Chemically Powered to Charge
by: Yanko Design, 2011-01-07 08:05:17 UTC

The Eco Power Strip is an alternate energy production source that bypasses traditional oil and the new-age hydrogen alternatives. Electricity is produced by electrolysis – the combination of oxygen with hydrogen in bio-ethanol (DEFC: Direct-ethanol fuel cells); using energy without carbonic acid gas. The tech is viable but will we ever see this in practical applications?

Designers: Jun Hyuck Choi, Jooyeon Kim & Sungi Kim

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Draining Your Peas
by: Yanko Design, 2011-01-07 08:05:25 UTC

Look at this clever idea, a flexible strainer mesh embedded in a rubberized mold that fits snuggly on the rim of any pot or pan. This allows you to drain off the liquid while holding back food. Not that we can’t use a regular strainer to do the job, but it’s cool to try practical stuff like the “Comfort & Not Leak – Pan Strainer.”

Designer: Wei Min

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Yanko Design
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Tree House Camping
by: Yanko Design, 2011-01-07 09:27:19 UTC

The Tree House (awarded with honorable mention by Susdesign and a subsequent exhibition at Centro Cultural de Belém) is a project created under the premise of innovation and sustainability made entirely of cork. Cork is rich in thermal insulation characteristics. The main difference from other materials, besides being 100% free of dangerous chemicals, is that it’s not environmentally detrimental. It’s lightweight and quite portable too.

Designers: Ana Correia, Vasco Lopes, Vera Gomes and Bruno Guerreiro For Dideia

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
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Erasmus University’s student pavilion design features a roof with intelligent solar panels
by: Ecofriend, 2011-01-06 10:21:07 UTC

Eco Factor: Sustainable student pavilion aims to remain energy neutral in its operation.

Paul de Ruiter Architects have unveiled their designs for the Erasmus University’s student pavilion that aims to remain energy neutral in its operation. Designed to be built in Rotterdam in The Netherlands, the pavilion will serve as a place to meet, relax and study. The project makes use of the sun’s light and energy to reduce the overall energy demands.

Moreover, the roof of the structure features a system of intelligent solar panels, which allow natural light to filter through the entire interior. The architects have also ensured that the placement and orientation of skylights is such that direct sunlight and overheating is avoided. The project also features the use of a geothermal heat pump, a thermally active concrete core that serves as thermal mass and minimal use of materials.

Via: Designboom

Relumine by Mischer’Traxler
by: Dezeen, 2011-01-07 00:57:31 UTC

Vienna designers Mischer’Traxler have created a series of lights where two found lamps share one fluorescent bulb. (more…)

Withings blood pressure monitor gives health updates on your iPhone
by: The Design blog, 2011-01-07 11:45:58 UTC

Developers at Withings has come up with a scale that interfaces with iPhone to help users get health updates on their mobile gadgets and stay fit and healthy all the time. Capable of tracking the weight of users to tweet on their cellphones, the new medical gadget from Withings also helps them monitor their blood pressure on their iPhone. Plugging at the bottom of the iPhone into the sync port, the gadget stores readings from the special cuff to an app running on the device to allow the users keep a close eye on their health. All the users need to do is sit still to let the cuff with a small pump do all the inflating and deflating. Moreover, you can share the readings on Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault for archiving and sharing the data or reading with health experts. Priced at about $129, the device will reach the stores by the end of this month.

Via: Swiftpage3/Technabob

In the UK, Even Boathouses Are Passivhaus
by: TreeHugger Design, 2011-01-07 14:11:13 UTC
images credit Footprint In North America, Passivhaus or Passive House designs are still rare; in Europe, it is becoming the new standard. Most buildings built to the standard are residential, but at King's School in Worcester, Associated Architects are building a Passivhaus Boathouse for their rowing program.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Potty Trained Pigs Cut Waste Water by 80%
by: TreeHugger Science, 2011-01-06 12:10:27 UTC
Photo credit: Wikipedia and United States Department of Agriculture Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration has announced that, following the success of some trials in 2009, it is looking to have pig breeders 'toilet train' their porkers, in a measure to reduce the volume of waste water generated by that country's six million swine.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to Offer the Chevy Volt Later This Month
by: TreeHugger Transportation, 2011-01-06 21:36:10 UTC
Photo: GM Other EVs to Follow Not to be outdone by its competitor Hertz, which announced that many models of electric cars will be available in 2011, Enterprise car rental says that it will have Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids on offer for daily and weekly rentals later this month, though at first only at the Mark Christopher Auto Center in Ontario, California. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ferran Adrià's elBulli Restaurant Aims for Zero Emissions with Architect Enric Ruiz-Geli's Smartgrid
by: TreeHugger Design, 2011-01-06 07:59:26 UTC
Image credit: El País According to El País on sunday, celebraty chef Ferran Adrià is plotting a zero emission premises for his restaurant elBulli on the coast of Catalonia, Spain. The 2010 chef of the decade (nominated by The Restaurant magazine) closed his three Michelin stars restaurant last year to take some time of and reinvent himself. Part of his new plan is to build a Read the full story on TreeHugger