Eco Factor: Zero-emission car designed to be powered by electricity.
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp (BAIC) has announced the development of its first self-developed electric vehicle that has a potential to rival the other EVs on the market. Dubbed, BE701, the vehicle has an operating range of 200km on a fully charger battery, with a maximum top speed of 160kph.
Eco Factor: Sustainable school complex harvests solar energy and rainwater.
Ensuring the use of sustainable technologies in the field of education, Foster + Partners have completed The Langley Academy in Slough, England. The three-story building is designed with a full-height atrium and provides assembly space for 1100 students.
Eco factor: Solar-powered charger for 12V electronics.
Solis Energy has launched a new solar-powered charger that can run small 12V electronics in remote locations or in places where grid electricity isn’t available. Dubbed Power HotSpot, the device can power a range of electronic devices that run on 12V DC input.
Eco Factor: 1000MW of solar power to be generated every year in India by 2013.
With just 5MW of installed solar capacity to date, India has some big plans for the near future. India is ready to launch its Solar Mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, with a proposal to generate 1000MW of solar power by 2013.
Eco Factor: Energy positive house incorporates energy saving and generating technologies.
Villa Akarp seems like any other ordinary home design with an exception that its roof is laden with 32 square meters of photovoltaic panels. However, deep in its bones will be the systems that will not only make it a low carbon dwelling, but also ensure that its inhabitants earn money by selling excess energy to the grid.
Eco Factor: Parking system generates renewable energy for power.
With the number of cars on the road on a constant rise, designers are thinking hard about developing parking systems that can be used without crowding the streets with cars. Industrial designers Algis Berziunas and Laima Rimkute have proposed the Green P parking system that tries to end all woes.
Eco Factor: Low-emission car powered by a diesel/electric hybrid engine.
Mercedes has announced that its ML 450 Hybrid 4MATIC is finally available and will be offered on lease for either 36 or 60 months at a cost of either $659 or $549 per month. The car manufacturer has stated that interested customers won’t be able to purchase the car due to a limited supply of batteries.
Eco Factor: Algae used to produce steady supply of hydrogen when exposed to light.
While the world is looking for possible alternatives to fossil fuels, new findings from a team of researchers at the University of Tennessee might have an answer. The researchers have shown that the process of photosynthesis may function as a sustainable source of hydrogen.
Eco Factor: Concentrated Solar Plant to generate 17MW of renewable power.
Torresol Energy has received a $120m loan from the European Investment Bank to develop Gemasolar – a salt-based concentrated solar plant that is expected to generate about 17MW of renewable power.
Eco Factor: Ford installs wind turbines for renewable energy generation.
In an effort to green its manufacturing lines in Belgium, Ford has installed two gigantic 150m tall wind turbines that collectively will be able to generate about 4MW of renewable power. The turbines were installed by local energy company, Electrabel, and generate enough energy to power 2500 households.
