I want my house to repel heat in summer and absorb heat in winter. My idea is to create paint (or vinyl siding) that becomes darker when it is cold and lighter when it is warm. With such paint I would accomplish my goal.

The idea is to create a lighting system able to alter its lighting automatically based on the emotional flavor of the room. The lighting system will consist of some the world's most efficient and compact lights. The lights will be equipped with sensors to alter the lighting based on the number of people in the room. The sensors will also be able to read the emotional environment of the room, and adjust the lights to suit the mood.

The cradle chair is designed as an appealing and environmentally friendly solution to help comfort people with autism and Rhythmic Movement Disorder. Rocking is a recommended calming activity for autistic people, and the cocoon shaped rocker helps bring a sense of comfortable enclosure to the user. The cradle is built using sustainable processes and materials, such as a cold-bending technique.

The idea is to create a portable laundry machine that will be operated by hand crank much like a salad spinner and use zero energy. Ideal for small spaces, mobile lifestyles, and displaced living, the laundry machine will be simple to use. Clothes, water and detergent will be added to the machine to soak. The user will then agitate and rinse the clothes by spinning the crank and draining or adding water as needed. Clothes will be spun partially dry in the same manner. The...

The idea is to create a brew unit that will dispense three different liquids at one time, serving up a cup of coffee within 45 seconds of activation. The brewer tap will rise from the top of the aluminum brew unit, which will be enclosed within the brewer cabinet. The brew unit will be easily removed for cleaning, and will include dual grinders for fresh ground coffee. It will also be able to steam milk directly from the tap, automatically adding the milk when needed. The...

New lamps will be powered by both solar and wind power, providing up to 12 hours of light when fully charged. The lamps will feature recyclable polypropylene shades that will catch the wind, rotating to create interesting lighting effects. The lamps will be available as either pendants or stakes, and can recharge in 9-12 hours on a sunny day or 24 hours in a 4 m/s wind. They will be both approved for use as outdoor lighting.

The idea is to place timers on the doors of individual toilet cubicles. This will let people know how long it is since someone else last used the cubicle and see which one has been vacated and "aired" for the longest time.

It would be really great to have sound filters for windows. They could work much like the mosquito nets. In case you fastened such a filter on the outside of your window it'd keep out all the street noise, but would let in the fresh air.

I have the idea which could help to increase crop yield by 10-20 percent. Why not develop a liquid foam shading system that mimics cloud cover? Such a system will make it possible to automatically shade greenhouses. This foam will filter the sunlight (i.e. will reduce solar radiation and control temperature) while still providing the plants with the light needed for photosynthesis. There also will be sensors to monitor the conditions within the greenhouse.

Why not develop lightweight and translucent curtains able to absorb sound more effectively than conventional curtains, while also allowing the sun to shine through?