An electricity meter that resembles an ordinary kitchen clock. Designed to make energy awareness a part of everyday life, the clock “visualizes the daily energy rhythms of the household and reminds us of the ordinary kitchen clock, both in form, place and use.”

Some further information from The Interactive Institute:

‘Energy AWARE Clock is designed to make energy awareness a part of everyday life. The clock visualises the daily energy rhythms of the household and reminds us of the ordinary kitchen clock, both in form, place and use.

If, for example, the dishwasher is switched on it shows immediately on the display of the unit. Yesterday’s graphs fade away slowly and today’s consumption is drawn on top of previous days, making it possible to compare your energy use for several periods.

Energy AWARE Clock is wirelessly connected to an energy meter.’

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For many families, the kitchen is the room in the house where the most energy is consumed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting, refrigeration and cooking are responsible for almost 50% of a home’s energy consumption. Add dishwashers, fridges and washing machines, and you’ve got an environmental hot spot…

Using environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycling and using biodegradable bin liners are just a few ways families are going green in the kitchen. However one of the most important, and significant changes many households are making is buying and using energy efficient kitchen appliances.

There are many companies who are now making eco friendly appliances for the kitchen. Some appliances are even made to work together collectively to achieve energy conservation - Some of them use the water and heat to fuel other appliances or features. New ideas include making use of the heat from a refrigerator’s compressor to provide hot water for the kitchen and potentially save you 25% on your heating bills as well as help with energy conservation.

Did you know that many of the newer, more energy efficient dishwashers use less water than old models? Additionally, many of them are engineered so that you don’t have to waste additional water rinsing your dishes before you place them into the dishwasher. When buying an energy efficient dishwasher, choose a compact model, and remember to run it only when it’s full to help save both energy and water.

Do you still use an oven that requires preheating? Most newer models have made preheating a thing of the past, thus just one of the ways energy efficient ovens can help you reduce energy consumption. And remember, when it’s time to use the oven, always try to cook more than one dish.

Energy efficient appliances can save you between 10 – 50% in monthly energy costs. So by purchasing energy efficient appliances you’re not only doing your part to help protect the environment, you’re also saving a substantial sum on energy costs too.

The following are some high-impact green kitchen design ideas:

1. Energy-Efficient Kitchen Appliances

Advanced technology now means that appliances can use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models so look for the Energy Rating when considering your refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine purchases for the kitchen remodeling project.

* Refrigerators
Refrigerators are the second-biggest energy hogs in the house (heating and cooling systems are first). If you’re replacing an older model, find one with the Energy Star label (which designates appliances that use 10 to 50 percent less energy than standard models), and don’t buy a bigger fridge than you really need.

* Induction Stoves
Induction cooking uses electricity to produce a magnetic field that reacts with the ferric content in stainless steel, cast iron, and enameled steel cookware. This excites the molecules and produces heat. The cookware (and therefore the food) gets hot, but the stove-top doesn’t. Less heat is wasted and the food heats faster, saving time and energy. Induction cooking is about 90 percent energy efficient as compared to gas and electric radiant, which are 50 to 60 percent efficient.

* Dishwashers and Washing Machines
Use a full load in your dishwasher and washing machine. If you are thinking of buying a new washing machine, make sure you buy a water efficient model. They will cut your emissions in half!

2. Other Important Features

* Stained Concrete or Indigenous Stone Kitchen Counter-tops
Your kitchen design should include materials that are durable and water-resistant for both counter tops and back-splashes. Stained concrete uses non-toxic, natural pigments rather than surface-applied stains. Many types of indigenous stone are available and can come from salvage sources. Make sure they are adequately sealed to prevent staining.

* Waste Disposal machines
These are ideal for reducing the physical amount of food waste down to small pieces. Then start a compost bin or wormery where worms can compost down the food waste more efficiently. Use the compost on your houseplants or garden.

* Kitchen Recycling Center
Look for sets of kitchen recycling bins that allow you to easily separate trash – paper, food, bottles, plastics, etc.

* Energy-Efficient Task Lighting and Lighting Controls
Kitchen designs often include two or three light settings such as general, task lighting, and mood lighting. Maximize natural light wherever possible and low voltage systems for task and mood lighting.

* Eco-Friendly Kitchen Flooring
Products manufactured from renewable forests can provide you with a beautiful, affordable and durable floor – and an environmentally responsible choice. Bamboo, cork, and eucalyptus mature in roughly half the time (or less) that it takes hardwoods, grown in colder climates, to reach market size.

* Wall Insulation
Nothing improves the comfort and energy efficiency of a kitchen more than plenty of insulation in the exterior walls. To add insulation to existing kitchen walls, blow fibrous insulation material – fiberglass or natural materials like cellulose and mineral wool – into enclosed wall, floor and roof cavities. “Dense packing” the insulation inhibits air circulation within the cavities, thereby eliminating a major cause of condensation, moisture problems and air leakage.

* Kitchen Windows, Doors and Skylights
Well-designed windows and skylights can lighten the feel of a kitchen and save on fuel bills as well. Ensure the products used have low heat emission glass with solar shading, which increases the room’s comfort, protects items from sun damage and reduces condensation on windows.

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Chinese designer Daizi Zheng has created a conceptual mobile phone for Finnish brand Nokia that could be powered by sugary drinks.

Zheng proposes that the phone could run on a battery that uses enzymes to generate electricity from carbohydrates.

From Daizi Zheng:

Eco-friendly phone for Nokia

‘This is a client project for designing an eco friendly phone for Nokia. Through out my research, I found that phone battery as a power source, it is expensive, consuming valuable resources on manufacturing, presenting a disposal problem and harmful to the environment.

The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment.

Bio battery is an ecologically friendly energy generates electricity from carbohydrates (currently sugar) and utilizes enzymes as the catalyst.

By using bio battery as the power source of the phone, it only needs a pack of sugary drink and it generates water and oxygen while the battery dies out.

Bio battery has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable.

Meanwhile, it brings a whole new perception to batteries and afternoon tea.’

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French designer Philippe Starck, creator of chic hotels, high-tech lamps and modern-style furniture, has turned his attention to energy with the design of two sleek micro wind-power turbines aimed at domestic use.

Starck on Wednesday unveiled the “Revolutionair” turbines, made by Italy’s Pramac, which makes power generation equipment, after two years of work on the project.

The turbines, which will be made in the Tuscan city of Siena and can be placed in the garden or on the roof, consist of the quadrangular 400W WT model with a power output of 400W and the helicoidal shaped 1KW WT, which can generate power of 1 KW.

Their Italian reference prices will start from about 2,500 euros ($3,515) and 3,500 euros respectively.

“We have to help people to produce energy, to be part of the fight,” Starck told a news conference at the unveiling in Milan.

“Energy should not be a punishment, we should create a desire (among people to produce it).”

Starck is famous for interiors that have included the private apartments of former French President Francois Mitterrand as well as products such as transparent chairs and the spider-like Juicy Salif fruit juicer.

Via: www.reuters.com.

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The Canadian province of Ontario will now issue special license plates to sustainable cars such as plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. The new plate is part of the province’s plan to have one out of every 20 vehicles be electric by the year 2020.

The final design was selected through an online poll with over fifteen thousand votes. The plate will begin to be issued in 2010 and will allow users to drive in car pool lanes until 2015 even if only one person is in the car and use priority parking spots at select locations.

The plate uses a green color scheme and depicts the province’s official flower, the Trillium.

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Liqui Design are a new design practice, based in the UK, who design and make innovative, statement furniture and lighting. As far as possible they make things that have a minimum impact on the environment and this is often reflected in their choice of materials such as paper and cardboard.

‘The ‘Bagalight’ is one of Liqui Design latest eco-friendly products. The design brief was to design a lighting product that was non-harmful to the environment in its production or use although the ‘Bagalight’ is used on a mains powered light fixture it can only be used with an energy-saving bulb which gives people no choice but to be kind to the environment while still owning a unique stylish product.’

Available via: www.mydeco.com.

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Artist Sighn has made fifty sets of fluorescent-painted cutouts saying ‘IT’S OK‘ as part of his ‘limited’ edition of one million.

Sighn began cutting the pieces by hand from scrapwood in his workshop last year.

‘Every single one is solid wood (no plywood or particle board) and is hand cut by me. It should take me about 60 years to finish this ‘limited’ edition.’

‘I’ve been working away on the project, and close to cutting 5,000 so far,’ says Sighn.

‘I know I have a ways to go, but it’s such a fun process.’

The fluorescent editions are numbered 4,191 to 4,440 and are available in sets of five from Multi Polar Projects.

For every piece sold Sighn plants a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation.

The face of each piece is painted in a fluorescent color. The Florescent 5 Set includes: Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, & Yellow.

Watch a movie about the process here.

The entire set of 5 (Price: $75.00) is available here.

Pick one (Price: $20.00) up here.

With the demand for electric vehicles increasing with every passing day, researchers and designers are focusing on a completely different issue – electricity to charge all those electric vehicles. Finding green sources of electricity and harnessing them to power the green vehicles is what the world needs today…

Industrial designer Neville Mars has tried to solve the problem by designing a unique car port where cars will be kept cool under the shade of solar panels, which will also generate electricity to charge the EV’s parked under. Solar Forest, as Neville refers to his design, incorporates a wide array of solar panels that function as trees to harness solar energy and provide shade at the same time.

Solar panels are mounted on poles, which carry power outlets. Whenever you park your EV under any of these poles you can directly connect your car to the socket for a green recharge.

More pictures: www.burb.tv.

‘This set of dinosaur-shaped utensils includes one of each fork, knife, and spoon. They’re made from organically-grown bamboo with no bleaches or dyes. And measuring at 5.5″ long, they’re designed for small hands and mouths.’

MANUFACTURE
Handmade by Bambu in China. Bambu works only with manufacturing partners who demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, environmental protection and fair labor practices.

MATERIALS
100% organically-grown bamboo, non-toxic water-based adhesive, natural lacquer (derived from the cashew nut tree), food-safe polyurethane

SUSTAINABILITY
Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource.

Price: $9.00

Via: www.inhabitatshop.com.

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‘Invisible Streetlight’ emits light at nighttime by saving energy from sunlight during the day.

The most innovative element of ‘Invisible Streetlight’ is that it does not require a support because the flexible body in the shape of tree branch is directly installed to the trees lining a street.

Installation is simple in parks and outskirts of urban centers. Also, Invisible Streetlight does not spoil scenic beauty of the surrounding areas.’

For more visit: www.coroflot.com.

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