Solar Design
March 2, 2010
Sustainable City Lights from Philips
This prototype from Phillips Design is a simple concept in lighting. The Sustainable City Lights unfurl in the day to capture solar and wind energy, and are only triggered at night when people are around. Any excess energy returns to the main grid.
Via Philips
March 1, 2010
Cube Tube Adjustable Workstation Lighting
CubeTube, from Solaroad Technology, uses ambient light, indoor fluorescent and incandescent lighting to create energy for solar workstations. Available in different sizes, if there is not enough light to charge the photovoltaic electrical generator, a back up Lithium Polymer/Ion battery kicks in. If that fails, AC power can be used. Expect the real thing in 2011.
Via Solaroad Technologies
February 16, 2010
Flexible Ecovolt Lamp Fits Anywhere
Designed by Kim Joonhyun, Ecovolt is a clever lamp that attaches to a window and stores up enough energy to light up the night. Because it is made of flexible material, it can be placed almost anywhere and hung upright, rolled or attached to something. The lamp consists of a light panel in front, a solar collector in back and silicon to connect the two. The attached remote controls power and brightness.
Via Red-Dot
February 16, 2010
Eco-Cybernetic City is Alive!
The Eco-Cybernetic City, designed by Orlando De Urrutia, has been dubbed an "alive machine." The edifice consists of 2 towers with aerogenerators that control air flow for creating wind energy. It also has photovoltaic lattices for solar energy and a multimedia LED facade that changes with the atmosphere. Because there are bio-climatic panels that make up the skin, vegetation can grow and provide air purifying.
Via Orlando De Urritia
February 15, 2010
IllumiCharger Hangs Out on Walls
Greenwaves has entered the Greener Gadgets Competition with their IllumiCharger wall outlet. The device can recharge any electronic device that supports USB charging. Because it has 2 inputs it can serve double duty. The chargers will even ship green in cornstarch plastic and recycled cardboard.
Via IllumiCharger
Solar Decathlon Features International Designs
The Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 will take place in Madrid this June and will feature housing from 20 universities in America, Europe and Asia. While the teams take two years to develop their designs, they then assemble them in the Solar Village. Hit the link to see other ideas like the Sunflower from Tianjin University (TUC) that utilizes the sun's movement to gather energy and is based on China's construction philosophy, harmony between humans, nature and housing.
Via Solar Decatholon Europe
February 11, 2010
Power Flowers Artsy Wind Turbines
Pennsylvania Artist David Edwards has created 14 ft. tall sculptures with his inspiration coming from sunflower petals. The Power Flowers are wind turbines with solar panel-covered blades. The energy goes into both a built-in battery and LED bulbs, and can power up laptops, cell phones and other electronic devices. A 6 ft. replica was displayed at a recent EcoFest, a Fair in the Park in Shadyside and summer workshops from Pittsburgh's Parks and Recreation Department. Some of the smaller versions may be sold at a price of $8,000 - $10,000.
Via Pittsburgh Live
February 5, 2010
Gary Neville's Rural Solar Home
Make Architects will be designing a flower-shaped home for Manchester United player Gary Neville. Built mostly underground, each petal is a room that meet in a central kitchen area. The £8m Lancashire home will be using solar panels, a ground-source heat pump and wind turbine. Any excess energy will go back to the national grid. If all goes according to plans, the construction will commence later this year.
Via BBC
February 2, 2010
ICARE Car Travels to Promote Alternative Power
Mark Muller, a Swiss engineer involved in the ICARE project, has designed a car that will run around the planet with only solar and wind power as its energy source. Beginning in May, the car will travel to 30 countries to study CO2 compensation initiatives. The non-profit org is also looking for sponsors to buy a solar cell or a piece of asphalt.
Via ICARE
January 26, 2010
Heliotropis Combines Art and Light
Anthony Castronovo designed the Heliotropis, a combination of bronze, ceramic and glass in the shape of a flower. His outdoor sculpture features petals that will open during the day, close at night and are illuminated with an LED array. Solar panels in the leaves collect the sunlight and Arduino microcontrollers let the flower to respond to such environmental aspects as temperature, barometric pressure, light, and wind. The Heliotropis will be erected in Rumson, New Jersey with a target date of sometime this year.
Via Anthony Castronovo
January 25, 2010
EADS Astrium Needs Solar Partners
EADS Astrium is looking for partners to help produce a solar power demonstration in orbit. The satellite system collects sunshine and then transmits the energy to the planet with an infrared laser. Chief technology officer Robert Laine says that they are testing it in labs and improving the efficiency of the system. He is hoping that a launch will be possible in the next decade.
Via BBC
January 14, 2010
UNR Student Develops Solar Distillation Pond
Francisco Suarez, a doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Reno, is developing a process that will save ecosystems in closed basin regions, such as the Great Salt Lake and Salton Sea, where the evaporation rate leaves a high concentration of salt and minerals. His solar pond traps heat in the storage zone on the bottom, which can reach temperatures of up to 195º F. It can then desalinate the water with a patented membrane distillation system that uses the solar heat as the energy source.
Via UNR
January 7, 2010
ECO Building Only Ten Square Feet Area
More space for the product means less space for the edifice. Designer Igor Davydov's building only needs about 10 sq. ft. The ECO Building runs on both wind and solar energy and can be used for multiple purposes, although we are somewhat partial to this sheep concept.
Via i green spot
January 6, 2010
Infinity Urban Commuter Trike
Tim Tobola designed the Urban Commuter Trike as his contribution to less dependence on oil. The solar panels, with a charge of 2 hours to its battery, can give the vehicle 20 - 30 miles of traveling. With weight sensitive front wheels, the rider can easily change directions. When not in use, the Infinity can fold up to save space on the planet.
Via Earth Techling
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