Thanks to nanoparticle “inks” you’ll soon be able to print off solar panels just like you would newspaper. And if that’s not futuristic enough for you, why not paint your roof in nanoparticle paint?
These products will apparently work as well as any other kind of solar cell to absorb electricity-producing sunlight and will cost only a tenth of what current solar panels cost.
Shown recently in an issue of Journal of the American Chemical Society, the inks must be printed on plastic substrate or stainless steel.
“You’d have to paint the light-absorbing material and a few other layers as well,” Korgel said. “This is one step in the direction towards paintable solar cells.”
The green socioverse has recently coined a new term — ‘precycling’ — but what does it really mean? Pre-recycling, right? Like… using a product? Before… cycling? The sci-fi mind in me goes into questions involving recycling, time and space, and DeLoreans.
But I’m crazy.
The real meaning behind precycling is much more forward thinking — towards waste reduction and making packaging that’s easier to recycle when the time comes. Precycling!
How can we precycle? Purchase products in bulk to reduce packaging, re-filling water bottles, re-using coffee containers to store things, etc.), canvas shopping bags, online flyers and catalogues instead of paper ones — say no to junk mail!
This is definitely something I would have up in my home. In fact, I’m considering the possibility right now while staring distainfully at my current crappy-plastic/glass and wood 1970’s era chandelier.
What a genius idea for recycling old wine bottles! And believe it or not, this one right here is from Pottery Barn.
I think that personally I’d prefer one solid colour — ie. all green bottles — but I bet you could find some really cool coloured bottles out there. Though, you’d have to drink all the wine before you could hang up the bottles. But that’s nothing that a big wine and cheese party at your house couldn’t solve, right?
I was really surprised to find out that they really are all the rage.
When I think of Miami, I think of 5-star resorts, yachts, beaches with scantily clad men and women, and fake tans. I definitely don’t think of Miami as a hugely environmentally concious place, but maybe that’s me believing in stereotypes.
Apparently zen lifestyles are all the rage – and that includes being kind to each other, 100% natural products, organic foods and materials, and cruelty-free products. Spas like Uhma Spa, Emena, or Mandarin Oriental Miami are all eco-chic urban santuaries.
Mandarin Oriental Miami’s spa plant a tree in the nearby Everglades National Park for every single time that they perform an “Herbal Thai Compress Ritual” on a client. What a great idea!
Up in Northern Ontario here, it’s quite cold today so I’m going to make one of my most grandparent-impressing soups. I don’t know about your grandparents, but mine are all about root vegetables.
This warming and tangy soup has a really pretty muted-orange glow, and has just a touch of spice. I’m a big fan of lively soup! Be sure to try this recipe with organic carrots, potatoes, onions and celery, as their flavor is so much better than those grown on industrial farms.
Organic root vegetables like these are considered seasonal no matter where you live, and are found easily in health food stores and plenty of grocery stores, too. Choosing organic oranges is especially important when you make an orange zest, so as not to ingest the surface pesticides found on industrially-grown orange skin. Nothing good about pesticide soup, folks!
I spend a good portion of my work day monitoring Twitter for trends and conversations and virtually shaking hands with companies from all over the world — it’s a great way to share ideas and learn new things. Well recently, I’ve noticed a new green trend: broadcasting energy consumption on Twitter.
The University of Mississippi is about to jump on this bandwagon with Facebook and Twitter updates detailing several of its main buildings’ energy use. The purpose? To alter behaviour to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions. Included in the details will be consumption from lighting, temperature controls, and appliances. All this will be done with the help of a smart grid company called SmartSynch. Neat! Good for them to be so open and public (and accountable) for that kind of information.
I’d love to see this become a very popular trend.
Speaking of Twitter, are you following me? I don’t know why you wouldn’t. It’s the cool thing to do, of course. And for those of you who’d like a feed of the site, follow the site’s feed here!
When I was a kid I remember reading Charlotte’s Web and daydreaming about owning a ‘magnificent’ pet pig. But did I buy my parents for one? Certainly not. That being said, I definitely don’t understand this current trend, but I’ve also – admittedly – not seen/read any of the Harry Potter series.
Apparently kids and parents alike — Harry Potter fans of all varieties are buying up Snowy Owls to be like the main character. So much so, apparently, that an animal santuary in Isle of Wight in the U.K. has just opened up for the sole purpose of housing abandoned, unwanted owls.
People just don’t realize how difficult it can be to take care of an owl.
Animal expert and founder of Newport Owl and Monkey Sanctuary says:
“They might look great in the Harry Potter films, but it takes years to train them. Children read the books and see the films and say to their mums and dads they want one and parents don’t realise how much care it takes to look after them.”
Sure, I don’t know how practical it is to live in such a teeny tiny cramped space — but it’s awfully neat!
This man pulls his home behind his bicycle. Might I add that this home is not only portable, it’s powered by solar and wind energy and can stand winds of 60mph and temperatures as high as 100 degrees farenheit!
I personally love the nomadic lifestyle — and with your house attached to the back of your bicycle, you could live anywhere that your bicycle can take you! And all without emitting a single gram of carbon into the atmosphere. Fantastic.
I’ve recently been quite curious about how global warming is affecting the rest of the world. I know that in Ottawa, we’ve had some pretty odd weather these past few years. This year was full of extremes: Extreme rain, extreme heat, extreme humidity… Certainly a noticable difference in weather patterns as time goes on. I’m no meterologist, but I definitely notice when Chicago has it’s coolest July 8th in 118 years, North Dakota has it’s first snowfall in June in 60 years, a summer of record low temperatures right here in Canada, and a likely-to-be-accurate prediction of a green Christmas.
Well, here’s a video featuring some Greenlanders talking about how they’ve been affected by climate change this year. Some of what they say is sadly what I’ve come to expect but some affects are quite surprising to me.
Have something to add? Let me know in the comments!
Yesterday was spent traveling (for many, many hours) from here to here — to visit my grandparents and other members of my dad’s side of the family in Haileybury, Ontario. Let me tell you, the scenery here is breathtaking.
Today I’m going hiking at Devil’s Rock Trail (see photo). Devil’s Rock is a granite escarpment dated to be 2,200 million years old! It’s face is 600 feet, rising 300 feet above Lake Temiskaming.
Apparently this beautiful cliff has some terrible scars from the early 20th century when minning tunnels were blasted into the sides of the cliff during the silver rush era. Since then the rock has been preserved as a historical landmark and is a popular site for tourists, rock climbers, and… Hardy Boys enthusiasts!
Though it’s not an especially eco point of interest, I’d definitely say it’s a point of interest: Leslie McFarlane, who was a Canadian journalist and ghostwriter for many of the Hardy Boys books under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon — was born and raised in this small town. The Devil’s Rock is featured in many of the Hardy Boys books. Maybe that’s what it takes to keep this beautiful landmark standing.
I’ll report back later with some on-the-spot pictures of the Devil’s Rock and its plant and wildlife from up close and personal!
Anyone willing to tweet to me about the progression of the line up for E6 later tonight? I live like two blocks away but want to pre-beer.
about 15 hours ago
from HootSuite
Now I'm going to bus back to my apartment in jogging pants, no makeup, and a baseball cap to hide my messy hair. Pretend you don't see me.
about 16 hours ago
from HootSuite
Thanks to nanoparticle “inks” you’ll soon be able to print off solar panels just like you would newspaper. And if that’s not futuristic enough for you, why not paint your roof in nanoparticle paint?
The green socioverse has recently coined a new term — ‘precycling’ — but what does it really mean? Pre-recycling, right? Like… using a product? Before… cycling? The sci-fi mind in me goes into questions involving recycling, time and space, and 
This is definitely something I would have up in my home. In fact, I’m considering the possibility right now while staring distainfully at my current crappy-plastic/glass and wood 1970’s era chandelier.
I was really surprised to find out that they really are all the rage.
Up in Northern 
I spend a good portion of my 
When I was a 
Sure, I don’t know how practical it is to live in such a teeny tiny cramped space — but it’s awfully neat!
Well, folks, I’m on vacation!
