Seeing LEDs in use is no news anymore, but it looks like there is more to it. In 2008 Ingo Mauer managed to use for the first time OLEDs in a functioning table lamp. This has been made of OSRAM (Opto Semiconductors) and this is the organic version of LEDs.

The lamp that he presented has been made of tiles right from the OSRAM laboratory and it shows people the potential that this new kind of lighting has regarding illumination and designing elements.

(photo credit: www.oled-display.net)

The project got the name of ‘Early Future’ and it has been created without using concealing reflectors. All of the elements of the project have been presented to make people understand the way it works. There have been metal clips used to secure the OLED modules that have been placed in the stem, and the cables have been almost invisible.

Then another project has been realized and it was called the Flying Future. This is a larger object that is made of airy metal mesh with about 100 luminous panels being attached to it. Since the mesh can be bent, the lighting can be customized in almost any way.

It’s not only the shape that makes OLEDs special. There is a whole new technology behind the light. There are radiant surfaces that diffuse the light and so there is less shadow and less unnecessary reflections.

At the moment the technology is available only for the designer of these creations. The product that Ingo Mauer realized shows us that using OLEDs in the everyday life is more than possible and it is closer to us than we could imagine.

The OLED is actually a 10×10 cm tile that has a light output. The advantage besides being organic, is that the light emitted is homogenous and stable.

It’s not only table lamps that we can use the technology in, but also these new lamps could turn the skyscrapers into advertisement panels for night time able to function without any energy. Technically they will gather the energy during the day, store it and then use it at night.

The OLED tiles on the side of the buildings are fuelled by one if there sides that is actually a solar panel which is flipped, according to the time of day so it will gather the maximum energy output.

Wouldn’t it be just great to stop using all that energy for the LEP advertisement panels, and substitute them with organic OLED light? This is the way to go in case we would like a better world along with shinning building commercials.

The smart phones are loaded with applications and are loved for their crisp displays. These features drain a lot of energy and a smart phone user is perpetually hunting for power outlets. The smart phones may be extremely trendy but they also need to be recharged pretty often to keep them running.

The good news is that scientists have been looking for ways to help the batteries run longer or may be eliminate the need to recharge the phone externally.

UCLA Materials Science Department has made breakthrough in the field and have developed a way to keep the phone charged even when continuously in use – the phone will be designed to charge itself.

The more it is used, the more recharging energy it will create. It may sound unbelievable but science has managed to bring life to the principle.

A smart phone uses energy whenever its screen is lit up, which is every time the phone is being used.

The LCD display of a phone consists of two polarized transparent sheets. Pixels or liquid crystal molecules are trapped between the two sheets. Each time the phone is in use, an array of LED back light switches on.

The backlight passes through these sheets to make display possible and the polarized sheets absorb almost 75% of the light.

Scientists have taken advantage of this and have developed a photovoltaic polarized sheet. It converts the absorbed backlight into electricity that in turn recharges the battery. These photovoltaic sheets will also absorb light from the sun and any other light source.

Therefore, the only time the phone will not be charging is when it is lounging in your purse or pocket. The technology will soon enable not just smart phones but also tablet computers and other electronic devices to keep themselves charged.

Wysips have announced another breakthrough. They have a working prototype of a phone that is charged with the help of solar power. The phone has a mini solar panel that is mounted on the screen.

The solar panel captures solar or any other external light and converts it into electricity to provide energy for the phone. This could mean that later models will be able to eliminate the battery altogether implying a future of thinner phones.

The only draw back with the prototype is that the panel is small and does not produce sufficient energy to keep the phone running, thus requiring a battery back up. Of course that these steps of science are just the beginning but the world looks full of hope to the day when Wysips will be able to design phones that will be self-sufficient.

(photo credit: advancedsmartphone.blogspot.com)

Although we are living in a digital world, there is still need for printed materials. There are many different kinds of printers, but there is something that they all have in common: they use a lot of energy and paper. This is why some people think that the printers should go green as well.

Eco printer concept

This is a new kind of printer that is different from all the others because it uses a special kind of ink. The novelty of it is that the ink allows the paper to be reused by erasing the ink from it. The ink disappears in the moment when the paper is exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

This way the lifecycle of the paper is increased. People can reduce the amount of paper used for misprints, temporary handouts, unimportant documents and unused copies. This would represent great economy compared to the traditional printers.

Pencil printer

This is another one of the eco-friendly printers. The difference between this kind of printer and all the other ones is that this one uses only slate pencils. This means that the print on the paper can be erased and the paper can be reused.

Eco printer and eraser

This is one of the most interesting concepts that people have come up with so far. It not only prints the paper, but it also erases if needed. In order to make it work all you have to do is to feed it with scrap pencils and erasers. It extracts the ‘ink’ from the graphite found in the pencils and it erases with rubber made of the pieces.

Pre-Peat eco-friendly printer

This machine comes with a special printing head that makes buying printing consumables a thing of the past. There is a thermal head and only heat sensitive paper is used to make sure that people can print on the same paper over and over again. The best thing is that there is no need for ink either.

At the moment the only drawback of the printer is that it is extremely expensive, so it won’t be available to the general public for some time. Most probably it will be used by large organizations that have a lot of printing to do. At the moment it costs $5,517 and the paper used is plastic paper of which 1,000 pieces cost $3,300. All this might be more expensive than we can afford.

In case you are leading a green life and you are wondering how to choose sustainable home décor, there are few things you should consider carefully.

At first make a small research about the producers of sustainable furniture. There are many of them on the market, but you should choose very carefully and only buy furniture that is labeled as 100 percent sustainable.

Recently bamboo has turned to be a very modern material for home décor, not to mention it is also very rational; so you should consider choosing bamboo furniture as a good option for creating green home décor.

The bamboo has many advantages and one of them is that the furniture can be used longer than others that are made of simple wood. Cork is also an option, but alas it is not very solid for furniture, so you can use it for some home accessories.

There are shops, including online ones, which offer cork accessories that surely grab the attention with their beauty; so don’t hesitate to choose cork.

Rattan is the second best material, when it comes to sustainable furniture. Actually one of the most beautiful furniture in French style is made out of rattan, mixed with Dedon  fibers. The fibers make the construction of the furniture a lot more solid and thanks to them, the furniture has a longer life.

Usually rattan is very convenient for eco furniture, for it allows creating of ergonomic shapes and design. When it comes to sustainable homer décor, it also comes to shapes and appearance. Choose only furniture with ergonomic design for is lasts longer. Another thing you should consider is recycling.

Don’t buy furniture that cannot be recycled because otherwise you will harm the environment.

Also for a greener perspective you can simply choose recycled furniture. The items are very artistic and super sustainable for they are made out of reused items. Reusing is also a tendency, when it comes to sustainable décor. Actually it is one of the most preferable ways to keep the environment clean.

There is one designer that is specializing into creating new furniture from the old and used home items: Andrew Gregg.  His compositions are already famous, for being modern and yet very comfortable.

His latest furniture is a dishwasher drum table made out of reused dishwasher drum. The spiral shape is another reason to admire his collections.

Instead of throwing your old furniture, you can create new one simply by reusing things around the house. This actually is the best way to create sustainable home décor.

In 21^st century, the need of organic cotton surely isn’t just a whim. It is actually a necessity that is changing the world into a greener and better place. The producers of organic cotton in the U.S. are now facing real boom of this item, because the word organic is already a tendency.

When it comes to organic cotton, it is also about a transgenic technology, for this is the main system that is used in the process of producing convenient cotton.

The transgenic technology is the favorite technology for many farmers in the country, for it has its own benefits. One of the main benefits remain reducing of the costs, therefore so many farmers are up to it.

The bad side of the transgenic system is the damage to the environment, as well as the ground water supply and the usage of pesticides. This way the process of producing typical cotton is already dangerous, not to mention the cotton contains chemicals and toxins.

The so called BT cotton is also extremely harmful, for it is made out of genetically modified crops, which is still a problematic issue.  The only cotton that remains green and natural is the organic cotton.

At first you should find more information about the standard, when it comes to the real organic cotton.

The definition of organic cotton is yet simple. Organic cotton is only the cotton grown of materials and by methods that have low impact on the environment.

The green cotton agriculture is a whole new chapter in the eco diversity, for it is maintaining the soil fertility and it reduces the usage of toxic fertilizers and pesticides.  The producers of organic cotton in the world are now growing day by day.

According to the recent statistic, the production of organic cotton reaches impressive figures. Globally the organic cotton production reaches 20 percent over 2008 to 175, 113 metric tons grown on 253,000 hectares.

The impressive figure is going to be even more spectacular this year as the expectations are for double figures. The top producers of organic cotton worldwide are India, Turkey, Syria, China and the U.S. Nearly 222,000 farmers grew up the fiber.

In the U.S., the growth of organic cotton is strictly observed. Any plant is waiting for several procedures for getting the certification.

Officially the federal regulations in this matter are extremely strict – organic cotton should be grown without any synthetic or toxic fertilizers and only by natural methods.

Most of us stock plenty of chemical based cleaning products without knowing how hazardous they are for the environment. Another thing we don’t know is that they can be easily replaced with non-toxic environmentally friendly cleaning products. The only challenge here is to give up the convenience of commercial chemicals and replacing them with home made recipes.

It may come as a surprise that most of our cleaning work can be efficiently done by simple stuff that is readily available at home.

Baking and washing soda, lemons and vinegar can take care of most of the load, be it stain removals, deodorizing, disinfecting or general cleaning.

Non toxic and inexpensive these few products are not only easy on the pocket but they can also improve your home’s environment and make it less toxic.

It will also help the environmental cause. Every little step counts towards the goal and the first step towards it is using environmentally friendly cleaning products at home.

Start by looking under your kitchen sink or the place where you normally store your cleaning products. You will notice that most carry hazardous warning labels. They are labeled as poisonous or hazardous.

These chemicals need to be disposed off safely and that rules out your garbage or the sink. You need to send them to the local recycling center.

Now stock up with the natural environmentally friendly cleaning products, i.e. washing and baking soda, vinegar and lemon.  Instead of using sponges or paper towels, go back to the old fashioned rag.

An old t-shirt or towel will work great. When you avoid paper towels you help save trees. If you really need to use them, use recycled and non-bleached paper towels.

Baking soda is a great cleansing agent. It can be used to keep appliances like the refrigerator and microwave odor-free. It can be used in laundry to remove stains. It is the perfect cleaner to scour pots and pans.

A few tablespoons of this wonder ingredient, down the kitchen drain will not only unclog it but also get rid of any odors. A few teaspoons of baking soda in a sachet, when placed in the closet will keep your clothes smelling fresh. You can also use to improve the condition of smelly shoes.

Lemon can be used to remove laundry stains along with baking soda. The two together are great to fight kitchen top stains.  Lemon rinds in the garbage disposal along with a little warm water will freshen up the drain. Lemon juice when added to vinegar improves its cleansing qualities and also neutralizes the strong smell.

Use these environmentally friendly cleaning products to keep your home fresh and toxin free, at the same time save money too.

Living green is a process that envelops almost everything that is surrounding us.

Recently there is a theory that claims that people should live in harmony with the environment by adding sustainable home décor into their homes.

This theory isn’t only about the materials we are using for building sustainable homes; it is also about the décor we are using. Nowadays the market is full with products labeled as green, but when it comes to home accessories or furniture, there are really few companies that are offering sustainable accessories.

Decorating is always a challenge, especially when it comes to green decoration, but the Etsy’s Décor is praised as the best in this matter. Their website is also a place, where you can find sustainable home décor ideas and mostly the right accessories.

The eco-friendly goods for your home are made out of entirely sustainable materials. For instance, you can find amazing coat hooks that are made out of old silverware and bottle caps.

Surprisingly you can also update your home décor with recycled glass. Check out the workshops that are dealing with recycled glass, for they are offering amazing works of art. There are many examples of recycled glass made as an accessory, but Etsys Décor is offering collection of recycled glass dishes, which are another contemporary example of green decoration.

Furniture can also be green and it is not even that difficult to find fine examples. Pillows and table runners can be found in very different shape from what you thought and mostly – green, because they are made out of sustainable fabrics.

The green decoration is also a matter of imagination and experiencing with different sustainable materials. The green designers are now finding the unusual materials that can be labeled as green even more interesting than the conventional ones.

Moreover, the green accessories are made to represent the synchrony between the environment and the home decoration.

Recently even the tiniest details, part of the décor are replaced with green items that symbolize the nature.

The conventional home candles are no longer what they used to be, they are now green and made from soy. The linens and the curtains are also facing changes as they are made out of organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics.

Etsy’s collection is now presenting their green collection as a solution for the green lovers that want to live in harmony with the environment. All the accessories are handmade and their producing doesn’t involve any toxins or polluting materials and substances.

Green grocery bags are no longer just a whim, they are necessary and desirable for many that are seeking a greener way, even when they go shopping. Therefore, the green shopping bags are now a must.

There are many companies and big retailers that are producing green bags for their customers, but not many of them are exactly made out with the right ingredients. Of course, there is no standard for the green bags, but from what we know; a green bag can be labeled as green only if it is made out of sustainable ingredients.

The second requirement for a green bag is to be recyclable or at least reusable. The plastic shopping bags are already in the past as they are harmful and actually cause pollution to the environment.

On the other hand, the paper bags are not exactly the solution for the problem, because they are made out of trees and their recycling process is also polluting and it takes a long time.

According to a recent research, the best green bags are those made out of tapioca or bamboo. There is a company that is offering such bags. The Earth pack is producing grocery bags since 1989 and it can be called one of the biggest producers of the green bags in the U.S. The company has been into green bags more than 20 years.

Their latest bag is a real dream for the green lovers. The latest model is made out of tapioca, which is a super renewable source. Typically the tapioca is colorless, which means there are no chemicals involved.

Some producers are using chemicals to color their bags, but this isn’t very recommendable, because there are many toxins, involved in the process of coloring. Earth pack rejects the usage of chemicals; therefore their green bag is simply colorless.

Another advantage of their bag is the fact, it biodegrades in 10 weeks, which compared to others is a real miracle-some biodegrades for 1000 years. The Earth pack’s bag is totally reusable.

Recently even the trendy handbags are labeled as green. Many designers are using only organic materials for their handbags. Yet, the best option for those, who would like to have a green handbag, is one- searching online for companies that are working only with environmental-friendly materials.

When choosing your handbag, choose the material. Those from bamboo or organic cotton are praised as the best. Avoid too colored handbags, because they contain some toxins that are harmful and cause pollution to the nature.

In 21st century, living green is just a must. Most of the products on the market are related to the green life style, but when it comes to gadgets, there are still some doubts.

According to the experts, no matter how green is the particular gadget, if it’s electronic; it surely has its impact on the environment. Many professionals are advising you to avoid buying gadgets, if not necessary, simply because no matter what are you using, it is still harmful for the nature.

For instance, cell phones, alarm clocks, digital cameras and Play Station games are the common gadgets that can be found almost in each home. Their usage seem not so bad, especially if some of these gadgets are labeled as green, but if you use all of them, there is surely pollution undercover.

According to the recent statistic, even the green lovers can’t go without their favorite gadgets, but buying new ones isn’t exactly the right step to keep the environment.

New studies have researched that the average American keeps 20 to 40 gadgets on stand-by. This is sucking up energy, not to mention that there are gadgets that consume energy even when they are turned off. Televisions, home PCs, electrical toothbrushes, radios, phones, DVDs and others are called “energy suckers”, simply because those are the gadgets we leave on stand-by.

Therefore, as a step to greener future, try to buy only those gadgets that are essential part of your life. Another issue related to the green gadgets is the absence of a universal standard, when it comes to green electronics and gadgets. Most of the companies that are producing them label their products as green, but actually this isn’t the entire truth.

There is no entirely green gadget, no matter what the producers claim. We are often fooled by the biggest brands, because their names are somehow a guarantee that the product is green, but actually there are several official marks to recognize how green is the product you want to purchase.

The Energy Star mark is the official governmental license for green electronics, so you should buy products only with this sign.

Inform yourself for the official U.S. recycling programs. They are source of information, especially when it comes to electronics. Try to reuse your gadgets, because sadly – the electronics cannot be completely recycled.

Solar planter is an innovative invention by the renowned designer Kevin Cheng, which anyone who has installed at home can be proud of.

While most of us know that solar energy can be used in many ways, for instance in heaters, electric panels, cookers and even vehicles, we hardly spend the time, effort or money to get it installed inside home. It takes a lot of prodding and probably a significant change of behaviour for us to start making a change.

However, switching to solar power should never be shot down because soon, there will be a time when non-renewable resources will be too expensive and a lot less available to get.

The lack of resources will ultimately change our life and our level of comfort so it is smart to change before this happens.

In keeping with this idea of using the sun’s energy for creative innovations, Cheng has developed a solar planter.

A solar planter is installed near windows and thus can also be safely called a window box.

It contains a portion where you can plant the plants you want and beneath it there is a layer, complete with fittings and settings to make it a self sufficient plant pot.

In the solar planter, the light energy from the sun and also light from other sources such as bulbs in the house is used to operate a system which helps to gather water from the air and condense it to water the plants. A fan in the exit vent acts as a suction pump to gather moisture from the air by sucking in the air.

The solar planter can also record the water and light input to determine the optimal growth conditions of the plant. The device works on light energy which has a Peltier module that can be actually be called a thermoelectric pump.

Two sinks are present in the solar planter, of which one is hot and the other is cold. The first absorbs the heat from the environment and passes it on to the second, which then condenses the heat and create the necessary humidity for the plants.

The solar planter is an attractive device and with a creative mindset, it can be made to add beauty in the decor of your home. The plants will remain fresh throughout the day and will be given the right amount of light and water to help their proper growth.
In every way, Cheng’s product is innovative, smart and also green.