Source: www.greenshop.co.uk

Baglite is a unique solar powered light which is worn over the shoulders and fits over any backpack, rucksack or bag. The baglite is designed to keep cyclists safe on the roads and protects commuters as well as children as they walk to and from school.

Baglite slots over any size bag or backpack and provides super-bright lighting clearly illuminating the wearer. Using a unique 360 degree floodlight module there is a single red floodlight at the back and two white floodlights at the front. These are attached to straps which fit on the straps of the backpack.

The lights shine out from every angle so cyclists and children wearing Baglite will be seen clearly by motorists any time of day or night from a distance of 1km.

Source:  www.highestfive.com

It is nearly impossible to keep up with the world’s ever changing technologies.  One thing that can’t be ignored is the world’s attempts at reducing our carbon footprint.  The auto industry is racing to come up with stable solutions to replace their existing lineup of fuel hungry vehicles.

Hybrid vehicles have been around for awhile now, but they tend to only be driven by people who aren’t concerned with performance, leaving all the sports car market stuck with the big gas burners.  Finally, fuel efficiency and performance will meet face to face in the following innovative upcoming eco friendly vehicles, becoming the standard for new and eventually used cars. Buying one of these cars isn’t only trendy, it will also make you one of the few people in North America with an ‘Exotic’ eco friendly car.  The only problem left is trying to find any companies willing to offer auto insurance quotes on these rare gems. I’m guessing replacing a bumper on one of these cars will cost you more than half a dozen regular car bumpers!

Ecotricity’s Electric Lotus Exige

Ecotricity has been planning to launch an electric Lotus Exige for over a year now. The developers are planning on launching the car with a zero to 60 in less than 4 seconds.  The goal is to be as fast as a V12 Exotic sports car with the ability to go 150 miles on a single ‘electric tank’.  This car has yet to come to fruition; hopefully we see it on the streets one day.

Audi R Zero

The Audi R Zero is definitely one of the sexiest prototypes out there.  This exotic beauty features four electric in wheel motors totaling an enormous 1091 horse power.  That is right, over a 1000 HP in this bad boy excelling it from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds.

Venturi Fetish

The Venturi Fetish is one of the more exotic looking electric cars out there.  Although very exotic looking, the Venturi Fetish is one of the slower electric cars available topping out around 100MPH.  The sexy Fetish goes from 0-60 in just shy of five seconds making it fast enough for the average person.   The Fetish is capable of driving around 150 miles without charging. Luckily the batteries are capable of charging in roughly an hour on a 30kW three phase charger or in three hours on your standard power plug.

Citroen C-Metisse Concept

The Citroen C-Metisse was first unveiled in 2006 at the Paris AutoShow. The concept is an interesting mix of performance and technology.  The power plant is a 2.7L 208HP V6 diesel engine coupled with a 20hp electric engine.  What makes this vehicle interesting is that it is capable of running independently on either engine, or in mixed mode depending on your performance needs.

Going from 0-60 in the C-Metisse will take just more than 6 seconds, however the slightly slower speeds are made up with the amazing fuel economy;  36MPG!

Saab Aero-X

Ever wanted to know how a car would perform that ran on a pure ethanol engine? Wonder no more, Saab came out with the Aero-X concept car at the 2006 Salon International de L’auto. This gorgeous dream car is hosts a 2.8L Twin Turbo V6 engine producing 400hp and tearing through 0-60 in 4.9 seconds.  To make the Aero-X really stand out, it doesn’t even have doors! The entire cockpit opens up in a similar fashion to a jet.

Toyota FT-HS

Toyota should not be counted out when considering your next green sports car.  The FT-HS stands for ‘Future Toyota Hybrid Sport’ and looks to make a major dent in the eco friendly sports car market. The FT-HS’s power train is scheduled to produce over 400HP and hit 0-60 in under 4 seconds.  The Toyota HT-HS will combine a 3.5L V6 motor with an electric motor to accelerate the car to ridiculous speeds.  Expect to see this car available at a starting point of roughly $30,000 USD making it not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also affordable, something most of these cars lack.

Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster is probably the most famous eco friendly sports car getting attention from all around the globe. The Tesla Roadster is the first car being produced by Tesla Motors.  The car borrows the basic chassis from the Lotus Elise but aside from the chassis is a unique vehicle.  The Tesla Roadster can accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and is capable of 244 miles on a single charge.  The estimated fuel consumption when compared in terms of energy usage is the gas equivalent of 120mpg making the Tesla Roadster probably the most efficient electric sports car available.

Source:  www.goblinmotors.com

The GoblinAero will fit a large variety of people. How you determine fit is by measuring the rider’s X-seam (to see how to easily do this, visit this link. After measuring the X-seam, compare it to the large frame size variation of this vehicle. It’s frame size is adjustable to fit X-seams that range from 37-46” That is a large segment of the population. The frame size is adjusted merely by sliding the seat forward or rearward.

Source: www.ecoshop.com.au

You never need to do hand-washing again with the MagicWash - a fantastic hand-powered, eco-friendly, portable clothes washer. Holding 2.2kg (or about six shirts), it’s perfect for single people, students, holiday homes, camping, dorms, parents of toddlers or anyone who needs to wash small loads. MagicWash is easy to use - just turn the handle for 30 seconds and the vacuum effect does the work. No electricity, and economical on detergent and water.

Put clothes in cylinder with 6 litres of water and 4tblsns mild detergent, then turn handle for 30secs. Good for delicate hand washables such as silk, wool, lingerie, nappies, special fabric blends. Holds 2.2kg (about 6 shirts).

Source:  www.lge.com

LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, announced today the launch of its new compact full touchscreen phone, the LG GD510, or more simply, “Pop”. The LG GD510 can be recharged utilizing the power of the sun. The new mobile handset reflects the company’s aggressive green initiatives and represents its commitment to creating a healthier environment for everyone.

“We at LG have successfully reduced 2.1-million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of 2009 through greater energy efficiency and improved manufacturing processes,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We develop our products based on the company’s goal of eco-friendly sustainability. Our green policy is included in the handset’s entire lifecycle process, from raw materials through production, logistics, usage and disposal.”

LG’s environmental aspirations are demonstrated in the LG GD510’s solar-battery cover that uses the power of the sun to charge the phone. In addition to saving energy during the day, this also benefits users who are running low on power and are away from a charger at the time. Ten minutes under the sun provides up to 2 minutes 15 seconds of talk time or up to 180 minutes of standby time. Features like Eco-tree and Eco-calculator under the phone’s CO2 menu allow people to track how much they have reduced CO2 emissions by using the solar cell battery.

The LG GD510 is environmentally friendly in other ways, including its construction. LG strictly adheres to the European Union’s RoHS requirements, and went even further with the LG GD510, ensuring that it does not contain any polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is made free of BFR (brominated flame retardants) and CFR (chlorinated flame retardants) almost up to 99.9 percent.

Moreover, a highly efficient battery charger cuts power consumption and subsequently reduces carbon emissions. When the phone is fully charged, it beeps and displays a message on screen, reminding users to unplug the charger and save energy. Packaging made from recycled paper with soy ink printing is another way the LG GD510 is environmentally-conscious.

“By 2012, LG plans to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by our products to a level 15 percent lower than 2007 by enhancing the energy efficiency of our main products,” added Dr. Ahn. “We will continue our role as a socially responsible leader in the mobile industry.”

In addition to its green attributes, the LG GD510 is efficient in other ways, too. It has a slim outer design and includes all the essential features without compromising usability or quality. As the smallest 3-inch full touchscreen phone on the market, the LG GD510 features a WQVGA wide screen surrounded by a narrow 4.8mm bezel and smooth metal body with a single button on the front that communicates the phone’s sense of simplicity. The LG GD510 also offers full multimedia features such as a 3MP camera suitable for taking photos to share online, as well as an MP3 player and web browser.

The LG GD510 was developed based on LG’s eco-friendly strategy and consumer insight, and will be available in Europe beginning in mid-October, followed by other markets. The solar panel battery cover is available as an optional accessory, which makes an already eco-friendly phone an even more sustainable choice. Prices for the phone and battery cover will vary market-to-market.

Source:  http://online.wsj.com

SEOUL—Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Co. separately started selling solar-powered phones Wednesday, a big step in a budding trend of cellphone makers seeking to tap growing consumer interest in eco-friendly products.

Samsung rolled out a touch-screen model, dubbed Blue Earth, with a shell made from recycled plastic water bottles and a solar panel on the back. LG’s model, called the GD510 Pop, also has a touch screen but its solar panel is an optional add-on.

Consumer demand for solar-based phones is hard to gauge, but makers are planning to market them as good for the environment as well as a way to hedge against running out of battery power.

Both the Samsung and LG phones have features that promote walking, such as software that measures distance traveled, and allow customers to calculate how much they can reduce carbon dioxide emissions with physical activities that replace driving.

“It is premature to say whether they will be successful, but overall it’s the right direction because people are increasingly interested in saving energy,” says Park Sung-min, a telecom industry analyst at Kyobo Securities in Seoul.

Samsung is aiming the Blue Earth model at premium customers, with pricing around $300. The phone, which can also be charged with a traditional plug-in cord, is initially available in Sweden; Samsung said it will quickly roll it out elsewhere in Europe and Asia.

LG said the Pop phone will also initially be sold in Europe and be priced around $300 with the optional solar panel about $50. The companies said decisions are pending about U.S. sales.

Samsung said the Blue Earth phone can accept enough charge under an hour of normal sunlight to allow for 10 minutes of talk. LG said the Pop model permits about 13 minutes of talk after being charged for an hour under normal sunlight. The companies said the phones will also charge under artificial light, but more slowly.

Nokia Corp., the world’s largest cellphone maker by units and revenue, introduced a solar-based cellphone in 1997 but it didn’t continue in the company’s regular lineup. The company earlier this year demonstrated a concept phone that runs entirely on solar power.

Samsung, the second-largest maker, in June introduced its first solar-based phone, a bar-shaped model with a normal keypad and solar cells on the back. That phone, called Solar Guru in some markets and Crest Solar in others, was aimed chiefly at developing countries and sells for as little as $60. But Samsung also offers it in some wealthy European countries like France.

Source: www.ethicalsuperstore.com

Taking portable alternative energy sources to a whole new level, the HYmini is a universal charger/adapter device that harnesses wind power and conventional mains power to recharge almost all your 5V digital gadgets.

As well as storing mains power for times when you may be away from a source of electricity, the HYmini converts wind power into usable charge for your mobile phone, mp3 player and camera, as well as many other devices. The power is created using the integral wind turbine, and can then be used to charge your portable devices.

Using the optional connection systems, the HYmini can be connected to your bicycle or to your upper arm, using the armband accessory.

Source:  http://www.freakitude.com

If you are the type that likes to see unconventional methods of making the world go round, then you will love this nifty little clock. This clock doesn’t look like anything spectacular, but it is definitely a clock you will be able to rely on, even if you have been *god forbid* out of power for weeks. No, no fancy extras here, and the clock doesn’t do interesting tricks that will amaze and impress, and it doesn’t even have an alarm clock feature. It merely displays the time like any old wall clock, but does so in digital format and runs in an entirely unconventional manner. Yes, this clock is about as eco-friendly as it gets, and uses any liquid power source to power its time telling nature. Use anything from water to milk to beer if you want and whatever liquid you use, the clock is guaranteed to work. If you want to spice up your princess room, pour in some pink lemonade. Or, if you have a little extra in the keg after a fraternity party, impress your brothers by pouring beer in your clock. Completely powered by liquids, this clock doesn’t need one battery at all, and is very easy on the budget. It is also is the ideal clock for students, not only because it has this pretty funky liquid power generator, but also because it is affordable, and space saving with its 1” by 2” design.

Source: http://coolplanetstore.com

The Freeplay Xray LED Flashlight invites the user to participate in the science of converting their mechanical human energy into useful light. Built on the trusted Sherpa LED chassis, the Xray LED has crystal clear casings that flaunt the complex inner workings of the flashlight, without compromising any ruggedness or durability. This compact and robust emergency flashlight incorporates failsafe Freeplay self-charge technology and mini USB recharge ability together with the reliability of ultra-bright white Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The LEDs provide excellent brightness, efficiency and shine time with their longevity providing the peace of mind of never needing to ever replace bulbs again. Ideal for both every day and emergency use the Xray LED is designed to be a serious tool, the self-charge system offering maximum dependability for those times when you can’t afford to be left in the dark by dead batteries.

A quick wind of about 60 seconds gives approximately 30 minutes of light on normal beam and you can wind more at any time for as much shine-time as you want. An LED charge level indicator tells you the optimal winding speed. Offering a choice of 2 brightness settings (economy or maximum brightness) allows you to choose the light setting according to your needs to extend shine times in self-charge or external charge modes. A switch mode power supply drives the LED cluster at a constant brightness, providing a high quality, reliable beam in either economy or maximum brightness settings.

The Xray LED is rechargeable and, fully charged, the flashlight provides up to 3 hours 20 minutes of ultra bright light, or 20 hours of normal light (economy setting). Internal mechanical components are specified to industrial standards for repeated use and long life.

Source: http://www.inhabitat.com/

The serene back-and-forth movement of a rocking chair is nothing if not relaxing. It can also be useful and productive, according to Rochus Jacob. The designer’s Murakami Chair, a winner in designboom’s Green Life competition, uses the kinetic energy produced by rocking to power an attached OLED lamp.

During the day, the Murakami chair stores energy in an on-board battery back. And in the evening, stored energy provides juice for the lamp.

According to Jacob, “I was looking for opportunities to generate energy through activities we naturally do. The final result is a rocking chair that enables the user to experience production and consumption of electricity in a gentle and rewarding way. An abstract process becomes tangible and eventually cultivates natural awareness. Complexity is covered by simplicity.”