02.09.19
22 Inventions That Are Saving The Earth.
These are 22 amazing inventions that help saving our planet. The Earth is struggling, it has given us incredible resources that make our lives so much easier, but we are pushing the planet to its limit. Thankfully, people are now setting all kinds of eco-friendly trends, and companies are coming up with green technologies that let consumers live a low-waste yet equally comfortable lifestyle. Here are some of the best examples !
1. Old plastic bottles as light bulbs
Nearly 16% of the world’s population still lives without access to electricity. To solve this problem, a project called A Litre Of Light was launched in 2012 in the Philippines.The idea is to use plastic bottles as light bulbs by filling them with water, bleach, and a tiny solar panel. When sunlight hits it, the refracted light helps these DIY bulbs give off about 55 watts.
2. Water blobs
No, this isn’t a water balloon to pelt at your annoying sibling. Water blobs are an alternative for single-use plastic water bottles. They consist of water surrounded by a jelly-like capsule made of seaweed extract. This casing is 100% biodegradable and has no taste, although the inventors are thinking about adding some flavors to it. You can either tear the capsule and pour water in your mouth or just gulp it down whole!
3. Mr. Trash Wheel
Mr. Trash Wheel is the cute nickname Baltimore locals thought up for the Inner Harbor Water Wheel. This awesome machine collects garbage flowing down the Jones Falls River.The water wheel turns on by the power provided by the river’s current, gathers all that nasty litter and debris, and deposits it into a dumpster. When the dumpster’s full, it’s towed away by boat, and a new one is put in its place.
4. Shampoo pods
These shampoo pods are plastic-free and come in a soluble form that contains enough product to wash hair of any length and simply melts in water. These single-serve pods can also hold conditioner, body wash, and shaving cream. All of them are free of parabens, preservatives, or artificial fragrances. Oh yeah, and the bright mind behind their creation, Benjamin Stern, came up with the idea when he was just 14 years old!
5. Edible cutlery
Disposable cutlery is a major contributor to the growing plastic waste crisis. In the US alone, approximately 40 billion plastic utensils are thrown away every year. That’s why using an edible alternative can help cut back on all that plastic garbage. These utensils are actually made from millet, wheat, and rice, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t sturdy! You can even eat soup with them, and they won’t fall apart! They taste like crackers, so you could just have them as a snack too!
6. Toothpaste pills
Around 1 billion toothpaste tubes end up in landfills each year. But TV producer Lindsay McCormick came up with an awesome way to fix that! She invented toothpaste that comes in pills. They’re sold in a glass bottle that’s meant to be refilled. All you have to do is bite one of these pills, and it instantly becomes foamy just like ordinary toothpaste. As a bonus, these Toothpaste Bits don’t need any preservatives to stay fresh!
7. Off-grid energy
Waterlily is a relatively small turbine that converts moving wind or water into actual electricity! So, yes, you can use it to charge all your USB-powered devices such as tablets, smartphones, cameras, and so on. It has a compact design, which is why it’s super easy to use it in almost any outdoor situation. This handy little innovation not only creates energy in an eco-friendly way, it also makes camping much more comfortable!
8. Stove that doesn’t need fuel
Another super cool thing for camping enthusiasts is the Biolite CampStove 2. It works only on wood, and its fan creates smokeless fire that can cook food and boil water in minutes. On top of that, this eco-stove recycles unused heat during cooking and turns it into electricity that you can use to charge your electronics!
9. Plastic bottle cutter
Need some rope? Just start saving all your plastic bottles and make one yourself! This cutter turns plastic bottles into strips that you can use around the household or for DIY projects and crafting. Not to mention, cutting up bottles helps reduce the amount of space they take up on their way to be recycled.
10. Edible packaging
When I said “plastic waste crisis” earlier, I wasn’t kidding! About 10 million tons of plastic end up in the sea and threaten marine life. To protect those sea dwellers, Saltwater Brewery produced six-pack rings that can safely be eaten by marine animals since they’re made of wheat and barley, common leftovers from the brewing process. When one of these six-pack rings gets into the ocean, it starts breaking down in a few hours, which saves animals from getting stuck in them!
11. The hydro-wheel irrigator
The Barsha pump is a hydro-powered pump that works anywhere there’s flowing water. When placed in a river or stream, it uses the energy from the current to send water inland without the need of expensive fuel. It can help farmers irrigate fields up to 1 mile away with over 11,000 gallons of water a day. It works without electricity and doesn’t emit polluting gases.
12. Portable turbine
A Canadian company has invented a turbine that turns a river’s perpetual flow into power and makes up to 12 kilowatt hours, which is enough to power your home. It takes only three people to install this turbine, but it does have to be connected to an electrical generator. The company says that there’s no evidence that the turbine is harmful to aquatic life, so fish won’t get trapped or injured in it.
13. Tire shredder
A lot of people keep their old tires stacked in garages or backyards, where they just take up space and serve no purpose. What a waste of a highly useful resource, right? Well, this huge machine gives tires a second life by separating the rubber from the textile, fiber, and steel cords. You can then recycle these materials into new products, like for construction!
14. Shipping container pools
Have you always dreamed of having a swimming pool in your backyard? Then choose one made from old shipping containers! It’s a hot new trend for cooling off in the summer heat! These pools are installed with a filtration system. And like any other standard pool, you can place it above, in, or partially in the ground. One of the perks of owning such a pool is that you can take it with you if you decide to relocate.
15. Trash can for the sea
The Seabin collects garbage by creating water flow with the help of a pump. The water gets sucked into the Seabin, which catches all floating debris and garbage. After trapping the litter in a bag, the water then flows back out to the sea. There’s also a pad at the bottom of the bag that can soak up oil!
16. Powder that cleans dirty water
Would you drink water that’s so murky you can’t see through it? Well, a lot of people don’t even have a choice since they live in remote areas without a centralized water system. For them, purified water is the stuff of dreams, but now it can be a reality. This amazing powder kills off all bacteria and mixes with dirt and pollutants so that they fall to the bottom.
17. Biodegradable bags
These biodegradable bags made of cassava starch completely dissolve in water. Their creator, Kevin Kumala, even proved it’s not harmful by drinking a glass of water with a piece of this bag dissolved in it! Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! Or, I guess the other way around in this case…
18. Whirlpool turbine
Looks like eco-friendly turbines will be a big thing in the near future. This one has just one moving part, so it can operate for longer and doesn’t need much maintenance. It was designed to produce electricity in rural areas and is capable of continuously powering dozens of homes 24 hours a day.
19. Compost bin that turns trash into gas
This compost bin allows you to create your own source of renewable energy right in your backyard! You can place all kinds of food and organic waste into the HomeBiogas. Then, bacteria inside the bin decompose the organic material and release biogas that travels through a gas pipe and is ready to be used for cooking!
20. Washing machine on pedal power
Ingeniously dubbed the SpinCycle, this machine just looks like a bike with a plastic drum attached to it. But what it actually does is wash your clothes while you go for a nice bike ride! This invention is perfect for people who live in developing countries and don’t have access to electricity.
21. Waterotor
Waterotor is a special turbine that harnesses green energy from slow water currents. (See? I told you turbines are the future!) This one can create a sufficient amount of electricity when it’s submerged in water that moves as slow as 2 mph.
22. Charcoal made from poop
I know, just let me explain. Believe it or not, 2.3 billion people live without access to a toilet. That’s why poo becomes a real problem, especially if it seeps into the water supply. So, bright minds in Africa decided to turn feces into fuel! They first let it dry for 3 weeks in a greenhouse and heat it up at really high temperatures.
1. Old plastic bottles as light bulbs
Nearly 16% of the world’s population still lives without access to electricity. To solve this problem, a project called A Litre Of Light was launched in 2012 in the Philippines.The idea is to use plastic bottles as light bulbs by filling them with water, bleach, and a tiny solar panel. When sunlight hits it, the refracted light helps these DIY bulbs give off about 55 watts.
2. Water blobs
No, this isn’t a water balloon to pelt at your annoying sibling. Water blobs are an alternative for single-use plastic water bottles. They consist of water surrounded by a jelly-like capsule made of seaweed extract. This casing is 100% biodegradable and has no taste, although the inventors are thinking about adding some flavors to it. You can either tear the capsule and pour water in your mouth or just gulp it down whole!
3. Mr. Trash Wheel
Mr. Trash Wheel is the cute nickname Baltimore locals thought up for the Inner Harbor Water Wheel. This awesome machine collects garbage flowing down the Jones Falls River.The water wheel turns on by the power provided by the river’s current, gathers all that nasty litter and debris, and deposits it into a dumpster. When the dumpster’s full, it’s towed away by boat, and a new one is put in its place.
4. Shampoo pods
These shampoo pods are plastic-free and come in a soluble form that contains enough product to wash hair of any length and simply melts in water. These single-serve pods can also hold conditioner, body wash, and shaving cream. All of them are free of parabens, preservatives, or artificial fragrances. Oh yeah, and the bright mind behind their creation, Benjamin Stern, came up with the idea when he was just 14 years old!
5. Edible cutlery
Disposable cutlery is a major contributor to the growing plastic waste crisis. In the US alone, approximately 40 billion plastic utensils are thrown away every year. That’s why using an edible alternative can help cut back on all that plastic garbage. These utensils are actually made from millet, wheat, and rice, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t sturdy! You can even eat soup with them, and they won’t fall apart! They taste like crackers, so you could just have them as a snack too!
6. Toothpaste pills
Around 1 billion toothpaste tubes end up in landfills each year. But TV producer Lindsay McCormick came up with an awesome way to fix that! She invented toothpaste that comes in pills. They’re sold in a glass bottle that’s meant to be refilled. All you have to do is bite one of these pills, and it instantly becomes foamy just like ordinary toothpaste. As a bonus, these Toothpaste Bits don’t need any preservatives to stay fresh!
7. Off-grid energy
Waterlily is a relatively small turbine that converts moving wind or water into actual electricity! So, yes, you can use it to charge all your USB-powered devices such as tablets, smartphones, cameras, and so on. It has a compact design, which is why it’s super easy to use it in almost any outdoor situation. This handy little innovation not only creates energy in an eco-friendly way, it also makes camping much more comfortable!
8. Stove that doesn’t need fuel
Another super cool thing for camping enthusiasts is the Biolite CampStove 2. It works only on wood, and its fan creates smokeless fire that can cook food and boil water in minutes. On top of that, this eco-stove recycles unused heat during cooking and turns it into electricity that you can use to charge your electronics!
9. Plastic bottle cutter
Need some rope? Just start saving all your plastic bottles and make one yourself! This cutter turns plastic bottles into strips that you can use around the household or for DIY projects and crafting. Not to mention, cutting up bottles helps reduce the amount of space they take up on their way to be recycled.
10. Edible packaging
When I said “plastic waste crisis” earlier, I wasn’t kidding! About 10 million tons of plastic end up in the sea and threaten marine life. To protect those sea dwellers, Saltwater Brewery produced six-pack rings that can safely be eaten by marine animals since they’re made of wheat and barley, common leftovers from the brewing process. When one of these six-pack rings gets into the ocean, it starts breaking down in a few hours, which saves animals from getting stuck in them!
11. The hydro-wheel irrigator
The Barsha pump is a hydro-powered pump that works anywhere there’s flowing water. When placed in a river or stream, it uses the energy from the current to send water inland without the need of expensive fuel. It can help farmers irrigate fields up to 1 mile away with over 11,000 gallons of water a day. It works without electricity and doesn’t emit polluting gases.
12. Portable turbine
A Canadian company has invented a turbine that turns a river’s perpetual flow into power and makes up to 12 kilowatt hours, which is enough to power your home. It takes only three people to install this turbine, but it does have to be connected to an electrical generator. The company says that there’s no evidence that the turbine is harmful to aquatic life, so fish won’t get trapped or injured in it.
13. Tire shredder
A lot of people keep their old tires stacked in garages or backyards, where they just take up space and serve no purpose. What a waste of a highly useful resource, right? Well, this huge machine gives tires a second life by separating the rubber from the textile, fiber, and steel cords. You can then recycle these materials into new products, like for construction!
14. Shipping container pools
Have you always dreamed of having a swimming pool in your backyard? Then choose one made from old shipping containers! It’s a hot new trend for cooling off in the summer heat! These pools are installed with a filtration system. And like any other standard pool, you can place it above, in, or partially in the ground. One of the perks of owning such a pool is that you can take it with you if you decide to relocate.
15. Trash can for the sea
The Seabin collects garbage by creating water flow with the help of a pump. The water gets sucked into the Seabin, which catches all floating debris and garbage. After trapping the litter in a bag, the water then flows back out to the sea. There’s also a pad at the bottom of the bag that can soak up oil!
16. Powder that cleans dirty water
Would you drink water that’s so murky you can’t see through it? Well, a lot of people don’t even have a choice since they live in remote areas without a centralized water system. For them, purified water is the stuff of dreams, but now it can be a reality. This amazing powder kills off all bacteria and mixes with dirt and pollutants so that they fall to the bottom.
17. Biodegradable bags
These biodegradable bags made of cassava starch completely dissolve in water. Their creator, Kevin Kumala, even proved it’s not harmful by drinking a glass of water with a piece of this bag dissolved in it! Talk about putting your money where your mouth is! Or, I guess the other way around in this case…
18. Whirlpool turbine
Looks like eco-friendly turbines will be a big thing in the near future. This one has just one moving part, so it can operate for longer and doesn’t need much maintenance. It was designed to produce electricity in rural areas and is capable of continuously powering dozens of homes 24 hours a day.
19. Compost bin that turns trash into gas
This compost bin allows you to create your own source of renewable energy right in your backyard! You can place all kinds of food and organic waste into the HomeBiogas. Then, bacteria inside the bin decompose the organic material and release biogas that travels through a gas pipe and is ready to be used for cooking!
20. Washing machine on pedal power
Ingeniously dubbed the SpinCycle, this machine just looks like a bike with a plastic drum attached to it. But what it actually does is wash your clothes while you go for a nice bike ride! This invention is perfect for people who live in developing countries and don’t have access to electricity.
21. Waterotor
Waterotor is a special turbine that harnesses green energy from slow water currents. (See? I told you turbines are the future!) This one can create a sufficient amount of electricity when it’s submerged in water that moves as slow as 2 mph.
22. Charcoal made from poop
I know, just let me explain. Believe it or not, 2.3 billion people live without access to a toilet. That’s why poo becomes a real problem, especially if it seeps into the water supply. So, bright minds in Africa decided to turn feces into fuel! They first let it dry for 3 weeks in a greenhouse and heat it up at really high temperatures.
Poverty deprives people of adequate education, health care and of life's most basic necessities- safe living conditions (including clean air and clean drinking water) and an adequate food supply. The developed (industrialized) countries today account for roughly 20 percent of the world's population but control about 80 percent of the world's wealth.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
