Numerous propositions are on the California ballot this year, but perhaps the one that’s garnered the most attention is Proposition 39. This is with good reason, as it’s rare to have a tax that will gather 1 billion dollars annually from nothing but large corporations, let alone ones that vow to apply 550 million of … [Read more…]
Fast Fungi Bricks: Mushroom Blocks Better than Concrete?! Most people pay attention to the part of the mushroom we see (and sometimes even eat) that grows above the ground – but what about the latticework of tendrils that intertwine inside the dirt from which they grow? EarthTalk: Climate Change and Extreme Weather Extreme weather does … [Read more…]
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive laps Ascari A philosophical question from your automotive enthusiast future: does a supercar need to make noise in order to be a supercar? The easy answer might be no. If they’re more powerful, do everything faster, attract the opposite sex, cost a gang of money and look better in orange … [Read more…]
OnStar EcoHub app tracks price of electricity used to charge Chevy Volt The climbing price placards being hung at the neighborhood gas station aren’t making too many people happy. Now, drivers of some Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicles are getting their own version of those signs, and it’s likely they’re actually happy about it, by … [Read more…]
Democrats, Independents Begin Driving the Climate Wedge A recent Yale study revealed that 8 out of 10 undecided likely voters believe in climate change; and 62% say that a candidate’s position on the topic could influence their vote. As such, there’s a pretty compelling reason for candidates hoping to appeal to moderate Democratic and independent … [Read more…]
Repair Still Rules in India. Can America Bring It Back? In Kottayam, a spice trading city in the southwest state of Kerala, India, summer means rain—and lots of it, averaging 2.7 meters of the wet stuff each year. From June through September, monsoon waters cool down sweaty bicyclists, and the winds wreak havoc on foot … [Read more…]
Mecca to Become First Solar City in Saudi Arabia Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad, and Islam’s holiest city, has plans to become the first city in Saudi Arabia to run completely on solar power. Warren Buffet Buys Two Wind Farms A subsidiary of Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway just bought up two giant California wind farms. So … [Read more…]
French Student Team Rhône-Alpes Wins the 2012 Solar Decathlon Europe With Canopea House! Big news out of Madrid, Spain: French university Team Rhône-Alpes has won the 2012 European Solar Decathlon with their stunning solar Canopea House! Leading the Solar Decathlon competition since winning the Architecture and Operations prizes, this compact home is topped with a … [Read more…]
The DIY Aquaponics System: 6 Plans for Bringing Fish and Plants Together to Grow Food Aquaponics is one of those concepts that I’ve known of peripherally for years, but didn’t really give much thought to until I came across plans for The Plant in Chicago. Putting fish and plants together in a closed loop (that’s … [Read more…]
Amazon Starts Eco-Friendly Shopping Site Amazon is starting a new shopping site called vine.com that will sell green products that meet standards for environmental-friendliness within any or more of these categories: they must be designed to remove toxins, energy-efficient, natural, organic, powered by renewable energy, reusable, made of sustainable materials or water-efficient. The First Passive … [Read more…]