No matter hard we gainsay but lamping or observing the consumption of electricity in everyday use is something that most of us tend to overlook. Although there’s a slew of energy tracking systems that help get an eyeful of which appliance consumes electricity at its largest, complete efficacy and precision are certain attributes that most of them would lack. Hence, to help users deal with that, Green Energy Options has just unveiled its latest Chorus PV monitoring device which will enable homeowners with PV panels to see both generation and consumption levels of electricity. Great, isn’t it?

Well, the new solar monitoring solution hopes to change a lot of things for better – beginning with allowing PV system owners to see both generation levels and electricity use on one display. Designed to be highly portable, the compact device functions by communicating wirelessly with the generation as well as with the consumption meter using a current lamp and LED readers.

However, the efficient yet stylish looking Chorus PV will work with the Company’s online portal ‘energy note’ which will assemble the entire system performance data and display it in an easy-to-read format. In fact, the same information will also be made available online on smartphones and laptops. Well, while the device endeavors to help consumers become more efficient with how they consume their generated electricity, it will also ensure enhanced generation and consumption of electricity through their existing solar array.

Enclosed in a sturdy chassis, the Chorus PV system will (however) be suitable for use in retrofit and new installations. As far as the availability goes, the new Green Energy Options Chorus PV Monitoring Device is anticipated to be made accessible really soon. However, the device and energy note online service is presently on sale on Amazon and through the company’s official distribution network.

It isn’t unusual when innovative thinkers generally stay swamped with designing unique concept for wider future possibilities and advanced mechanism. While we have caught quite a lot of glimpses of interesting concepts, the one by Nemesi & Partners Srl, Proger SpA and BMS Progetti Srl thoroughly stands distinguished. As part of eco-friendly projects, the team led by Nemesi & Partners Srl, Proger SpA and BMS Progetti Srl has now designed a unique Four-block ‘The Tree of Life’ Concept – which is already chosen for an international competition for the design of the Padiglione Italia at Expo 2015.

The four-block concept, which has been entitled ‘The Tree of Life’, is actually an energy-independent four-block community hub that integrates an expansive open courtyard space. Although the team of Nemesi & Partners Srl, Proger SpA and BMS Progetti Srl is yet to divulge further details on the project, the massive energy-independent concept is chosen for the World Expo 2015 which will be held in Milan.

To provide an insight of the four-block community hub, The Tree of Life comprises a huge 12,000 square meter main pavilion and smaller institutional and exhibition spaces laid across the 325-meter-lonh Cardo. Since the focus of the project remains on utmost energy independency, the building will (as per the structure) be segregated into four blocks connected by bridges to ensure seamless circulation.

However for now, The Tree of Life has been selected for Padiglione Italia at Expo 2015 in Milan – following on from the widely renowned Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Oh yes, we’ve seen quite a number of aesthetically designed planters that beautify the surroundings in nothing else but a greener way. But, we have not really seen anything that sanitizes the air while being firmly seated in an intriguing looking chassis. Well, the new Air Drop Concept by Jillian Tackaberry precisely represents such an amazing amalgamation of air filtration and pretty looks.

Designed uniquely with elegance stretched all across the delicate structure, Air Drop is basically a beautiful hanging pendant that benefits from its integrated air-filtering properties to help flush out impurities from the air in your home. The concept, however, has been developed for the Electrolux Design Lab competition – igniting the possibility of coming real in the future (someday).

But, what would catch many unawares is the unique ability of Air Drop that helps clean the air using the purifying ‘power of plants’.  Integrated with a highly efficient built-in system, the concept strives at promoting the air-filtering properties and cleansing the air using living plants. However, the filtration process takes place in two meticulous ways – whereby the foremost throws out the larger particles of the air that can come from candles or pet dander.

Featuring an efficient fan driven air flow system, the new concept by Jillian Tackaberry also embeds the ability to seamlessly disassemble for cleaning the fan areas where dust particles may accumulate. The second filtration level, on the other hand, proceeds by using air plants ‘Tillandsia’ – which basically can survive on very little water and (in fact) without soil.

Since air plants can more effectively filter the air than those typical plants that grow using soil, the concept hopes to literally transform the way the air could be cleaned. Although it may be a bit too early to comment if it will strike its chord in real, the Air Drop Concept certainly looks highly promising! Way to go.

As true as it could get, renewable energy sources generally tend to get adversely affected due to the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation. While offshore wind could render sufficient electricity, the intermittency caused by solar energy induces unpredictability as well as mammoth inconvenience. To help solve the intermittency problems of offshore wind, researchers at MIT have recently conceptualized a new approach that could mitigate the problems by rendering floating wind energy storage technology.

The new concept for offshore wind would basically enable electricity generation by floating wind farms to be utilized thoroughly and then used adequately. Although further details are yet to be divulged on the technology, the floating energy storage by MIT researchers anticipates to eliminating the intermittency issues of offshore wind through its huge concrete spheres – which can be considered as a key to the concept.

Weighing thousands of tons apiece, the spheres would be located on the seafloor under floating wind turbines and help anchor the turbines when needed. In fact, the energy storage system would also help store energy for the turbines for the later use – which certainly appears to be a remarkable accomplishment.

However interestingly, if the wind turbines induce power in excess or more than it is actually needed, the energy storage concept would efficiently divert the extra power to drive a pump attached to the underwater structure – helping pump seawater from a 30 meter diameter hollow sphere.

Subsequent to which, when the wind passes on and power is needed, a valve would open to permit the water back into the concrete spheres – but by the virtue of a turbine that drives a generator to create electricity. Well, although the MIT floating wind turbine concept looks promising to trim down the intermittency problems of offshore wind, it also hopes to be economically feasible at depths as shallow as 200 meter – contributing massively to declining the overall cost structure eventually!

As part of an endeavor to harmonize with the dreams of a greener tomorrow, economies have unremittingly been pegging away at devising eco-friendly solutions – right from devices that integrate an eco-friendly heart to solar power stations that ensure massive efficiency for a larger community. This time, it’s the town of Lansing that celebrated the Earth Day with the installation of the first municipality-owned solar powered EV charging station in the U.S.

Developed by renewz sustainable solutions with EV chargers by Eaton, the solar charging station has been placed by the town of Lansing, Mich and supplied by the Italian company Giulio Barbieri. The project, however, aims at strengthening the market of renewable solutions and at generating sufficient clean and renewable energy to recharge the fleet of the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

While the efficiently conceptualized EV charging station focuses majorly on a greener tomorrow, it has been designed to trim down the greenhouse gas emissions of Lansing by more than 115 tons. At the same time, the 5 kW project intends to enable more than 482.800 km clean driving – which certainly sounds a great endeavor to ascertain environmental sustainability.

Enclosed in a sturdy modular aluminum structure, the promising carport system also hopes to eliminate the supply chain of carbon footprint to promote a healthier, more eco-friendly environment. The first solar carport, featuring a unique ballasted design, is 100 percent waterproof and fully snow, wind and seismic code complaint.

Well, the initiative to Lansing area was recently launched on the occasion of Earth Day but it rightly aims at demonstrating how municipalities can effectively power green fleets sustainably. A great job, we must say!

Well, gone are the days when bicycles were merely about pedaling and vilipending the distances to reach nearby places. Today, they are more about style, greater convenience and seamless traveling through the cumbersome challenges of traffic – and yes, we are very much including the avant garde electric bikes in our extolling form here! While bicycles are usually spotted with a ‘green’ heart for our surroundings, they unremittingly have transmogrified from good to better!

Whether you sing the praises for neatly embedded electric motors, touchscreen displays or highly functional gear systems, concept electric bikes are certainly covering ground and opening up throttle to garner your right attention. And yes, there are other reasons too that should sweep you off your feet!

We have listed below some really amazing electric bikes for you – that will not just impress you enough, but will also ensure clean travel in the future. Take a look!

1: BlackBerry City Bike

Designed intriguingly as an exclusive brand advertisement for inner city community, BlackBerry City Bike gets almost everything right as one of the coolest electric bicycles. The stylish yet comfortable bike renders a top speed of 15mph while seamlessly sustaining its conventional pedal mechanism. There is an efficient battery fuel cell as well – which hides neatly inside a glass casing to enhance the appeal. You can, in fact, simply flip its switch and operate it as a fully electric bicycle to get going!

2: Yin-Yang Electric Folding Bicycle

Talk about the coolest electric bikes concept and you couldn’t slip on the uber trendy Yin-Yang Electric Folding Bicycle. Well, the folding bike boasts of a unique chainless drive mechanism and smooth pedals which function as a range-extending mechanism to help charge the onboard battery while you pedal. But, what stands as the most striking feature is the bike’s ability to integrate with the user’s mobile device. The vehicle, in fact, also delivers you valuable data and ascertains to use the app to authorize your ride. However, the removable lithium batteries grab an extra point for adding some convenience – while you can very much appreciate its electric control unit at the same time.

3: AC e-bike

For those who want the best of both worlds (seamless connectivity as well as electric power), AC e-bike marks as a perfect pick. Designed creativity for clean travel in the future, the eco-friendly bike offers you great performance through electric power and smartphone connectivity. Featuring a slim and lightweight chassis, the concept bike lets you connect your smartphone to experience autonomy, GPS locator and other exciting features. To talk about the former, AC e-bike delivers autonomy of up to 50km at 40km/h.

4: nCycle

Another cool concept electric bike that looks promising for the digital age and great for the future is nCycle. Designed for people who don’t want any conventional tabular frame, the lightweight bike catches attention for its super lightweight; hallow shell and trendy components that impressively hide the electric drive systems of the bicycle. The sleek electric bike, however, gets its ‘power to be folded in just two seconds’ has the lightweight – yes, we like it too! But, we won’t praise its integrated locking system any lesser.

5: Neo Volt

Last but not the least, Neo Volt bicycle undoubtedly makes it to our list for being extremely promising and concerned for the environment at the same time. The 20” green way to travel brings you spectacular ease of folding and high versatility for a complete enriched experience. While it is designed to fit easily to changes and requirements, its 250W motor and ability to run for 90km without any pedaling rightly makes it – one of the coolest and greenest electric bikes for the future!

While most generally stay swamped with designing advanced yet eco-friendly gadgets, a team of ingenious designers has gone a mile extra in ensuring environmental sustainability – but in a truly unique way. Well, an intriguing collaboration between Rion Philbin and Stevie Meder has now conceptualized ‘Street Seats’ – a competition entry for Design Museum Boston.

Designed for a nonprofit museum which endeavors to educate the globe about the significance of design in our lives, the environmental concept has been tailored specifically for sustainability and for Boston’s Fort Point Channel. The creative work, however, features a concrete bench embedded with piezoelectric buttons – whereby human interaction with the buttons will compress the piezoelectric technology.

Developed using innovative construction methods and eco-friendly materials, Street Seats basically creates energy each time someone takes a seat. While the integrated piezoelectric pad charges the organic radical battery and helps create a current, the uniquely conceptualized public bench anticipates to enhance the livability of the places and to sustain the environmental concern.

In terms of its meticulous designing, the concept incorporates an efficient battery paper which stores energy to power LEDs within the bench – whereby the LED lights would illuminate the bench in the dark. Although it’s quite uncertain when exactly this public bench will connect with nature and people in real, the unique Street Seats by Rion Philbin and Stevie Meder however is surely a talk of great public seating that focuses on environmental sustainability and creative designing.

There was a time when being green meant you were some kind of live in a field hippy, not something that the everyday home owner got themselves involved in. Then it started to become increasingly apparent that our world was suffering because of our actions on a global scale. Nowadays we are all aware and recycle our rubbish, install solar panels, buy natural or organic products when we can or just try to conserve what we one day may not have. This article only concentrates on making small changes to your bathroom to make it more green – and no I don’t mean giving it a lick of meadow tint pastel.

Reduce water consumption

The amount of water we use in our bathrooms is quite staggering, if you consider that one person may spray themselves with 15 to 30 gallons of water in their shower for a few minutes. Now multiply that by a family of four, including someone who stays under the stream luxuriating for fifteen minutes and you begin to see what I mean. Bearing in mind that everyone may do it all over again in the evening, anything that can reduce this flow such as modern controllable shower heads, filters or half flush toilets seems eminently sensible.

Even smaller walk in baths, designed for people with handicaps, can  be just as enjoyable, as you sit in half the amount of water, but it still comes up to your shoulders. Consider things like Premier Care’s “Simple Lift” system and economy easy access showers for anyone with physical difficulties.

Heat water efficiently

What about the old style electric boilers even with thermostats keeping a constant supply of hot water ready they often remained unused for long periods of time, reheating for no reason at regular intervals? Someone who has given it consideration may be able to adjust the settings economically, but most people don’t. New energy conscious systems provide instant hot water and can dramatically cut your electricity bills down to size. Initial costs may be high but think of the long term benefits to your bank account.

Use radiators economically

For some reason the bathroom is always the most naturally cold room in the house, radiators and heated towel rails consume electricity and need to be regulated to provide a cosy environment at specific times according to needs. It may even be worth looking into under floor heating or investing in insulation for the room to help retain heat. You need to make sure there is plenty of ventilation to prevent the onset of mould, mildew or damp but this doesn’t have to mean opening a window. Look at bathroom venting systems which keep the room airy without letting cold air in when you don’t want it.

Skiers and snowboarders who thought it’s almost impossible to have backcountry transportation may finally simmer down for a good reason that’s come their way. Well, a creative designer has just carved out ‘Sno-Trax’ – a small scale computer driven vehicle which aims at transporting skiers and snowboarders in backcountry locations.

Designed with unprecedented precision and flexibility, the vehicle embeds completely transformable interiors that enable injured skiers to be loaded inside for quick transport back to the resorts. Since Sno-Trax has been conceptualized to move four people including one guide, the computer operated controlled alpine vehicle shows great possibilities for ski resorts as well as for skiing conditions in areas surrounding the resort.

Integrated with autonomous technology including GPS, cameras and laser radar, the compact vehicle will also make it simpler to operate the chassis without the use of a driver. While Google is currently striving at developing this autonomous technology, Sno-Trax hopes to transmogrify the way vehicles could be operated minus any driver.

However, the interior space of the vehicle gets equally good points for ensuring supreme comfort and good sociability. Since the vehicle features four-people design, skiers or snowboarders can comfortably sit facing one another as opposed to forward. The computer driven Sno-Trax also integrates a foldable spine-board stretcher behind the rear seat – which can further be used during an emergency or when needed.

The vehicle provides good equipment storage as well to enrich the whole backcountry transportation. While the availability details are yet to be disclosed, the new vehicle for skiers and snowboarders undoubtedly looks impressive for transporting injured skiers or snowboarders back to the resorts. Indeed, a great attempt!

Things have just gotten better – especially for users who were rifling through the power of an electric motor in the form of an aesthetic vehicle with some added features. Alex Casabo, a renowned Spanish designer, has just conceptualized a unique electric bicycle dubbed ‘AC e-bike’ which includes connectivity as well as electric power for an enriched experience. Designed with high performance and trendy elements in mind, the bicycle sports a sleek and lightweight profile of a fixed-gear bicycle.

However, the designer has ensured the bike renders utmost efficacy and supreme performance with true ease. While the designing of AC e-bike also reveals an aggressive look, it can seamlessly be used for off-road riding as part of its extended versatility. But, what makes this bicycle stand truly distinguished from others on the market is – AC e-bike’s embedded smartphone connectivity and electric motor power.

Pretty interestingly, the electric bicycle merges elements of BMX and fixie styles with an efficient motor driven by a battery. By taking advantage of which, the bike will be delivering an autonomy of up to 50km at 40km/h. What’s more, the good-looking e-bike features LED lights both front and rear and offers users the freedom to customize their bike with a lot of colors and materials.

Making the creation even more fetching is the embedded connectivity power – which will enable users to facilely connect their smartphone to provide data about battery, autonomy and GPS locator. Well although it’s yet to be confirmed if AC e-bike will ever hit the reality, the bike is likely to remain as an interesting concept for now!