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Alternative energy sources are the foundation to a sustainable future.  We talk a lot about wind and solar power – for good reason, but there are plenty of other feasible (and not so feasible) options to consider.  In previous posts, we’ve looked at  the potential of tornados as alternative source energy and explored the simplistic awe of human power.  This post will cover a few more alternative power solutions that could play a role in the future of energy – from chicken feathers to ancient mudstones…

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A University of Leicester postgraduate student is researching the viability of 300-million-year -old mudstones as a new source for alternative energy.  The ancient sea deposits are exposed throughout various parts of England and could produce shale gas in quantities 3 to 4 times higher than sandstone reservoirs. 

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The waste heat generated during the cremation process is already being explored as an alternative energy source in Sweden.  The Halmstead crematorium produces enough excess heat to not only keep the building comfortable, but to warm up the entire town.  Other crematoriums are using the dead to warm the mourning as well, including a facility in Manchester, England.

Human power is a readily available and abundant alternative energy source that has amazing potential.  Energy harvesting floors within a Tokyo rail station are turning steps into power – enough to operate the ticket gates as well as the station’s display signs.  Floors that harness the power of people are also in use in European dance clubs.

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Women – especially those with larger chests – can take the potential of human energy a step further with a bra that captures the power of breast motion.  Adrienne So discussed the possibilities of breast of an iPod-powering bra with a few experienced scientists and found that nanowire clothing may not be too far fetched and kinetic-generating straps may be feasible as well.  While an energized bra may be useful, it may not be too comfortable!

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Tiny coal eating bugs could be an alternative source for energy too.  The bacteria isn’t new, but was recently discovered about a mile beneath the ground and can break down coal into methane.  If predictions are true, the bugs could put an end to traditional coal mining. Instead, coal would be exposed to the bacteria and the methane byproducts could easily be skimmed from the surface for use.

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Chicken feathers could have an important role in our sustainable future as well – not directly as an alternative source for energy, but to store hydrogen to power vehicles.  The US produces about 6 billion tons of chicken feathers each year, introducing an extremely cheap renewable resource if the technology proves efficient.  Besides hydrogen storage tanks, the feathers could also be used to make auto parts, circuit boards, and maybe even clothing!

6 Intriguing Possibilities for Alternative Source Energy is a post from: Ecoble

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While wind and solar power may not be the complete solution to a green energy future, these 2 sources of clean, renewable energy definitely have some amazing potential.  From off-grid homes and gadget chargers to bike helmet generators and fully-functional campers, there are already plenty of awesome applications for wind and solar power and just as many other unbelievable ideas to come…

Reminiscent of days gone by but with futuristic flair, the Westfalia Verdier solar camper doesn’t appear to have made it to the production lines but is an awesome concept regardless.  Using GPS technology, solar panels power the camper van when you’re ready to camp – lowering the vehicle onto the wheels to increase stability.  The pop-up design will accommodate a family of 4, but the proposed $69,000 price tag might be the holdup on getting this cool camper on the market.

This has to be the geekiest concept ever for a solar gadget charger – a solar necktie, complete with a built-in pocket and adapters to keep your favorite gadget safe while it charges.  The small solar panels create an intriguing design for the tie but I wonder how comfortable it would be with an iPod stuffed in the underside?

We’ve seen a few solar powered cars already, as well as a couple wind powered vehicles, but this intriguing concept by RORMaxx combines both wind and solar power into one amazing car that may actually see production later this year.  The Formula AE is designed to be a wind and solar powered race car, boasting a top speed of 155 mph, with a layer of solar cells and an innovative energy recovery system using intakes and turbines to store additional power.

Similar to the Hymini wind powered gadget charger we’ve featured before, the K3 offers solar and wind energy to power your portable devices.  This off-grid gadget charger is compatible with most rechargeable handhelds, including phones, cameras, and iPods, and will charge the typical cell phone 5 times when the K3 is fully powered (and it’s a bit more appealing than the solar tie above).

Creatively artistic and completely renewable, these street lamps produce 380 watts of power with nothing more than sun and wind.  Solar panels and a small wind turbine are masked amid the creative design of the hybrid street lamps by Urban Green Energy.  LED bulbs increase the lights’ efficiency and the company will customize the posts to suit the area where they will be installed.

The latest addition to China’s skyscraper skyline is an eco-friendly tower powered by the wind and sun.  The Austrian designed Shenzhen Tower will house businesses, meeting rooms, recreation facilities, and residences within it’s 49 floors and is created to provide natural ventilation and shade to increase efficiency and reduce China’s dependency on nonrenewable resources.

Forget electric motorbikes – a wind-powered helmet can create enough juice to operate headlights, turn signals, and tail lights!  Three Cheng Shiu University students came up with the light-powering helmet, using 5 small turbines to generate electricity while the bike is in motion.  Four batteries store the energy and then transmit power to the lights.  Plans to reduce the weight of the helmet are in the works, with hopes of public production in the future. 

Image by Michael Jantzen

Completely off-the-grid and totally recyclable, the Homestead House makes the most of solar and wind power.  The futuristic prefab, designed by Michael Jantzen, is still a concept but definitely one worth considering.  The house is made of recycled steel, is low cost, and easy to customize.  A small wind turbine and a series of solar panels provide the off-grid home’s energy, while utilizing passive solar technology to control the climate and the unique arched shape to harvest rainwater – a simply awesome use of wind and solar power!

8 Awesome Uses of Wind and Solar Power is a post from: Ecoble

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We’ve highlighted some amazing options for sustainable boating in the past, including the creative solar-powered bicycle boat pictured above.  In this post, we’re bringing you a few more examples of eco-friendly watercraft – a few of which are available, or will soon be available to the public!  From solar power to electric, there are some exciting innovations on the horizon for sustainable fun on the water…

The Nereus is a concept designed by Mathias Koehler for a wind-powered personal watercraft.  Using a kite to make the most of available wind, the jetski-like watercraft is designed to bounce across the waves at ‘relatively high speeds’ and also submerge beneath the water for short periods. 

The EcoWatercraft is the very first electric jet ski, created by the American-based company of the same name. The emissions-free personal watercraft has already been tested and will reach speeds near 50 mph on open water. The Eco will provide 90 minutes of fun on a full charge and the electric motor offers extremely low-maintenance. US customers will be able to enjoy the electric jet ski – manufactured in a renewable energy-powered facility – sometime in 2010 for a price of $32,000.

Eco-sailor Kenichi Horie received the Special Award of the Naomi Uemura Adventure Prize in February, 2009 after several amazing eco-friendly boating expeditions.  In his latest voyage, the Suntory Mermaid II – a wave-powered boat – sailed across the Pacific, from Hawaii to Japan, in 2008.  The ship features a series of solar panels and was constructed out of recycled aluminum, but is primarily powered by the movement of the water it propels.

The Aqua Watercraft is the winner of the 2008 IDEA Design Awards and is an intriguing concept of a submersible electric-powered watercraft.  Joystick controls, oxygen supplies, and even water pressure monitoring were integrated into the futuristic single passenger design.  The Aqua is an option for underwater living in the future and provides a sustainable mode of transportation both above and below the ocean’s surface.

Buffalo Solar Boats, formerly Tamarack Lake Electric, offers 2 models of solar-electric watercraft.  The Loon is their newest option, featuring twin electric motors that are assisted by top-mounted solar panels.  The Loon is an 8-passenger boat, similar to a pontoon, and requires no gas for operation.  The company also sales used electric boats, a selection of inflatable electric watercraft, and the 30-passenger solar-electric Osprey.

5 (More) Extraordinary Examples of Eco-Friendly Watercraft is a post from: Ecoble

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From people-powered gadgets to gyms and dance clubs operated by human energy, Ecoble has featured a number of fascinating human-powered innovations in past posts. Technology is advancing so fast, it’s time to highlight a few more intriguing ways people are making use of the power of humans.

Is it a bike? Is it an RV? It’s the Human Powered Housing Project that Brian Campbell calls home! The 15-foot bicycle boasts a large shade canopy, a motorcycle-style windshield, and a place to sleep – all transported by pedal power.

Created by Alex Gadsden, the Cyclean is a pedal-powered washing machine that runs on 100% people-power. Visit the Cyclean forum to discuss plans to make your own or check out Homeless Dave’s version of the human-powered washer.

The 32-passenger pedal bus was created a few years ago by technology students in the Netherlands. The bus was built on a truck frame and uses 80m of bicycle chain!

Watch a movie, cool down by the breeze of an electric fan, or create a personal umbrella-planetarium while relaxing in your favorite rocking chair. The rocking chair generator was designed by three students in a quest to produce energy in a “silent and recreational environment”. This invention has lots of potential – even the little ones can rock away to produce their own power!

There’s no need to rely on sun or wind with this human-powered laptop charger. Soon to be released by Easy Energy, the YoGen Max is a classic foot pump that delivers a charge to your computer with each step. An optional rechargeable battery pack can store your kinetic energy for a less-tiring experience.

Leave the solar chargers at home on your next backpacking journey – a team of mechanical engineering students designed this energy-harvesting backpack to serve a double purpose. Electrodes and nanotechnology are used to create unique straps that store power with every single step. Twenty minutes of trail time equates to about 2.5 minutes of talk time.

For now, the Schweeb is a human powered monorail adventure ride at a New Zealand amusement park. Designer Geoffrey Barnett sees his creation as the zero-emissions public transport system of the future.

7 (More) Exciting Ways to Harness the Power of Humans is a post from: Ecoble

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World’s fastest wind-powered car – the Greenbird

Wind power is slowly finding a role in our sustainable future – and the possibilities are endless!  The United States doubled their wind-power facilities in 2008, now creating over 25,000 MW of wind-generated electricity each year.   But the potential of the wind as a renewable energy source reaches much further than typical wind farms – check out these innovative wind-powered creations…

Dubai receives plenty of wind throughout the year.  These intriguing residential skyscrapers are designed to take complete advantage of the wind available.   A wind turbine is housed between each level for a total of 48 turbines per building – generating nearly 12 times the amount of energy needed for the apartments.  Designed by Dr. David Fisher, the wind-powered skyscraper features 80 floors that rotate independently.   

Theo Jansen creates ‘kinetic sculptures’ that explore the many facets of mobility.  The wind powered robot pictured above is one of his creations.  Watch it in action below:

Wind-powered outdoor lighting is another possibility.  This innovative street lamp was modeled after traditional Dutch windmills, harnessing enough energy to light the night while storing power for less-windy days.

This wind powered gadget is the perfect camping companion.  The GotWind wind charger attaches easily to the top of a dome tent and stores power from the breeze to charge up your cell phone, iPod, or other portable device.

If you’re in the market for a wind powered gadget charger but prefer something a bit more portable, the handheld Hymini may be the answer.   The Hymini can capture power on your arm while you’re jogging or can gather the wind from the handlebars of your bicycle – the on-the-go charger can also store energy through a regular power outlet.

The Headwind Bicycle is a 3-wheeled wind powered vehicle designed by German professor, Gustav Winkler.  Winkler first thought of the concept of a wind powered bike at age 10, but designed the Headwind with the help of his students. 

Sony Ericsson’s Tower Tube is now wind-powered.  The Tower Tube was already the best-looking, as well as the most eco-friendly cell tower on the landscape – requiring 40% less energy than traditional towers.  Still in the testing phases, the wind-powered version may create enough energy for the tower to operate on 100% renewable power.

This wind powered record player was designed and created by artist Alex Baker, part of his Ear Trumpet series – and it works!

Oregon State University engineering students created this wind powered water heater based on drawings left behind by a late professor. The innovative creation was made in 2006 and was said to work, but the technology has still not made it past the initial design.

There are several different versions of wind powered cars, but the Greenbird is the fastest.   The car’s designer, Richard Jenkins, recently drove his wind-powered creation to a top speed of 126.1 mph – breaking the previous world record for wind powered vehicles of 116 mph. 

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Wind – 10 Innovative Wind-Powered Creations is a post from: Ecoble

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