Building Transparency brings carbon-cutting tools to construction
Oct 22, 2021: Building Transparency, a nonprofit dedicated to driving awareness around the effects of embodied emissions and supporting action to limit them, has developed a free tool anyone can use to achieve carbon reduction goals.
The Washington Alley Project seeks to revitalize D.C.
Oct 22, 2021: The Washington Alley Project seeks to transform D.C.'s alleys for modern urban living. In Washington, D.C., there are 82,397 single-family residential properties with alley frontage. If the Washington Alley model was applied to all of these spaces, it could house 187,900 new residents.
Mining in Minnesota halts as government considers 20-year ban
Oct 22, 2021: The Biden administration is considering a U.S. Forest Service application requesting a 20-year mining ban on national forest land in Minnesota. The agency wants over 200,000 acres of land south of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota to be exempt from all proposed mining activities.
Self-sustaining 3D-printed house harnesses the power of nature
Oct 22, 2021: The Rain Catcher is a 3D-printed house that's off-the-grid and designed specifically to meet Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2030 Climate Challenge criteria for electric, heating and water consumption. This eco-house is truly made to harness all the power of nature.
Oil and meat producing countries attempt to weaken UN report
Oct 22, 2021: Greenpeace investigative team announced this week that oil, coal, beef and animal feed producing countries have been lobbying to tone down a major United Nations climate report.
Try these hauntingly delicious vegan treats for Halloween
Oct 21, 2021: When we see seasonal treats at the grocery store, we remember our childhood memories of munching our way through the holidays. Scouring for vegan options, we might flip the bag over to read the label, then put it back when we find it doesn’t measure up.
Space tech may help improve weather predictions on Earth
Oct 21, 2021: As you probably know, space exploration has brought us such fabulous advances as Tang and Velcro. And now, a weather technology called radio occultation (RO) that’s long been used to study Mars and Venus may help us better understand and predict Earth’s weather.
The entire state of California is now under drought emergency
Oct 21, 2021: A drought emergency has been declared for California. On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom made a statement urging residents to use water responsibly. The statewide drought emergency declaration comes just a few months after the governor declared a drought emergency in selected counties.
YouBodyCare takes the plastic bottle out of your body wash
Oct 21, 2021: The morning shower is as routine as the daily cup of coffee. It’s almost a ritual for many. Many people's shower are equipped with a host of plastic bottles, including shampoo, conditioner and body washes.
Wild & Stone products are all plastic-free
Oct 21, 2021: Plastic waste is junking up the ocean. Many companies and individuals are finding ways to help reduce the levels of waste by creating brand new products out of recycled plastic waste.
This futuristic design uses recycled bottles, coffee and oranges
Oct 20, 2021: Dubai Expo's Italian Pavilion is a futuristic, sustainable creation. The 38,000-square-feet (3,500-square-meter) masterpiece opened on Oct. 1 at Dubai Expo 2020.
Vertima's environmental consulting helps businesses go green
Oct 20, 2021: Businesses worldwide have begun looking for ways to increase the sustainable components of their companies while decreasing the environmental impact of inefficient buildings, waste and pollution. One Canadian company has stepped in to act as a consultant for businesses looking to make those kinds of changes, and it’s called Vertima.
99.9% of scientists agree climate crisis is caused by humans
Oct 20, 2021: 99.9% of scientists globally agree that burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal is the main cause of climate change. They also concur that climate change is caused by human actions, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
Cleanup device removes 20,000 pounds of ocean plastic
Oct 20, 2021: A new device successfully hauled 20,000 pounds of trash out of the Pacific Ocean last week. This technology could potentially help clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
New AI-powered AC creates an ecosystem inside your house
Oct 20, 2021: Canadian Company HAVEN has launched a new AI-powered air quality control system that will manage airflow, temperature and humidity. HAVEN Central Air Controller HVAC helps develop an ecosystem inside an entire house.
Better silicon solar panels
Oct 20, 2021: Researchers are applying a new technique to identify defects in silicon solar cells that cause a drop in efficiency. The lessons learned at the atomic level could lead to improvements in the way manufacturers strengthen their products against what is known as light-induced degradation.
Enjoy these delicious hot vegan Starbucks drinks this fall
Oct 19, 2021: Autumn is the season for cozy sweaters, boots and a warm beverage. As furnaces kick on and wood stoves begin to crackle while warming the fall air, a stop at Starbucks can warm you from the inside out.
African urbanization is being transformed by 3D printing
Oct 19, 2021: Every day, over 40,000 Africans move from rural regions to vibrant, growing cities to access improved facilities and economic growth. However, throughout the continent, countries are facing infrastructure shortages. In light of this, the U.K.-based CDC Group and the multinational materials distributor LafargeHolcim, have formed a joint venture called 14Trees to help meet increasing demands via sustainable building solutions.
Researchers and Indigenous groups collaborate to save caribou
Oct 19, 2021: Scientists are working with Indigenous communities to change the fate of Arctic caribou herds threatened by climate change. Habitat loss has caused a 56% decline in North America's wild caribou population over the past 20 years, a situation that scientists and Indigenous conservation groups are determined to change.
United Nations rejects youth activist climate petition
Oct 19, 2021: The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child declined to rule on a complaint filed by youth activists from twelve countries. The young adults claimed that Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Turkey have violated children’s rights by failing to control carbon emissions, despite knowing about the perils of climate change.
Multifunctional award-winning site built on underused land
Oct 19, 2021: Les Ateliers Cabot is the winning project for C40 Reinventing Montreal 2021, which is part of the Reinventing Cities project. It is a call for designers and architects to come up with project ideas that will create carbon-neutral urban areas in underused sites into great new developments.
New technique paves the way for perfect perovskites
Oct 19, 2021: Scientists have developed a new technique that allows researchers to synthesize a perovskite solar material, characterize its crystal structure, and test its response to light at the same time.
Putting honeybee hives on solar parks could boost the value of UK agriculture
Oct 18, 2021: The value of UK agriculture could be boosted by millions of pounds a year if thousands of honeybee hives were deployed on solar parks across the country, a new study reveals. However, scientists caution that the benefits of managing solar parks for wild pollinators over honeybees should be prioritized where appropriate and should be assessed on a site by site basis.
Solar energy can be cheap and reliable across China by 2060
Oct 18, 2021: How much will solar power really cost in China in the coming decades, including the challenges its inherent variability poses to the grid? Researchers have found that solar energy could provide 43.2% of China's electricity demands in 2060 at less than two-and-a-half U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.
Volvo teams up with Phillip Lim on sustainable weekender bag
Oct 18, 2021: In a collaboration between iconic Volvo and well-established sustainable luxury brand 3.1 Phillip Lim, they have developed a limited-edition weekender bag made from the same bio-based material being used in Volvo’s electric cars.
Innovative biophilic design planned for new village in Portugal
Oct 18, 2021: A new development is in the works, designed to sit on a Portuguese hillside and provide a community with unique characteristics and a focus on sustainable design, function, well-being and innovation.
Underwater coral gardens may help avoid a biodiversity meltdown
Oct 18, 2021: Planting diverse corals under the sea could help save threatened coral reef ecosystems, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances on October 13. The study, conducted by Cody Clements and Mark Hay of the Georgia Institute of Technology, found that increasing coral reefs' richness by 'outplanting' diverse species of corals could improve coral reef growth and survival.
Scottish climate activist shames Shell CEO
Oct 18, 2021: At a public talk at the Ted Countdown Summit in Edinburgh last Thursday, participants played to type. Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden tried to look sincere about the oil behemoth’s commitment to fighting climate change. Young climate activist Lauren MacDonald delivered a scathing commentary about van Beurden and his company’s character, then stormed off the stage, refusing to further engage.
DroneSeed makes reforestation easier after a large wildfire
Oct 18, 2021: According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 6,480,861 acres have burned across the United States this year alone as a result of 47,201 wildfires. In response, a Seattle-based company is tackling the issue of replanting and restoring forestry health in a rather science-fiction way.
Scientists discover method to boost energy generation from microalgae
Oct 18, 2021: The variety of humble algae that cover the surface of ponds and seas could hold the key to boosting the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis, allowing scientists to produce more energy and lower waste in the process. A study showed how encasing algae protein in liquid droplets can dramatically enhance the algae's light-harvesting and energy-conversion properties by up to three times. This energy is produced as the algae undergoes photosynthesis, which is the process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to harness energy from sunlight and turn it into chemical energy. When light hits the droplet, light waves travel around the curved edges of the droplet. Light is effectively trapped within the droplet for a longer period of time, gi…
Casa Numa is built out of 50-year-old coconut palm wood
Oct 15, 2021: At a first glance, you might not believe that Casa Numa is entirely built out of coconut palm wood over 50 years old. The 160 square meters of living space is a beauty to behold both inside and out.
5 standout brands from Vegan Fashion Week 2021
Oct 15, 2021: As more consumers prioritize sustainability, the days of fast fashion are numbered. This year’s Vegan Fashion Week in Los Angeles highlighted brands that are stepping up to meet the demand for ethical products by offering fashionable creations free of animal products.
Hermit crab study shows microplastic's affect on marine life
Oct 15, 2021: A new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science has found that microplastics affect the behavior of hermit crabs, a key part of the ocean ecosystem. The study, conducted by Queen's University, highlights how microplastics impact hermit crabs' growth and reproduction.
Florida scientists are using a radar prototype in the Everglades
Oct 15, 2021: Florida scientists are working on a new way to identify greenhouse gas-emitting hot spots in the Everglades. The U.S. Department of Energy has just funded scientists from Florida Atlantic University.
Artist 3D-prints biodegradable agar floral lamps
Oct 15, 2021: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, although most people would agree there is beauty in nature. Artist and textile designer Yi Hsuan Sung has taken that common view of natural beauty and used it to create a varied line of products for the home.
Adidas 100% recycled jacket is solving plastic pollution
Oct 14, 2021: When Adidas releases a new jacket, it's hot fashion news. When that stylish jacket is made with ocean plastic, it's world-changing. The Terrex MyShelter PrimaLoft Hooded Jacket has classic Adidas styling and all the good looks you could want.
Nearly 42,000 potential PFAS sources found in new study
Oct 14, 2021: There are nearly 42,000 potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the United States, according to a new study published in the American Water Works Association Water Science journal. Several studies conducted in recent years have shown that most parts of the U.S. are contaminated with PFAS.
Expansion of wind and solar power too slow to stop climate change
Oct 14, 2021: The production of renewable energy is increasing every year. But after analyzing the growth rates of wind and solar power in 60 countries, researchers conclude that virtually no country is moving sufficiently fast to avoid global warming of 1.5°C or even 2°C. The article "National growth dynamics of wind and solar power compared to the growth required for global climate targets" was published in the journal Nature Energy, written by Aleh Cherp, Vadim Vinichenko, Jale Tosun, Joel A.Gordon and Jessica Jewell.
Scientists develop fully solar-driven autonomous chemical mini-plant
Oct 14, 2021: Scientists have developed a fully operational standalone solar-powered mini-reactor which offers the potential for the production of fine chemicals in remote locations on Earth, and possibly even on Mars.
Drought drops Lake Tahoe's water level dangerously low
Oct 14, 2021: It’s been a bad year for Lake Tahoe. A usually busy summer season saw empty shorelines as people evacuated from the Caldor Fire. And now California’s drought has dropped the lake’s water level to a four-year low.
Climate change threatens hydropower energy security in the Amazon basin
Oct 14, 2021: Hydropower is the dominant source of energy in the Amazon region, the world's largest river basin and a hotspot for future hydropower development. However, a new study warns that in the coming decades, climate change-driven reductions in precipitation and river discharge will diminish the Amazon's hydropower capacity.
Carrboro Hillside House looks like a giant black snake
Oct 14, 2021: The location is tucked into a protected forested area covered in trees with a creek nearby. It's an odd-shaped lot with a hillside and boulders, surrounded by nature.
First fully solar-powered compost facility opens in California
Oct 14, 2021: California state law (SB 1383) takes effect January 1, 2022, requiring the majority of homes and businesses in the area to recycle all food and yard waste in their yard debris carts. In response to the increased demands of processing the compostable materials, Republic Services spent the past three years building the Otay Compost Facility and hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier in October.
New resort area in Saudi Arabia breaks ground with Desert Rock
Oct 13, 2021: Saudi Arabia is about to see major development along the wadi vistas in the westernmost part of the country. The project being designed for The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) will be an expansive investment in driving tourism to the scenic and historic area.
Biden plans for 700% increase in community solar by 2025
Oct 13, 2021: The Biden administration has announced a new ambitious target of powering 5 million American homes with community solar power by 2025. This would require the current capacity to grow by 700% in the next four years. Although the target may seem unrealistic, experts say it is achievable.
How will Los Angeles' 2028 Olympics impact the environment?
Oct 13, 2021: Hosting the Olympics is a huge honor for cities. At the same time, it's an expensive burden. As Los Angeles plans for its summer 2028 games, many people say the event will be neither as sustainable or equitable as city leaders have promised.
TikTok star Joanne Molinaro launches "The Korean Vegan" cookbook
Oct 13, 2021: Joanne Lee Molinaro is a trial lawyer, marathon runner and TikTok sensation as @thekoreanvegan. The Chicagoan took time out of her busy schedule to talk about her debut cookbook/memoir The Korean Vegan released on Tuesday, October 12.
8 boxes that explore the effects of habitat destruction on birds
Oct 13, 2021: A Montreal-based firm, KANVA, developed a thought-provoking display for the Canada Pavilion at World Expo 2020 Dubai. Called TRACES, it’s an interactive and eye-opening look into the effects of climate change on wildlife. Rami Bebawi, a KANVA partner and lead architect of the TRACES project says, “The concept...
This indoor garden grows microgreens in one week
Oct 12, 2021: It’s no surprise that growing your own food is the healthiest option for you and the planet. Garden fresh greens cut promptly before eating have the highest nutritional value.
Black and White Beach House employs climate-ready architecture
Oct 12, 2021: With construction earning the unwanted title of a top-ranking dirty industry, architecture focused on energy efficiency, natural materials and durability even in the face of natural disasters is a win for the environment and the home or business owner.