(Image via: Planetary Gear)

Now that Winter is drawing in, we start to appreciate the things taken for granted in the balmier months – such as well-sheltered bus stops. The good news is that the latest designs are more luxurious and more eco-friendly than the soulless gappy cubicles we known so well, as these three designs show.

(Image via: Planetary Gear)

Firstly, the solar-powered Eye-Stop currently being testing in Italy. It is comprised of a dazzling array of interactive screens that let you plan your route, check your e-mail and monitor local air quality. If you want to get updates on the move, you can synchronize your cell-phone with it to receive timetables and updates. As well as the walled & ceilinged version, the Eye-Stop will also come in pole form – which will glow brighter and brighter as the next bus approaches.

(Images via: Keetsa)

For areas with less than ambient environmental conditions, the new bus shelter by Trueform offers air-con (maintained at 20 degrees Celsius whatever the weather), electronic displays and even a washroom. It can be fitted without the need for costly earthworking – and all that techno-wizardry comes courtesy of solar power.

(Images via: Christopher Fennell via EcoFriend)

But if municipalities want to go for a lower-tech green option – what could be more appropriate than recyling buses and turning them into bus stops? Sculptor Christopher Fennell has taken three decommissioned vehicles and turned them into the above shelter in Athens, Georgia, with deliciously retro results. Buses become bus stops – so we have to wonder, is there anything that bus stops can become? Upcyclers, we await your suggestions (in an orderly queue, of course).

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Solar energy may seem freely available to anyone with the right tools to collect it, but there is still a price we have to pay – and it is geography. Researchers may be pushing solar cells technology to ever greater levels of efficiency, but even the current leader in the field captures less than half of the sunlight reaching it. To gather practical amounts of power, solar panels still need a huge surface area – so, still no good for our favorite modes of personal transportation? Not so, say these three cutting-edge vehicle designs.

(Images via: Gizmodo)

Problem: as you drive your panel-studded car around, your angle in relation to the sun changes and your solar cells fail to fulfil their (modest) potential. Solution? Change the shape of your car. The BMW Lovos concept car may look like it lost a fight with a combine harvester, but in fact all those metal plates are individual solar panels that independently rotate to capture the maximum possible sunlight, and even double as airbrakes. (Presumably they would require a lot of power – well, you see the problem).

(Images via: TechFresh)

Or you could stick to a more conventional design by flattening your vehicle and sweeping your solar panel in an unbroken arc over the top of it, as with the Quaranta from Italdesign Giugiaro. It looks gorgeous, but it is still a long way from being an electric car – that huge panel only collects enough juice to charge the battery and feed the onboard electronics. Under the bonnet the Quaranta is a cutting-edge 4WD 268-horsepower hybrid.

(Image via: Autoblog Green)

No, the designers of the SunRed solar powered motorbike do not expect you to squint through a tiny window as you gun your wheels down the road. The clamshell cover only opens out fully when the bike is at rest, providing an impressive 3 square metres of solar panelling. Nice idea if married with a bigger battery (this concept design only stores enough power to propel you 13 miles) and it focuses on the longest part of a vehicle’s life, the time it is at rest. So how about a design that blends all three of these innovations – and would it make garages a thing of the past?

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Regular readers of both WebEcoist and WebUrbanist are going to get a double-dose introduction today to the newly-launched Gajitz dot com, a fresh site from the founder of Webist Media. Ecoist fans are familiar with the timeless lists on far-reaching topics that are at the heart of this site. Gajitz, like Dornob (its sibling site focused on design), takes a bit of a different approach, covering more of the latest and greatest discoveries and inventions as well as creative transportation and world-changing vintage and retro tech.

In short: Gajitz brings you most sensational, educational and inspirational content featuring the past, present and future of gadgets, science and technology – from history-shaping photo-edits of centuries gone by to a just-discovered cure for color blindness to self-driving concept cars, space elevators and teleportation devices of the not-too-distant future.

The new site will feature two familiar faces/names: Kurt (often known simply as Urbanist or Ecoist on each of the two Webist sites) and Delana (a long-term veteran author and editor on both sites as well). Like its sibling site Dornob | Design Ideas Daily, Gajitz will be updated multiple times a day with relevant targeted articles on specific subjects – you will be able to sign up for the main site feed as well as following particular topics via main categories and category feeds: Gadgets, Science, Technology, Transportation, Vintage & Retro.

Any time we have news related to new projects within or outside of Webist Media, it is always essential to note how indebted these sites are to the core authors including Angel, Chris, Delana, Mike, Stephanie and Steve, who make this weird and wacky website work Click here to check out Gajitz, and be sure to follow up on Twitter, friend us on Facebook, subscribe to the new RSS feed and spread the word around the interwebs however else you wish. Once again, thanks for reading, sharing your thoughts and lending your support all along the way – you are what keeps us going!

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(Image via: maxblack)

Tire recycling is on a roll. Only a few decades ago, the world had little or no idea what to do with the hundreds of millions of scrap tires littering the planet – hogging landfill space, collecting stagnant water for disease-carrying moquitos to breed in, and causing epic flagrations that can burn for years. Now we live in eco-friendlier times. Recycled tires are (somewhat fittingly) being used to line roads, to make playgrounds safe, to prop up houses…and as these six examples show, to add quirky style to our homes.

(Image via: igreenspot)

Not only is tire furniture hard-wearing (having already been rolled for thousands of miles) – it looks and feels like nothing else. Could it be the next designer super-material? Sturdy enough to keep in shape, flexible enough to cushion impacts – and able to withstand any extreme of weather. Pictured above is a coffee table set, but surely this material is born to make garden furniture.

(Images via: recycoool)

But if you want comfort over durability – add a little air. Recycoool’s inflatable furniture is the work of Israeli designer Nir Ohayon, and consists of inflated inner tubes crossed with industrial strength rubber bands. The result looks deliciously comfortable, if rather startling.

(Images via: englishretreads)

Stretchy but unbreakable, waterproof and available in staggering quantities – why have bag-makers been using plastic and leather when recycled tire rubber fits the bill so exactly? These examples from English Retreads show how it should be done.

(Images via: le souk and Apartment Therapy)

Or maybe you want a durable alternative to ceramic? Tire rubber containers won’t chip or fracture, will flex as they get filled and will take any punishment you throw at them. Perfect for pots to throw your kichen utensils in, as with le souk’s Recycled Tire Bucket (left) – or these Eastern-style tubs and planters (right), fit for any use, any environment.

(Image via: BadAss Paddles)

And lastly…um. Well. What can we say? Apart from offering our congratulations to BadAss Paddles (sadly no longer in business) for their lateral thinking and their creativity…and also for taking the phrase “brand spanking new” so very literally.

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(Image via: Inhabitat)

Isn’t it about time airships took off in a big way? While report after report comes out condemning aviation as a grave threat to our natural world, the number of airline passengers worldwide is rising (set to double by 2030 in the UK alone). Surely we don’t need bigger airplanes or greener biofuels that save the skies but risk plunging the world into a food crisis. Why not rise above all of that with the oldest invention in the history of aviation?

There is no shortage of ideas for turning back the clock and ushering in a second age of zepplin travel. Everyone remembers how the last one ended – but these days, we aren’t so foolish as to fill our human-carrying vehicles with explosive substances (no, wait). Inert helium is cited as the safest way to get modern airships aloft – but we have come a long way from Hindenburg technology, and if we can render petrol safe to use under our very feet, surely cheap, versatile hydrogen has a place in our green future in the skies.

(Image via: Inhabitat)

From the sinuous Airbia (top), aiming to supplant commuter trains and gridlocked frustration, to the helium-filled Aeolus (above), modern airship designs are spectacularly other-worldly (looking like effects shots from ABC’s upcoming reboot of “V“) – and spectacularly green. For energy efficiency, it’s hard to beat a balloon.

(Image via: Popular Mechanics)

And all those acres of airship skin, lofted high into the air – what better place for solar paneling? Designs such as the Turtle Airship and the Aeroscraft (above and below) utilize layers of solar film to help generate power for the operation of the vehicle. In the latter case, the “air” (in fact helium) is completely conserved by way of being compressed, changing the lift of the airship and eliminating the need to take in more helium. Plans are underway for the Pentagon to view a test model.

(Image via: Business Week)

Downsides? Speed is the major problem, and a world of airship travel would certainly be a more leisurely-paced one. There is also the thorny question of weather. Fancy being in an airship during a thunderstorm? This is why designers are looking at the middle ground with well-powered rigid-framed dirigible hybrids (such as the Aeroscraft) offering powered flight and greater maneuverability. Could this finally be the design to capture the public imagination and start shifting those queues at the airport?

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It is one of mankind’s best, greenest inventions. It spearheads an industry that thrives even in the depths of a global recession. And…it is undergoing a shake-up. Our healthiest, eco-friendliest mode of personal transportation is enjoying the attention of the cutting-edge of design and material technology, not to mention a good dollop of the crazily creative. All rise for the ever-changing bicycle, as we explore 15 unexpected directions our two-wheeled friends are taking us.

(Images via: Disney and Gizmodo and Monkeylectric)

Last year, Disney unveiled a little project they had been working on called Tron: Legacy – and a hundred million blogs exploded. One of the most visually influential films of the ’80s is about to be sequelled, but now the question hangs in the air: if we’re so much more advanced nowadays, why haven’t we got around to inventing lightbikes for real? Happily, some people are working on it, and it’s not hard to see why – the idea is a terrific one. Why bother with headlamps when your bike is itself aglow? Monkeylectric’s LED-lit wheels (that can even display adverts) are a reality, but we may have to wait a little longer for Teague Design’s ‘Pulse’ centerframe to hit the market.

(Images via: Lightlane)

Another glowing idea: for urban areas lacking safe, reliable bike lanes, why not take your own with you? Lightlane uses laser light to lay bright lines on the road either side of your bicycle, encouraging car-drivers to take a little more care when they are overtaking. You can see how effective the concept is by watching the prototype trials here.

(Images via: Bergmoench)

Parking a bike is almost zero hassle (one of its most endearing features), but wheeling it about is another matter. When the going gets too tough, bikes turn from dream rides to cumbersome nightmares. That is, unless you have a Bergmoench. When your legs can’t take any more, shift the weight onto your shoulders – and that pack slung over the crossbar is indeed a fully-working rucksack.

(Images via: The Design Blog and NeonLug)

Unsurprisingly, this winningly practical idea has got the attention of these two designers, fighting over the name “Backpack Bicycle“. Lay your bets now.

(Image via: Yanko Design)

Integration is the keyword for modern bike design. Why bother with accessories when you can turn your trusty steed into the equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife? Take the descriptively-named This Bike Is A Lock. When you’re done cycling, clamp it onto the nearest post and you’re away. (Wannabe-thieves: you might want to go for the post, as it looks the easier challenge).

(Images via: gadl and velib)

Forget road clogged with taxis, spewing out pollutants and charging you the earth for the “convenience”. No – the way forward is the Beijing model, filling the streets with whirling wheels and keeping the air sweet-smelling. Paris has just undertaken a radical new step in this direction with its groundbreaking Velib bicycle hire service. For a dollar and a half a day (or a paltry $40/year), you get unlimited use of bicycles in 30-minute stretches, pedaling them between sensibly spaced hire stations. Europe and elsewhere, take note.

(Image via: Mail Online)

Bikes are not immune from the current commendable obsession with solar paneling. The Cycle Sol recumbent, daubed in a canary yellow that is so attention-grabbing that it has to be the safest thing on the road, is fitted with panels and a motor that charges up as you cycle through the sunshine. When you need a breather, on comes the motor, propelling you along at 15mph or lowering the resistance on the pedals to make hills easier.

(Image via: London Evening Standard)

Now we’re talking! This sizzlingly sexy beauty is the work of cycling pro Chris Boardman, and it’s packed to the pedals with gadgetry including a fingerprint-recognizing lock, puncture-proof tyres and yes, solar panels and a battery. Is Mr Boardman a Tron lightcycle fan? Do we really need to ask? And since it’s designed by an Olympic and world record holding cyclist, we presume that performance isn’t an issue either.

(Images via: Gelardi)

Wouldn’t it be nice if car-drivers were a little more aware of the fact that they shared the road rather than owned it? We have seen Lightlane’s response to this problem, but for a longer-lasting approach, meet Contrail. As you cycle, you leave a trail of colored chalk behind you – making your mark on the streets in both a literal and figurative sense. Cyclists follow well-wheeled paths to a greater sense of community – and car users become more aware that they’re not alone.

(Images via: Shweeb)

Cycling meets Futurama with the Shweeb: one capsule per rail, seven gears and speeds to raise the hair on your neck. Right now it’s a slightly crazy human-powered vehicle sport – but could this be a municipal transport system of the future? Nice to think.

(Image via: dznuts)

All these space-age building materials are very well, but human beings could do with an upgrade themselves. Yes, we are talking chafing. All cyclists suffer if they spend too long in the saddle, and…well, let’s not go into details, except to say that some areas recover slower than others. Which leads us to dznuts – people-mending technology in a tube. It serves as the first line of defense against chafing and infection – and it does it with an eco-friendly sheen, containing organic, Fair Traded ingredients free of animal testing. So go ahead, protect your junk (that is their slogan, honest).

(Images via: Mikael Colville-Andersen and Milton CJ)

Copenhagen sets the tone. The capital city of Denmark is a world leader in bicycle use: in the city’s Greater Metropolitan area, over a third of commuters head to school or work on two wheels instead of four. In the city centre, it’s the most popular mode of transport during rush hour. It is the perfect place for a shift in the thinking behind road-building – to make large-scale roads specifically for bikes, not just treating them as a transport afterthought.

(Image via: Copenhagenize)

Here is how it all starts. The city is currently building 13 bicycle “superhighways”, complete with fast lanes, pit-stops supplying air and bike tools, and straight routes in and out of the city without automobiles hogging the route and providing dangerous distractions. Across the whole city, connections of “greenways” or eco-conscious cycling routes are being woven together into a network that will cover over 100km. Want something similar in your neighborhood? Your local council is waiting to hear from you.

(Image via: Penny Farthings Pushbike Parking)

How much do you love your bike? Enough to build it its own little home? That’s the hope of Penny Farthing Pushbike Parking, who are the creators of the Green Pod, a personal bike park of the future. From the outside it looks clean-lined and pleasant, but hardly a marvel of innovation…

(Image via: Penny Farthings Pushbike Parking)

…until you step inside and see it is fitted with lockers, changing rooms, hot water showers, LED lighting and an electronic security system. The garden shed doesn’t even get a look in.

(Images via: Porro and Treehugger)

We are making good use of the sun’s energy, but our bicycles have barely discovered the wind – which is rather strange considering how firmly mainstreamed wind-generated power has become. So we ask, where are the bicycles with sails, let alone sporting turbines? We are awarding a tentative Fail to modern inventors…and for now, seek solace in one-off inventions such as the Dutch Energy Centre’s Impulse, competing in Aeolus 2008.

(Images via: benstein and MIT and Keetsa)

Back to Copenhagen we go for a deeply clever, deeply fun way to connect with your local biking community. From the MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning comes the technology to find those who crossed your path as you cycled around. Find where? On the social networking site of your choice, such as Facebook. It is all done with wireless smart tags, probably fitted under the seat of your bike – and when you pass someone using the same system, you exchange contact details and personal data of your choice. Since the device also tracks your movements around the city, you can monitor your personal habits and compare them with your green principles. Could it even be used for some kind of citywide massively multiplayer game? We hope so.

(Image via: Cycloc)

If your budget doesn’t stretch to a Green Pod but you want your bike securely out the way, you could try this elegantly simple piece of recycled plastic. Hook your bike’s crossframe into the front of the Cycloc, and the cunning design uses the bike’s own weight to lock it tightly in place – tight enough to hold it above the ground. And since it is hollow, it is a handy place to shove your smaller items of cycling gear. To lock it, slip your standard bike lock around the outside, as shown above…and enjoy the all floor space you’ve suddenly liberated. (Be sure to remember – the Cycloc is only as tough as its fittings -  and your wall).

(Image via: Treehugger)

Finally, we get to the bottom – or more specifically, what is under it. Never mind all these fancy-pants anti-chafing creams – why can’t we design a saddle that takes the pressure off? The answer seems to be force of habit. The classic narrow racing saddle is ideal for professionals spending much of their time leaning forward, but when commercial bikes follow this design and we mere mortals climb on, the whole thing becomes a colossal pain in the rear. The answer is to spread the load before we do fundamental damage to our fundamentals – and for that reason, the No Nose Saddle is perhaps the most important and the longest overdue innovation in modern bike design. Just pray it catches on while we’re still intact.

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Whether man-made or formed by nature, the world is filled with footpaths over otherwise impassable areas. Not the type of bridge that we would drive over, but the kind we come across when blazing a trail by foot. Some of these bridges are geological phenomena and works of art scattered across the Earth. Some of these walkways are ancient yet still usable. Other bridges are built purely for the purpose of crossing over, while yet others are ridiculous monstrosities. There seems to be little harmony between Eco-friendly and functional footpaths. If we can find a rhyme or reason to it, then can’t we conquer this challenge? Travelers, here are 41 footpath bridges from around the globe in the hope we can find the perfect blend of beauty and design to get us from the past to the future in an environmentally conscious crossing to the other side.

Bridges For Adventure — Environmentally Unfriendly?

(images via:pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus)

All over the world, man depends on bridges to make a way where there isn’t a way. Some bridges are needed where erosion has taken a toll. A Jeep passes over a dangerous makeshift bridge (upper left) in Gilgit, Pakistan. The land does not need to be destroyed for simple footpaths. Both kids and adults get creative to construct rope bridges (middle left) over the water. In some places, there are both bridges (upper right) that are man-made and nature-made. Out in the middle of nowhere, bridges were built long ago and are now coated with moss (bottom left). Yet they still serve a purpose, to get us to the other side.  Some bridges are unreal and creepy (bottom right), but not environmentally unfriendly. Indeed, except for a path directly to heaven or hell,  there is bridge built to take us there.

Is There Rhyme Or Reason To Various Footpaths?

(images via:pixdaus,dirjournal,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus)

To build a bridge takes up our precious natural resources. Mankind has attempted a wide variety of bridge types to strike a balance between what enhances and what depletes nature. The wavy Taroko pedestrian bridge in Taiwan is more about looks than practicality (upper left). The Hussaini Bridge in Pakistan (upper right) is how people cross the Borak Lake. And it is most assuredly one of the most dangerous hanging bridges in the world. Some people don’t use bridges at all like the soldiers flying over the Golden Gate Bridge (middle left). For people on foot, most crossings have been created that are meant to be aesthetically pleasing footpaths, yet their architectural design did not seem to include what would be the most environmentally friendly way to go about it.  Is that a sin? There are other ways.

Nature And Structure: Living Root Bridge

This is one of those ways. There are very special bridges that enhance nature. In fact, they are nature. Deep in the rain forest of India, the bridges are grown. Started over 500 years ago, these living root bridges are incredibly strong and could hold the weight of more than 50 people at one time. The village of Cherrapunji exists in a balance of primitive yet advanced culture from which the rest of the world could perhaps learn a few nuggets of wisdom.

Stone Bridges From “Yesterday”

(images via:pixdaus,pixdaus,flickr,darkroastedblend,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,flickr)

Throughout the world, there are bridges made of sturdy stone that seem as ancient as time itself. These bridges were built long before cars came into existence and are meant to be used as walkways for humans and animals. The Bastei Brücke Bridge (upper left) in Germany is a gorgeous stone bridge that blends with the rocky sandstone surroundings and sits 650 feet above the valley floor. Located in Bulgaria (upper right), there are many stones bridges that were built by archaic Romans. In Huangshan, China, there are crossings that seem almost magical like the walking fairyland bridge (middle left) that spans a deep ravine. Stari Most is translated to mean “old bridge” like the single humpback stone crossing (middle center) that was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificient in 1557 and took 9 years to complete. It was destroyed during the Bosnian War. There are many stone bridges (middle upper right) in Epirus, Ioannina, which is located in northwestern Greece and even more stone crossings (middle lower right) that are crumbling with age. The Bridge of Tallorno (bottom right) is a stone bridge that crosses in Italy and is believed to date back to the XVI century when it was a magnificent example of engineering for its time. The double humpbacked stone bridge at Lavertezzo (bottom right) can be found in Ticino, Switzerland. Bridges built from sticks and stones, you better believe there were plenty of broken bones during the construction. But have we gotten wiser about building footpaths?

Foot Bridges Of Today

(images via:pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,flickr,pixdaus)

If you like to take in nature with small doses of adrenaline, hanging bridges are the way to go. Many are perfectly safe without being overly intrusive to their surroundings (left top & middle). They bounce slightly but you could jump up and down on them and there is no falling or breaking. Others that were created out in the woods are a haphazard design but still serve their purpose (top middle).  In Bulgaria, during the ascent of Musala, the Velchevo Mostche Bridge (top right) was built with what was handy nearly 10,000 feet up the highest peak of the Rila Mountains. Yet other crossings are dangerous monstrosities (middle right). Why is it that mankind has such a hard time building safe walking bridges that are eco-friendly yet durable? A triangle bridge (bottom right) located in the forest seemed to have more thought put into it then the bridge over Colca Canyon. The Peruvian bridge (bottom middle) seems to mostly inspire nature lovers to cross in an all-out hurry. The bridge is not the most safe yet crosses a divide that is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. How about finding a nice balance of green and nature? Tokyo offers a solution such a Drum-Kan floating bridge in Okutama (bottom left).

Is There A Perfect Blend Of Nature And Structure?

(images via:pixdaus,pixdaus,pixdaus,flickr)

Throughout the world, in many different languages, simple suspension bridges are also referred to as footpaths, swing bridges, hanging bridges and rope bridges. Some are strong and sturdy like the Kintai Bridge curved arches (top left) in Yamaguchi, Japan, and ensures safe foot traffic over the Nishiki River. Some are located deep in the woods like a hanging bridge (top right) that could carry you into autumn adventures, big or small, by foot or by bike, but not by car. One such footpath, Benson Bridge in Oregon (bottom left), can offer nature’s visitor the best view of Multnomah Falls, a 600 foot high cascade that is located between two tiers. In laidback Laos, a young Buddist monk crosses another type of footpath bridge (bottom right) over the Nam Khan River. Here, the rich brown river could be your bathtub in Luang Prabang as it is for many of the 100,000 people living in the city. Is there a perfect blend of nature and structure?

Death Valley

(image via:National Geographic)

In one of lowest, hottest, and driest places in the US, Death Valley offers us some clues. Most travelers climb the rocks to walk over Natural Bridge Canyon. The stone is structurally sound and sturdy. Yet from beneath this natural bridge, it becomes evident that rushing water eroded the soft sediment, eating away at the rock, until nature formed this bridge. Natural bridges are much more rare than their cousin the natural arch, although both were formed by erosional processes. Nature both caused the problem and created the solution. How much more could mankind improve upon her design?

Rainbow Bridge

(image via:flickr)

In breathtaking Utah, Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world. The US Capitol building could stand underneath this bridge. This natural bridge is 275 feet wide and 290 feet tall. This site is sacred to the Navajo yet is visited by more than 300,000 travelers a year.  It has inspired people since the dawn of time. Water sculpted this bridge too into the unique geological and natural phenomenon that Rainbow Bridge is today.

Hope For Tomorrow

(images via:pixdaus,pixdaus,flickr,flickr,pixdaus,pixdaus)

We all know that man-made bridges are not always about beauty but about functionality like the ones that cross canyons (upper left). Yet some are made by nature (upper right) and erosion but are spectacular and sturdy. There is hope for the future as mankind becomes increasingly Eco-minded. The person who built the bridge at Elowah Falls clearly cares about the Earth and her beauty. We should take heart as we take walks on man-made and nature-made bridges. Be inspired to see nature and her continuing beauty. There is hope for tomorrow and for building future environmentally friendly footpaths that are aesthetically pleasing and architecturally green.

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If you thought power-generating bicycles were brilliant by themselves, imagine if you could turn the energy you produce while bicycling into credits you can use anywhere else in the public transit system. Essentially, users are reimbursed for riding, emissions are reduced and everyone wins.

The system (by Chiyu Chen)  is simple: a user rents a bike with an ID or credit card, charges it simply by using it, then plugs it back into the grid from which the energy is transferred to electric city buses. More riding makes more power means more credits the next time it is too cold, hot, wet or whatnot to ride a bike.

Beyond the sustainability benefits of such a system, there would be a net positive impact for the health of citizens who would be further encouraged to bike (because of the availability and credits) and for the city as a whole that would benefit from less congestion and pollution caused by vehicles.

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Getting people to change their ways isn’t an easy thing to do, and while the green-living initiative has been gaining speed, it’s been at a painfully slow pace. It’s this reason that designers the world over have been working, mostly as unpaid side-projects, to bring the consumer populace reasons to go green. Breaking the hum-drum paradigms of the past is difficult work, but many new and potentially effective ideas are born each day now. These examples are of some of the newest, most adventurous, mostly practical green product designs floating around studios or stores today.

Green for Greenery

(images via Ji-Hye Park, Ashley Marsh Croft, Daniel Schipper)

Since even small efforts can pay off, the Flower Clock is a great spirit-lifting way to boost the green atmosphere of your home or office. No batteries are wasted, as it uses a solar charge. The Droplet lawnmower is an idea for getting more people to go electric on their lawn care; innovative design makes it appealing to the eye as well as the pocketbook. The Folding Greenhouse could vanquish any excuses that once stood against micro-gardening, since it’s lightweight, small, and infinitely reusable as it’s made of only plastic.

Clever Metering

(images via Adam Kereliuk, Katrine Knudsen)

There are all kinds of new methods in the works for getting people to actively monitor their utilities usage nowadays, and for good reason. Unfortunately, many of them are too complicated for most people to commit their time to learning. That’s where products like the Personal Water Meter come into play; installed in water fixtures such as sinks and showers, it gives an accurate reading for water usage in real time. The Flower Pod doubles as home decor while it reflects power consumption, the digital flower wilting with waste and vibrant with conservative efforts.

Row, Row, Row Your…Car?

(images via Da Feng)

Marketing to the ever-growing fitness demographic, the GYM concept car takes roadtripping to a new level by allowing the driver to charge its power-cells by working out. There is no tedium to this, as equipment is built into the cockpit-like cabin to emulate a rowing machine, stepping machine, curling weights, pull-up emulator, and a bench-press. The car itself uses carbon-fiber and green materials, and the battery is wall-chargeable.

Paper, Plastic or Stylish?

(images via Yanko Design)

While this very simple issue is often overlooked, it’s really quite serious. Countless millions of people go grocery shopping every day, and they all use bags. Nearly all of those bags, whether they be paper or plastic, wind up in the garbage, and despite best efforts only a small fraction of those make it to recycling centers or get otherwise reused. The Flip & Tumble Loopt bag aims to help alleviate that issue. It’s a washable, reusable, heavy-duty plastic bag that’s been made to last, and stylishly at that. Many grocery stores in urban areas are beginning to offer discounts for shoppers who bring their own bags, efforts like that would go well hand-in-hand with a product like this.

Soylent Feeders

(images via Nadine Jarvis)

Sometimes a good shock is in order, at least that’s what designer Nadine Jarvis thinks when she goes to build a greener bird-feeder. The concept is shocking at first glance, but after it sinks in, it’s really quite beautiful that these feeders are made from people. Bird seed is mixed with human ashes into the dew-drop form surrounding a wooden perch that will remain once the seed is all eaten. That perch would have an inscription memorializing the person whose ashes helped feed the local birds. Strange, yes. Strangely poetic, also yes. It’s definitely zero waste.

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Many people believe that they simply cannot afford to go green. Not everyone lives in an area where they can walk to work, or even drive less, and most are under the impression that any car able to make a difference is just too expensive to consider. While it’s true that many eco-friendly practices can be difficult to implement, it’s not all glamor and glitz. These 15 green cars are all currently available, not one of them over the $17,000 range. If you’re one of the millions who are forced to commute day after day but can only afford half the nearly $30,000 price tag that comes with a hybrid, this is for you.

Break the Habit: 28-30 MPG

(images via thetorquereport, easyautosales, orbitcast)

Breaking into the super-efficient range can be easier and more fun than you’d think. Starting at under $14,000 for a base model, the Suzuki SX4 saves loads of fuel at 30 MPG while still letting you have plenty of fun in the process. The Kia Spectra ups the comfort zone a bit, with a slight increase in price, but maintains the 30 MPG bracket quite nicely while staying in the $15,000 price range. A little beefier in both its engine and pricetag, the Scion xB still makes the cut at 28 MPG and $17,000.

Making an Impact: 31-32 MPG

(images via japanesesportscars, automotive, zcars)

Here we really start seeing results. A bare-bones Nissan Versa can be nabbed for as low as $10,000 and gives an outstanding 31 MPG. A major upset in any mileage list, the Toyota Matrix brings a sporty aspect with its 32 MPG rating, at a reasonable cost of $16,000. The Mazda 3 comes in at around $15,000 and gives the feel of a more normalized sport-compact while also sporting a 32 MPG rating.

Beyond Reproach: 33-34 MPG

(images via cheryltay, theautochannel, autospectator, joealcokekia)

This range is where the new national requirements will be taking everyone in the near future. Chevy made the cut with its Aveo, at around $12,000 this 34 MPG car is a steal. Not to be outdone, Hyundai’s Accent can be found for as low as $10,000 and it rates at 33 MPG. Pontiac surprised everyone with the G3, which rates an impressive 34 MPG at under $15,000, while the Kia Rio can be a little cheaper than that with 33 MPG.

Stay Focused: 35 MPG

(images via motortrend, papundits, autonewscast, myride)

At 35 MPG, these cars are exceeding standards that aren’t yet in effect. The sporty Chevy Cobalt starts at under $15,000, with a small sedan available. The Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris are making waves for their versatility while occupying the $15,000 range with options. The real surprise in this bracket is the Ford Focus, which in its sedan form is considerably larger than the rest of its competitors and also has a healthy options line-up for a starting price of $15,000.

Hybrid? What Hybrid? 41 MPG

(image via iroel)

Perhaps best known for being the newest golden-child of the green-car revolution, the Smart ForTwo is the smallest car on the American market today. That doesn’t make it less roomy inside for its occupants, since it’s a coupe. This car was purpose-built to break the system. More akin to the cars that can be found on the streets of Mumbai than those of Los Angeles, the ForTwo is not only tiny but also stylish, and it can be bought for under $10,000. At 41 MPG, this car manages to attain what only hybrids have been able to boast to date, and it does it at literally a third of the price.

These cars all show that it’s not only possible to make changes for the green initiative, but that it’s affordable as well. Not everyone can afford the newest eco-tech, but they don’t necessarily have to. With concept cars remaining concepts until they’re forgotten, hybrids maintaining high costs, and electric cars making excruciatingly slow headway into the mainstream market, these cars can help make a difference right now.

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