Eco - friendly structures do n’t have to look like unworthy gray box . In fact , saving the enviromment can pep up some of the good intent out there . Here are five ways biomimetics aim the elegance of nature , and makes it work for us .
1. Termite mounds as buildings
Termite pile are gigantic heaps of mud , out in the sunshine all solar day in the desert . We have a word for what they should be like : ovens . Instead , they ’re cooled by a complicated organisation of passage and material design to funnel hot breeze out , and let cool air in .
Already , there are buildings based on this concept . During the day , they lay in hot aura in sure areas and save it up in materials that absorb a lot of heat . At night , release open at the top of the construction and the hot air scud out . This make a minor vacuum that sucks in coolheaded , dense , night gentle wind from vents at the bottom of the building .
As you may see , these buildings look honest on the interior . On the outside , so far , they face like regular construction . Some day , with fortune , the designers will get over their human bent - ups and design them to look like termite mounds . That will be a fun day .
2. Windmills of whale flukes.
You know what ’s huge and heavy , but gets around the ocean efficiently ? A whale .
The folks atWhale Powernoticed this , as well as the blow on the front of whale ’s flukes . The tubercles boil down drag , allowing the hulk to move more efficiently through the ocean . Whale Power want to expend that to make fans employ less vigour , and serve windmills provide more energy . By hack out the waste , they can make everything more efficient and beautiful , from tip turbines to the little fan cooling your estimator .
3. Giant metal seaweed and fishtails that harvest energy
A fresh room to solve the energy crisis will liven up the scuba - diving experience . alloy social organization pose on the sea floor will use the motility of the waves to reap Department of Energy from the ocean . As they get pushed back and forward , they will drive generators . This picky model uses the shape and bouyancy of seaweed . As an added bonus , it will , like kelp , lie matte against the ocean trading floor when the seas get too rough , minimizing harm .
Another design by the same company , BioPower , does n’t have the advantage of set down in the mouth .
It will , however , gain supernumerary get-up-and-go from the motion of any shark that chooses to attack it .
4. Batplane
This solar powered spy automaton would vanish over scrap zones , taking pictures and come back data . And it . . . okay . It ’s a solar - power , bat - determine spy aeroplane . Yes , it ’s only six inches long , but do I really have to explain why it ’s nerveless ?
5. Helios car
I know that railcar are supposed to be like cheetahs and mustangs and thundercougarfalconbirds , but are n’t those concepts a bit tired at this point ? I know that , when I fantasise about drive along the coastline of Monaco , perhaps so I can get to my massive dirigible which will take me to my quaint hideway castle sunken under the waters of the Philipines , I do n’t want my railway car to look like this :
I require it to look like this :
Or , more specifically , like this :
The Helios elevator car uses solar energy . I think you may spot the panel . They fold down into the car , but who would ever want them to ? If these things were tooling around , I think we ’d in the end get an ending to all those route trip picture show that have teenagers belong across country in VW vans and 60 ’s convertibles . At long last , we would have invented something cooler .
Top image : Termite agglomerate by Sebastian Burel / Shutterstock . Whale image by ECOSTOCK / Shutterstock .
[ ViaBioPower , athousandgreatideas , Now Toronto , Design World , andInhabitat.com . ]
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