Wind Power News

Truman's wants to eliminate single-use plastics in the household cleaner industry

Mar 21, 2019: The household cleaning aisle at the store features dozens of spray cleaners for different surfaces, and the ingredient lists are a mile long with chemical names that are impossible to pronounce. While many of those cleaners are effective for getting rid of dirt and germs, some of the chemicals inside are environmental hazards. Then, there are the plastic bottles, which get thrown into the trash once they are empty, adding to the plastic pollution problem. As the marketplace shifts to products...

A micro home with a green roof sits atop a granite wine cellar in rural Portugal

Mar 21, 2019: Related: + Via Dezeen Pavilion House, green roof…

Drones are the new cost-effective way to monitor the environment

Mar 21, 2019: Conservationists, researchers, and volunteers have spent countless hours on the ground keeping tabs on water quality in rivers across the country. Their work has been instrumental over the years, and new technology, in the form of environment drones, is making their jobs a whole lot easier. These unmanned aircrafts, referred to as drones or UAVs, are easy to control and have become cost-effective in recent years. Environmentalists are using them to monitor the environment from the skies and...

GWEC and GWNET to launch Women in Wind Global Leadership Program

Mar 21, 2019: Gender diversity is an essential ingredient for any industry as it drives innovation, opens new pathways for technology deployment, brings valuable perspectives to social and economic development and provides a richer pool of talent for key and emerging industries. Yet, as documented in IRENA’s January 2019 report “Renewable Energy: a Gender Perspective,” the renewables industry continues… The post GWEC and GWNET to launch Women in Wind Global Leadership Program appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

Missouri regulators approve Grain Belt Express Clean Line

Mar 21, 2019: The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a request filed by Grain Belt Express Clean Line LLC, which sought Commission authority and a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) to construct, own, operate, control, manage, and maintain a high voltage, direct current transmission line and associated facilities within eight Missouri counties (Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell,… The post Missouri regulators approve Grain Belt Express Clean Line appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

MVRDV-designed market in Taiwan will grow food on a massive green roof

Mar 21, 2019: Hot on the heels of their bold “Times Square” proposal for Taiwan’s capital, MVRDV has broken ground on another project—this time for the island’s southern city of Tainan. Created in collaboration with local architectural firm LLJ Architects, the Tainan Xinhua Fruit and Vegetable Market is a new wholesale open-air market that will not only serve as an important hub for the city’s food supply chain, but will also serve as a new public destination. The landmark building will be topped with...

Glimmer of hope for Grain Belt with Missouri U-turn

Mar 21, 2019: In an unexpected U-turn, Missouri regulators have unanimously approved the stalled $2.3 billion HVDC Grain Belt Express transmission line.

Airstream powers its Ohio headquarters using renewable energy credits

Mar 21, 2019: Airstream, Inc. announced that its corporate Ohio office and manufacturing center is 100% powered by renewable energy credits (RECs). Additionally, the company’s new 750,000-square-foot facility (opening in the next 12 months) will also carry the same green energy commitment and be powered completely by RECs. Airstream, manufacturer of travel trailers and touring coaches, is participating… The post Airstream powers its Ohio headquarters using renewable energy credits appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

Hen Harriers on the verge of extinction due to gamekeepers killing illegally

Mar 21, 2019: A new study reveals that hen harriers are being killed at an alarming rate on UK grouse moors. Scientists found that gamekeepers are eliminating these birds, which are on the verge of extinction in England, because they hunt red grouse. Conservationists have been tagging hen harriers in the UK for several years and discovered that 72 percent of the birds involved in studies have come up missing. The researchers believe the majority of these birds were killed illegally. Sadly, 83 percent...

Boxy volumes anchor a beautiful home into a rocky cliffside

Mar 21, 2019: Related: + YH2 Architecture Via Archdaily YH2 Architecture, House Dans l'Escarpement…

The FLEXSE tiny house module is built from 100% recyclable materials

Mar 21, 2019: A tiny and deliciously cozy prefab has popped up in St. Petersburg, courtesy of local architectural practice Smart Architecture Laboratory (SA lab). The charming compact building—dubbed FLEXSE—is the firm’s first prototype for tiny modular housing and is modeled after a traditional Scandinavian BBQ house. Designed with flexibility in mind, the FLEXSE prototype was prefabricated in a factory, assembled on-site, and built entirely of recyclable materials. Defined by its organic elliptical...

Proposed $1 billion underwater pipeline will send fracked gas to NYC

Mar 20, 2019: There is a war brewing over the development of a new underwater pipeline in New York City. The proposed project would send fracked gas to the city, a move environmentalists claim would greatly contribute to global warming. An Oklahoma company called Williams has proposed an ambitious plan to construct a 23-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York. The project, which will cost around $1 billion, will connect with an existing pipeline underneath New Jersey, carrying gas all the way to Queens. According...

This gorgeous LEED Platinum winery is made of reclaimed wood

Mar 20, 2019: Related: + Via Dezeen repurposed materials, energy, LEED…

Climate change causing Nebraska's worst floods on record, damage visible from space

Mar 20, 2019: Amid growing concerns about the negative effects of climate change, Nebraska is facing one of its worst flooding catastrophes on record. Following historic levels of rainfall and flooding, the governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts, has officially declared certain counties disaster areas as officials deal with the situation. “This really is the most devastating flooding we’ve probably ever had in our state’s history, from the standpoint of how widespread it is,” Ricketts shared. The...

Site-sensitive Woodhouse Hotel promotes agricultural tourism in Guizhou

Mar 20, 2019: In China’s southwest province of Guizhou, Shanghai-based architectural practice ZJJZ has completed the Woodhouse Hotel, a government-backed agricultural tourism project that consists of ten single-story timber cabins embedded into the hillside in the remote village of Tuanjie. As one of the first projects carried out under the government’s policy to help alleviate rural poverty through environmentally sensitive tourism, the Woodhouse Hotel was designed and constructed with as little site impact...

A solar-powered home in Maine rises above the sand dunes on wooden stilts

Mar 20, 2019: Related: + Via…

Senvion to 'withdraw from about 30 markets'

Mar 20, 2019: Senvion will likely withdraw from 'about 30 markets' and reduce the number of turbine variants it offers, according to an internal Q&A with CEO Yves Rannou.

Are bioenergy facilities the solution to the growing garbage problem?

Mar 20, 2019: Do you know where your garbage goes once you throw it out? For many people - especially Americans - once their trash leaves the house, there is no more thought about where it goes or what happens to it. As soon as a sanitation worker picks up your garbage, there is no reason to think about the serious problems that massive amounts of waste can cause. Every year, Americans discard about 250 million tons of resources, making them the largest generator of waste on Earth. Approximately 136 million...

Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in these bamboo huts built on a remote Vietnamese beach

Mar 20, 2019: Related: + ICON Via 3D printed home…

Senvion hires restructuring officer

Mar 20, 2019: Senvion has appointed a chief restructuring officer (CRO) to oversee the company's 'transformation programme'.

Crucial animal protection laws for the sage grouse being eliminated by the White House

Mar 19, 2019: The White House is eliminating crucial animal protection laws for the sage grouse. The protections, originally put in place by President Barack Obama, are being rolled back to open millions of acres of land for gas and oil development. Conservationists warn the move could land the sage grouse back on the endangered species list. Donald Trump's administration’s new plan targets 8.7 million acres of Sagebrush Focal Areas, an important habitat for the sage grouse and hundreds of other wildlife....

NYC considers Manhattan land expansion to fight climate change

Mar 19, 2019: On Thursday March 14th, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City unveiled a $10 billion plan to prepare lower Manhattan for the inevitable invasion of sea level rise predicted with climate change. The plan was announced alongside the release of the Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Study, which provides a complete assessment of predicted climate risks, including sea level rise, storm surge, extreme rainfall and heat waves. The plan includes extensive construction of permanent and smartly integrated...

Green-roofed timber dwelling in Austria is built with recycled materials

Mar 19, 2019: In the historic Austrian village of Purkersdorf, Vienna-based architectural practice Juri Troy Architects has completed the L House, a timber home named after its L-shaped form integrated with sustainable design elements. Built with numerous recycled materials, the house forms a strong connection with nature from its green roof to its large windows that sweep views of the bucolic outdoors in. Nestled into a southern slope above the village of Purkersdorf, the 3,450-square-foot L House boasts...

Can Florida save its prized Everglades from climate change destruction?

Mar 19, 2019: Half of all Floridians will live underwater by the end of the century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency’s predictions. In a disheartening article in The Guardian, researcher and author of Rising, Elizabeth Grant instructs Floridians to flip a coin – heads and your home is under the sea. A combination of population explosion, unsustainable development and sea level rise also threatens to destroy Florida’s prized Everglades, but the newly elected Republican Governor, Ron...

Old Swedish farm is reborn as a cozy woodland cabin holiday home

Mar 19, 2019: Swedish architectural practice Wingårdh Arkitektkontor converted a large old farm in the south of Sweden into a holiday home with a cozy woodland cabin atmosphere. Commissioned by a family who reside in the nearby city of Malmö, the countryside retreat was fashioned as a luxurious escape into nature built predominately with timber and designed to embrace views of the lush forest through floor-to-ceiling glazing. The adaptive reuse project—dubbed Kvarnhuset (The Mill House)—has respected the...

Baby turtles officially return to the beaches of Mumbai after largest beach clean up in history

Mar 19, 2019: Olive Ridley baby turtles have officially returned to the beaches of Mumbai, and it is all because one of the world’s largest beach clean-up efforts. Last summer, conservationists watched as over 80 baby turtles made their way across Mumbai’s Versova Beach, which was previously home to a massive garbage heap. “I had tears in my eyes when I saw them walking towards the ocean,” Afroz Shah, an activist in Mumbai, shared. It has been a few decades since the baby turtles have had access...

Solar-powered home takes advantage of cooling ocean breezes in Los Angeles

Mar 19, 2019: Crafted to embrace spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the Ziering Residence is defined by its dramatically curved architecture and walls of glass. Local practice SPF: architects designed the contemporary house that’s perched high in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and engineered to take advantage of passive systems, including cooling ocean breezes and the thermal mass of concrete floors. The home also reduces its energy footprint with rooftop solar panels and solar hot water...

Activists trying to prevent the vaquita porpoise from extinction

Mar 18, 2019: Researchers just confirmed the sad news that only around 10 vaquita porpoises remain in the wild. Unless immediate steps are taken, these sea creatures will undoubtedly become extinct over the next few years. Vaquita porpoises are among the ocean’s smallest cetaceans and they only reside in the northern Gulf of California. The update on population numbers comes after news of the first vaquita death this year. Scientists are expected to release more information on that front later this week. The...

Kodasema unveils gorgeous prefab floating tiny house

Mar 18, 2019: Related: + Kodasema Via Designboom kodasema prefab floating house, prefab house…

Brazilian Biodiversity Information System is bringing Brazil's biological diversity to the internet

Mar 18, 2019: As one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth, Brazil is taking steps to consolidate all of the nation’s biodiversity data and information into one place to support scientific research, as well as decision-making and creation of eco-friendly public policy. In an effort to achieve those goals, the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations, and Communications (MCTIC) has created the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBr), which is an online platform that gives free...

A modern timber house in Indonesia celebrates mummified wood

Mar 18, 2019: When Banding-Based architectural studio Aaksen Responsible Aarchitecture was asked to renovate an old house in the West Java neighborhood of Kiaracondong in Indonesia, they made a surprising discovery. During the demolition process, the architects found that the wooden roof truss structure was in very good condition despite its age thanks to a culturally significant type of timber, a kind of Albizzia wood that’s been mummified to improve strength and durability. Described by the architects as a...

Enercon hints at 5MW platform

Mar 18, 2019: German manufacturer Enercon has completely subsumed Lagerwey into its business and is planning a leap in to the 5MW class, based on the Dutch firm's technology.

UN predicts dire future for planet unless people change their ways NOW

Mar 18, 2019: The United Nations’ newest Global Environmental Outlook reinforces the worries of everyone concerned about the environment and our planet’s future. The 708-page report, released last week, examines human-inflicted woes on air, land and water. Scientists urge humans to change their ways—immediately—before we render Earth inhabitable. To those who have been paying attention to the planet’s decline, this report will not be news. But seeing all this human-wrought destruction in one enormous...

IKEA teams up with London artists to upcycle old furniture into funky abodes for birds, bees, and bats

Mar 18, 2019: Related: + Via Dwell wildlife homes, upcycling, ikea, ikea wildlife homes,…

Mobile, off-grid micro home can be configured into 20 different layouts

Mar 18, 2019: Related: + Via…

Oil and gas contractor exploring kite wind potential

Mar 18, 2019: Oil and gas company Saipem has signed an agreement with KiteGen Venture to develop and commercialise technology capable of producing electricity from high-altitude wind.

Australian agency funds short-term forecasting projects

Mar 18, 2019: Seven research and development projects have received funding to trial short-term generation forecasts at Australian wind farms.

Nordex Delta4000 production line begins rolling

Mar 18, 2019: Nordex has started series production of its Delta4000 range at its production facility in Rostock, Germany.

Shellworks upcycles leftover lobster shells into biodegradable bioplastics

Mar 15, 2019: Four design students at The Royal College of Art & Imperial College have created a biodegradable and recyclable bioplastic using an unusual material—lobster shell waste. In a initiative dubbed Shellworks, the team—Ed Jones, Insiya Jafferjee, Amir Afshar, and Andrew Edwards—has developed new manufacturing machines to produce what they believe is a sustainable replacement for single-use plastics. The malleable bioplastic is extremely versatile and can be adjusted in thickness, transparency,...

New Humane Society report shows animal testing labs kill thousands of dogs annually

Mar 15, 2019: The Humane Society of the United States just released a report on their investigation into widespread animal testing. The inquiry lasted a little over three months and discovered that tens of thousands of dogs are being killed annually in the name of product testing. The study uncovered laboratories across the United States where scientists are using beagles and hounds to test toxicity levels in drugs, dental implants, and pesticides. Over the course of 100 days, one undercover operative recorded...

Reduce food waste with your new best friend Meal Prep Mate

Mar 15, 2019: In a world filled with convenient fast-food wherever you go and a focus on instant gratification, it can be a serious challenge to eat healthily and keep your food waste to a minimum. For many of us, our busy lives cause us to make daily food decisions that fill our diets with high-calorie processed foods which are often wrapped in single-use packaging. However, with a little preparation and planning, you can not only eat healthily, but you can reduce food waste while saving time and money. The...

LEED Platinum home generates net-positive energy in Oregon

Mar 15, 2019: Built for clients who wanted a home with minimal site impact, the Live Edge residence is an environmentally friendly beacon that boasts not only LEED Platinum certification, but also generates more energy than it consumes on an annual basis. Nestled into a bluff among rock outcroppings and juniper trees in Oregon’s Deschutes County, the luxury dwelling is the work of Salem-based firm Nathan Good Architects. Drawing inspiration from the rugged landscape, the architects fitted the contemporary house...

Santa Barbara home is surrounded by wooden screens for natural climate control

Mar 15, 2019: Indoor-outdoor living never looked so good! This modern design by Shubin Donaldson takes full advantage of the beachy climate of Santa Barbara, California. Wooden screens and a central skylight flood the entire space with natural sunlight while keeping the space protected from the ocean winds. “Environmentally, the home is cooled passively by ocean breezes, lit evenly during the day by daylight, and Ipe wood screens minimize sun load on the extensive view windows,” report the designers. The...

Air pollution is killing Europeans at an alarming rate

Mar 15, 2019: New research reveals that 800,000 people die prematurely from air pollution in Europe each year, and confirms a previous study that dirty air kills 8.8 million people per year globally. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, urges Europe to phase out fossil fuels. Scientists used three sets of data to reach their conclusions: population density and age, exposure to air pollution and the health impacts of foul air. While the lungs are the initial body part to suffer, once pollutants...

1950s fire lookout tower in rural Idaho is converted into a dreamy Airbnb rental

Mar 15, 2019: Dressmaker and designer Kristie Wolfe previously built a Hawaiian treehouse on a shoestring budget, as well as a hobbit house in Washington State. Her latest project is a fire lookout tower dating back to the 1950s, which she has renovated into an Airbnb rental. Related: + Crystal Peak Lookout + Kristie Wolfe Photography by Eva Seelye Crystal Peak Lookout, Hobbit Hole, Crystal Peak Lookout in North Idaho, unique airbnb stays,…

Subsidy-free 1.5GW cluster proposed for Norway

Mar 15, 2019: Developer Norsk Vind Energi (NVE) has submitted plans for a 1.5GW wind farm in western Norway that could be the largest project in Europe.

Vestas installs first V150-4.2MW turbine

Mar 15, 2019: Vestas has installed the first V150-4.2MW turbine at its test site in Østerild, Denmark, the manufacturer has confirmed.

Solar-powered home puts an eco-friendly twist on the farmhouse vernacular

Mar 14, 2019: When architect Paul O’Reilly of the Australian architectural practice archterra was asked by his mother to design a modern farmhouse, he delivered a handsome dwelling that not only takes inspiration from traditional barn architecture, but also deftly addresses the region’s climatic extremes with its site-specific, energy-efficient build. Aptly named the Farm House, the roughly 2,000-square-foot abode features a gabled roofline, veranda, and timber cladding to mimic traditional barns, while the...

Panda Express introduces vegan options

Mar 14, 2019: Good news for suburban vegans and those who find themselves trapped in airports or mini-malls: The Chinese fast food chain Panda Express has added its first vegan entrees. Vegan diners at all 2,000 locations can soon safely chow down on Panda’s chow mein. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has long been chipping away at Panda Express’ resistance to offering any dishes sans chicken broth or animal-derived seasoning. Supporters of the animal rights group contacted Panda 234,000...

Adobe brick combines with wood in a low-carbon villa in Chiang Mai

Mar 14, 2019: Architectural practice Chiangmai Life Architects has completed a striking villa that blends elements of traditional Thai architecture together with environmentally savvy construction practices and modern amenities fit for 21st-century living. Located in the mountains of northern Thailand, the project, dubbed the ‘Earth & Wood Villa,’ was built primarily of locally sourced natural materials from the self-made adobe bricks to the exposed timber elements throughout. In addition to mountain vistas,...