‘Nissan Esflow’: All-new Battery Powered Stallion - - Set to Be Launched at Geneva Auto Show in March

Japanese automaker Nissan Motors is set to launch the all-new battery-powered ‘Nissan Esflow’ in March this year at the Geneva Auto Show. The all-electric Japanese tech-piece is already buzzing around the web with many images and company provided details.  

As per the details available, the Nissan Esflow idea, which is attached to the electric underpinnings of the Leaf (Nissan's four-door electric car), gets a remarkable similarity to its gas-powered 370Z Stablemate, with a likely touch of the old BMW M Couple in its hatchback-like rear haunches and inclined roofline. Up front, a long and wide hood provides approach to a sharply raked windscreen. Front and rear bumper projects are smallest, with the large wheels pushed to the limits of the car. 

Interior photos not yet revealed by Nissan; but an exterior shot discloses a bit of racing style seating usually found on a Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale, signifying the sporting target of this electric stallion.

Green Membrane Bioreactor Process: Water Treatment Business for LG

LG Electronics has entered the water treatment business with its first wastewater treatment solution called the Green Membrane Bioreactor process. Incorporating the most advanced technologies G-MBR signals the company’s long-term plan to be a major player in the water treatment industry.

The system makes use of LG’s slimmer flat-type microfiltration membrane modules and requires 34 percent less space than conventional MBRs, making the system more efficient and easy to install. The membranes are highly resistant to contamination and fouling, which ensures a longer lifespan at reduced maintenance costs.

The G-MBRs phosphor removal system is being claimed to be twice as effective as other similar systems in removing phosphorus residue from wastewater. After the removal of phosphorous from wastewater, it can be safely reintroduced into the environment.

Eco Room Thermometer and “Too Hot” Water Thermometer - - Allows You to Monitor a Room’s Temperature And The Water From Your Tap

In most houses or rooms are often too warm or too cool and water that takes some time to get hot can get TOO HOT. All that wasted energy creates high utility bills.

The Eco Room Thermometer and “Too Hot” Water Thermometer allows you to monitor a room’s temperature and the water from your tap. These nifty devices let you put an energy usage reduction plan in place. Approved by the UK’s Energy Saving Trust, these thermometers help you regulate temperatures to keep babies and young children from becoming too warm or chilled.

With a list of 10 energy saving tips on the back, the room thermometer contains no harmful mercury and measures in centigrade, displaying the room temperature in 3 degree increments. A quick look shows you the correct temperature. The water thermometer also displays the temperature in centigrade and shows when it needs to be turned down.

These two devices are an easy way to help cut back on energy bills and your carbon footprint while also keeping children safe from harm during the winter.

Glowing Trees: The Eco-Alternative of Street Lights - - Unbelievable Research Wotk in Taiwan

Trees doing the job of streetlights? Seems unbelievable, doesn’t it? Well soon it is going to be a reality as researchers in Taiwan have come up with an idea that will enable trees to glow and hence act as street lights. So this is how it works. One puts gold nanoparticles on the leaves, which in turn will make the leaves reflect a reddish glow, and hence the roads get lighted, without the need for electric street lamps.

The gold nano-particles are put on the leaves of Bacopa caroliniana, and the chlorophyll present inside reacts to produce the red glow. Seems like those glowing trees from Avatar! This idea actually came up due to an accident when the scientists were trying to create LED like lighting without using the toxic and expensive phosphor. I don’t need to tell you how great this idea is.

It reduces carbon emissions, cuts electricity bills and reduces light pollution as well, without sacrificing the utility of streetlights. The luminescence also causes the chloroplast of the leaves to photosynthesize, which in turn allows more carbon to be captured from the air while the streets are lit. I think it is a great idea and should be put into common use.

Solar-powered Oasis Designed by Aloe Design - - Aims to Provide Travelers a Few Moments of Rest

Designed by Aloe Design, the Oasis is a livability and comfort halt that offer a pleasant stay while we recover from the trip or we prepare to undertake it. The system consists of modules made from cement that have attached roof supporting structure made of artificial fibers, which is a result of discarded materials. The roof is a impact-resistant polycarbonate dome-like structure that incorporates spherical solar cells, forming a solar panel that provides both solar energy and shade.

The solar energy generated by the solar panel is stored in a battery, which illuminates LED lighting with green energy at night. As vital as simple, its silhouette is a symbol of hope and encouragement given to travelers caught in the arid landscape. This aesthetically appealing green oasis offers the voyagers a few moments of rest in a peaceful environment.

Solar Universe: Eco-friendly Structure in Miami - - To be Developed by Dayco Holding Corporation

Dayco Holding Corporation will soon develop a one-of-its-kind structure in Miami which will generate renewable energy for itself and other nearby structures. Christened the Solar Universe, the structure will have a total height of over 1000 feet and is intended for tourism, recreation, education and entertainment.

The skyscraper will utilize a variety of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectricity and biomass to produce all the energy that it needs. At the Solar Universe the entertainment facilities will be at the top, where an indoor observation deck is located. Here visitors will be able to sit down in a living room setting and learn about green energy and enjoy the wonderful views of South Florida.

Florida ranks among the top states receiving the maximum amount of sunshine making the development ideal for solar energy harvesting. Moreover at a height of about 1000 feet wind speeds are ideal for wind turbines. At Solar Universe a new technology being exclusively developed by High Point Energy will be included. Dubbed Hydrorise, the technology allows storm water to be pumped kinetically to a holding tank about 700 feet high. From here water will be allowed to fall into a micro hydroelectric turbine to generate electricity.

Solar panels will be strategically located along the entire height of the tower to produce renewable solar energy. Moreover, at Solar Universe all solid and liquid waste will be burned at extremely high temperatures to generate more energy. The developers anticipate that the structure should be ready by the summer of 2013.

Eco-Awareness Expedition by Joseph Ascencao - - Amis to Cover 57000 Miles on His Bike With Solar Panel

Raising eco-awareness, setting a new words record and experiencing extreme adventure at one go is what put Joseph Ascencao on a bicycle to explore the world. This adventure fanatic has set off for the first bicycle trip around the world. After researching on the trip for about 9 months, Ascencao left for his mission from Providence, Rhode Island on August 13. So that he doesn’t have to do without all luxurious during his 4-5 years trip, Ascencao has fixed a solar panel to his bike in order to charge his electronics like cell phone and iPod while he is on the go.

Although Antarctica is not in the picture for his expedition, he is still affirmative to bike through Afghanistan and China. He expects to travel nearly 57,000 miles, encouraging people to take on greener means of transport and looks towards renewable energy sources. He is tracking his journey using a helmet camera.

Garbage Trucks Running on Biogas Generated From, Nothing Else, But Garbage in Totonto, Canada

Using landfills to generate electricity is not a new concept for the City of Toronto. The city is now taking the energy generating capability of waste to a new level, by working on a garbage truck that can run on biogas generated from garbage.

The new trucks will be equipped with a Cummins Westport ISL G engine which can run on natural gas or biogas generated from local landfills around Toronto. The creators also opine that in the near future the trucks might even run on the organic waste they pick up from stops around the city.

Self-sufficient Water Housing Project in Amsterdam Conceptualized by Pim Uiting - - Stunning Wooden Houses Will Include Renewable Energy Sources

Conceptualized by Pim Uiting, the self-sufficient water housing project aims at providing energy-efficient, aesthetically appealing and sustainable houses in North Amsterdam. As many as 100 self-sufficient houses will soon sit on the water in Amsterdam. 

The stunning wooden houses will include renewable energy sources to allow the inhabitants to use clean energy to meet with their daily electricity needs. Large windows bring in ample of natural light, in addition to letting the sun heat the interiors. The area for this green housing was defined by the NDSM-werf in the North, Kraanspoor (by Trude Hooijkaas), and Silodam by MVRDV.

EcoManager Device From EDF Energy - - An Innovative New Wireless Appliance Controller

Global design and innovation company Seymourpowell has announced that its design has been used for the newly launched EcoManager device from EDF Energy, Britain’s largest producer of low carbon electricity. The EcoManager is an innovative new wireless appliance controller which transforms the way consumers both monitor and control the amount of electricity they use in their homes.

The EcoManager allows consumers to see and control the energy consumption of appliances from wherever the device is plugged in, helping people reduce their monthly energy bills. Seymourpowell worked with the team at EDF Energy to design the EcoManager handheld controller unit with which the transmitter plugs communicate. The monitor then displays the relative running costs and CO2 emissions of each connected appliance in real time.

Sustainable Gymnasium in France With a Rooftop Garden - - Designed by French Architect Jean Marc Rivet

In an effort to allow fitness freaks exercise in an utmost green environment French architect Jean Marc Rivet has designed a sustainable gymnasium in France, which might actually convince you to exercise a bit more. The unique structure is highly functional and saves a lot of grid electricity.

The attractive facility includes a rooftop garden to insulate the interiors and a large window that lets in sunlight to conserve energy required from artificial lighting. Moreover, the green facility includes photovoltaic panels that generate renewable electricity for nighttime illumination.

“Letterbox House” - - Designed by Australian firm Mcbride Charles Eyan (Robert Mcbride, Debbie Ryan) - - New Eco-Friendly Concept is All About Wood

The “Letterbox House” is all about wood. Designed by Australian firm Mcbride Charles Eyan (Robert Mcbride, Debbie Ryan), this unique dwelling sports features a sculpturally formed facade that looks as if morphed out from a small letterbox, and at the same time appears to have been carved away from other perspectives. Situated in a modest beach suburb of Blairgowrie, Australia, the house is designed to offer a memorable beach holiday experience with mesmerizing view of the clear water, blue sky and the exotic sunset.

The wall clad with panels of multi-coloured wood dynamically changes and grows in shapes and scale. The house features a decent deck on the southwest side, timber flooring and bright red spinal interior structure, running along the length of the house with shelving opportunities throughout. The raked timber wall that stretches from the letterbox to become the westerly verandah harmonizes very well with the rest of the house that appears like a simple modernist expression similar to many of the houses of the region. The Letterbox House is one of the shortlisted entries at this year’s world architecture festival for the completed house category.

Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Sportscar From BMW - - Eco-friendly and Fuel Efficient Car Offers a Mileage of 75.1mpg And a CO2 Emission Rating of 99 Grams Per Kilometer

BMW has finally announced that its Vision EfficientDynamics concept vehicle will enter production. Initially showcased at the IAA last year, the four seater sportscar is being touted to combine the performance of a BMW M Car with the fuel economy and emissions bettering a small car. 

The vehicle is powered by the company’s ActiveHybrid technology, which includes a 3-cylinder turbo diesel engine coupled with a hybrid synchronous motor for the front axle and a full hybrid engine at the rear axle. Combined the powertrains generate 328bhp of power, allowing the vehicle to hit a speed of 62mph in just 4.8 seconds.

The vehicle’s lithium-polymer rechargeable battery pack offers an emission free ride of about 50km after which the diesel engine kicks in to add 650km of range on 24-liters of diesel. The fuel efficient car offers a mileage of 75.1mpg and a CO2 emission rating of 99 grams per kilometer. Recharging the battery pack takes just 2.5 hours using a conventional power socket. The company hasn’t revealed the exact launch date and the price of the vehicle.

Eco-friendly Gadgets' Family - - Solar Powered Camcorder: Endless Juice for Your Endless Passion of Photography

For all those who want to shoot videos without worrying much about the battery life, the solar-powered camcorder might be the perfect gadget. The little camcorder includes a built-in solar panel that charges the device’s onboard battery. The tiny flip-up solar panel extends the battery life of the camcorder by 12 minutes for every hour of sunlight exposure.

The technical spec list boasts some decent numbers as well. The camcorder is fitted with a 12MP CMOS sensor with 8X digital zoon, allowing the user to shoot videos at 720 X 480 resolution at 30fps. Videos are recorded in AVI format and stored on an SD memory card. Costing just $130, the camcorder can be connected to a PC via USB for data transfer and battery recharge.

Levi Strauss Decided to Go Eco-friendly - - Water Saving Jeans Manufacturing Technology Introduced by The Levi's

A leading name in the field of jeans garments, Levi Strauss, has now decided to go eco-friendly, as the company has devised an all new way of jeans manufacturing, that would enable it to save up to a massive 16 million gallons of water by Spring 2011. This methodology is said to e very simple in nature and does not require any complex mechanism. Levi’s simply took the conventional jeans manufacturing process and added some modifications to it, thus leading to the birth of water less jeans.

At any given time, the process of jeans manufacturing, requires Levi’s to wash the fabric in industrial sized washing machines, from three to ten times before the jeans is finally ready as a finished product. However, with the new mechanism, Levi’s has now been able to make use of the ozone processing technique into garment washing, thus reducing the number of wash cycles to a single wet process. This incredible innovative approach has enabled Levi’s to reduce the water consumption by at least 28% and in some cases, this figure has even reached to a whopping 96%.

Levi’s has planned to introduce the all new waterless jeans in the month of January next year, under the brand make of Levi’s 501, 511, and 514 jeans and the consumers will be able to get their own pair of the magnificent jeans with a starting price of $68.

According to Kelly Benander (Director of Corporate Communications, Levi Strauss),

“We took the idea of jeans that use fashion-forward finishes that people love to wear–the worn in look, creases around the pockets–but made with a lot less water. We went into laundries, talked to suppliers, and asked how to create this.”

Smart Tower: Amazing Sustainable Car Parking Idea by Roberto Dei Lidi - - Power Generation Through Solar Panels And Vertical Wind Turbine

Smart Tower is a great idea that’s clicked in designer Roberto Dei Lidi’s mind, and the master’s got a sustainable parking tower concept ready for our delight. If all goes well with this, then some years down the line that car sharing situation in your neighborhood could have electric car sharing with these Car Shelves by the designer.

The electric car sharing automatic park system for places with cramped spaces lifts and rotates cars and leaves the space underneath vacant for other purposes. The best feature about the Smart Tower is that the power here is generated through solar panels and vertical wind turbine.

Christened the INIZIO: All-American Electric Supercar From Li-ion Motors - - Top Speed of 170mph With a Single Charge Lasting About 250 Miles

North Carolina-based Li-ion Motors has revealed its all-electric beast, which is being claimed to be the first all-American electric supercar. Christened the INIZIO, the electric roadster fits two individuals and can purportedly hit a top speed of 170mph with a single charge lasting about 250 miles.

The supercar hits a speed of 60mph in 3.4 seconds and seats the two occupants in adjustable, leather Recaro seating with heating and cooling systems installed to make the ride comfortable. The vehicle also includes a built-in 12-inch subwoofer, digital surround sound system, integrated navigation system, DVD player and rotational doors that rise on a 90-degree angle.

The company also claims that the lithium-ion powerhouse can be recharged 2500 times with a full recharge taking up to 8 hours. The vehicle is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2011 with a starting price of $139,000.

All-electric GT Ready for the UK by 2012 - - Announced by Lightning Car Company

Lightning Car Company has announced that its all-electric GT should be ready for the UK by 2012. The company is about to enter a “late prototype” phase and should be able to produce 250 units of the vehicle each year by 2012. Expected to sell for £180,000, the electric GT will feature a twin-motor, rear-drive setup that should be able to generate about 400bhp of power.

The electric GT should be able to hit a speed of 60mph in less than five seconds and should have a range of more than 100 miles. The vehicle is expected to be powered by an array of latest-spec lithium titanate batteries which charges faster and is more stable than the lithium-ion batteries currently being used in electric cars.

Solar Islands in Abu Dhabi - - The Sun Island Reflects the Sun's Aura on the Earth

Boulos Douaihy’s Solar Island is an eco-conscious art installation that was submitted for the 2010 Land Art Generator Initiative Design Competition. Designed and proposed for Saadiyat Island and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the Sun Island reflects the Sun’s aura on the earth and then quantifies it to show the energy produced by sunlight.

The Solar Island consists of metallic geodesic spheres, featuring solar panels to collect sun energy during the day, and transforming the collected energy into electricity for nighttime illumination.

"Our installation emphasizes the effect of the sun and moon on the sea by exaggerating the tide’s action on the shore’s outline. The land, bound by the highway on one side and open to the sea on the other, is topographically manipulated to form mounds of different levels creating platforms hosting the spheres and disappearing into the sea."

Eco DIY Project: THEKPV (The Hybrid Electric Kinetic Photovoltaic Vehicle) - - Trendy Solar Bike Designed by Terry Hope

This interesting bike is designed by Terry Hope, an eco-conscious individual with a love for design. Being dubbed as THEKPV (The Hybrid Electric Kinetic Photovoltaic Vehicle), this bike bears an interesting and unusual design that features solar cells on its front.

THEKPV also features regenerative braking, a charging outlet, a battery and a capacitor. Weighing a mere 20kgs, THEKPV is the most environmentally friendly bike I have ever seen.