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6 high-tech, energy-generating roads
By Cat DiStasio As we march into toward the future, our infrastructure needs to evolve. Fortunately, innovators are integrating energy-generating properties into the very roads that lead us forward. Solar panels can now be applied directly to a road's surface and driven over countless times before showing any signs of wear. Other next-gen roads automatically melt snow, reduce noise pollution, and even delight the public with artistic inspiration. Follow along for a trip around the world on pathways that generate clean energy for the communities they connect.
6 floating buildings powered by the sun
By Cat DiStasio As the earth's population grows and land becomes more scarce, people are looking to bodies of water to support new types of structures. And if you're designing a building to float on water, it makes sense for it to be self-sufficient, with its own off-grid energy generation capabilities. Some incredible designs for solar-powered floating buildings have surfaced in recent years, from humble houseboat-like abodes to floating farms that harness the sun's energy to produce food without eating up valuable land. Read on for more ways architects and designers are combining solar power with floating architecture to stretch resources and make the most of renewable energy.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: A solar-powered plane, and more!
Everyone's heard of hybrid cars, but what about hybrid airplanes? A solar and biofuel-powered plane is set to make history this June by completing the world's first zero-carbon trans-Atlantic flight. We also spotted an incredible underwater exosuit that allows you to fly through the ocean like Ironman. In other transportation news, Mexico City banned over one million cars as air pollution levels skyrocketed. And a Swedish company created an amazing bicycle cafe that actually purifies city smog.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: BMW's car of the future, and more!
What if installing solar panels were as easy as rolling out a carpet? That's the promise of the Roll-Array, a powerful, flexible solar system that can be set up in two minutes flat. Meanwhile, Deltec has launched a line of solar-powered prefab homes that start under $100,000, and we spotted an amazing teardrop trailer that can operate completely off-grid thanks to roof-mounted photovoltaics. In other building technology news, Boeing debuted a new self-cleaning airplane bathroom that uses UV light to obliterate germs.
6 next-gen green cell phones
By Cat DiStasio In the grand scheme of things, mobile phones haven't been around that long. Less than 20 years ago, hardly anyone had one, and devices of that era certainly weren't capable of doing what today's smartphones can do. Cell phone technology progresses so quickly, in fact, that most users are prone to replacing their phones with new ones every few years -- even if the old one still works -- just to have something with longer battery life and a better camera. This behavior is inspiring designers to create more sustainable handsets: some with easily upgradable modules, some made with recycled materials and some that charge themselves with little or no interaction from the user. Although a few of these technologies are still in the conceptual phase, it's easy to imagine that they could be available within the next few years -- right about when you'll be thinking about replacing the phone you have now.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Highlights from the Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva Motor Show kicked off this week, and one of the stars of the show was the Koenigsegg Regera, an insane plug-in hybrid with 1,500 horsepower. Meanwhile, Goodyear rolled out a crazy spherical tire that lets cars drive sideways and Nissan unveiled its vision for the Fuel Station of the Future. We also spotted a "zipper truck" that snaps bricks together to build tunnels in just 24 hours, and Schwinge launched a futuristic pyramid-shaped superyacht.
6 high-flying clean energy generators
By Cat DiStasio Dirty fossil fuels come from the ground, but the future of energy is in the sky. Thanks to innovative engineers in the renewable energy industry, the world of high-altitude wind and solar generators is booming. Not only are these devices cleaner than fossil fuel alternatives, but they have the potential to generate more usable energy at a lower cost. High-altitude wind turbines can take advantage of faster wind speeds, and positioning solar arrays above the clouds yields better sun exposure without shadows blocking the rays.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: A flying car by 2018, and more!
If you've been waiting forever for a flying car, you won't have to hold out much longer: The Terrafugia TF-X will take to the skies by the year 2018. In other transportation news, Singapore-based Vanda Electric unveiled an insane 1,500-horsepower supercar that can go from 0 to 60 in 2.6 seconds. Tesla partnered with Radio Flyer to roll out a tiny Model S for kids. And a NASA scientist thinks that in the far future lasers could send a spacecraft to Mars in just 30 minutes.
6 high-tech refugee shelters that can be deployed in an instant
By Cat DiStasio Each year, tens of thousands of people around the world are displaced from their homes by natural disasters, war and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. When this happens, emergency-response teams are tasked with the challenge of housing these refugees in a short period of time. Designers and architects are responding to this need with shelters that are quick to ship, easily assembled by a small number of people without specialized tools and durable enough to last several years. Some of them even float, make clean drinking water and harness the power of the sun.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Riversimple's hydrogen car and more!
Is the age of the hydrogen car upon us? This week Riversimple announced plans to launch a 250-mpg fuel cell vehicle that's as affordable as a gas-burning car. The craziest part is that the company won't be selling it: Drivers will instead purchase a monthly plan that includes maintenance, insurance and hydrogen fuel. Meanwhile, Lexus unveiled the LC 500h, a 470-horsepower beast that could very well be the sexiest hybrid ever made. And three friends developed one of the craziest-looking vehicles we've ever seen. It's called the Cedar Rocket, and it's the world's fastest electric log car.
6 of the world's wildest self-driving cars
By Cat DiStasio Last week, US officials said that the computer in Google's self-driving car can legally be considered the "driver" -- a decision that could serve as a stepping-stone to making driverless cars legal on American roadways. Companies like Google and Ford are busy testing self-driving car technology, and Tesla's Model S already has some autopilot features to assist drivers. But just how far will automakers take autonomous technology? Read on for six of the world's wildest self-driving vehicles, from a car that moves like a crab to a vehicle with a built-in bed.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Tesla's most affordable EV, and more!
Tesla just announced plans to launch its most affordable electric car next month. The Model 3 is expected to cost $35,000 and is set to debut on March 31st -- but it already has competition. Chevrolet showcased the Bolt EV at the start of the year, and Volkswagen confirmed that it's working on the world's first mass-market electric car. Meanwhile, Google is developing electric cars that drive themselves, and soon they'll be able to charge wirelessly. In aviation news, Easyjet announced plans to trial the first hybrid hydrogen plane, and Elon Musk is considering building a vertical take-off and landing electric jet.
Space architecture: Six buildings for the final frontier
By Cat DiStasio Mars has captured the world's attention recently, but space agencies around the globe haven't forgotten that there's a whole slew of other planets out there. And with continued planetary exploration, of course, comes the necessity to set up bases that can support life, research and agriculture far, far away from home. Science and farming intersect in outer space, and the results are like nothing here on Earth. Many buildings designed for space rely on creative approaches like 3D printing, solar power, native materials and portability. We've included six structures in our gallery below, and each is more unique than the one that comes before it.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: VW's microbus concept, and more!
Volkswagen is still reeling from the Dieselgate emissions scandal, but it's trying to turn over a new leaf. So far the automaker has announced plans to launch 20 electric vehicles by the year 2020, and this week we learned that the BUDD-e electric microbus will be one of them. In other transportation news, a team of MIT students took top place in Elon Musk's Hyperloop design contest with plans for a streamlined pod that uses maglev technology. Uganda launched its first solar bus, and Google wants to bring 5G internet to off-grid areas with fleets of sun-powered drones.
6 gadgets that clean the world's oceans
By Cat DiStasio In grade school, most children learn about the fragility of our ocean ecosystems. Despite this, the world's vast waters have become a de facto dumping ground for toxic chemicals, agricultural runoff and plastic trash. With ocean pollution at an all-time high, the question of how to turn it around weighs heavily on the minds of many environmentalists and engineers. So far they've come up with everything from oil-cleaning magic wands to massive floating cleanup arrays, but it's a race to see which method will most effectively reverse the damage humans have wrought. Which of these amazing gadgets do you think has the best shot at cleaning up our oceans?
Inhabitat's Week in Green: 'Deathproof' vehicles and more!
Many automakers are working on self-driving cars, but Volvo is the first to announce plans for completely "deathproof" vehicles by the year 2020. Meanwhile, General Motors invested $500 million in Lyft to create a network of autonomous vehicles. Snowstorms snarl traffic, but engineers have a solution: electric roads that de-ice themselves without the need for road salt. We also spotted a unique circular bridge in Uruguay that encourages drivers to slow down and enjoy the view. And Ford teamed up with fashion designers to debut a collection of couture made from recycled upholstery.
6 buses transformed into incredible homes on wheels
By Cat DiStasio Converting a disused school bus into a groovy makeshift home on wheels is a pretty common occurrence in many places around the world -- and that trend continues to blossom in some incredibly cool ways. In some areas, housing is so desperately needed for the homeless and poor that city buses are being transformed into low-cost shelters. Elsewhere, a bus might get a new life as a cozy cabin or a chic recreational vehicle.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Fisker Karma gets a price cut, and more!
Architects are constantly pushing boundaries to redefine what buildings can do. Baca Architects just unveiled the UK's first "amphibious house," which is able to rise up and float when floods strike. Designer Michael Weeks has developed a self-sufficient dome home called the Life Pod that can be transported virtually anywhere. In Kazakhstan, architects are proposing the world's first apartment building topped with a ski slope. And Franek Architects just unveiled a spiraling mountaintop walkway in Czech Republic that features a 330-foot slide.
6 buildings that you can sled, ski and snowboard on
By Cat DiStasio Snow sports are wildly popular around the globe -- even in regions with no winter to speak of. No matter, because architects and engineers have joined forces to create ski and snowboard slopes in some of the most unlikely places. Whether indoors or out, artificial snow or pure natural pow-pow, these buildings with built-in slopes will blow your snow-loving mind. From the longest indoor ski slope on the planet to an eco-friendly year-round snow sports resort, this roundup has something for everyone. If you can't hold your breath 'til the next bluebird day rolls around, opt for one of these spots where it's primo shredding season with no white-out in the forecast.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: The Detroit Auto Show, SOTU and more!
The North American International Auto Show kicked off this week in Detroit, and we hit the floor to bring you seven of the best green cars, including a hot hydrogen sedan and the world's first electric minivan. The Obama administration heralded the age of autonomous vehicles with a new plan to invest $4 billion in self-driving car technology. As usual, Tesla is ahead of the curve: This week Elon Musk announced that the automaker's first fully autonomous cars will hit streets by the year 2018. And Tesla also took honors as the Model S was declared the world's top-selling electric car of 2015.