We’ve seen scientists use viruses to generate electricity in car batteries before, however a team from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) believes that they can use harmless viruses to convert mechanical or kinetic energy into electricity. In principle, a generator in the sole of your shoe could charge assorted gadgets on your person.

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Post tags: berkeley piezoelectric battery, electricity generating virus, kinetic energy, kinetic piezoelectric gadgets, piezoelectric energy, piezoelectric virus, piezoelectric virus generator, piezoelectric viruses electricity, U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Going to the gym is of course great for your health, but there are at least two things that we dislike about traditional fitness clubs: you have to exercise inside (which feels particularly silly in the spring and summer), and the machines waste energy when they ought to be producing it. The Great Outdoor Gym Company, a British fitness company, offers a solution to both of those problems with gyms that are located outside and use human-generated energy to power light installations.

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Post tags: "clean energy", England, exercise, fitness, great britain, Great Outdoor Gym Company, human generated power, human power, kinetic energy, Outdoor gym, renewable energy

Jólan van der Wiel unveiled an incredible set of stools shaped using magnetic fields and the force of gravity at the Dutch ‘Transnatural‘ exhibition during the Milan furniture Fair. The stools were made by placing a mix of iron and plastic in-between strong magnets that pull the material into unique and organic shapes. With their energy-efficient production method and wonderfully peculiar shape, these ‘Gravity Stools’ should be at the top of any Salone stalker’s must-see list.

Read the rest of Jolan van der Wiel’s Fantastic Stools Defy Gravity at Milan Design Week

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Post tags: "green furniture", dutch design, gravity, Gravity Stools, green home decor, Jólan van der Wiel, kinetic energy, magnetic fields, Milan Furniture Fair, ransnatural

Ever wish you could charge your iPhone while looking like a complete weirdo? Now you can, with the AIRE mask, a wind-powered device that captures the power of respiration and converts it to electricity via small wind turbines. At best it makes the wearer look like they’re living in a chemical war zone; at worst it’ll make you look like a futuristic Hannibal Lecter. But looks aren’t everything!

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Post tags: "wind turbine", AIRE Concept, AIRE mask, iphone charger, Joao Paulo Lammoglia, kinetic energy, mobile charger, renewable energy, wind energy

Many people have had a hand in building a Rube Goldberg machine – whether for a junior high science class, a round of Mouse Trap, or while playing the classic computer game The Incredible Machine. But while we were tinkering away with 2D pulleys, a shoddy plastic cage and a rolling die, some individuals have dedicated countless hours to creating some of the most elaborate machines that do the simplest tasks in a complex way. We’ve rounded up 6 of our favorite mind-boggling designs that depend on a whole lot of creativity and kinetic energy to make magic happen. Hit the jump to see each of them in action!

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Post tags: best rube goldberg machines, cool rube goldberg machines, eco design, green design, kinetic energy, rube goldberg machine, Rube Goldberg Machines, rube goldberg science

The UK’s climate Change Minister Greg Barker announced today that South West England will soon be home to the country’s first Marine Energy Park. The park, once completed, will stretch from Bristol to the Isles of Scilly and will have the potential to generate 27 gigawatts of power from the waves and tides of the area by 2050 – the same amount of power generated by 8 coal-fired plants. The project will draw on public and private resources with a huge boost from the world’s leading wave energy research and development facilities located along the future Marine Energy Park’s coastline.

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Post tags: "clean energy", "sustainable energy", climate change minister, england marine park, future of energy, green energy, greg barker, kinetic energy, marine energy, ocean energy, southwest marine park, tidal energy, tidal turbine, uk marine park, viable renewable energy, wave energy, wave turbine

After an investigation into what he could do with gravity and magnetic fields, Dutch designer Jólan van der Wiel created these peculiar seats by fusing raw materials with the two natural forces. Called ‘Gravity Stools’, each seat is formed using a specially made machine that uses gravity and magnets, instead of electricity. Made from a mix of plastics and iron shavings, these fantastic sustainable designs are unique, low-impact and an inimitable explosion of color.

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Post tags: "green furniture", dutch design, experimental design, gravity, green home decor, iron shavings, kinetic energy, magnetic fields, plastic, techniques design, Zero energy

Frequent travelers rejoice! The more you lug your suitcase from place to place, the more power you can produce for your gadgets. Jung Inyoung’s rolling luggage not only stores your gadgets and toiletries, but also kinetically creates power for your laptop or smartphone.

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Post tags: eco design, gadget charging suitcase, green design, Jung Inyoung, kinetic energy, kinetic suitcase, renewable energy, sustainable design

Porsche just announced plans to develop a third generation version of its hot flywheel-propelled Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The company says that the third generation of the über fast auto will further refine its hybrid drivetrain, with the eventual goal of integrating the new-found technology into Porsche’s commercial vehicles. Although the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 was pretty impressive, it is expected that the Porsche team will attempt to lower the weight of the car and tweak the flywheel technology to try to get even more power out of the hybrid system.

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Post tags: automobile, electric vehicle, fast hybrid car, flywheel system, Green Automobiles, green cars, green transportation, green vehicles, high end hybrid car, hybrid drivetrain, hybrid race car, hybrid technology, kinetic energy, luxury hybrid car, new hybrid technology, porsche, porsche automobile, porsche drivetrain, Porsche Electric Vehicle, porsche flywheel, porsche hybrid, what is a flywheel system

Read the rest of Theo Jansen Debuts 3D-Printed Miniature Walking Strandbeest Sculptures Just in Time for the Holidays

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Post tags: 3d printed strandbeest, 3d printed toy, 3D printing, eco design, eco-art, green design, green holiday gift, green technologies, kinetic energy, kinetic sculpture, mini strandbeest, sculpture, strandbeast, strandbeest, sustainable design, theo jansen, toy

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Post tags: eco design, green design, green electricity, green energy, green products, kinetic energy, Laurence Kembell-Cook, pavegen, Recycled Materials, renewable energy, Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre

Read the rest of The Danish Design Center Shop Showcases the Best in Eco-Friendly Scandinavian Design

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Post tags: "green furniture", Accessories and Fashion, bicycles, copenhagen design week 2011, danish design center, Decorative Objects, DIY, Green Appliances, Green Design Events, green lighting, green materials, green products, kinetic energy, water issues

London, New York, Paris – what do they all have in common? Apart from being among the world’s most energy-hungry cities, they all have underground subway systems. These public transport systems help millions of people each day to get to and from work, but what if they could also be used to help power these metropolises? Vycon Energy, who makes industrial flywheels, believes that they can tap the immense amount of kinetic energy carried by moving subway trains to subsidize city power systems. Not only would this reduce emissions, but it would also help to avoid peak power emergencies.

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Post tags: harness energy, kinetic energy, regenerative braking, subway kinetic energy, subway systems kinetic energy, subway trains, vycon energy flywheels, vycon energy regenerative braking, vycon energy subways

Soon, you may be able to jog your way to a charged cell phone. Conceptualized by Tom Krupenking and Ashley Taylor, the Instep Nanopower fits snuggly in the sole of your sneaker, and with each step the device harvests the kinetic energy created. The collected energy from your moves could later be transferred to power your phone!

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Post tags: Ashley Taylor, eco design, Gallinstan, green design, Instep Nanopower, kinetic energy, personal kinetic device, sustainable design, Tom Krupenking

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Post tags: "green furniture", beehive, Decorative Objects, design tool kit, DIY, felt pod, Gardening, Green Appliances, green cleaning, Green Design Events, green kitchen, green lighting, green materials, green packaging, green products, green resources, humanitarian design, kinetic energy, locally produced, London, london design, new designers, no glue no screw, recycling / compost, renewable cork, slow cooking, Sustainable Materials

On July 21st, at approximately 6:00AM, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will land signaling the end of NASA’s 30 year-long Space Shuttle Program. During its 30 year run, the world has seen the five shuttles (Enterprise never flew in space) complete 135 missions taking satellites into space or aiding in the construction of the International Space Station. Atlantis’ final mission will mark the end of an era, and to celebrate the event we’re taking a look at the amazing eco-facts you never knew about the space shuttle.

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Post tags: hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fuel cells, kinetic energy, nasa space shuttle, space shuttle atlantis final flight, space shuttle eco facts, space shuttle environmental impact, space shuttle facts, space shuttle final flight, space shuttle fuel, space shuttle hydrogen fuel cells, space shuttle kinetic energy

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Post tags: "green furniture", Art, beehive, biodegradable materials, biomimicry, Botanical, central st. martins university of london, degree show, Design for Health, eco-design toolkit, Gardening, Green Appliances, green graphic design, green interiors, green products, green resources, green technology, humanitarian design, Interactive Objects, kinetic energy, locally sourced materials, London, london design, mud houses, New Materials, pedal power, recycled art, recycling / compost, scrap wood, social design, Sustainable Materials, Urban design, vertical garden, Zero energy

Attending school everyday has never more eco-friendly and fun! Dutch company De Café Racer developed a pedal-powered school bus that turns going to school into a happy, healthy and cooperative experience. This friendly and bright vehicle can accommodate up to ten kids and an adult driver, and even features a music player to blast all those sweet school bus tunes. The bus also comes equipped with an auxiliary electric motor just in case kids get tired. And if it starts raining, a sailcloth roof can easily be mounted to ensure the kids arrive at school nice and dry.

+ De Café Racer

Via Bicycle Design

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Post tags: dutch design, green transportation, kids vehicle, kinetic energy, pedal powered vehicles, school bus

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Post tags: "green furniture", airport park, Design Academy in Eindhoven, dutch design, eco-travel, good air quality, Green Appliances, green interiors, green lighting, green technology, kinetic energy, LED lamps, mixed reality, pedal power, schipol airport amsterdam

Read the rest of Solar-Powered Piezoelectric Sports Stadium Breaks Ground in India

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Post tags: biomimicry architecture, eco design, green design, India, kinetic energy, piezoelectricity, pneumatic panels, solar panel, Solar Power, Sonia Gandhi, Sports complex, Studio Symbiosis, sustainable design