Tag Archives: solar

A farm bill just for urban agriculture?

by TheodorP64 Posted on September 27, 2016

Yes, if Sen. Debbie Stabenow has her way. The Michigan Democrat announced The Urban Agriculture Act in Detroit on Monday.

The Department of Agriculture already offers support for city farmers, but this bill would add to those grants, loans, and education programs. It would also provide $10 million for urban ag research, $5 million for community gardens, incentives for farmers to provision neighbors with fresh food, and resources for composting and cleaning up contaminated soil.

So far Stabenow hasn’t released much more than a list of bullet points. The road from proposing a bill and passing a law is long, and details could change, which means there’s not much to analyze. But in general, urban ag is a mixed bag of policy greens.

Urban farms can build community, teach people about farming, and provide extra cash to laborers in cities, but they don’t create many good-paying jobs. If we farm vacant lots, rooftops, and former lawns, that’s likely a win for the environment. But if farms displace housing and spread cities out, that’s a loss. Similarly, if we replace plants grown under the sun with plants grown indoors under artificial lights, that’s no good for the climate.

For more on urban farms see our previous work, and this Next City analysis.

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A farm bill just for urban agriculture?

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India will jump on the bandwagon for global climate action.

by NellCarrillo Posted on September 26, 2016

Myron Ebell, a director at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, would head Trump’s EPA transition team, E&E Daily reports. Ebell also chairs the Cooler Heads Coalition, a pro-business group focused on pushing climate denial.

While Ebell generally maintains that climate change is a hoax, he’s also argued that if it does exist, it’s actually a good thing. “Life in many places would become more pleasant,” he wrote in 2006. “Instead of 20 below zero in January in Saskatoon, it might be only 10 below. And I don’t think too many people would complain if winters in Minneapolis became more like winters in Kansas City.” He has less to say about the summers in Minneapolis, which, if current emissions trends continue, will feel like summers in Mesquite, Texas, by 2100.

Ebell’s waffling is in-line with the candidate’s, who seems to have spontaneously changed his mind about climate change during the first presidential debate. When accused by Hillary Clinton of calling climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Trump flat-out denied it, despite a notorious tweet saying just that.

Ebell joins energy lobbyist Mike McKenna, George W. Bush’s former Interior Department solicitor David Bernhardt, and oil tycoon Harold Hamm on Trump’s team.

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India will jump on the bandwagon for global climate action.

Posted in alo, Anchor, FF, Gandhi, GE, LAI, ONA, Oster, Ringer, solar, solar power, Uncategorized, wind power | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on India will jump on the bandwagon for global climate action.

Cyclists and walkers are building their own bike lanes and crosswalks.

by MadisonIliff Posted on September 21, 2016

This weekend, Máxima Acuña, winner of the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize, was assaulted on her property in Peru. Since 2011, Acuña has resisted the development of the Conga gold mine by U.S.-based Newmont Mining by refusing to vacate her home — and, for that, has faced both legal prosecution and physical intimidation.

As a result of the attack, allegedly perpetrated by agents of Minera Yanacocha (Newmont’s Peruvian subsidiary), Acuña is now in the hospital and her family’s crops are destroyed, according to Amnesty International.

Nor, tragically, is this attack an isolated instance of violence against indigenous women protecting their land. Earlier this year, Berta Cáceres — winner of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts in blocking hydroelectric developments on Lenca land in Honduras — was murdered at home, allegedly by employees of DESA, the developer behind the proposed dams.

When we spoke to Acuña in April, she told us, with eerie foresight: “Because these businesses are very powerful, I don’t know what awaits me when I get back [home]. But this isn’t a cause of fear for me – it’s not a motive for us to stop fighting, to stop defending.”

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Cyclists and walkers are building their own bike lanes and crosswalks.

Posted in alo, Anchor, Everyone, FF, G & F, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, Ringer, solar, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cyclists and walkers are building their own bike lanes and crosswalks.

The federal government is investigating ExxonMobil’s accounting related to climate change.

by AltonMast09011 Posted on September 21, 2016

This weekend, Máxima Acuña, winner of the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize, was assaulted on her property in Peru. Since 2011, Acuña has resisted the development of the Conga gold mine by U.S.-based Newmont Mining by refusing to vacate her home — and, for that, has faced both legal prosecution and physical intimidation.

As a result of the attack, allegedly perpetrated by agents of Minera Yanacocha (Newmont’s Peruvian subsidiary), Acuña is now in the hospital and her family’s crops are destroyed, according to Amnesty International.

Nor, tragically, is this attack an isolated instance of violence against indigenous women protecting their land. Earlier this year, Berta Cáceres — winner of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts in blocking hydroelectric developments on Lenca land in Honduras — was murdered at home, allegedly by employees of DESA, the developer behind the proposed dams.

When we spoke to Acuña in April, she told us, with eerie foresight: “Because these businesses are very powerful, I don’t know what awaits me when I get back [home]. But this isn’t a cause of fear for me – it’s not a motive for us to stop fighting, to stop defending.”

Link – 

The federal government is investigating ExxonMobil’s accounting related to climate change.

Posted in alo, Anchor, Everyone, FF, G & F, GE, InsideClimate News, LAI, ONA, Ringer, solar, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The federal government is investigating ExxonMobil’s accounting related to climate change.

Let’s all give a small, slightly restrained cheer for Costa Rica.

by ZJTFloyd130 Posted on September 7, 2016

The state’s last record-setting earthquake was in 2011, when it topped 5.6 magnitude. A new one on Saturday matched that record.

As fracking has boomed in the U.S., the number of earthquakes across the nation tripled from 2009 to 2015.

At 3.0 magnitude, you probably wouldn’t even notice a tremor. Approaching 6.0, you can definitely feel it — and the risk for injury starts getting more serious.

But frequency is more troubling than strength. For naturally occurring seismic activity, geologists link recurring smaller quakes to bigger, more destructive quakes to come. Oklahoma’s tremors, however are not normal: The majority are linked to wastewater injection from oil and gas operations.

The U.S. Geological Survey hasn’t determined yet whether that’s what caused Saturday’s jitters, but said: “We do know that many earthquakes in Oklahoma have been triggered by wastewater fluid injection.”

Last month, the Washington Post reported that Oklahoma and Kansas showed progress in strengthening regulations of wastewater injection. Oklahoma, which has been slower to adopt the new rules, experienced slightly fewer minor quakes in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year.

Oklahoma regulators were concerned enough to immediately order 37 wastewater disposal wells to shut down on Saturday.

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Let’s all give a small, slightly restrained cheer for Costa Rica.

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Morocco will create 600 environmentally friendly mosques by 2019.

by AuroraSrdkzbke Posted on September 7, 2016

Australian architect James Gardiner wants to use 3D-printing technology to build structures for coral to grow on in places where reefs are decimated by disease, pollution, dredging, and other maladies (looking at you, crown o’ thorns).

Right now, artificial reefs are built out of uniform, blocky assemblages of concrete or steel. Those are cheap and easy to make, but don’t look or work like the real thing — for starters, because “the marine life that colonizes these reef surfaces can sometimes fall off,” one biologist told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gardiner worked with David Lennon of Reef Design Lab to design new shapes with textured surfaces and built-in tunnels and shelters. The computer models are turned into wax molds with the world’s largest 3D printer, and then cast with, essentially, sand. It’s a cheap and low-carbon way to manufacture custom, modular pieces of reef.

Reef Design Lab installed the first 3D-printed reef in Bahrain in 2012 — and, eight months later, it was covered with algae, sponges, and fish.

Mandatory disclaimer: Rebuilding all of the world’s coral reefs by hand is impossible, and climate change is still the biggest threat facing coral reefs, so let’s not forget to save the ones we’ve got.

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Morocco will create 600 environmentally friendly mosques by 2019.

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Solar Powered Jacket Heats Without The Usual Bulk

by SpencerMcknight Posted on August 26, 2016

You’ve heard of solar powered homes and solar powered devices, but have you heard of a solar powered jacket? ThermalTech is changing the way we look at fabric with its new patented energy absorbing technology.

How ThermalTech got started

ThermalTech was co-founded by Carlos Cortes Manica and Fatima Rocha Arguelles with a shared goal to “impact people’s life positively through technology.” They began by making solar technology for the solar water heater industry, but they were always inventing new ways to use materials in the area of solar.

ThermalTech has a group of seven passionate engineers that is lead by one of the best scientists in Mexico. She recently won the Mexico National Science Academy award. Her PHD thesis on solar coatings along with the team’s desire to find new ways to harness energy from the sun is the foundation for ThermalTech’s innovative fabric design.

ThermalTech is currently patented in over 10 countries. The team was trying to find the best use for their technology for a few years when they were awarded first place as Best Technological Start Up at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Morocco among 1,000 contestants. Today, they’re bringing their technology to us through their ThermalTech jackets.

“We are very excited to bring this technology to market,” said Fatima Rocha, Co-funder of ThermalTech.  “Our goal is to help people stay warm in any environment without having to sacrifice fashion and comfort.”

How ThermalTech is different from traditional fabrics

Traditional coats and jackets are designed to recycle body heat and slowly warm you up. In contrast, ThermalTech fabric is designed to capture the sun’s ultraviolet rays and energy from artificial light sources to convert and store as heat. This stored heat can increase the in-clothing temperature by 18°F (10°C) in only two minutes, even when it’s cold outside.

While most heat-storing materials are heavy and bulky, ThermalTech fabric is super lightweight, so you can say goodbye to bulky jackets. Now you can have a more fashionable look, even on the coldest winter day. The paper-thin fabric is made from stainless steel mesh threads, which makes it strong and durable in addition to being lightweight – lending to a longer lifespan for the fabric. The water repellent fabric is easily embedded in any clothing style, from jackets to pants and is machine washable.

“We believe that by introducing this solar-absorbing fabric into the apparel marketplace, the next generation of outerwear will provide the consumer with even more of an optimal temperature & fit,” said Carlos Cortes, CEO of ThermalTech.  “This will allow everyone from the snowboarder to the fashionista to be warmer in colder climates.”

Solar powered jacket even works at night

You might be wondering if a solar powered jacket can work at night. Tests prove that ThermalTech fabric can reflect your own body heat in addition to capturing energy from sunlight or artificial light. This is possible due to Infrared light, which can’t be seen by the human eye. This undetectable light can be converted into heat. So when the sun goes down for the night, the ThermalTech fabric acts like a shield between your body and the environment. And, your body transforms Infrared and UV light into extra body heat.

Don’t worry – you won’t overheat

Even though the ThermalTech smart fabric stores up energy to keep you warm, you won’t overheat. The fabric maintains your body temperature once you reach the optimal level. It works under the same principle as how your body cools itself when you exercise. At a certain point, your body will begin to expel and radiate the extra energy that is being created. The same happens with ThermalTech smart fabric technology because it understands when it’s time to expel energy.

ThermalTech solar powered jackets on Indiegogo

You can now get ThermalTech fabric on Indiegogo in its very first use – jackets. ThermalTech jackets are breathable, waterproof and slim down the traditional bulky winter look. There are three different jacket styles available for both women and men that can be used for a range of outdoor activities such as shopping, running errands, walking around town, jogging, hiking, snowboarding and camping.

Street style jacket

The Street style ThermalTech jacket is fashion inspired, and is offered in three colors for men and three colors for women. It’s made with waterproof and wind breaker fabric featuring deep front pockets and one inner pocket. It works great in temperatures from 32-50° F (0-10° C). The Street jacket allows even the most discerning fashionista to keep warm without compromising their style. It’s perfect for running errands around town or a night out on the town.

Explorer style jacket

The Explorer style ThermalTech jacket is designed for casual, every day use and also comes in three colors for men and three colors for women. It’s made from waterproof and wind breaking fabric and features a waist zipper, deep exterior with strategically placed inner pockets to carry your wallet, mountain pass or cell phone. It comes with a removable hoodie and exits for your headphones. It’s perfect for staying warm in any outdoor setting or situation and is great for campers, hikers and fishing. The Explorer style jacket works great in temperatures from 30-55° F (1-10° F).

Extreme style jacket

The Extreme style ThermalTech jacket is intended for outdoor sports and you have the choice of three colors for men and three colors for women. If you’re hitting the slopes on a snowboard or skis, you will be able to say goodbye to two to three pounds of weight and bulk without sacrificing warmth as this jacket works great in temperatures ranging from -4-14° F (-10 to -20° C). It’s made with waterproof and wind breaker fabric and features a waist zipper, deep exterior pockets and strategically placed inner pockets to carry your wallet, mountain pass or cell phone. The Extreme style jacket comes with a removable hoodie and exits for your headphones.

Each style is available on Indiegogo in several popular colors and sizes S, M, L, XL and XXL. The jackets also offer a one-year warranty. There are currently a limited number Early Bird specials of 50% off MSRP (on all jackets), so pop over to Indiegogo to choose the style that’s right for your lifestyle.

Do you see a solar powered jacket in your future?

About
Latest Posts

Chrystal Johnson

Chrystal, publisher of

Happy Mothering

, Founder of

Green Moms Media

and essential oil fanatic, is a mother of two sweet girls who believes in living a simple, natural lifestyle. A former corporate marketing communication manager, Chrystal spends her time researching green and eco-friendly alternatives to improve her family’s life.

Latest posts by Chrystal Johnson (see all)

Solar Powered Jacket Heats Without The Usual Bulk – August 26, 2016
5 Stores Who Kicked Plastic Bags To The Curb – August 15, 2016
Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Is Here – August 10, 2016

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Solar Powered Jacket Heats Without The Usual Bulk

Posted in A Greener Kitchen, alo, eco-friendly, Everyone, FF, GE, LG, ONA, PUR, solar, solar power, Ultima, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Solar Powered Jacket Heats Without The Usual Bulk

West of Key West, an Under-the-Radar National Park

by Myrna Posted on August 24, 2016

Sea, sand, history and climate forecasts are all part of a trip to the Dry Tortugas, an aquatic paradise at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. See more here: West of Key West, an Under-the-Radar National Park ; ; ;

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West of Key West, an Under-the-Radar National Park

Posted in alo, eco-friendly, FF, G & F, GE, Holmes, Monterey, ONA, Paradise, solar, solar power, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on West of Key West, an Under-the-Radar National Park

After Two Years, Lost NASA Spacecraft Phones Home

by Posted on August 23, 2016

Using the Deep Space Network, mission control has reestablished contact with the solar observatory STEREO-B

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After Two Years, Lost NASA Spacecraft Phones Home

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Can Future Global Warming Matter Today?

by Myrna Posted on August 23, 2016

Scientists studying past and current climate conditions mull the challenges in making future warming matter today. Originally posted here:   Can Future Global Warming Matter Today? ; ; ;

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Can Future Global Warming Matter Today?

Posted in alo, alternative energy, eco-friendly, FF, G & F, GE, Holmes, Monterey, ONA, solar, solar power, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Can Future Global Warming Matter Today?