Toyota is a well known brand when we speak about cars, and is best known for its top-selling cars like the Prius and Corolla, but did you knew that Toyota also makes homes ? Until now I didn’t know that, and they’ve been in the business of making homes for over 20 years! Right now Toyota is looking to apply its eco friendly image and technical know-how to help boost sales of its small and little-known prefabricated-housing division. The Toyota Homes unit accounts for only 0.5% of the company’s $262 billion in annual sales, and Toyota would like to beef that up a little bit.

Toyota’s aspirations as a home builder are also gaining new importance with the planned launch by 2010 of its plug-in vehicles, gas-electric hybrid cars with powerful lithium-ion batteries that drivers will need to recharge at home. The car maker is testing an electricity-monitoring system in its homes that would charge the vehicle during off-peak hours to keep utility bills low, while the car’s battery can serve as an electrical backup, powering the home during blackouts. According to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota Homes are built from six or more modules in under 45 days. They have a conservative home model called the Smart Stage that sells for $200k. It’s about a 1000 sf, two-story home. There’s also a more expensive, custom-built 2600 sf home that sells for around $800k. Toyota Homes are strong and guaranteed for about 60 years, which is twice the average lifespan of a home in Japan. Find more about Toyota homes on their website. - Via

Around the world, as people are becoming more conscious about the environment, the demand for eco friendly products is increasing. And when it comes to furniture, the trend of going green is fast picking up. A lot of furniture manufacturers took note this trend and started producing eco-friendly products and ensuring they were readily available.

Now Nick Demarco a student from from the California College of the Arts designed an “eco friendly piece of furniture” named the XS chair that can be filled with anything you have in excess- old clothes, magazines or in this case, garbage and bottles. The prototype is made of vinyl, but Nick says the production models will be made of a recycled plastic mesh. Finally I know that we all need to be eco-conscious, but I don’t think that you can sit comfortably on this kinda green chair that will have sounds of crushing bottles and denting cans when you rest your butt. I don’t know what they teach those students at this college, but there are definitely better ways to recycle your garbage and also to get an eco-friendly seating furniture. Below you can see the a video of Nick describing the chair.

Everytime you look at the tattered corners of your sofa, your shredded curtains or claw marks on any other piece of furniture, I’m sure that you wish that your kitty didn’t had claws.Now you have the occasion to make your feline happy by providing a stylish alternative for her scratching instinct, with the Itch Scratch Pad. Made from 100% renewable bamboo (environment friendly too), the pads can be hung up (or placed horizontally) at strategic locations in your home to entice your kitty. The Itch Scratch Pad is available on squarecathabitat.com, for about 50 $. - Via - Gadgetroad

I know that the winter is almost over, and the fireplaces are not used so more anymore but this Coffee Table with a built-in eco-friendly fireplace is a piece of furniture that is perfect for a contemporary interior. The GF-160 fire coffee table model, is made of natural veneer wenge and covered with the polyurethane varnish for increased durability, making it resistant to water, alcohol and high temperatures. The table comes inclusive of a lighter with extended tip and decorative stones. This table is a mobile fire solution without any installation or a chimney, which can be set in any desired space, even in the middle of a living room. The lighting of Planika Fire is extremely easy and safe as it uses FANOLA fuel which is not accompanied by fumes or smell. Only water vapour and CO2 are emitted - in proportions similar to those contained in the air exhaled by humans. - Via - Bornrich

If you have odor problems with your shoes caused by sweaty feet, or maybe you just want to keep that new shoe feeling longer the Shumidor is here to help. The Shumidor is designed by Michael Kritzer, and is an ionic shoe deodorizer, that allows you to clean and freshen your favorite shoes in an eco friendly manner. The Shumidor’s ionic air quickly whisks way odor causing water, leaving your shoes feeling cool and dry. In fact, using the Shumidor should extend the life span of your favorite shoes as well. By keeping your shoes dry and clean, odor causing bacteria that thrive in damp and warm climates are blown away. The Shumidor also does this without the use of harsh chemical abrasives or toxins, making it an ecologically friendly solution for those who are environmentally conscious. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who knows people who need something like this. - Via - Hometone