This Organic, Cheap, Rechargeable Battery Could Change the Future of Renewable Energy

by Kristine Lofgren, 06/29/14

 

 

 

Large-scale energy storage is one of the major challenges facing renewable energy, but a recent breakthrough could be a real game changer. Scientists at USC, led by professor Sri Narayan, just developed a new long-lasting battery that is cheap to build, water-based, and made out of green components with no toxic chemicals and no metals. The battery can be used in power plants where it can store large amounts of energy for on-demand use.

 

Wind and solar energy are both limited by how much sun and how much wind is in the environment, but these new batteries could store large-scale energy, making renewable resources a more reliable source of energy and more attractive as a source of power for the energy grid. In other words, the unreliability of solar and wind could become a thing of the past. The batteries last for about 5,000 recharge cycles, far more than the traditional lithium ion batteries, which only last about 1,000 cycles, Lithium ion are also expensive to make – at least 10 times as much as these new batteries.

The design works on the same philosophy as a fuel cell and the tanks that hold the electroactive materials can be made as large as needed, and energy can be released slowly or quickly, depending on what is needed. And because the electroactive materials dissolve in water, there is no need for chemicals, making each battery cheaper and better for the environment. Scientists also expect to be able to make the compounds using carbon dioxide in the future, as opposed to the quinones used now, making them even more environmentally friendly.

Via Phys.org

Read more: This Organic, Cheap, Rechargeable Battery Could Change the Future of Rene

 

 

 

 

Summer BBQ, the Green Way

 

Everyday Environmentalist

Get our top 10 tips for greening your summer backyard BBQ party.

 

 

By Darci Palmquist 

Darci Palmquist © Aaron Becker

 

 

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 60 million Americans have BBQs on the Fourth.

 

These millions of BBQs release some 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, burn the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and consume the same amount of energy as the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, uses in a year.

And those are just the stats for Fourth of July cookouts. With environmental consequences like these, what's a griller to do?

I recently hosted a BBQ and, being an eco-minded person, felt confident I could make it an Earth-friendly event. But as the RSVP list grew to more than 60 people, I found myself making compromises on my green intentions.

Take food, for example — I know buying local, organic and sustainably raised meat is better for the environment, but when it came time to stock up for the party, I let my wallet rule. Which meant shopping at the nearest big-chain grocery store and buying packages of cheap hot dogs.

 

When all was said and done, the party was a big success, but not necessarily my greenest moment. After the clean-up, I took stock and compiled my top 10 tips for greening a BBQ party.

 

Learn from my mistakes — and the things I did right — and make sure your summer cookouts aren't environmental disasters.

 

 

"Grill locally grown veggies! One of our guests brought gobs of locally grown asparagus that were the hit of the party." — Darci Palmquist, editorial manager for nature.org

 

 

Top 10 Ways to Green Your BBQ Party (in no particular order):

 

1. Use reusable or biodegradable plates and utensils. If you can't find those, at least go for products made from 100 percent recycled materials. Remember that your biodegradable plates will need to be cleaned before going in the compost bin — ketchup, hamburger grease and other-non-veggie food matter doesn't compost.
2. Fill up pitchers of water, homemade lemonade and iced tea instead of buying huge quantities of personal-sized beverage containers.
3. If you take heed of tip #2, you'll need to provide cups. If you use plastic or paper cups, provide markers at the drink counter so people can write their names on their cups — and therefore not use more than one.
4. And even if you follow tip #2, you're likely to have beer and other individual-sized beverages in a cooler. Encourage recycling by putting out easily identifiable bins — you'll find fewer bottles and cans smeared with ketchup in the garbage.
5. Use gas, propane or electric grills, which aren't perfect but burn more efficiently and cleaner than charcoal or wood. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure you burn natural lumps, not briquettes, and don't use more than you need.
6. Grill locally grown veggies! One of our guests brought gobs of locally grown asparagus that were the hit of the party. While local doesn't necessarily mean organic, small farms are often more likely to be more sustainable and pesticide-free.
7. Going vegetarian has been shown to be much better for the planet than eating meat. But if you do eat meat — or your guests do — don't compromise here. Spend the extra money to invest in organic, sustainably raised wieners and hamburgers.
8. Encourage walking, biking or carpooling to your party. We live in a rural area, so it was impossible for everyone to come by foot, but we helped coordinate carpooling for our guests. Neighbors walked or biked over.
9. Make sure mosquitoes don't drive your guests away. Before the party, take a look at prime mosquito breeding grounds — clean out rain gutters, check other spots with standing water and mow your grass (with a reel mower, of course). Even better, help the mosquito-problem year round by installing a bat house in your yard.
10. Don't forget the little things. Choosing organic condiments, reusable napkins instead of paper ones, e-vites versus mail invitations, homemade decorations over store-bought and other details will help round off the finishing touches of your green BBQ.

 

http://www.nature.org/greenliving/gogreen/everydayenvironmentalist/green-your-summer-bbq.xml

 

 

 

 

 

How To Have a Greener Fourth of July

by Gina-Marie Cheeseman

July 1, 2014

 

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on July 3, 2011. Enjoy!

 

The 4th of July is the iconic American holiday when we remember our past as we spend time with family and friends. However, if we aren’t careful, we can have a bigger impact on the environment as we celebrate than we realize. Take fireworks, for example, whose brilliance comes from chemicals, some of which are toxic to us. A Mother Nature Network article cites a 2007 study of an Oklahoma lake after fireworks displays in which perchlorate levels were over 1,000 times more than the baseline level for 14 hours following the displays. Perchlorate blocks iodide from entering the thyroid gland.

What if you really want to see fireworks? Is it better to buy your own or go see public displays? Personal firework displays carry the added risk of fires and injuries. There were 576 injuries and fires caused by fireworks in the state of Washington last year. How green is it to risk fire and injury? So, if you really must see fireworks, it’s better to check out the displays at your local stadium.

Barbecuing is part of the 4th of July for many Americans. What is greener: charcoal or gas-powered grills? Charcoal is basically dirtier, an article on the Planet Green website states. However, charcoal can come from renewable resources, while gas is a fossil fuel. Yet, charcoal, when burned, “can result in 105 times more carbon monoxide than burning propane and lots of harmful volatile organic compounds.” Real or chunk charcoal doesn’t have the dirty additives, but comes from “thousands of miles away,” which results in more carbon emissions. Research by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory founded that gas produced 5.6 pounds of carbon an hour, while charcoal produced 11 pounds.

Another way to green your 4th of July is by using reusable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. Plastic-based disposable plates and silverware are made from petroleum. Paper plates may seem like a greener choice, but paper comes from trees. If the thought of having to wash all those dishes is daunting, throw them in the dishwasher, which uses less water than washing by hand. And if you live in the country like me, then you have a well, which means that using water uses electricity.

Here are a few other ways to green your 4th:

Serve pitchers of water instead of providing water bottles

Use reusable table cloths

Limit or avoid pre-packaged foods and you will avoid a lot of waste

 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/how-to-have-a-greener-fourth-of-july.html#ixzz36JKBN2AH

 

 

 

 

An All Electric Harley Sportsbike and 0 to 60 in 4 Seconds!

Harley-Davidson's new electric motorcycle can hit 60 mph from a standing start in 4 seconds.

The company plans to unveil the LiveWire model Monday in New York.

 

 

Harley-Davidson's New Bike Hums, Instead Of Roaring

 

by Bill Chappell

June 19, 2014

 

Don't expect to hear the roar of a gas engine when you see the new motorcycle from Harley-Davidson. That's because it's powered by batteries. The Wisconsin-based company unveiled its new LiveWire bike today, saying it's "time to shape the next generation" of riders.

Harley-Davidson says it's sending the new bike on a tour of its dealerships to let fans of motorcycles often called "hogs" get to know a bike that's notably quiet and has zero emissions. The company will officially unveil the motorcycle to the public in New York Monday.

The LiveWire reportedly has a range of more than 50 miles and can speed from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. It also has a push-button ignition, lithium-ion batteries, and direct drive.

Motorcycle critic Susan Carpenter of the Orange County Register calls it "one of the biggest game changers in motorcycling history," noting Harley's role as America's biggest motorcycle company (accounting for 44 percent of sales of road bikes last year).

"Electric motorcycles have been on the market since 2008," Carpenter notes, "but they are made by niche manufacturers who account for less than one percent of overall sales."

A video promoting the new motorcycle appeared on the Harley Facebook page today, sparking a lively debate in the comments section.

 

Here's the top-rated response, from a man named Ryan:

"It is funny to see the fear in change. Harley is not posting this saying all models will disappear when this comes out. They are just saying look what they have developed and are giving an alternative.
"Buy a model you would ride but don't slam a company for innovation and a small change."

But another fan, named Mike, didn't agree, writing "Boo" with a stream of o's, before summarizing the views of others: "We don't want electric bikes."

 

The motorcycle isn't yet for sale; Harley hasn't yet announced a release date or an expected retail price.

Here's how Susan Carpenter summarizes her test ride of the LiveWire: "In short, it rides nothing like a traditional Harley. It accelerates like a hot rod and corners like a sport bike."

 

 

 

 

 

Nature in New York City Blooms, Crawls and Creeps, Especially in the Eyes of a Child

While this covers New York City, all our Cities offer similar experiences!

 

By Marcia Anderson

June 25, 2014

 

 

To a young child, there’s no such thing as an ant, a bee or a ladybug. They’re all bugs and worth a closer look. Lift a small rock. Often worms, tiny beetles, salamanders, or other critters can be uncovered, to the shear amazement of a child. Colonies of ants found under stones are fascinating to watch as they go about their business marching in rows to and from their anthills.

Most ants found in the northeast are not a serious threat to human health. Ants and other insects are usually found where they can obtain food and water to take back to their nests. Ants provide an ecological cleansing and fertilization service of considerable importance. They aerate the soil outdoors and recycle dead animals and vegetable material, and kill many other pest insects including: fly larvae, fleas, caterpillars and termites.

In spring, wasps are important predators of caterpillars, while others are scavengers, helping to control pests and recycle organic material. They turn more aggressive in late summer and fall when their food preference turns to sweets.

Bugs may be small and easily taken for granted, but they are often a child’s first intimate encounter with a wild animal. How they are taught to deal with these small creatures sets the tone for their relationships with larger wildlife such as reptiles, birds and amphibians. Unfortunately, in their zeal to teach children to be wary of dangerous bugs, many adults do not discern between those which are dangerous and those which aren’t. By showing their disdain for all bugs and killing any that cross their paths, many adults inadvertently teach children that all are to be feared and destroyed at every opportunity.

 

Ants explore a blade of grass

 

A gentleness and reverence for all creatures should be taught at an early age. It’s important to remember that the younger child learns by modeling, rather than by verbal instruction. A child who’s shown how to put overturned stones back in place to leave insects undisturbed is more likely to take that much more care than a child who’s simply told to do so.

 

Here are a few safety tips to help young children observe the tiny creatures in the great outdoors:

1.  Avoid areas with food left outdoors, such as picnic scraps, uncovered garbage containers or uncovered compost piles. Bees and wasps imprint on these food sources and keep returning to them.
2. Avoid sweet smelling soaps, lotions, or shampoos on both your child and yourself and do not dress up in bright colors. You do not want stinging insects to think that you are a flower or other food source.
3. In warm weather, use an insect repellent according to the label directions to protect from ticks and mosquitoes. Other alternatives are the mechanical repellent devices that clip onto pockets or belts and they give off repellents that deter mosquitoes or other insects.
4. Upon returning home, always inspect your child and yourself for ticks or other hitchhikers.

 

Every park in New York City, large or small, will have some wildlife encounters but be prepared to go down to your child’s level to see them. Just grab a small jar for temporary collecting and a magnifying glass, then get on the subway or bus and explore New York City. Happy Summer!

To find out more about nature in New York City go to: http://www.nycgovparks.org/greening/nature-preserves.

The Forever Wild Program is an initiative of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to protect and preserve the most ecologically valuable lands within the five boroughs. These parks encompass 51 Forever Wild Nature Preserves and include over 8,700 acres of forests, wetlands, and meadows. These open spaces are home to thousands of critters, including squirrels, frogs, red-tailed hawks, wild turkeys, fish, bald eagles, and countless plants.

 

About the Author: Marcia is with EPA’s Center of Expertise for School IPM in Dallas, Texas. She holds a PhD in Environmental Management from Montclair State University along with degrees in Biology, Environmental Design, Landscape Architecture, and Instruction and Curriculum. Marcia was formerly with the EPA Region 2 Pesticides Program and has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology, and Oceanography at several universities.

 

http://blog.epa.gov/greeningtheapple/2014/06/nature-in-new-york-city-blooms-crawls-and-creeps-especially-in-the-eyes-of-a-child/

 

 

 

 

13 natural remedies for the ant invasion

Rainy season in South Florida can mean ants moving indoors.  Here’s some ‘natural’ solutions to that problem.

 

Kimi Harris

Mar 27, 2012

 

Ants are making their way into homes this time of year. Thankfully there are natural pest control methods to help you cope with and eliminate the problem. Plus, many of the solutions use what you already have in your cupboard!

 

Little tiny ants have been spotted in our new home, and many people are suffering the same fate across the country. As much as I love spring, I don't like bugs — especially bugs that can infest a house. Last week I asked for some advice in how to deal with ants naturally as I didn't have time to research it myself since I just moved this weekend. I got such good advice, I had to share it with the readers here at MNN as well. 

 

Some of these measures are deterrents. That is, they deter the ants from coming in your house. This seems to work well for those with a mild problem. Others found that they needed to use a method that kills the whole colony of ants. I've compiled the comments and suggestions by category, allowing you to compare the different methods a little more easily. 

 

1. Lemon juice 

Teresa: We just spray around the openings with pure lemon juice … and it always works for us … something about the acid messes up their sense of tracking…

 

2. Cinnamon 

Shayla: We use ground cinnamon around where there are coming it. It works really well.

Peggy: We spray cinnamon essential oil all around the doors, windowsills, floors, etc. keeps them from coming in. I put the sugar water and borax OUTSIDE!

Letia: Another vote for ground cinnamon. Easy to clean up afterwards and worked great for us!!!

Jean: Cinnamon and cloves. Makes your house smell nice and the ants just hate it sprinkled right in their path.

Patricia: We also use cinnamon oil. We draw borders around everything with a Q-tip dipped in it. They won’t cross it.

 

3. Peppermint 

Heather: My mother-in-law has success with peppermint essential oil around windows and doors (any entries). Plus her house then smells awesome.

Julie: Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap in the mint aroma. Mix 1 to 1 with water in a spray bottle. Spray on the ant invasion and watch them suffer.

 

 4. Borax, water and sugar 

Kristi: We use borax, sugar, water and a touch of peanut butter. It takes a couple of weeks but really works. We used it last year in our old house and are implementing it again this spring in our new house. Pesky ants! Here is the site where I found the recipe: http://naturalantkiller.blogspot.com/

Christy: I second Diana’s comment about borax and sugar. I’ve made a thin paste before with water, sugar and borax, then spread it on little pieces of thin cardboard or stiff cardstock and placed them near where it seems they are coming into the house. They’ll eat it and take it back to their colony (just like the Terro liquid you can buy). The paste will dry up in a couple days, so you’ll have to make more. But I think I only had to do it twice before they were gone.

Chookie: What worked for us was a mixture of borax and sugar in water. Several years ago, we lived in a house where there was an ants nest in the walls. Removing it would have meant virtually demolishing the entire front wall of the house (not practical!), so instead, after a year or two of having flying ants swarm into our bedroom every year we decided to go on an ant killing spree. Conventional ant killers didn’t work. Borax and powdered sugar didn’t work. But adding water to the borax and sugar mix to make a thick sugary borax-y syrup DID work…. the worker ants took it back into the nest and it positioned the queen – result = no more flying ants. OK, so borax does need to be kept away from pets and small children, but it is relatively safe beyond that as it is only toxic if you eat it. my solution was to put it somewhere where the kids and the cats would not reach it but the ants could.

BeverlyC: We live in China and had a HORRIBLE ant problem in our house. Tried cinnamon, black pepper, vinegar, etc. etc. We were concerned about the borax because we have guests in and out regularly and the little children are often, well, naughty and undisciplined. When someone suggested Terro liquid ant bait and we found it was just Borax and sugar, we asked someone to bring us some. We could pick the traps up and put them away when company came and put them back out after they left. They worked wonders!!

 

5. Boiling water and dish soap 

Jennie: We make sure all of our food is sealed up. The honey jar is usually the biggest ant magnet, so it gets a thorough washing and then is placed on a small water-filled saucer in the cupboard. We use a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of liquid dish soap (I use Seventh Generation) to kill any visible ants. I also look around outside to try to find their hill; pouring a kettle of boiling water on it solves the problem.

Christy:  I’ve done what Jennie mentioned too – boiling water will destroy an ant colony, or weeds popping up between sidewalk cracks or in mulch. It’s an easy, purely natural way to kill things that we don’t often think about.

 

6. Diatomaceous earth 

Karen: Yes … diatomaceous earth (DE) works well … use food-grade not swimming pool DE. It should be sprinkled around the perimeter of your new home and you can also safely sprinkle it inside where you see them. Do not wet the DE or it will not work. DE isn’t an instant kill but should resolve the problem within a week or so.

Jami: I have a pretty serious any invasion at my house too. When I moved in last April they had already made themselves at home. I did the cinnamon thing last year and worked ok, but they just kept finding new ways in. My ants weren’t attracted to sugary things, but protein, especially the dog food. This year I made some borax cookies and put them in the old fireplace where I noticed the ants returning a week ago. I also sprinkled DE around the perimeter of my kitchen and that seems to have worked better than anything so far for immediate results.

 

7. Chalk  

Natalie: Oh! And they will not cross a line drawn in chalk. I drew a line around my window where they were coming in and it kept them at bay. 

Anali: My grandparents had really good results with the line of chalk, they used powder that you can get at home improvement stores. It comes in a squeezey bottle so it’s easy to lay down a line with.

 

8. Baking soda and powdered sugar 

Jennifer: Ants carry an acidic substance with them always for protection. I do a mix of baking soda and powdered sugar in a plastic lid set in strategic places. I think a little volcanic science experiment happens inside their bodies. Over the course of several days, it has made a huge difference.

 

9. Coffee grounds

Lea: I have had success with used coffee grounds, I did know where their entry was, after putting it in the cracks they never returned. I also do know it doesn’t kill them, it just makes them move homes, (we have put them on beds outside and we just see them pop up a small distance away.

 

10. Cornmeal

Jill: One more thing to add to this. I saw somewhere to use corn meal. Well, it worked out since some moths got into my cornmeal, and I felt bad wasting it. That’s when I saw the idea and tried it. I sprinkled a little bit just off the back porch. Every day I would check and every day the same trail of ants was still there. Then I forgot about it. My daughter found another ant nest further out in the yard, and it made me remember to check the last trail. It was gone, completely gone. So, I sprinkled it on the new nest, and less than a week later, it is gone. If you google it there are a ton of places where it mentions it. Here’s just one link, and if you scroll to the Tip there is still another idea using molasses. Although if cornmeal will work I think it’s cheaper, and safer around kids and pets.

 

11. Cream of Wheat 

Rebecca: Cream of wheat! They eat it & it expands & they explode! Ha! I used it in my garden for ant problems. Kind of makes you wonder what it does to our insides when we eat it too

 

12. Vinegar 

Kristie: Vinegar! Since we switched to using a vinegar/water solution for mopping the floors and cleaning the counters, our ant problem has vanished.

Mysty: Vinegar is the one sure solution, but you need to pour it where the ants have their nest, not just to where they walk around. If you find their nest just pour about 0.5-1 L of white (cheap) vinegar. I never had ant problems but my grandparents sometimes has as they has a big farm and there is always an ant problem is some corner of the farm.

Cath: We used a mixture of vinegar, washing up liquid (ecover) and peppermint oil last year. Tracked them back to their nest and syringed it into the cracks. They never came back.

 

13. Equal 

Tea Leaf: We killed our ants by mixing Equal packets with apple juice. It is a neurotoxin to the ants. Scary that people put these in their coffee.

Read more: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/13-natural-remedies-for-the-ant-invasion#ixzz35ePfTwPL

 

 

 

For a truly ‘green’ garden, forget sprays and try natural predators

This article goes along with the Ladybug article I posted yesterday. 

By far the largest bug in the garden, praying mantis is a serious predator that keeps your food garden pest free. Maureen Gilmer / MCT

Forget pesticides – try natural predators

 

By Maureen Gilmer - McClatchy-Tribune News Service

 

Every month during the growing season I receive a package of Fly Predators in the mail. Inside are hundreds of tiny bugs the size of gnats that prey on fly larvae. I scatter them in my horse corrals and where the dogs do their business to reduce the summer fly population naturally.

This is an example of biological control that is ideal for chicken coops, compost piles and a dozen other problem areas without using chemicals and time-consuming sprays.

You might not have heard of Fly Predators, but you probably know about ladybugs. These popular little red beetles were the first successful bio-control for combating aphids in residential gardens. The predator-prey relationship keeps insect populations in balance naturally.

In the past, the cure for all bug problems was to douse the plant with pesticide. This not only kills the problem bugs, it kills the predator bugs, too. When bug populations are destroyed by pesticides, the predator-prey balance goes out the window. New bugs that either escaped the pesticide or just flew in are free to reproduce prodigiously in the absence of predators. This is the reason we see huge insect infestations in some gardens while they rarely occur in organic ones.

To understand how this relates to your summer garden, consider the predator-prey relationship of ladybugs and aphids. Known as "plant lice," aphids are sucking pests that gather on the soft tips of new growth to feed and breed. Their most dangerous predator: the ladybug. Yes, these little red beetles are ferocious consumers of aphids. With a big ladybug presence in your yard, the aphids never gain a foothold.

Another important predator is the praying mantis. These large, green bugs are voracious feeders that consume all sorts of insects that prey on your plants. They hatch from curious hard egg cases laid on tree bark, walls, shrubs and other less-conventional surfaces. This insect does not have a larval stage, but instead hatches out dozens of nymphs, which are tiny versions of the adult. These nymphs will inhabit your summer garden as they mature by feeding on anything they can catch.

There are other bugs you can buy to add more diversity to your predator population:

 

• Green lacewing is a heavy feeder that loves the eggs of a wide range of pests, including thrips, mealy bugs and whiteflies.

• The Trichogramma wasp loves to lay her eggs into those of tomato hornworms and other insects just like fly predators do. When the wasp larvae hatch, they immediately begin feeding on the developing grub. Soon, a new crop of predator wasps emerges from the remains of what would have been a damaging caterpillar.

 

For anyone who needs help keeping bugs at bay in an organic garden, there's a way to boost your predator bug population while having fun with the kids. Purchase live ladybugs, which are carried at some nurseries and home stores, and are also available online. Introduce the ladybugs to your yard, where they'll go directly to the bad bugs and start feeding.

Bringing live predator bugs into your garden is a great way to wow the kids. Just pour ladybugs into their small hands and let them spread the love down your rows and borders.

This is the essence of a truly "green" garden where we can work with Nature herself to harness the age-old dance of predator and prey to keep your plants pest-free.

 

Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Learn more at www.MoPlants.com . Contact her at mogilmer@yahoo.com  or P.O. Box 891, Morongo Valley, CA 92256.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/14/4172459/for-a-truly-green-garden-forget.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Public Works Sustainability Division

Office - (954) 828-5785  Fax - (954) 828-4745

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov