At the ripe old age of 24, British designer Alistair Callender has created plans for the world’s first zero-carbon super-yacht, Soliloquy. This tremendous feat is especially significant because its price tag is as appealing as its aesthetics, coming in at €40m.

The yacht will still be as luxurious as Abramovich’s famous Eclipse, yet more innovative and environmentally friendly because of its zero-emission capabilities. In an age when so many millionaires have invested their time and money into making their homes and businesses green, they now have the opportunity to do the same for their toys.

Soliloquy will include all the amenities of any floating mansion, the only difference will be in its mechanics and its impacts on the seas it sails. One important distinction in the construction of the super-yacht will be its propeller, which will be powered by the sun. The actual boat will be motorized by wind, solar and Hybrid Marine Power (HMP) technology.

Callender intends for the vessel to be electricity-powered and covered in photovoltaic film that is fueled by the sun. “Fixed sails will double as solar panels to produce enough energy to propel the 58-metre long boat at a cruising speed of eight knots.” The three fixed sails will be up to 17 meters, built by Solar Sailor. The sails will be able to sustain winds up to 40 knots. The hull will be constructed of timber instead of energy-intensive aluminum. “

Together with the sails, the solar panels will fuel four cells that will work in conjunction with diesel engines beneath deck when there is not enough solar power.” It is estimated that the engines will rarely be fired, because yachts are generally used in sunny climates. Recycled leather, natural fiber upholstery and wood from only sustainable forests will be used on the interior of the 12-person ship.

Most yachts today burn thousands of liters of diesel an hour and Callender has set out to stop this craze.A yacht the same size as the Soliloquy would waste 2,000 liters an hour traveling at 35 knots. These pollution-emitting crafts will release 12 tons of carbon dioxide into the environment and an additional 1,000 liters a day for air-conditioning and other electrical devices.

Callender is dedicated to changing the future of yachting because these gas-guzzling machines are an abomination to our environment. Callender’s ardor is evident as he appeals to yacht brokers: “These giant gin palaces use a huge amount of fuel and produce so much pollution, I wanted to prove the point that eco-luxury no longer needs to be an oxymoron.”

There is a great deal of optimism surrounding this projec; Hein Velema, one of the most prominent yacht brokers in Monaco, publicly stated that his clients are highly anticipating the arrival of this innovation. Soliloquy is perfect for yacht enthusiasts who are also environmentally conscious.

A scale model of the yacht was first presented at Coventry University in May 2009, and since then a great amount of interest has been sparked by this development.

-Affluent Page

[Callender Designs]

When designing EcoSmart Fire’s top of the line fireplace, John Dimopoulos took inspiration from the best of science and art. The Zeta is a sleek, stand alone hearth for the modern home.  It’s eye catching; enough so to have won the Design Award at the Australian International Design Awards last year. Like all EcoSmart Fireplaces, the Zeta burns renewable bio-ethanol derived from plant products so as not to disrupt the delicate equilibrium of our ecosystem.  The denatured fuel breaks down into three clean products: heat, steam, and carbon dioxide. And while this offers the obvious advantage of being environmentally friendly, the more immediate benefit is a complete lack of soot.

The Zeta brings all these qualities to a new level. Named after the Greek letter for it’s elliptical shape, the piece uses materials unusual for a fireplace. Its carefully molded plywood body rests on a brushed or polished stainless steel base.   Inside the plywood frame rests a vent-less stainless steel firebox which limits the combustion’s size. As a final touch, the Zeta’s exterior is upholstered in the client’s choice of leather with colors including Ciocolatta, Nero, Ranch Hide, and Latte. Portable and able to swivel, the Zeta can adjust to its owner’s needs and easily improves the aesthetics of any room. It’s a hearth with the conveniences of furniture.

EcoSmart Fire’s freestanding Zeta fireplace is available for $10,900, but the company also offers grates that convert preexisting, traditional fireplaces into eco friendly, clean burning hearths. Designed by Paul Cohen, these grates are available in several streamlined styles, all crafted with rust treated steel that has been finished with a coat of black matt Teflon. Assuring that no heat is lost through drafty flues, these EcoSmart Fire’s products are perhaps the best way to heat a room, essentially making chimneys obsolete.

~Affluent Page

Eco Fire Smart

Gracefully balancing between luxurious extravagance and environmental conservation is the €3.2 Million Arcadia 85’ Yacht. A new company called Arcadia has created a yacht that mainly uses natural solar resources to function. Recently launching its first yacht at the Boot Düsseldorf 2010, the Arcadia 85’ has graced the magazine covers of Yachts Italia and Yachts France as well as being featured in multiple yachting magazines worldwide.

While it’s luxurious and modern interior is impressive, what truly makes the Arcadia 85’ stand out is its innovative construct. Having low-powered engines, and utilizing numerous solar panels, the nearly 24 meter yacht creates a harmonious relationship with nature. Using a 2xMan R6 730 hp engine, the Italian yacht’s maximum speed is 18 knots and has a displacement of 55 tons.

Almost completely constructed of double layered reflecting glass, the Arcadia 85’ is as elegant as it is efficient. The main saloon holds up to 8 guests, and the interior is designed with modern furniture from Italian designers B&B Italia and Schiffini.

After the success of the Arcadia 85, Arcadia Yachts are now working on an Arcadia 115’ and Arcadia 135’. With these two new models in progress and its concept being “when blue becomes green, luxury meets ecology” the world is sure to see incredible innovation coming from Arcadia.

Developer and visionary Frank McKinney struck gold when he designed the $29 million Aqua Liana in Palm Beach County, Fla. Aqua Liana means “water flower” in Tahitian and Fijian and the name is perfectly suited for this water-engulfed home. The mansion is the worlds largest and most eco friendly home at 15,000 sq. ft. and also carries a hefty price tag.

McKinney’s accomplishment has caught the attention of many environmentalists and is even the focus of the documentary The Green Giant. Many people doubted that he could build a green “Mega Mansion” but McKinney was never scared to take on this incredible feat and he bravely put every effort into making this mansion environmentally sound.

McKinney built the home without a specific buyer in mind- he simply wanted to produce a home for the ultra wealthy that wouldn’t damage the environment.

The home is not only eco-friendly but it is also a spectacular site. With enough solar panels to cover a 94 by 50 foot sized space, the Aqua Liana features purifying systems that produce the cleanest air quality available, insulation characteristics, environmentally friendly lighting, high efficiency appliances and air conditioning.

To reduce the temperature of the home, McKinney used renewable wood, which saved over 10.5 acres of rain forest. There are also waterfalls, pools and reflecting ponds, as well as water gardens and a fire spa. The home is situated next to the ocean and the Intra-coastal Waterway is located behind this luxurious mansion. The prevalence of water, such as the pools, waterfalls and even the ocean, controls the temperature and decreases the need for air conditioning. McKinney also created a special system to collect and recycle rainwater that runs off the roof to give to the garden and landscape. The home also features the first ever glass “water floor” with hand painted tiles and two glass elevators.

During construction, over 340,000 pounds of debris and trash were recycled and therefore never made their way to a landfill. This home was the first ultra-luxury mansion to obtain triple “Green” certification, meaning the house was “Green” certified by the United States Green Building Council, the Florida Green Building Coalition and the Energy Star for Homes.

Whoever purchases this sprawling estate will enjoy club privileges at the Palm Beach Ritz Carlton Hotel free of expense.

Detailed floor plans and additional information is available upon qualified request. To obtain this data contact Frank@Frank-McKinney.com

This week at the Geneva Motor Show, Brabus will debut their new E V12 Coupe, the fastest and most powerful Gran Tourismo in the world.

Able to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds, this car can get up to a blazing speed of more than 370 km/h (230 mph), although for it to be street legal a special electronic Limiter is placed in to cap it at 350 km/h (217 mph).

Based on the new Mercedes E-class coupes, the E V12 Coupe’s twelve-cylinder engine was fitted into the engine bay of the two-door E-class. Based off the twin-turbo engines from the Mercedes 600 models, the SV12 R Biturbo 800 12-cylinder displacement engine pumps out 800 hp with a maximum torque of 1,420 Nm.

It’s five-speed automatic transmission moves power to the real wheels. With an engine management system that controls injection, ignition and driving dynamics systems, the E V12 Coupe not only sports impressive power but is also eco-friendly.

The interior perfectly infuses the ambiance of luxury with the characteristics of sport. Featuring a carbon fiber dashboard with an ergonomically shaped steering wheel, its sport-style seating is fitted with the finest leather.

Priced at €478,000, the Brabus E V12 Coupe will become available later this year.

-Affluent Page

[Brabus]

As one of the pioneers of touch screen technology, JVL Corporation has produced machines that are some of the most user-friendly and low-maintenance in the world.

Based out of Canada, just north of Toronto, this privately held company began as an operator 25 years ago; JVL quickly transformed into a manufacturer of multimedia touch screen entertainment machines. Clients from all over the world have purchased one of their products, including Europe, Japan, Australia, Kuwait, United States, and Canada.

Encore and Vortex, the two premier works from JVL, have broken new ground within the entertainment and gaming industry. Encore was the first countertop game ever to feature a high-definition monitor, 3D graphics processor, and a five-speaker hi-fi system. Coming with 140 games, this machine is definitely in a class all by itself. The Vortex sports a revolutionary power pad that further enhances the already spectacular game play.

From the initial idea of the game to the final product development, JVL is there every step of the way. The goal is to continue to push the boundaries of touch screen technology and raise the bar for video games to an unparalleled level.

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