Tag: Materials
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Molecular Switch for Cheaper Biofuel
Biofuel can be obtained quite easily from starchy plants – but this places fuel production in competition with food production. Manufacturing biofuel from lignocellulose is therefore a preferable option.
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Green Building Links Indigenous Americans to Past with Key to Future
In a recent article on Indian Country Today Media Network, journalist Nate Seltenrich covered the sustainable building initiatives of several Native American tribes who were the country’s “original green builders.” Through efforts to improve upon substandard housing and economic hardships, indigenous populations are returning to traditional methods of home construction while incorporating modern technologies. Contemporary…
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Microplastic Pollution Now Prevalent in Lakes
EPFL researchers have detected microplastic pollution in one of Western Europe’s largest lakes, Lake Geneva, in large enough quantities to raise concern. While studies in the ocean have shown that these small bits of plastic can be harmful to fish and birds that feed on plankton or other small waterborne organisms, the full extent of…
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Earthship Farmstead Receives Passive House Certification
Kaplan Thompson Architects were challenged by their clients to build a farmstead home in the mountains of Virginia that could not only meet standards for Passivhaus and LEED, but include a roof on which sheep could graze. The solution: Earthship Farmstead is a house that is nestled in the east-facing hillside with a floorplan that…
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Photovoltaics Evolution: Organic Polymers Show Sunny Promise
We get excited when we hear news of new discoveries pertaining to the evolution of solar technologies. A new version of solar cell has been created in the labs at Rice and Penn State. Read the press announcement below. Rice, Penn State labs lay groundwork for block copolymer solar cells A new version…