Sky-scrapers, shopping malls, traffic lights, automobiles, pollution- the current outdoors are slowly losing the nature’s beauty to development and modernization and people are digging out ways to bring this very beauty closer to their lives, into their homes. The Leaf Lamp is just one among those designs inspired by the Mother Nature’s gardens.

This floor lamp designed by Sofian Tallal of France seems like an exotic plant in the rain forests to the looks. Embracing the shape of a plant with green metallic and plastic stems and a pair of leaves, the lamp reflects white light with a medium frequency using LED bulbs and radiance filters providing a soothing effect to the interior. The hanging switch cords pose as shimmering dew drops can switch both the lamps on and off. The larger leaf on the top gives away an affectionate orangey glow, while the lower smaller one rotates about a 250 degrees angle and can be used as a study lamp.

Lamps are those room accessories which establish the ambiance of the place, and if the same lamp is giving you a nature’s treat in your own living room or study room, what more would you ask for?

Via Sofian Tallal

Designer Harc Lee has some innovative and cool ideas when it comes to saving the planet and making that small contribution towards a future that could eventually make a world’s difference. One of the simplest and most attractive ideas that he has come up with is to profess the usage of softdrink cans in a ‘naked’ fashion that does away with the usage of the toxic paint that comes on top. Now, firms like Pepsi and Coke would jump up at this idea and say that it would hurt the marketability of their product by making it less attractive. So just to drive the point home Lee has himself given us a glimpse with his design for a ‘paint-free’ Coke can.

The can carries a very simple, stylish and elegant design with a convex logo on top of the can that replaces all the paint. Easy to implement, trendy in design and saving tons of energy, we suggest multinational softdrink giants to seriously take a look at this ‘cool’ new way of marketing their product. If anything, the minimalist design only enhances the appeal of the can in a time and age ‘less is more’…

Behance

Someone once rightly said, “Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty” and to prove this fact time and again, architects at Maryann Thompson created this beautiful zero impact home that is not just down-to-earth, but would surely bring its residents the contentment of environmental conservation. Recipient of the LEED Silver certification under the USGBC’s new pilot program for housing, the North Easton, MA residence is an economical, eco-friendly, present-day sustainable dwelling incorporated into a 5.5-acre site.

The house comprises many low-maintenance eco-friendly features. The vast windows on the front compliment its south-facing orientation thereby eliminating the need for artificial light and also letting in the warmth of the winter sun. A couple of pellet stoves and a proficient radiant heating system functioning on solar power take care of rest of the heating necessities. Ample cross ventilation and uneven roof shields purge the need for air-conditioners during summers. In addition, the house also has a recycled-tire rubber roofing system, reclaimed hardwood cabinetry, casework and flooring materials, recycled glass tiles and thermal efficient windows.

What more would an environmentalist want, to prove his/ her love for nature and their taste for the beauty that lies in simplicity!

Via The Alternative Consumer

The ReVerb iPod dock from Regen is probably one of the most humungous iPod docks available in the market today. It stands over 35 inches (90cms) in height. It comes with a back-lit LCD display and a photovoltaic panel that draws energy from the sun. It is not only its height that the ReVerb looks attractive but its features as well. It includes a 13.75 inches (35cms) by 19.7 inches (50cms) flat panel speaker along with stereo drivers and 6 inches by 9 inches sub-woofer.

Interestingly, the ReVerb is also eco-friendly. Its flat panel system has solar panels that can fully charge the battery when exposed to direct sunlight outdoors for 20 hours or direct sunlight indoors for 40 hours. When the battery if fully charged, it can provide power for playing loud music for 4.5 hours or 12 hours at a normal volume level.

While the features may sound attractive, it’s rather disappointing to know that the system only supports the AAC format. Hence, you might have to get an Apple audio player. Another disappointment can be its price. The ReVerb will be available for US$2,299 by April 2010.

Via: RegenLiving\Gizmag

These days everyone wants to go green and sometimes irrespective of their actual capability in that direction, they at the very least want to claim that they have gone green. Sure every small step goes a long way in making our planet better, but can we really brand something ‘clean and green’ just because a few things have been tweaked here and there? Southwest Airlines effort to go green, though commendable, seems to be just a minor step towards a much bigger change that needs to happen. Which is why, we are a bit skeptical about its latest plane being called a ‘Green Plane Prototype’!

The new and dashing set of wings unveiled by Southwest sport green interiors such as the InterfaceFlor carpet that designed to withstand wear, is 100% recyclable and requires bare minimum in terms of maintenance, eco-friendly material for their seats instead of traditional leather and a few other changes that will reduce the weight of the carrier itself. While the change of material and the effort to reduce weight and hence fuel consumption overall is indeed very noble, a ‘Green Prototype’ probably needs to be a lot more that just a ‘refurbished interior’.

While we might be asking for a giant leap rather than many tiny steps towards the goal, it is only because the aviation industry needs speeding considering the state of the planet today. Can those who fly in the sky please find similar pace when it comes to eco-friendly reforms as well!

Cleantechnica

You need to hang ReNu panels in sunlight and then drop into a variety of different portals to charge rechargeable batteries, which then charge your gadgets. The device ReNu can also be used to charge phones and task lighting. The battery can charge an iPhone twice over, which means you get double its original benefit. It will be out in the market early 2010. It may cost $ 199 USD.

Regen Inc plans to merge more sleek designs with solar technology for cutting-edge gadgets.
Via: Treehugger, Regen

Here is how: The machine replaces all but one tenth of the usual water and about one third of the usual detergent with plastic beads that measure 0.1-inch. And what’s best is that they are reusable for hundreds of washes.

These beads are made of the same nylon as many carpets. If they are not stain proof, they are also good scrubbers. That’s the principle behind using them for washing.

Nylon has polarised molecules in it that attract dirt. In the humidity created by some water, their polymer chains move apart and absorb grime. And lock it into the cores of these beads. They clean up your clothes with hardly any water. The machines may be out in commercial laundries next year.

Via: popsci

Such stream-lined designs have been part of innovations in eco-technology among automobiles a lot lately. But this one is touted to have been more inspired by simulators and video games. The car is still a concept.

It has been designed in a way to change its shape from horizontal to vertical which is more like sleeping and standing up positions, in cases when it must adapt to urban traffic snarls.

The vehicle is controlled by a revolving electric motor located under the armrest. You can use your hands to apply breaks at the end of the left armrest and accelerator on the right.

In effect, it virtually allows you to enjoy the thrill of sledding on the road. Its touch controls however ensure a safe and comfortable ride. A pity that it is meant only for a single person ride.

The vehicle may come in handy for those who love some adventure on roads, but if you have a family, think twice about such a concept.

Via: Pagesperso Orange

Called Eco-Navi by Panasonic, it uses a light-activated sensor to detect dirt levels. Sweat stains on the other hand, it detects through a sensor that apparently sends tiny electrical impulses through the wash as it spins. The new and intelligent washing machine was displayed at the ongoing CEATEC, Japan.

The product is aimed at bringing down unnecessary use of water in removing stains specifically and washing clothes in general. How does that possibly happen? This machine helps bring down power consumption from 79 watt hours to 72 watt hours.

Water use for the machine can be brought down from as high as 72 liters, to 67 liters per load. The machine went on retail sale recently in Japan.

Priced at a high $ 3,000, you can surely expect it to drop over the months, like with any other electronic product. Such machines are an urgent need in a market known for its excessive water consumption.

Via: DiscoverMagazine

But its superb features do not stop there. Shelf harvests the power of the sun. You guessed it. It uses solar power to turn it into electricity, for the functioning of the car’s air-conditioner, tail light and other electronic equipment in the car. When it is not in use, it merely folds up to become a speed stabilizer for the car when it is moving at a high speed.

The design was an entry at Green Life design contest organized by Designboom in collaboration with Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. Such a design innovation also helps protect the vehicle from the heat of summer while helping make technology greener. Talk about harnessing solar power while on the move! Wonder if something of this sort can be incorporated into the more eco-friendly electric cars too!
Via: Designboom