No Thyme to Waste: Clean Energy Clock Runs on Dirt, Water - Feed https://dornob.com Architecture, Interior and Furniture Design Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:57:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 No Thyme to Waste: Clean Energy Clock Runs on Dirt, Water https://dornob.com/no-thyme-to-waste-clean-energy-clock-runs-on-dirt-water/ Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:00:27 +0000 http://dornob.com/?p=35564 This unique clean energy clock promises to run on completely free energy – no batteries or outlets required.  All you need is a little dirt. That’s right – dirt! The Soil Clock from Dutch designer Marieke Staps uses the natural metabolism of biological life to power its display, requiring only the periodic addition of water. […]

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This unique clean energy clock promises to run on completely free energy – no batteries or outlets required.  All you need is a little dirt. That’s right – dirt! The Soil Clock from Dutch designer Marieke Staps uses the natural metabolism of biological life to power its display, requiring only the periodic addition of water. That’s probably the greenest type of digital clock you’ll ever find.

Clean energy soil clock with plants

The Soil Clock has two small electrodes trailing from it which plug right into the soil. The electrodes contain copper and zinc, metals which work with the soil’s natural electrolytes to create enough clean electricity to keep the clock running virtually indefinitely. The apocalypse could come, and you’d still be hangin’ out with your working digital clock.

Clean energy soil clock digital

Although the clock can run with just soil and water, the designer recommends putting plants into the soil. This is both to make the entire setup more beautiful and to remind you to keep the soil moist. If the plants die, you’ll suddenly be out of time.

More from the designer

“Free and environmentally friendly energy forever and ever. This clock runs on mud. The metabolism of biological life together with the chemical reaction of copper and zinc produce enough electricity to keep a digital clock working. The plants are purely for decoration and a reminder that the technique needs water now and then to work.”

About Marieke Staps

“Marieke Staps is a designer currently based in Tilburg the Netherlands. In 2008 she graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in the department Man & Activity. Her work is inspired by technique and craftmanship. But sometimes the smallest things in life can also be an inspiration to her work. Her way of working is to start big with all the imagination she has. The starting point is almost impossible. Then she takes up the challenge and creates functional and clear design.”

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