February 29, 2008, There would be very few people who could boast that they have owned one cell phone in their lifetime. Be honest, how many phones have you discarded, along with the battery, adapter and charger that go along with it? Now multiply the number of phones and other electronic devices you have thrown away by the number of people in your state. That stockpile of used and outdated electronic products clogging up landfill sites would be getting bigger every day. In fact, the way we’re heading, with almost one in two people carrying a cell phone in their pocket , the impact on the environment becomes frighteningly clear.
Now, a designer has come up with a solution that could eliminate some of the waste caused by discarded batteries, chargers and all that stuff which fits just one electronic device. The Green Cell battery is a single, standardized battery which will fit every type of personal electronic device.
Green Cell was the third place winner in the Greener Gadgets Competition held recently in New York City and was designed by Theo Richardson with Charles Brill & Alex Williams of RBW.
The Green Cell battery is made without toxic chemicals and is safe and environmentally friendly. It can also be recharged or replaced at a local vending machine. Yep, that’s right, there’ll be no more need for all those batteries and power sources, you’ll be able to swap your battery over and get a can of soft drink from the machine next door. Simple, eco-friendly and sustainable.
The Greener Gadgets Design Competition took place in February, 2008 as part of the “Greener Gadgets Conference” held in New York City. The conference was held for industry leaders, journalists, designers and entrepreneurs and aimed to discover ways of making the consumer electronics industry “greener”. One of the conference’s initiatives was a partnership between Greener Gadgets and the industrial design website Core77, to hold a Greener Gadgets Design Competition for designers worldwide.
The competition challenge was to design new and innovative electronic products which took into account issues such as carbon footprint, energy, health and toxicity and social development. Entrants were encouraged to think about the product at any stage of their life-cycle, whilst ensuring they took sustainability into consideration, including issues of recycling, energy and educational development.
So who won? The Enerjar DIY power monitoring device by Matt Meshulam and Zach Dwiel by took first prize followed by the Gravia gravity powered floor lamp design by Clay Moulton.
Check out the video footage of the competition judging and other prize winners and honorable mentions at Core77.
