Toluu

ecoble - ecological design, green innovation and environmental sustainability

Sustainable Innovation, Green Technology, and Clean Politics - Stuff for the Savvy Green Consumer, Reader and Thinker

Greatest Green Cell Phones for the New YearYesterday

How eco-friendly can a cell phone be?

Photo by gaetan lee

A green cell phone - could there really be such a thing? Nearly 90% of the world has access to cellular phone service; there are nearly 3 billion mobile phone accounts in the world; and a number of countries have more cell phones in active use than their total population. Cell phones have become such an environmental concern that many areas have banned traditional disposal methods, requiring recycling and refurbishing instead, and regulations on manufacturing are becoming just as common.

What are manufacturers doing to make their cell phones greener?

Nokia

One mans trash is anothers cell phone. Nokia Remade via SmartPlanet

With recycled aluminum cans plastic bottles making up the casing, and keys made from car tires, the Nokia Remade hasn’t eliminated the toxins within but there’s

Top 15 Eco Innovations of the 21st CenturyJanuary 4

Photo by shioshvili via Flickr

We recently posted the top 10 eco innovations of the 20th century; now, as we get another year closer to the end of the first decade of a new millennium, we’ll take a look at the most innovative green advancements made so far in the 21st century…

Solar Aviation

Piccard Solar Impulse model at convention in Geneva. Photo by Flyout

The

Great Green Booze: 12 Sustainable Holiday SpiritsDecember 26 2008

With everyone else on the planet jumping on the green bandwagon, it was inevitable that the purveyors of our most popular mind-altering substance have jumped on board. We’ll take you on a tour of some of the best…

Ocean Vodka Maui

Guess where this drink comes from? If you’re thinking island breezes and big, big waves… you’d be right. It’s distilled in Hawaii by a couple of surfer dudes who really know their drinks. And when they say ocean, they mean ocean: the water they use is pumped from a pristine sea-bed aquifer that is both contaminant-free, and contains an out-of-the-ordinary natural mineral content. Ocean Vodka is USDA certified organic, from GMO-free organic rye and corn, and run through their cool new four-column distillation process. And we just like the idea of surf vodka.

Rain Vodka

Rain, rain… don’t you dare go away. This precipitate spirit is handmade in small batches at a Buffalo Trace, Colorado distillery. Unusually, it’s made from 100% organic whi

18 Last-Minute Green Gadgets for the HolidaysDecember 22 2008

Have you finished your holiday shopping? There’s just a few days left to pick up any last-minute gifts - and we have some green gadgets that you don’t want to miss! The retro-reminiscent solar powered wreath above is available from Solar Santa for about $49.99.

Revisiting a simple scientific principle from grade school, the Citrus Clock keeps time by creating an electric current with zinc, copper, and of course lemons. The simple, but creative timepiece is designed by Anna Gram in France but could probably be made at home with a little imagination and a good plan!

You can never have too many lounge chairs when you enj

Even More Creative Shipping Container HousesDecember 21 2008

Since our previous post on shipping container houses, the craze of prefab structures and cargo homes has accelerated to new levels. From quiet mountain cottages to chic container hotels, it’s easier (and cooler) than ever to call a rusty old shipping container home sweet home. Take a look at a few of the possibilities….

Container City, designed by Nicholas Lacey, overlooks the Trinity Buoy Wharf in London and provides 37 studio apartments for area artists. The project was completed in 2 phases, using 50 shipping containers, and boasts an intriguing, Lego-like design. Since the completion of Container City I and II in 2002, Urban Space Management has developed several other shipping container designs includ