This week Inhabitat saw the light as we reported on several spellbinding new projects around the world — including an incredible cathedral made from 55,000 LEDs and a glowing prefab pod building modeled after the genetic structure of plankton. We also showcased a luminous forest of thousands of “Frozen Trees” and a high-flying F-Light made from a recycled airplane, and also reported on Toshiba expanding its line of LEDs. Meanwhile, as the lights fire up Lucas Oil Stadium we shared seven ways Super Bowl 46 is going green, took a look at the first organic concessions ever to offered at a Super Bowl, and got things cooking with six delicious recipes for game time snacks

Eco transportation also blasted off from the starting line as London’s first zero-emission electric taxis hit the streets, and Stanford unveiled plans for electrified roads that automatically charge EVs. We also saw Scotland launch the world’s first hybrid sea-going ferries, while Agence 360 did cyclists a favor by designing a nifty ultra-compact foldable bike helmet. Meanwhile, Chevrolet announced plans to put environmental impact stickers on all of their cars by 2013, the sun-powered solarGT car set off on a race across the United States, and we brought you a gorgeous set of long-exposure photos that make speeding trains look like laser beams.

In other news, renewable energy was a hot topic this week as researchers at MIT found a way to make solar panels from grass clippings, another team of scientists developed a hip-hop powered biomedical sensor and Britain mulled plans to install a new breed of radioactive waste-recycling nuclear reactors that could power the UK for 500 years. We also brought you several fun designs for aspiring little builders – a set of awesome paper robots and an industrial workbench for tots. Finally, since Valentine’s day is around the corner we shared 10 red-hot gifts, along with 14 sexy sustainable skivvies.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric taxis, paper robots and a cathedral of 55,000 LEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading UK Greenlights first marine-energy park in the heart of Brunel-country

UK Greenlights first marine-energy park in the heart of Brunel-country originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sustainable transportation broke new boundaries by land and sea this week as Inhabitat reported that China launched the first 300 passenger bus and the world’s largest solar ship closed in on completing its first trip around the globe. We also saw Drayson unveil a turbocharged 850 horsepower all-electric supercar while Mercedes announced plans to bring its B-Class E-Cell electric Vehicle to the US next year. Speaking of hot upcoming cars, this week we brought you a video showcasing 5 of the most exciting eco cars from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and we shared 7 new hybrid and electric vehicles that you’ll be able to purchase this year.

The world of renewable energy also heated up this week as scientists hatched a plan to harness volcano power by pouring millions of gallons of water into a dormant crater and President Obama rejected TransCanada’s plans for the Keystone Xl pipeline. Meanwhile Philips unveiled a transparent solar-powered OLED car sunroof that charges during the day and lights up at night, and we took a look inside Switzerland’s Berghotel Muottas – the first hotel in the Alps that generates more energy than it consumes. Clean energy technology also dived into the deep blue sea as Ireland’s massive SeaGen tidal turbine received environmental approval, researchers found a way to turn seaweed into biofuel using a human stomach microbe, and a Nobel laureate developed the world’s cheapest and most effective CO2 sponge.

In other news, this week we brought you the most freshest new green gadgets – from a tree trunk turntable that plays wood rings like records to a stunning jellyfish-esque LED chandelier and a cuddly Babyloid robot designed to comfort senior citizens. We also showcased the world’s smallest greeting card (300 micro-meters wide!), a massive 300 lb stormtrooper cake, and five educational and arty apps for creative kids. Finally, we rounded up the hottest news in eco fashion – including the world’s largest garment made from golden spider silk and an awesome set of bow ties made from recycled LEGO bricks.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: 300 passenger bus, babyloid robot and a jellyfish-esque LED chandelier originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The newswires were buzzing with alternative energy developments this week as Inhabitat reported that Apple filed a patent for a hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop that can last an entire week without needing a recharge. We also celebrated the warm winter holidays with a look at the world’s first solar-powered menorah, GE unveiled an awesome set of 3D-printed Christmas tree ornaments, and we brought you a first look at the dazzling LED-studded 2012 Times Square new year’s eve ball. We also showcased several amazing examples of paper technology as Sony flipped the switch on a paper-powered battery and Joon & Jung unveiled an alarm clock with a cute paper shell.

Eco transportation was a hot topic as well this week as Porsche unveiled plans to develop the third generation of its flywheel-boosted 911 GT3 R hybrid and the UK’s new hybrid double-decker busses hit the streets of London. We also showcased plans for a greenery-filled AirTrain that harnesses Nasa-patented air purifying technology and we brought you Foster + Partner’s plans for a striking new high-speed rail station in Galicia, Spain.

In other news, this week we saw Waterstudio launch plans for a floating Sea Tree skyscraper that provides habitat for flora & fauna, a scientist has harnessed bioluminescent bacteria to combat pollution in a fragile Florida ecosystem, and researchers developed a new breed of self-fixing electronics that use liquid metal capsules to heal themselves. Finally, we brought you several hot developments in wearable tech – a set of 3D printed eyeglasses, a site that uses your webcam to measure your clothing size, and the world’s first pair of over-ear headphones made with sustainable materials.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop, hybrid buses and bioluminescent bacteria originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was a big week for green cars, as Inhabitat scoured the floors of the LA Auto Show to search for the latest and greatest in green auto design and innovation. We were excited to check out Audi’s hybrid-diesel E-Tron Spyder concept car, Croatia’s first electric vehicle prototype the DOK-ING XD, and Honda’s hotly anticipated 2013 electric version of their popular Fit. Honda also made waves at the west coast auto show with their Civic Natural Gas car, which took home the title of ‘Green Car of the Year’ — the Civic is the cleanest running internal combustion car certified by the EPS. Meanwhile, Ford announced that their EVOS plug-in hybrid will be hitting the market next year, FlyKly’s ultra-modern electric bikes have become a choice ride in New York City, a German museum decided to recreate an operable version the world’s oldest electric car, and the US Navy successfully sent a test-ship out on a 117 hour voyage using a 50 percent algae-derived fuel.

There were also some exciting announcements in clean energy technology this week, including a recent report completed by leading scientists that predict giant orbiting solar power plants could supply all the earth’s energy needs by 2041. We also learned that France will open the world’s largest tidal energy farm in 2012, and GE will provide the turbines for a $100 million wind farm in Mongolia. Also for Mongolia, a local geo-engineering firm is making plans to battle the capital’s scorching hot summers by cooling it down with gigantic manmade chunks of ice that mimic naleds. London’s audacious mayor came up with an equally ambitious idea — his plan is to curb pollution by spraying the city’s roads with a sticky calcium-based adhesive able to catch airborne pollutants. We also got the inside scoop from Panasonic’s Energy Solution Business Director, Haruyuki Ishio, on the futuristic eco-city that is being planned for Fujisawa, Japan.

Continue reading Inhabitat’s Week in Green: LA Auto Show, tidal energy farm and Japan’s futuristic eco-city

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: LA Auto Show, tidal energy farm and Japan’s futuristic eco-city originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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