Eco Factor: New electric assist bikes sports great looks.

With the history of producing innovative, high-quality, functional and eco-friendly products for the past 107 years, Telefunken is now letting its imagination run towards developing electric mobility devices. The company has recently unveiled its two new electric bicycle prototypes at the IFA 2010. There hasn’t been much information regarding these green bikes though, but they look remarkable.

The new electric assist two-wheelers feature disc brakes and suspension at both ends, a single-sided swinging arm, an enclosed chain, three gears for the human powered side of things, and high quality running gear. The thick cast aluminum wheels offer a nice sporty look. Telefunken has reasonably placed these super cool bikes at US$1150 and will be available early next year.

Via: Gizmag

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Eco Factor: Sustainable structure harvests renewable solar, wind and hydro energy.

Zero Plus Architects have designed the Backcountry Access Prototype (BAP) as a structure that serves as a building and a recreational outdoor area. The self-sustaining modular structure sits atop centipede-like legs, which also support its articulating sections that allow for a great range of site variability.

The structure includes a polyester-stuffed pneumatic truss that spans a composite deck. Moreover, a set of operable screens, covers and polycarbonate shells adjust according to seasonal variations. The structure includes photovoltaic panels to generate on-site renewable energy. Additional electricity is generated by a set of water and wind turbines.

Architects: Zero Plus

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Eco Factor: BBQ grill made from recycled materials.

Firing up the grill means lighting just a single briquette of charcoal for this mini DIY grill that has been made from recycled materials. Created by Instructables user vmspionage, this tiny metal grill has been made from an empty tin on Altoids Sours and can cook a small hamburger or a single hot dog that has been cut down to size.

The requirements for this inexpensive DIY project are just as tiny as the product itself. All you’ll need is an Altoids Sours tin, a few sheet metal screws and nuts and a couple of metal computer fan guards over which you’ll cook. While this tiny BBQ grill is powered by a single charcoal briquette, the designers is already planning to built a propane version.

Via: Gizmodo

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Eco Factor: Rooftop solar array to generate about 2.6MW of renewable electric power.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy have announced that the two companies will built a gigantic 2.6MW solar array on the roof to the Calvin L Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The new solar array will supply around 25 percent of the building’s electricity demand by generating more than 3.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

Bella Energy will design and install the project, with construction expected to begin later this year. Once functional, NexGen Energy will own and operate the facility, while selling power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate through a 20 year power purchase agreement.

Image Courtesy: Flickr [Under a Creative Commons License]

Via: Brighter Energy

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Eco Factor: San Ysidro U.S. Land Port of entry uses sustainable design to reduce energy usage.

Award winning architectural firm, The Miller Hull Partnership would be constructing the San Ysidro U.S. Land Port of Entry as a high performance building with sustainable features enabling it to achieve LEED Platinum certification. One of the largest land port entries on US soil the project integrates energy efficient design features along with water conservation strategies.

The redevelopment project is designed to improve operational efficiency, security and safety for cross-border travelers and federal agencies at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry. The construction would be completed in three different phases. In the first phase, the northbound primary inspection lanes and booths, the northbound secondary inspection facilities, and associated canopies that cover these facilities would be integrated with sustainable features. These include Ethylene Tetra fluoroethylene canopies to allow penetration of maximum daylight thereby reducing the need for artificial lighting. This combined with use of photovoltaic panels and geo exchange system can help offset the port energy use.

The primary inspection booths would be using radiant heating and cooling panels as part of the booth’s HVAC system. The sustainable water management strategies include a 700,000 gallon rainwater reclamation system along with planting of flora species that require low water use and maintenance.

Via: ArchDaily

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Eco Factor: Sustainable development to generate renewable solar energy.

Bernard Tschumi Architects have re-imagined their master plan for the new Abu Dhabi Media Zone, by incorporating several environmentally-friendly features that help reduce the overall energy consumption of the facility. The architectural team planned to orient the towers north-south instead of east-west, which helped streamline the silhouette from the water and allows maximizes sun exposure to the east and west façades.

The plan, which originally provided space for retail, performance spaces, restaurants, cafes and interactive stations, now features facades that are treated with a full mesh of photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic panel integration helps the façade filter light while producing energy. The roof deck has also been transformed into an active multi-purpose horizontal surface that is protected by the sun by a “Media Membrane”.

Architects: Bernard Tschumi Architects

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Eco-Factor: Solar powered electric assist bicycle trailer takes a musician on tour.

With Kristin Rule’s new album release round the corner, the cellist who creates music with an environmental edge has planned a music tour with that is equally eco friendly. The lady gets mobile this time using a bicycle accompanied by a solar-powered, electric-assist trailer.

She uses a ‘Watt-Bot’ trailer equipped with photovoltaic panels to harness solar energy and store it in a pair of 12 volt batteries. The contraption built from recycled material provides generated enough power to assist three hours of riding for pedaling a cello laden bike extension built directly into the bike. The bicycle is also equipped with cycle analyst on the handle bar for better power management. The panniers used for carrying clothing and camping gear too has been built from custom built from salvaged canvas.

Via: Treehugger

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Eco Factor: Low-emission hybrid yacht generates renewable energy.

China’s first green superyacht, the Yihong – Sea Stella, has made its maiden trip in Xiamen. The sustainable 63ft yacht includes photovoltaic panels on the top, which generates electrical energy to power the onboard electric engine.

Designed by Xiamen Yihong Yacht Industrial Co Ltd and an Italian design company, the hybrid yacht features a petrol/electric engine. The hybrid configuration allows the owners to keep moving even at night or during rainy days.

Via: What’s on Xiamen

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Eco Factor: Stone-walled house with mesmerizing sea view.

Designed by Greek firm Deca Architecture, the “Aloni” is a house designed as a dual response to the particular topography of the site and to the rural domestication techniques that in the past shaped the raw Cycladic Island landscape. Situated on the exotic Antiparos Island of Greek, this stunning home appears like it’s naturally camouflaged in its environment.

The most prominent man-made interventions in the landscape, the dry-rubble stone walls are being replaced with by holiday homes. Four courtyards carved into the flowing landscape divide the living spaces into five interior areas. The east-west axis the slope drops offers a mesmerizing view of the sea.

Via: Designboom

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Eco Factor: Hybrid gas-wind turbine can increase their performance of existing facilities.

Wouldn’t it be great if one could harness energy even when wind isn’t blowing? This is exactly what Hybrid Turbines Inc., a Colorado-based company promises. Its latest product called the “SmartGen hybrid gas-wind turbine” uses biogas or natural gas to spin wind turbine generators when the wind is not blowing.

The SmartGen system that can be retrofitted into existing wind turbines enables wind turbines to produce energy at periods of low wind, by turning the turbine with compressed air generated at the base of the tower from a turbo-compressor that is run on natural gas or biogas. The company claims that their innovation turbine is capable of increase their performance of existing facilities. The SmartGen solution is currently applicable to units with up to 4 MW of capacity, onshore or offshore

Image Credit

Via: Ecogeek

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