Many of China’s coal-fired power plants are equipped with air pollution scrubbers, but in some parts of the country they are seldom used. Scrubbers take energy to run which reduces total output and makes operating the equipment more expensive. The government often sends plant operators mixed messages that prioritize economic growth (which requires maximum power… Keep reading →
Natural gas use is growing throughout the world as new drilling techniques open up vast shale and other tight resources. The result is low-cost gas flooding the market. The environmental advantages of natural gas over other fossil fuels have put it in a favored position as emissions regulations continue to tighten around the world. But conventional… Keep reading →
Some of technology’s most elegant solutions come from emulating Mother Nature. One of the latest examples involves using the unique characteristics of milkweed fiber to engineer cost-effective absorbent tubes used for cleaning oil spills. And there’s an added environmental benefit from growing industrial milkweed crops – saving monarch butterflies. Milkweed has long been considered a… Keep reading →
In an article for the World Economic Forum blog, Leo Schlesinger – CEO of MASISA México – makes the argument for the concept of a regenerative ‘circular economy’. This concept would basically embed sustainability firmly within society and effectively restore much of the life-supporting biosphere for our generation and future generations as well. He advocates… Keep reading →
Pollution is one of the many environmental challenges facing the world today. The impact of pollution is more severe in developing countries, leading to ill health, death and disabilities of millions of people annually. Developed countries have the resources and technologies to combat pollution. As a result of the health risks and the potential impact… Keep reading →
The market for distributed renewable energy (DRE) is rapidly expanding all over the world. This is in large part due to the drop in manufacturing costs for solar and wind technology, along with increased policy incentives, and a high financial return on investment. The levelized cost of generation from wind and solar has significantly decreased… Keep reading →
A new ‘Zeitgeist’ is increasingly taking hold in growing pockets of society, politics and the business world. All indications point to one direction – towards the concept of ‘sustainability’ dominating human behavior and thinking in the twenty-first century. As the urbanization wave around the globe rolls on, megacities are increasingly becoming the epicenter of human… Keep reading →
As consumers become more educated about the need for sustainable living, many homeowners and homebuyers are prioritizing eco-friendly living in their home purchases and other home renovations. To meet public outcry for conservation, recyclability, and sustainability, those in the home improvement and construction industries are seeking solid alternatives that will adhere to even the… Keep reading →
While other economic segments struggled during the past decade’s downturn, green marketing grew, according to the 2013 Big Green Opportunity survey. The organic food market surged 238 percent, and the National Association of Home Builders projects green homebuilding to expand from $36 billion in 2013 to $85 to $105 billion by 2016. GM and Ford… Keep reading →
Green homes are not only trendy and in style, but they help keep Mother Earth feeling good. When it comes to being a green global citizen, there are always things you can do to improve your home and the environment, so here are a few things to get you and your house to be a… Keep reading →
