From the highway, drivers will easily be able to spot the Green Leaf Inn, prominently marked by the sweeping, 151.5-foot arc of a 50kW wind turbine.  The turbine, which will help to harness Wisconsin’s Class 3 winds, will feed the grid as well as the Inn that is slated to be the first net-zero bed and breakfast in the Midwest. (The purchase of the massive, private turbine was funded in part by a Wisconsin Focus on Energy grant.)

Co-owned by married couple Fritz Kreiss and Catherine McQueen, the Green Leaf Inn is a testbed of eco efforts, including solar, geothermal and biomass power sources.  Perhaps the coolest feature, however, is that as the Inn is built, Kreiss and McQueen are keeping future visitors informed through “The Greening of the Inn” at www.thegreenleafinn.com .  At the website, you can check out the actual Inn site plans, see photos as the project progresses, and also view the timeline…which concludes with the grand opening of the 19-suite Inn this summer.

Located in Delavan, Wisconsin, the luxe B&B will offer Jacuzzi suites, five garden areas, a learning center for green technology and a pottery studio.  To check out a full list of the Inn’s environmental initiatives, click here.

I don’t know if anyone needs 770 horsepower, a 200mph top speed and the ability to go 0 to 60mph in 3 seconds, but these are electric cars…from the press release:

Capstone Turbine Corporation today announced that Velozzi, a Los Angeles-based car designer and manufacturer, will become the first auto company to integrate Capstone’s ultra-clean C65 and C30 microturbines into a electric supercar (above) and a crossover vehicle (below).

“The first electric supercar with a 65-kilowatt microturbine will be available in late 2010.  (more…)

If you’ve ever been to Norway you might remember the beautiful fields, the friendly people and, most of all, the chilling wind.  Norway is already one of the world’s leaders in harnessing wind power.  They have the world’s first floating wind turbine (awesome!) and could be the EU’s energy lifeline.  Now, a company called On Office, has designed an entire city of wind turbines.

The On Office design isn’t just a bunch of wind turbines.  It’s a real, live city.  The turbines house hotels, spas, museums and more.  Off the Norweigan coast, the turbines would be connected like a set of islands, and would be easily accessible to both mainlanders and passing ships.

Unfortunately, offshore wind designs are often met with ornery skepticism (heaven forbid there’s a little speck ruining the view you’re paying millions of dollars for).  Even in Norway, where citizens are markedly more open to renewable energy and designs, the government has had trouble pitching larger scale wind farms to its people.  This design, however, could change all that.  If it’s not only an energy maker, but a money maker too, the people might see it a bit differently.  And hey, it doesn’t hurt that it looks really cool.

related:  solar city

Designer Shiao-Fang Shen conceived the Transalon electric & low-floor bus as an addition to the fast public transportation system in China’s cities.  The designer states the bus concept focuses on “high efficiency, easy transmission & environmental concern.”

The shape and form of the TranSalon are intended to integrate the harmonious and calm feeling of Chinese traditional architecture with the dynamic feeling of marine life.  Hmmm…public transportation has never looked this good.

What are we waiting for?  Checkout this video and email your Senators about this vitally important bill for OUR clean energy economy.  Watch Email Share. Pretty Simple.

“Americans want real action to address climate change and move our country toward a clean energy future,” said NRDC President Frances Beinecke. “This is one of the most important pieces of legislation of our time – we cannot let our moment pass us by. Our Senators need to hear all of us loud and clear.”

Thisisourmoment.org brings together the nation’s most effective environmental action group and a host of notable celebrities including DiCaprio, Edward Norton, Forest Whitaker, Jason Bateman, Felicity Huffman, Chace Crawford, Emmy Rossum and Justin Long.  This is Our Moment.org  enables citizens to become participants by speaking to their representatives in two ways: uploading their own videos in support of a clean energy economy, and sending direct emails to their Senators.

Clean energy and climate legislation passed the House of Representatives for the first time ever in June 2009.  The legislation, the Clean Energy, Jobs and American Power Act, is now pending in the Senate. The bill has the power to jumpstart our economy, create millions of jobs, break our dependence on foreign oil, and cut global warming pollution. This is Our Moment calls on Americans to hold their representatives to task and to pass urgently-needed climate legislation.

via:  National Resources Defense Council pr

Show me another solar-powered bird repeller and I might puke…but this little analog, phototropic solar gadget holds some attraction.  For those in need of a tiny, non-judgmental solar friend.  This green gadget was handmade from recycled electronics parts.  A tiny gear box rotates and turns the head towards any light source – occasionally he may turn away for an instant and turn back…sort of like an old boyfriend.

$55 @ middlecreekmerchants etsy shop

Another waste of good tech…Most people try to attract birds, but if you’re one of those individuals with a bird problem or avian phobia this solar-powered novelty might pique your interest.  This thing’s spinning, 5 foot telescoping arms, (I wondered what happened to my TV’s old rabbit ears), will theoretically frighten birds or confuse them – much as it did me.

You can hardly classify this device as a green gadget — since the plastic, motor, solar panel and other raw materials — are used to create something pretty much unnecessary…now if you could dry your undies from the arms, in lieu of your electric clothes dryer…

$52.97 @ whateverworks.com

via:  renewbl.com

I discovered this design for a Dubai-based “Solar City” – a solar-powered hotel, and residential and entertainment complex – in Alexander Jackson’s portfolio.  The structure is designed to minimize solar gain while maximizing solar energy production.

The complex is designed on an east-west axis, creating self shading and reducing exposure to low angle sun.  The towers sit above a massive solar array intended to be used for powering the development. Unfortunately, with Dubai’s recent economic difficulties we may not see many of these innovative architectural projects come to fruition.

The carbon fiber and aluminum Eolic portable wind turbine is the concept of designers Marcos Madia, Sergio Ohashi and Juan Manuel Pantano.  The whole deal folds-up into an easily transportable, vacuum cleaner-like cylinder.  The telescoping tower lets it reach skyward to where the wind is strongest.

With natural disasters on everyone’s minds the idea of a relatively lightweight, portable windpower generator is very compelling.  Remember this is just a concept – but one that just might have legs.

via: gadgetsteria.com

This crazy looking thing attaches via suction cup to your window and dangles and rotates a Swarovski crystal to refract sunlight creating “swirling rainbows.”  The whole deal is powered by a small solar panel.   The ROYGBIV, which was designed by David Dear, will probably keep you occupied until your next unicorn sighting.  Who knows what ROYGBIV stands for?

$24.95 @ scientificsonline.com