Sasha Aickin

In a slightly more visionary departure from my previous post about hand soap, I’d like to wax poetic about my college-days crush:  bus rapid transit (or BRT). During my Urban Planning undergrad days, BRT first caught my eye during lecture. And it whispered in my ear, “I’m different from all the others…I’m the kind of bus you could really love.” Read more…

Photo Credit: Paul (dex)

Its been said that enough solar energy hits the earth every hour to power the world for years.  Now imagine if every building could take advantage of solar energy without the cost of installing solar panels?  For years, researchers have been trying to find a way of capturing solar energy without the expensive installation of solar panels.  Recently, a team of scientists developed a transparent spray-on application that turns any surface facing the sun into electricity-producing space. Read more…

Photo credit: James McCauley

California announced an ambitious lineup of clean energy goals in 2002 and has always been a leader in renewable energy, but that doesn’t mean the state isn’t facing challenges in the clean energy business. Read more…

Mike Lee

The worlds main urban centres contribute to nearly 80% of total carbon dioxide emitted each year. If urban areas continue to grow at the rate they are today, it is likely that they will be the major cause of severe environmental destruction. Major changes need to be introduced into these areas in order to prevent this almost certain catastrophe. Read more…

Photo Credit: Sam Howzit

For all you wine enthusiasts, selecting a fine bottle of wine has raised some new questions. Next time you’re in the supermarket making your purchase: do you think cork, plastic or screw top? As more wineries begin to move from cork stoppers towards plastic and aluminum caps, we enter a debate of which products are more sustainable. Read more…

Photo: Dawn

A November ballot measure threatens to halt California’s pioneering global-warming laws.  Prop 23 would also set back other environmentally progressive acts such as requiring utilities to generate a third of electricity from renewable sources and programs requiring oil refineries to make cleaner burning fuels.  “If we don’t go forward with 33% renewable standard for California’s energy supply, we undercut all those companies and entrepreneurs creating jobs in solar, wind, biofuels, and other renewable forms of energy,” said Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Read more…

Photo Credit: Island Life

As the hurricane season rapidly approaches we can’t help but notice the severity of other natural disasters that have occurred this summer. As wildfires rage in Russia and over 20% of Pakistan is now underwater from unprecedented flooding we wonder: are these incidents statistical anomalies, or clear signs that global climate change is finally showing us its true colors? Read more…

Photo Credit: Andrea Balzano

Indoor farming is not a new concept, however it is being implemented in new ways. With most of our population living in urban areas, doesn’t it make sense for food to be grown where it is consumed the most? That’s where vertical farming comes into play. Read more…

Photo Credit: Michael A Lefsky

Though Americas forests may be dwindling in both size and abundance they have earned themselves bragging rights in the tree community. Thats right, trees of the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Coastal Redwood, Sitka Spruce, and Douglas Fir seem to grow taller than the rest. Read more…

Photo Credit: Andrew Booth

Desertification is a word synonymous with the current problem the world is facing; an inconsistent and failing supply of viable water. But all hope is not lost. Terracottem, developed in the 1980’s by Dr. Willhem Van Cotthem, has given countries a sustainable way to harvest crops and reverse the effects of desertification. Read more…