I recently wrote a post on how we could turn urine and feces into energy thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I also wrote about some similar efforts that are being done in Singapore. Now, according to Grist and Ecogeek, four African teenage girls created a generator that runs on pee, turning one […]
Turning urine into electricity Read More »
Cleantech and sustainability is not only about energy efficiency and renewables, it is also about how we move around. So my latest piece for Cleantechies is about traffic congestion. Here is the introduction : ” According to a new study carried out by the English Centre of Economics and Business, traffic congestion in the United
The huge cost of traffic congestion Read More »
Solar energy may already cheaper than coal, at least for New Mexico, USA. To Bloomberg : ” First Solar, the world’s largest maker of thin-film solar panels, may sell electricity at a lower rate than new coal plants earn. “ ” El Paso Electric Co. agreed to buy power from First Solar’s the 50-megawatt Macho
Solar is already cheaper than coal Read More »
I really enjoy infographics as they enable to gather a lot of information in a few moments. The latest I found via Twitter (see left) is on how a cleantech revolution is already taking place in the United States of America. Indeed, since 2007, energy efficiency, renewables like solar and wind (as well as natural
A cleantech revolution is taking place in the USA Read More »
Yesterday I published an lengthy article on how business leaders and elected representatives of the so-called ” developped countries ” are awakening slowly to the threat of climate change. While these are great news, we are still waiting for concrete actions that could actually have a chance to avoid catastrophes such as flooded cities, extreme
A climate change to do list Read More »
Last week in Davos, Switzerland, took place the annual World Economic Forum. As the financial crisis of 2008 is drawing to an end, climate change is emerging as a key crisis that has to be addressed as soon as possible. To Reuters : ” Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, summed it
Hope for climate in Davos’ World Economic Forum Read More »
This month no less than 140 countries signed a legally binding agreement to curb their mercury emissions. While mercury is no greenhouse gas, it is a serious problem for both the environment and human health. To the World Health Organization (WHO) : ” “The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous,
Agreement on mercury signed by 140 countries Read More »
Greenpeace has released an interesting report on fourteen projects that could increase greenhouse gases emissions by 20 percent by 2020. This would lead to an increase of temperatures by five or six degrees Celcius. The largest threats are China and Australia as they plan to increase their coal productions. This is particularly ironic as Climate
14 carbon bombs to defuse before 2020 Read More »
According to the most comprehensive research on the subject, soot – also known as black carbon – may have a significantly higher role in climate change than previously estimated. According to a BBC article quoting the study : ” (soot) dark particles are having a warming effect approximately two thirds that of carbon dioxide, and
Soot’s underestimated role in climate change Read More »
This was the question asked on the the Yale Environment 360 blog and I believe the timing is perfect as last year cities such as New York City, Manila and Bangkok got it by record floods. Now it is the turn of Jakarta. The capital megacity of Indonesia now has water in its streets and
Are our cities just too big to flood ? Read More »
