Eco Factor: Battery recharger charges dead disposable batteries ten times.
Rechargeable batteries, though expensive are great for the environment because it reduces the amount of batteries that clog the landfill after a single use. Battery Wizard is a unique device that lets you recharge disposable batteries up to 10 times thereby reducing the amount of batteries reaching the landfills by a factor of 10.
Eco Factor: Amphibious bike made from recycled materials.
We’ve seen DIYers in China invent amphibious bike to take their pedal-powered machine to the open waters. While that bike didn’t seem practical enough for a land ride, another inventor from the same land has come up with an amphibious bike that is a little more practical
Eco Factor: Chandelier made from broken glass bottles.
Canadian designer Eric Sauvé is giving a new look to broken glass, by converting all those sharp glass bits into a stunning chandelier to grace your indoors in a sustainable fashion. With a diameter of 80 cm, the chandelier can be coupled with any energy saving light bulb to illuminate your interiors.
Eco Factor: Drive-through system powered by solar energy.
LCNB Bank has installed what is being touted to be the world’s first solar-powered drive-through system. Built by E.F. Bavis and Associates Inc, the system is equipped with a solar panel that charges a 12V battery to carry out the operations.
Eco Factor: Energy saving springs made from carbon nanotubes could save energy for a longer period of time without any loss of performance.
Researchers at MIT have suggested that carbon nanotubes, if used as springs could store energy in a more durable and reliable way that any other storage system available on the market today.
Eco Factor: Energy-saving hydroponic indoor planting system.
Hydroponic indoor gardens are great for those who want a touch of green in their homes without adding to the mess with soil. However, most hydroponic indoor gardens aren’t that good when compared to the amount of energy and water they use.
Eco Factor: Tower equipped with algae-filled eco pods to produce bio-fuel.
The demand for fuel and the criticism growing food crops for fuel has faced, architects have started envisioning structure that will be equipped with algae to produce bio-fuel. Emergent Architects recently showcased their concept structure that would generate a little quantity of bio-fuel and today we have Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Squared Design team up for a vertical tower that will do the same.
Eco Factor: Sustainable facilities and state-of-the-art data center to help reduce carbon emissions.
eBay has announced its first greenhouse gas emissions reduction project, which will help the company reduce over 15% emissions by 2012. The target will be achieved through an ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and conservation.
Eco Factor: Concept boat runs on fuel-cell.
DreamBoat concept is a collective work by designer Matthieu Tarrit and his two friends, Alexandre Lecointre and Julien Marie. It’s a 12-meters motor boat propelled by two electric engines connected with turbines hydrojet. The energy is supplied by Fuel-cell conversion; the hydrogen is reacted with oxygen to produce electricity for the 2 electric motors. The boat has been designed to offer the maximum contact with the ocean. Its windows offer a panoramic vision on the waters.
Eco Factor: Concept bike can harness renewable energy in a number of ways.
For many people the biking experience is exhausting, especially when the tough climbs are ahead. Therefore, designer Chen Chun Tung has put forth a wonderful idea in the form of his “Wind Solar Bike” concept. The most interesting feature of this design is that it can harness energy in four ways that will be stored in the battery for your use when you are not able to pedal anymore. Right below the main pipe lays a solar energy plane that can be expanded to gather more solar light. The Spoiler, a combination of solar cell coating and wind power electricity generator, harnesses both solar and wind energy and also produces driving up force along with reducing the weight of the bike.
