First off here is a definition of biomimicry from the folks over at Ask Nature:

Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a design discipline that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf.  The core idea is that Nature, imaginative by necessity, has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with: energy, food production, climate control, non-toxic chemistry, transportation, packaging, and a whole lot more.

Read more on Ask Nature: What is Biomimicry

This planet has had the opportunity to perfect its design quality over millions of years - it is no surprise that its practically perfect in functionality and beauty and needless to say sustainable by nature :-)

The idea of learning from nature in not only design but technology is not new. Wikipedia mentions Leonardo DaVinci's "Flying Machine" as one of the earliest and best know examples - spending hours watching birds which inspired his creation.

Solar Ivy mimics the ivory plant which grows along side buildings and is meant to cover a roof or facade of a building. Each "leaf" collects solar energy for the house. In addition to just generating solar energy as leafs rustle in the wind the Solar Ivy leaves are designed to collect kinetic wind energy. To top it off the designers are looking into sustainable production methods for the leaves. So awesome - I get excited just talking about it!

For more information on biomimicry and some really neat case studies check out: http://www.asknature.org and follow them on twitter: @AskNatureTweets