Super Eco

Photo credit: Robbtoberfest, Instructables

The Internet is full of interesting characters, but it's hardly a cult of the amateur or a vast wasteland anymore. In fact, sites like Makezine and Hack a Day have frequently exemplified the innovation and technological savvy of the common man or woman. In this helpful spirit, I present to you the first of several planned podcasts by Instructables in 2009 on how to live a greener life.

The first featured ideas were sent in by Instructables user Robbtoberfest who displays several of his handy and eco-friendly projects. The first is a self-built chicken coop, from which he claims the chickens provide three eggs per day. He lets them run around in the yard, though I doubt you could call them free range. The chickens get to play with small children, though. That must count for something.

Also on Robbtoberfest's to-do list are a gas-powered flashlight and a coffee machine that runs on solar power. The latter is apparently constructed by brewing the coffee within an empty plastic soda bottle that is then left out in the sun. It's a prototype, people. He's working on it.

His greatest idea so far is also probably the most low-tech. He's used the rubber from a blown tire to make padding on the underside of a pair of sandals. If you're not going to have the tire recycled, this is a wonderfully inventive way of controlling waste.

Do you have your own clever or inspiring green project at home? Instructables is interested (and so are we, by the way). You can submit to the Instructables website and perhaps even get featured during its Green 2009. If you do, drop us a line and we'll feature you too.