Wind Turbine

Aard Concept

1. Aard Concept

This design came from a Finnish named Artu-Matti Immonen. He incorporated the two renewable energy resources in one design of a wind turbine. Both solar and wind energy is mixed in a set of three stylish generators. His design is based on the Aard concept which has minimized and attractive features. It is equally viable for both urban and rural areas. This device consists of eight photovoltaic modules. As soon as the sunlight hits the modules, the wind blows up and the module starts swaying. Thus it catches the wind current and converts it to electricity via a central dynamo.

The Wind Tamer

2. The Wind Tamer

Wind Tamer is another interesting design of wind turbine. As concern for wind turbines being an eyesore was raised, the Wind Tamer was made mimicking a flower. It has a green central housing, edged turbine with ribs which gives support to it. It has a very appealing effect to the eyes of people as the collection cone is clear white.

The Flag Flap VAWT Design

3. The Flag Flap VAWT design

This creative attention grabbing design of wind turbine was made by Greenpower Utility System of Diamond Wind Solutions. It is generally a vertical axis wind turbine. The company custom makes the color based upon the customer’s choices.

Israel Wind Energy’s Custom Design

4. Israel Wind Energy’s custom design

Israel Wind Power and Brothers Engineering Group joined hands to make and distribute these wind turbines in their locality and anywhere within their country. They are doing this business not only to generate wind power, but also as a means to resolve the long conflicts among Israel and Palestine. The designers have also made wind turbines with the colors of Palestine’s flag so that patriotism is invoked in both sides of the border.

The Siemens Superstar

5. The Siemens Superstar

This huge wind turbine illuminated the football stadium in Munich. It lightens up the area with the help of 9000 LED lights which can be seen as far as 30 kilometers. Though giant in size, it is surprising to note that it consumes a very small electricity like that of an electric dryer. It was made by Traxon Technologies along with Michael Pendry. It was initially constructed for intended for the Media Architecture Biennale 2010 in which the name of Siemens Superstar was given. It was also known as the world’s largest revolving media screen.

Golan Wind Farm Turbine Design

6. Golan wind farm turbine design

Assaf Frank, a popular print artist and an avid photographer took pictures of wind farms in the Golan Heights of Israel. The image show contrasting and contradicting colors of the wind farms which might seem an oddity, but posed a very artistic view.

Windwärts Rainbow Design

7. Windwärts rainbow design

Windwärts Energie is one of the most prominent names in energy supply in Germany. They generally endorse companies and projects which help in researching and finding different ways of electricity generation. In the Hanover Expo-Region Climate Protection Program, they teamed up with Patrick Raynaud, a French artist to make a wind turbine that has the features of a Christmas tree. It added to the festive atmosphere.

Berlin’s Wind Turbines with LED Lights

8. Berlin’s wind turbines with LED lights

Windmove, an art project for the public was taken up in Germany. It incorporated LED lights on the surface of wind turbines. A designer named Christoph Ernst made this design originally. The LED lights may look dull in the morning, but in the night with good wind speed, the lights create a brilliant effect.

The Lantern Style VAWT

9. The lantern style VAWT

It is another example of vertical axis wind turbines. Its compact and cute design resulted it being called lantern style windmills. A company named Qingdao Jinfan Energy Science & Technology Co. Ltd. created this innovative design. They worked with Qingteng International Trading Co. Ltd., for distributing them in variety of colors.

Black-Bladed Wind Turbines

10. Black-bladed wind turbines

These wind turbines, made up of black blades, are made by the company Lake Benton wind farm. Black color is used as it readily absorbs sunlight and helps to keep it ice-free.

With the progress of time, we will find more innovative and creative wind turbines being created which besides promoting people to take up non-conventional source of energy will also add to the aesthetic appeal of the common people. With these colorful designs, surely societies and people will switch to wind energy, thereby minimizing damage to our mother earth.

A greener kitchen

1. Materials used:

Choice of an appropriate cooking material is very much necessary. Though it is not very cheap, but its good to use stainless steel. Similarly, low quality wooden or plastic utensils are strictly prohibited because wood can rot and plastic melts in high flames.

2. Energy matters:

One should look for energy efficient models or replace old appliances which are basically energy hogs. There is a permanent fight between gas and electric burners. Both have a few advantages, like controlling temperature is easier in gas, whereas electric stove is the more energy efficient. In the electric inductions the coil material is very sensitive which gets energized very quickly and transfers electromagnetic energy, whereas gas stove takes much more time to transfer the heat and get cooled. But we can’t use all the metal cookware like cast iron, stainless steel, glass pots etc on the induction oven. This is the main drawback of electric stove. Another option is ceramic glass surface made of halogen elements which respond very sensitively to changing temperatures. However, the drawback with this material is that there is wastage of energy when the contact between the pan and hot glass surface is not good.

3. Right appliances:

Appropriate appliances increase the beauty of your kitchen and make it healthy. Meanwhile, it should be taken care of that they are easy to clean, consume less amount of water, do not contain hazardous chemicals or materials, and of course their energy star rating is good. After a certain time we all need to change our old appliances as they consume lots of energy. As an example, after 10-12 years a refrigerator starts consuming almost 3 times of energy than when it was new. Maintenance of the appliances is very important for efficient utilization.

4. Energy efficient cooking:

Preheating should be done before roasting or baking. It is good to use toaster oven for small dishes or microwave for reheating, which saves energy. We should also take care of the size of pots being used and the size of burner of stove. For example, a 6 inch pot used on an 8 inch burner wastes 40 percent of energy. Fitting lids of pots also reduces the energy wastage. Use of pressure cooker consumes very less energy.

5. Make it your own:

Making food yourself is preferable instead of pre-prepared frozen foods, because you can make your meal fresh and reheat or freeze it without losing its taste or quality. You can use baking soda and vinegar for washing your dishes or several things in kitchen. Seltzer siphon and carbonator could be used to fizz drinking water and a homemade syrup is the best thing to flavor it.

6. Buy good quality food

The quality of food you purchase must be checked like other equipment. It is advised to purchase foods like fruits, vegetables etc from your local market or directly from the farmer. The food items coming from a long distance may taste good but may not always be nutritious and hygienic. Specially the organic food gets spoiled in a very short time. As an example, off season foods coming from a very long distance are kept in preservatives, biocides etc which spoil the quality of food.

7. Have a lot:

If you can consume the things you are purchasing, then whatever you will do - buy or cook - do it in a bulk. It will save your time, less visits to the store, more efficient use of appliances, and of course the financial savings. As an example, a bulk amount of towels purchased for cleaning cars, can be used in kitchen; you can prepare soups to serve for two or more meals in one go and enjoy your leisure time!

8. No wastage:

Mostly a kitchen produces the maximum amount of domestic waste. To prevent this, you need to inculcate some eco-friendly habits like using recyclable bags and carrying your own every time you visit the market to avoid waste generated through packaging. Do not cook excess food, which you can not consume and have to throw away, recycle all the possible things like, bottles, bags, glass jars etc. Uncooked organic waste can be used as compost in the local farms.

9. Keep it clean:

There are lots of cleaning products and varieties now a days in the market. You can use market based dishwashing liquids, biodegradable, non toxic detergents, floor cleaners etc to keep your kitchen clean. You can also make your own cleaning products like using baking soda, vinegar etc.

10. Recycling and Remodeling:

Recycling and remodeling are the most important green tips for your kitchen. Starting from the floors to paneling, kitchen fittings or utensils - you need to choose them wisely such that they are recyclable.

Dynamic Art Pavillion

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Art Fund Pavilion

The shell, constructed from timber, allows for enclosure and protection of the internal exhibits

The structure of the shell has a perforated style. The shell’s perforations not only make the people inside the shell enjoy the interior, but also allow the outsiders to take a momentary or brief view of inside. The perforation also allows the sunlight to enter the shell thus giving it an incredible look. At night, the artificial lights can be used in the shell to make the inner as well as outer environment look marvelous. The setting up of such lighting environment will definitely add more beauty and attraction to the party, especially the one based on some sort of theme.

The basic advantage of the shell is that it can be transported and stored anywhere. However, it has a disadvantage, i.e., it can accommodate only up to 30 to 40 people. Nevertheless, for a short population party or for the formal events like meeting, presentation etc., it is the best option. The artwork is elegant yet purposeful. This wooden fabricated shell is a physical and scientific work, which leaves a long lasting impression on the people who visit it and watch it. It is a blend of creativity, ideas, and talent.

Via: Art-Fund-Pavilion

Pallet Lamps

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Pallet Lamps

Pallet Lamps by Michael Powers

This lamp is made up of simple paper pallet imbibing unusual cuts and tricks into the pallet. Beautifully restoring the original white color, adding gravitational cuts and soft lights, the lamp sits glowing magnificently bright. The crumbled paper pallet of 30 x 30 inches generally dumped is beautifully restored. The lamp is made up of recycled paper, recycled vinyl laminate backing and recycled lamp parts. Offering a series of such lamps from its niche collection of recycled pallets, Seizmic Design has redefined the ‘interior design’ industry. Not only the paper has been restored and recycled, but also the used lighting parts have been restored and put to use. This design enigma of recycled stuff is a milestone in the reused design category and is expected to draw huge attention. This one can surely adorn your bedroom/living room corners adding a touch of class to the ambiance.

Light up your home’s dull and monotonous corner, use it as night lamp or simply gift this exquisite art piece on special occasions such as anniversaries and house warming parties. Touching base on floor and throwing the light upward, it adds an extra dimension to your flooring. It can be as simple and as elaborate as you want it to be. This light goes amazingly well with your white painted walls or any white based wall paper. Just switch it on for your get-together and be the cynosure of all eyes. This will surely hog all the limelight.

Seizmic Design run by Michael Power, an industrial designer having a background in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, has come up with niche projects offering highly creative and distinguished designer pieces of furniture. Having taken the Design industry by storm, the venture is already the topic of hot conversations in design studios, major furniture and home décor merchants and even art galleries for that matter. Not only that, Seizmic Design has a concern for the environment too. Extracting nature’s essence and molding them into very contemporary and stylish designs, the Design House strikes a perfect chord with art connoisseurs. They create never seen before art objects which are not only good to look at but useful also. Living by the mantra of ‘imagination, possibility, reality’, this prodigious venture is sure to go far.

Via: Pallet lamps

Environment friendly crystal lamp

We often decorate our homes with objects of crystals. But they are too expensive. Plastic bottles could serve similar purpose. Let us tell you the gimmicks of the game. What we are talking about now is ‘making an alternative crystal lamp - using plastic’. Let us see how we can make this glittering crystal lamp.

Procedure

The first step to make this alternative crystal lamp is to create a stand lamp of steel. This should actually form the base of the lamp you are trying to create. It is very important to keep in mind the dimensions if you want to make a good crystal lamp. The height should be about 120 cm, while the width and length of the body of the lamp should be 30 x 30 cm. We use welded steel to make this frame work or alternatively use plastic wrap waste. After this, it is coated to avoid rusting. This step is followed by preparation of aqua bottles. On an average, 240 plastic bottles are required for creating this crystal lamp. You can easily get them from your scrap dealer or you might have saved them at home - so just have a peep in the godown before you move out - after all we are trying to create something ‘best’ out of the so-called ‘waste’. Make a small cut at the bottom of the bottles and then make the bottles hollow. Heat the bottles lightly to get a curve effect - avoid over heating or else it would cause pollution which would then again not serve our purpose. On the lamp frame that you had just created hang a plastic rope and attach all the aqua bottle molds that you just created. There should be two layers of this to get that glittery effect. Your alternative glittering lamp is ready. Now show off to others and feel good that you have done something for the environment.

Human resources

Minimal human resources are required to make this and, thus, you save a lot of money. The trash collector has the most important role to play here because all we need is trash bottles. Minimal use of technology is involved here. What you just need - is a little bit of perseverance and patience. And, of course, a great willingness to complete this project - which we are sure of because of your interest in reading this article.

Benefit

Following a market-based approach to solving social problems rather than a philanthropic approach is in trend these days. So, you need to find a market place to sell this product. Also, understand the customer’s requirement and try experimenting with this - may be different colored bottles and so on and this would help you fetch money. On the other hand, since a lot of rag pickers would be involved in collecting these bottles, they would in turn generate more income for themselves and also help in contributing to make this environment a plastic free zone.

Via: Recyclart/Sensatiocraft

Senescent Desk

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Senescent Desk

Senescent Desk is a self-sufficient gardening system

Senescent desk is created by Gothenburg, who is Sweden-based designer named Love Hulten. The idea behind Senescent desk is changing over time. The vegetation of Senescent desk is going to be flourished, even without the need of human.

In the designing of Senescent desk, untreated wood is utilized in order that the wood itself is changing over time because of the reaction with the environment. The garden made at the top of the table on the back portion of the table gives and shows a serene ambiance. This effect of serene ambiance would calm the most stressed-out person.

If you are having this desk in your office, then Senescent desk gives you natural surrounding feeling in your office. According to the survey, workers and employees working in such environment where they found plants and art around them are 15 percent more productive in comparison with those work in spartan spaces. Senescent desk gives Mother Nature’s touch with little modernity. Senescent desk requires no human interaction in order to flourish.

The most important and true aspect about the self sufficient garden furniture is that it is designed in such a way to make change over the time which terms as a interesting aspect about it.

Love Hulten has made use of untreated wood because it can be able to react in a strong manner to its inside environment. Senescent desk is ridiculously efficient and creates natural environment in your office. This project of senescent desk is a mini, lush self sufficient garden. It is not a zen garden, but it can be as well. Commercially, this project is not for sale. It gives an illustrative and creative way in a work space around plants and art that exists.

If some greenery are added to lift the spirit, Senescent desks need not to be drab workspaces as they usually are. Swedish designer Love Hulten integrates a small system called miniecosystem that completes with all features of gardening.

The concept of senescent desk is simple which creates relational and sensory overlaps within garden and user which is liked particularly in the library style light source. It serves plants as well as users.

The design of the Senescent desk encourages the biodegradable artifact nature. Anyone can love the aesthetic effect of the schoolhouse desk in a little educational manner like exposed rocks. This design is set up to low maintenance and is functional also in terms of lovely and hassle free way in everyone’s routine of work.

Via: Trendhunter

Efficient Lighting Project

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Efficient Lighting Project

Energy Efficient Lighting Projec

This is an attempt by Toby Fox, a graduate in product designing from DeMontfort University, UK. As part of his project, he has come up with an innovative table-top light cum torch prototype design that is not only economical but futuristic as well. The design, dubbed as Energy Efficient Lighting Project, consists of a single unit with a base that elongates diagonally to hold four pebble shaped pockets, four pebble shaped light bulbs and a power cord. The pockets hold the light pebbles and are made of neoprene (an elastic material) that can be forced inward or outward. The light pebbles can be detachable and can be placed with the pockets either facing inward or outward to suite your choice and ambiance. The detachable light pebbles can also be used as a portable light source just like a torch. The unit holds four light pebbles, thus provides four portable light sources at your disposal. The light pebbles as portable light source last until the charge, which can be recharged upon placing them back in the pockets.

The prototype is not only an attractive looking table-top lamp with customizable pockets and detachable portable light pebbles, but more importantly, is energy efficient. The prototype now requires a manufacturer to buy the design and make it commercially viable for consumers’ purchase. If successful, do not be surprised to find this at your nearby lighting store.

Solar-powered sprayer

Beleau’s new design featured a battery attached to a solar panel, which takes the place of the fuel engine in earlier models. (Replacing the need for fuel was often a dream come true for the farmers, with the price of oil steadily increasing.) The 12 volt 7 amp battery, if fully charged, has the potential to last for almost 8 hours. The battery can be charged overnight, which would make it easier for the farmers due to the sporadic and short-lived electricity they receive on a regular basis. During work in the fields if the battery happens to run out, the solar panels on the helmet can provide a secondary power source.

The sack on the sprayer can hold up to 16 liters but is designed so that it would be easier to carry. It isn’t only light enough for men to carry, but for women as well. This cut down tremendously on the drudgery that the work entailed.

Because of Beleau’s modification on the sprayer, there is less need for pesticides. The village farmers use wireless light traps to control the inevitable pest problem. Since the sprayer is powered by solar energy, it will aid the system to trap insects from eating and contaminating the farmland. This has cut down pesticide sprays by 50%, thus making the cost of cultivation more affordable for the farming community.

The creation of the improved sprayer has already helped village farming tremendously. The sprayer is much lighter than previous designs, thus making it easier to use.

After seeing Beleau’s demonstration, a farmer from Kolli hills seemed excited about the sprayer and called it a ‘boon’. The modified sprayer has certainly changed the way villages have farmed for the better. With only a few slight altercations, Beleau has created an optimistic new chapter in affordable farming technology.

Via: TheHindu