The Green Optimistic

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 13:21:20 +0000

Up to a third of all food produced is wasted, though that food could easily feed the hungry. This percentage varies. For example, up to 80 percent of food is lost in production due to pests and food that rots because they lack refrigeration. Food waste also wastes the resources used to produce food. Let’s […]

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How Restaurants Can Become More Sustainable

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:33:13 +0000

There is an estimated 22 to 33 billion pounds of food waste produced by restaurants every year. And this is only food waste. The bags full of paper wrappers and plastic cups are similar in volume. Let’s look at how restaurants can become more sustainable. Find New Things to Recycle Your business may already recycle […]

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How to Find an Eco-Friendly Apartment in Boston (or any other town)

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 12:16:35 +0000

For many people, a green lifestyle starts with the right address. The challenge is finding one, much less one you can afford to live in. Here are a few pointers on how to find an eco-friendly apartment in Boston while finding a great place to live. Look for Eco-Friendly Apartments Eco-friendly buildings could be anything […]

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How to Reduce Commercial Electricity Demand Charges

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:22:55 +0000

The way companies are billed for energy use is changing in the UK. This guide explains how businesses can reduce their commercial electricity demand charges as soon as possible, and why. Energy costs The two most significant energy costs for a business are the rate paid per unit used and demand charges. Demand charges are […]

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8 Ways to Maximize Your Smartphone Battery’s Lifespan

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:31:07 +0000

A lithium-ion battery naturally degrades over time and the number of years covered since its first use until the time it has to be replaced is called its lifespan or service life. The average lifespan of a lithium-ion battery is between 300 to 500 cycles. It discharges and recharges normally for the first 300 cycles, […]

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How Remote Offices Can Help Companies Go Green

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 17:52:08 +0000

Turning your home into your workplace doesn’t just mean going easy with your dressing and flexible timings. But it has some REAL impacts on our eco-system and numerous benefits for the businesses. Working from the remote offices can help the environment by cutting commutes, reducing traffic load on roads, and reduced waste. Going green is […]

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How Does Lead Affect Our Environment?

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:53:41 +0000

Lead is a toxic metal that is found naturally in the environment. It is normally found at very low levels in the environment. High levels can kill. And there is no safe level of exposure for humans. Let’s learn more about how lead affects our environment, including the people who live in it. The Impact […]

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3 Ways Drivers can Live Greener

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:46:42 +0000

Photo by Andreas Dress on Unsplash We get it: you love your car, and of course you need a way to get from point A to point B. Cars are part of our everyday lives; there’s a necessity to travel. And it’s NOT always possible to use public transport or find a carpool that’s heading […]

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Laser Marking Technology for Increased Sustainability

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:40:37 +0000

Industrial practices have to be adjusted for sustainability in order to minimize our carbon footprint significantly. While households can employ greener practices, it’s large corporations that contribute the most to greenhouse gas emissions so if they joined in on the practice of using cleaner and greener energy, the impact would be phenomenal. This is what […]

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Sustainable Lawn Maintenance Tips That You Should Know

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 14:45:59 +0000

Lush lawns are not only pleasant to the eyes, but they are also great for preventing storm runoff and erosion. They also improve water quality and help reduce air pollution. However, doing lawn maintenance often comes with expensive costs. Some statistics claim that Americans spend about 30 billion dollars annually on lawn maintenance while consuming […]

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These 5 Companies Use Solar or Wind Energy to Power their HQs in Texas

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:40:36 +0000

Texas has made significant strides in its renewable energy program. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) used to rely heavily on coal, but 2019 was a banner year for the state. According to ERCOT, which manages about 90% of the state’s grid, wind power supplanted coal when it comes to energy consumption. In 2019, […]

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Energy Saving Tips to Save on Electricity Bills and Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 10:26:30 +0000

The world, as we all know it, is already suffering from the adverse effects of climate change. Unless we make drastic changes to corporate and government goals, there’s pretty much nothing we can do to mitigate it. However, you can take part in the green initiative by reducing your home’s carbon footprint and reducing your […]

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World’s First Plant-Based Running Shoes- by Reebok

Mila Luleva — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:07:51 +0000

Reebok introduces running shoes made entirely of plant-based materials. Running is one of those sports that are so easy to practice. All you need is a pair of great shoes, light reflecting outfit (safety first!) and off you go. No memberships, no special equipment- just the track, your shoes and you! The statistics clearly support […]

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UK Student Designs Bioplastic out of Fish Scales and Skin

Mila Luleva — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:39:31 +0000

UK student invents new-generation bioplastics. Can this be the solution to one of the world’s biggest pollution problems? It is this time of the year again, when James Dyson, well known British Inventor, awards his annual prize to the most talented student designer. With so many young brains currently mesmerizing the world with their inventions, […]

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Metro Ticket in Exchange for Plastic Bottles in Rome

Mila Luleva — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 13:00:12 +0000

Rome introduced a new incentive to tackle plastic pollution and I’m loving it! The city officials have placed special machines on three main metro stations. The machines take empty plastic bottles, crush them, sort them and give ‘digital money’ in return. The value of a plastic bottle is 5 cents. This means that you would […]

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Botswana Taps into the World’s Largest Coal Reserve

Mila Luleva — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 09:09:50 +0000

No climate talks can stop Botswana’s government. The country has allowed mining of the world’s largest untouched coal reserve. Last month, millions united in the name of saving our planet. People went on the streets and vouched for governments to implement climate-smart policies. The activities that took place in the major cities in the world, […]

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Innovative Device Harnesses Heat at Night

Mila Luleva — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:48:47 +0000

New device generates electricity from darkness. Winter is fast approaching, days are getting shorter, nights are getting colder. It is inevitable that even the most eco-conscious among us start thinking a bit more about staying warm and cosy. A team of scientists from Stanford University, took on a quest to explore unconventional ways to generate […]

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Alternative Ways to Take Part in the Climate Strike Today

Mila Luleva — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:48:01 +0000

The World’s biggest climate strike is taking place today ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. Do you want to be part of it? Here are a few ideas of what you can do in case you are unable to join the crowds. I honestly cannot imagine that there are […]

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Tesla Opens Up Model 3 Sales to Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 08:00:52 +0000

I live in Romania. Earlier this year, I’ve contacted the Tesla shop in Vienna to ask about options regarding the purchase of a Model 3. At the time, they said Tesla would not sell any Model 3 in Romania nor in countries that don’t have an authorized service center. Back then, I thought this was […]

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New Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Goes 1,300km a Year on Its Solar Panel Alone

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:29:19 +0000

In the old times, there were Priuses. Now, it’s Hyundai. They just launched their Sonata Hybrid and it has a solar roof charging system. In the 2004-2009 Prius, the solar panel on the top was used to power the air conditioner while the car sat in full sunlight. Not Hyundai. They’re going after mileage gains […]

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Should We Wave Goodbye to Disposable Cutlery?

Mila Luleva — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 05:31:25 +0000

Let’s all start carrying proper cutlery with us! The moment I saw the article appear in one of the latest issues of National Geographic, I just knew I will write about it. Carrying your own cutlery! Such an easy and effortless way to reduce the use of disposable plastics and consequently minimize pollution. Yet, it […]

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Scientists Gene Edit Plants to Be Better at Capturing Carbon

Matias Prieto — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 19:33:28 +0000

It’s not enough for humans to pump less carbon into the atmosphere. To address climate change, many experts say we’re going to need to find a way to remove some of the emissions already polluting our air. While some scientists are focusing on mechanical solutions to carbon capture, researchers at the Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants […]

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New Tesla Roadster to Feature Cold Air Thrusters, Could Even Fly

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:08:33 +0000

Tesla’s new Roadster has been postponed more than once in recent history, but as we know him, Elon Musk let the cat out of the bag and tweeted about a “hover test” that Tesla will be doing late next year. A hovering Tesla, maybe? Or just a joke? Now, when he’s saying that the new […]

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Sydney Is in a State of Emergency to Fight Climate Change

Matias Prieto — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 20:30:58 +0000

On Monday, the city council of Sydney, Australia, unanimously voted to enter a state of emergency over the looming threat posed by climate change. The decision — which makes Sydney the first major city in Australia to declare a climate emergency, but nearly the 660th to do so worldwide — mobilizes the entirety of the […]

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New York is Building a Wall to Hold Back the Ocean

Matias Prieto — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 14:50:30 +0000

When Superstorm Sandy slammed into the East Coast in 2012, New York City was devastated. Winds blew in at 80 mph, and storm surges pushed the ocean more than 9 feet above normal levels in Staten Island. Homes were leveled, subways flooded, and coastlines destroyed; 2 million people were left without power. Of the 43 […]

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3 Easy Ways to Prevent Food Wastage

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:46:25 +0000

When we’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint, it’s natural to focus on the obvious. Cars, plastic, coal, and cattle farming are all among some of the most potent threats to the Earth. Which is why so much attention is paid to recycling, the banning of single use plastics, electric cars, and plant-based diets. However, […]

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The Untold Impact of Airplanes on Climate

Mila Luleva — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:10:50 +0000

The damage that air traffic causes to the environment goes way beyond carbon dioxide emissions. When we talk about airplanes and their influence on climate and the environment, the first thing that comes to our mind is greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in particular. It probably has something to do with the campaign of airline […]

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Electric Mini Hardtop Officially Revealed in July

Mila Luleva — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 06:09:56 +0000

Great news for the green fans of what is arguably the coolest-looking car around (personal opinion, no judgement). Mini joins the electric vehicle gang very soon. The car makers are about to unveil the electric version of the Mini Hardtop on the 9th of July. It will be the first of the 12 different EV’s […]

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Major Heatwave Breaks Records Over Northern and Western Europe

Mila Luleva — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:04:24 +0000

Unprecedented heatwaves across Western and Northern Europe are making history. Or are they? Perhaps this is just the start. Expats in the Netherlands often repeat the saying “I love summer in the Netherlands. It is my favorite day of the year”. However, in the last few years this slightly sarcastic joke has started to become […]

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Ancient Irrigation Systems Could Help Peru on Water Security

Matias Prieto — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:29:22 +0000

Between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains, Peru’s coastal region relies on surface water from the Andes for drinking water, industry and animal and crop farming. This region, which includes the 12 million residents of Lima is often overwhelmed with rain in the wet season. However, by the time the dry season comes, water […]

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The global transition to clean energy – explained in 12 charts

Matias Prieto — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 06:06:59 +0000

A report released by Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) goes into that question in considerable detail. The Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) digs into the growth rates of various energy sources, the flows of clean energy investment, and the world’s progress on its sustainability goals. But first, we are still moving […]

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New York on Most Ambitious Carbon Reduction Plan

Matias Prieto — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 06:06:21 +0000

New York state lawmakers passed one of the world’s most ambitious laws aimed at countering climate change, under which fossil fuel power plants and gasoline cars will be phased out by 2050. The new law, known as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, is emblematic of a growing movement among the American left toward […]

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World’s First Rehabilitation Center for Dolphins Opening in Greece

Effie P — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 06:57:17 +0000

Delphinariums and dolphin shows have been popular attractions around the world. However, increasing concerns have been voiced related to the well-being of dolphins which live in captivity. Dolphins are trained under conditions of constant food deprivation. They undergo invasive operations as tubing, they often develop depression or self-aggressive behaviour, and they suffer poor health and […]

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Energy Dept: Geothermal Power Has “Enormous Untapped Potential”

Matias Prieto — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:19:15 +0000

A new report by the U.S. Department of Energy identifies geothermal energy — in which heat from beneath the Earth’s surface is used to generate electricity — as an underdeveloped source of power. The report, titled GeoVision, found that there’s “enormous untapped potential for geothermal” electricity. It outlines how America’s geothermal energy production could increase 26 […]

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How To Go Green in Amsterdam! Fancy a Weed-Picking Date?

Mila Luleva — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 20:46:59 +0000

If you visited Amsterdam in the last couple of years, you were most likely (89% to be exact) one of these two types of tourists. The first type is the tourist, who went there with one, maximum two ideas in mind (of course one of them is to see the canals, what did you think?). […]

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Ecuador Amazon Tribe Win First Victory Against Oil Companies

Matias Prieto — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 20:41:58 +0000

Ecuador’s Waorani indigenous tribe won their first victory against big oil companies in a ruling that blocks the companies’ entry onto ancestral Amazonian lands for oil exploration activities. After two weeks of deliberations, a criminal court in Puyo, central Ecuador, accepted a Waorani bid for court protection in Pastaza province to stop an oil bidding process after […]

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Electric Cars Alone Not Enough to Save Us, Study Claims

Matias Prieto — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 20:33:47 +0000

A team of scientists has written to the Committee of Climate Change warning that if the UK’s 31.5 million cars are replaced by electric vehicles by 2050, as is currently planned by the Government, this will require almost twice the current annual global supply of cobalt. Moreover, as we have already reported, a shortage of this […]

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GMO Wheat Escapes Lab, Grows in the Wild

Matias Prieto — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 13:19:46 +0000

It’s not the first time. In the late-1990s, agriculture company Monsanto began developing wheat genetically modified to resist the company’s Roundup weed killer. Monsanto ended the project in 2004, and to this day, no one is allowed to sell genetically modified wheat in the United States. But on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the […]

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Canada Announces Ban on Single-Use Plastics

Matias Prieto — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 19:26:46 +0000

The Canadian government has announced it will ban single-use plastics as soon as 2021. According to the CBC‘s government source, things like straws, drink stirrers, plates, cutlery and balloon sticks are on the lengthy list of items that will be banned — though the government has given itself more time to examine evidence to identify […]

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IBM Researchers Develop Radical New Recycling Process for Old Plastic

Matias Prieto — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 05:14:24 +0000

Currently, more than 272 million metric tons of plastic are produced each year around the globe, with one-quarter of that made up of PET. To help to solve this big problem, IBM researchers have created a new technology called VolCat, a catalytic chemical process that can turn PET, a type of plastic commonly used in food […]

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AI for Earth: Helping save the planet with data science

Matias Prieto — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 11:43:07 +0000

One of the last things Stephen Hawking told us was that the creation of powerful artificial intelligence will be “either the best or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity” We are not there (yet), but we already live our day to day lives with little crazy algorithms that make our life easier and […]

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Robert Downey Jr. Wants to Clean Up Earth With Robots and AI

Matias Prieto — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 11:42:34 +0000

After saving the earth a few times on the big screen, Robert is now taking real action. “Iron Man” spoke at this year’s re:MARS conference in Las Vegas — an event hosted by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos — about how robotics, AI, and other advanced technologies could be the solution for reversing humanity’s destructive carbon […]

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Hungary to Build $1 Billion Green-Powered Town From Scratch

Matias Prieto — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 11:42:08 +0000

Hungary is planning to create a green-powered town with jobs and housing for thousands on a barren strip of Danube flood plain. German property investment company FAKT invested $1.1 billion in the 1.27 square mile horticultural and infrastructure project that could create 5,000 permanent jobs. The carbon-neutral town will draw mainly on solar and […]

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Flying Car Reaches 400 Miles of Range

Matias Prieto — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 20:04:40 +0000

Massachusetts startup Alaka’i has designed a flying car that the company touts as the “first air mobility vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells”. On their promotion video, they announced that this flying car has ten times the power of conventional lithium batteries without compromising on carbon emissions. The hydrogen fuel cells give the five-passenger Skai a maximum […]

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Rise in Methane Emissions Threatens Paris Agreements

Mila Luleva — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:01:21 +0000

The levels of methane in the atmosphere are rising with rapid and unexpected rates. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases that contribute greatly to changes in climate. Although the gas has much shorter life-span than carbon dioxide, methane is much more powerful when it comes to damaging the ozone layer. According to the latest […]

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12 Ways to Improve Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

Matias Prieto — Fri, 31 May 2019 07:18:20 +0000

Summer vacations, even day-to-day commutes and other travels, can become costly pretty quick. Between hotel expenses, food, gasoline, entertainment expenditures and souvenirs, taking out a significant loan to cover your planned adventures may not be out of the question. Fortunately, simple actions can be taken to reduce these costs. One of those actions involves improving your fuel […]

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Coffee to Boost Solar Cell Performance

Effie P — Thu, 23 May 2019 19:53:27 +0000

You’re a graduate engineer. You’ve been working on perovskite solar panels. Perovskite describes a class of crystalline compounds which are easy and cheap to make, and as a result they are promising candidate materials to form light-harvesting layers on solar panels. However, if the crystals are exposed to atmospheric humidity and oxygen, they degrade rapidly. […]

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ESA Living Planet Symposium: Tackling Food Security from Space

Mila Luleva — Thu, 23 May 2019 18:27:17 +0000

From monitoring air quality, through coastal zones and biodiversity, climate and weather patterns, all the way to soils and food security- satellites can see it all. Last week in Milan, Italy, the European Space Agency (ESA) held the Living Planet Scientific Symposium. Scientists, researchers and environmental professionals from around the globe, gathered to share their […]

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New Invention Can Harvest Battery Material from the Ocean

Matias Prieto — Sun, 19 May 2019 05:16:22 +0000

Most batteries we use nowadays are based on cobalt. Tons of this mineral comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, often from the bare hands of children. These batteries are often powered by other unethical practices. Moreover, the predicted dominance of electric vehicles and the need for grid-scale energy storage have heightened concerns that cobalt, […]

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How to save the high seas

Matias Prieto — Thu, 16 May 2019 20:12:11 +0000

“Never has it been more important to understand how the natural world works, and how to help it “, famed nature documentarian David Attenborough says in Our Planet, the Netflix nature series that premiered April 5. It was produced in association with the international wildlife conservation nonprofit WWF. On this short clip, we can clearly […]

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How to Beat the Agony of a Dying Phone Battery

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 14 May 2019 10:10:58 +0000

Phones and tablets are our main computers these days. We rely on them. Manufacturers limit the device’s performance once battery capacity has dropped below a certain threshold. And most of the time, people don’t realize that. Batteries are usually overlooked when we buy a new phone or tablet. They’re seen as the “fuel tank” that […]

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20 free and cheap ways to improve energy efficiency at home

Matias Prieto — Mon, 13 May 2019 16:18:31 +0000

A simple attitude towards improving your home energy efficiency is to start with simple and cheap actions. Believe it or not, simple solutions might generate a big impact on your water or energy bill. So with the money saved, you can go on working on more ambitious projects. First, gather all your gas and electric […]

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From The Netherlands to Australia in an Electric Car

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 11 May 2019 05:40:16 +0000

A Dutchman proves that it is possible to travel the world in an electric vehicle. No more excuses. When talking about electric vehicles there are a number of cliche phrases that always pop up. Some of my favorites include “The mileage on a single charge is not good enough for me”, “the battery technology is […]

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Criminal Court in Ecuador Halts Oil Exploration in Indigenous Amazonian Lands

Effie P — Tue, 07 May 2019 05:24:08 +0000

The indigenous tribe of Waorani, in the province of Pastaza in Ecuador, received court protection against oil exploration planned to take place in 180.000 hectares of ancestral Amazonian lands. The lands are protected by the constitution, even though subsurface resources are legally owned by the state. However, the court ruled that the consultation between the […]

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Forecast: Coal-based energy production rapidly outpaced by renewables in the US

Effie P — Mon, 06 May 2019 13:05:44 +0000

April and May set a symbolic milestone in the transition to renewable energy sources in the USA, as the projections of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEFFA) show that renewables are expected to have higher contribution than coal in total energy production. The US Energy Information Administration forecasts that all renewables will […]

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The Top 100 People Killing the Planet

Matias Prieto — Mon, 06 May 2019 12:55:01 +0000

A few days ago an interesting map was released by The Decolonial Atlas. The map shows the 100 companies (and their CEO names) responsible for more than 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The map is in the form of a cartogram which represents the size of countries by their cumulative carbon dioxide emissions […]

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New Solar Panels Produce Electricity Under Snow

Matias Prieto — Mon, 06 May 2019 12:51:02 +0000

Harvesting solar energy can be a tough job for panels if they are buried under blankets of snow. That is why a team from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) has developed a new device that can produce electricity from snow itself. The device is a snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator or “Snow TENG”. As the […]

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Adidas Reveals 100% Recyclable Running Shoes That Live Forever

Mila Luleva — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 07:26:55 +0000

Adidas’ latest invention is recyclable running shoes, which have infinite number of lives. Once the owner no longer wants to use them, he can send them back to Adidas. In their recycling station, the company then gives the shoes another life. I am a true running addict, who is also a dedicated nature lover and […]

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Architects Dream Rebuilding Notre Dame as an Ecological Greenhouse

Matias Prieto — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 06:58:18 +0000

A group of French architects presented a green project for the cathedral restoration. They plan to add plants, trees and even an apiary on the main spire. Studio NAB proposed to rebuild Notre Dame’s roof as a big public greenhouse. Their proposal intends to seize the intended restructuring as an opportunity to create a place […]

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Human Composting May Become Legal in Washington

Matias Prieto — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 06:55:09 +0000

“Natural Organic Reduction” is the name Washington has used to refer to what we can understand as composting human remains. Last Friday the state Senate and House of Representatives finalized their approval of bill 5001 (titled “concerning human remains”), which enshrines “organic reduction” and alkaline hydrolysis, a dissolving process sometimes called “liquid cremation,” as acceptable […]

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We Finally Found Out Why Earth’s North Rotational Pole Moves

Mila Luleva — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:32:46 +0000

Back in year 2000, scientists noted that the North rotational pole of the Earth is shifting. The phenomenon has been studied extensively since then. Unfortunately, the underlying evidence has never been strong enough to determine the reason behind this. Climate change causes the shift of our planet’s rotational pole. Two decades of solid research have […]

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Newly Discovered Bacteria Make Plastics Rot Much Faster

Matias Prieto — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 21:13:11 +0000

Around 5 to 10 years from now a tiny organism with an unusual appetite made a home in an industrial site near a bottle-recycling plant in Sakai, Japan. Soil and water were contaminated with polyethene terephthalate, also known as PET. This is one of the most common plastics in the world, used to make from […]

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It Rains Microplastics in Southern France

Effie P — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 04:26:26 +0000

It’s easy to talk about pollution that’s far away. It doesn’t concern us–it’s deep in the oceans, in poor underdeveloped countries, with people who are different and maybe indifferent. And it’s also easy to export our garbage to them, because after all, it’s only fair, we pay them something for it (if needed) and we […]

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Zero Mass Water’s Solar Panels Pull Clean Drinking Water Out of Thin Air

Matias Prieto — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:31:35 +0000

Around the world, approximately 2.1 billion people do not have immediate access to clean drinking water. A startup called Zero Mass Water aims to make clean water easily accessible to more people around the world. In 2015, it launched its first product, Source — a solar panel array that harvests and filters water from vapour in the air. The […]

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Puerto Rico will stop burning coal next year

Matias Prieto — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 18:44:54 +0000

Puerto Rico has a plan in motion to shut down its coal-burning power plants by next year. After going through an energy crisis, Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Roselló signed the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act, which claims the island will be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2050. Not only this, but they […]

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Floating Bins Cleaning Up Marinas Worldwide

Effie P — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 19:36:16 +0000

“If we have rubbish bins on land, then why not in the water?” It was this simple question that led surfers Pete Ceglinski and Andrew Turton to leave their day jobs and design Seabin– a floating rubbish bin which can extract half a tonne of debris from the sea, including microplastics. The device moves up […]

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Norway Takes Firm Stance Against Arctic Oil Drilling

Effie P — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 07:12:32 +0000

The Lofoten islands are a rare refuge of wilderness in the Norwegian sea, above the Arctic circle. They are considered a natural wonder and are in the process of certification as a Sustainable Destination. However, oil prospecting led to estimates that between one and three billion barrels of oil could be drilled off the Archipelago, […]

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Indonesia Oil Spill Kills Five People

Effie P — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 07:09:37 +0000

A leak from an underwater pipeline of state-owned oil firm Pertamina, first reported on March 31st in Borneo, led the Indonesian government to declare a state of emergency for days. The spill spread out from Balikpapan bay covering an area of 130 square kilometres, while the attempts to contain the spill by burning it off […]

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Recycle Old Jeans to Make a Cool Laptop Bag

Matias Prieto — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 06:43:19 +0000

Sometimes you have to move your laptop and don’t have a comfortable and safe way of carrying it. This quick and simple guide will show you how you can make a bag for your computer using recycled old jeans. You will just need old jeans, scissors and thread and needle. That will be all! Let’s […]

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How to Make a Cooking Knife from Recycled Aluminum Foil

Matias Prieto — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:31:58 +0000

Believe it or not, with aluminium foil you can create a very sharp knife. You will need a few tools and some patience, but the final outcome is worth it. Albeit interesting, this is not a very green project if you don’t use recycled aluminum. However, the maker in this video probably didn’t think of […]

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Flying Homing Pigeons to Sample Urban Climates

Effie P — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 17:17:38 +0000

Homing pigeons are being bred and trained as messengers for centuries, due to their remarkable ability to navigate. As far back as in ancient Greece, they were used to announce events like the Olympic Games. More recently, homing pigeons delivered messages during World War I and II, known as “war pigeons” and saving lives. Their […]

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The Great Green Wall of the African Desert

Matias Prieto — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 06:17:29 +0000

“We’re growing a line of trees and plants that will bring life back to the land and transform people’s lives. We’re growing food for the millions who get hungry every day. We’re growing a reason to stay for the families forced to migrate to Europe, growing green jobs, giving real incomes and opportunities” The Great […]

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Finnish Company Boosts Battery Recycling to Over 80 Percent

Matias Prieto — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 15:02:49 +0000

Finnish recycling company Fortum has achieved the high recycling rate for electric vehicle (EV) batteries of 80 per cent with a low-CO2 hydrometallurgical recycling process. The number of EVs on the road will increase from 3 million to 125 million by 2030. Current battery manufacturing casts a shadow on the overall sustainability of electric vehicles. […]

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Paris Fights Smog with 800 All-Electric Buses

Mila Luleva — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 14:53:49 +0000

Paris will fight smog with a massive purchase of electric buses. The public transport network in Paris is about the receive a huge green boost. The local transport operator- RATP, promised the Parisians to clean the air they breathe. The company will purchase 800 electric buses, which will operate on some of the busiest lines. […]

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Elon Musk Tweet: Your Tesla Might Soon Make you Money if You Don’t Use It

Mila Luleva — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:17:49 +0000

Car-sharing program by Tesla might very soon give Uber and Lyft a good run for their money. Tesla Network is getting close to becoming very real. Elon Musk has been teasing his followers and customers for quite some time now. He has been dropping hints about his brand new car sharing program, but nothing has […]

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Tesla Model S and X to Get More Efficient Electric Motors

Matias Prieto — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:32:32 +0000

Tesla is upgrading the Model S/X electric motor with a more efficient permanent magnet reluctance system. This idea is based on the motor Tesla developed for Model 3. A “sales speed bump” for Tesla Financial report of the company Tesla for the first quarter of 2019 showed that the cars started to sell worse. In […]

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Clothes made of orange peel and pineapple

Effie P — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 17:25:19 +0000

If the words “Pinatex” and “Orange Fiber” remind you of cocktails or fruit salads, you may want to reconsider. Pinatex is a company that produces alternative textiles to substitute leather using pineapple leaves. Orange fiber similarly substitutes silk from orange peels, and BLOOM foam turns algae into foam for shoe soles. The companies are partnering […]

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European Parliament Bans Single-Use Plastic Items

Matias Prieto — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 05:11:00 +0000

The European Parliament has approved a law banning a wide-range of single-use plastic items, such as straws, cotton buds and cutlery, by 2021. The law, which was supported by 560 Members of the European Parliament against 35, stipulates that 10 single-use plastic items will be banned in order to curb ocean pollution. The Members also […]

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Remote Sensing and Spectroscopy in the race against deadly olive tree disease

Effie P — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 16:49:44 +0000

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium, considered by the European Commission as one of the most dangerous plant pathogens in the world. Native to the Americas, it was known for causing devastating infestations on vineyards and citrus trees. The bacterium is transported among trees by bugs which suck plant juices. Once the bacteria enter the tree, […]

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Hybrid Cathode Boosts Energy Density of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Mila Luleva — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:00:40 +0000

MIT researchers developed a technology that can give a major boost to lithium-sulfur batteries. Energy storage technology is still struggling to keep up with the advances in electronics, renewable energy generation, electric vehicles, and all gadgets that require wireless power or delay in power usage. Lithium-ion batteries are still the leaders in the industry, although […]

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How to Build the Greenhouse of the Future

Matias Prieto — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 16:36:02 +0000

Living in a sustainable way is one of our generation’s biggest challenges. Nowadays, most people living in major cities have to spend a lot of money on food with high levels of pesticides on their daily diets. Moreover, most of the electric systems are still powered by non-renewable energy sources. To generate an alternative to […]

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This Net is Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles

Matias Prieto — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:42:35 +0000

You can do a nice and colourfull net using just plastic bottles! This is just one of the many ways you can reuse plastic bottles. This simple guide will teach you how to do it What you will need 3 bottles of plastic of a different colour 5 packing ring 1 cutter blade without the […]

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Model Y Officially Joins Tesla Family

Mila Luleva — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:43:01 +0000

Tesla’s Model Y is the latest member of the family of supers. It is the second mass-market vehicle, which is long-range, affordable and aims to reach wider audience. During a massive event in Los Angeles earlier this month, the giant in electric vehicle manufacturing, Tesla, revealed their newest car. Tesla Model Y is here. Model […]

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The 5 Watts of Hydroponic Farming

Matias Prieto — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 11:51:18 +0000

In this article, we will analyse what is a hydroponic system, how does it work, when you should create your own hydroponic garden, who can do it and why to choose this system among traditional ones. What is Hydroponic Farming? It is a method for growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. […]

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How to Build a Free Energy Magnetic Motor

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 04:15:24 +0000

Many have tried building a free energy-producing magnetic motor. I am seeing a lot in my daily quest through alternative energy news, but what I have learned is that energy is not free, perpetual motion machines do not exist, everything is taken from somewhere and put elsewhere. Free energy from magnets respects the same rule. […]

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Scientists Fix the Process of Photosynthesis

Mila Luleva — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:10:26 +0000

Scientists discovered a way to fix one of nature’s biggest flaws. They improved the process of photosynthesis and demonstrated huge boost in biomass production. Did you know that nature’s biggest flaw is related to photosynthesis? One of the most crucial natural processes that could assist us in mitigating climate change, is failing. How? Well, apparently […]

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Bacteria that feed on pollutants to produce electricity

Effie P — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 19:52:14 +0000

Scientists of the Washington State University fished multiple communities of extremophile bacteria from the alkaline hot springs of the Heart Lake Geyser Basin area, in Yellowstone National Park. The bacteria, that thrive in environments with temperatures between 40-90 degrees Celsius, feed on pollutants and dump the electrons produced during the metabolic processes on metal surfaces-essentially, […]

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An App to Help Citizen-Based Environmental Monitoring

Effie P — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 19:51:15 +0000

It’s becoming more and more normal to live half your life in your phone, checking in and rating places. Ironically, this is an app that encourages you to “look, hear and breathe”: be present, and evaluate the quality of the environment around you. Don’t just rate what you buy, but also the quality of the […]

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Seaweed Straw Designed to Disappear

Matias Prieto — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 19:49:24 +0000

Plastic straws consumption is about 500 million units per day, in the United States. Most of them end up in oceans or landfills. After a single use, they will remain there for hundreds of years. As a response to this situation, more and more locations are starting to ban these straws. But rather than asking […]

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How to Keep Food Cool Without Electricity

Matias Prieto — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 20:43:53 +0000

Evaporative cooling was used as early as the Old Kingdom of Egypt, around 2500 B.C. As you can imagine, a clay pot cooler does not use electricity. It uses a porous clay pot (filled with wet sand) containing another smaller inner pot (which can be treated to prevent penetration by the liquid) within which the […]

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3D-Printed Mushroom Brained Robot Detects Harmful Gases

Matias Prieto — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:54:54 +0000

Life Guardian is a cyborg that integrates a 3D printed mechanical part and a living part: a mushroom. The biological part determines and modifies the robot behavior, so it is considered as its brain. It was created by two Argentinean electronic artists for the festival of Land Art Mongolia 2018. Their purpose was to […]

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Scientists Turn Atmospheric CO2 into Coal Flakes

Effie P — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:36:26 +0000

The need to transition to clean energy production free from fossil fuels, is becoming more and more pressing as climate change is impacting our chances of survival on the planet. At the same time research efforts are also invested in removing from the atmosphere the tonnes of CO2 that we have already released. Current practices, […]

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How to Build a DIY Evaporative Air Cooler in a Bucket

Matias Prieto — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:12:40 +0000

Have you ever notice how it’s often cooler near a lake on a hot summer day? Especially if there’s a slight breeze? It’s not just the breeze, you are feeling the air cooler because of the water evaporating. When evaporation occurs, water absorbs all the heat from the surroundings and take it with it. Cool […]

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Building This DIY Solar Air Heater Can Save You $1000 per Winter

Matias Prieto — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 17:37:24 +0000

The solar air heating collector is a quick and simple way to get started on alternative energy. Although is a quite simple array, it can make you save a lot of money on energy bills. Just basic thermodynamics, not moving parts, cheap and effective. How does it work? Thermosiphon Diagram – Hot/Cold Air Flow The […]

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Researchers Capture Carbon Dioxide and Turn it Back to Coal

Mila Luleva — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:35:50 +0000

Researchers discovered a way to turn carbon dioxide back into coal. Carbon capture as a mean for mitigation of climate change, is quite a hot topic. Discussions have covered all aspects of the technique- theory, practice, viability, implementation, impact. It even made it into the official IPCC reports as one of the most promising solutions […]

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Urban farming: growing vegetables on the rooftop of a car park

Effie P — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:45:47 +0000

Singapore is a small country in South-East Asia–practically a city state, where the urban centre dominates most of the island. Land is a scarce resource and agriculture is limited, contributing less than 1% of the country’s GDP. Understandably, the country has turned to technology to support its local production. A new 1800m2 rooftop farm has […]

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Solomon Islands’ Coral Ecosystems Threatened by Oil Spill and Extensive Flooding

Effie P — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 07:46:51 +0000

The world’s largest raised coral atoll, in Solomon islands, is faced with an ecological disaster since February 4th, when the ship MV Solomon Trader got wedged on a reef due to a cyclone on its way to collect a load of bauxite. The eastern half of Rennell Island is the first natural reserve to be […]

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China Bans Imported Recyclables from US, Now Cities Just Burn Them

Matias Prieto — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 06:23:41 +0000

Not so long ago, China processed 40 per cent of United States recyclables. However, in 2018 China decided to stop importing a lot of this garbage. This decision left U.S. cities with big mountains of recyclables to process. So now in many cases, they are just burning them. The case of Chester, Philadelphia In the […]

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Hydrogen’s Recent Ascension as Fuel for Future Electric Cars

Effie P — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 13:17:04 +0000

Fuel cells produce electrical energy directly from the chemical potential energy that is stored in H2 and O2 molecules. Using a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM), the unit needs only to be supplied with pressurized H2. Fuel cells are inherently more efficient and reliable than combustion engines, and their only by-product is water. These advantages make […]

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How to Encourage Others to Recycle (Nicely)

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 13:12:07 +0000

I can’t think of any good reasons not to recycle. It’s relatively easy, affordable, saves your city money, and it can make a huge difference in the world around us—plus, hey, it just feels good! So why not extend that pleasure to your family, friends, neighbors, and community? If you can make a huge difference […]

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