• concept

    The Intelligent Hose Keeps Your Wasteful Ways in Check

    We all know that washing cars, watering lawns and impromptu wet t-shirt contests mean bigger utility bills at the end of the month. That is why designers are putting consumption meters on everything these days—including this intelligent hose concept. More »
    06/26/09
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  • toilets

    Loowatt: The Benefits Of Pooping In a Toilet Made From Poop

    Well, if you are going to make something from poop, it might as well be a toilet right? That's the idea behind the Loowatt waterless toilet system. The problem is, we have a poop and forget mentality in this country. More »
    06/26/09
    15,284
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  • cellphones

    Samsung Crest E1107 Solar Cellphone: Sun-Powered, Dirt Cheap At $59

    Samsung has announced it's first solar powered GSM cellphone, the Crest E1107, for eco-friendly, budget conscious types that don't seem to be concerned with practicality. More »
    06/11/09
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  • cellphones

    The Power Pump Charges Your Cellphone With Air Pressure

    Don't get me wrong, I'm all for green technology—so long as physical effort is not required. That's where the Power Pump cellphone charger from Orange falls a bit short. More »
    05/21/09
    7,068
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  • solar power

    Vatican Building Europe's Largest Solar Plant, Start Worshipping Sun God

    What? The Earth revolves around the sun? Preposterous. By the way, I want you to give up all technology for Lent. Oh, and pay no attention to the workers installing our $660 million solar plant. More »
    04/20/09
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  • diy

    Legway: A Pedal-Powered Steampunk Segway

    Steampunk is tired—and you will be too if you build the Legway. There's no electric motor to whisk you to a destination—only pedal-power. That means you actually have to exercise. More »
    04/17/09
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    Comment by HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.: You know, at a certain point, you'd have to think, "Fuck it, I'll just walk." 4 Responses | Other threads

  • architecture

    Step Inside The Cardboard Office

    Who knew people living in cardboard boxes could have the best pad in town? All it takes is a little ingenuity and some inspiration from the folks at Amsterdam's Nothing ad agency. More »
    03/10/09
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  • architecture

    CO2 Skyscraper Scrubs Away Smog With 400 Trees

    The idea is actually very simple: construct a tower fitted with 200-400 trees in areas of high pollution. Basically, it works like a gigantic filter—scrubbing smog and converting CO2 into oxygen. More »
    02/09/09
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    Comment by JCWhitless: Imagine the bird crap....and the falling leaves. Methinks this plan was not thought all the way through. 9 Responses | Other threads

  • cars

    Plug-in Prius Averaging 65 mpg in Tests, 15 More Than Standard Model

    Toyota claims that their upcoming plug-in model Prius averages 65 mpg in real-world testing. That's about 15 more than the 2010 Prius—the current leader in fuel efficiency. More »
    02/03/09
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    Comment by dc-united: i guess I don't understand why Toyota 'forgets' to account for the pollution caused by producing the electricity used to... 20 Responses | Other threads

  • green gadgets

    Core77's Greener Gadgets Design Competition

    The top 50 entries in Core77's Greener Gadgets Design Competition have been announced—and we have selected a group that have a good shot of making it to the top ten. More »
    02/02/09
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    Comment by hsuperman: so what's to stop a kid from unplugging the tv, and plugging it directly into the wall when the parents... 2 Responses | Other threads

  • coffee printer

    RITI Printer Uses Old Coffee Grounds as Ink

    Fortunately, I don't use my printer nearly as much as I used to—but that doesn't mean I enjoy paying ridiculous prices for ink. Imagine if you could replace that pricey ink with old coffee grounds? More »
    02/02/09
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    Comment by admoseremic: Curious, will Starbucks distribute the Linux drivers? 6 Responses | Other threads

  • paper bottle

    Eco-Friendly 360 Paper Bottle Concept Makes Tetra Paks Look So '60s

    I tend to avoid bottled water—my tap-water's fine and way cheaper—but since millions don't think the same, this concept from designers Brand Image would be a way to reduce the eco-impact of all those nasty plastic bottles. The 360 is a paper bottle, molded from 100% recyclable, food-safe paper, and its simplicity makes even the venerable cardboard Tetra Pak drinks carton look outdated. These things are almost "printed-out," they stack, are re-sealable, and look fab. These ought to be real, and when they are I hope they get the texture of the "lip" right: you don't want fuzzy cardboardiness there. [Core77]
    11/26/08
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  • submarines

    Swiss Making First Solar Submarine, Defeating the Purpose of an Underwater Vessel

    A Swiss company called BKW has launched 'Project Goldfish', with the goal of developing a solar-powered submarine for civilian use by 2012. The vessel would generate continuous power via the monstrous floating island / solar array pictured above. The sub itself would be tethered to the array, allowing it to stay underwater indefinitely. Sound pointless? Well, it certainly would be if your are trying to travel undetected. I suppose it could have applications on sightseeing or exploratory missions, but the whole idea of traveling in a tiny underwater tomb is daunting enough without knowing that the only thing separating you from a gruesome death at the hands of Davy Jones are solar panels and some flimsy cables. More »
    11/24/08
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  • solar power is dead

    Spanish Town Putting the Dead to Work Generating Solar Power

    The phrase "I'll rest when I'm dead" doesn't apply to those living in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a small town outside of Barcelona. You see, open land is scarce in the area so the local government has put the dead to work, so to speak, by installing solar panels on the top of their mausoleums. So far, a total of 462 panels produces enough energy to power 60 homes for a year (and 95 percent of the cemetery's surface area has yet to be utilized). According to a representative from the company that runs the project, "the best tribute we can pay to our ancestors, whatever your religion may be, is to generate clean energy for new generations." Of course they would say that—but why stop there? Why not dig em' up and use their bones as a cheap material to create the world's most macabre wind turbine? [Huffington Post]
    11/24/08
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  • electric cars

    $1 Billion Electric Car Charging Grid Planned For San Francisco

    In keeping with its progressive reputation, San Francisco is looking to pave the way for widespread electric vehicle adoption in the US. A Palo-Alto start-up called "Better Place" has received the green light from all three of the Bay Area's big city mayors to begin carrying out an ambitious plan to build a network of 250,000 charging ports, 200 battery-exchange stations and a control center that keeps the system running smoothly. And if that wasn't enough, they hope to have the entire thing up and running by 2012. More »
    11/21/08
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  • packaging

    Call for Ridiculous Packaging Photos for Hall of Shame

    We've covered a few before, but since you guys keep uncovering examples of companies supplying you with gizmos in ridiculously voluminous packaging, we're building a new Hall of Shame to give these things a home, and embarrass the perpetrators. More »
    11/19/08
    27,391
    77

    Comment by josh.hofer: I really don't understand how you can cut yourself opening that plastic wrap. Well, I mean... I guess I can,... 12 Responses | Other threads

  • wave power

    Searaser Wave Buoy Can Generate, Store Enough Power For 470 Homes

    We've mentioned ocean power stations a bit recently, and now here's one with a rather different approach: It can store power for when its needed. Searaser is in prototype form at the moment, and it works by bobbing up and down as waves pass by. An underwater pump uses this motion to push water into a reservoir 160 feet uphill. And there it sits until it's simply released to power a generator. Neat stuff, particularly when the inventors say a full-sized version can power about 470 homes all by itself. [The TImes via Dvice]
    11/19/08
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  • butt power

    Bicycle Seat Generator Harnesses the Power of Your Butt

    You may not like it now, but you would be thankful for that big butt of yours if you ever got a chance to ride a bike fitted with designer Deco Goodman's "Commuter Cyclist's Sustainable Energy Source." The device attaches underneath the seat and collects power generated by the compression of the seat springs, braking, pedaling etc. As a result, the electricity could be used to power headlights/taillights and any portable gadgets you bring with you on the road. As you might have guessed, it is only a concept at the moment, but at least it doesn't sound completely far-fetched. More »
    11/04/08
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  • green

    Organic Chlorophyll Battery Can Charge Up Using Any Liquid

    A Taiwanese professor by the name of Chungpin Hovering Liao has created what he believes is the world's first chlorophyll organic battery. Precisely how the battery works is a mystery, but the inventor claims that it can use any liquid (even urine) to generate a charge within 10 seconds. He also claims that the storage capacity is double that of Japan's water-powered fuel cells, but it only puts out half the power of a traditional battery. Still, it would only cost 3 to 6 cents to produce a single, completely biodegradable unit. Liao has patents pending on his chlorophyll batteries, although I don't think pee-powered portable gadgets will be arriving on store shelves anytime soon. [eTaiwan News via Ecofriend via CleanTechnica]
    11/03/08
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  • eco-friendly

    ECO Showerdrop Guilts You Into Taking Shorter Showers

    In another attempt to shrink our global footprint, the ECO Showerdrop encourages you to quit your bad habit of taking girly showers (a.k.a. unnecessarily long showers). Unlike the Eco_Drop Shower, which made you physically uncomfortable until you removed yourself from the shower, the ECO Showerdrop will beep, time you, and measure your water usage—basically guilt you—until you finally switch off that water. However, this device only begins the guilting process after you've hit the time limit you've set for yourself, which could make the saving water aspect to this gadget pointless if you set the limit to, let's say, forever. [Nigel Eco Store via TreeHugger via Smart Planet]
    10/27/08
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    Comment by tkohrs2002: This is retarded. There is an infinite supply of water. Did you forget about the Ocean? Jesus 12 Responses | Other threads

  • solar power

    Solar Powered "Sticker Lamps" Offer Paper-Thin Illumination

    A 26 year old designer by the name of Keikko Lee has won South Korea's first ever international design competition thanks to his new take on interior lighting. Her concept involves a paper-thin "lamp" with electroluminescent material on one side and solar panels and sensors on the other. The material would be able to stick anywhere—from a window where it can gather light to a wall where it can illuminate a hallway. More »
    10/27/08
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    Comment by onewiththewurlitzer: dude looks like a lady 4 Responses | Other threads

  • cars

    Blade Exhaust Filters: An Eco-Friendly Gadget That Actually Makes Your Car Look Cooler

    Generally speaking, the idea of eco-friendliness doesn't conjure up images of badass looking vehicles. However, one look at these Blade exhaust filters might change all that. According to the manufacturer's lab testing, Blade can reduce vehicle air pollution up to 57 percent and CO2 emissions up to 34 percent while increasing fuel economy up to five miles per gallon. It seems a little far-fetched (and it probably is), but Blade does have support from both the California Air Resources Board and the EPA. If those claims are anywhere near true, the $200 up front cost of the system plus the $20 a year for filters should pay for itself rather quickly. [Blade via Treehugger via Wired Gadget Lab]
    10/23/08
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  • gaming

    Energy Star Setting Consumption Guidelines For Game Consoles

    It's no secret that your game console is not going to do much to save you money on your next power bill. However, Energy Star is finally prepared to set guidelines on energy consumption for these devices. In order earn an Energy Star seal of approval, manufacturers will have to use less than one watt during 'off' mode, and less than 5 watts in standby. The devices must also automatically power down after sitting idle for an hour. Furthermore, any set-top box and DVD/Blu Ray/Movie playback functions have to come within 10% of current Energy Star requirements. More »
    10/15/08
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    Comment by purple-pillows: how often does energy star update its standard on regular items? Everything should be more efficient 3 Responses | Other threads

  • question of the day

    Question of the Day: Have You Made the Switch to CFLs?

    Given the focus on "greenness" and energy efficiency these days, you have probably been bombarded with messages about tossing out your old incandescent bulbs for CFLs. It is definitely an easy way to save a few bucks on your electric bill, but in many cases there can be a trade-off in light quality. This has become less of an issue in recent years, but I'm sure it still keeps people on the fence about switching. But what about you? Have you made the switch? More »
    10/09/08
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    Comment by gizdude: CFLs are a complete load of horse shit. They do not last as long as advertised, the light color... 12 Responses | Other threads

  • hippie math

    CO2 Pocket Calculator Does The New Hippie Math

    There are plenty of carbon footprint calculators online, but now treehugging mathematicians can easily calculate how much damage they are doing to mother Earth using this handy pocket-sized CO2 calculator. Electricity use, water, trash and gas can all be managed from this simple, portable device (although I don't see a button on there to calculate the impact all of your calculating has on the environment). Obviously, the CO2Calc is only available in Japan, but I'm sure it won't be long until a similar product makes its way stateside. And yes, it is solar powered if you were wondering—which is too bad. It would be funnier if it wasn't. [CO2Calc via Kilian Nakamura]
    09/22/08
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    Comment by BaseVilliN: I wonder if the calculator has for a baseline the carbon footprint of engineering and manufacturing the device... 4 Responses | Other threads

  • solar power

    Flippable Solar-Powered Lamp Keeps Track of Energy Consumption via Wi-Fi

    This unique "Spark" lamp concept comes from the far away land of Sweden where the government is planning to install smart energy meters on new homes. The meters are designed to keep track of energy consumption and relay that data over the internet for customers. The lamp uses Wi-Fi to tap into that data and changes colors for a 3-second interval to indicate how current levels of consumption match up to the monthly goal. More »
    09/16/08
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    Comment by SemiAnarchist: If and when this concept comes out, I will happily purchase it. Just because you ignore energy consumption doesn't... more » | Other threads

  • samsung recycling

    Samsung's "Recycling Direct" Program Takes Old Gear Off Your Hands

    Beginning on October 1st, Samsung will begin its "Recycling Direct" program that will allow U.S consumers to get rid of old and unwanted gear at no cost. Unfortunately, like the Sony program before it, the catch is the gear must be Samsung branded (unless you are willing to pay a fee). Still, it builds on the foundation they have already set with printer cartridge and cellphone recycling programs, and fixed dropoff points will be available in all 50 states. Recycling drives will also pop up now and then in various locations for added convenience. [Recycling Direct via Crave]
    09/09/08
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  • watches

    Quiksilver's The Ray Watch is Confusing, But Eco-Friendly

    All those confusing-display watches from Tokyo flash have nothing on the impeccable eco-credentials of Quiksilver's upcoming watch. The Ray is analog with a 27-jewel movement, though its display is unusual and looks like it'd take a while to get used to... but it's shipped in eco-friendly packaging by ship rather than by air (saving on CO2 emissions) and is made of largely recyclable materials. That's stuff like wood, stainless steel, aluminum, and mineral glass, and though I'm not sure it's the "world's first eco-friendly timepiece" it certainly sounds like a good idea. You'll probably have to be a rich eco-warrior to have one though: it's a limited run of 1,000 pieces, and the price is still to be announced. [Acquiremag]
    08/22/08
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  • solar power

    SunTable Solar-Powered Gadget Charger Goes on Sale

    Back in December we introduced you to SunTable: a photovoltaic solar-power generating table designed to juice up your gadgets in an eco-friendly style. And now the table's available for purchase. The stainless steel and teak production version charges up in about four hours of bright sun exposure (there's a hinge so you can angle it properly if you need to) and delivers about four hours of 12V after that. It comes with a built-in inverter, so it has regular power sockets that you can plug your gadgets into, and is designed to be weatherproof, easy to disassemble and even recycle. That's about it: it's a table with a solar generator built in... doesn't get much simpler than that! Oh—it does cost $2,200, so it's most likely to appeal to really rich eco-warriors. [SunTable]
    08/08/08
    2,278
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  • engines

    Plastic Motor Powered Directly By Light, No Solar Middleman Necessary

    Professor Tomiki Ikeda, along with his research team at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a plastic motor that runs on direct light. Unlike solar power, there is no need for storing energy before conversion. The motor can achieve this feat thanks to a plastic compound containing azobenzene which contracts when exposed to ultraviolet light and returns to its original shape when exposed to visible light. By making this material into a belt and wrapping it around two wheels of different sizes, movement can be generated when the larger wheel is exposed to ultraviolet light and the smaller one to visible light. More »
    07/23/08
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    Comment by Hello_Newman: This might be best used in space since there's so much energy and less threat from the sounds of what... more » | Other threads

  • tides

    World's First Tidal Turbine Power Station Goes Online, Doesn't Blend Seals

    However exciting the rubber robot snake wave power generator sounds, a real seagoing power station is way more interesting. And over in the UK, they've just turned on the world's first commercial tidal power generator station. SeaGen is situated in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, and it has twin turbines that spin as the tide rushes into and out of the lough at up to 8 knots. The moving seawater spins the turbines for around 20 hours each day and when it's up to full operating capacity, SeaGen will be pushing out 1.2 megawatts of power, roughly enough to supply 1,000 homes. And since the revolution speed is only around 10 to 15 per minute, the blades shouldn't offer a threat to sealife like the local common seals. Eco-friendliness all 'round. [Daily Mail]
    07/21/08
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  • glider

    Orlens Glider Concept is Green, Recyclable Air Transport of the Future

    This concept glider, dubbed Orlens, is attention-grabbing through its rather beautiful shape alone. But when you look into how it would work, you can see that designer Roland Cernat has put a lot of thought into its greenness. It would be made of entirely recycled materials, and be recyclable itself, would have photovoltaic cells atop the wings for energy for eco-friendly propulsion and have an aerodynamically-efficient body. The body too would be made from a flax-based bio-compound that would be CO2 neutral. It's pretty much what green personal air-transport of the future should look like, which is why it's just won Roland the Lucky Strike Junior Designer Competition. Impressive, and I'd love to take it up and give it a spin, were it not just a concept. [Inhabitat]
    07/18/08
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  • solar power

    Scientists Invent Tech for Cost-Effective Solar Power from Windows

    Solar power is everywhere at the mo, maybe because it sounds more sci-fi than wind: which is the case with this new technology that turns windows into power sources. Clever bods at MIT have worked out how to use organic dye solar-concentrator coatings to collect light over a whole sheet of glass and "concentrate" it at the edges. This lets you have a much smaller (and hence cheaper) solar-electric cell mounted in the side of a window, more easily achieved than typical mirror-based concentrators. And by tuning the dyes (originally designed for lasers and OLEDs) to different wavelengths, and stacking them up, you get an even bigger power output. Clever stuff. [Physorg]
    07/11/08
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  • power

    Huge Rubber Snake is No Joke, Generates Power From Waves

    For some reason or other, we've shown you a lot of robotic snakes here on Giz. But this new one is kind of a robot snake in reverse: it's designed to float just beneath the surface of the sea and capture wave energy, which it then turns into electrical power. A science team in the UK has been working on the design, and is now testing small versions in a test tank: ultimately the "real" machines would be 23 feet across and 650 feet long, and be able to generate 1 megawatt. Check out the video to see how "Anaconda" works. More »
    07/06/08
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  • amd

    AMD's Phenom X4 9950 Processor has Green 9350e, 9150e Siblings

    Technically, the trio of new processors from AMD are pretty much the same: they have the same core, and similar feature sets. But while the 9950 Black Edition is a 140W, 2.6GHz overclockable monster (the most power-hungry Phenom AMD has made) the 9350 (2GHz) and 9150 (1.8GHz) are selectively binned and draw just 65W TDP. This makes them the most "power friendly" quadcore processors there are. The 9950 will cost $235 and at HotHardware.com they think it compares with Intel's Core 2 Quad Q6600. While the 9350 and 9150 will cost $195 and $175 respectively, meaning that "eco-friendliness" won't save you many dollars in the chip price, but will cost you a chunk of clock speed. [HotHardware and UberGizmo]
    07/01/08
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    Comment by Usama: @fpn1010: Hey I didn't even know that was an issue. Thanks for the clarification. So yeah I guess the 65W... more » | Other threads

  • ozone hydrogen-powered concept car

    Ozone Concept Car is Wheely Eco-Friendly

    Part giant Segway, part car, part Tron light-cycle, part whirling glass-walled deathtrap...think of it as you will, the Ozone is actually a pretty interesting concept vehicle designed by Ozkan Koral. Accessed by rotating doors within the wheels, the passenger cabin is actually inside the wheelbase. It's powered by fuel cells driving twin electric motors and steered by joystick. So it's pretty eco-friendly, though I'm not sure how travel over rough terrain would feel when you're inside. Plus, World War II gadget afficionados may remember the Great Panjandrum when they see this, and shudder. Just a concept. [OzkanKoral via Ecofriend]
    06/27/08
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  • lighting

    Picking The Right Compact Fluorescent Light For Every Room of Your Home

    We have all heard about how it pays to go green when you ditch your power guzzling incandescent bulbs for money saving, eco-friendly CFLs—but have you given any thought to what type of CFLs work best in a particular room? Wired has, which is why they came up with a guide that covers the best lighting solutions for reading, brushing your teeth and the all-important "business time." Hit the link for the full list. [Wired]
    06/25/08
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  • sakai city solar power

    Japan to Build Huge Solar Power Plants to Power Sharp Factories

    The city of Sakai in Japan is going to have a glittering new "green" addition in 2010, when Sharp and Kansai Electric Power build two massive solar-electric power plants there. In a bid to make Sharp's factories more eco-friendly, the two plants will generate 10 megawatts and 28 megawatts of electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by 10 kilotons yearly. Apparently the "Sakai City Waterfront Mega Solar Power Generation Plan" will be among the biggest like it in the world, and is part of a bid by Sakai to become a leading eco-friendly city. Smashing, and means Sharp gadgets can be bought with a clearer conscience. [Crunchgear via Dvice]
    06/25/08
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  • eco-crazy

    22-Year-Old Set To Sail The Mississippi On a Boat Made From Juice Cartons

    A 22-year-old British adventurer by the name of Rhys Jones may have made a name for himself as the youngest person to climb the world's seven highest summits, but he may end up being known as the youngest lunatic to ever drown in a juice-carton boat on the Mississippi if his plans for this weekend don't pan out. Actually, the idea was conceived by his father after he received a book about origami. Naturally, his first thought was to build a 12-foot raft with a wooden cabin and a paper hull lined with juice cartons and sail 3,700 miles down one of the most treacherous rivers in the world. More »
    06/23/08
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  • garbage power

    Military TGER Generator Runs on Trash

    The U.S. military has been running two prototype generators that run on leftovers, shredded documents and ammunition wrappers at their headquarters in Iraq. The Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery (TGER) works by breaking down garbage into small bits and then heating it up until it becomes a synthetic gas and then combining it with the ethanol produced from the fermenting of foods and liquids. The result is a fuel capable of running the generators. More »
    06/20/08
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