Life without gadgets would simply be boring. It feels much better when you have toys to play with while protecting the environment. At ‘Show off’ we want to make sure that you look eco-cool at all times, when you go off fighting the good fight. The gadgets that we talk about in here are not paying EkoMiko for any promotion- by the way...that would be nice!

American artist creates incredible cameras from cardboard

Artwork created from eco-friendly materials.

We’ve frequently written about artwork created from environmentally friendly materials by eco-conscious artists, and from what we have already seen, cardboard seems to be the ideal material for most artists. American artist Kiel Johnson, who has already received numerous awards for his unique pieces of art, has now come up with cameras that are made from cardboard.

The designer, whose works normally represent near-obsolete machines, has beautifully crafted a range of cameras from cardboard. The collection includes SLRs, Polaroid cameras, point and shoot cameras, twin lens cameras and the retro 8mm cameras.

V100 Mod Box prefab living module requires no maintenance

LEED Platinum certified prefab modules made from green materials.

The V100 Mod Box has everything in it to be termed as the next-generation prefabricated living module. The 1000-cubic-foot structure is made with green materials and includes state-of-the-art energy saving appliances. To top it all, the Mod Box requires no maintenance of any kind. The structure can be assembled by anyone, without any tools or previous knowledge.

Despite having a tiny footprint, each of the boxes carries two rooms, which can either be a kitchen and a living room, or a bathroom and a bedroom. Amenities inside include walnut cabinets, induction cook top, refrigeration and water saving sinks and showers.

The box can be used for larger applications, such as hotels and multifamily projects. The boxes can also be configured in anyway and connected to each other without any nails, screws and no paint at all. The low-maintenance structure can be built anywhere in the world and with a LEED Platinum certification, it ensures that you’re living in a green way.

The Great River Turbine generates renewable electricity for a city

Floating turbine uses flow of water to generate renewable energy.

Designed by American designer Michael Jantzen, the Great River Turbine is a conceptual design for a large stainless steel water turbine that can generate pollution-free electricity for a city. With a diameter of about 100ft, the turbine features 12 massive blades that rotate with the current of the river.

The rotating blades activate a powerful generator that produces electricity. The turbine is to be mounted on a specially designed public access moored barge, which funnels a controlled flow of water directly into the curved blades of the turbine.

The barge could be located almost anywhere near the banks of a large river, where it also serves as a tourist attraction. The Great River Turbine was designed to be placed near a large city like St. Louis, along the banks of the Mississippi River, where it could continually generate electricity for the city.

Eco artist creates 3D portraits of celebrities using their junk

3D portraits created from trash.

While for most people trashed items hold no value, there is no dearth of artists who use other people’s trash as raw materials for something new and better. Eco-conscious artist Jason Mecier knows the true value of trash produced by celebrities and uses it to make 3D portraits of those celebrities.

Each of the artist’s pieces is intensely person to its subject and includes materials such as moldy slippers, anti-itch creams, dirty laundry and some electronic waste as well. The artist claims that each image can take 50 hours to two months to produce. While some of the trash used in the portraits is sourced from the celebrities, other bits and pieces are donated by Jason’s friends and family members.

Fuel-cell powered UVO concept car aims to reduce traffic

Zero-emission vehicle powered by electric motors.

Auto designer Alexei Mikhailov has come up with a concept car that aims to reduce congestion on the highways. Christened UVO (Urban Vehicular Ovalon) the concept car is powered by a fuel-cell, which provides electricity to two efficient in-wheel motors. Designed for the year 2021, the zero-emission vehicle has a unique oval form that takes up less space on the highways.

The magnets inside each of the electric motors act as stabilizing gyroscopes that maintain the vehicle in upright position while in movement or braking. The interiors features a holographic head up display that help bring a new driving experience in the year 2021.

DIY glowing balloons let you monitor air quality

Stacey Kuznetsov, Jian Cheung, George Davis and Eric Paulos from the Carnegie Mellon University Living Environments Lab have come up with an interesting DIY installation that could help you monitor the air quality of your indoors and outdoors as well. For this purpose, they drew on some tri-colored balloon-shaped LEDs that turn green, yellow or red based on low, average and high level of pollutants around you.

The giant, glowing balloons rely on tiny air quality sensors for air quality data. Later, drawing power from a rechargeable battery, they translate this data into vibrant lights. The DIY looks damn solid and workable too!

What’s your take on this?

Boeing Sugar Volt envisioned as future of e-aviation

Twin-engine aircraft concept with electric battery gas turbine hybrid propulsion system.

After presenting the pioneering D “double bubble” concept to the world, now the NASA supersonic research program is offering what can be envisioned as the future of flight. Hailed as the “Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) Volt concept,” this new twin-engine aircraft sports an elongated wings and electric battery gas turbine hybrid propulsion system. This propulsion system is specially designed to cut down fuel consumption by more than 70 percent and total energy use by 55 percent.

The Boeing SUGAR Volt is designed to carry 154 passengers, cruise at Mach 0.79, achieve a range of 3,500 nautical miles and have shorter takeoff distance. It is expected to run on either fuel or electricity and its wing could have hinges so that they could be folded when on the ground. This green aircraft was among the many interesting designs discussed in the World Symposium of Electric Aircraft last Friday.

Another concept put forward in the NASA research program is Icon II, which uses a split tail design to achieve supersonic flight over land with reduced fuel burn and noise. Icon II, Boeing’s second design in the program, is designed to fly at Mach 1.6 to Mach 1.8, carry 120 passengers over a range of about 5,000 nautical miles. Both these designs are made to fit in the 2030-2035 time frame.

Cloud BlackBerry concept cellphone offers unlimited storage and processing

Eco-friendly mobile phone concept powered by liquid fuel cells.

Cellphones connecting people with each other have already turned the world into a global village. But we need more and more features to keep up pace with the rise in technology, which further needs a burst of processing power and storage capacity. Designers at Bounthavong Designs have come up with a concept that could revolutionize the mobile phone market forever.

Christened the Cloud BlackBerry, the concept phone links the user to the cloud computing network, which further provides unlimited storage space and processing power. The concept device is powered by a liquid fuel cell, which can be viewed through a transparent trim, revealing the amount of fuel within the device.

Hybrid Home Generator keeps you powered outdoors

Hybrid generator harvests solar and wind energy for portable electronics.

Industrial designer Sun-J Vang has conceptualized the Hybrid Home Generator for those who love spending their time outdoors. The concept generator harnesses renewable energy beamed to the planet by the sun, and the constantly flowing wind, to provide a green recharge to your electronic gear.

The generator carries a wind turbine and a layer of solar panels that charge an onboard battery. The battery can then be used to recharge portable electronic devices such as cellphones, PMPs and GPS devices via a USB port.

HADEK display stand reuses 2000 plastic water bottles

Display stand made using recycled materials.

The HADEK is a display stand designed by architect Carminati Damiano in Toulouse, France. The stand welcomed two associations which worked together with trashed and other unwanted materials. The stand utilizes more than 2000 discarded water bottles, with their caps attached. The project utilizes hazardous waste and converts it into a valuable resource for future development.

Very creative and “green”!

Uplink solar-powered wearable speaker strap for sports enthusiasts

Speaker strap powered by renewable solar energy.

Industrial designer Adam Hammerman has conceptualized the Uplink Audio Strap System for sport enthusiasts who love music but don’t want to lose situational awareness by using headsets. The strap system can be attached with hydration packs or backpacks and can connect with a variety of mobile devices.

The Uplink is equipped with four ultrasound speakers that resonate the air within the user’s ears to create sound that only the wearer can hear. After connecting with a cellphone, the device can allow the user to listen to music, take calls, hear podcasts or listen to voice-guided GPS directions.

The personal sound environment makes the user more alert of the surroundings, as it doesn’t impair hearing of sounds outside the ultrasound zone. The device features flexible solar panels that generate energy for the four speakers and can also be used to charge connected mobile devices.

Controls are ambidextrous and fitted into locations where they will not interfere with activity. A tensioner system has also been included to allow for the perfect tuning of the sound environment by varying the distance between the speakers.

Mongo solar-powered hybrid truck for deserts of Africa

Low-emission hybrid truck generates solar energy.

Delivery trucks that can be used in desert areas of Africa need to be entirely different than the ones we see on the highways. Auto designer Péter Iglói-Nagy has conceptualized an eco-friendly truck for these hard to reach areas that maximize the use of natural resources readily available in deserts.

Christened Mongo Desert Transporter, the low-emission truck is intended to be powered by a hybrid engine. The top and sides of the truck are covered with special solar panels, which generate electricity to recharge the onboard battery packs. The integration of solar panels makes sense considering the number of sunny days deserts have.

Sikorsky develops all-electric helicopter, can fly for just 15 minutes

Zero-emission demonstration helicopter powered by electricity.

The concept of a full-sized electric helicopter has been floating around for years, but the weight of the batteries and their low capacity has always ruined the idea. Recent advancements in battery technology has resulted in the development of next-gen batteries that are lightweight and energy dense. Sikorsky believes that time has arrived when these batteries can be used to power helicopters.

The company has announced the development of Project Firefly – an all-electric helicopter that has been based on the company’s S-300C trainer. The Firefly replaces the original 190hp 4-cylinder gas engine with a 200hp electric motor powered by lithium ion batteries.

The helicopter will be unveiled at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh as a technology demonstrator designed to enable manned flight of an electric helicopter. Featuring a re-designed cockpit display, the electric helicopter can fly for just 15 minutes.

Fortune HANEBRINK counters rough terrains on electricity

All-terrain bike powered by electricity.

Fortune Hanebrink has come up with an all-terrain utility bike that surprisingly runs on a brushless electric motor. Dubbed Fortune HANEBRINK, the zero-emission vehicle is powered by a 600W electric motor that gets fueled by a 10Ah lithium-ion battery pack.

Equipped with a 14 speed gearbox, the bike includes carbon fiber bars and tubeless tires that help it counter even the most difficult terrains. Engineering and handcrafted in California, the Fortune HANEBRINK is the confluence of ingenuity, ecology and luxury. Fitted with five lithium ion batteries, the HANEBRINK provides a run time of over 6 hours, more than 100 miles of riding, and the batteries are fully recharged in just 3 hours.

Costing about $5500, the HANEBRINK reaches speeds up to 40 mph and employs 14 speed-gearing with a low range that is easily capable of carrying up to 300 pounds of bulky cargo up steep terrain or deep into inaccessible areas. The HANEBRINK is a revolutionary all-terrain hybrid vehicle that can truly go anywhere on the planet, maintaining minimal environmental impact and zero-carbon emissions.

Eco Ball surround sound speaker system gets powered by solar energy

Surround sound speaker system harvests solar energy.

Industrial designer Pedro Gomes is trying to better the experience of your portable media player by designing a portable speaker set for music lovers. The portable device, dubbed Eco Ball, features two speakers that are connected together in the form of a ball. The speakers come with a carry belt that includes flexible photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into usable electricity to power the speakers.

The device can be connected to a compatible music player and can be opened to reveal both the speakers. The stylish appearance and intelligent construction along with the ease of carrying the speakers makes it an indispensable part of music lover’s life.

DIY solar-powered boats race for supremacy at the Frisian Solar Challenge

World’s largest race for solar-powered DIY boats.

Friesland is organizing the world’s largest race for solar vessels, the Frisian Solar Challenge, for the third time. The race runs along the 220km route of the famous Frisian Eleven Cities. The challenge, also known as the World Cup for Solar Powered Boats, pits small solar vessels against each other.

Held every two years, the challenge helps promote sustainable engineering and technology in boat building. Attracting nearly 45 racing teams from around the world, the participants have to build their own vessels, each of which should be powered exclusively by solar energy.

A solar-powered vessel is a complex design challenge for the teams. The boat must have good hydrodynamics so that it experiences little resistance. Moreover, the design must create a safe structure. In addition, the boat must be built properly in terms of the electrical system, given that electricity and water do not mix well. This combination complicates the construction.

Opel EWOL concept motorcycle is an energy powerhouse on wheels

Self-sufficient electric motorcycle generates renewable energy.

The idea behind electric vehicles is definitely debatable. Though, electric vehicles don’t emit any toxic fumes from their tailpipes, generating electricity using conventional ways does pollute the ecosystem. Aiming to design a truly green vehicle, industrial designers have often come up with concepts that generate renewable energy. Most of these concepts either generate kinetic energy or use the sun as an energy source. Vehicle designer Augustin Barbot is taking the idea ahead by designing a motorcycle that harvests not one, but four different forms of renewable energies.

Dubbed The Open EWOL or Energy Way of Life, the concept motorcycle has to be driven by a rider who wears a next-gen energy suit that can generate up to 1KW of power using body heat and movement. The shock absorbers that lie under the sea generate 20W, the steering generates up to 5W, the rear wheel generates 50W, onboard solar cells generate up to 400W, pedaling generates an addition 200W and kinetic tires collect up to 20W of power.

Moreover, the EWOL features an HPA (Hydraulic Power Assist) tank that saves up to 80 percent of the deceleration energy and braking wind turbines that produce 10W of clean electrical power. All that energy generated by various renewable energy generators is fed to the motorcycle’s onboard battery pack that then provides 2KW of power to the electric engine and 1.6KW of power to the digital display. The self-sufficient motorcycle is for the streets of the future where vehicles powered by renewable energy would revolutionize the world.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t603CDc6eA

Bamboo case for an athletically appealing protection for your iPhone 4

iPhone 4 case made from FSC-certified bamboo.

If you one of the few lucky ones who have succeeded in getting your hands over the latest Apple sensation iPhone 4, then you certainly wouldn’t want anything to scratch that pristine surface. Portland-based company Grove brings to your doorsteps a case that will give your delicate Apple device its much desired protection.

Hailed the “Grove Bamboo iPhone 4 Case”, this eco-friendly case is made from green and sustainable materials. Crafted from FSC-certified bamboo, this stylish case just adds 0.07-inches to the overall thickness of the phone. The metal bezel and custom engravings on the back adds to the aesthetics. This case is normally $99, but you can pre-order it for $49.

To buy go to:

http://www.grovemade.com/

Bombardier Eco 4 Train is a maglev beauty powered by renewable energy

Maglev train powered by renewable energy.

The Bombardier Eco 4 is a sustainable train that aims to make public transportation more attractive. Designed by Francisco Lupin, the concept is a maglev train that harnesses renewable solar energy as it moves.

The solar panels located on the roof of the train are connected to a motor system that enables the panels to turn up to 30 degrees according to the position of the sun in the sky. This rotation is regulated automatically by an onboard computer.

This futuristic train has an automatic pilot system, which guides the train along the track. The pilot computer is controlled from the base of operations and is retested at every station. All the passengers can choose the place where they want the train to stop by pressing a buzzer located in the armrest of each seat.

The train has a unique projector system that projects information to the user. This information might be the climatic conditions outside, advertisements or the time before which the train will halt at the next station.

The train aims to better public transportation and make it even greener with the use of renewable energy technology.

Eco Vehicle nature-inspired tricycle concept for urban spaces

Pedal-powered tricycle concept.

With fossil fuel prices on a constant rise, pedal power is surely going to be more lucrative in the future. Recognizing a demand for pedal powered vehicles in the future, designer Irina Alexandru has come up with an all-weather concept pedal-powered tricycle dubbed the Eco Vehicle.

The nature-inspired vehicle has been designed for urban spaces where auto transport is forbidden. The Eco Vehicle overcomes the deficiencies of common bicycles by providing a more comfortable sitting position with a cocoon protecting the user from bad weather.

Solar Water Purifier provides potable water without consuming electricity

Non-electric water purifier uses solar heat for purification.

The United Nations estimates that over a billion people in the world don’t have access to safe drinking water, which results in 1.8 million deaths annually. With threats such as global warming looming large, the situation is expected to worsen in the near future. While the urban world has access to hi-tech water purification systems, people living in rural parts of the world are still seeking help. Industrial designer Cole Dobson has come up with a concept water purifier that can be used by both the rural and the urban world.

Dubbed the Solar Water Purifier, the low-tech system makes use of solar heat to purify water. The system purifies water in two stages – when the user pours dirty water in the first tray, solar heat makes water evaporate and condense on the cover of the purifier from where it enters the second compartment. When all dirty water has condensed, the user has to remove the first tray and allow ultraviolet rays to further purify the particulate-free water. Since the system doesn’t include any moving or electrical parts, its cost could be well within reach if the product reaches the production line.

E Rope keeps you fit and chargers batteries

Concept skipping rope recharges batteries with renewable energy.

The E Rope by industrial designer Kyung Guk Lee is just another concept that aims to recharge portable batteries with your energy. The jump rope charger allows the user to place rechargeable batteries inside the rope grip, which then harvests the energy of motion to recharge the batteries inside.

Solar-powered flying car to deal with chaotic city traffic

Eco-friendly flying car concept that is powered by solar energy.

Doesn’t waiting restlessly in a traffic-jam for those long queues of vehicles to start moving often leaves you with a statement “I wish a had a flying car”. Well, your dream could come true in coming times. Designers Pan Jiazhi, Zhu Wenxi, and Lai Zexin have designed a concept that could fly. Dubbed the “YEE”, the ingenious vehicle is capable of transforming into a flying machine instantly. Moreover, you would not even require a runway to take off your plane.

Simply by upturning the front wheels sideways and rear wheels to the outside back, this amazing concept would not only take you away from the hectic city traffic, but will also provide faster commuting alternative. This superb car is powered by solar panels spread over the ceiling. It can also be charged at the flying station that doubles as a transit depot too for the car.

Get prepared for the enjoyable ride that offers mesmerizing view.

Nokero debuts ‘world’s first’ solar-powered LED light bulb

Energy-efficient light bulb powered by solar energy.

Continuous electricity is a mere pipe dream for billions living in the rural parts of the world. Nokero is trying to better the lives of these people with a low-cost LED light bulb that is powered by solar energy. The N100 light bulb is also being claimed to be the first bulb powered by renewable solar energy.

Designed specifically for developing nations the N100 features four solar panels that harness enough energy in its nickel metal hydride battery during the day to light up a house for two hours. The company states that the bulb will cost about $15 if purchased one at a time, though the goal is to sell it in bulk for about $6 apiece.

SolarLight lights up on renewable wind energy

Sustainable light designed to harvest wind energy for power.

The SolarLight concept light bulb by industrial designer Eon Tae Yoon has been designed to offer safe off-grid lighting to people living in rural parts of the world. Unlike its name, the concept has been designed to harvest wind power with acrylic blades. The blades catch the wind and a small generator converts the energy into usable electricity, which is later used to power the tube inside.

LG 3D solar-powered phone adds sustainability to your conversations

Eco-friendly cellphone concept designed to be powered by solar energy.

The 3D Mobile Phone is the brainchild of industrial designer Petr Kubik, who wants to add a bit of sustainability to your endless chatters with renewable solar energy. The concept features an expandable touchscreen display that slides out to better the experience of the user.

A layer of photovoltaic cells has been included on the back of each slide panel to juice up the device from renewable energy. The user can control application icons in 3D environment using an interactive stylus and 3D glasses that are placed at the rear of the phone.

Nokia develops bicycle charger for its mobile phones

Renewable energy bicycle charger for cellphones.

To counter the perils of diminishing energy, several gadget manufactures are working on next-gen devices that will be charged by renewable energy. While Apple has a patent filed for a solar-powered iPhone, Nokia has launched a bicycle charger for its cellphones.

Priced at $19, the charger kit includes a dynamo and a phone holder along with a 2mm charging jack. The charger has been aimed for rural areas around the world where bicycles are the primary means of travel.

Undergrads create electric sports car from discarded cigarette cases

Zero-emission electric sports car created from discarded cigarette cases.

To make a dramatic statement for this year’s World No Tobacco Day a team of undergraduate students in Xi’an, China have unveiled an all-electric sports car with a shell made entirely from recycled cigarette packets. The eco-friendly sports car weighs about 300kg and quite surprisingly, the car actually runs.

The sports car was made using 10,280 discarded cigarette packets and took eight months to take shape. The creator was helped in collecting discarded cigarette cases by more than 2500 students.

Philips demonstrates solar-powered LED lighting

Sustainable lighting equipment powered by solar energy.

Philips has announced the Philips Cairo to Cape Town Road Show, a two-month trek covering 15 cities, where the company will demonstrate sustainable solar-powered LED lighting that can allow people living in areas without electricity to illuminate their homes. The LED lighting equipment has the potential to transform lives in the developing world through social and economic benefits.

Macally presents bamboo lapdesk ‘EcoFad’ for notebook computers

Lapdesk made from sustainable materials.

Korean manufacturer Macally has presented its eco-friendly notebook holder the EcoFad that has been created from bamboo. Dubbed “EcoFad,” the notebook holder also includes a bamboo mouse pad. The environmentally friendly holder includes several grooves that are designed to circulate hot air and keep the notebook from cooking.

Solar Powered Cellphone

The technology-driven world of today is highly dependent on devices such as mobile phones to keep us in contact with our relatives and friends. While some people are rich enough to own the latest and most feature-rich phones on the market today, others still dream about owning a cellphone one day. Designer Julia Schlegel seems to have an answer for such people. She has developed a concept phone dubbed the SoleCall, which is powered by solar panels plastered on its rear side.

The display-less phone won’t carry any hi-tech features under its rubber and plastic body, but will make sure that the owner is able to call using the numeric keypad and the on/off button. The phone comes with a hanger to enable the user to hang it at any place that gets abundant sunlight. This ultra-cheap phone could be an ideal choice for people living in underdeveloped countries.

‘Castle in the Sky’ tower creates rain from vaporized water

Sustainable tower designed featuring public garden and a sky deck.

The Castle in the Sky is a concept tower proposal by Paris-based Atelier Ramdam Architects to be constructed in Latina, Italy. The slender architecture has been designed to create rain from vaporized water.

The infiltration system constitutes the water tower’s semi-buried base. Access to the reservoir opens up the first walkway from the street to the underground, which also includes a pond. The tower is clad in highly reflective stainless steel which makes the foot of the reservoir appear as if it’s not there.

Vaporization occurs on the rooftop of the tower, where visitors also discover a terrace for festivities with the spirit of a dance hall. A ramp has been designed which makes its way around the reservoir. This is the place where precipitation and hence rain occurs.

…very interesting…green castle in the sky!

Igglu modular PC concept makes upgrading simple and clean

Sustainable concept computer designed to reduce e-waste.

The Igglu Modular PC concept has been designed to reduce e-waste and make upgrading and customizing computers simple and clean. The service plans have been designed to meet the changing needs over time. As technology advances, all the user has to do is to remove the component and replace it with a better one using an online account.

The computer features color coded, hot swappable modules for hard drive, optical drives, graphic cards, PCI drives and RAM. These modules can easily be removed and replaced with modules offering higher performance. The used modules are then returned to the company to be reused in budget services or processed for recycling.

The product has been designed for maximum energy and resource efficiency. The PC makes use of standard components housed in cases that are designed for reuse and recycling.

How do you like this sustainable concept?

R204Design’s World Sustainability Center takes inspiration from nature

Sustainable development for the World Sustainability Center.

R204Design has proposed a sustainable facility for the World Sustainability Competition held in the Netherlands. The development focuses on natural forms and processes and aims to be the “Silicon Valley” for sustainable technologies. 

The overall planning of the center, dubbed The Afsluitdijk World Sustainability Centre, focuses on two user types – inhabitants and visitors. For the inhabitants the center provides high-end research and presentation facilities, maximizing the potential for synergies between various combinations and continual sharing of information and inspiration.

For the visitors the center provides an engaging, interactive, immersive and ever-changing experience that instills the fascinating potential of nature to address human problems. The proposal is a series of 6 ““Ecopelagos” or man-made island groups that are distributed across the entire length of the dike.

These six zones include – Sun, Wind, Water, Land, Life and Earth. The Sun Zone features a research center and support facilities dedicated to the advancement of solar technologies. It includes a solar garden and a sculptural garden made entirely of sun collecting devices. The Wind Zone is dedicated to the advancement of turbine technologies and harvesting power of the wind. It also includes a Windmill Island that is composed of wind farms. The Water Zone includes facilities and attractions dedicated to the conservation and management of water.

The Land Zone is dedicated to researching and sharing knowledge on geothermal studies and environmental infrastructure projects. The Life Zone is dedicated to the study of flora, fauna and local marine life and habitats. The Earth Zone is the heart of the center and houses the Visitor Center, exhibit hall, theaters, learning facilities, parks, gardens as well as the Research Center for Global Warming.

ZESS Public Toilet concept harnesses solar power and rainwater

Eco-friendly public toilet concept harnesses energy and water. 

The ZESS Public Toilet concept by Belgian design house Bundl has been designed as a standalone autonomous public toilet unit that generates all the energy and water it needs from natural resources. The innovative and prominent toilet tries to improve the street scene

The ZESS toilet includes a rooftop solar panel that generates electricity needed to illuminate the toilet after dark. Moreover, rainwater is harvested and stored for use inside the toilet.

Green pee-pee-ing!

Nokia EC509 Green Core concept phone gets powered by kinetic energy

Concept phone made from recycled materials runs on renewable energy. 

The Nokia EC509 Green Core is a concept cellphone designed by industrial designer Matteo Trisolini. The concept aims to make cellphones greener so that their impact on the environment can be minimized. The device is designed to harvest renewable kinetic energy to charge the onboard battery. 

The cellphone is to be made using recycled materials and will ship in a package that can be used to send the mobile phone back to the company for recycling after use. The phone includes a spin charger that harvests kinetic energy to recharge its battery whenever the user spins the phone of his or her finger.

Nokia –connecting people in green style!

Spiraling solar-powered skyscraper helps cool the environment

Solar-powered eco-tower with water collection and a cooling system.

Kenneth Loh  and Michelle Lim have come up with an ingenious design of an eco-tower that blends a vertical garden, mixed-use development and open space together. The new urban prototype of solar powered skyscraper incorporates many programs to make the building as green as possible. The entire façade of the spiraling hollow structure is covered with a thin membrane of solar cells that produce enough energy to meet with its interior requirements. 

The sustainable tower housing residential, office, commercial and growing space incorporates features like water collection, renewable energy generation and a smart cooling system. It includes a hollow core that draws hot air up and out of the building, while letting cool air in from the bottom. Residential units for low, medium and high density are attached to a continuous ramp.

The rainwater collected on the façade is sent to an underground cistern that has a power plant. Here the water is collected, filtered and stored to utilize it for energy production. The designers hope to solve the housing problems of some urban settlement globally, while cooling the environment by bringing a series these towers into use.

Nice green urban vision!

Underwater Death Container

After you or a loved one of yours passes, how low will you go? Hopefully not TOO low below sea level, but if you’re into the ocean, here’s the container you aught to go down in. It’s called the “Genesis Biopod” and not only is it a reasonable pod for your dod to go low in, it’s a means to increase and sustain ocean life at the same time! That’s right, your dead body is good for more than just rotting around! Your remains can spread the love for future generations of your beloved ocean life, right here, right now.

Made in honor of his own father, designer Jack Hokanson designed and executed this fabulous pod which is designed to be filled with the remains of a deceased human body and lowered into the ocean by a boat capable of keeping a record of where it was laid. Inside the pod there is a dissolvable bag which after only five minutes of being submerged is basically gone, releasing the ashes of the dead, making it a fabulous place for algae to grow, the container being then a home for any number of marine creatures.

It’s like donating your bones to the boneless!

Educational Solar Powered FM Radio Kit

The Solar Powered FM Radio Kit allows you to teach children about the eco-friendly energy source of solar power in a fun and engaging manner. The kit creates a fully functioning FM radio that has been designed to be bright and appealing to children.

The Solar Powered FM Radio Kit comes in kit form, in 16 different parts. It includes detailed instructions to help construct the radio, learning as you go about how it all interlinks and about how solar power works. Once constructed the radio just needs light to work. The solar panel will need placing somewhere with bright sunlight, though artificial light may also work it if needed.

The radio kit helps to teach children through play, by being supplied in kit form it helps them to get involved with the radio which helps to encourage them to learn about it and increase their interest. Once made the radio can be used as a normal radio, either by placing it somewhere in bright daylight to be powered continually in an eco friendly manner to help reinforce the lesson of the benefits of renewable energy or it can be powered by two AA batteries. This allows it to be a functioning radio even at night.

The Solar Powered FM Radio Kit costs just £14.95.

Solar Powered Cascade Fountain With Green Ceramic Bowls

The Solar Powered Cascade Fountain allows you to have a soothing water feature that fills a garden with gentle sounds of trickling water without any of the hassles or expense of wiring.

This Cascade Fountain is powered by a solar panel that can be positioned up to 3 meters (10 feet) away. This allows you to place the Cascade Fountain in even dark corners or recesses of your garden and still have to work. Some thought must go into placing it so that the solar panel can be placed in a bright spot in preferably direct sunlight to allow this fountain to work to the best of its abilities.

The water passes through a series of green glazed ceramic bowls to be pumped back into the first bowl from the last, the water is then in a continuing  system and should not require topping up, though this may be needed at times (especially if you have a dog that loves to drink running water). These bowls sit on a stable metal frame which does need to be placed on a flat surface. The green of the cascade fountain should fit in any garden setting bringing the tranquil sounds of water without any of the hassles. The Cascade fountain comes with a remote control allowing you to easily turn it on and off when required.

The Solar Powered Cascade Fountain is available for just £89.95 with free delivery.

Handheld Portable Espresso Maker By Handpresso

Good espresso can be hard to come by, usually involving a run to a local good coffee shop or buying expensive electronic devices. The Handheld Portable Espresso Maker by Handpresso aims to bring good espresso to all without the use of electricity or large cumbersome devices.

The Handpresso Wild is a portable espresso maker that looks rather like a bizarre bike pump and is operated in a similar manner. Using Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E) pods the device allows you to make espresso anywhere, in your living room, camping outdoors, anywhere you have access to hot water.

The espresso maker uses no electricity, the pressure is created by your own movements in pumping the handle as you would a bike pump. There is a pressure gauge on the device that shows you when you have reached 16 bar of pressure, highlighted out as a green zone. When this pressure is achieved you place a E.S.E pod into the device, add boiling or hot water (could take hot water with you in a thermos flask) and the pressure forces the water through the E.S.E pod, making the cup of espresso. It is using the pressure to do this that helps make this a more genuine espresso.

The Handpresso Wild is made from environmentally friendly materials. It helps ensure even those who travel can enjoy a good cup of coffee when they need it. Designed to be small enough to fit easily into a bag, backpack or handbag It is a truly portable device that works without the need of mains electricity or batteries. The only problem is sourcing hot water for this, but that could be taken with you in a thermos flask.

In the UK, the Handpresso Wild Espresso Maker costs just £84.95 with free delivery.

In the US, the Handpresso Wild Espresso Maker costs $85.00 with free delivery.

Emergency flashlight knows the real meaning of ‘Emergency’

Concept flashlight requires no batteries for operation.

The market is flooded with gadgets that are being touted to serve you in times of emergency. Be it emergency flashlights or radios, all these products run on batteries, which might not be available in a real emergency. Industrial designer Jon Thai has shared with us his latest creation, an emergency flashlight that doesn’t require batteries to work.

The flashlight requires no batteries, and charges by shaking the flashlight. Inside of the flashlight is a coil, a capacitor and a magnet. By shaking, the magnet passes through the coil, generating energy which is stored in the capacitor. By switching the light on, the flashlight uses the energy stored in the capacitor. The light can last about 30 minutes before needing another shake. The light is emitted from one magnified LED light.

Furthermore, there are supplementary LEDs housed internally to light the glow rods of the flashlight. All in all, the flashlight requires no batteries and no replacement bulbs. Thus, because it is ideally a survival emergency light, you can store the light, until needed, and in an emergency one would never have to worry about battery life, because they could kinetically charge it.

Whereas with other normal flashlights requiring batteries, the fault is that the batteries most likely drain, even in storage, and must be discarded. This is harmful to the environment. The kinetic flashlight aids in the movement to be environmentally friendly, while being logically useful in emergency situations.

The light features an extendable bezel. By extending the head of the flashlight, the user exposes the lit rods. In essence, the light could then be used as a torch guide for situations where the user needs to be seen by a tow truck, airplane or any other rescue help, without blinding the rescuers with the bright white LEDs.

Sayaka Ganz creates sculptures out of old plastic cutlery and utensils

Things don’t get much boring than plastic cutlery items, but put them together like Sayaka Ganz, and you can call yourself a very talented artist. And for good reason, too.

33-year-old Sayaka Ganz, from Indiana, USA, collects most of her working material from dustbins and charity shops, and the rest is donated by friends and family. The young artist uses all sorts of plastic junk, from cutlery to sunglasses and baskets, and sorts them into 20 different color groups.

Then she meticulously ties every useless piece of plastic to a wire frame, until she achieves the shape she first envisioned. Sayaka Ganz’s works range from 18 inches to 8 feet long and the most complicated ones take up to a month to finish and contain 500 pieces. Still her efforts pay off, considering some of her plastic artworks have sold for as much as $12,000.

Lexon released new eco-friendly gadgets

The gadgets all are made from green materials such as bamboo and maize bio-plastics. Moreover, they are powered by green energy like solar power of the calculator and the clock as well the crank for generating power by hand on the radio. If needed, you even could turn the radio into a mono speaker for your PMP. After a break, check out the amazing gadgets pictures.

Flying Solar Helicopter: Fly to the sun on the power of the sun!

Solar energy is now letting your toys take to the sky, with the flying solar helicopter.

No batteries required, no fuel, just pure solar power is all that is needed to get this amazing little helicopter off the ground! Great fun whether you’re playing at home or in the office!

Q-Sound: Solar-Powered, Bluetooth-Enabled Headphones

Music becomes a sustainable experience with Shepeleff Stephen’s solar-powered, bluetooth-connected Q-Sound (quantum sound) headphones. The Romanian engineering student’s sleek design combines flexible, hexagonal solar panels, wireless technology, and rotating earpieces for a futuristic yet practical product that powers itself on the go.

Since the headphones are Bluetooth-enabled, they can connect wirelessly to MP3 devices, cell phones–anything with Bluetooth capability. That means you can chat with your friends and rock out to music without moving a muscle. The Q-Sound headphones can also connect to any audio device with a 3.5mm jack.

Each earphone contains two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to hold power derived from the Q-Sound’s solar panels. A single hour of sun provides 2.67 hours of power at maximum volume, and a fully charged headset can run for 40 hours.

Stephen hasn’t hinted at whether the Q-Sound will come to market, but we think it would be a hit among eco-savvy athletes, beach-goers, and anyone looking to untether their tunes from the grid.

Moseco Es905: Ecological Universal Charger

Seems spaceship, in place MOSeco ES905 is a device that could do actually brilliant happy outdoor sports, explorers, adventurers and researchers or those who easily has developed a green conscience.

MOSeco ES905 is in fact a charger truly ecological and universal that uses renewable energy and the “human” with a series of tricks that build it usable in any environment and situation.

Fishermen in high-mountain lakes, forest hiking more boundless, adventurers in the sea, glaciers or bike around Australia. A much larger population than you may believe, that wants Energy for technological devices accompanying a shipment, a company or even just daily life.

MOSeco ES905 universal charger can recharge phones and smartphones of all the leading brands like Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG and Motorola, MP3 players, camcorders, cameras, GPS navigation, and any other gadget. Does so through the solar panels, the door miniUSB The AA or AAA batteries and lastly, even with the crank to build some laps and get some ‘juice prepared for use. MOSeco shall price 2450 rubles ES905, which gets less than 50 euro.

Sir Richard Branson’s Eco-Friendly Underwater Scuba-Plane Hybrid

British tycoon Richard Branson, best known for being the helmsman of Virgin Group Ltd. — which serves as an umbrella for roughly 400 global businesses in the lifestyle, travel and entertainment sectors – has been doing a lot of wackadoodle things with his $2.5 billion dollars lately.  Or perhaps the more accurate term is “pioneering”. Either way, he’s seen as a visionary who somehow has a knack for making his money grow while having a bloody good time doing it.

The 59-year-old, who will be running in this Sunday’s London Marathon, is the very same gent who is providing well-heeled, adventure seekers the opportunity to purchase $200,000 sub-orbital space science missions and flights as well as actual orbital human spaceflights in the near future through his Virgin Galactic endeavor. As his website says, “We believe that the advent of space-based solar power, space-based server farms, transcontinental passenger and freight travel via space and a range of other transformational applications are all achievable in a relatively short time frame.”

Now, the proud owner of his own personal 74 acre Caribbean island has just taken a custom DeepFlight aero submarine for a spin with Nate Berkus and Oprah Winfrey’s viewers. Dubbed the Necker Nymph, the eco-friendly, battery powered and totally silent three person winged craft soars 130 feet below the water’s surface while its on-board passengers ride in an open cockpit sporting full scuba gear. Those who want to experience the real deal can do so when they rent Branson’s island or charter his luxury 105 foot catamaran called Necker Belle!

Lightcup' Solar Powered Water Bottle with LED lights

Super little device that's ideal for camping. A water bottle that doubles up as a solar powered lantern. The Light Cup solar water bottle has an LED light under the lid that shines out through the water within. The lights are recharged by solar energy during the day for use at night. The white light can be also be used as a reading lamp and there's a red flashing alarm light function as well.

EyeMax Wind Up Solar Powered Radio with LED Torch Light

The EyeMax is a multi-powered radio by Freeplay. This FM/AM radio can charge itself from both its solar panel and from a wind up handle. By having both methods it ensures you can listen to your radio shows at any time without any worry of running out of power and always from a eco-friendly source.

The EyeMax has a solar panel on the top of it as well as a wind up handle to allow you to self power the device for days where sun is lacking or for when you have forgotten to leave it in a sunny spot. This ensures you always have electrical power for your radio from a sustainable source. The radio can provide you with 35 minutes of play time from 30 seconds of winding the handle.  The radio has an LED indicator light to help guide you to the most efficient speed for winding the device. When fully charged the radio can provide you with 25 hours of play time.

Along with its function as a AM/FM radio the device also has a built in LED torch light, providing you with a bright light for a small amount of electrical drain when needed. The EyeMax radio measures 6 cm x 11.2 cm18.6 cm (2.6 in. x 4.4 in. x 7.3 in.) allowing it to be easily portable and suitable for traveling wherever you want to take it.

Solar Powered Spinning Sunflower

This solar powered Spinning Sunflower is meant for use as an amusing addition to any garden or conservatory.

The solar powered Spinning Sunflower does exactly what it states, when sunlight hits the solar panel (located on the back of the sunflower head) the electrical energy provided is used to cause the sunflower to spin. The Spinning Sunflower should then provide amusement in your garden for all those who find such a thing entertaining (for example children or the occasional puzzled bird).

The Spinning Sunflower measures 55 cm high (21.65 in), and the flower head has a diameter of 22 cm (8.66 in). The Sunflower is fully weatherproof to help it last outdoors but can also be used indoors in suitably lit areas such as a conservatory.

The Spinning Sunflower costs just £24.99 plus delivery, and is sure to keep the kids amused for at least a little while!

HYMINI Wind powered charger

The HyMini Wind Powered Charger captures the wind to provide 5v of power to recharge all kinds of gadgetry including iPods or cellphones. Users can set it to capture the wind just about anywhere it blows or can harnass the power of the slipstream provided outside an automobile or while riding a bicycle (using the armband) to charge their batteries while travelling. Get the car up to 40 mph, and you can provide enough power for 8 hours of mp3 playing or just over a half hour of active cellphone talk time. And if the wind dies down, all isn’t lost as the HyMiniSolar cells can interface with the turbine to provide solar power as well. The Solar cells can also be daisy chained to increase capacity.

Comes in Black, White or Green and costs about $50 for the Mini, and $25 for the recycled cardboard encased solar panel.

Solar headphone radio

I could use this solar headphone radio when walking the dog. No more needing to worry if I have batteries or have batteries charged.

It recharges even while listening. One hour of sunlight provides 1-3 hours of listening. and fully charge the headset will run up to 20 hours.

Its 25 British Pounds. Available at Ecotopia.co.uk

Cell Phone that charges while you twirl and spin it!

I can see it a little addicting twirling this phone around your finger. There is a model that spins around your finger pictured here. Another model is of the crank variety.

Well now you will have no excuse to have a dead cell phone battery. I wonder how quickly it charges?

Green Sunflower

It’s really nice to have some lights in your backyard – well, don’t use electricity, consider a solar-powered outdoor lights instead. Here we recommend Corona , a solar-powered outdoor lighting system. It can be staked to the ground, attached to a wall, or simply placed on a table top.

The Corona solar light’s photovoltaic cell transforms sunlight into energy during the day, and its LEDs automatically start to glow when the sun sets. It uses no glues or fasteners, making it simple to disassemble for recycling.

Put some in your garden, you will enjoy seeing beautiful solar-powered green sunflowers in your outdoor spaces.

Bamboo, the degradable mobile phone

One billion handsets produced globally each year and only 10% recycled. Average mobile phone user replaces their handset every 18 months. This has a big impact on the environment; 36kg of CO2 is used to make one 90g phone. To reduce the impact of the mobile phone it's time to rethink the materials mobile phone are made of and the manner we recharge them.

The bamboo degradable mobile phone
The bamboo is a degradable mobile phone. When the battery, antenna and print board are removed the case can be placed in compos and a few weeks later the case will begin to disintegrate. Inside the case are bamboo seeds, these will start to grow and feet on the case. After a few months the will turn in to bamboo plant which compensates the impact manufacturing process the bamboo phone has on the environment.

Materials
The case of the bamboo phone is made out two materials. Number one is a bio-plastic which is derived from renewable raw materials such as corn. Number two is bamboo which is a grass and can grow two feet or more a day. When it's harvested, it need not be replanted, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. So bamboo renews itself readily, unlike hardwood trees, which, once cut, are gone forever. Bamboo is an endlessly renewable resource.

Energy
The inefficient recharging of the mobile phones has also an impact the environment. We could save enough energy in one year to power 60,000 European when 10% of the mobile phone users turn off the electricity supply to the chargers after use. The bamboo mobile phone can be recharged with muscle power. The phone is equipped whit a cranking charger; a 3-minute cranking session gives the phone enough power to make one call. This means the bamboo phone never runs out of energy. The phone is also equipped with a monochrome display to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

Green gadget
The use of materials and the possibility to recharge the phone whit muscle power give the phone a very low carbon footprint and reduce the impact on the environment. This makes the phone "a green gadget"

Soil-Powered Clock

Gadget geeks can go green too! Check out the soil-powered clock designed by Marieke Staps.

Dodge Zeo Goes 250 Miles On One Charge

Dodge ZEO from Chrysler is an electric concept car with a 64kWh Li-ion rechargeable battery and runs 250 miles (approximately 402km) per battery charge.

The name “ZEO”, stands for zero emission operation. The four-door concept vehicle has a total weight of 1,202 kg and surprisingly Chrysler says it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 130mph.

That’s pretty impressive. I want it now!

Be Seen And Be Green With Puma’s Glow In The Dark Bike

If you are trying to make the switch from four wheels to two, and help make the environment as well as your pocket book a little healthier, but worry about the short daylight hours and riding home in the dark, check out Puma’s glow-in-the-dark bicycle. Available in two color choices, cream to green and deep to a golden orange, everyone on the road will definitely be able to see you comin’.

Looks like a great day to go green and stay safe at the same time. Forget the yellow vest and invest in a bike that will keep you glowing.

Aion Supplies Clean Water

Designed by Antoin Lebrun, the Aion is a multi-functional appliance which utilizes plants for their filtering and cleaning properties to provide a renewable supply of clean water and vegetable soap. When cooking, the plants act as a filtering hood.

When it’s time to clean up, place the dirty dishes into the sink, shut the hood and the natural cleaning cycle will begin.

I think, every housewife would like it! Nice looking and comfortable!

Green Even After Death

I know this may be a little morbid, but I thought it was quite a cool idea.

The Ecopod is a revolutionary design in coffins made from naturally hardened, 100% recycled paper.

The Ecopod is the ideal product for a non toxic burial - perfect for use in greenfield sites.

Interested in buying?

http://www.ecopod.co.uk/how-to-purchase/

Solar Powered Plane

Before you start worrying, of course solar panels at the moment could not actually produce enough power to enable the plane to fly, but this system from Powerenz will produce enough power to enable the pilot to carry out his pre-light checks.

By using this system planes will save on fuel and therefore make flying better for the environment.

It is a surprise that some of the larger airlines are not doing it, but let’s hope it will catch on.

AN AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE? The $30K ZAP Alias

ZAP believes that thanks to how fast automotive technology is advancing, it can produce such vehicle by the specified time frame. Its a difficult task as they have yet to produce a full prototype of the Alias. It does have a full specification showing what it hopes the final product will be. The three-wheeled Alias will be powered by two in-wheel 320-horsepower motors, which will be capable of taking the car from 0 to 60 in about 6 seconds. It should take go for 150 miles on one charge. A hybrid range extender is also in the works.

Getting a full vehicle within two years seems difficult, however the car manufacturer is hopeful. It has just recently made an invitation to its suppliers with hopes of getting to the affordable price range that it is looking for.

Having said that, if they can make that car at that price, well, they could own the market.

Eco-friendly Calorie Cycle Speedometer

Check out this Eco-friendly Calorie Cycle Speedometer which allows you to measure everywhere you go when you’re on your bicycle. It is capable of notching down important details such as the speed, distance, trip time, wheel rotation frequency as well as the number of calories burnt, helping you hit your physical fitness goals much faster than expected. It comes with a built-in clock that displays the time in both 12- and 24-hour formats, depending on which you are more comfortable with. There are just three buttons to toggle with – Set, Mode and Reset, alongside a night light for those who prefer working out when dusk falls. This $19.69 device can be powered by a single 3V CR2032 battery, or via solar power .

You can buy it :

http://www.uxsight.com

Everything under control!

Parasia Admetior Solar Window Thermometer

It’s completely solar powered and just suctions to your window. It could be used on any glass surface, but that would make things complicated if it weren’t a window. The suction cups are set up to stick on the outside, then while you’re warm indoors you can check the outside temperature. You can also see what the low was for the night before. It’s also thankfully pretty affordable.

You can purchase one for $25.10 on:

http://www.amazon.com

Just cheap and useful!

Affordable Scosche Solbat2 Solar Charger

Using a solar charger instead of plugging your gadgets into an outlet is always ideal, but solar panels can often be pricey.

This small panel is about the size of your average cellphone, plus it won’t cost you a fortune. With this small panel you’ll be able to keep any of your USB powered devices up and running no matter where you’re at.

It has a battery capacity of 1500mA and an output of 5V. You’ll just need to have your USB cable for the needed gadget around. Then use that cord to plug it into the panel instead of plugging it into your computer like you usually would. It even comes with a windshield cradle that’ll make it possible for the device to stay in a good spot to soak up some sun. You can purchase the Scosche Solbat2 for $29.99.

It would be very nice to have Scosche Solbat2 Solar Charger!

Power generating dog leash

Dog owners know just how important it is to walk their dogs in order to burn off all the pent up mental energy, so why not take a greener approach with the Power Generating Dog Leash? This unique device even comes with a storage space that can hold doggy poop bags, alongside a trio of LEDs if night walking is your thing. There are no batteries involved – all you need to do is coil and recoil the leash in order to generate juice for those LEDs.

No idea on pricing or availability, but expect the Power Generating Dog Leash to hit the market later this year.

Rocco, a rocking horse that can generate power

First there was a sOccket Ball, and now there is another way to harness all that unlimited energy that young children have.

Designers Aaron Tsui, Irina Kozlovskaya, Jasen Mehta, and Sergio Silva have created Rocco, the energy pal, a rocking horse designed to use the kinetic energy from rocking back and forth, presumably not gently.

When the internal battery on Rocco is full charged, its ears will light up. By the way, these ears are detachable and can be used individually as flashlights.

Thanks to the children we will have a lot of energy!

PUMA phone finally unveiled

At first glance, this looks like some sort of Neonode and HTC hybrid in terms of form factor, and on its back you find an eco-friendly feature that could very well catch on in future cellphone designs – a solar panel that allows you to juice up the PUMA phone everywhere you go as long as there is sufficient sunlight. Granted, this won’t be able to replace the power outlet, but it could provide just enough power for you to hold one more conversation during an emergency.

If PUMA eco-friendly phone is as good as PUMA shoes it’s worth to buy it!

Wind Up Hearts Radio

It offers you an endless supply of sweet music without every having to swap out any batteries. All you have to do is wind it up several times and it’ll keep the music going. In addition to playing the radio, it can also charge up your cellphone. Which could come in handy if you ever find yourself stranded without any other method to chargeyour phone.

You can purchase it for £13.99 or about $23, on :http://www.envirogadget.com

It is so light, windy, pink, sweet and….. “green” in addition !

From paper shreds to toilet paper

A company known as Oriental (yes, it is an Asian company) has created a machine that is very appropriate for offices called the White Goat.

All you need to do is feed the machine 40 sheets of AR office paper, and let the machine do its work of shredding, dissolving the strips in water, thinning it out, and then drying it out and winding it into the rolls.

In just thirty minutes, your office TPS reports are a roll of TP, without the tube in the middle.

It only costs eleven cents to make a roll, and regular use of this easy-to-install machine can save you up to 60 cedar trees per year.

Watch the video about this machine on:

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20100129/paper-shreds-toilet-paper/#more-37262

Would you like to have such a machine at home?... and maybe  a machine for making food, and costmetics according to your own recipe!

Sharp unveils solar-powered mobile

There is nothing more frustrating that talking on the phone only to have the line cut off simply because you ran out of juice. Sharp hopes to change that by offering an alternative method to keep your cellphone juiced up at all times, thanks to the Sharp SH6230C which will hit the Chinese market later this February. It is the first solar-powered cellphone by Sharp for the overseas market, boasting Sharp’s proprietary solar cell module alongside a generous 2.9″ LCD display and a 5-megapixel autofocus camera. The solar panel is located on the back of the handset, so you can always leave it by your window at the office to keep it primed for long conversations.

No idea on its pricing though, but it is nice to see companies taking a more eco-friendly approach in their products.

To get the energy out of your kids, use the sOccket Ball

Does anyone think that it is strange that we live in a world where we must conserve all the energy we can, but children have energy to spare? Fortunately, the sOccket Ball has figured out a way to harness the power of children’s play.

Inside the ball is an inductive coil system, which is the same device on those flashlights that you can shake to recharge. If kids play with the ball for about 15 minutes, then they will have enough energy to power a normal LED light for about 3 hours.

It is not a regulation soccer ball. Yeah, it has a different feel and weight of a normal soccer ball, but this ball is designed for little children playing, not big league matches.

But little children have got the most energy!

PrePeat Printer uses no ink nor paper

Want to take the truly paperless route in your home and office? Why, the PrePeat Printer could be just the thing for you. After all, it uses a new kind of technology which actually achieves “printouts” without using either ink or paper, thanks to a heat sensitive plastic sheet alongside a precision thermal head that “prints” out both gray scale text and images. The paper which it is printed on can be reused simply by feeding the sheets through the printer again, where a different temperature removes everything or rewrites over it.

Watch the film about this magic printer on:

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/category/eco-gadgets/

No ink, no paper… sounds great! No matter the cost!

Hanger : RE-think + RE-cycle

designer's own words:
The product turns two plastic bottles into a clothes hanger by screwing the bottles into the hook. By the concept that reuses empty plastic bottles, I try to present to consumers a realistic idea to address environmental realities and encourage the reuse of already “consumed” items to form a new functional product. The design incorporates the following features that make it practical and appealing to both producers and consumers: • Low cost, realistic commodity • The shape of the bottle provides more fit support for the shoulder of clothes than traditional ones • Inspire the interest of users: the concept will attract consumers and inspire a rethinking of consumption habits

ECO DRIVE

In a world where automobiles are responsible for up to 80 percent of urban air pollution, we the automobile users need to act! EcoDrive is an ecological car gadget that can be fitted to any automobile; The EcoDrive was design to assist you, the driver, to drive more ecology. How does it work? It's very simple; The EcoDrive kit includes two units; A Car unit and an Exhaust unit which are communicating between them with the help of the Wi-Fi technology. The Exhaust unit, which is easy to install on the automobile exhaust pipe, is responsible with the assistant of the sensors to read the emission levels. The car unit is responsible to collect this information captured by the exhaust unit and to deliver smiley sign which is indicating the driver the way he drives, if he gets a green smile smiley its mean he drives "ecological" the emission is on the low level. Getting an orange flat smiley means the driver should get attention to the way he drives perhaps he is pushing too hard the gas pedal. Red bad smiley will indicate the driver that is about to destroy the earth, he is driving to the high emission levels and he should put attention to the way he is driving! Too much accelerations and strong brakes could lead to these results.

The EcoDrive is made of recycled ABS parts and the electronic components are Eco-friendly.

Hand-Cranked Super Battery Juices your Gadgets

It’s something that could happen to us all – accruing so many USB-bound gadgets that there’s no way to keep them all charged. They clutter the desk and drawers, constantly vying for attention from the laptop, which is plugged into an outlet, which supplies a current, which despite PG&E’s best intentions has a long way to go before it’s clean and green. This trusty hand-cranked superbattery stands in where the grid falls short, instantly providing any USB gizmo with a renewable energy source – one embedded deep within your biceps

Today’s crop of cameras, cellphones, and ipods are all linked by a common thread. The odds are that if it deals in data, then it likely has a USB port. Even if it doesn’t, pair it with these USBCELL Batteries and you’ve got a sustainable power source for any battery-bound gadget.

Applications abound: camera and iPod toting globetrotters can now reap the benefits of digital without worrying about converters or tapping into an energy grid. In emergency situations it provides a reliable flashlight. Your cellphone will never lose juice again. It will even store power thanks to its built in battery, and if you really want to, you could charge it overnight with the included AC adapter. Not me though; I draw the line at charging a charger.

Dynamo battery free flashlight

Everybody and every home should have an emergency flashlight in case of at power outage or other unforeseen event where a little illumination would be helpful. The best flashlights, in this respect at least, are in our humble opinion the dynamo driven ones, i.e the ones that do not need batteries. We think other people are like us, and keep forgetting the batteries.

Bamboo peripherals

USB Bamboo Keyboard + Mouse are making of eco-friendly bamboo. The Bamboo material give them a natural look. The 106-key USB Bamboo keyboard and Optical Scroll-Wheel Mouse works with PCs and Linux.

To buy: http://usb.brando.com/usb-bamboo-keyboard-mouse_p01179c034d15.html

SOLAR POWERED MOTOR BOAT

Electricity and water: we usually do everything we can to keep the two apart, but it seems the electric engine revolution is moving through the boating world as well.  And when you're out on the water enjoying a speedboat, what more appropriate power source is there than the sun? The Czeers MK1 prototype solar speedboat is a 30-knot photovoltaic dream in delicious shades of carbon fiber, solar cell and lush orange leather. Solar boats for environmental warriors eh? Next thing you'll be telling us they're making wind-powered ones.The resulting test boat, made from 100% carbon fiber inlaid with leather trim, photovoltaic cells on almost all horizontal surfaces and an LCD touch-screen control system has proven itself up to 30 knots on the water. The 10-meter boat manages to pack in 14 square meters of solar panels and an 80kw electric motor. It uses no oil, produces no fumes or engine noise, and quietly generates all its own power in a completely sustainable fashion.

For more info: http://www.czeers.com/index_solarboats.html

ECO ROLLERBLADES

Powerslide is making an effort to protect the earth by using recycled materials and using fast-growing,natural materials in their Greenline skate project. Powerslide Phuzion Greenline 3 Fitness Inline Skates have hemp and canvas uppers, a cotton lining and a Damon CNC frame made out of bamboo. Other features in this skate and production considerations that help the planet, instead of helping to destroy it include: at least 25% recycled plastic material for injection, hemp additive in plastic instead of Fiberglass also powerslide only uses suppliers within 100km from the factory to save energy and fuel in shipping

To purchase: http://inlineskating.about.com/od/buyinginlineskate1/ig/Green-Skates-and-Gear/phz_greenline_3_lg.htm

*Izabella owned and recommended :-)

POWER TREE

PhotonSynthesis is a device by designer Vivien Muller, which is a solar-cell bonsai lookalike, tree charger. You can charge your cell, your Mp3 player or a number of other electronic gadgets by plugging in to the tree. With its’ 57 photovoltaic panels, the sun can power your tree during the day - no water needed. The solar energy is stored into a battery, allowing you to plug up anytime you need to. Gadget cables and adapters can be hidden away beneath the trees’ “soil”. Definitely a decorative way to go green!

More info on the designer: http://10ein.blogspot.com/

CEDAR LAPTOP

Fujitsu has apparently decided to skip the ever-popular bamboo in its version of the wooden laptop. Instead the Japanese company has gone with cedar, the lumber known around the world for saunas and mothballs.

Eco Button

The ecobutton™ acts as a strong visual reminder and prompt for you to save electricity each time your computer is going to be left idle. The ecobutton™ is illuminated and sits on your table/desk top next to your keyboard. It connects to your computer via a USB cable. Each time you take a short or long break, a phone call, go for a meeting etc. you simply press the ecobutton™ and your computer is put into the most efficient energy saving mode available - we call this 'ecomode'.People generally do not like turning off their computers due to the time it often takes to restart (particularly when hibernate is used). However, with ecobutton™ by simply pressing any key on your keyboard your computer instantly returns to where you left off.There's also an additional bonus as each time your computer is put into 'ecomode' the clever ecobutton™ software records how many carbon units and how much power and money you have saved by using the ecobutton™. Over time this can add up to quite a lot (especially if you have many computers running in an office) and you can use this data to help reduce your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills.

To buy: http://www.eco-button.com/

SAMSUNG RECLAIM M560 PHONE

Samsung Reclaim M560 IS bio-plastic housing is made from corn, the highly efficient Energy Star charger uses 12 times less energy than the Energy Star standard and its packaging is made from 70% recycled material and printed with soy ink.  Sprint is putting their money where their mouth is as well, for every Reclaim sold $2 will be donated to The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program.

To get one go to: http://green.sprint.com/reclaim.php?id9=SEM_Google_C_Sprint_Samsung

HARNESS ENERGY FROM YOUR RUN

Keeping one's phone juiced up at all times is something road warriors tend to grapple with, and most people charge up their phones whenever they sleep to make sure that they have a day's supply of battery power when they enter the corporate battlefield. For those who forget sometimes, there is the Cargador De Celular concept that uses a similar kinetic mechanism related to self-winding mechanical watches, where your foot is used to juice up the internal battery which in turn breathes new life into your phone's exhausted battery. You may remove the device from the shoe and use the energy harnessed to power your mobile or laptop after your morning or evening jog.

ECOMILL –Treadmill GENERATING ITS OWN POWER

The EcoMill is an all "green" manually powered treadmill that uses zero electricity. The EcoMill is completely self-contained and utilizes a battery to power the display and elevation systems. The user actually generates electricity while they are exercising which re-charges the battery. The EcoMill takes advantage of Woodway's superior, near frictionless drive system and allows users to workout in an eco-friendly way, using zero electricity. If a facility is looking to make an immediate impact on the environment without sacrificing the products they offer to members, then the EcoMill serves as a great alternative to conventional motorized treadmills that consume a great deal of electricity.

For more info: http://www.woodway.com/commercialtreadmills/ecomill.html

ECO-STAPLER

An ecological stapler? Sounds ridiculous but I am assured its not. Consider this, saving just 1 staple per person in all UK offices saves a massive 72 tonnes of metal a year. So lets think about how useful the same gadget could be in the United States. There is a downside to it though, it can only hold upto 3 pages (staple them) together. The small, clamshell design of this eco stapler is easy to use. Simply clamp on to the paper and push down a nifty hole-punching technique punches a neat hole into the paper and loops the flap back on itself making a secure fasten which you'd be hard-pressed to separate without ripping the paper. So now that you know it really works, think about it. If you use staplers more often then not for minimum number of sheets then this could easily be the best 5 pounds that you could ever spend for saving the planet. 

To buy: http://www.buyecostapler.com

ECO PHONE CHARGER

Got loads of portable gadgets? Finding a charger for all of your devices can be hard work, as they all have different adapters, voltages and current ratings. However, the Freeloader Portable Universal Solar Charger allows you to exploit the sun’s energy to charge all of your devices, since it features the adapters needed to charge pretty much all common portable devices. The Freeloader can charge phones, games consoles, MP3 players, PDAs, digital cameras, 2-way radios and Bluetooth headsets! 

*Izabella owned and recomended!

To buy: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/b1a6/?cpg=cj

ECO-CLOCK

This clock quite simply has to be considered as a great eco object as it does not require batteries or any other power source, all that is needed to make this clock work is a drop of water and a little bit of salt.

To buy: http://www.bedolwhatsnext.com/ecofriendly-waterpowered-clock-charcoal-p-2391.html?osCsid=uvr9tdlajvq1t8m52tt06ba2h5

ECO-KETTLE

The Eco Kettle looks like a stylish electric jug kettle in appearance but it has a special feature that allows the user to fill the kettle to its maximum, but then allows them to boil one to eight cups according to their requirements.If everyone boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of 'filling' the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity to run practically all the street lighting in the U.K

To buy: www.ecokettle.com

ECO CRUSHER

The PlasCan Crusher is a recycling device that safely and effectively crushes both empty Plastic Bottles & empty Drink Cans to the fourth of their original size! The PlasCan Crusher crushes the Container from Top to Bottom into a compact form, rather than sideways where they still cover a large surface area. More and more companies are putting a special code at the base of the Container to make sorting easier, using the Crusher will keep the code intact and readable, ready for sorting. Using the PlasCan Crusher will save so much storage space for your empty Plastic Bottles and empty Drink Cans, it will encourage more people all over the world to recycle more! This in turn will make a significant benefit to our environment and the way we live, and will help the recycling process to function more efficiently! The PlasCan is made from Recycled plastic.

To buy:http://www.thegreenshop.co.za/pPLC1/Plascan-Can-and-Bottle-Crusher.aspx

ECO TOILET + SINK

Winner of the 2009 Design Plus Award for its innovation and sustainability, the Roca W + W (wash basin + water closet) is as eco-friendly as it is good looking. Designed by the Roca Innovation Lab and Italian architects Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, the W+W fuses a washbasin and lavatory into a single piece and applies new Roca “Reusing Water” technology. This new technology reduces water consumption by 25% when compared with standard dual-flush toilets by re-using water from the washbasin to fill the lavatory cistern. It also employs for the first-time an automatic cleansing system which prevents bacteria and odors from entering the water cistern.

For more info: http://www.roca.com/

MAKE RECYCLING COOL AND SIMPLE

This stylish home recycling unit encourages the re-use of old carrier bags to create simple compartments for your cans, paper, bottles and plastic, filing the recycling in a clever, sleek waste solution. This innovative product makes a cool, chic feature of the usually unglamorous recycling bin. Heralded as 'super slick' by Time Out magazine, Binvention certainly makes light work of separating waste for recycling.

INDIGO LAMP

This is one of those things that we need not only on a camping trip, but also at home while searching for matches in the dark. Also, while being a product of civilization, it still allows us a bit of independence from it. We love those types of gadgets! The Indigo features a cluster of ultra-bright LEDs as the primary light source for space illumination, and also has a single-LED directional light source for use as a reading light or flashlight. The ultra-bright white LEDs are rated for 100,000 hours which makes the Indigo the most dependable lantern on the market. A quick wind (about 60 seconds) provides up to 2 hours of light on the lowest setting. Using the dimmer switch, the Indigo allows you to adjust the brightness of the lantern to your specific requirements, from maximum brightness to a night-light. 

To buy: http://www.liveco.ca/eco-friendly-indigo-lantern-p-115

ECOBALLS-LAUNDRY

Ecoballs provide a winning combination of helping you to save money and be more eco-friendly at the same time. When you pop these three strange UFO stylee balls into your washing machine with your dirty threads they ‘produce ionized oxygen that activates the water molecules naturally and allows them to penetrate deep into clothing fibres to lift dirt away. One set of Ecoball lasts 1000 washes, which is considerably more than your average pack of Ecover powder. They say Ecoballs can save you up to 85% in detergent bills. Furthermore they operate on a low wash temperature and on a quickwash cycle, thus saving you more money in electricity and water bills. If all this wasn’t enough Ecoballs are also hypoallergenic, antibacterial, chemical free, and gentle on colours and delicate fabrics.

*Izabella owned and recomended:-)

To buy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TXS64K

K-3 – SUN AND WIND CHARGER

Fot. Kinesisi

Catch the wind or catch some rays and you can power your iPhone or many other devices with the K3: Portable Solar And Wind Charger  K3 is a compact tribrid wind-and-solar-powered generator about the size of a flashlight. It is ideal for mobile phones, iPods/mp3 players, iPhone, smartphones/PDAs, portable gaming devices, GPS units, digital cameras, Bluetooth headsets, and more. The K3 packs the largest rechargeable battery capacity of its class - ready to re-use over and over again. USB port built-in for adapter tips to charge various devices. Also charges from any computer via USB and car cigarette-lighter with available USB adapter. The K3 collects and stores power from the sun and wind, or from an AC wall plug, computer via USB, or an auto adapter, The power is stored in the K3's internal rechargeable battery. Utilize the free power of the sun and wind now within your reach!

To buy: http://www.firstresponderproducts.com/kinesis-portable-wind-and-solar-charger-p-3024.html