inc along with AVACOS Solar Energy has unveiled the first Canadian photovoltaic system combining Sanyo’ HIT Double bifacial solar PV modules and DuROCK Tio-Coat reflective roof membrane at DuROCK Alfacing International Ltd.’s headquarters in Woodbridge.
Eco Factor: Concept energy saving CFL lamp.
Industrial designer Ariel Rojo is making sure that energy saving is not only simple but adorable at the same time with a concept lamp dubbed the Piggy Energy Bank that is intended to send a message about energy savings.
Eco Factor: Concept motorcycle designed to be powered by bio-diesel.
This metalback cafe racer motorcycle is the work of designer Jordan Meadows, who has tried to merge substance and sustainability with speed and style. The concept is designed to be powered by a V4 diesel engine running on bio-diesel, while the frame and the skin are to be crafted from recycled aluminum.
Eco Factor: Hybrid solar module provides more power at low level insolation.
Prism Solar Technologies has come up with an innovative breakthrough in solar technology that makes it possible to generate more renewable power in areas like New York where the insolation level is comparatively low.
Eco Factor: Sustainable building powered by solar and wind energy.
The decline in the amount of land available for farming has tempted architects to think about cities that are not based on the land but are constructed in the form of skyscrapers. However, the rise in population will mean that designers will have to find a way to even reduce the amount of land required for a building to stand.
Eco Factor: LED lamp powered by solar energy.
Lighting fixtures and lamps use a major percentage of the total amount of energy a household consumes. Using renewable energy for lighting systems can significantly reduce energy consumption. Od-Do Arhiteckti has come up with a sustainable lamp that harvests clean energy during the day for sustainable lighting after dark.
Eco Factor: Self-powered prosthetic limbs to harvest kinetic energy.
KCF Technologies will be receiving a $2 million grant to develop and commercialize self-powered prosthetic limb technology that will improve the quality of life for amputees and improve their ability to return to active military duty.
Eco Factor: Concept low-emission vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.
The Expedition Vehicle Concept or E.V.C by designer Prodan Dragos is a versatile and adaptable vehicle that can be configured to suit the requirements of the user. The concept vehicle can be changed from an enclosed camping vehicle to an open-top cruiser in minutes.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric car powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Kia has released new footage of their latest fuel cell prototype vehicle, the Borrego FCEV. The vehicle is a rear/all-wheel drive SUV, where the front wheels are propelled via a 110KW AC electric motor. The vehicle gets its juice from a 115KW fuel cell stack located under the passenger compartment.
Eco Factor: Energy-saving monitor made from recycled materials.
BenQ Korea has unveiled two new ecofriendly monitors dubbed the ‘V2400 Eco/ V2200Eco’ that feature energy-saving LED backlight. The monitors are made from recycled plastic and are launched in two different sizes including a 22-inch and a 24-inch model.
Eco Factor: GPS device runs on solar energy.
fTech has launched a new solar-powered GPS receiver that comes with a rechargeable battery and features a solar panel for recharging on the move. The onboard solar panel is used to extend the operating time of the device, which according to the company can last up to 30 hours when the solar panel is activated.
Eco Factor: Solar-powered gadget charger.
We’ve seen some innovative chargers that let you recharge your electronic gear on the move using the abundant energy of the sun. However, the Keystone Eco Tag is different. The unique device features a writing area to be penciled in for use as a luggage tag.
Eco Factor: Low-emission car designed to run on a hybrid engine.
A hybrid low-emission vehicle from Ferrari has been rumored for long. Italy’s Quattroroute magazine thinks that the auto maker is working on a hybrid based on the 599 GTB Fiorano platform that could appear at the Geneva Auto Show in March.
Eco Factor: High-speed electric train.
The world’s fastest high-speed train has been launched in China that averages at over 217mph. The new train is faster than all other trains in the world and will link Wuhan in central China to Guangzhou in the south, covering a total distance of 663 miles. The service will reduce the travel time from over 6 hours to just 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Eco Factor: Sustainable development to harvest renewable energy and conserve water.
Architects all over the world are busy designing developments that are sustainable and have minimal impact on the delicate ecosystem. Designers over at Mithun Architects have unveiled the design of a stunning mixed-use development for downtown Austin, Texas, that represents a comprehensive approach to sustainability.