From “the Edible Race Car” designed by WorldFirst, to “the Smart Thermostat” designed by EnergyHub, green was the theme in this year’s list of “Best Inventions” by TIME.com. Just skimming through the list of 50 breakthrough ideas, inventions and gadgets, you notice the wide array of eco-consciously influenced inventions…the solar shingle, vertical farming, the Nissan Leaf, rubber made from dandelions, the living wall, the personal carbon footprint, and as mentioned, the edible race car and smart thermostat all made TIME’s list.
The people voted, too. Two of the top 3 inventions (as voted by the people) were “green” inventions. Philip’s LED equivalent to the common 60-watt household bulb received the most votes (with over 10,400 votes) and was voted as the 2nd most-important invention of 2009, with an average rating of 86 out of 100. 60-watt lights account for 50% of the domestic incandescent market and if they were replaced by LED bulbs, the U.S. could save enough electricity per year to light 17.4 million households. Philip’s LED bulb emits the same amount of light as its incandescent equivalent but uses less than 10 watts and lasts 25 times as long.
Which inventions do we think are the most important? The people have spoken (image via TIME.com).
In 3rd place, also with an average rating of 86 out of 100 (and a total of 8,100+ votes) was the “Solar Shingle” by Dow Chemical Co. The key to these solar panels that act as shingles? 1) They look hidden and can blend with traditional asphalt shingles, and 2) they’re expected to cost 10% to 15% less than traditional solar panels and will be cheaper and quicker to install. As a result, Dow Chemical predicts it will bring in as much as $10 billion in revenue by 2020.
The rest of “the people’s” top 10 include two more green inventions/ideas…vertical farming and the Nissan Leaf electric car. So, that makes 40% of the top 10, green concepts.
Leading all inventions in total votes...Philip's $10 million lightbulb
Our future will rely heavily on our ability to be energy-efficient, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. And people are finally grasping the importance. This is more than a list. It’s a statement. People love mindless gadgets (see 95% of the iPhone apps), but when it comes to moving our planet forward, we need more than an i-Gun app that makes our phone turn into a fake gun so that we can fake shoot other cars when we’re impatiently sitting in traffic. We need energy-saving bulbs. We need intelligent urban planning. We need oil-free transportation. We need convenient, accessible renewable energy options for our homes. These are the ingredients for a better tomorrow.
Tags: Green Inventions