Take a Trip: 13 Very Green & Modern Visitor Centers

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:43:57 +0100

A visitor center is too often an afterthought, filled with brochures and educational exhibits that pertain to some other attraction, whether a national park, a landmark, a historic site or an entire town. But these 13 visitor centers are among those that stand out for their own architecture and sensitivity to their environments, from an off-grid building in the marshes of England to a brightly colored river rock structure in Tibet....

Hydrogen — Tomorrow’s Biofuel?

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Questions swirl around the idea of bioethanol as an alternative to gasoline for powering transport, but researchers from the University of Birmingham have started creating clean hydrogen from food waste, an idea that could revolutionise the bioenergy industry.

World’s 1st Hybrid Solar-Geothermal Power Plant (in Nevada)

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The world’s first geothermal-solar power plant was dedicated in Fallon, Nevada at the beginning of the month. “The Stillwater geothermal project, which received $40 million in tax support under the Recovery Act, has harnessed innovative technologies to add solar energy to the facility and provide 59 megawatts (MW) of combined capacity to power more than 50,000 local homes,” the Department of Energy (DOE) notes....

It’s Official: 100% Renewable Energy for Massive Apple Data Center

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

News has slowly been leaking out about renewable energy plans for Apple’s data center in Maiden, North Carolina, and now the whole shebang is up on the Apple website. Apple has confirmed that the gigantic facility will run entirely on renewable energy.

12 Amazing Natural Wonders of Australia

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Seven wonders? How about twelve – in Australia alone? It’s nearly impossible to narrow down this continent’s most beautiful, inspiring and astonishing natural sights, from the colorfully chaotic explosion of life in the Great Barrier Reef to the dramatic rippling red dunes of the Simpson desert. This sampling of Australia’s top natural attractions will have you daydreaming about a trip Down Under....

Honey Bees Are Disappearing (Putting $15B In Crops At Risk)

Sat, 12 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

In 2006 beekeepers started noticing that seemingly healthy bees were abandoning their hives and not returning.

Tata India: We’re Building Compressed-air Cars, This Year

Sat, 12 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It’s happening. Tata is building a car that runs on the very air we breathe.

12 Seemingly Vegan & Vegetarian Foods That Really Aren’t

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:36:35 +0100

It’s a lard-filled, bug-juice-coated jungle out there. Potato chips, peanuts, birthday cake, beer and more can be packed with unexpected animal products like fish gelatin, beef fat, bird feathers and insect innards. Just because a product sounds like it should be vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean it’s safe! These 12 examples of surprisingly non-vegetarian foods will prompt you to become a professional label-reader or possibly ditch processed foods altogether....

Japan Shuts Down Last Nuclear Power Reactor

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Just over a year since a magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake and subsequent tsunami created a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and release of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, technicians closed down the last working nuclear reactor in the country.

Scientists Report on Night-Warming Effect over Large Texas Wind Farms

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

According to a recent press release from the National Science Foundation, large wind farms in certain areas in of this country appear to affect local land surface temperatures.

CO2 Emissions Increasing with Economic Recover — Not Good!

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:00:00 +0100

New Worldwatch Institute report stresses the urgent need for cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions.

Extreme Close-Ups: 16 Mind-Blowing Macro Nature Photos

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Have you ever watched a grasshopper scratch its chin, or examined all of the tiny hairs on the face of a bee? Have you seen the world around you reflected in a drop of dew? Unless you’re a macro photographer – taking extreme close-up images of insects, flowers and other objects – you’ve probably never had the chance. These 16 amazing photographs give us up-close-and-personal views of flowers, creepy-crawlies, geckos and water droplets....

Smog-Eating Architectural Panels

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

We recently wrote about smog-eating paint developed in the Philippines — why not discuss smog-eating architectural panels as well?

Solar & Wind Energy Subsidies Should Continue “Forever”

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It seems that every day I’m reading (or even writing) about solar and wind energy’s price and potential without government subsidies — but it is really ridiculous that dropping government subsidies should even be on the table.

Beautifully Buzzworthy: 12 Designs Inspired by Bees

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Bees are an essential part of the natural world, helping to pollinate plants so that we can not only enjoy all of those incredible fields of flowers, but bountiful food crops, as well. But they’re disappearing at rapid rates due to Colony Collapse disorder, and their plight has made us all the more aware of just how important they are. These 12 designs, from jewelry to large-scale architectural projects, pay tribute to bees and the beauty of their hives....

East Coast To Suffer Gas Shortage, Higher Prices?

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Without a doubt, the cost of gasoline has been going up across the country, and indeed, much of the developed world. Some areas are suffering worse than others though, and a conflux of coincidences may mean that the East Coast will soon suffer a gasoline shortage that could lead to a severe gas price spike. Rut roh.

Swarming Crabs Act Like Energy Efficient Computers

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

A team of scientists from Japan and England has developed a computer made from live crabs, and though it sounds like something out of a Monty Python skit this crustaceous computing device could lead to a new generation of ultra-efficient computers.

Endangered Baby Hippo Rescued by South African Animal Sanctuary

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Last week Britain’s Daily Mail reported about a South African wildlife sanctuary that is now caring for an orphan baby hippopotamus, who was rejected by its mother shortly after it was born.

Puss & Boats: Tashirojima, Japan’s Island Of Cats

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Tashirojima, the “Island of Cats”, is located in Ishinomaki Bay just east of the city of Sendai, Japan. The island’s many semi-domesticated cats vastly outnumber the island’s aging human population, who depend on the cats to control rodents (and attract tourists) and have constructed a number of cat-shaped buildings as a homage to their feline friends....

New Record for “Recycling Indoor Light to Electricity”

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

UK cleantech startup G24 Innovations (G24i) has reportedly set a new world record for “the recycling of ambient indoor light to electricity” using dye-sensitized solar cells.

Zoo Snooze: 12 Jaw-Dropping Animal Yawns

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Tired of waking up tired? Your weary query is wasted on these 12 sleepy creatures who appear to be wide open to the prospect of a good night’s rest. Appearances may deceive, however, as animal behaviorists have found that yawning serves a number of purposes besides announcing an oncoming snooze....

Air Pollution And Your Child’s Health

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Researchers at Columbia University have released a study in which they have found children born to mothers who have been exposed to high levels of exhaust fumes during their pregnancy were more likely to exhibit behavior and attention problems in their school age years.

6 Things You Really Need to Know about Renewable Energy

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Adam Jones, Special Assistant for Energy Policy at American Progress, wrote a great post on Climate Progress this week on 6 things you really need to know about the value of renewable energy. They are all things that we have covered many, many times here on CleanTechnica, but they are still worth seeing again, especially in a focused, list format....

Grin & Bear It: 12 Sweetly Smiling Animals

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:43:57 +0100

From wolfish grins to just another manic monkey, most animals have been caught flashing a smile from time to time. Whether they’re smiling on the inside is another matter, of course, but one thing’s for certain – their smiles are compelling and often, contagious. Take these 12 smirking critters; they really know how to turn a frown upside down!...

Amazing Canines: Dogs that Can Save Lives by Smelling Diabetes & Cancer

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

I am continually amazed at the loving, endearing and even life saving relationships that people create with their pets. Dogs have long been used for a variety of medical conditions, such as lowering high blood pressure, assisting the blind and helping relieve depression; now this list is expanding with new stories of what dogs can accomplish. Canines are now being trained to smell cancer, as well as being able to detect dangerous blood sugar levels in their human companions....

Gulf Coast Deadzones: Environmentalists Sue the Toothless EPA

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Oceanic dead zones are in the news again this week. Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the EPA because of their stance on waterway contamination and their enforcement (or lack thereof) on pollution limits. Pollution is the major cause of oceanic dead zones, which are characterized by hypoxic (oxygen deficient) waterways. These hypoxic areas are uninhabitable to most living organisms....

5 Ways to Save Energy in the Kitchen

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

When you think about the kitchen you probably imagine putting together tasty meals, sitting around the kitchen table, or maybe fixing a hot cup of tea or coffee. The kitchen is all about food and family, but did you know that the kitchen also uses about half of the energy in your home?

Green Kitchen Makeover: 20+ Eco-Friendly Choices

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Whether you’re building a new kitchen from scratch or just updating your old one, there are a lot of opportunities to choose environmentally friendly fixtures and appliances that will reduce your demands for resources and make your kitchen a healthier place to prepare food. This guide to green kitchens will help you determine what eco-friendly options exist for major kitchen components like cabinets, countertops, appliances, faucets, flooring, lighting and finishes....

South Africa Aims for Green Jobs as well as Clean Energy as 2nd Round Renewable Energy Project ...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The South African government concluded its second round of bidding to develop renewable energy projects the first week of March.

Butterfly Molecule May Provide Key for Nuclear Waste Cleanup

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh, working with colleagues from the US and Canada, have created a previously unseen uranium molecule that they believe could help in the cleanup of nuclear waste.

7 Good Reasons to Quit Bottled Water

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

We had an extra Green Diva Meg in the house today! Our special guest Green Diva Meghan Van Dyk, the editor of the Daily Record’s Grassroots section was in the studio to help kick off our new weekly segment called, Gettin Local with the Green Divas: Wherever You Are! This segment is sponsored by the Daily Record’s Grassroots section and will focus on highlighting interesting stories and events within our community that help to illustrate and celebrate our community’s sustainability progres...

Cheap Green Travel: 14 Eco + Budget-Friendly Hostels

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Somewhere between luxurious (and pricey) eco-resorts and the most basic of dirt-cheap beds-for-rent are eco-hostels: inexpensive lodgings that are also environmentally friendly and often offer a relaxing place to commune with nature, even in big cities like Berlin and Barcelona. These 14 green hostels around the world range from modern European bunk rooms to incredibly rustic nomad tents in Mongolia....

Care about Your Heart & Lungs? You Should Care about Carbon Emissions (Driving Costs More ...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Carbon emissions are horrifying little things, by which I mean tiny little particles of high octane nightmare fuel. Totally aside from any question of global warming, there are all sorts of ways that fine particulate emissions sink into the human body through the lungs and wreak havoc from the inside out....

Top Eight Alternative Fuels

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Gasoline and diesel are still fossil fuel kings of the fuel supply chain but alternative fuels are now swinging the scale more toward green.

Stump Sculptures: 12 Amazing Altered Tree Trunks

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Left behind when trees are felled, whether naturally or by the hand of man, stumps can be kind of sad. But some talented artists break out the chainsaws, paint or other materials to transform these tree remnants into intricate works of art. These 12 tree trunk sculptures range from forest creatures that seem to bring fairy tales alive to massive benches that bring awareness to diseases affecting elms....

DRIED KIBBLE FOOD IS AN INAPPROPRIATE DIET

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It always amazes me that the same enlightened person, who advocates a wholesome natural life style for themselves, does not necessarily apply these same and equal principles when caring for their four legged companions.

Eat Your Broccoli! Cruciferous Vegetables Help Fight & Prevent Cancer

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

I guess mom was right — eating your broccoli really is good for you.

Gardeners Put Earthworms to Work Recycling

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Earthworms are great recyclers of organic waste.

Strong Start Initiative Aims to Reduce Scheduled Preterm Births

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0100

An increasing number of babies in the United States are now being forced to be born prematurely. This practice can cause major long term health problems for both mothers and infants.

Beautiful Bottles: Reclaimed Art Made of Glass And Plastic

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Recycling is great, but there are only so many times that a glass or plastic bottle can be melted down and made new again. Artists and designers who manage to find new uses for these discarded disposables give them a new sense of value that can last for generations. These 13 works of art transform used bottles in surprising ways, turning them into vases, chandeliers, chairs, ornaments and more....

Amazon.com Removes Whale Meat from Site

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Amazon.com has been allowing whale meat to be sold on its Japanese site (amazon.co.jp), but within hours of a press release from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) highlighting this fact, Amazon removed the whale meat from its site....

Tobacco Goes from Dark Side Villain to Biofuel Hero

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Tobacco is about to take center stage as a renewable biofuel crop if new research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory pans out.

Without Competition, Oil Companies to Suck Money Out of Our Wallets

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Below are some things to consider if you’re watching, listening to, or reading about Obama’s speech on energy in Miami today. They came to me from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) by email a few hours ago.

Fleet of London EVs to Ferry Olympic Athletes

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The 2012 Olympics are almost upon us, and we all know what that means.

Fighting Poverty with Clean, Renewable Solar Energy: Mauritius Company to Provide 33 Million ...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Backed by the UN “Business Call to Action” (BCtA) initiative, Mauritius-based ToughStuff yesterday announced it will provide some 33 million Africans access to rugged, cheap and affordable solar power systems....

McDonald’s Says ‘No More Gestation Crates’ — Good Job, Consumers!

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

McDonald’s announced to pork suppliers Monday that it wants gestation crates phased out. Due to the fast-food giant’s massive purchasing power, its new gestation crate policy might just be the tipping point that ends this inhumane practice in the US pork industry....

Amazing Animal Brains: 13 Fascinating Neurological Facts

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:43:57 +0100

The brain is a fascinating and mysterious organ, a little biological computer that dictates everything its owner does. Animal brains vary between small clusters of neurons to the enormous and astonishingly complex brains of our own species. These 13 animals may just have the most strange and interesting brains in all the world, from spiders with brains that spill into their legs to sea squirts that digest their own brains as they grow....

This Is Why Toyota Sells so Many Prii

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

As with any good carnival, there were rides aplenty at the 2012 Chicago auto show … and Toyota had a huge section of floorspace reserved for guests to hop into the passenger seat of a 3rd-gen Prius, Prius v, or a Camry hybrid and experience the hybrid magic at work.

1st Order of Corning Solar Photovoltaic Glass on Commercial Scale

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Corning photovoltaic glass? I have to admit, I had to dig through our archives to see if we had ever covered this. And, nope, it’s a new one.

Earth Art: 15 Inspiring Works that Celebrate Nature

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Leaves, driftwood, pine cones, dandelions and moss take the place of paper, paint and other manufactured materials in these incredible works of art. From delicate carvings to three-story towers, these nature-inspired sculptures, prints and installations celebrate the beauty and importance of our natural surroundings....

A VEGAN DIET FOR YOUR DOG

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

I have discussed in length the benefits of wholesome and natural diets for our pets. We have understood that the same principles of healthy living that apply to humans must apply to our companion animals, whom for many are their children. In everyone’s book of healthy wholesome living, vegetables and legumes play a very important role....

Berry Berry Big: The World’s 10 Largest Fruits

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Fruits are excellent natural sources of vitamin C, fiber and anti-oxidants so it just stands to reason the more you eat, the healthier you’ll be… and if you only have one fruit to eat, why not make it the largest of its kind? The 10 largest fruits featured here are more than just meals in themselves, they’re literally outstanding in their fields....

Co-Locating Solar and Wind Power Farms: Can Two Renewable Energy Sources Be Better Than One?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The intermittent, yet often complementary, nature of wind and solar energy has long been observed and increasingly remarked upon of late. Minnesota’s Ecos Energy is looking to take advantage of that by building the state’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) array on a 13-acre site in southwestern Minnesota, home to more wind farms than any other region state-wide, the StarTribune reports....

Recycling Plastics: What is the Resin Identification Coding System?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

In order to know which plastics may be recycled, it is important to understand how to tell which type of plastic you have. Many types of plastic can not be mixed together, and some recycling centers and plants only accept certian types of plastic.

9 Steps for a Greener Food System in the Developing World

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Many of us are thinking about the changes we want to make this year. For some, these changes will be financial; for others, physical or spiritual. But for all of us, there are important resolutions we can make to “green” our lives. Although this is often a subject focused on by industrialized nations, people in developing countries can also take important steps to reduce their growing environmental impact....

14 Smart Silo Conversions from High-Rises to Hidden Homes

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Once, they held grain, missiles or even sewage. But these 14 silos were transformed into incredibly creative adaptive reuse projects, transcending their utilitarian identities to present us with modern high-rise apartment buildings, eco-friendly homes, unusual restaurants and irresistible bed-and-breakfasts....

Window Tint: Slashing Business Costs While Going Green

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It’s no secret; running a lean, efficient enterprise is the universal aspiration of success-driven business owners.

Reducing Energy Bills with Geothermal Heat

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The untapped and clean geothermal energy our planet provides is enormous. but in 2008, geothermal power supplied less than one percent of the world’s energy. However, that may soon change. By 2050 geothermal power might be able to meet between 10 and 20 percent of the world’s energy requirements, according to a report from Renewable Energy World....

Corporations Can Legally Dump Toxic Waste in Fertilizers

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Why would anyone choose organic gardening?Besides being a lot healthier, it is a whole lot cheaper than the alternative. Unfortunately there are a handful of very powerful multi national corporations that don’t want you to know that and they have politicians on both sides in their pocket. Now why is that so important to them?...

Just Peachy: Australia’s Pretty Pink Hutt Lagoon

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:43:57 +0100

Western Australia’s Hutt Lagoon is pink as a blushing bride and saltier than a punch-drunk sailor on shore leave, thanks to an abundance of Beta Carotene-producing algae who consider the lagoon’s extreme salinity to be just peachy....

How the Humble Sunflower Holds the Key to More-Efficient Solar Power

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Regular readers are well aware of concentrating solar power (CSP), the growing technology which uses the sun’s energy to heat fluid (not unlike a steam engine) rather than using photovoltaic cells to convert it directly to electricity. If you’re not up to speed, we recently published a quick primer on CSP and why it could be vital to tomorrow’s energy mix....

OriginOil and DOE to Develop Direct Conversion of Algae into Renewable Crude Oil

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Good news on the algae-to-oil front has been released by Los Angeles-based OriginOil, Inc., in conjunction with the US Department of Energy. The company will work in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to help algae growers to enter the global crude oil market....

Lufthansa Declares Biofuel Trials Successful, Ceases Using Biofuel

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

The German airline Lufthansa has ceased its domestic trials of biofuel – but not because the trial failed. On the contrary, 1,471 tons of CO2 have been saved on over a thousand domestic flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg. Lufthansa is capping off its trial run with a transatlantic biofuel powered flight....

Water Colors: 10 Unnaturally Dyed Polluted Rivers

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:43:57 +0100

This is not your father’s white water rafting… or any other color rafting for that matter, since you wouldn’t want to bring a raft or anyone on it anywhere near these bizarrely colored rivers. Tinted bytoxins, dyed by discharges and flush out of fish, the startling hues of these 10 ravaged rivers are red cards against those who so monumentally mismanage these precious water resources....

Vegetables and Legumes – Your Pet’s Superhero

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Vegetarians and Vegans generally appreciate the wellness benefits that are derived from a greener and holistic life style. Vegans, in particular, aspire to a moral and ethical life style.

In a Manufacturing First, Innovative Material is Grown by Fungi

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Normally manufacturers must rush their products off the assembly line, but EcovativeDesign has a novel approach. They just wait, up to week, and let mycelium do the manufacturing work to construct everything from insulation to packaging materials.

Hawaii Inches Toward 100% Renewable Energy; Geothermal Resources 2.5 to 7 Times Demand

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Located as it is about 2,400 miles (3,900 km) WSW of San Francisco about in the middle of the northern Pacific, residents and businesses on the ‘Big Island’ of Hawai’i pay a lot for energy. Imported oil has been the primary fuel, not only for transportation, but for generating electricity in the Hawaiian Islands....

Study: Biofuels 14x to 31x More Costly than Raising the Gas Tax

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Could the cost-efficacy and net benefit of biofuels be worse than we thought?

Fire Away: 7 Amazing Animal Dragons

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:43:57 +0100

2012 is the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac and the Dragon is the only one of the horoscope’s 12 animals to be whollymythical… or is it? These 7 amazing animal dragons may not fit the outsized, leather-winged, fire-breathing draconian stereotype but by chance or by design, by name or by nature, they’re the closest things there are today to actual real-life dragons....

Tough Road Ahead for Nuclear Power

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Several experts have recently made it clear that they think nuclear power isn’t going to be growing any time soon, and will continue to experience popular criticism and fear, especially in light of the recent damage taken by the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan....

EU: All Airlines Must Pay for Their Carbon Emissions

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It was decided many moons ago that the countries of the world would work together to stop global warming and climate change, by reducing their carbon emissions, in sync. Well, if you haven’t heard, that hasn’t come about. However, the EU has done a tremendous job of reducing its emissions in various sectors....

Can “Pollution Glue” Clean Up London’s Dirty Air?

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

London is one of Europe’s dirtiest cities in terms of air quality.

Christmas Crafts: 13 Projects for Kids & Adults

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:43:57 +0100

Forget going to a big-box store and piling a cart high with cheap, mass-produced holiday decorations made in China. Warm up your home with handmade ornaments, wreaths and more that you (and the kids!) can easily make out of reclaimed and natural materials like toilet paper rolls, pine cones, wine corks, scrap fabric and cranberries....

Paper or Plastic?

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

“Paper or plastic?” It’s a question we’ve all been asked at one time or another, usually whilst grocery shopping. While most consumers may be fooled into thinking paper is logically the more ecologically friendly choice, it’s important to take a close look at the impact both choices have on the environment....

Greenpeace Speaks – Radiation Fail, Fukushima Still Way Too Hot

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Environmental organization Greenpeace went to Japan to measure the radiation levels outside the stricken Fukushima plant, and the report they published is rather disturbing. Nine months after the disaster, local residents just outside the evacuation zone are still subject to dangerous levels of radiation, and apparently no one is doing anything to fix it....

Why DOE-Funded Floating Turbines May Change Future of Offshore Wind

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

This week, Statoil has an application for a pilot demonstration of their Hywind floating wind turbine 12 miles off the coast of Maine before the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for approval. The demo would be the fruition of a project begun in 2009, and funded by the Department of Energy....

Honey I’m Home! Urban Beehives For Sweet City Living

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:43:57 +0100

The latest buzz on urban gardening? Urban beehives, of course! These 7 bee-friendly beehives may be designed for city slickers who think Honeycomb comes in a box, but they’re ideal for anyone who wants to invite a little urban wildlife into their nature-challenged neighborhood....

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PET FOOD LABELS

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Despite the fact that the pet food industry is a much regulated industry, and that all pet food has to be labeled in terms law, it is very clear that the industry is not open, transparent and forthcoming with their labeling and ingredients. For example, in my last editorial it was noted that claims of being truly “natural” were not entirely true....

‘Shrooms Can Clean Oil-Tainted Soil

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

A microscopic mushroom that laps up oil like a thirsty puppy could provide a cheap, efficient way to clean up polluted soil, according to researchers at the University of Montreal.

E. Coli Bacteria: What Doesn’t Kill Us, Makes Us Biofuel

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0100

That notorious killer bacteria e. coli is making renewable biofuel hand over fist for researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy. Scientists based in DOE’s Joint BioEnergy Institute have tweaked a strain of the bug to munch on tough-to-digest switchgrass like it’s sugar candy, and the result is a process that yields not one biofuel but three: renewable gasoline, diesel and jet biofuel. Hey, it’s like the Ginsu Knife of biofuels, right down to the low-low price....

Clucked Up: 13 Creative Chicken Coop Designs

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:43:57 +0100

Urban chickens have never had it so good. Not only is backyard chicken farming increasing in popularity, but chicken digs are getting cooler and fancier, with coop designs that rival those of the owners’ houses. These 13 poultry palaces range from ultramodern egg-shaped coops for a trio of birds up to larger wind-powered enclosures that could revolutionize the livestock industry....

Forget Fracking, Vitamin B12 Could Make Fuel Cells Cheaper

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Vitamin B12 could replace platinum as a catalyst in fuel cells, and that could lead to a new generation of emission free, low cost hydrogen fuel cells for cars and other vehicles.

Renewable Natural Gas from CO2, Water, & Sunlight

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

HyperSolar has filed a patent application for a “breakthrough technology” that creates renewable natural gas from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide....

Animal Gigantism: 13 Real-Life Godzillas

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:43:57 +0100

While they might not be terrorizing, fire-breathing monsters the size of skyscrapers, gigantic animals in the vein of Godzilla really do exist. So why are some creatures so huge compared to similar species? It’s a phenomenon known as “insular gigantism”, and usually occurs on islands or deep under the sea. These 13 examples have evolved to unusually, sometimes frighteningly large proportions – especially compared to their equally mis-sized dwarf counterparts (more on that next w...

Space Lasers! (for Clean Energy, Obviously)

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Orbiting solar power stations have been a continuous source of debate for decades – someone always brings up the idea of power plants IN SPACE and it always gets shot down as being unfeasible. (What’s not realistic about having energy beamed down from space? Come on.) But because Star Trek has been part of our collective consciousness for the past 50 years (or maybe it’s just me), someone always goes back to the idea of space lasers providing clean energy....

Google Earth Lands in Middle of Magnetic Cow Controversy

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Google Earth has become the epicenter of an international dispute among competing researchers as to whether or not cattle have a mysterious but widespread tendency to orient themselves along a magnetic north-south axis when grazing or at rest. Though the whole thing is worth a chuckle, it’s also a reminder that Google Earth and Google Maps are emerging as important tools in fields related to sustainability, including renewable energy and energy conservation, not only for professional resear...

More From Toyota – Remote EV Charging

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Toyota is bringing more than just cars to the Tokyo Motor Show 2011 – it’s also bringing its H2V (home to vehicle) Manager system for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The new system will go on sale along with the Prius Plug-In Hybrid in early 2012.

New 7 Wonders of Nature: The 7 Winning Wonders!

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:43:57 +0100

The New7Wonders Foundation’s long-running campaign to select (with your help) the world’s seven most outstanding natural wondersofficially ended on November 11th, 2011. The highly-publicized process was hugely successful in raising awareness of our planet’s natural beauty and in that respect, everyone’s a winner....

Busted! Fracking Chemical Found in Wyoming Water Supply

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

The U.S. EPA has just released test results indicating that at least one common fracking chemical has contaminated drinking water in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming.

London: Home of 1st Electric Vehicle Wireless Charging Trial

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Pushing the introduction of electric cars was always going to require easier methods of charging, and a new trial initiated by Qualcomm Incorporated will make London the home of the first Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) trial.

International Energy Agency: 5 Years to Change or Be Changed

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Climate scientists have warned us (for decades). Some politicians have warned us. Military reports have warned us. And citizens of the world have certainly warned now. Now, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is warning us: if we don’t make a massive switch to clean energy in the next few years (5 years according to the IEA), climate change is going to wreck us....

New 7 Wonders of Nature: The 28 Semi-Finalists

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:43:57 +0100

The New7Wonders of Nature campaign, organized by the New7Wonders Foundation in 2007, is a global poll whose purpose is to designate the world’s seven most outstanding natural wonders. The field has been narrowed from 440 down to 77 and now just 28 “Official Finalist Candidates” with voting scheduled to end on November 11th, 2011....

O2′s Air-powered Bike is Oh-Too-Cool

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

After a few months of regularly commuting on two wheels, I have come to a conclusion: two wheeled rides are awesome. That said, two-wheeled vehicles of all kinds are not without their drawbacks.

2012 Green Car Of The Year Finalists Announced

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show is just a few weeks away. So are the 2012 Green Car of the Year awards. Many big names are in contention this year sporting a wide range of technologies including diesel, natural gas, hybrid and electric vehicles. So who are this year’s contenders?

Tidal Power at Center of 50-Billion Pound Thames Hub Regional Redevelopment Plan

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

UK architects Foster + Partners, Halcrow and Volterra are partners in proposing a massive, 10-15-year, 50-billion pound (US$80 billion) regional redevelopment plan for the Thames Estuary, the centerpiece of which would be a 5-billion pound (US$8 billion) project to install in-stream tidal power arrays capable of generating 525 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year of clean, renewable electricity, enough to power some 76,000 homes....

14 Unbelievably Unique Parks & Botanical Gardens

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Intricately shaped topiaries, ponds full of lily pads and koi, greenhouses brimming with dazzling arrays of exotic flowers, strange and fascinating sculptures – these 14 botanical gardens, private gardens and parks around the world show off the beauty of cultivated nature. Representing a fusion of the wild, untamed natural world and the architectural genius of humans, these parks are the closest to paradise that we can craft with our own hands....

IS YOUR PET FOOD TRULY NATURAL?

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0100

There is a growing trend world-wide towards natural and organic food for humans and animal alike. With this in mind many commercial pet food companies are jumping on the bandwagon and try align themselves with this up and coming lucrative market by making claims that their pet food is natural and holistic.

Praise Grows for Aquaponics as a Sustainable Food Solution

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Royal Navy Diesel EngineAnti-petroleum people argue that petroleum is not a sustainable fuel for transportation and electricity generation, and petroleum advocates point to the fact that oil is essential to the production of plastics, pharmaceutical products, lubricants, and more, as if that is a reason to keep burning it....

Airborne Wind Turbines Win Award

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Tall, white wind turbines with long blades are not the only ones out there. People are working on wind turbines of all sorts to try to help solve our climate, energy, and environmental problems. Ben Glass, CEO of Altaeros Energies, and Adam Rein, co-founder of Altaeros Energies, are developing wind turbines that float up high with the rainbows, hundreds of feet above the ground. The turbines, called Altaeros Airborne Wind Turbines, can be deployed in 24 hours, and they just won the 2011 Con...

Infectious Salmon Anemia Spreads to Wild Salmon

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0100

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