Mar
16
We install LED lights in our house and then we step with a clear conscience in the aircraft for a holiday in Thailand.
Our brains and hearts are the biggest obstacles towards more sustainability. Technology is not the issue.
That concludes Scientias in an interview with the Norwegian psychologist Per Espen Stoknes. Read More
Nov
1
Zurich leads the ranking sustainable cities top100 2016
Zurich leads the list of the Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Index 2016 top 100. Second in the 2016 list is Singapore.
The third place, which isn’t bad at all, is for Stockholm.
The new ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index explores the three demands of social (People), environmental (Planet) and economic (Profit) to develop an indicative ranking of 100 of the world’s major cities. Read More
Aug
19
Public anger: never too big to fall
At present, we don’t have to burn fossils fuels anymore. We have all these renewable energy resources that will supply more than enough energy for current and future energy demands. Read More
Jul
8
The City of Los Angeles took a significant step toward realizing its global leadership potential. Mayor Garcetti released LA’s first-ever urban sustainability plan: the pLAn.
LA City Council members Paul Krekorian and Mike Bonin coauthored legislation for a fast route to 100% renewables for LA. With an appreciative nod from the Sierra Club, the news reported at 11district.com follows:
“LADWP is on the verge of making significant investments in its infrastructure, and with that 100-year-old power system in need of significant upgrades, the city has an opportunity to re-create its utility in a way that recognizes the potential for a fossil-free future, demonstrates global leadership in its commitment to clean energy, and protects ratepayers from the increasing costs of carbon-based fuels.”
Under the current plan, emissions are expected to drop. Under a new plan, they could drop to zero!
May
4
Aquion did come up with a breakthrough saltwater battery. It is environmentally friendly, cost effective and has a life cycle way beyond any other battery: up to 5,000 cycles.
The development of sustainable saltwater batteries enters the next level.
The American company Aquion Energy has received $ 33 million extra finance.
Previously, Bill Gates invested in Aquion Energy.
Aquion developed batteries that can store solar and wind energy to serve as backup for times when there is no wind nor sun. Saltwater batteries are not new, but the batteries from Aquion are special because they are using salt water as a conductor, instead of acids or bases.
Aquion has come up with a clever twist on a 200 year old salt water battery technology using:
They have come up with a breakthrough solution. It is environmentally friendly, cost effective and has a life cycle way beyond any other battery: up to 5,000 cycles
The startup — which was backed by Bill Gates and VCs like Kleiner Perkins and Foundation Capital — is making a low cost, modular grid battery made from basic materials like sodium and water.
The battery pairs a carbon anode with a sodium-based cathode, and a water-based electrolyte shuttles ions between the two electrodes during charging and discharging.
The technology was developed out of Carnegie Mellon University by founder and chief technology officer Jay Whitacre.
By using basic materials, Aquion is hoping its product is inexpensive enough to disrupt the current grid battery market.
Aquion’s CEO Scott Pearson:
“When the battery has been manufactured at a commercial scale for awhile, the price point of the battery could be $300 per kilowatt hour. That’s about a third of the cost of some of the more expensive lithium ion battery grid products.”
Want to read the specs? Click on this link
In June 2016, Aquion Energy has introduced the Aspen 24S, a 24-volt version of its award-winning Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) battery.
The new product is designed for energy-intensive applications that use solar panels, such as off-grid solar-powered LED lighting, as well as small pumps and motors. It is also an ideal drop-in replacement for existing systems using 24-volt lead-acid batteries.
Pros & Cons of (renewable) energy sources (dossier)
Smart Grid Energy Storage Systems (dossier)
Smart Grid Projects and Case Studies (dossier)
Trending Renewable Energy Technologies and Initiatives (dossier)
or mail to info@betterworldsolutions.eu
Nov
17
Baltasar Garzón and Polly Higgins are proclaiming that a fifth international crime should be added to these very serious violations of international law: Ecocide
Should destruction of the earth be recognized as a crime against humanity? Polly Higgins thinks so, and presents herself as a lawyer of the earth.
Polly Higgens leads the global campaign for making Ecocide the 5th Crime Against Peace at the United Nations’ International Criminal Court. Why? It will put eco-criminal CEOs, politicians an investors into jail. That’s big!
Sep
29
Protest Greenpeace ‘Save the Arctic’ with LEGO For the last few years Shell has been using LEGOs brand to clean up its image as an Arctic oil driller. 16 million Shell branded LEGO sets have been sold or given away at petrol stations in 26 countries.
Shell has surprised the world, ceasing the oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea above Alaska.
The decision was announced last Monday at 7 am: the last day of the exploration permit in the Arctic.
The decision has been made by 3 arguments:
The last two sound the most convincing. The first argument ain’t. What’s going on?
Aug
18
Committing to the people in Haiti, who are still living in tents feels ah-mazing.
Seldom I have seen people so grateful with a small contribution. I’m honest. Slightly less than 10 dollars. For a lot of StartUps this is normal nowadays. This one not. Class!
The Mobile Factory transforms rubble into Lego building blocks. The blocks allow victims of war or natural disasters to construct their own new, earthquake proof houses, and rebuild the communities they lost. And they need your support. Today! Read More
Aug
13
Arctic drillship Discoverer is on its way to the Chukchi Sea
Oil extraction Chukchi Sea Shell is desperately searching for new oil and gas fields, but must stay away from the Chukchi Sea.
29 vessels Shell have recently arrived at the drilling site in the Chukchi Sea north of Alaska to drill for oil.
During the summer periods, this sea is regularly free of ice, but the storm frequency has increased and the wave activity has increased by the melting of the sea ice. Read More
Jul
3
The accident started when oil was leaking along the borehole to the surface, causing an explosion.
The British oil company BP has to return $ 18.7 billion for the Gulf oil spill.
This is the highest amount ever paid as claim by a company in the United States.
The 2010 disaster at BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused devastating pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. Read More
Jun
17
The idea is simple: create a car-free street for two months and let the people decide what to do with the space
For a period of two months, 25 streets in Ghent (Belgium) are transformed to the perfect play ground for kids.
The streets are closed to traffic.
The asphalt is covered with a green carpet. Neighbors made scattered tables and benches with wooden pallets. Street Live is returning, and even the opponents are turning – slowly.
Nowadays the traffic is too dangerous and parents are too afraid to let the children play outside.
In this Living Street, kids can play outside again.
Sep
29
Greenpeace activists also targeted Legoland in Windsor by dressing as Lego figures, while the campaign video, entitled “Everything is not awesome” attracted 5.9m views.
Lego will not renew its marketing contract with Shell after coming under sustained pressure from Greenpeace to end a partnership that dates to the 1960s.
Read More
Jun
24
The world we want in 2050: a green, inclusive and regenerative economy
A network of engaged people from all over the word, in all sectors have together formulated some aspirations for what ‘A Safe and Sustainable Future’ may look like.
Here’s a short recap of how we envision the world to look like in 2050.
