I was impressed to learn that these "barrel-style" roof tiles pictured above actually contain photovoltaic cells that generate electricity. They're constructed from a light-weight performance polymer free from toxins and are virtually unbreakable. See more information after the jump ... More

I love a house that is proportionally shaped like an iconic "house" — two stories with an approximate roof pitch of 45 degrees! The plans for this home in Poland by moomoo architects take the basic "house" shape and play with it by simplifying the form and then wrapping the home's exterior in Thermopian — a plastic material used in roofing that has thermal and acoustic insulating abilities. The best part? Thermopian can be produced in ANY color!

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We have seen Solair Chairs before, but didn't know much about them. They were originally designed by Fabio Fabiano and and Michelange Panzini in Montreal in 1972. They become a popular choice for motels and as a pool side chair. Now you can get them new. Kate Eisem, an owner of INabstracto store in Toronto, and an art dealer Duncan Farman decided to revive this classic design. We love the bright colors and the simple steel base of the chair. These would be great for an outdoor patio or in a garden. More

What is this, you may ask. Excellent question. These futuristic leaf-like designs you see above are actually solar leaves that harness power from both the sun and the wind. This unique hybrid energy delivery system (called GROW) is the brainchild of sustainable design company SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology). We love how it's inspired from nature, and can just imagine how beautiful it would look fluttering on the side of a building... More

Reestore just keeps surprising us with the clever and creative reuse designs. Ben the Bin by Reestore is a new product that makes recycling easy and fun. Ben is a cute stackable, washable recycling receptacle made of 100% recycled plastic. The first thing it recycles is plastic grocery bags to hold all your other recyclables... More

Although the Nanimarquina Bicicleta Rug has been around for quite a while, we really love the concept and the execution. That said, it doesn't seem like the kind of material we'd want in our living room but it could be a wonderful addition to an outdoor space, creating an interesting and durable contrasting texture. Most exterior rugs are very flat but Bicicleta adds depth, texture, and would really soften a hard exterior space... More

Daniel Michalik is an Industrial Design Professor at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He certainly practices what he preaches — as you can see from these amazing furniture designs. And yes, that's cork he's working with! Not only is this innovative, but it's also technically green. Daniel has found a way to create a product using another manufacturers scrap that is completely recyclable.
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We've rounded up doors and windows that have been repurposed in the home. Now we can add Kulla Industrial Design products, which are made with plastic window shutters that would otherwise be discarded. The studio's work "focuses mainly on material research and developing new work methods, offering new and refreshing ways of experiencing everyday products." More info and photos below the jump... More

The second Tokyo Fiber exhibition is being held in Milan, Italy and the theme is Senseware. Senseware is used as an attempt to inspire designers to create innovative technology in fabric and textile form. They can then take the innovative fabric and transform it into whatever they want. Some of these creations seem straight out of story books, but don't worry — you really can balance your coffee cup on an air filled piece of polyester! More

Customizing your Ikea furniture seems to be almost a given at this point, but if you're not too handy in the DIY department or don't have much time for another project, you might want to consider Grippiks. More