Eco Factor: Cellphone charger powered by hydrogen.
The continuous growth in the number of cellphones in use around the world has tempted researchers to think of ways to keep them charged with minimal impact on the environment. Researchers at the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan have taken the lead by developing mobile phone chargers that are powered by hydrogen.
Eco Factor: Touchscreen phone powered by solar energy.
LG Electronics has unveiled their latest touchscreen phone dubbed LG GD510, or simply “Pop,” which is being touted to be the most compact 3-inch touchscreen phone ever made. In addition to a host of trendy features, the cellphone carries a large photovoltaic panel to charge the onboard battery on the move.
Eco Factor: Human-powered rake concept.
Autumn has already started to show its signs, which includes a messy garden with leaves thrown all over the place. If you’re one of those who love their gardens to be clean just like their interiors, it’s time for you to get busy and dusty.
Eco Factor: Lithium-air batteries with ten times more storage capacity to be developed by IBM.
IBM has kicked off its Battery 500 Project, which if successful will result in the development of next-gen batteries which could boost the range of electric cars to as much as 500 miles on a single recharge. The project commenced at the company’s Alamaden Laboratory in San Jose, California and will require the resources of 40 of the world’s best engineers and scientists.
Eco Factor: Contactless charging system for electric cars.
Out of the many drawbacks of electric cars of today, the most prominent is the lack of ample battery power for a long drive. While some car manufacturers are eyeing the use of renewable energy that can charge the onboard batteries on the move, an engineering company called Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr (IAV) is working on ways to recharge electric cars as they are being driven or parked without any actual contact between the road and the car.
Eco Factor: Concept car designed to be powered by a hybrid gasoline/electric engine.
We have to accept that we all want concept electric cars to be stylish and have a futuristic design, however our visions of a green future car have obviously not initiated any discussions in Mitsubishi’s design room, as the company has come up with a dull-looking hybrid car for the Tokyo Motor Show.
Eco Factor: Energy-efficient refrigerator consumes five times less power than conventional systems.
The future of the electricity grid is green, which actually means that in the future most of the power we will consume will come from renewable sources of energy like sun and wind. However, renewable energy generation comes with its own downsides and the grid will not be able to churn out a specific amount of power continuously. In addition to the grid, the appliances we use in our homes daily have to transform and find their own way to buffer demand.
Eco Factor: Solar-powered building produces six times less greenhouse gas emissions.
Designed and constructed as the world’s most environmentally sound building, the Elithis Tower by Arte Charpentier Architects has been revealed in Dijon, France. The 54,000-square-foot, 10-story building is designed to complement the environment by integrating energy generating and saving systems.
Eco Factor: Ecofriendly flush system reduces water use by as much as 50%.
While manufacturers are now developing toilets that either save water or don’t use it at all, Brondell is working to develop means for homeowners to green their existing toilets by making them run on less water.
Eco Factor: Lead-free batteries to power homes generating solar electricity.
Homes that generate on-site electricity are the future. However, what all solar or wind powered homes need are batteries that can store all that electricity for days when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Storing green electricity in lead acid batteries spoils the eco-credentials of your home, but a Malaysian company called ETI Tech Corporation Bhd is claiming to have developed the world’s first lithium-polymer battery system for solar-powered homes.
