Janina Lazo-Cruz, Author at The Green Optimistic

Climate Change: Giraffes Spotted in the Snow

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:24:01 +0000

Along with climate changes, safari animals such as giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and antelopes were seen to exhibit behavioral changes. These animals that are usually found in scorching heat of South African savannahs, have been found wandering in a very rare heavy snowfall on a game reserve in Sneeuberg, Western Cape, South Africa. “We woke up […]

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Uber to Start Paying Its Drivers to Go Electric

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 05:29:54 +0000

Analysts in automotive industry predict that personal car ownership is going to continuously drop in the coming decades as ride-hailing platforms flourish. It is thus economically and environmentally sustainable for these platforms to boost the usage of fully electric and hybrid vehicles. Indeed, the giant ride-hailing platform Uber claims that incorporating electric vehicles in ride-sharing […]

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100 Boeing-Backed Hybrid-Electric Airplanes to be Launched by JetSuite

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 26 May 2018 16:30:55 +0000

“Did you know that short-haul flights produce over 40% of aviation emissions? With our aircraft, we believe these will be largely eliminated within twenty years. Our aircraft are ‘hybrid-to-electrics’ that sip fuel only when they have to, will use even less over time as batteries upgrade, and will one day go completely without – so […]

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World’s First Rechargeable Proton Battery Invented at RMIT in Australia

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 24 May 2018 19:18:47 +0000

Why Develop a Proton Battery? Enormous Potential With more improvements and modifications, the rechargeable proton battery developed at RMIT University has the potential to store much larger amount of energy than the currently available and widely used lithium-ion batteries. If scaled up, the technology can be applicable for medium-scale storage on electricity grids and for […]

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Bugs Production Revs Up as Alternative Protein Source for Fish, Chicken, Pets

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 24 May 2018 05:40:36 +0000

THE PROBLEM: PROTEIN SOURCE SHORTAGE As people become financially capable, their food preferences shift from more plant-based to more of animal-based. With the world’s booming human population, the middle class is flourishing and hence, meat demand is growing with it – by 40 percent in just the last forty years. The problem is, this increasing […]

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Tesla Model 3 Doubles Production Rate and On Its Way to 6,000 Units per Week, Rumor Says

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 23 May 2018 05:12:45 +0000

In Tesla Motors Club forum, one user under the name lbkmxp100d has recently reported the increased production rate of Tesla Model 3 in Fremont as a result of a retooling activity, which enabled increase in the M3 production line’s speed. The reported production rates are more than twice their rate in April. The post was […]

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Sweden’s 2-Kilometer Electrified Road Allows World’s First EV Charging En Route

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:36:58 +0000

“Why should we invest in electrified roads? The answer is easy: we want to contribute to sustainable infrastructure. By electrifying roads, existing infrastructure can be utilized to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions,” writes eRoad Arlanda on their website. Aside from reducing vehicular greenhouse gas emissions, electrification of roads also aims to facilitate achieving energy […]

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How Can Wood Waste Make Cement, Concrete Stronger and More Watertight?

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 17:48:34 +0000

Furniture factories in Singapore generate huge amount of wood waste – about 530,000 tons in 2016 alone. This carbon-rich waste are usually either incinerated or dumped in a landfill. But thanks to a team of researchers in National University of Singapore (NUS) who developed a method that recycles these tons of carbon-rich waste into an […]

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UK Environmental Policies Expected to Weaken Due to Brexit

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 03:25:47 +0000

Abbreviated as “Brexit,” the British Exit refers to the decision of United Kingdom (UK) to leave the European Union (EU), which unexpectedly won by 51 percent votes two years ago. Along with this agreement, the British government guaranteed its citizens that it will keep on protecting the environment through the recently launched 25-year environmental plan. […]

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This Would Be the Main Driver for Shift to Electric Cars

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 19:43:09 +0000

Comparing with traditional diesel or petroleum-fueled vehicles, electric cars offer much cleaner environment with its zero emission feature, lower maintenance cost due to its fewer moving parts, and no or lower consumption of oil. With these advantages, the global electric car sales is booming, reaching 1.7% market share last 2017. That is, increasing by almost […]

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Methane’s Rising Greenhouse Effect, Measured Directly for the First Time

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:13:26 +0000

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. As their atmospheric concentrations change, scientists expect the amount of energy absorbed by these gases would change accordingly. However, this was not yet proven outside the laboratory until a study was conducted by US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley Lab Research. According to Berkeley […]

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Hyundai Union Leader: EV’s Are Evil and Could Cut 70% of Jobs

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:55:41 +0000

The South Korean automaker Hyundai Motors has shown enthusiasm on electric mobility transition as it committed last year on releasing 38 models of green vehicles by 2025 using a range of different technologies. On the other hand, Hyundai’s union, the largest in the country, is apparently against this move. “Electric cars are disasters. They are […]

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PNNL’s New EV Battery: 7x Longer Lifespan, 2 to 3 Times Longer Range

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 19:26:06 +0000

The transport sector remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and electric vehicles can eliminate this generation of pollutants. Still, there are factors that remain challenges to electric mobility. The miles an electric vehicle can drive before it runs out of charge is almost half of the miles a petroleum/diesel-fueled vehicle can drive before […]

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Germany’s GHG Emissions from Vehicles Still Increasing

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 07:10:39 +0000

Energiewende, Germany’s program in energy supply transition from coal-fired power plants to renewable sources, has enabled the country to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions within a decade and lead other EU countries in energy transition movement. Emissions in Germany has dropped significantly since 1990, about 27 percent, mostly because of the energy transition, shutting […]

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Beijing Suffocates in Dust Due to Smog and Sandstorm Combo

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:23:45 +0000

Previously, it was reported that Chinese researchers installed a giant 100-meter high, the world’s largest, air purifier in one of the country’s provinces. Being able to reduce dust by 15% using minimal electricity – as it takes advantage of solar heat energy – this giant air filter would be desirable to be installed in the […]

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Could Severe Winters in the U.S. Be Linked To Increasing Arctic Temperatures?

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:41:19 +0000

“Five of the past six winters have brought persistent cold to the eastern US and warm, dry conditions to the West, while the Arctic has been off-the-charts warm. Our study suggests that this is no coincidence. Exactly how much the Arctic contributed to the severity or persistence of the pattern is still hard to pin […]

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80 Percent of Food Traders Fail in Saving Bees and Consumers’ Health from Pesticides

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 18:07:36 +0000

Last month, it was reported that “roboBees”, which can actually pollinate artificially, have been developed by Japanese researchers. The motivation for this effort is the fact that forty percent of bees’ species, our natural pollinators, are nearing extinction. One major factor driving their extinction is the uncontrolled usage of pesticides in conventional agriculture. In the […]

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Low Oxygen Levels Could Threaten Marine Life

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 16:11:40 +0000

In addition to coral bleaching and rising sea levels, a new factor concerns scientists that may threaten marine life. Hypoxia, a phenomenon characterized by low oxygen levels in marine environment, is believed to pose a possible significant threat to marine life by some scientists. A study published in Scientific Reports predict that the occurrences of […]

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“Safe” Air Pollution Levels Are Not Actually Safe and Linked with Brain Damage in Newborns

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 16:03:08 +0000

In a separate study by Chinese researchers, industrial air pollution is being linked with alterations in DNA’s of newborns. That is, when the mothers were exposed to air pollution brought by industrial plants during pregnancy, their newborns were later observed to have shorter telomeres, which are specific sections in our chromosomes carrying the DNA. Now, […]

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Antarctica: a Testing Ground for Life Adaptation Amidst Climate Change

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:18:05 +0000

Imagine this: an island in Antarctica so white for it was mostly covered with thick sheets of ice that no earthen colors are visible to the naked eye. Ten years after, this landscape has changed into something unfamiliar: people can now see “rocks that we weren’t seeing five or 10 years ago, and that is […]

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Affordable, Accessible Fusion Power: A Reality in “Years, Not Decades”

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 07:05:50 +0000

Fusion – “the process that powers the sun” – releases energy when two atomic nuclei bump to each other, fusing together, resulting in one bigger nucleus. It is known as the source capable of generating the most energy so far, making it a very important delegate in providing affordable, accessible, and cleaner energy. “The benefits […]

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Porsche VP Says Its Mission E Overtakes Tesla Model S

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:58:40 +0000

Unlike Tesla, Porsche is developing a performance electric car that can sustain top speed and reproduce acceleration reliably, claims Stefan Weckbach, head of Porsche’s battery electric vehicles. The statement was released together with the reveal of the new details of Mission E, Porsche’s first all-electric production car as its launching in the market is getting […]

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Quasi-one-dimensional Metallic Conductivity for Faster, Advanced Electronics

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:56:53 +0000

Since its discovery in 2004, researchers have been exploring 2D electron gas due to its unique electric properties and how it could be of use in superconductors, actuators, memory devices, etc. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to exhibit conductivity or electron mobility in two dimensions, but tightly confined in the third dimension. This restriction […]

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These RoboBees from Japan Can Legitimately Pollinate the Earth

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 22:05:21 +0000

With natural bees being reported as dying at an unprecedented rate, researchers have come up with the idea of developing “RoboBees” or bee-like drones that can perform artificial pollination. A team of Japanese researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has recently designed these artificial pollinators using horsehair, drones, and […]

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0.7-Meter Minimum Global Sea-Level Rise by 2300, Even With Paris Agreement

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 22:03:37 +0000

“Every delay in peaking emissions by five years between 2020 and 2035 could mean additional 20 cm of sea-level rise in the end—which is the same amount the world’s coasts have experienced since the beginning of the pre-industrial era,” asserts Matthias Mengel from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). This means that even […]

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9 Percent Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Could Be Realized with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:50:19 +0000

The additional materials, manufacturing, assembly, weight, electric consumption, and aerodynamic drag of a connected and autonomous vehicle’s sensors and computers were found to significantly increase its lifetime energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions – about 3 to 20 percent increase. This is according to a new study conducted by Ford Motor Company and the University […]

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MIT’s New Invention Harvests Energy from Changes in Ambient Temperature

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:49:11 +0000

When two different materials have different temperatures, the temperature gradient causes the charge carriers to move from the hotter material to the cooler material. This conversion of temperature gradient into electricity and vice versa is called thermoelectric effect. In this era of renewable energy sources, researchers have been developing thermoelectric devices which tap energy from […]

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Single Molecule Piezoelectricity Opens New Opportunities for Nanodevices

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 07:12:06 +0000

Piezoelectricity – the principle behind a quartz watch, voice recognition software, microphones, etc. – is the conversion of mechanical energy into electricity and vice versa. Discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie in 1880, the piezoelectric effect was first observed when they applied pressure to a quartz crystal, which generated electric charges. This effect was called […]

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Cummins Chooses India to Invest $500 million to Develop Electric Powertrain Manufacturing

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 06:19:38 +0000

Powertrains are the heart of vehicles as they constitute the components that generate power and deliver them to the road. Cummins Inc., a U.S.-based Fortune 500 company, is well-known for designing, manufacturing, and distributing diesel- and natural gas-powered engines. To diversify its product portfolio, its chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger has announced the company’s entry […]

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7 Reasons Why New Cell-Inspired Membrane Revolutionizes Water Treatment and Metal Recovery

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 07:54:48 +0000

Gecko’s feet for adhesion, lotus leaf for hydrophobicity, moth’s eyes for reduction of reflectivity in solar cells, and electric eels for power generation – these are just a few examples of how we can study nature and apply them in improving current technologies. This technique is called biomimicry. Researchers in Australia, led by Benny Freeman, […]

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This Is How Your Own Body Can Generate Electricity

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:19:20 +0000

When our personal smart devices run out of batteries and we forgot to bring chargers, and worse, we are stuck in a place where no power sources, how we could wish our own body movements could charge them up. In a few years’ time, small electronic devices might actually be charged up by electricity generated […]

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4 Reasons This New Material Could Make Up Biodegradable Cars

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:29:42 +0000

Even though the bodyworks of cars can be recycled, the process would require a huge amount of energy to make use of these metals again. To make vehicles more recyclable and greener than ever, the idea of biodegradable cars started. Materials of choice were a plastic composite of flax and beet, and a combination of […]

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This New Breakthrough Could Boost the Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 18:41:33 +0000

The organic solar cell technology promises low-cost manufacturing, abundant raw materials, and lightweight, flexible substrates. These benefits address the limitations of current photovoltaic cells on the market. However, the efficiency of this cheaper and more sustainable alternative to silicon-based solar cells remains a big challenge. At 11 percent efficiency, they need more ways to catch […]

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Will Solar Energy Overtake Wind Sooner than Expected?

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 18:19:26 +0000

By 2028, the world will be mostly powered by solar energy. This is the bold prediction of Ray Kurzweil, the man who also predicted the mobile internet, cloud computing, and wearable technologies about two decades ago. The basis? Starting from 0.5 percent in 2012, the global market share of solar power doubles every two years […]

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France to US: “No Paris Agreement, No Trade Agreement”

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 13:25:17 +0000

“One of our main demands is that any country who signs a trade agreement with EU should implement the Paris Agreement on the ground. No Paris Agreement, no trade agreement. The US knows what to expect,” states French foreign affairs minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne last week, in front of his country’s parliament. The statement was made by Lemoyne […]

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Besides Climate Change, Here’s Another Factor That Melts Glaciers in Greenland

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:49:43 +0000

While everyone has been alarmed by the consequences of climate change on polar ice caps and glaciers, scientists have confirmed the existence of yet another factor contributing to the melting of ice sheets in Greenland. This time, it is completely a natural phenomenon, not induced by human activities. When a glacier, which has a bedrock […]

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This is How Air Pollution Alters the DNA of Newborns

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 17:42:32 +0000

Telomeres, the specialized regions of DNA found at each end of a chromosome, are discovered to be shorter for newborns that were exposed to air pollution before birth than those who were not. These telomeres are responsible for allowing the chromosomes to be copied exactly during cell division. According to a study conducted in China, […]

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3 Reasons Wind Farms Cause Stress to Nearby Residents

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 19:27:16 +0000

While wind farms are a clean, renewable, and relatively cheaper source of energy, they also have disadvantages such as land use and noise. Among those people residing near a wind farm, about 30 percent are either only slightly irritated by the noise or not affected at all. On the other hand, 10 percent are reported […]

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100-Meter High Giant Air Purifier in China Gives Noticeable Results!

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 20:07:58 +0000

“I do feel better,” expresses a manager at a restaurant near the world’s largest air purifier or smog tower, in reference to the improvement in air quality she noticed even if she was unaware of the tower’s purpose. “I can’t help looking at the tower each time I pass. It’s very tall, very eye-catching, but […]

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Nissan to Sell Solar Panels and Battery Storage Cheaper Than Tesla

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:41:09 +0000

The residents of the United Kingdom that have solar products installed in their households could save as much as 66 percent of their electric bills. This is according to Nissan’s recent press release. To make the technology more available to homeowners, Nissan has recently launched its Nissan Energy Solar, described by the automaker as an […]

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1 Million – Barrel Oil Spill in China Coast Now As Large As Paris

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:37:17 +0000

The Iranian oil tanker, Sanchi, which carried 136,000 tons or one million barrels of highly flammable oil mix, sank last January 6 after colliding with another ship. Aside from the fatal explosion causing its 32 crew members dead or missing, the oil spill has now spread and tripled its area, resulting in environmental and health […]

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On the Brighter Side, Climate Change Brings More Flowers

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:36:38 +0000

While most scientists are reporting the negative aftermaths of climate change – melting glaciers, increasing water levels, more frequent coral bleaching, etc. – a new study by Florida State University has observed a cunningly unexpected response of tropical forest to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and changing climate: higher flower production. “It’s really remarkable. Over […]

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Why Cryptocurrencies’ Energy Consumption Will Drop Dramatically

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:09:27 +0000

The massive energy consumption of bitcoin has been a hot issue as it is estimated to require more electricity than 159 countries. As a potential global currency, bitcoin could also potentially threaten our environment because of this energy requirement. However, this massive energy consumption of cryptocurrencies is expected to go down drastically. Why? Bitcoin Before […]

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Coral Reefs Threatened by Irreversible Massive Loss Due to Accelerating Coral Bleaching

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 14:17:10 +0000

About twenty-five percent of all marine fish species reside in coral reefs, according to The Nature Conservancy; and about 500 million people are estimated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to be dependent on coral reefs for livelihoods. Hence, the death of coral reefs due to coral bleaching would largely affect […]

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Byton Unveils High-tech, Connected, Electric, Autonomous SUV

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 08:45:27 +0000

Byton, an automotive start-up, has recently unveiled its technology-focused, connected, self-driving, and fully electric concept car at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas. The electric SUV production model previewed in the event was described by Byton as “new smart device, built for the coming era of truly shared, smart mobility and autonomous […]

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2019 Nissan LEAF’s Range Beats Tesla Model 3

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 19:22:17 +0000

When it comes to electric vehicles, range is a factor of utmost importance as it illustrates how far they could traverse before running out of battery. Boosting an electric vehicle’s range could also mean boosting its market sales. Just last week, the new Nissan LEAF was reported to give a range of 225 miles, beating […]

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This Is Why Fisker EMotion Could Be the Best Electric Luxury Car

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 19:21:38 +0000

“The Electric Vehicle Renaissance has truly begun – one that must be met with both timeless, yet futuristic form and hyper-intelligent function,” says CEO and automotive designer Henrik Fisker. Fast and High Range Six years after its first attempt on releasing electric car Karma, Fisker has recently launched its second attempt – the all-electric, autonomous, […]

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20-year Study Observes Climate Change Induces Shift in Soil Ecosystem of Antarctic Dry Valleys

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:42:51 +0000

Earth Warming Shifts Ecosystems “With climate change, some species are winners, some are losers,” explains Walter Andriuzzi, the lead author of a two-decade-long study led by Colorado State University. The study has found that starting 2001, when a strange warm weather event occurred in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, the most common species in this desert […]

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3 Reasons to Reuse Old Clay Roof Tiles

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:38:45 +0000

Terracotta tiles are the oldest type of material used in building houses even before the time of Christ. These ceramic tiles can last a lifetime if made of high quality and make a good insulator of heat. Thus, it is not surprising to prevent wasting these tiles and instead, make the most out of them […]

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Electric Eel Inspires New Power Device

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 22:28:44 +0000

In search of implantable devices appropriate for medical treatment applications such as the cardiac defibrillator and the deep brain stimulator, researchers are requiring a power source that is rechargeable in vivo, flexible, and biocompatible. Learning from how an electric eel can generate its own electricity – 600 volts and 1 ampere of electric current – […]

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MIT’s Open Source Tool Predicts Solar Cell Performance per Location

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 22:26:26 +0000

“If you have a new solar cell technology, you can see where your technology might be able to outcompete commercial silicon solar cells,” explains Tonio Buonassisi, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology (MIT), pertaining to the significance of their newly developed open-source tool published in the journal Joule last December 13. […]

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Hyundai: EV Battery Prices to Stop Declining by 2020

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 20:10:31 +0000

Being the most expensive part of electric vehicles, batteries are the key to the affordability of green vehicles, and the latter’s sales and technological trends. In the past few years, lithium-ion batteries were decreasing at a fast rate, averaging 12 percent per year, making the mass production of green vehicles cheaper. However, the South Korean […]

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Bitcoin: Too Expensive and Hugely Energy-Consuming?

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:05:54 +0000

Created in 2009 by an unknown person, the virtual money generated and traded electronically called bitcoin introduced to investors and businessmen a method that allows transactions which exclude banks and government. This meant that money transfers can be done very quickly without paying bank fees and taxes. Not only that, but bitcoin owners are also […]

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Tesla Subsidies Slashed in Germany

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 19:06:23 +0000

To encourage usage of electric vehicles, Germany has launched just last year an incentive scheme worth about 1 billion euros, which is partly financed by the country’s car industry. With this subsidy scheme, those who purchase all-electric vehicles can avail a discount of 4,000 euros ($4,755), while those who select plug-in hybrid cars can have […]

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Double-glazed Solar Panels: New Approach to Solar Energy Efficiency

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:46:50 +0000

Upon acknowledging that at present, the improvement of solar cell’s efficiency has already reached its maximum with only gradient increases if any, the two physicists from the University of Warwick, Coventry took the works of Einstein and Tesla as inspiration and came up with a new design of solar panels – double-glazing. The proposed solar […]

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Cheaper and Safer Solvents for Increasing Solar Cell Efficiency

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 19:19:54 +0000

The amount of solar energy that a solar cell can convert into electrical energy is presently limited by its bandgap, such that only the photons with higher energies can be converted, leaving photons with lower energies useless. This limit is also called the Shockley-Queisser limit and in order to address such hindrance in achieving optimum […]

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Japan Develops Novel Solvent for Efficient Production of Biofuel

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:12:28 +0000

In the beginning, biofuel or ethanol is made from food products such as corn, classified as first generation biofuel. To avoid competition with food supply and thus avoid food shortage, agricultural wastes called biomass are then used in ethanol production. This second generation biofuel has a limitation though in its conversion efficiency, in terms of […]

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Eco-friendly Businesses Growing Fast in Asia

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:31:38 +0000

Small private businesses that aim to fight climate change and prevent more environmental destructions are flourishing rapidly in Asia. Globally, the current worth of these environment-friendly businesses has reached over $1 trillion, according to a report by the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corp (IFC). This suggests that there are a lot of opportunities in […]

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Chinese EV Maker NIO Wants to Be More Customer-Focused Than Tesla

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 13:45:12 +0000

“I believe NIO will make a car that is not only good in terms of performance but also in software. But [sales] quantity will not be the driving force behind the electric vehicle industry, it’s the user experience. No matter the product hardware, nor the software, the user experience must be the focus.” This is […]

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Solar Supercapacitor Generates Both Electricity and Hydrogen

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 11:14:34 +0000

Hydrogen is a much cleaner option than other renewable energy sources, only if not derived from methane that involves carbon dioxide emission. Another limitation of hydrogen fuel cell is its feasibility to be mass produced, efficiency in energy conversion, and cost. For these reasons, a team of scientists from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) […]

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Tesla Flips Switch on World’s Largest Lithium Ion Battery in Australia

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 15:55:39 +0000

About a year ago, the entire South Australia suffered a series of blackouts, pushing its government to raise a $550 million project aimed at guaranteeing electric supply and shoring up the state’s power grid. Part of this project is the 129-megawatt-hour lithium battery – the world’s largest so far – built by Tesla in just […]

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Renault is GreenFleet’s Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 07:12:24 +0000

Every year, the UK-based magazine, GreenFleet, recognizes the achievements of low-carbon vehicles sector through an awards event of the same name. In the 2017 GreenFleet Awards held last 23rd day of this month at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, the automaker company Renault was selected as the Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year. The editor of […]

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Wind Power Knocks Out Coal in Texas

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 07:10:56 +0000

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages 90 percent of the state’s power grid and the majority of its power is sourced from natural gas and coal. Ten years ago, its wind power accounted for only two percent of its power mix. With the expansion of transmission capacity and market reforms, the current power […]

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TransCanada Oil Spill Raises US Oil Prices, Stirs Its Opponents

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 22:07:05 +0000

Canadian oil prices plummeted while U.S. crude prices rose last Friday, a day after the 5,000-barrel oil spill on the Keystone pipeline in South Dakota. Levelling with US’ largest pipeline leak of this year, the TransCanada oil spill has also further encouraged environmentalist group and critics to oppose the company’s proposed opening another pipeline, the […]

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Toyota Believes Electric Vehicles Not Yet Ready for Mass Production

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 09:17:53 +0000

“Battery-powered cars with a long range are very expensive and it takes a long time to charge them. Such cars do not fit in our program,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp, through the German magazine Der Spiegel. He deems that electric vehicles are not yet ready for mass production. This was […]

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Revolutionary Ceramic Membrane Makes Hydrogen Fuel Cells Highly Efficient

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 13:30:44 +0000

Hydrogen is known as an energy carrier for fuel cells. It also finds significant application in various industrial processes from food processing to the manufacturing of glass, semiconductors, and ammonia-based fertilizers. A team of scientists supported and headed by CoorsTek, the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered ceramics, have developed a ceramic membrane that generates compressed hydrogen […]

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Daimler Electrifies US School Buses

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:34:40 +0000

Electrifying vehicles, one of the actions to reduce greenhouse gases, is globally being embraced by major markets as this technology allows zero emission. Vehicles that depend most heavily on diesel, such as garbage trucks, delivery trucks, and freight trucks are the main target for this electrification. School buses have routes that are relatively shorter than […]

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3D Printing Could Be Key to Sustainable Manufacturing

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:57:30 +0000

An inkjet printer creates a two-dimensional or planar figure using digital information of the desired output. Similarly, 3D printing creates a three-dimensional object, an actual physical material, based on a digital model. This ability to produce products and components by forming successive layers of material under computer control, enabling the creation of objects with almost any […]

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IHS Predicts How the Automotive Industry Will Look in 2040

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:53:02 +0000

In 23 years, three trends are projected to happen in the automotive industry: (1) as consumers welcome online commute services such as Uber and Grab, vehicle sales worldwide will decrease, (2) on the other hand, the demand for petroleum and gasoline will remain increasing, especially for non-transportation uses, and (3) majority of vehicles sold globally […]

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How Early Autonomous Vehicle Adoption Could Save Thousands of Lives

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:27:45 +0000

The idea of autonomous vehicles is based on both the convenience and the potential to eliminate hazardous, fatal, and costly human errors. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the majority of vehicular accidents, more than 90 percent, involve man-related errors. Road tests of these self-driving cars are already being conducted and their usage […]

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Green Roofs Could Help Mitigate Climate Change, Says Study

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:10:57 +0000

Green roofs, which are gardens installed on top of building structures, offer insulation that allows energy saving and protection from heat. In addition, these green roofs contribute to pollution reduction. With sufficient quantity of these roofs, the quality of environmental conditions in an area can be improved. “To mitigate the effects of climate change, we […]

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Toyota and Mazda Now Partners in EV Venture

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 18:35:02 +0000

Over the next decades, half of all vehicles sold are projected to be electric, and more countries are shifting towards electric vehicles, banning diesel- and petroleum/gasoline-fueled cars to meet the Paris Climate Agreement. Meanwhile, Tesla and other new electric car manufacturers are gaining names in the vehicle industry, with the Volkswagen diesel scandal and batteries’ […]

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Japan Tests Wood Pulp for Stronger, Lighter Vehicles

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 09:05:12 +0000

“Simplify, then add lightness. Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere,” said Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, explaining the light-weighting trend in cars. It is especially important in designing electric cars because the lighter the weight of the chassis leads lower battery weight, and the battery is […]

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Andrew Gilkson, ANU: Earth May Become a Radioactive, Warmer Environment

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:01:17 +0000

The carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and the dangerous man-made technologies – nuclear weapons, industrial revolution – that are destroying our world may lead to a more hostile era than we are currently experiencing, according to Andrew Gilkson, an earth and paleoclimate scientist from the Australian National University. In this new era, the earth […]

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Scientists Search for New 2D Materials for Better, Cheaper Batteries

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:55:56 +0000

Known for their extremely light weight and extreme mechanical strength and flexibility, 2D materials are also excellent conductors of heat and electricity, rendering them an excellent choice for electricity generation and energy storage. Graphene, which is purely composed of carbon atoms and is believed to be the world’s strongest material, is a good example of 2D […]

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New Water Evaporation Engine Could Be the Best Renewable Energy Device, Study Says

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:55:05 +0000

Evaporation engine, a theoretical machine that aims to convert evaporation energy into electricity, takes advantage of the infinite expanse of evaporating water from sun-heated lakes and dams. “Evaporation has the potential to be greater than wind power and closer to solar power,” said Ozgur Sahin, a researcher from the University of Columbia. The prototypes of […]

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Swiss Company Produces First Carbon Capturing Power Plant

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:54:16 +0000

Harnessing greenhouse gases from point sources, such as flue stacks, is an accepted mitigation for air pollution. However, capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere has been debatable in terms of its efficiency in reducing carbon footprint. A Swiss company, Climeworks, has just initiated such effort that could prove its effectivity in reducing carbon build-up […]

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Owl Feathers Provide Inspiration to Build More Efficient Aircraft and Wind Turbines

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:54:27 +0000

Airfoils are two-dimensional structures that describe an aviation wing or a propeller from a turbine or windmill. Their design faces challenges on reducing noise during operation while optimizing its aerodynamic performance. Owls are known to hunt their preys without noticeable sound, and this feature of their flight has inspired researchers to study and mimic their […]

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How to Save Energy in the Kitchen

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:42:20 +0000

If you are on a tight budget, looking for more ways to cut costs or you just want to reduce more on your electric bills, and you think you have done all to save energy in your household, then you might want to consider these tips from Zero-Waste Chef. Fortunately, there’s still room for saving […]

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Electric Airplanes to Start Flying in a Decade, says EasyJet

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 08:53:54 +0000

Aviation plays an important role in global economy – tourism, official business travels, importation and exportation of goods. However, it is also a significant contributor to air pollution that even with the utmost effort of improving aerodynamics, greenhouse gas emissions are still unmanageable because of the unprecedented increase in travels by air. The efforts for […]

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Semi-transparent, Flexible Solar Cells Give 0.7% More Efficiency

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 05:13:44 +0000

Solar cells that offer a range of transparency while possessing high mechanical flexibility are considered as the next-generation smart solar cells, gathering much attention at present. Their special features find their application in cellular phones, human skin, personal computers, and windows. However, the technology is needing a lot of improvements in terms of its scalability […]

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France Willing to Ban Weedkiller Glyphosate

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 05:13:14 +0000

Glyphosate, the strong chemical used in Monsanto’s common weedkiller, Roundup, is classified by the World Health Organization as a cancer-causing substance. In its study last March, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has claimed otherwise, prompting the European Union to propose a ten-year extension on glyphosate’s license. Meanwhile, France, European Union’s largest agricultural producer and exporter, […]

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Energy-saving Microfilter for Fracking Water Removes Over 90% Impurities

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 05:12:38 +0000

An average of more than five million gallons of water are used in a hydraulically fractured well, and only a small portion, around 10 to 15 percent of this water is recoverable during the backflow process. “This makes it very important to be able to re-use this water,” Rice University chemist Andrew Barron said. Researchers […]

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How Two Locals Led Indonesian Government to Clean Up World’s Dirtiest River

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:28:57 +0000

As the saying goes, if you want to change the world, start with yourself. This was how two Indonesian local citizens, brothers Gary and Sam Bencheghib, were able to lead their government to finally take action and start cleaning up the country’s Citarum River, which happens to be the world’s dirtiest river. With the use […]

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Bosch and Nikola to Launch Hydrogen-Electric Heavy-Duty Truck

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 05:34:33 +0000

Many truck manufacturers are presently competing in the newly established market of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks. All geared towards beating the difficulties encountered in replacing greenhouse gas-emitting diesel engines with zero-emission electric engines. Bosch, a prominent German company known to supply car components, joins the competing crowd by setting a partnership with a start-up […]

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Galibier: Bugatti’s Four-door Electric Car Might Be Out in 2025

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:23:40 +0000

“The four-door car is not dead,” said Wolfgang Duheimer, Bugatti’s President, to Automotive News at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This is in reference to the idea, back in 2009, of producing a four-door car called “Galibier.” It was put off in the course of the development of Chiron, Bugatti’s current and sole model for eight […]

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China Now Dominates Market for Lithium-ion Battery Components

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 19:57:52 +0000

About ten years ago, Japan was leading the industry of lithium-ion battery materials. Now the lead shifted to China mainly because of the country’s very low labor costs and less strict environmental standards. This shift can be alarming in terms of environmental hazards, especially in the coming decades that electric vehicles and home energy storage […]

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Seaweed-Derived Biofuel Venture Supported by Trump Govt

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 18:56:58 +0000

In spite of doubts and disbelief in climate change voiced by the United States’ President Donald Trump, the US Department of Energy has granted $22 million to research projects venturing on the development of a relatively new and uncommon biofuel source – the seaweed, also preferably called macroalgae. Using seaweeds as biofuel source allows the […]

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Diesel Cars Emit More Greenhouse Gases than Petrol/Gas Cars, New Study Finds

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 16:51:40 +0000

It has been widely known that diesel-powered cars generate lower greenhouse gases compared to petrol/gasoline cars. Contrary to this, a study conducted by Transport and Environment (T&E) claims that on the basis of their full lifetime, diesel cars generate more air particulates, carbon dioxide, and NOx than those powered by petrol or gasoline. In their […]

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How Evolution of Earth’s Crust Links to Atmospheric Oxygen?

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:55:06 +0000

Billion years ago, the amount of free oxygen present in the atmosphere was minimal. It increased at an unprecedented rate of 10,000 times over 200 million years during the period called the Great Oxidation Event. During this stage, the chemical reactions and composition on Earth’s surface also changed completely. How these two changes are linked […]

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Stretchable Solar Cells That Can be Washed and Worn

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:53:21 +0000

Recent studies are developing small energy-harvesting devices that can make them applicable in wearable medical devices and sensors. Previous attempts have been made to construct solar cells that could be incorporated into textiles, but these were challenged by long-term stability in air and water, energy efficiency, and resistance to deformation. A new design of solar […]

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Earth Warming Limit of 1.5°C, Still Achievable

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:52:16 +0000

The geophysical probability of controlling the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5°C, as agreed internationally through the Paris Climate Agreement, was investigated in a study conducted by a team of researchers at Oxford University. It concludes that it is still possible to achieve but requires higher emission reductions than the levels vowed so far. […]

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NYC Plans to Increase Its Buildings’ Energy Efficiency

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:09:17 +0000

Despite US President Donald Trumps’s refutation of the Paris Climate Agreement and doubts on climate change, Mayor Bill de Blasio drives New York City to lead the fight against this global crisis. “We’re not waiting on President Trump and his cabinet of deniers to address this crisis. It is a sad statement that the actions […]

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Air Pollution Decreases Good Bacteria in Our Airways, Study Shows

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:06:41 +0000

Air pollution increases cases of respiratory diseases and risks for other critical illnesses such as heart disease. How it affects our body’s condition can be linked to its effect on the diversity of microbes existing in our respiratory tracts, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Milan. The study shows that […]

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Electric Komatsu Mining Truck Generates More Energy Than It Consumes

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:02:51 +0000

A 65-tonner Komatsu mining truck is being modified by a group of Swiss companies to a full electricity-powered vehicle. This e-dumper not only requires zero diesel, which means zero greenhouse gas emissions, it also collects extra electricity that can be supplied to power grids. If its estimated performance is met, it would prove its prominence […]

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Climate Change: Lack of Action Costs Up to 10x More Than Adaptation

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:17:16 +0000

A study supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation forecasts that by 2100, the sea level at coastal city Santos, where Latin America’s biggest harbor is found, may become 45 cm higher, resulting to more frequent storm surges. Moreover, its tides will have greater peaks, implying a higher probability of floods and erosion. a separate study […]

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Tesla Semi’s Debut Moved to October 26

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:08:32 +0000

The much anticipated Tesla Semi class 8 electric truck, described by Elon Musk as “unreal” will be launched with a test drive on October 26, tentatively, instead of this month. The event will be held in Hawthorne, California. Electric trucks faced various challenges in the past including range and the capacity to carry the battery […]

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Renewable Microgrids Improving Lives in Developing Countries

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:02:51 +0000

Renewable microgrids, small-scale power systems with their own renewable energy resources, allow electrification to communities that are less likely be connected to central grids. The village of Entesopia in Kenya is a good example of a community supplied by an 8.5-kilowatt modular solar microgrid, which is owned and managed by Vulcan Philanthropy and SteamCo, respectively. […]

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Climate-Driven Local Extinction Threatens Earth’s Oldest Trees

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 18:24:46 +0000

Bristlecone pine trees, the Earth’s oldest trees, can live beyond 5,000 years, while limber pine trees can live not more than 2,000 years. The growth behavior of these two ancient Great Basin species in response to climate change was studied by researchers from the University of California, Davis. The team found out that for the […]

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Massive Glacier Melt Will Hit Asia by 2100

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:33:24 +0000

One-third of Asia’s glacier is expected to melt down by the end of this century, on the condition that the goal of keeping earth’s warming at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius is met. Otherwise, as huge as two-thirds of the glacier is anticipated to melt. These are based on a study conducted by scientists from […]

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