Environmental News, Eco-Friendly Gadgets - FreshAirTimes.eu

Eco Factor: Eco-friendly structure designed to harvest rainwater and reduce energy consumption.

The Horizontal Scraper is the brainchild of designers Rae Won Noh, In Ki Kim, Jeong Tae Kim, Hyo Bin Jung and Jang Ook Lee and has been conceptualized to reduce the environmental impact of high rise buildings. Unlike conventional skyscrapers, the Horizontal Scraper rests above the ground level on roofs of existing buildings.The 15-story tall structure “floats” on the skyline without blocking natural light necessary for the buildings underneath. The mixed-use structure provides space for residences, offices and recreation areas. The rooftop is adorned with green garden with sports facilities. Moreover, the roof also includes rainwater harvesting systems, which help in reducing solar heat gain as well.

Eco Factor: Sustainable twin towers look into minimizing energy consumption.

Designed by Plasma Studio, the Datong Twin Towers is a mix-use complex that flaunts its extraordinary design and sustainability. Planned to be erected on a 70,000sqm area, the green structure was recently awarded first prize in an invited competition in Datong, Shanxi province. It will house a hotel in one tower and offices in the other.Depicting the architectural firms’ geometric obsession, the towers will include low-energy ventilation design in its interior along with parametric differentiated facade concept, which will help in minimizing energy consumption and maximizing ambient quality and expression.

The central light well between the towers is surrounded by shared public spaces. There is also room for pedestrians and greenery. The lowest level has a common public lobby, while the towers end on an accessible roofscape. The twin towers hold the potential to become a landmark for China.

Via: ArchDaily

Eco Factor: Stylish bike concept powered by thermal and electric engine.

Stylish, powerful, aesthetically appealing and huge are the words that come to my mind when I think of this muscle hunk. Dubbed the “Custombike concept,” this dazzling bike is what I would like to call a complete green package. It is powered by a hybrid engine, which is a combination of a thermal engine and the electric one hidden in the frame.The French designer Jean Baptiste Robilliard has also included a F1 like HERS system that harvests braking power to convert it into electric energy. The Lithium-ion batteries perform the electric power saving task for this eco-friendly concept. Honestly, it is designed as a two-wheel muscle car for the road.

Eco Factor: Mountain-like business district incorporates wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation system.

Those deprived of the pleasure of living in the serene and beautiful hills could get the same feeling in the “Magic Mountains.” This sustainable urban development proposed for Chongqing, China is one crazy plan by the CEBO/Chongqing University team. Resembling prismatic mountain peaks, the new green business district creates an exciting new skyline with inhabited peaks.

Magic Mountains are made from glass and steel. It is loaded with sustainable feature such as passive cooling and heating, wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation system. These water and energy efficient systems will rest on the open green valleys. In order to cut down carbon emissions substantially, bicycles and pedestrian paths could be used to get around the city.

Efficient public transportation system will lead to reduction in car usage. All these green features will bring down the overall consumption of resources and energy by 22%. The renewable energy produced in the Magic Mountains will replace 11% of conventional power.

Eco Factor: Sustainable residential development designed to reduce energy consumption.

Broadway Malyan Architects have come up with a sustainable proposal for a residential development in Dubai. Christened “The Diamond”, the 17-story tall structure takes full advantage of the spectacular views and proximity to the beachfront and adjacent neighborhood center.

 Every apartment in the building enjoys unobstructed views, without sacrificing on good levels of privacy. Designed to provide high levels of sustainability, the architecture responds directly to the movement of the sun to reduce solar heat gain and improve energy efficiency.

Designed to create a dramatic sea front pair of residential towers, the twin-tower architecture is set on top of a mixed use podium overlooking the surroundings. The terraced sun deck helps in enhancing the eco-credentials of the building while reducing solar heat gain.

Via: Broadway Malyan Architects 

The rise in the demand for energy and the ways it is produced has altered the natural mix of air we breathe. While the conditions on the open streets are miserable, the conditions indoors aren’t great either. Addressing the issue, designers all over the world are creating futuristic air purification systems that can help make air quality better. Have a look at some of the most innovative air purifiers after the jump.

• Aura Organic Air FilterDesigned by Ben McGinley, the Aura Organic Air Filtration system keeps indoor air quality healthy and doesn’t consume any electricity for the same. The conceptual device uses sunlight and plants to remove harmful chemicals and toxins from the air. Plants are naturally equipped to filter chemicals like volatile organic compounds, formaldehydes, benzene and carbon monoxide from the air. The device uses this property to clean indoor air and make it free from any toxins.• FLO2The FLO2 by industrial designer Olivia Bradateanu uses the natural processes of photosynthesis to purify indoor air. The product lets users know the quality of air they are breathing and purifies it by simply trapping the harmful particles. The portable device can be carried along or placed at a favorable place inside a house.• O2 Air PurifierDesigned by Tian Lingrui the O2 Air Purifier requires the user to place a normal plant pot on the system’s tray, where it accelerates the process of photosynthesis and hence increases the amount of sequestered CO2 for more oxygen. In addition to cleaning up the air around, the system also keeps tabs on our green friends and lets the user know when they need water.• Symbiosis City Air PurifierThe Symbiosis City Air Purifier by industrial designer Ken Jasinski is to be mounted on streetlight poles where it harvests solar energy to power its ultraviolet air purification system. During overcast days the system utilizes grid connectivity for power. The system captures carbon dioxide from the air and releases oxygen back into the atmosphere, hence purifying the air without making use of much energy.• Oxygen of GreenThe Oxygen of Green indoor furniture concept is designed by combining air plants with a living room table. Conceptualized by industrial designer Mingling Wang, the system produces a decent amount of oxygen, especially after dark and does that at the place where it’s most needed – the center section of the house.• The DaanThe Daan is a small disk-sized unit powerful enough to purify a small room. You stack more units together to clean a bigger area. You can even detach one unit and take it for travel. Designed by Joseph Kim, this wonderfully crafted new air purifier will hopefully alter the view of traditional water purifiers and will encourage more makers to go for the more stylish designs which will go great with interiors of your space.• Green RingThe Green Ring is the brainchild of designers Park Jun Seok and Kwon Hye Rim and has been designed to keep tabs on the air you breathe and help purify it as well. Shaped like a tree trunk, the device can easily be mounted on the wall and comes with a variety of LED lights and filters. The device features a set of lights that glow from green to red according to the air quality inside your house.• ExtendThe Extend air purifier by industrial designer Sander Brouwer is a sleek and stylish air purifier that offers a simple solution that leads us from polluted city life to pure and fresh air to enable a healthy lifestyle. It helps improves air circulation and purification to keep you always in fine spirits.• W/Air Breathing NecklaceThe W/Air Breathing Necklace by designers Martina Pagura and Pedro Nakazato Andrade is a wearable accessory that filters the air and stores CO2 to produce energy, which can be reused in everyday life. The W/Air can be worn like a necklace as it filters ambient air and removes CO2 from it. The purified air is then made available for the wearer, while the CO2 is converted into electricity for use.• GreenAir PlanterDrawing inspiration from the metamorphosis of a butterfly, designer Sherly Gunawan, a graduate in Product Design from LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore, has designed an innovative air purifier that freshens up the environment through natural vegetation. Considering the fact that that indoor air can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air, the GreenAir is an indoor air purifier that grows living plants for fresh air.

With the world coming face to the dire consequences of not so environment friendly product usage, the rise in demand of green products is creating competition in supply! An evidence is the supermarket phenomenon as they try to offset their eco-unfriendly activities and make it bigger and better than their contemporaries.

Sainsbury, UK’s major supermarket chain, has unveiled a collection of clothing range made entirely from their plastic. Using recycled customers plastic bottles and packaging, this range will be put up for sale in 250 stores nationwide. Everything from pants to skirts to shirts will be showcased later this year adding another reason to believe of plastic as the textile of future.

Suddenly plastic beauty is not a negative term anymore!

Via: TrendHunter

Long back, when still in my high school, I really was inspired by Wordsworth and Keats. In case of Keats, it was sheer magic, unadulterated honesty, the pain and the pleasure in beauty that captivated you. In case of Wordsworth though, it was more his undying love for nature and nature in its most vibrant hues that mesmerized you. He always told that the best place to live in is the lap of nature and professed a lifestyle that kept nature close to your heart. Now we are taking that concept a step further or rather, we are testing it to the farthest point possible. Here is nature clothing and it comes in the form of eco-friendly lingerie.

Yup, now your wardrobe can get completely eco-friendly with a new range of lingerie and boxers-cum-knickers made from white pine tree pruning. This new fashion line is designed by Sophie Young and it is obviously for those young and restless at heart; those who wish to dare try something new. Basically, the garment is made from wood or that is what one can say. Now at this point one can make plenty of jokes about ‘wood’ and ‘undergarments’, but I will be the bigger man and pass on that.
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If you are one of the thoughtful herd, who care for the environment and wonder how to leave the least carbon foot-print on earth, then here is a great, yet easy idea - do it while you sleep! As you dedicate one third of our lives to sleeping, it is perhaps the best phase to make use of, keeping out your other hectic day’s schedules. Yes, you can go to sleep in a healthy, eco-friendly style using organic bed-linen.
Say ‘no’ to those harsh chemical-processed bed sheets and grab the most luxurious all-natural bedding ‘100 percent toxin-free silky soft’ available in the market today. And, if they are completed with irresistible process, why not go for these!

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Meld USA is a well-known designer for creating sustainable eco friendly concrete products and materials and has now launched their newest development called Ecox. Ecox is made from a precast material that is composed of 70% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled cement and materials and some recycled glass is also included in it. This material is used in manufacturing concrete products that are ordered, surfaces, furnishings, fixtures and accessories.

The products are consumed with the houseowners as well as the business related people also like to order these eco friendly products. The product is very good looking and is beneficial for the environment so is admired more. 35% of their produce goes directly to the houseowners and 65% to their commercial customers that include Anthropologie, Northwestern Mutual, Merck Pharmaceutical, Cosi and Safeguard. With these kinds of products we are surely going to benefit our planet.

Via: Got2begreen