sustainabilityfacts

03/24/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:30:16 +0000

Have you seen petridish.org? It’s a new organization that crowdfunds for science projects. What I find fascinating with this organization is the access it gives the public to meet scientists and understand the research process. It’s also an alternative to laborious grant applications for projects that need minimal funding.

The founder Matt Salzberg who was a venture capitalist at Bessemer Venture Partners before founding Petridish says it ” is a new way for scientists to showcase their research to the public, and for the public to show recognition to innovative researchers. We hand select the most interesting and meaningful projects we find to be featured on our site and then allow you to get involved. “

Check it out: http://www.petridish.org/

03/8/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:03:27 +0000

Two young undocumented brothers were killed recently at the Recycling and Resource Recovery Center, a CA composting site near Bakersfield.

Why?

They inhaled hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas produced by sewage. The facility uses “discharged sewage water from an adjacent utility district to moisten its composting piles.”

A few facts

There are 97 composting facilities in the state of CA.
Since 2006, 4 have been cited for health and safety violations.
San Francisco produces 570 tons (1 ton = 2,000 pounds) of food waste every day

Source: KQED, http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/03/07/composting-industry/

03/5/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:20:11 +0000

I know I frequently post about renewable energy. It’s a hot topic, for good reason.

Yet another medium inspired by photo synthesis, but instead of using leaves it is purely chemical. Meet Michael Grätzel who invented a dye solar cell called Grätzel. What is crazy is that the technology behind this process was commercialized in 1994.

Why did it take so long to become popular? I don’t have the answer, but this spray could easily wipe out solar panel technology if it proves to be as powerful.

Seems we are approaching the next era, THE SOLAR CELL!

Source, Earth Techling article by Shifra Mincer: http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/solar-cell-paint-inventor-gets-moment-in-sun/

03/3/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:15:28 +0000

Carbon Free Coffee is the next wave of organic. Check out Grounds for Change who have partnered with Carbonfund.org “to offset 100% of the global warming emissions associated with our coffee.”

Bold move right!
P.S. Great gift idea — coffee of the month club.

Source, Discovery News, article by Tim Wall: http://news.discovery.com/earth/fair-trade-organic-coffee-120203.html

03/2/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Buy a plot of land
Find $86,500
Order a house from Ikea.com

Not quite your white picket fence, but yes, yes, it is true, Ikea has designed a prefab house with furniture and all.

Source: news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57389515-1/ikea-designs-$86500-prefab-house-instructions-included/

03/1/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:53:08 +0000

Power grids are about to get smart. Sandia Labs is developing a power management system that monitors and adapts to your use of electricity. How….you’ll need to read more here:

Source, Engadget article by James Trew: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/sandia-labs-smart-outlet/

More info at Sandia: https://share.sandia.gov/news/resources/news_releases/smart_outlet/

02/29/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:38:25 +0000

There is a protein called Moringa that has the potential to change the world. Why? It kills microbes in water. This protein in found in seeds on the Moringa oleifera aka the Miracle Tree. Currently about 1/7 of the world does not have access to potable water, the moringa would be an inexpensive solution.

The brilliant mind behind this discovery is Stephanie B. Velegol, Ph.D., a researcher at Pennsylvania State University.

Source: Gizmodo Article by Jaime Condliffe, http://gizmodo.com/5889315/the-miracle-tree-thats-making-dirty-water-drinkable

Original source/podcast

02/28/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:43:58 +0000

A new trash system is on the horizon.

Residents living on the forgotten piece of land between Manhattan and Queens, Roosevelt Island, don’t use the trash bags you and I use. Fun fact — trash bags were only invented in 1969. Since 1975 though, Roosevelt Island has been using a chute aka pneumatic system. The 12,000 residents produce get this 5.8 tons a day. 1 ton = 2,000 pounds, so each resident produces just under 1 pound of trash a day (remember NYC does not compost). The cost $2.3 million a year, or $191 per resident.

Could a more modernized pneumatic system be the future of more sustainable garbage? Benjamin Miller and Juliette Spertus think so.

Source: By Sarah Fecht for Popular Mechanic. See article here

02/24/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:47:03 +0000

Sleep, work, run and simultaneously power your iPhone? YES!

João Paulo Lammoglia has designed the AIRE Mask, inspired by wind power, which uses your breadth as renewable energy. Forget solar or kinetic energy.

Source:

Earth Techling article by Beth Buczynski, http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/wind-power-via-your-breath-powers-your-gadgets/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

02/23/2012

sustainabilityfacts — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:34:01 +0000

Your home should be an ecosystem. No joke and guess what it may be a reality in the near future. Designers at Philips are pushing the envelope and developing “a proposal for an integrated cyclical ecosystem where each function’s output is another’s input. ” The idea is that your waste would be your source of energy, they call it the Microbial Home.

Source: Philips, http://www.design.philips.com/about/design/designportfolio/design_futures/design_probes/projects/microbial_home/index.page