by Vivian Nelson Melle

If you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle there’s no reason you should forgo your eco-consciousness. There are several items made from sustainable materials that also provide impressive alternatives to traditional work out equipment. From shoes to water bottles, there’s always an earth friendly choice.

Here are a few eco-friendly exercise gear to maintain excitement and motivation for healthy living.

1. Brooks Sports Cascadia

Brooks brand has become one of the favorites of running enthusiasts, but more important, a favorite of vegans and other eco-enthusiasts. The shoes are made with 50 percent recycled products and are quite stunning to look at. The Cascadia is Brooks’s trail runner and a well received sequel to the eco-minded green silence which was a running flat. Brooks is already a popular brand among running and hiking enthusiasts, so the eco choices have become easier sale with many hopping aboard green living.

{CC photo courtesy of greenlagirl on Flickr}

2. Bamboo Towels

You’ve read about bamboo being a vegan-friendly choice, but did you know bamboo towels are known for exceptional softness? Bamboo towels are also popular for their super absorbency which is just what you’re looking for after a hard workout. Why not choose bamboo towels as part of your work out gear whether for showering at the gym or simply wiping the sweat off your yoga mat.

{CC photo courtesy of Uncleweed on Flickr}

3. Injinji Socks

Socks now come in a mind-numbing number of choices and with the new barefoot running generation Injinji makes socks specifically for the minimal running enthusiasts. They also carry traditional socks, but what makes them special is the bamboo line of eco-socks. Besides the comfort factor these socks are naturally antibacterial, pretty cool.

{cc photo courtesy of Steve Wilhelm on Flickr}

4. Klean Kanteen Water Bottle

With the BPA scare making most water bottles suspect, it a relief to enjoy Klean Kanteen as an alternative. The stainless steel bodies are a durable container for outdoor enthusiasts and it keeps cool water cool for longer than plastic bottles. The come in various sizes and decorative varieties. They even have a line specifically for children and even babies. Many bottles are perfect for their lunch system and active lifestyles.

{cc photo courtesy of Pig Monkey on Flickr}

by Jo Borras

There are little Prii, big Prii, plug-in Prii, racing Prii, and now – just revealed at this weekend’s Tokyo Auto Salon – there are full-fledged, fully-equipped, and very Real Toyota Prius camper vans.

Starting with a new, 3rd-gen Prius, the conversion company adds a streamlined, fiber-reinforced plastic shell that expands the Prius’ interior into something that’s, well, livable! The “living area” has room for a small coffee table with booth-type seating and underseat storage which can be converted to a queen-size bed (as shown, below), with an additional “permanent” bed in the forward section (above the cockpit). At the rear of the shell, the Prius RV features a shower/bathroom stall, which seems big enough for (quick) standing showers.

No word, yet, on storage capacities, kitchen amenities, or price – but even if those are minimal (they’d have to be!), this little camper would certainly go a long way towards making cross-country camping trips greener, cleaner, and more affordable if it ever came stateside.

by Lauren Craig

Robert Smith really hates to mow the lawn. I mean, really hates it. So instead of suffering in the heat and getting covered in grass clippings, the 23-year-old engineering graduate from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) built a solar-powered lawn mower that does all the work for him. “I thought, ‘how can I make this more enjoyable?’ I needed to complete a senior project, and this was a really good challenge for myself, to incorporate different technologies and make mowing the lawn easier,” he said.

Smith’s Solar Charged Remote Controlled Electric Lawn Mower (SCRCELM–pronounced “screlm”) is a Black & Decker electric mower fitted with components from an electric wheelchair and powered by two 20-watt solar panels wired to pair of 12V batteries. It can be constructed from materials sourced almost entirely from Lowe’s, RadioShack, eBay and Amazon. Perhaps most importantly, it can be controlled with a remote, while you sit in a lawn chair:

The project is slightly reminiscent of something Rick Moranis would have built in Honey I Shrunk the Kids. But, Smith isn’t just your everyday tinkerer with a degree in computer engineering; he is also something of a video and social media whiz. How many college students do you know that spent their summer break creating an online tutorial showing how to build a solar panel from scratch?

Smith’s website is a wealth of do-it-yourself knowledge, with detailed videos, schematics and parts and tools lists. The SCRCELM project is quite involved; but if you were so inclined, you could build it yourself from the information he provides. There, he tells you everything you need to know–from the size of drill bits to the number of washers you will need.

His instruction videos may not be quite as popular as videos of that Robert Smith, but Smith’s YouTube channel has over 4,000 subscribers, and the introductory video for the SCRCELM project has received over 7,500 views on YouTube since it launched in November.

At the risk of dropping the most 1980?s cultural references ever in an EarthTechling article; he’s like the Bob Vila of do-it-yourself solar power. Smith also hosts monthly contests in which he gives away a 5-watt solar panel to one of the lucky technology buffs, fellow engineering students and solar enthusiasts who make up his audience.

For him, Smith says it’s all about raising awareness about solar energy and its many varied applications. “Mostly, I just want to get people involved in solar energy as much as possible,” he said. “I definitely see solar energy as where we’re headed. The more people are interested, the quicker we’ll get there.”

So far, Smith does not have any plans to commercialize the SCRCELM. But, he has also thought about engineering a solar-powered weedeater or snow plow, and he said he would certainly be open to opportunities to further develop the design.

For now, he is an enterprising young college graduate trying to do something productive while he looks for a job. “I enjoy [making the videos] because I’m a very creative person,” he said. “I like watching the footage from the tutorials and thinking about what the finished product might be. YouTube and Google and video networks are a new way of learning about technology, and another avenue that people can use to build something. I feel like I’ve been able to come up with a way of making a video that people want to watch and that they can learn from.”

Having just finished the project in November; Smith said he hasn’t had a chance to test the mower in the heat of Nashville, Tennessee’s summer. But, he looks forward to putting it to good use, and sitting on the porch while his neighbors mow their lawns the old-fashioned way.

by Christopher DeMorro

It has taken over a century for automakers to get back to their roots, but finally we are seeing some divergence from the obsession with gasoline. Back when motorized transportation first started cropping up, any and every power source was on the table, including steam power. And when I saw this 1894 steam-powered motorcycle, I just had to share it with you.

The Boiler Bike

For a while, steam power held a lot of promise as a power source, but primitive boilers that took forever to warm up essentially doomed the experiment. Even so, the steam-powered land speed record stood for over 100 years, and these days there is renewed interest in steam power from a variety of sources.

This one-of-a-kind motorcycle was built by Sylvester Roper, who reportedly would use coals from his steamboat to warm up the boiler, which sits below a water tank. A water pump was driven off of the rear axle, and a small steam engine would propel the Columbia bicycle-based steamcycle to speeds upwards of 40 MPH.

Unfortunately, Roper died while riding the steamcycle, apparently suffering from a heart attack in the middle of his race bicyclist Nat Butler. So far as I know, this is a unique contraption, never replicated or sold. Since I am a I huge fan of steampunk (if you hadn’t figured it out already) I felt compelled to share this with you, dear readers. And I hope you think it is as cool as I do!

Roper’s steamcycle will hit the auction block this Janaury, though there is no indication of what the expected selling price will be. But who wouldn’t want to ride around with a tank full of boiling water sitting right beneath your genitals?

by Steve Duda

When we last checked in with Italian electric motorcycle makers CRP, they were all about racing, taking part – and winning – the 2010 and 2011 Vice World Championships with their electric superbike. CRP didn’t sell that bike, but they did rent it for a three-day race for about $7,200. Now, however, CRP has announced that their very first street model, the Energica, will hit the market soon.

The Energica, which was recently unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show in Italy, is an Italian-styled, aggressive street machine that, even when parked, exudes speed. And for good reason, with its racing DNA the bike is built to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

The bike’s 100-kilowatt power plant is built upon a PMAC synchronous motor with permanent magnets generating up to 136 horsepower. As you would expect, this setup is a torque monster, delivering almost 116 ft. lbs. on the way to propelling this rocket to a top speed of about 137 mph. CRP boasts that this powertrain delivers 95 percent efficiency and a driving range of almost 95 miles.

Besides pure, heart-pounding speed and sleek good looks, the Energica also comes with some nice touches, including a digital, multifunction LCD dashboard, an LED lighting package, rear monoshock and Brembo front double caliper radial mounted brakes (for when you finally decide to slow down). As you might imagine, these bikes are a limited edition and prices start at $20,578.

by Christopher DeMorro

I love cars, nearly as much as I love women, and for as long as men have worked on cars, they have convinced pretty young things to pose with them. Typically though, women have tended to pose with performance vehicles, from muscle cars to Lamborghinis. These days though, the “hot” thing is fuel efficiency…and Pump Rebels thought it was time to for some sexy, sustainable, calendar girl action.

All the major players are within this $15 calendar, including the Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevy Volt, and Nissan LEAF. And you know, it is rather amazing what some good lightining and photography can do to turn a ho-hum looking car like the LEAF into a vehicle that just oozes sex appeal. The addition for a tall, beautiful woman wearing very little clothing also helps.

I figure this post may offend some of you, those who will call me out for “objectifying women” and promoting the sexist idea of women posing with cars.

To those people, I say; get a life. You want to reach the masses and preach fuel efficiency? Try doing it with some beautiful women at your side, and see how much easier it is to spread your message. Furthermore, I fully encourage women to be active in automobile ownership, whether that means changing your oil, and snapping some bikini shots with your new hybrid.

Who says fuel efficiency can’t be sexy? Not this guy, that is for sure. Clink the link below to find out how to purchase one of these lovely calendars for yourself, or a loved one. It is almost the holidays, after all.

by Steve Duda

California-based electric motorcycle maker Zero Motorcycles recently unveiled their 2012 line of bikes, boasting five models, a new powertrain and a battery pack that they claim will last the life of the bike.

The new Zero line includes three street bikes. The Zero S is an aggressively-styled streetfighter which, with the optional battery upgrade to 9 kW, has a range of 114 miles and a top speed of 88 MPH. The Zero DS is a dual sport bike built to handle pavement or dirt roads. The DS has a range of up to 112 miles and a top speed of 80 MPH. For city commuting, Zero offers the Zero XU, a utilitarian bike with storage, a removable battery pack and a lightweight, low-seated frame. The XU has a range of 46 miles and a top speed of 65MPH.

For dirt riders Zero is offering two 2012 bikes. For motocross, track and trail riders the Zero MX offers up to 120 minutes of ride time and top speed of 54 MPH. The Zero X features the same powertrain as the MX, but features lights, mirrors and street legal tires in addition to slightly higher gearing for sustained road speeds.

All Zero bikes feature the company’s new Z Force power pack, which uses a new battery cell chemistry and configuration that is up to 95 percent more energy dense and is rated to 3,000 complete charge cycles — as much as 308,000 miles. All the street models, including the Zero XU, feature new brushless motors and regenerative braking that allow riders to recoup energy during deceleration.

Zero says they’ll begin shipping their bikes in February 2012. Bikes range in price from $7,695 for the XU to $13,995 for the upgraded S and DS models.

A student at Australia’s Swinburne University this week received the James Dyson Award for a device he says is capable of harvesting moisture from the air for use in irrigation, even in the world’s driest places. Developed by Edward Linnacre, the Airdrop is a wind- or solar-powered device that sucks air underground through a coiled metal pipe, where the cooler temperature of the surrounding soil slowly causes it to condense. The device ultimately collects the water in an underground tank before it is pumped back to the roots of nearby crops via a sub-surface drip irrigation system. According to Linnacre, a prototype that he developed in his mother’s backyard was able to produce about one liter of water per day. He hopes the technology can be used for agriculture in even the driest conditions. “There are water-harvesting technologies out there, but there’s very few low-tech solutions,” he said. “A low-tech solution is perfect for rural farmers, something that they can install, something that they can maintain themselves.” The James Dyson Award recognizes student engineering and design projects that solve a problem.

Watch a video

Photo by Design Buzz/flickr/Creative Commons

by Christopher DeMorro

Hybrid technology is the focus of many car companies these days, including Honda. But hybrid technology can be applied to more than just automobiles, and Honda Power Equipment has come up with a hybrid snowblower that reduces fuel consumption, noise, and will certainly be the most affordable (and time saving!) hybrid on the market.

Quieter, Cleaner, Cooler

The HS 1336i is Honda’s newest snowblower, combining a gasoline engine with two electric motors. The gasoline engine powers the snow-chomping blades at the front of the engine and charge the battery. Meanwhile, two small electric motors power the treads, freeing the gas engine from the torque-intensive duties of forward progress. The electric motors also double as generators during deceleration of the hybrid snowblower. While this isn’t the same hybrid tech found on cars like the Honda CR-Z, I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t at least some carryover in how the system was put together.

While Honda does not specifically mention how much in the way of fuel savings can be expected, power equipment is the next front in clean emissions technology. Current small-engine power equipment does not have to meet much in the way of emissions regulations (though that will change come 2013.) In addition to the hybrid tech, the Honda Snowblower also imports a few other goodies from its car cousins, like self-diagnostic monitoring system, which alerts the operator to conditions like low oil, carburetor problems, etc. etc.

Start Of A New Trend?

It is likely this small Honda hybrid is just the tip of the iceberg. I expect to see hybrid lawn mowers (especially commercial mowers), ATV’s, and other power equipment to move either towards hybrid or alt-fuel technology as government regulations and high gasoline prices fuel interest in cleaner-burning engines. And aside from all of that, the hybrid tech lowers sound emissions as well, allowing for less noise on the job. As someone who has personally worked with big power equipment, I can say that any noise reduction is a boon to both workers and their neighbors.

Still, who would have thought a Honda snowblower would go hybrid? What power equipment would you like to see hybridized?

by Steve Duda

The vision of the future, at least according to Saturday morning cartoons, was jetpacks. We were all supposed to be zipping around our futuristic cities wearing jetpacks by the year 2000. That didn’t happen (the robot maids and moon colonies have also yet to appear), but perhaps the e-volo multicopter will be a viable alternative.

The multicopter is an electric, vertically starting, human carrying transportation device that employs 16 propellers mounted on a rigid frame, allowing it to take off and land like a helicopter. The propellers create the full lift, and are also responsible for balancing the device on all three axes by independent speed control of the motors. Unlike the rotor of a helicopter, the propellers don’t have any pitch control and therefore no wear.

The automatic attitude and directional control are taken care of by onboard computers which control the engines with the precise rotation speed necessary to fly this tri-axis device. A simple joystick allows the pilot to control the aircraft via a fly-by-wire system. E-volo says the flight of the multicopter is only limited by battery strength.

But who’s going to fly this wild aviation concept? To step into the middle of the multicopter’s whirling nest of 16 blades must take a very brave person. That person is Thomas Senkel, who recently survived the contraption’s first manned liftoff, becoming the pilot of the world’s first manned electric multicopter. The entire flight, in southwest Germany, lasted one minute and 30 seconds. Said Senkel afterward: “The flight characteristics are good natured. Without any steering input it would just hover there on the spot.” You can watch the maiden flight here, with liftoff takeoff occurring around the 1:45 mark: