HULGER PLUMEN BULBS: Innovative Compact Fluorescents

Hulger’s beautiful Plumen bulbs explore the possibilities of the energy-efficient CFL, reworking its staid form into fluid light sculptures that dare to be covered up or hidden from view. Named for the plume-like forms that spiral and descend from the light’s pendant fitting, these brilliant bulbs celebrate and encourage the use of CFLs.

 

Unsatisfied with the paltry selection of CFL’s available today, Hulger sought to broaden their appeal by exploring different design options:

“Despite there being an abundance of CFL producers, we see only three basic bulb formats available: The Radiator, The Ice Cream Whip and the Tungsten-esc types. Each style is uniform in shape, with no variation, tension or interest. It seems strange that the bulb, an object so synonymous with ideas, is almost entirely absent of imagination.” 

 

Their beautiful re-envisioning of the common CFL is motivated by a desire for people to purchase the bulbs from an aesthetic want as opposed to a nagging guilt

 

For the full article <click here>

No Vroom Vroom?: An Electric Porsche

It had to happen. Now there’s an electric Porsche, made by German Porsche modifier/carmaker RUF Automobile GmbH. The company dropped a 204hp electric motor into a Porsche 911 chassis, powered it with 96 lithium ion batteries from California battery maker Calmotors, and the result? An electric Porsche 911 that sprints from 0 to 60mph in less than 7 seconds with a top speed of 160. Whoa.

Don’t expect to carry much luggage along, because the back and front trunks are filled with batteries. Its 180-mile range is not quite up to that of the Tesla Roadster, either, nor is its acceleration. But just look at it! We are filled with auto-lust over this gorgeous machine, hoping it will find its way out of the prototype stage and onto an assembly line, pronto.

 

 

 

Source: Geekologie

JVC Speakers with Built In Planters

Here’s a pretty interesting speaker concept from JVC; it’s a regular speaker (albeit slightly unusually shaped) with a tiny potted plant on top. The idea is to combine an eco-friendly concept in with a speaker.

 

The mold is from earth safe plastic and the speakers can all be linked up together to form one large eco-ghetto blaster speaker. In theory it’s a good idea; in practice- not so much. Putting something you need to water on top of electronic equipment? Not in my house.

 

Source: Craziest Gadgets

Wash Up

“Wasup” is a conceptual design integrating washing machine with toilette-flush. It suggests a sustainable water consuption by storing the wasted water in toilette-flush tank and reuse it with flushing. Moreover, “washup” brings a solution for the problem of location of washing machines in small bathrooms, overlapping washing machine usage space with toilette usage space.

It is fixed on wall upwards toilette, so that loading of clothes would be easier for the user without bending or crouching. A special interface including three semi-sphere control units & two flushing buttons is designed for a practical usage of the product. “Washup” is a green product offering solutions for the problems of standard washing machines.

Source: Core77

Verdier’s Stylish Solar-Powered Eco Camper

What with gas prices being as high as they were this summer, we didn’t go on as many road trips as we would have liked to. If we had a camper like the Verdier Solar Powered Camper, we definitely would have embarked upon more road trips to beautiful National Parks and done it in eco-style. Verdier’s eco-RV is based upon a classic VW Westfalia that has been upgraded with many green elements, like a hybrid engine, solar panels and a lot of high-tech systems that makes this bus a hippy’s Pimp My Ride dream come true.

 

Alexandre Verdier, a French Canadian designer, is responsible for this redesign and is a philosopher and industrial designer. Verdier believes that the solution to environmental problems “resides in smart, simple design and employing technology to make better use of natural resources.”

The Verdier Camper comes in comes in five different models designed for your own unique personality: Woody, Geeky, Ebony, Blueberry, and Purity. Each camper comes equipped with a 4-cylinder hybrid engine, powered by a 170 W solar system on the roof. If you’re driving a lot or if the sun just isn’t shining enough, you can fill your tank with normal gasoline to make it to your next sunny local. The solar panels are controlled by a GPS system to optimally orient the panels to the sun and can tilt up to 45 degrees in two directions. Two deep cycle batteries hold the charge.

This camper excels in making every space count for something, whether it is storage, beds, a fold-out kitchen or even stairs built into the back of a chair to get to the bed above. We were very impressed by the built in containers for trash, recycling and composting, as well as refrigerator/freezer combo. Our favorite feature though is the on-board entertainment center, complete with a projector, 6 speaker surround sound, and a roll down screen. You may be camping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t kick back and chill with a movie.

 

The most useful feature of the Verdier is probably the on-board computer built into the front passenger dashboard. The PC tablet let’s you get online to check email, listen to music, surf the web and chat online. The GPS software takes care of navigation, and exclusive software lets you find nearby activities and supplies, as well as monitor your camper’s energy and fuel supplies. Plus, you can take it with you by removing the tablet from its base.

The camper’s price certainly isn’t in most of our budgets, at $129,000, but when you compare this to one of those big lumbering RV’s, it’s a steal and a lot more environmentally friendly. Verdier is currently takingreservations for these amazing campers, and should have yours ready just in time for summer road trips in 2009. Their video is pretty cool as well.

 

Source: Inhabitat

Eco Gadget: Wrist grip charging, exercise to reinstate life into your gadget

Have you heard of pumping iron for a cause? I hadn’t, until I came across this hand grip charger for the iPhone and other mobile devices. Skin is what’s more on my body than any muscles, yet when the cause becomes graver than self-obsession, I wouldn’t mind flexing out my wrist to pump in some energy to my phone. Mac Funamizu’s brainchild, this hand-grip charger will come in handy for the instant charging needs where AC outlets are unavailable, more so this will be a hit amid the guy freaks and ecofriends like us here.

Given the fact that most people don’t have enough time to waste in this fast-paced world, there would only be a few who would want to sit there flexing their muscles waiting to see their dead gadget come to life. There are many other ecofriendly ways out there which can be preferred over this one as easier alternatives.

 

Source; Eco Friend

Tower of power lights up London

Artists are lighting up London’s South Bank with 1200 wind-powered lights as part of a digital arts festival.

 

The Aeolian tower – which means moved by the wind – is a 15m steel structure located next to Waterloo Bridge.

The tower is covered with hundreds of tiny wind-powered LEDs. Each one made of a plastic turbine, controlling circuits and three red LEDs.

The designers aim to show how renewable energy can be used to power sustainable art and design.

As wind blows over the tower, swirling patterns of light reveal the strength and direction of the breeze.

“We want to visualize the invisible, making people realize that there’s a lot of energy out there that we’re not using,” said Zena Bruges from Jason Bruges Studio, which designed the tower.

The designers chose the location next to Waterloo Bridge because of the complex wind patterns that come off the River Thames and the bridge, said Gabby Shawcross, one of the tower’s creators.

The lights need a gentle wind of about 3mph (4.8kph) to reach full brightness.

A 2.5m square panel of lights is also on show inside the BFI delegate centre. Since the panel is indoors, the lights are powered with two industrial fans.

These lights are connected to a laptop, which controls the lights so that they can display patterns and messages.

“The result of this could be a low-resolution, wind-powered billboard,” said Ms Bruges.

The team is working with architecture students from the University of Westminster to develop a wireless version of the technology that will allow the lights to be controlled remotely.

These lights wouldn’t need power or data cables, so designers could apply them to any surface in any location, said Mr Shawcross.

The Aeolian Tower will be in place from 14 -16 November as part of the One Dot Zero – Adventure In Motion festival at the BFI Southbank in London.

 

SourceL BBC News

Eco Trains: Greener outings with ‘PIC NIC’

Going out for picnics is something we all love. There are not many things much better than spending a day out in Mother Nature’s lap. Usually these picnics just give us a sense of eco-friendliness, even if the outing on the whole is an eco-disaster. Going for a day out in our gas guzzlers and littering all over the place, can in no means be termed ecofriendly.

Designed by Eduardo Povarchik in collaboration with FCG Spain, this is the new means for an ecofriendly picnic. Dubbed the “PIC NIC”, this train is designed for short travel between lakes and landscapes that concludes in mountains and urban environments. Hybrid propulsion that includes electricity and fuel cells, which are placed under the wagons, make sure that the train does not disturb the else wise serene eco system.

The train will run on 1.66 m wide rails and will accommodate 181 passengers. This not-so-ordinary train will keep your journey musical with MP3 ports, headphones, and FM radio access. Commuters will also be able to shop inside the train using the integrated shopping points.

 

For the full article and more pictures go to EcoFriend

Green Awards Winners 2008

The teams at Great Green Designs and MoreEco would like to congratulate the following Green Awards 2008 winners.

Best Green Audiovisual (under 50K) -Sponsored by ITN Source

WINNER: BDH and the Soil Association: One Planet Food

Highly  Commended: WWF: One Planet Future

 

Best Green Audiovisual (over 50K) -Sponsored by ITN Source

WINNER: DEFRA: ACT ON CO2 – Save Money, Save Energy Campaign

Shortlisted: Waste Awareness Wales: Waste Awareness Wales ‘Magic’

 

Best Green Digital -Sponsored by Propel Earth

WINNER: Green Thing: Walk the Walk

Shortlisted: Together: Energy Wasting Day

 

Best Green Direct Mail - WINNER: International Fund for Animal Welfare: MP Humpback Adoption Campaign

Highly Commended: NetRegs: Waste is Money

 

Best Green Internal Communications (under 50K) - Sponsored by B. sustainable

WINNER: Punch Tavern: How big is your Carbon Footprint?

Shortlisted:

Swindon Borough Council: Green Champions Network

The National Trust: Great Green Leap Day

Skanska: Building a Sustainable Business

WSP UK Ltd: ::TGIF:: [Think Green its Friday]

 

Best Green Internal Communications (over 50K) - Sponsored by B. sustainable

WINNER: Nokia: The Power of We

Shortlisted:

EON UK: ‘Saint or Sinner’ and ‘Environmental Champions’

Centrica Plc.: Being Green

 

Best Green Integrated Campaign (under 50K)

WINNER: We Want Tap: Tap

Shortlisted: International Fund for Animal Welfare: MP Humpback Adoption Campaign

 

Best Green Integrated Campaign (over 50K)

WINNER: DEFRA: ACT ON CO2 – Save Money, Save Energy Campaign

Shortlisted: British Gas and Guardian News & Media: British Gas Greener Living Partnership

 

Best Green International Campaign

WINNER: UNEP & UITP: The Voice of Reason (Age 6)

WINNER: National Water Administration: Let’s keep the waters clean

Highly Commended: mtc touch, Lebanon: Live green

 

Best Green Outdoor (under 50K) - Sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor

WINNER: International Fund for Animal Welfare: IFAW on the Underground

Shortlisted:

Sustrans: Parking Sign

Trees for Cities: 2008 Tree-Athlon

 

Best Green Outdoor (over 50K) - Sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor

WINNER: Coca-Cola GB: Talent From Trash

Shortlisted:

Kent County Council: Local Heroes

Transport for London: Smart Travel Sutton

CABE & Birmingham Council: Climate Change Festival 2008

 

Best Green Press 

WINNER: CLG and COI: COI Energy Efficiency check up

Shortlisted:

Derbyshire County Council: Fly-tipping – Help put a stop to it

Transport for London: Smarter Travel Sutton 

 

Best Green PR Campaign (under 50K) - Sponsored by Planet 2050, Weber Shandwick’s sustainability practice 

WINNER: United Utilities Plc.: Tap Into Water

Shortlisted:

Kent County Council: Duty of Care

The National Trust: Great Green Leap Day

Greencare H2O: Turning the UK back to the taps

 

Best Green PR Campaign (over 50K) - Sponsored by Planet 2050, Weber Shandwick’s sustainability practice 

Shortlisted:

Coca Cola: Coke Can Creations

Surrey County Council: There are 3 Rs in Surrey

BT and Cisco: Around the World in a Day

 

Best Green Packaging (under 50K) - Sponsored by ASDA

WINNER: Lush Ltd: Squeaky Green – There’s no greener packaging than no packaging

Highly Commended: Adare & Angus Soft Fruits: Sustainable, recyclable Packaging for Soft Fruits

 

Best Green Packaging (over 50K) - Sponsored by ASDA

WINNER: Cadbury: Cadbury Eco-Eggs

Highly Commended: Vina Ventisquero Ltd.: Yali Wines

Shortlisted: Speedo International: New Goggle Packaging

 

Best Green Radio

Highly Commended: Gcap Media: Green Month on the One Network

Shortlisted:

Transport for London: Smarter Travel Sutton

 

Best Green Website (under 50K)

WINNER: Friends of the Earth: The Big Ask

Shortlisted:

Dubble Fairtrade Chocolate: MISSION: POSSIBLE

Green Thing: Do the Green Thing

Provokateur: Acme Climate Action

 

Best Green Website (over 50K)

WINNER: largeblue: green.tv

Shortlisted:

Ethical Superstore: www.ethicalsuperstore.com

BBC: BBC Climate Change: Bloom

British Gas: Generation Green

 

Best Green Campaigner

WINNER: Batteryrecycling-uk.co.uk: batteryrecycling-uk.co.uk

Highly Commended: Neil Jennings Associates Community Interest Company: Student Switch Off

Shortlisted:

Sust-it: Promoting sust-it.net

CarrotMobUK: CarrotMobUK.org

Saverclip Shames Your Electricity Usage by Yanko Design

The Saverclip is a clothespin like device that reads electric usage on any power cable it’s clipped onto. Say for example the slow cooker crock pot you leave on all day. How much power is it actually using and would the results make you change your mind to using something faster, like a pressure cooker?

The device works by reading the electromagnetic fields emitted by said devices. Conversely, this is also how it recharges itself. The embedded LCD displays information in laymen terms so you clearly understand just how much power you’re using, wasting, and could be saving.

Designer: Tsunho Wang, Insu Wang, Jongheui Lee & Youngdon Lee