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Innovative map displays solar potential of individual buildings
When it comes to sustainability-focused design and business models, it probably takes a whole lot to impress the folks at Fast Company’s Co.Exist. Eduardo Berlin, an architect and designer from Cambridge, Massachusetts, has done just that. Berlin’s project, dubbed Mapdwell, plots “the solar potential of every individual roof in cities like Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, […]
Off-the-grid solar light production
Solar lights present an incredibly promising method for bringing electricity to areas of the world that are off the traditional electric grid. However, it’s not as simple as shipping solar panels and lights to remote and developing areas. For one thing, these communities need training and human capital in order to set up and maintain […]
Boston developing solar-powered benches
We don’t ask much of park benches—we just want a place to sit and rest and enjoy a nice day outside. But what if benches could provide more than a place to rest—a lot more? Cisco is funding the development and installation of “smart benches,” known as “soofas” throughout parks in the city of Boston. […]
5 tips for a greener Fourth of July barbecue
Fourth of July is all about family, friends, food, fireworks, and fun. Of course, it’s also about honoring the United States. And what better way to say “Happy Birthday” to the good ol’ U.S. of A. than to take good care of it with an eco-friendly Fourth of July celebration? After all, what good is […]
Is waste-free packaging possible?
Landfills are clogged with empty packaging — 140 billion pounds of it per year. (Yikes.) From bottled water to food to cleaning products and beyond, it seems like everything we touch comes from a package. Most of us probably don’t spend much time thinking about packaging unless the packing for a particular item uses an […]
Wasteful commercial fishing practices could damage ecosystems
You know the old saying, “There’s plenty of fish in the sea?” It’s usually intended as a cliché for discouraged daters, but when taken literally, it turns out to be less true than you might think. (We won’t weigh in on whether or not it’s true for daters.) Wasteful commercial fishing practices, including over-fishing and […]
This new Hyundai car has a very interesting fuel source
Imagine pulling into your local gas station and seeing the following fuel options: Unleaded, Unleaded Premium, Diesel, Poop. Er, what?! Please forgive the rather indelicate nature of this discussion, but it’s simply too fascinating to pass up. A new car manufactured by Hyundai has been designed to accept a fuel source that stems from human […]
Could tree houses provide a solution to urban sprawl?
What if ultra-modern tree houses were a way to mitigate the environmental impact of urban sprawl? Many of us grew up dreaming of spending time in a tree house — or actually whiling away hours in one if you were lucky enough. But we typically think of tree houses as simply child’s play. A Denmark-based […]
Building a better measure of energy efficiency
All energy expenditure is not created equal. At least, that’s what engineering consultancy Buro Happold says. The worldwide professional problem-solvers developed an innovative new way to evaluate a building’s energy efficiency. Their approach looks at how the energy is being used, not just how much energy is being used. This all started with a law […]
Trash is a surprising indicator of economic prosperity
If you’ve ever studied economics, you’ve looked at all kinds of leading and lagging indicators of an economy’s health. Perhaps you considered the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or the Current Employment Statistics (CES). Did you ever consider garbage? According to one recycling executive, measuring economic health is as simple as digging in the trash. Joseph […]
Cleaning up garbage truck emissions in New York City
The early morning rumble of garbage trucks is a signature sound of New York City. However, residents increasingly have a bone to pick with the garbage trucks — and it’s not about the noise pollution, it’s about the air pollution. The city owns 2,000 garbage trucks, and those trucks are being subjected to much stricter environmental […]
