MIT's Solar Powered Recharging SOFT Rockers

Architecture students at MIT, led by Professor Sheila Kennedy, recently unveiled their latest design for the Massachusetts’ based school’s 150th anniversary Festival of Art+Science+Technology (FAST). These solar powered SOFT rockers allow you to plug in and recharge your USB device while relaxing outdoors. With a soft wood construction, the rocker makes use of the balance from human body weight to create an interactive 1.5 axis 35 watt solar tracking system.

MIT's Solar Powered SOFT Rockers At Night

Also incorporated into the design is a 12-ampere-hour battery that harvests and stores solar power during the day for use during nighttime hours. A strip of light can be turned on after the sun goes down that runs along the interior of the lounger. The charging stations were on display at the university’s Killian Court for students to gather while having the convenience of plugging in.

SOFT Rockers Charge Any USB Device

Time will tell if these solar loungers will make it to production, either as is or in a more polished form, but they could add a touch of efficiency and innovation to the average backyard.

Via: Apartment Therapy

Images: MIT

This durable spotlight comes with its own solar panel, and uses 16 LEDs to produce light. It can run for 12 hours on a single charge. It has a weathertight anodized aluminum housing, and impact-resistant hand-soldered circuitry. The result is a solar light that will perform year after year (many solar lights are meant to be replaced every summer). Available from Gardner’s Supply Company for $59.95

There’s too much concrete in the world and most of it is unnecessary. Here’s one alternative that you may have seen at the beach: low-impact, modular walkways made out of sustainable timber.

The company, Mister Boardwalk, even makes “roll out” walkways that simply roll out on top of grass, wood chips, sand, gravel or old concrete. The company specifies that their pressure treated southern pine does not contain arsenic, and their cypress and teak are certified as responsibly harvested and are chemical free.

They also offer Trex, which is a recycled composite combining hardwood sawdust and recycled plastic shopping bags. They have a page with much more details on their materials. They also offer shower mats, doormats, decks and various other things.

Mister Boardwalk

Via: Treehugger

Here’s another recycled creation from John T. Unger — it’s a fire pit made of 100% recycled steel, called the Great Bowl O’ Fire. The piece is a bit of a visual pun, because it is hand cut with a torch from decommissioned propane tanks! The heavy steel of the pit actually radiates heat like a wood stove. John also makes matching torches.

Rubberwood (also called Parawood in Thailand) is considered a renewable timber because it is only milled from rubber trees that have ceased to produce latex. After about 26-30 years, the latex yields from the tree become extremely low and the planters then fell the rubber trees and plant new ones. So, unlike other woods that are cut down for the sole purpose of producing furniture, rubberwood is used only after it completes it’s latex producing cycle and dies.

In fact, rubberwood is one of the more durable lumbers used in the manufacturing of today’s home furnishings. Rubberwood has very little shrinkage making it one of the more stable construction materials availabe for furniture manufacturing.

Rubberwood furniture available from: Overstock: (another table here) and many other furniture stores.