As said on the site they use recycled, reclaimed and custom products for all their pieces.
SKATE STUDY HOUSE (SSH) is an innovative design concept specializing in recreating popular furniture through the vision of a skateboarder. The movement of a skateboarder constantly changes — it recreates itself by transcending boundaries and inventing ways to conquer obstacles. It’s constantly about anticipation and adaptation to one’s environment. The same is true for living design. The combination of the two produces a mixture of contemporary lifestyle, art and action sports culture, which is all found in this unique collection.
Based on the A1 project Quattro concept released last year in Tokyo, the 5-door plug-in hybrid can run for 60 miles on a single charge, after which it gets an exceptional 72.4 mpg.This is one of the best looking Hybrid concept out there. Audi as done a wonderful job on the lines on this particular model and I for one would love to see this in production. Great example !In hybrid mode the five door “sportback” (sporty!) will go from 0-62 MPH in 7.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 124 MPH and squeeze up to 72.4 miles from a gallon of fuel. When in electric mode, however, the vehicle will take you more than 60 miles on a single charge. The adjustable drivetrain / drive shaft / shock absorber system allows drivers to choose between two modes: sport mode (for optimum acceleration) and efficiency mode. The latter not only makes best use of the lithium-ion battery but also ties into the vehicle’s on-board navigation, taking your route (and the car’s altitude) into consideration when computing things like power usage and regeneration phases. The A1 also allows select cellphones to act as a mobile control unit for WLAN access to the vehicle’s navigation, audio and remote monitoring of the security system.
Back in 1993, Adam Dunn and Douglas Mignola started an independent hemp clothing company they named Hempworks. Their main aim was to promote a contra-movement against the mass-production and mass-pollution of the clothing industry. “We like to promote the use of hemp because it is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics in the world, requiring no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to grow. It actually returns nutrients to the soil and can reach a height of three meters in 100 days, making it one of the most resource-efficient and fastest growing crops in the world”
Mini E, it will be available for lease in three states—California, New York and New Jersey—and only to those companies and individuals participating in the 500-unit pilot program. A 204-hp electric motor resides under the hood and powers the front wheels, a single-speed gearbox provides motive power and a 35 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack supplies the juice. Unfortunately, the battery pack takes the space normally occupied by the rear seats, so this Mini is just a twofer.
That battery pack weighs 573 pounds, which means this Mini is small in size only. It hits the scale hard with a total weight of 3230 pounds. Acceleration should feel sprightly, however, because the motor’s peak torque of 162 lb-ft is available from rest. Mini claims a 0 to 60 mph time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 95 mph. To cope with the extra weight, the Mini’s suspension has been retuned. While the Mini already uses electric power steering, which didn’t require modification, BMW did add an electric air-conditioner compressor and an electric vacuum pump for the brake assist.
Mini says that the air-cooled battery coupled with regenerative braking provides a 150-mile range. Charge times depend on the electrical supply of course, but the Mini E can be recharged in as little as 2.9 hours with its supplied 240-volt 48-amp wall box. Only the freakishly patient will be able to wait the 23.6 hours it takes a 110-volt household plug to fully energize the batteries.
Just as advertised ‘ Beaty from Beauty ‘ . Jurlique Biodynamic is all natural and eco friendly from inside out. The packaging translates perfectly what they are about. Placesd in that high quality bottles, beautiful curves, unique yet functional, frosted glass kind of way… and all of their inserts and boxes are 100% post-consumer recycled paper… the sampler kit of the new lines come in what appear to be egg cartons at first - which are also 100% recyclable…. not to mention their products are all natural, made from plants and flowers from their South Australian farm.
After a much anticipated wait the new 2010 Toyota Prius is revealed. Currently scheduled for official unveiling in January at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit, the revamped model features a similar body shape with a redesigned front, more interior room, and better fuel economy. No news yet on what is used under the hood but it will be announced in January. I personally think it a a great improvement overall.
We knew there were new technologies going into the Surfing industry especially in the materials being used to make surf boards. We were excited when introduced to Entropy Surfboards. Here is a local custom board builder that not only uses Eco-friendly way of production but also using the combination of design and science to come up with a product that performs. The have a fun and very intuitive website especially on their methods in production and beliefs. It makes sense, a sport that uses the natural forces of the environment would be advancing their technology to make it more sustainable.Check them out and you’ll see what I mean.
Entropy is a network of designers, scientists, and athletes all working to pursue a common goal: combine our passions for science, art, and the active outdoor lifestyle to design innovative equipment. We try to offer something new with the materials and construction techniques we use, while minimizing the footprint on our environment. For us, this means optimizing the balance between choice of materials, techniques, and performance.
Nothing green here but though some of you guys here might want to take part in this. Nokia has launched a competition where the you can design their own headsets inspired by a piece of music. Five designs will be chosen by the judges to be made.
Well done Citroën ! I know most “petrol heads” out there will be skeptical. I know, I am partly one of them.Nevertheless I am happy excited to see the change and to see a good use for a brilliant technology.
I would love to see it perform.
[Source: Citroën]
C4 WRC HYmotion4 Citroën Sport’s ecological competition concept car
The 2008 Paris Motor Show sees Citroën take the wraps off its C4 WRC HYmotion4 concept car, the first WRC car to be equipped with a hybrid energy recovery system which delivers added performance and lower emissions.
This new concept car – which sports a split livery, with the team’s familiar World Rally Championship colours on one side, and a design based on a more restful colour scheme redolent of natural materials on the other – illustrates Citroën’s stand on environmental matters, including in the world of motor sport which stands out as a source of performance-related, reliable and rational technological innovations.
The HYmotion4 system enables a proportion of the kinetic energy produced during braking to be recovered and stored. This energy is accumulated by a motor-generator in the form of electricity in battery packs positioned at the rear of the car. It can then be employed either to deliver extra power when accelerating or to drive the car using emission-free electrical power alone, with no engine noise or exhaust fumes.
This system can significantly enhance the efficiency of a competition car during the different running phases:
Braking energy is not entirely dissipated in the environment, The availability of additional torque thanks to an electric motor increases the internal combustion engine’s useful rev range, At a constant speed in electric mode, the vehicle benefits from a longer range (plus 40km), while fuel consumption on road sections is reduced by 30%.
These real performance gains have been achieved thanks to the innovative technological solutions which have been developed to transform the C4 WRC into the C4 WRC HYmotion4. The system comprises four key components:
A 125kW electric motor-generator connected to the rear differential (gear driven), A pack of 990-cell lithium-ion batteries which deliver a voltage of 400V. Positioned over the fuel tank. Two additional cooling systems for the motor-generator and batteries, with a specific radiator positioned under the right-hand side of the floor. An electronic control unit to manage the system’s power electronics circuit.
The driver is free to select one of the four running modes using the HYmotion4 pre-selection rotary control:
Internal combustion engine mode: the most frequently-used mode for the C4 WRC (used on stages and potentially on road sections).
Internal combustion engine mode with energy recovery: activated on stages; improves the brakes’ resistance to fade and charges the batteries.
Electric motor mode with energy recovery: used on road sections (untimed), in built-up areas or in the service park; contributes to increasing the car’s range, reduces noise in built-up areas, and permits the internal combustion engine not to be used when it is not indispensable.
Boost mode (internal combustion engine and electric modes combined): can be selected at the desired moment on a stage to benefit from an additional 300Nm-1 of torque for a limited time.
This performance gain makes optimising energy management a new parameter for rally drivers to master.
C4 WRC HYmotion4 fits perfectly with Citroën’s long-term commitment to motor sport and its consequential environmental policy. This concept underpins the brand’s policy to conceive very high performance cars which respect the environment and is the first step prior to other developments which will be guided by future evolutions to the FIA regulations.
It’s amazing to see his work come to life. Talk about designing with sustainable energy. This is the ultimate.
Why you should listen to him:
Dutch artist Theo Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways. Each generation of his “Strandbeests” is subject to the forces of evolution, with successful forms moving forward into new designs. Jansen’s vision and long-term commitment to his wooden menagerie is as fascinating to observe as the beasts themselves.
His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by gossamer wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures’ many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine’s direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck.
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
So check the site out and watch the video. Its interesting and very informative. Enjoy !
