The EcoATM is a rather bizarre idea. They are calling it a self service Automated eCycling Station where you can sell used consumer electronics and mobile phones. You simply insert your portable device or phone (it has to be something small like a digital camera or portable games console) and the machine values it and then pays you. You can get a trade-up coupon, a gift card or make a charitable donation with the proceeds. Retailers who take one on can set up their own promotions and discounts.

The devices are valued in real-time with reference to market prices and naturally there is a profit for the operator. EcoATM are a San Diego based start-up and they placed their first machine in a store in Omaha. A total of 23 phones were thrown into it on the first day of operation and they now plan to roll out a fleet of machines. Apparently it will be able to detect more and more devices over time and it can scan them to determine if they have cracks or scuff marks which affect the value. They will recycle and reuse products wherever possible.

People have been seeking alternative sources of power for years now as we aim to turn away from the pollution caused by finite fossil fuels and the dangers of nuclear power. One of the most obvious and abundant sources of power is the wind but wind turbines have traditionally faced two big problems. Firstly they are expensive compared to other sources of power and secondly people find them ugly.

The expense comes down as manufacturing techniques improve but now there is a solution to the claim that they are eyesores. Locate them offshore. This also has the benefit of allowing efficient operation and it doesn’t need to interfere with anything else. The first floating offshore wind turbine has been built and is now being tested off the coast of Norway. If it can survive the extreme conditions of the inhospitable North Sea then it can work anywhere. You can find video footage of the wind turbine on the BBC website.

While waiting for the best of the best electric car from the giant manufacturers in the US, Germany or Japan, a company from China manages to amaze us. Dubbed Zhejiang 001, the Chinese electric car is going to cost only $5,560. Using sung energy and a solar panel roof, the car has a 93-mile range autonomy if charged for 30 hours because it can only transform 14 to 17 percent of the sun light.

I’m not sure about you, but the financial crisis and with recent fuel prices (which should drop now that oil went below $70, but don’t) I’m really tempted into buying something like that. However, winter it’s coming over here and I’m not sure what will happen when it gets covered in snow. Still, the idea is great if you’re living in California and want a daily commuter alternative. – via Gizmodo

If you are the green lazy guy that needs an automower Husqvarna has the best gadget for you. It’s a solar powered automower that will do munch grass while you’re at work or relax with a bag of chips in front of the TV. It’s smart enough to program it, has sensors to “work” in a given perimeter and is able to do up to 2,300 square meters.

It uses chargeable batteries that runs for 40 minutes and on a sunny day it goes up to 60 minutes thanks to the solar panels it has. The price is steep. About $4,000 and is only for green wealthy bastards.

via Greenpacks

This is a home made solar oven that was built using a pizza box, black construction paper, aluminum foil, tape and glue. You can get all these materials for just a few bucks and the result is an oven that uses sunlight to heat up to 150 degrees F. Though it may take twice as long as a classic oven it won’t cost anything to operate and it’s totally “green”.

I’m not sure if you use it just to make your food warm or if you can really cook, because if you can I don’t want to be the guy to clean it up when the meal is ready. Here are detailed instructions on how to build it yourself.

Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the US and this is why Abengoa Solar decided to partner with Arizona Public Service Company (APS) to build the largest solar plant in the world. The 1900 acre plant located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, near Gila Bend will be named Solona (“sunny place” in Spanish) and should be ready by 2011.

Here are a few specs of Solona:

• building cost is $1 billion
• 280 MegaWatts of power
• 70,000 to 84,000 homes will benefit from the solar energy
• average price APS will pay per kilowatt-hour electricity from Solona is 14 cents
• average price APS pays for kilowatt-hour electricity today (nuclear, coal, natural gas or renewable sources) is 9 cents

This is an example that we’re able to do it if we want to. The whole concept of Solona needs just one more thing: the US Congress to pass the clean energy tax credit that’s set to expire at the end of 2008.

I hope it passes.

via Inhabitat

Steve James is a 52 year old software engineer, that has a passion for eco-homes. In fact he even built one near the Scottish town, Dumfries. Steve is very proud of the cottage he has built not only because it’s strong, warm and watertight but mainly because the total cost of building it was £4,000. Yes, only £4,000 and that’s because of the secret weapon : straw bales.

Built last year in November, the kitchen is built from a cedar that blew over in Glasgow park, the sink was made from a skip, it has a log burning stove, a compost loo and a rainwater filtration system, while Steve sleeps in a galleried bedroom. For power he’s using a car battery that his partner charges when needed but says “I’m building a water wheel next”.

Steve decided to help others if they plan to build their own green home like he did, and he put up a website where you can get help from people that did it before, see pictures of the cottage in different building stages and read his story.

His biggest reward when someone visits his cottage is people’s faces when they see that his home is built from straws and has a turf roof covered in flowers.

“There’s an intense stare and total mystification, as if they can’t quite believe what they are seeing.”

“Straw is perfect for a beginner. It’s easy to work with and you can make your house any shape you want. You can use straw to make any kind of buildings – from a four-storey office block to a house I know, which is a spiral. Go mad, have fun, start living!”

So, if you want to “start living” these seven steps come in handy.

1. Foundations

He’s not using concrete, but a solid 2-ft high solid foundation made of rocks. It takes time to fit the rocks and don’t worry if there are gaps because it helps ventilation and keeps the straws dry. When you’re done it should look like that.

2. Wooden floors

Why do you need wooden frame? Because this is where you will build your walls on and it’s where you add the wooden floor. Build it and then put it on the stones. For Steve and his cottage it looks like this.

3. Build your roof

You have to build it the right way because it should stay in place on a windy day. You also don’t want it in your head when it rains hard. Build it aside from the construction and when you have the walls ready, put it on.

4. Walls and windows

Obviously, if you don’t want the roof in your head, you also don’t want your walls to move. Steve made his cottage with 200 oat-straw bales (£1 each) and started with a complete layer of bales around the edge of the base. Next step is simple as you stack them like bricks.

Make sure you use twine on the base layer to keep them together.

Windows are just as important. Steve used skips and polythene membrane in between to protect them from damping. You can cut the straws just the way you like them to fit the shape you have in mind.

5. Get the roof on

Now that you have done the hard part it’s time to put the roof on the straws walls. Steve used the roof to add a layer of turf and lot of flower seeds on it. Don’t expect tulips to grow on it. Use your imagination

6. Exterior

This is definitely up to you. You can see the first picture on how Steve did it.

7. Interior

The same. Use your imagination and make it a comfortable place to live.

If you build it the right way, don’t expect the big bad wolf to come and blow it away. This is truly a great achievement by Steve James and we would like to congratulate the guy. But there is a small question. Is there a way we can have Wireless there, because I’m considering living a month in such a cottage if it would.

What do you guys think?

British designer Ross Lovegrove is in charge with creating the solar trees in Vienna in front of the MAK Museum, which will be inaugurated on October 8th at 20:30. The trees will be a color spot in a grey urban environment that will attract anyone passing by and will make us aware of the greener future we need.Ross Lovegrove worked with Artemide an Italian lightning company and Sharp Solar to develop his solar trees, in order to have them done before the Vienna Design Week event starts on October 8th. Though I enjoy the pictures very much I can’t help to ask what’s the time frame to produce a tree, what is the price and who will offer maintenance, because it could get damaged by cars for example. What do you think?

via Inhabitat

I think we are going to create a new category on Devicepedia about eco-friendly gadgets because global warming is a big problem. Since we talked about eco friendly traffic lights from Taiwan and Seville we have something new from Sharp that needs our applause.

Sharp street lights, models LN-LW3A1 and LN-LS2A1, that use solar energy good for 1800 lumens instead of electricity are going to be used in Japan (the most “eco conscious” country in the world). The two Sharp street lights models also come with earthquake sensors that will automatically turn them on for 48 hours if it’s over 5 degrees on the Richter Scale. Applause!

[Sharp via Akihabara]